The regulation prohibiting mobile phones in East Gorteau created an extremely critical hindrance at this moment.
Like the remaining time of a terminal patient, it was incredibly precious.
Even delivering the information one minute earlier could potentially change certain things.
However, Dafifi's group, who had followed regulations entering East Gorteau, did not carry mobile phones.
Including round-trip time, it would take at least ten days.
By the time the information was delivered, from recognition to execution, might take five days.
Layered actions, one upon another, would take who knows how much more time.
There was one thing Dafifi hadn't thoroughly understood.
Like those who came with him, he didn't know the location of the Chimera Ant's nest, didn't know the internal situation of the Chimera Ants, didn't know about the gestation of the three Royal Guards or the future King to be born.
However, he had a clear judgment of the potential threat of this matter, which is why he had Pokkle and Wayne set off overnight.
There was no fire in the cave, and the cave entrance was very concealed.
Ponzu curled up in a corner, her whole body submerged in darkness.
Her body was still weak, and her spirit hadn't broken free from the previous fear. She had the sign of falling seriously ill.
Dafifi stood sideways at the cave entrance, looking through the narrow opening at the deep, silent night outside, his eyes showing grave concern.
'If we had brought phones in...'
'There was no extra time now to dwell on this regrettable matter.'
'Since they were social creatures, there must be a nest.'
'So, where would the nest be...'
Those in the know were acting vigorously, while those not in the know were waiting quietly.
Time passed.
At the Chimera Ant's nest, there were two special areas.
One was the Chimera Ant Queen's chamber, the other was the place where the Royal Guards were gestating.
Similar to the gestation method of ordinary soldier ants and Squadron Leaders, reproductive ants hung upside down from the cave ceiling, forming hazy, veiled egg sacs covered in patterns. The gestating Royal Guard's embryos resided within.
Although the gestation method of the three Royal Guards wasn't particularly special, the nutrition provided for their gestation was far beyond what Squadron Leader-level Chimera Ants received.
As Royal Guards, their hierarchical level was determined from birth.
It was irrevocable, a predetermined nobility.
Besides the different nutritional level, compared to the birth of Squadron Leader-level Chimera Ants, there was another difference.
Squadron Leader-level Chimera Ants basically mixed with the genes of several humans, so they to some extent retained memories from their human lives. But the three Royal Guards had no such possibility.
During that embryonic gestation process, it was itself a meticulous selection.
From countless genes, extremely outstanding genes were automatically selected, then formed into a brand new, pure individual.
They would be born with many biological talents but wouldn't bear the influence of biological instincts, nor could they retain memories of being human.
They were new souls, truly life brought forth.
Carved deep into their souls was only one short phrase.
Live for the King, die for the King!
This was the birth process of the royal guards.
This gene selection wasn't artificial, nor mechanical, but unconscious.
The Queen didn't specifically decide anything. Among the tens of thousands of categories she had eaten, the desired result would automatically arrange itself.
Thus, time arrived.
In that Royal Guard's incubation chamber, one of the egg sacs from the three reproductive ants trembled.
Immediately after, the bottom of the egg sac like a blooming flower bud slowly opened.
A person covered in mucus fell out, landing steadily in a crouch.
"Meow, out we come."
The person who landed began with a cat's purr as an opening, followed by words tinged with a trace of curiosity.
Like other Chimera Ants, they weren't born in larval form but directly in mature form.
That person, accurately speaking, couldn't be completely called a human. It was just that human characteristics occupied over 80% of the physical form. To be blunt, it was a combination of human and cat.
He, or she, had short white hair, cat ears on the head, a white-fur-covered cat tail at the base.
The basic structure of the body was undoubtedly human, but the legs had special knee joints unique to insects. Seen up close, it also resembled wooden doll joints.
On that naked, petite body, there were no corresponding organs to indicate human gender. The lower body was smooth. The chest had two small bumps, but like the lower body, it was also smooth.
Based solely on this, gender couldn't be determined. But from the female voice spoken at the beginning, coupled with that exceedingly feminine, cute face, one's judgment would lean towards female.
"Neferpitou, that's the name I give you."
Inside the cave, apart from the first-born her, there were no other figures. At that moment, no sound came.
But the cat girl named Neferpitou heard a voice… accurately, the voice was transmitted directly into her head.
She knew it was telepathic communication, and that voice was the Queen's.
"Yes!"
Pitou made a ceremonial gesture towards a certain direction.
The Queen then fell silent, not commanding Pitou to do anything. Because, from the moment of birth, Pitou knew her mission clearly.
That was a mission that didn't need stating.
Before the King's birth, she was the Queen's Royal Guard. Her purpose for existence was to safeguard the King's birth.
After the King was born, as a Royal Guard, her object of allegiance would be only the King.
"Hmm."
Pitou extended her fingers with large knuckles, lightly pressing on her slightly curved lips, seeming to ponder something.
After a moment, she suddenly spun in place, flinging all the mucus off her body.
"Feels like something's missing."
Pitou suddenly reached out and ran a hand over her smooth body, showing a look of realization.
"So that's it."
She bounced and jumped towards the nest exit.
With each bounce and jump, the innate powerful Aura radiated out.
At this moment, the few Officers and Squadron Leader Chimera Ants within the nest perceived this evil and immensely powerful Aura, and their faces all changed.
The bull-horned man was currently in the nest and clearly felt this Aura. Sweat involuntarily seeped on his face.
His name was Harrison, a name retained from his previous life's memory.
Within the Chimera Ant team, every Officers and Squadron Leader had their own name, which they had chosen for themselves after the Queen's approval.
The Queen found it interesting that Squadron Leader wanted to choose names. Thus, she also chose names for the Royal Guards and the future King.
"Completely not on the same level..."
Harrison looked in a certain direction, muttering to himself.
…
Simultaneously.
Law received the message delivered by Pokkle.
The Association side also took action.
Experts were consolidating research on the brought-back severed limbs...