Free Web NovelChapter 146: Future Planning (2)
Kira’s voice interrupted his thoughts as she reentered the room, "What are you doing? You’re supposed to be resting, you know?"
With a slight start, he swiftly closed the box containing the Queen’s essence and concealed it from view, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention.
Caught off guard, Shinon attempted to appear casual as he responded to Kira’s inquiry. "Oh, it’s nothing," he remarked, adopting a nonchalant tone.
He reached into his inventory and retrieved one of the remaining insectoid eggs, feigning indifference. "Just some insectoid eggs that I had to give to Nova for her research."
Kira’s gaze narrowed suspiciously, studying Shinon intently. Her eyes seemed to betray a glimmer of curiosity, sensing that there might be more to his actions than he was letting on.
Shinon couldn’t help but feel a tinge of unease, knowing that Kira had a knack for detecting when something was amiss. Deciding to divert her attention, Shinon extended the insectoid egg towards Kira.
"Hey, do you want one? They might come in handy for your own experiments," he offered, hoping to shift the focus away from his concealed activities as he pushed the Queen’s essence back inside his domain.
However, Kira’s response caught him off guard. She tilted her head, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"What would I do with an insectoid egg? I’m no scientist, Shinon. I’m just a farmer at best because of my abilities," she replied with a hint of perplexity.
Shinon’s attempt to divert her attention had backfired, and he realised he needed to think on his feet to maintain his cover. He scratched his head, trying to come up with a plausible explanation.
"Well, you never know," he replied, feigning nonchalance. "Maybe you could try using it as manure or some new crop fertilisation methods. Who knows, it might yield interesting results."
Kira’s gaze softened as she considered Shinon’s suggestion, her curiosity piqued.
"Hmm, that’s actually not a bad idea," she mused, a glimmer of interest in her eyes. "Perhaps I could experiment with using insectoid eggs as natural fertilisers. It could improve the quality of the crops." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Relieved that his diversion had worked, at least for now, Shinon nodded, a small smile on his lips.
"See, I knew you’d find a use for them," he remarked, relieved that Kira’s suspicions seemed to have been momentarily assuaged.
As Kira’s attention shifted to the potential experiments she could conduct with the insectoid eggs, especially their shells, Shinon discreetly pushed the box containing the Queen’s essence further into his inventory, ensuring it was securely hidden.
He didn’t want anyone, especially Kira, stumbling upon it when he had no idea where or how he got it or what the thing was capable of.
While Kira busied herself with thoughts of agricultural experiments, Shinon’s mind raced, contemplating his next moves. Well, he had a sort of plan ready in his mind.
He just needed to repair the stuff he had been using and hope for the best once he entered the dungeon. Either that or he could take something available around his location. After all, his map was the biggest weapon in his arsenal.
Lost in his thoughts, Shinon was startled when Nova suddenly entered the room. She had a tired look yet was ready to perform routine checks on his condition. However, her gaze quickly shifted to Kira, who held an insectoid egg in her hand.
A flicker of excitement sparked in Nova’s eyes as she recognised the object. She couldn’t contain her joy, realising that Shinon had brought back something she desperately wanted.
The insectoid problem had been a growing concern, and Nova had been racking her brain to find a viable countermeasure.
Her voice filled with enthusiasm; Nova exclaimed, "Shinon, you’ve brought an insectoid egg! This is just what I needed! We’ve been worrying about handling the growing infestation, and I can finally conduct experiments to find a suitable solution."
Shinon’s surprise was evident as he exchanged glances with Kira. He hadn’t expected Nova’s reaction to be so ecstatic.
Nova practically skipped over to Kira, her eyes filled with anticipation. "These eggs will prove to be invaluable. Thank you, Kira!"
"I-I didn’t do anything," Kira, caught off guard by Nova’s excitement, stammered, "But, um, you’re welcome. I didn’t realise they would be so useful to you."
Nova’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Shinon couldn’t help but feel a surge of hope. If Nova could find a way to counter the insectoid threat, it could significantly improve their chances of survival.
"Well, I sure hope you deliver us some good news soon," Shinon smiled, watching Nova act like a child on Christmas.
He watched as Nova carefully took the egg from Kira’s hands, cradling it as if it were a precious gem.
"Don’t worry," Nova reassured them, her voice brimming with determination. "I will make sure to find a solution to this insectoid problem. We can turn the tide in our favour with the right experiments and research."
However, just then, an idea hit Shinon. Nova was so happy that she might be more willing to share information with him without realising it. It was a risky move, but it could prove quite rewarding.
Shinon turned to Nova. "Do you think there’s anything else we can use in our current location? Any resources or materials that might assist us?"
Nova’s eyes twinkled with excitement as she contemplated his question. freewebnσvel.cøm
"Well, the settlement does have some mining operations nearby," she replied thoughtfully. "There might be valuable ores or minerals that could be useful. Additionally, you could explore the surrounding wilderness for rare plants or creatures possessing unique properties."
Nodding in response to Nova’s suggestion, Shinon feigned curiosity.
"Mining operations, you say? That does sound intriguing. I wonder what kind of ores or minerals we might find. Are there any particular resources that could be beneficial to our cause?"
Nova’s excitement grew, her scientific curiosity piqued by Shinon’s interest. "Oh, definitely!" she exclaimed. "There are rumours of a rare mineral called Lunarisite that possesses unique magical properties."
Shinon’s eyes gleamed with hidden excitement. The mention of Lunarisite was a revelation. He hadn’t expected such a significant discovery to be within their reach.
It seemed that fate was aligning in his favour as those ores could probably be used to imbue gears with unique properties.
’Looks like I’d have to talk with the general about it... hehe.’
