Inside the study of the Lord's Mansion in Black Tortoise City, the faint scent of ink and parchment filled the air. Luciel sat behind his desk, sleeves rolled up, a brush poised in his hand as he studied the map spread before him.

He was planning his next move—how to stir up a sensation large enough to lure the people of Amestris City into the new commercial street for trade.

But so far, no one had come.

"Still nothing?" Mino's soft voice broke the silence. The young woman entered the study, her long ears twitching slightly as she carried in a tray of steaming tea. Her blue eyes shimmered with worry. "Do you think they're afraid of us?"

Luciel set the brush down and leaned back, exhaling. "Afraid? Yes, they're scared," he said mildly. "That's exactly the problem."

He glanced out the window toward the distant city beyond the massive shell of the Black Tortoise. "If we want them to come to us, we'll have to go to them first—to Amestris City. Promote it ourselves."

Mino's eyes brightened with curiosity. "Who are you planning to send?"

She had her own motives—ever since leaving the Tenth-Floor City in haste, she'd been hoping for another chance to find her "Big Sis." If they were really going to Amestris City again, maybe this time she could.

Luciel tapped his finger on the wooden desk thoughtfully. "Our people don't know Amestris well enough," he said. "And Elara's team… their identities are too special. If they went, their presence alone could expose who they really are."

He paused. The ink on the parchment shimmered under the lamplight.

"In the worst case," he continued, "if they were recognized, it could spark another battle. And once that happens, you can forget about anyone ever coming here to trade."

He gave a faint, humorless smile. "Or we could just raid Amestris City outright… but then, Black Tortoise's reputation would be ruined for good. We'd become nothing more than mercenary guards for hire."

Mino frowned. "Then what should we do?" she asked softly.

Luciel rubbed his temple. He hadn't slept much these days—too much work, too many decisions to make. The entire success of the commercial street depended on him.

After a moment, his expression lightened. "I've thought of someone."

Mino tilted her head. "Who?"

"Illyi," Luciel said, a small smile playing on his lips. "The woman who traded with us in Tenth-Floor City. She's well known, good with people, and trusted among merchants. If she helps us promote the new street, the people of Amestris will come flocking to it."

Mino's eyes lit up. "Oh! That's perfect." Then she added quietly, "Maybe she can help me look for Big Sis, too."

Before Luciel could reply, a familiar voice came from outside the study door—cold and steady.

"Luciel, we're back."

Elara.

Luciel straightened immediately. "Come in," he called.

The door creaked open. Elara and Alina stepped inside first, both still in light armor dusted with dirt and leaves. Behind them came a third woman, her presence quiet and composed—Yanlu, the one they'd risked so much to rescue.

"Nothing happened, I hope?" Luciel asked.

"No." Elara shook her head.

She stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Yanlu's shoulder. "This is our captain—Yanlu."

Luciel's eyes softened. "Welcome," he said warmly.

Yanlu nodded slightly, her violet eyes calm but distant. "Thank you… for taking them in. For helping my people."

Luciel waved it off gently. "They've helped me plenty in return."

Alina stepped forward with a grin, setting down the bundle she'd been carrying like a child presenting a treasure. "Luciel, we found something good!"

"Oh?" Luciel raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

"When we passed by the ruins of the flying corpse's house," Elara explained, "we found a few things worth keeping."

She set a small wooden box on the desk.

Luciel leaned forward curiously. "What's inside?"

"Flying insects," Elara said, removing her helmet. Her long white hair spilled down her shoulders like silk.

"Flying insects?" Luciel repeated, interest flickering in his eyes.

Yanlu had been watching him closely. She expected to see the same reaction she had seen from others before—fear, disgust, suspicion at the sight of an infected white-haired woman. But Luciel's expression didn't change. He only looked thoughtful.

Elara brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "You'll see."

Luciel lifted the lid.

Inside was a small iron cage—and within it, several buzzing figures.

His eyes widened in recognition. "Bees?"

