Chapter 57 - I have XPs to spend

"But in the end, little Joe figured that this exchange of adversity could be beneficial; it just depended on whether he would remain in passive mode.

'Did I hit the jackpot this time, huh? Oh, if Ylsean saw this.'

Little Joe sighed nostalgically, feeling a twinge of shame.

He would never admit that he laid eggs, not even if they were golden.

'Let me think where I'll invest. So, I want: 

'Status: Queen.

Queen 🐜 Level 0.1 / ⭐xps 505 / 🙂 ⭐10% 1024 ants = 102.4 xps

📣---<<< =64 ants x 5.5 = 352 + 64 x 0.16 = 102.6 xps / 1024🐜 / ⭐xps 454.6 

'Not bad for a day's work: 454.6 xps that I'll now spend wisely. I'll buy 34 more screens for 34 ants, reaching my maximum of 100 ants, not counting the queen ant. 

[Cost: $454.06 - 34 Xps = $420.6]

Great, I'll set the weight increase for 21 ants to 10 grams. 

[Cost: 21 x 20xp = 420 xps]

'I'm left with only 0.6 xp. What a rip-off!'

Little Joe complained.

1 🐜 Level 0.1 / 📏 3.5 cm / ⚖️ 10 grams = 4g x 20xp = 500 xps / 50x 🦾 = 500 g.

🐜 💨 0.327 m/s / 🤎 00.1 + / ⭐⛏1.1 p/hr. / 🙂 

'Now I'm ready for action. Oh, I'm so sleepy. But wait, there's the queen's screen. You know what? I'll deal with it tomorrow.'

And since he was already thinking about ants, he grabbed a few sweet buns and placed them outside by the door, almost stepping on the queen ant.

Carefully, he put his feet on the ground and, as he did, ran his hand over the queen ant, which seemed to enjoy the gesture.

'Since you're here, I'll set your weight increase. There, now you weigh...'

Queen 🐜 Level 0.1 / ⭐xps 505 / 🙂 ⭐10% 1024 ants = 102.4 xps

'Well, look at you, sneaky little thing, earning xps on the side. Great. Now I'll give you a boost.'

Full ant status.

Queen 🐜 Level 0.1 / 📏 7 cm + 2 cm / ⚖️ 12 grams + 8 grams = 80 xps / 80x 🦾 = 1.60 kg.

🐜 💨 0.15 m/s / 🤎 00.3 /+ 0.01 / ⭐ = xp2.04 / 🙂 

The queen ant seemed enormous; after all, an extra 2 centimeters on an ant was phenomenal.

🔺 [System Alert: Your internal energy is gradually rising. For 10 hours, your body will inject this energy into a shell that will solidify into the shape of a hen's egg, but with a unique content. 10 hours later, your body will expel this content.] 20:00 ⏳/🥚.

O(>_<)O Little Joe.

'I can't believe I'll have to go through this suffering again.'

Florida, the queen ant, looked at him, having no idea what he was lamenting.

After giving her a little pat, he said goodbye and went to bed. But as he entered his humble room, he saw Ylsean's diary as if it had been waiting for him. Despite his tiredness, little Joe felt the need to continue that story, so he opened the diary and began to read.

'My father, the baron, came walking towards me with a sad face and said,

'Now it's your turn.'

I didn't understand my father's actions until he showed me the test that Miau Lee had completed. 

It was horrible to realize that someone like her, who had been taught to protect me since childhood, didn't know the basic rules of a protector. 

I looked at it and felt disgusted as I reviewed and confirmed the results. But every time I handed my father Miau Lee's test, he insisted on returning it to me, saying, 'Look again.' 

He did this so many times that even my brother Dimmy came to see what was happening.

'Stop being so dense, sis. Dad wants you to read the title above the test.'

'Etiquette and Behavior Rules for a Lady of the Nobility.'

I still didn't understand until my father asked,

'Can I give Miau Lee the original test now?'

I wanted to refuse, but my father interrupted, asking me,

'Do you have a sense of justice or at least a sense of honor? How about the simplest one, common sense?'

I didn't want to accept the truth, the one that couldn't be hidden, but deep inside, I resolved to deny it.

Then I saw my brother make the Guard's Presentation for Nobility stance right in front of me, placing his hand on his heart as he said,

'Honor, courage, and justice are what govern the Silver Claw Order and open the way to live well among men.'

I looked at my father and saw the highest symbol of his beliefs etched on his face: a hand on his heart and the other on his head, followed by a salute as he positioned himself in front of my brother, saying,

'Life, mind, and honor!'

And outside, hearing his cry, a multitude of voices echoed like a massive choir,

'With heart we live, with mind we learn, and with justice we honor.'

'Justice and honor, soldiers!' shouted my father.

The response seemed like an explosion of fury from hundreds of soldiers, their reply echoing from afar,

'Justice and honor, baron! To the death!'

My eyes filled with tears, and suddenly, I felt like a villain, forgetting the foundation and principles that governed my father's barony.

'Here is the decisive test, especially for each of you. Dimmy, your test will be about energy stones: size, value, weight, measurements, modifications, and utility. Answer as accurately as possible, and you can choose one of my treasures as a prize.'

'How much do I need to get right, Dad?'

'At least 70% of the questions. As for you, Ylsean, answer as accurately as possible, and like your brother, you can choose one of my treasures as a prize. And Miau Lee, I'm sorry for the pain I caused you, but this time it will be about topics you are familiar with.'

'And my test, Dad, what will it be about?' I asked, embarrassed, without looking at my father's face.

'Obviously, it will be about the rules and etiquette of a lady of the nobility.'"