Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 553: 553. Gigantic Beetle (7)- Unbeknown noble enemies

{Evolution Potential Detected}

{Evolution Name: Rotfume Millipede}

{Evolution Requirements:

Consume corpse rot for one full day (0/1)

Survive diluted venom three times (0/3)

Drive away two small insects through secretion or body contact (0/2)}

{Evolution Rewards:

Irritant Fume (Active): Releases a foul haze that causes irritation and retreat in weaker creatures.

Rot Tolerance (Passive): Thrives better in waste, corpse zones, and foul tunnels.}

—

“This one…” Theo spoke and then looked at Clara. “This one will never be sold.”

She was confused at first, but then Theo recited what he was reading, and his comment now resounded in her mind with relief. This one was dangerous to send into the market.

“Thank the artifact.” She muttered under her breath as if wanting to reassure herself that Theo’s decision not to sell it was the right one.

The next two days went by in that same madness.

Theo used weaker insects and worms to complete the Cragcoil Millipede’s crushing requirement and even dropped a small stone wrapped in cloth onto its body three times to help with the impact count.

For the Rotfume one, the dormitory’s corners themselves had enough useless scraps to finish the requirement.

When the Cragcoil Millipede evolved, its body became shorter than the normal one but much thicker, and the segments had a dull dark sheen as if rock dust had become part of them.

Theo didn’t like how it had shrunk instead of getting bigger, but the skills were good, so he was able to let go of that loss.

When the new millipede curled around a dead worm’s body and squeezed, Theo heard the wet burst all the way from his chair.

He smiled and wrote even faster, and then came the Rotfume Millipede, which was even nastier.

Its color became a sickly dark green-brown, and the moment it was threatened by another insect in the box, a faint foul mist leaked from between its segments.

The other insect retreated right away.

Theo had Elias cover his nose and carefully open the lid.

“Good…” Theo muttered. “This ability is more like an area-denial type, like I learned in class.”

By the end of those few days, Theo’s room looked worse than a workshop. If someone were to enter, it would look like utter nonsense until each insect was examined individually.

There was an evolved beetle that was on its way to becoming a proper transport type.

Then there was a disgusting but valuable earthworm that could change soil quality.

The two different millipede branches, one made to endure and crush, and one made to poison an area without even needing true venom.

Theo sat at the desk with all the notes around him and stared at the chart he had started making.

The chart had various one-word categories starting from “Killer,” “Carrier,” “Soil Improver,” “Tunnel Guard,” and lastly, “Waste Recycler.”

For the first time in a while, Theo felt like he wasn’t just passing time with sword training and the mantis’s leveling, which was like an abyss now.

He was now trying to, and partially succeeding in, building a system through trial-and-error methods.

And it was all stemming from the goal of making insects popular worldwide, for their names to be used in daily life.

Theo couldn’t wait to finally see that day come true, no matter how difficult it would be.

—

“Have you heard about the ninth son of the Merricks?” A noble asked while sipping tea in a courtyard.

There was another man, seemingly a merchant, as he was wearing a rather simple set of clothes not worthy of a noble.

Yet the mature and knowledgeable expression on the face of the man in his thirties would make anyone feel like he was one.

“Yes. There was rather interesting news about the young man a month ago. I believe he won the arena games at the royal academy?” The man asked while taking a sip from his own teacup.

“He is currently second, and the next match is yet to happen. But the information I have gathered tells me he will take first place without any worry.” The nobleman stated, making the merchant hum in interest.

“I see.” The merchant spoke. “If you’re tracking him, should we consider him a threat or a future ally?” He asked, making the noble smile casually.

“We don’t know that yet, but from the information I have gathered, I believe he is working on a rather unique product for the beast market.” The noble spoke in a way that didn’t reveal too much information, yet still enough to keep the merchant speculating.

And the merchant-looking man understood that.

“Beast product… Do the Merricks have a breeding facility too?” The merchant asked.

“That is what I am still trying to find out. Until then, I will assume that Theo Merrick, ninth son of Count Merrick, is operating on his own.”

When the merchant heard that and saw the expression on the noble’s face, he finally understood where this conversation was going.

“I look forward to what he puts on the market.” He said. “And of course, if it’s something worthy of competing with us, we will be ready to destroy him with everything we’ve got.”

At that comment, the noble finally smiled with complete confidence.

He raised his teacup slightly and muttered, “To the chance of destroying the Merrick family.”

The merchant-looking man’s eyes lit up at that comment, and he raised his teacup as well.

Unbeknownst to Theo, he was making allies and enemies at a pace that would become troublesome in the near future.

—

A week later, in front of Theo stood a beast that was broad, its height reaching a little above Theo’s ankle.

“Alright, it’s about time I take you to the Ant Queen, but not before we complete a little test first,” Theo said while looking at the beast.

While he was in on place looking at the beast by his feet, Clara and Elias were on the other corner of the room smiling, it seemed there was one more insect added to the collection that they both were scared of.