Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire-Chapter 169 : The art of diplomacy

Just as I thought, nothing had interrupted my peaceful bonding time with my wife and daughters.

Bad news fell on my head only when I declared the picnic to be over and flew back to Hive Supremo with Ambrosia in tow. My other Advisers stayed behind to do some more administrative work before the train rolled too far.

Only five minutes after I dismissed my bodyguards and was about to plan my next genetic advancement, when Bloodhero caught up to me, flying so fast she almost crashed into my back.

"Father! A report—the green giants have been found!"

I almost forgot to beat my wings.

"Sorry, Amby, it looks like the gene upgrade and celebratory horizontal gene transfer will have to wait. Bloodhero, the details!"

***

The details were provided by a palpably anxious Beehound Hound-Solo.

I brought her to the privacy of the Council Chamber and told all Attendants to stay outside, but the girl still shook with anxiety as she spoke.

Hound-Solo gave the exact details that I needed after one brief flight that was only *near* the human village. How many columns of smoke rose from its chimney, how many roofs there were, what did the area around look like from Woe's back.

Thanks to the Beehound's perfect memory, even if she didn't understand the significance of details, I could pluck them out of her.

"So this really is just a singular village, and a small one. How many people live there—a hundred? Two hundred? Could be way less. Thank you for your answers, Hound-Solo. A nice name, by the way, I like it. Now, get a good rest and wait for your squad."

The girl adorably blushed scarlet, silently saluted and dashed out of the Council Chamber like her wings were on fire. I chuckled and turned to the Council itself.

"It doesn't seem like there's a lot of trade or farming happening around, so they probably hunt for food a lot. And of course, they have no militia to speak about. I feared we might live near a proper town, and then we might as well dig our graves now."

"If the giants have no dedicated warriors, dealing with them will be easy! Father, you said three hundred regular bees can sting a giant to death. We have thousands that will fight for the Empire! Thousands of thousands! And they already know that the monsters can be defeated, and *how* to do it," Bloodhero said.

Ambrosia nodded in support.

"As long as we are ready for their advancement, I don't think the giants will be a major danger. They are the sort of beasts that would normally fear our sting. The only problem… to warn us about a danger, the scouts we place to watch for it must be faster than the danger. But giants walk too quickly."

"There are dragon riders, Mother-Queen," Bloodhero countered.

I shook my head.

"You are underestimating them! They are as smart as us and have way more tools at their disposal! The last time they weren't ready for us themselves, but eventually, they *will* be ready."

"Then we don't have to fight them, Father. We can survive without their resources," Researchina said.

"No, we can't!" Things-Things protested, shaking her fists. "The iron reserves are running low; the remains not taken for research are being used for pickaxes and nails. But those are running out, too, and gold is pretty, but way too soft! The brass has run out long ago, too."

Workharder nodded in support.

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"That's right! We deserve this stuff way more than some monsters, and we *can* take it! And we should."

I suppressed an urge to let out the largest sigh I ever had.

Humans usually wanted gold, and we wanted everything they had down to their bones. Neither of us understood or liked the other kind.

"And here I hoped that just maybe, since the humans didn't attack again, we can come up to some peaceful agreement. Trade. Exchange honey for metal, or something."

My Advisers looked at me like I grew a second head.

After a long pause, Researchina finally asked:

"Like with black dragons? You want to tame them, Father? But they already showed their hostile and dangerous nature. Why should we even *try* reasoning with them?"

"That's right. Father, dragons at least don't make their insultingly ugly copy of our items! And dragons *look* less ugly, too!" Workharder added.

I narrowed my eyes.

These brats! No, I had to draw the line. Curb the xenophobia at least a little, for all our sakes.

"It doesn't matter how ugly they are. On what you call a silly, empathic level, they are just as valid as us. They have feelings and whatever. But in the practical sense that you can understand much better, they belong to an empire that's much larger than ours. If we only fight it, we will be destroyed within days. So, for the Empire, you must learn the art of diplomacy!"

My speech turned skeptical and disgusted looks into those of cautious curiosity.

"Diplomacy?" Researchina asked.

Emboldened, I raised my finger in the teaching manner that caused a Pavlovian reflex—everybody held their breath, waiting for more of my wisdom.

Well, except Ambrosia. She just tilted her head to the side.

And the wisdom I had to spare—more than ever, now that I could recall not only personal experiences in strategic games but also actual history lessons from school.

"Listen to me, girls. Diplomacy is like conquering, but much more sly, and works only on someone smart enough to be tricked. It's all done without much bloodshed, or any at all. Sometimes, the other person doesn't even know they are being conquered!"

"But… how?" Bloodhero asked with utter lack of comprehension.

"Oh, there are as many ways about it as with regular conquering. But like regular conquering, it all begins with having a bigger army than your opponent!"

Bloodhero gasped with realization.

"This… this is brilliant, Father! And we already have a great army, so we can diplomacy them! Eh… After you explain the details, of course."

"Of course." I nodded sagely. "Listen here to your dear dad's wisdom…"