The creatures inside looked remarkably similar to the bees he once knew from the other side of the world—dark heads and bodies ringed with yellow-brown bands, covered in soft gray fuzz.

Alina leaned over the desk, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What's a bee?" she asked, resting her chin on her hands.

Yanlu glanced at her incredulously. This pink-haired girl was far too casual for someone who'd just faced a monster.

"Bees," Luciel explained, "are good creatures. They make something called honey."

Mino's eyes widened with excitement. "Honey! You mentioned that before—when you taught me about sweeteners for recipes."

"That's right," Luciel said, smiling faintly. "Honey's a natural sugar. Sweet, healthy, and powerful for restoring energy. Back when I served in the field, it was our favorite ration."

"Sweet?" Alina perked up immediately. "I want to try it."

Luciel chuckled. "You'll get your chance soon enough."

He unlatched the small iron cage. "Let's take a closer look."

But as soon as the door creaked open, one of the bees darted out.

A flash of silver streaked through the air—thin as silk.

A thread of spider silk wrapped the insect mid-flight, halting it instantly.

Luciel snapped the cage shut again. "Alright. Let's begin domestication."

He focused, and the familiar voice of the system echoed in his mind:

> Ding! Level 0 lifeform detected – Black Bee. Domesticate?

"Yes. Evolve directly to Level Five."

> Ding! Domestication successful.

Ding! Evolving from Level 1 to Level 5. Deducting 11,110 Domestication Points…

Ding! Evolution complete – Queen Bee obtained.

Ding! Inherit talent 'Sky Queen Contract'?

"Inherit," Luciel commanded.

For a moment, light pulsed through the cage—then a radiant hum filled the study.

> Ding! Talent inheritance complete: 'Queen Bee Contract'.

When the light faded, a massive golden bee stood where the small insect had been. Its body gleamed like burnished amber, lined with dark rings. The air vibrated with the deep, rhythmic buzz of its wings.

Luciel blinked, astonished. The creature was nearly two meters long, and its stinger looked sharp enough to pierce steel.

"Stop!" he shouted quickly. "Don't move your wings!"

The gust from its movement had already scattered papers all over the room.

The Queen Bee obeyed instantly, landing gracefully on the floorboards.

Luciel exhaled. "Good. That's better."

He studied it closely. "From now on, you'll build your hive on the cliff wall outside the city," he instructed.

The Queen Bee chirped—a resonant, harmonious hum—and lowered its head in acknowledgment.

Luciel ran a hand through his hair, a weary smile tugging at his lips. "Good thing I didn't evolve you to Level Six," he muttered. "I'd never be able to feed you."

He flipped through his notes. The new data appeared automatically in his records. The Queen Bee possessed the 'Queen Bee Contract' ability, and, much like the Shining Beetle, had an extraordinary reproductive capacity.

A Level 5 Queen Bee could produce ten Level 4 worker bees. Each of those could spawn a hundred Level 3s, a thousand Level 2s, and ten thousand Level 1 workers.

Luciel frowned. "That's over ten thousand bees in total…"

He rubbed the back of his neck, thinking. "If there aren't enough flowers for nectar, they'll starve. We'll need a massive source of pollen."

In other words—Black Tortoise could barely sustain that many for now. Unless the rock turtle itself evolved and expanded, he'd have to limit the population.

He sighed, already calculating the logistics in his mind. "We'll need to plant flowering crops immediately. Rows and rows of them."

He leaned against the desk and looked at the Queen Bee again, her golden carapace shining in the lamplight.

"My air force," he murmured with a faint grin.

At two meters long, she could already carry a person. If she ever reached Level Six—or higher—she could command an entire swarm large enough to serve as an aerial army.

The possibilities made his pulse quicken.

But for now, there was the practical side to handle—feeding, sheltering, and training an entire colony of bees.

Luciel closed the study window as the Queen Bee folded her wings. Outside, the sky was beg

inning to darken.

A new kind of domesticated beast had been born—one that could change everything.

And like all things rare and precious, it would not be easily attained.

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