Chapter 273: Chapter 273

“In that case, why don’t you tell me about your dungeon? What sort of rooms do you have, and what sort of flowers? And what sort of bees? Especially the bees! I’ve not seen bees like these ones before! They appear to be a monster variant of honeybee, specialized for combat, perhaps, based on the chitin and stingers. Fascinating! Oh, I’m getting carried away, aren’t I? Of course, you only need show me as much of your dungeon as you are comfortable with, I do not mean to intrude.”

Tarwantrad had apparently been holding back until confirming he’d keep the door open, and now she unleashed a flood of questions. Belissar blinked as he raced to keep up.

“No, it’s fine. Yeah, these are monster bee soldiers, raised by the hive to protect the Tower, or dungeon?”

“Each people has their own name for them. The Compact took to calling them dungeons as a common name the dungeons themselves use, but please feel free to use whatever name is most familiar to you.”

Belissar shook his head.

“I see. It’s just…there’s a lot I don’t know about dungeons. I was just a peasant beekeeper before this.”

Tarwantrad tilted her head.

“Yes, I too spent a few decades on various pursuits before taking up a dungeon, but I think that’s not what you’re saying? Did your people not intend for you to take up their defense?”

“Ah, that could explain it. If your bees were already touched by mana, then they’d be more receptive to it in general. I would guess that having the God of Bees as your patron is also having a significant influence here.”

Belissar thought about his blessing and the Tower stepped in to help. He focused in on a specific line.

- Bee monster upgrades and evolutions are now cheaper and easier to unlock

He nodded back to Tarwantrad.

“Yes, it says the blessing of bees makes it easier for bee monsters to evolve.”

Tarwantrad nodded, then spent a few minutes in silence before snapping up to look at him again.

“I see. Am I correct in assuming your dungeon is centered around bees as its main defenders, with flowers as a Enjoy reading on NovelHub - your free online novel platform.

“Got it. In that case, I can definitely help you. Would you mind telling me what sort of flowers you have and what kind of bees have resulted?”

For a brief moment, Belissar considered how much of his Tower he should share about before shrugging it off. He was already trusting Tarwantrad with an open door to his Tower at this point and she apparently wanted to help him fight off the Tower Lords. The more he shared about his flowers and bees, the more useful the flower she would give him would be.

Besides, the way her eyes lit up whenever he described his bees made him want to share more about them.

“Well, we started with normal flowers like dandelions and lilies, but then my bees found some mana flowers. Those are their favorite, I think monster bees need mana in their honey so they prefer plants that have it in their nectar. I got some kind of healing herbs, poisonous flowers, and flax from a basic resource plant feature.”

Tarwantrad nodded along.

“A good way to get started if you don’t have access to a decent variety, though I have better results with those I raise myself.”

Belissar rubbed his chin for a second.

“That’s true for us too, with the cross-pollination and all.”

Tarwantrad turned her gaze to him once again, leaning so far forward the bees began to buzz.

“Did you say, cross-pollination? As in, you’ve raised new cultivars by your bees cross-pollinating them. Your mana-filled monster bees foraging from mana flowers?”

Belissar took a step back out of reflex.

“Y-Yes? I, uh, got a perk for it and my bees have been using it to raise new flower types. Mostly mana-filled versions of the special normal flowers, like the healing herbs. Oh, that’s also how we got fire mana flowers, come to think of it. They cross-pollinated the mana flowers with flame radish.”

Tarwantrad’s eyes went as wide as they would go. She then shut them close, clasped her hands in front of her, and took a deep breath, exhaling it very slowly. She opened her eyes again to once again stare intently at Belissar, causing him to take yet another step back. She winced when she saw that and her face softened.

“Sorry, I did not mean to frighten you. I was overwhelmed by the sheer possibilities of what you’ve described to me. Mana-touched bees that can evolve based on the characteristics of the plants they forage from, and who can in turn raise new types of plants by cross-pollinating them.”

Her gaze turned intent once again, though she made sure to smile this time, and did not lean forward.

“Belissar, after the first flower I offer you, we must arrange an exchange. What your bees could do for my dungeon and what your bees could do for yours with my flowers…I think there is no limit for either of our dungeons’ growth were we to cooperate.”

Belissar, however, frowned.

“I…can definitely see the potential. But, it sounds like you’re saying we should trade monsters?”

Tarwantrad nodded. Belissar glanced up at Niobee and the bees all around him before continuing.

“I…would have to think about that. I wouldn’t want to make any of my bees move out of their home. I know they’d do it if I asked, so I’d have to figure how to find out if any of them would be willing…”