RUSTLE.
Ink Orchid pulled open the Spider Silk Bag, devising a strategy for Dragon Cypress. She said, "Dragon Cypress, you first dig out a Cypress Life Seed and keep it in the Spider Silk Bag. I'll help you move it!"
"Ink Orchid, there's no need for such trouble." Dragon Cypress paused for two seconds, then said, "Ink Orchid, have you noticed the Outworld Civilization Artifact in my Ant Nest?"
"I've noticed…" Ink Orchid replied. "That must be your secret, right? If you don't bring it up, it wouldn't be right for me to ask."
As she spoke, Ink Orchid asked joyfully and expectantly, "Dragon Cypress, are you going to tell me?"
"Of course. It's not some unspeakable secret."
Dragon Cypress said, "Its name is 'Dominating Throne', and its main function… to put it simply, is 'egg production'."
"Egg production?"
Ink Orchid was confused upon hearing this.
"That's right."
Dragon Cypress explained, "It extracts energy and nutrients from my body to produce Ant Eggs. This is an artifact from an Outworld Civilization called 'Creator', designed in imitation of our Ant Clan. Currently, its egg production rate is far lower than that of a female Ant King."
Dragon Cypress paused again, then sighed, "But it's not bad. At least I can have some helpers to manage my Territory."
Ink Orchid was even more puzzled.
"Dragon Cypress! Wait!"
"Dragon Cypress, the Ant Eggs in your nest are…"
"Produced by the Dominating Throne."
"Two of them?"
"Only two for now."
"What about the Ant Eggs that you produced yourself? Aren't you an Ant King?"
Dragon Cypress was taken aback. "I'm a male Ant King. How can a male Ant King produce eggs?"
Ink Orchid asked, "Male Ant Kings can't produce eggs?"
Dragon Cypress replied, "Ink Orchid, does your Inherited Memory mention anything about male Ant Kings being able to lay eggs?"
Ink Orchid said, "It doesn't say... but it also doesn't say that male Ant Kings *can't* lay eggs."
Ink Orchid had a realization and said, "The information in the Inherited Memory is incomplete! It only mentions that Ant Kings and Bee Kings can build their Kingdoms by laying eggs, but it doesn't specify that they have to be female."
Dragon Cypress remained silent.
Ink Orchid exclaimed, "WOW! What a powerful Outworld Civilization Artifact!"
Dragon Cypress said, "Ink Orchid, the Dominating Throne also has some minor additional functions; let me show you."
After saying this, he dived into the Ant Nest, first taking the two Ant Eggs placed on the seat cushion and placing them in a nest. Then, he manipulated the Dominating Throne to shrink in size and flew out of the Ant Nest.
"It can get smaller? And it can fly! It doesn't have wings..."
Ink Orchid was astonished but, having heard Dragon Cypress describe various powerful Outworld Civilization Artifacts, she wasn't entirely surprised.
"Yes!"
"Its actual body is much larger! Ink Orchid, let's move over there a bit."
Dragon Cypress controlled the Throne, moving away from the Ant Nest's exit. At his thought, the Dominating Throne began to expand continuously, quickly reaching its limit, becoming a giant sphere exceeding four meters in diameter.
It was made of metal and was heavy.
However, its base automatically generated an invisible layer of Primordial Energy support, dispersing the immense pressure so it wouldn't damage the soft earth beneath, and it could remain stable on any terrain.
"WOW!"
"WOW!"
"WOW!"
Ink Orchid looked up at it, exclaiming in wonder, "Dragon Cypress, can it still fly after it grows so big?"
"Of course..."
Dragon Cypress continued, "It's probably because I'm too weak right now; controlling it is incredibly draining, and it flies very slowly."
Ink Orchid asked, "Dragon Cypress, how do you control it?"
Dragon Cypress replied, "Spiritual power."
Ink Orchid immediately released her spiritual power to give it a try but got no response.
Dragon Cypress had also always been puzzled about how he had gained control of the Dominating Throne. He flapped his membranous wings, took flight, and landed on the hemispherical Round Bead on the backrest.
"Ink Orchid, this is the control core of the Dominating Throne; use your spiritual power to touch this spot."
"Oh!"
Ink Orchid did as instructed.
