Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire
Chapter 425: Advanced ventriloquism

Chapter 425: Advanced ventriloquism

Nobody in this crowd knew what to expect from the Bee Empire’s "representative" until now. For the sake of secrecy and protection from the elements, Nectus II was transported under a tarp all this time.

Only today the mecha was revealed to the humans in all its glory, and they stared at it in shock.

A man made of metal with eyes burning with blazing fire (literally, the lamps inside were lit up)! For someone not familiar with the concept of robots, this must’ve been pure magic that became solid before their eyes!

This effect was something I was betting on in making an impression on humans, and I was glad to see it working. People in the crowd were staring at Nectus II with wide eyes, and some even fell to their knees in religious exaltation.

I leaned forward and listened closer to their thoughts. Some people thought that Nectus II was just a man in armor, but then they noticed the second pair of arms and the tail of the mecha. Others put together Nectus II’s appearance and the few images of me painted in temples and bowed to me as to the Holy Emperor of the Bee Empire.

The rulers standing near the Royal Hall’s dolls tried to appear less affected—they had an image to uphold—but even they were shocked and couldn’t fully hide it.

The mecha did several slow, imposing steps and stopped in front of the rulers. Its heavy steps rang over the square, making the people go quiet.

This was not intentional. Mechas couldn’t really run without a *heavy* risk of tripping. Since it was incredibly important that Nectus II didn’t break and its exterior looked unblemished, its crew was piloting it extremely cautiously.

It gave the mecha a royal air.

’Great job, Engine-See!’ I messaged the leader of the mecha’s crew. ’Now make the greeting.’

In response, the mecha raised a palm up in a common Naregan greeting gesture. Another wave of gasps went over the crowd.

I closed my eyes and focused. There were several thousands of people present in this square at once... But only I could address them, and only one way.

With telepathy!

After all, my girls could pilot a mecha, but they couldn’t shout loudly enough for humans to hear them. Even if I called a hundred bees who knew the Naregan language well, they wouldn’t be able to speak without a heavy accent. The mouths of bees and humans were just too different.

Since sound dynamics weren’t invented yet, I had to speak for the mecha myself.

’People of this land and people who came here from other places... I, Nectus Stingprince, the god-chosen Emperor of the Bee Empire, am greeting you! Today, the divine purpose for which I and my kin came to the mortal will be realized.’

There were even more shocked gasps all over the crowd. Although most spectators were people who were already somewhat used to being spoken with telepathically, it wasn’t every day that the Bee Emperor addressed them himself!

Even Farini looked like he was about to faint, and he was almost-somewhat-familiar with me.

And I was glad to see that I only missed a few people from the crowd with my message. Those who didn’t hear it stared at their neighbors with wide, puzzled eyes, looking sadly lost.

Although it took incredible effort to speak to so many people at once, with my next message, I did my best to be heard by these lost people too.

’The dark era came to this world—an era of ignorance, brutality, and suffering. Humanity is in danger, and it needs protectors who will lead it away from the darkness toward enlightenment and prosperity. Guardians who will remind people of the truths they have long forgotten.’

I made a dramatic pause, during which I rubbed my temples. The audience was eating my speech up, but my head was starting to hurt from the strain.

Next to me, Ambrosia gently reached out and rubbed my back. It didn’t help with the pain, but brought some comfort, and I smiled at her gratefully.

’Now raise all hands up, Engine-See,’ I ordered.

With a sound of moving metal, all four hands of the mecha rose in a dramatic gesture. As they did, I continued my speech in the loudest booming thought-voice I could.

’And we are those guardians! We have been watching and helping you from the shadows, raising the virtuous people to prosperity and culling the sinners! But the time of secrets and separation of mortals and their divine guardians has passed. From now on, there are no more countries and peoples. Only the holy Bee Empire, the enlightened and virtuous people who live in it, and all the others to whom we must bring the same enlightenment and virtue. Together, we will unite the world and bring forth the golden age like nobody has ever seen in history!’

I went quiet, letting out a sigh of relief that was swallowed by the ecstatic cheers of the crowd, and told Engine-See to lower Nectus II’s hands.

The surrounding noise wasn’t helping my headache, but I still felt good.

"Carrying Nectus II all the way to this place was worth it," I said, looking at the crowd.

All eyes at this moment were on Nectus II. Even the guards and the Agents were distracted by the mecha’s presence, although my voice was coming from an entirely different place, and at least Agents knew it.

Worse, they were supposed to watch the crowd, not the mecha!

This must’ve been why I noticed the commotion in the crowd sooner than anyone else.

First, I heard the word ’shoot’ fly over the endless sea of thoughts about how amazing and divine and so on I was.

Then I saw a man reach inside his tunic, about to pull something out. As soon as I zeroed in on his thoughts...

’One shot. From this distance... I have to hit! I will hit!’

...I realized that this man was an assassin!