Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Wax Turrets
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Chapter 60
China, the most powerful server in Asia.
Naturally, the pet who chose it, Gupeaseugeul, held a rather high position among the countless pets.
In any world, a hierarchy exists, whether seen or unseen, and relationships are built upon it.
Unable to contain his anger at the situation unfolding against his will, Gupeaseugeul summoned the pets of the Asian server to a public room.
- What do you all think you're doing? Stop the terrain manipulation at once! Do you really think you can handle the consequences of doing this to me?
Gupeaseugeul’s rage erupted.
- Oh, come on, brother. You think we're doing this because we want to? The Transcendent Beings are enjoying the players' reactions, so we're just offering the appropriate rewards.
- We'll try our best to pull the players out at the right moment, so please, calm down.
- Are you kidding me? Has it not been properly drilled into your heads who's on top here!?
For the pets, blaming the Transcendent Beings was an all-purpose cheat key.
But Gupeaseugeul was so enraged that he ignored even that.
When you thought about it, it was understandable why he was so upset. A junior pet with less experience had not only snatched away a guest he was hosting but was also continuing to draw attention.
Still, there was a limit to how much of a scene you could make just because you were a senior.
Once a certain threshold was crossed, the other pets, who were operating their channels to raise their own status, had no reason to tolerate it all.
- No, seriously, Gupeaseugeul. This isn't your first day commercializing a dimension. The Transcendent Beings are enjoying themselves, so telling us to pull out is crossing the line, don't you think?
- Let's try to work together while we're still treating you with respect as a senior. There's even a Transcendent Being who has offered the power of ■■■. If we pull out now, what does that make us?
- Honestly, what those livestock are saying isn't wrong. How do we know we won't be next after you devour Riggle's server? Most of the guests on your channel right now are people who enjoy the taste of blood.
Some were desperate to find a suitable vessel they could project themselves onto, some sought slaughter, and others tried to induce good deeds.
The Transcendent Beings who enjoyed these games had diverse tastes.
And just as the pets said, most of the Transcendent Beings who had entered Gupeaseugeul's channel were madmen who loved to see blood spill.
Once they got a taste of blood from war, it was obvious what would happen next.
- …Fine. I'll turn everything upside down just like you bastards want.
With his intentions already exposed, Gupeaseugeul's statement was practically a self-destruct button.
- Hahaha, now you're showing your true colors. From now on, screw the senior treatment. I'm going to get ready, too.
- Well, I'm busy, so I'll be leaving.
With that, the administrators of other servers, like Japan and India, left the room with sneers.
They had always found the senior pet an eyesore due to their proximity, and now they saw an opportunity to remove him.
- Ah, I'm screwed.
A momentary feeling of injustice at his juniors' behavior.
Gupeaseugeul realized his mistake in turning all the neighboring countries into 'enemies,' but what could he do?
Once the words were out, there was no taking them back.
* * * * *
As the saying goes, even if the world ends tomorrow, I will plant an apple tree.
Despite China's declaration of war, life at Seong-hyeok's honeybee farm continued as usual.
The bees gathered honey, and Seong-hyeok harvested and processed it.
Likewise, the four residents and two giant Asiatic black bears carried out their respective roles more diligently than ever.
Kang Yeon-ah had even personally named the two bears Yongbi and Danbi.
"Kkuwong, kkwueong."
"Kkueoeong-!"
As if they both liked their new names, the two creatures let out soft cries, belying their massive size.
However, with a war now underway, it wasn't as if nothing had changed at Seong-hyeok's farm.
The biggest change of all was the direction of his territory's expansion as the bee swarms grew.
*Bzzzz- Bzzzz-*
*Buzzzzzzzzz-*!
Previously, he had expanded his territory in a circle centered on the farm. Now, he was focused on a single direction.
He was extending in a straight line from the forest toward the city.
His plan was to personally deal with a certain number of the invading Chinese players, along with hunting monsters.
Of course, such a situation would lead to an increase in bee casualties, but Seong-hyeok hadn't altered his expansion method without a plan.
[Tricolor Honey Wax Turret (★★★-) has been completed.]
Finally, a turret was complete.
Unlike typical turrets made of steel or alloy, this one was made of wax and was quite adorable in size. However, underestimating it would be a grave mistake.
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[Tricolor Honey Wax Turret (★★★-)]
* Category: Structure
* The turret's direction can be freely adjusted.
* The firing rate increases with the number of nearby bees.
※ Honey Fuel: Filling it with honey adds extra damage to bombardments.
* Health: 13,500
* Attack Power: 800 ~ 1,500 Defense: 150 Magic Resistance: 70
* Durability: 550 / 550
* Description: A ★★★-grade Tricolor Honey Wax Turret crafted through a special method. Its durability and effects have been enhanced with three types of wax and propolis, and it is bound with bee cocoons.
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A remarkable 3-star-grade rating, attack power to match, and a rather unique effect called 'Honey Fuel,' as expected of something completed by elite bees.
