[You have received Rank-A Blueprint: Fme Bea]

  A saterialized in front of Ats, and he quickly skimmed the description of the item.

  [A powerful deferucture that emits waves of fire to repel attackers. The bea target both ground and aerial threats.]

  Ah, Fme Bea! Just from the brief description, it was clear this was an incredible asset. Not a fiem, but a Structure Blueprint. It could serve as a key defeower on the isnd, signifitly boosting their defenses against enemy assaults.

  Intrigued, Ats read the blueprint’s details more closely.

  [Effects:]

  [Fme Burst:

  Releases waves of fire in a 30-meter radius, dealing fire damage to all enemies within rahe fmes st for 5 seds, burning enemies and redug their movement speed by 20%.]

  [Aerial Defense:

  Targets flying enemies within a 50-meter range, sending fiery projectiles to knock them out of the sky.]

  Ah, so the tower target both nd and aerial ehis would be incredibly useful for keeping the isnd safe from all kinds of threats.

  [Requirements: Fortress Stage 1]

  [Materials:]

  [150 Stone]

  [100 Fire Crystals]

  [30 Iron Ingots]

  [10 Lava Shards]

  [5 Magma Core Fragments]

  Ats nodded slowly as he sed the list of materials, noting a few unfamiliar items. Iron Ingots were just the refined version of iron, something they could produce they had a proper bcksmith. So, that problem could be handled easily enough.

  But Fire Crystals? Lava Shards? Magma Core Fragments?

  He sighed, realizing there was no clear information oo obtain those rare materials. Items like these were typically harvested from certain isnds or dropped by monsters. Still, it would require more io pinpoily where to find them.

  Of course, there was always the faster route—searg the marketpce. Many Lords sold rare items they had hunted but didn’t need, and this was where the gold he had might e into py. If he could find the right deals, he could acquire the materials from other pyers.

  “500 Gold?” Ats thought, w if that would be enough to secure the items before the looming attack. Time was running short, and now it was a race against the clock to gather the needed materials.

  Ats stood from his chair, which creaked under him as he did so. Manna gave him a quice before turning her head away again.

  At least the Vampire Queen wasn’t as aggressive as she had beeerday when she’d suddenly attacked. That was a good sign, especially now that Mira was around—easily the most fragile-looking among them. And, well... she kind of looked like food.

  I mean, she is a rabbit, right?

  This was the first time Ats had met Beastkin like Mira in person, aill wasn’t used to it. The most obvious difference was her ears, which sat atop her head rather than on the sides like a regur human’s.

  “My Lord…” Mira called out, waving her hahusiastically as she jogged over to him.

  “I’ve pnted a bunch of seeds—flowers, fruits, and trees. The seed box you gave me was amazing! There are so many types there. I’m sure in no time, this pce will be green aiful, full of flowers and trees,” she said, her face radiating joy.

  Her over-the-top cheerfulness made Ats feel just how stiff his own face had bee.

  “I suppose that’s good…” he replied, trying to match her enthusiasm.

  “Yes, My Lord! Ohe trees grow, we harvest them, and the fruits will give us a steady supply of food. Oh, and I pnted carrots too, because they’re really good for our health! So make sure to eat your carrots, okay?” she added, her smile impossibly bright.

  "Ah... yes..." Ats responded with an awkward grin.

  Mira tilted her head and fshed an even wider smile.

  Too cute!

  Cough!

  Ats snapped out of his thoughts as Edrik cleared his throat.

  “My Lord…” Edrik said, bringing Ats back to reality.

  Ats looked at Edrik, then back at Mira, who—without him realizing—was holding a hoe.

  Wait? Was she pnning to stab him with that? No way... Was this how her Too Cute to Resist ability worked? She’d charm her target, make them let their guard down, and then... kill them with a hoe?

  Suddenly, Mira’s sweet smile seemed a little more suspicious. His imagination ran wild for a moment.

  Notig Ats’s fused expression, Mira tilted her head, mirr his fusion. “My Lord... what’s wrong? Are you tired? Do you need something to drink? Or maybe some food?”

  "No, it’s fine.”

  “Are you sure My Lord? I’m good at massaging. Would you like to try?”

  “No, I just o discuss something with all of you, that’s why I came over."

  “Yes!" Mira chirped, fshing another one of her dazzling smiles, her eyes practically sparkling with innoce.

  Damn it! Too cute!

  Ats snapped back to reality, his gaze still fixed on the hoe in Mira’s hands.

  “Hehe, My Lord, why do you keep staring here?” Mira giggled, gng toward her chest.

  Oh hell no!

  Ats quickly corrected himself, shaking his head. "No, I mean... the hoe. I was just worried you might stab me with that thing while I’m distracted by your cute charm."

  “Oh, so you think I’m cute, My Lord?” she teased, giggling even more.

  Enough!

  Mira!

  Too cute!

  Cough!

  Ats snapped back to focus, shaking off the distra and revealing the materials he o build the Fme Bea.

  Edrik houghtfully. “My Lord, firstly, this is great news. A deferucture like this is rare to obtain so early on. But sedly, about the materials—it’s not impossible to find, but we’ll o locate where they are.”

  He tinued, "We harvest fire crystals from volic areas ma fields. Defeating magma monsters will give us va shards, and if we defeat the stronger versions of those monsters, we collect core fragments."

  "So, you’re saying we o find an isnd with that kind of enviro?"

  "Yes, My Lord. Either a volid or, potentially, another Lord’s isnd with simir terrain. But it would be ideal if we could build this tower before the first attack wave hits," Edrik expined.

  Ats nodded, already sidering their move.

  "My Lord," Karian chimed in. "I think we just o wait for the Teleportation Pad to finish building. After that, we explore nearby isnds and start hunting for resources."

  Edrik nodded with Karian's suggestion.

  Mira? Still smiling with her half-closed eyes, she nodded repeatedly, almost too enthusiastically.

  Focus, focus!

  "Alright, we’ve got plenty of time for that," Ats said, still looking at Edrik and Karian. "And don’t fet to eat while we still have food stocked in the refrigerator."

  "Thanks, My Lord!" Mira chirped in response, but Ats resisted the urge to turn toward her this time.

  He then made his way back toward the tent where Manna was lounging. Slowly, he was getting used to her presence—or rather, her ck of i. She barely spoke to him, and holy, it was easier to pretend she wasn’t even there.

  Now, another 10 standard tickets... He thought, mentally preparing himself as he tossed them into the air.

  Rank-S please….

  [You have obtained 8 Rank-B items and 2 Rank-A items!]

  ***

  Author’s Note: Seriously though, who else thinks Mira is secretly way more dangerous than she looks? ?