〔For improving endurance, you have a choice of next genes: '〔Increased Fertility V->VI', 'Improved Immunity IV->V (MAX)', and 'Sweat'.〕
〔Increased Fertility V->VI: +120% to fertility.〕
〔Improved Immunity IV->V (MAX): reduces chances of falling ill or suffering infections by 100%.〕
〔Sweat: increases stamina recovery by 200% and heat resistance by 20%, but increases the need for hydration for up to 200% based on exertion.〕
I was ready to jump around and dance with joy. All other curious genes aside, I was about to approach immunity to illness for my wife and future daughters…
Still, something nagged at me. This couldn't be so easy. A gene with only five tiers to reach total immunity? So I asked these questions to the system.
'Yes, this gene will bring your base chance of falling ill to 0%. However, other creatures might have genes that will let them bypass your immunity.'
Ah, I knew it! If I had defenses against sickness, bacteria and such would have a way to penetrate them.
I chose the gene anyway.
Now, my attribute points were spent, but on a good side, I got as much immunity for everybody as I could.
"And now I can update morphotypes with telepathy, too!" I realized.
"Mhm… Wonderful, Necty," Ambrosia said. Whatever strength she had before was evaporating in front of my eyes. Her body went slack and her voice grew drowsier and drowsier. "Come to my side…"
I did, but only to touch her forehead. Of course, I was running a slight fever myself, but her forehead still felt too hot.
I frowned. At which point I was supposed to bring the temperature down, and at which I better leave it to run its course?
"If the medicine works—and it worked on you, Father, so it likely will—then Mother-Queen will feel slightly better in a few hours," Tabletina said quietly, as if reading my thoughts and worries.
"Thank you." I nodded to her and moved my hand to Ambrosia's palm. It wasn't sweaty, just hot and too dry. I hold it between my hands. "Amby, you will be better in a few hours, but I really don't think I should tire you even just a little until you do. Actually… maybe you should take a nap."
She looked like she would fall asleep at any moment, anyway.
"Only for a short while. You can… do the morphotypes for now? I will rejoin you soon, Necty. I must do my part…"
Ambrosia yawned softly and blinked. I could tell she won't stay awake for long.
This is exactly what happened.
Not five minutes after Tabletina left us alone, and I began pondering over morphotypes, Ambrosia was sleeping soundly.
Sharing my genes with her right now definitely wasn't an option. I heard (only heard, I swear!) that there were people aroused by the idea of having sex with a sleeping partner, but I wasn't one of them.
Also, Ambrosia *really* needed her rest. Having stamina too low for too long would only decrease her health.
A large part of me wanted to join her and sleep too, but I pressed on.
The morphotypes of Beemarines and Beehounds now could have 'Telepathy V', which would improve their—and the Empire's—communication drastically.
Meanwhile, I still had 9 points left after maxing the immunity gene in my morphotype, and it wasn't even a question where I would put them.
Into telepathy, first of all! It maxed up at the 10th tier, at which point…
〔Telepathy X (MAX): allows sending telepathic messages for up to 10 thousand kilometers, read surface thoughts at range of 1 kilometer, and read deeper thoughts at range of touch.〕
…my range became incredible. It covered the entire Empire—and much farther away! The range of thought reading increased, too. Thankfully, I already knew how to avoid hearing thoughts I didn't want to hear.
With 4 more gene points left, I also maxed out the 'Detachable Stingers' (surprisingly, its max tier was only 5th) and added 'Shootable Stinger II' to my morphotype. They fit well together.
〔Detachable Stinger V (MAX): allows stingers of bees to be detached from the body without a trauma. Lost stingers regrow almost instantaneously based on regeneration speed.〕
〔Shootable Stinger II: allows shooting the stinger to a distance of 60 meters.〕
Now I had a personal gun of incredibly deadly poison on me at all times!
Not that I felt any different physically after confirming all changes and saving my personal morphotype. But mentally, I could immediately tell that my telepathic potential grew thousandfold.
It was like stepping from a street to a noisy party. Everybody was talking at once… Dozens of thousands of people, and all within earshot.
I blocked them all out immediately.
But the realization of my new possibilities brought me renewed vigor which pushed away the weakness brought by my cold.
I didn't even need my Advisers—or anyone—in the next room to telepathically talk with them anymore. My receiving range easily covered the entire Hive Supremo!
I checked on Amby again, kissed her forehead (still hot, but not too hot… as far as I could tell) and went to my room, sat in front of my paperwork and relaxed.
It was hard to pick a single thought-voice in the sea that I was submerged to. But like with sending thoughts, it was mostly the matter of focusing on the people I wanted to speak with.
I imagined the faces of my Advisers in my mind, and their thoughts trickled in my head. I didn't listen too closely—just made sure I won't be distracting people from anything too attention-requiring.
'Girls,' I addressed them all together. 'I have good news… and bad news. And a lot of work to do!'
More resources would have to be spent on improving our medicine department and on finding the source of the sickness I caught. But we will find them somewhere, because the Bee Empire was still growing larger and larger every day.
And maybe I was getting too ambitious, or maybe that fever impaired my thinking somewhat, but I had an idea about where *really* we should expand now.
We had to prepare to conquer humans before their wars would reach us on their own!