"Dragon Cypress, it's no use. Is there a trick to it?"
"It's not working? There are no tricks... want to try again?"
Ink Orchid tried two more times.
"Dragon Cypress, still no luck. Are you sure it's the right spot?"
"Positive!"
Dragon Cypress was very pleased, secretly delighting. Just as I guessed, he thought, high-end Outworld Civilization Artifacts have an authentication system. Now that the Dominating Throne is bound to me, only I can use it.
Dragon Cypress said, "Ink Orchid, no need to try anymore. It seems the Dominating Throne is bound to me; only I can use it."
"Oh..."
Ink Orchid, filled with envy, asked, "Dragon Cypress, is this a gift to you from Melde? Or did you earn it working for a Caravan?"
What a joke!
"Neither..."
Dragon Cypress said truthfully, "I salvaged it from the Starship Wreckage."
"Really?!"
"YAHOO!"
Upon hearing this, Ink Orchid jumped up with joy.
Dragon Cypress quickly added, "Ink Orchid, the Starship is enormous; it's vertically layered and a labyrinth. If you get lost inside, you'll inevitably be trapped and die. Don't enter it recklessly."
Fearing that Ink Orchid would impulsively rush off to the Starship looking for treasure, Dragon Cypress hurriedly added,
"Ink Orchid, once I've developed the ant colony and it's strong enough, we'll command the ant colony to explore the Starship. If we find another Dominating Throne then, it'll be yours."
Ink Orchid cheered in agreement, "Okay! Okay! Okay!"
Dragon Cypress said, "Ink Orchid, let's move first. Let's dig out the Cypress Life Seeds."
Ink Orchid replied, "I'll help you!"
The three Cypress Life Seed saplings, all planted this spring, had shallow roots. With Ink Orchid's help, it took half the morning to dig them out, soil and all, and load them onto the Dominating Throne.
Dragon Cypress packed the meat jerky reserved for the winter and the fourth Life Seed into a Spider Silk Bag.
Finally, he carefully moved the two Ant Eggs out and placed them on the soft cushion at the back of the Throne.
Once everything was ready, Ink Orchid also hopped onto the soft cushion of the Throne, and they slowly flew south.
They set off in the morning and didn't reach the mountain range until nightfall.
At their chosen spot on the mountains' mid-level, they dug holes through the night and planted the three Cypress Life Seed saplings.
They returned to Ink Orchid's cave to rest for the morning.
In the afternoon, Dragon Cypress began to excavate the cliff face to carve out the Ant Nest.
Dragon Cypress dug.
Ink Orchid helped outside, carrying away the excavated rock fragments.
They were busy for two days, and the first storage room was roughly carved out. The Ant Eggs were temporarily placed inside while he continued to dig deeper.
An ant's nests are quite particular: they must be well-ventilated yet retain warmth and humidity. Straight tunnels were out; only winding paths would do.
On the third day, the weather turned foul, and it began to drizzle.
The drizzle turned into a fine rain. The sky was overcast and gloomy; the rain, finer than a cow's hair, drifted continuously.
The Giant-Headed Ants thrived in this sort of damp climate.
After seven days of hard work, Dragon Cypress finally carved out the 'bedroom'.
The Ant Eggs were moved to a deeper, warmer nest.
Not wanting to delay any longer, Dragon Cypress activated the Messenger function of the Dominating Throne, again choosing 'Producer: Agriculture'.
Dragon Cypress needed a batch of Worker Ants to care for the Life Seeds and the Ant Eggs that would be continuously produced.
The digging of the Ant Nest continued. It took another seven days to complete the 'Hatchery', which led deep into the mountain.
By this time, the first two Ant Eggs had hatched into Larvae, which needed to be fed at regular intervals.
Ink Orchid, having been promised that they would 'command the ant colony to explore the Starship together, and if another Dominating Throne was found, it would be hers,' had been helping Dragon Cypress all along.
Now that the Ant Nest was excavated, she also helped care for the three Cypress Life Seeds and descended the mountain to hunt punctually each day, bringing back fresh food.
Of course, in his spare time, Dragon Cypress generously shared stories of his various continental travels with Ink Orchid, as well as techniques for managing a Territory not found in her Inherited Memory.