Furthermore, its true terror lay in its synergy with the other bees.
[Ruby Gem Scout Bee (★★★-) attempts to scout.]
[Monster discovered!]
[Monster discovered!]
…….
Expanding territory inevitably meant encountering monsters.
As if on cue, a scout bee was the first to spot them. Seong-hyeok relayed the information through Bee Link, and a systematic command was instantly issued to the bees via pheromones.
*Bzzzz- Bzzzz-!*
*Buzzz-buzz-buzz-!*
A second, more detailed command was given by Geonchug-i, who was positioned near the turret, using 'Commander's Command.'
In response, the bees moved with a sharp, disciplined precision reminiscent of soldiers, loading a prepared venom bomb into the turret.
What followed was remarkably simple.
The turret's head swiveled toward the area where the scout bee had spotted the monsters.
*Thwump- Whoooooosh-*
Somehow operated by the bees, the venom bomb was fired.
It flew with an acceleration incomparable to when a normal bee simply dropped it, letting out a vicious, air-tearing sound as it shot straight toward its target.
*BOOOOOM---!!!*
[You have hunted a Level 15 Foothill Goblin Warrior (★★). You have acquired experience, 115 Coins, and a Foothill Goblin's Tusk (★★).]
[You have hunted a Level 14 Foothill Goblin Warrior (★★). You have acquired experience, 98 Coins, and a Foothill Goblin's Hide (★★).]
[You have hunted a Level 13 Foothill Goblin Scout (★★). You have acquired experience, 82 Coins, and a Foothill Goblin's Hide (★★).]
…….
The destructive power was unthinkable for a toy-like wax turret.
“……”
As a stream of notifications announced his successful hunt, Seong-hyeok turned his head with a dazed expression. Did it sense his gaze?
*Buzzzzzzzzz-*!
Geonchug-i, the creator of the Tricolor Honey Wax Turret.
As if asking for praise, it flew over to Seong-hyeok and rubbed its fluffy, golden bottom against him.
* * * * *
After witnessing the power of the wax turrets that Geonchug-i could build, Seong-hyeok focused on adding more of them through Queen Bee Resonance.
But as the saying goes, there are always problems when trying to get anything done.
The wax turrets boasted powerful effects, but they also required a lot of resources.
[Imperial Topaz Architect Commander Bee (★★★★) uses the skill, Wax Turret Construction (Lv.2).]
[5,000 Imperial Topaz Worker Bees will join the task.]
[400 Mana will be consumed.]
First, the 5,000 bees required for construction were unable to gather honey or participate in combat during that period.
[180 pieces of wax are required to construct this wax turret.]
[10 pieces of propolis and 500 bee cocoons will be used for added durability and flexibility.]
Second was the enormous amount of wax required.
Although Seong-hyeok's beekeeping skills had grown incomparably and his honey harvesting cycle had shortened thanks to the increased number of bees, this demand was still substantial.
Wax was harvested in smaller quantities than honey, and he had to remember that it was an essential material for crafting candles, an important combat supply.
'No choice. I'll just have to work for it.'
But he had no intention of just complaining about the current situation.
As they say, if you don't have teeth, chew with your gums.
If one resource ran low, he just had to adapt accordingly.
He reduced the number of wax candles he sold on the marketplace and, in turn, ramped up his harvesting from the beehives.
[Great Success in Harvesting!]
[The Authority of a Bountiful Mindset has been activated.]
[You have acquired 77 Imperial Topaz Honey (★★+).]
[You have acquired 14 Imperial Topaz Wax (★★+).]
[You have acquired 7 Imperial Topaz Royal Jelly (★★★-).]
[You have acquired 3 Imperial Topaz Propolis (★★★).]
…….
On top of that, the 'Bountiful Mindset' authority activated with every harvest.
It was a somewhat random effect that increased the yield by 3%, but if it meant gaining even one extra high-grade byproduct like wax or royal jelly, the benefit was far greater than a simple value of '1'.
Considering the experience gained with each successful harvest and the additional experience from processing these byproducts, the benefit wasn't just additive; it was multiplicative—an extreme gain!
'I'm truly grateful to Su-hee.'
The same would have applied to Yeon Su-hee.
Considering the judgment she had shown so far, she must have known all this, yet she had yielded to him.
Moreover, given Prepion's reaction at the time and how she had acted in Seong-hyeok's favor despite being a vessel, he couldn't help but feel genuinely thankful.
'Since I've received so much, there's no way I can lose to someone like the Emperor.'
Seong-hyeok and his bees were the main combat force of the farm, armed with wax turrets and various other weapons.
Just as he was about to hurry his preparations to deal with the Chinese server's players and the endlessly respawning monsters he would eventually face…
[The Transcendent Being, Shadow Empress Rehurin, respectfully requests that you unblock messages to allow a brief conversation with her vessel, the Silent Harvester.]
Silent Harvester.
An old family member from the orphanage, now a vessel, was requesting to speak with him.