Chapter 14

Heading back into the room I want to bed. A couple hours later instead of one of the servants Faye woke me up. After another tumble in bed and a shared shower I got ready to purchase my fourth nano factory. While I waited Faye had me sit down at the table and made sure that a servant made us dinner.

“How did the interviews go?” I couldn’t help asking.

“I have a number of decent candidates. Although I’m thinking I may wait until after you purchase the swarm connection. If you have the talent to become a swarm baron it will significantly increase the quality of candidates.” Faye said.

“How so?” I wondered why it would make a difference if I was a knight or a baron. Either way I’d be in charge of millions if not billions of people.

“If you become a baron you will have a number of female swarm knights under you.” Faye said.

I couldn’t help but frown at what she was implying. “I’m not going to force my underlings into my bed.” I said firmly.

Faye shook her head. “Of course not. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make the offer. In fact, it’s expected that you will, most of them will be insulted if you don’t.”

My head started to throb a bit. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to get used to all of this. Can you at least try to explain why it’s considered an insult if I don’t offer to screw the females that report to me?” I asked.

“It’s similar to how it’s shameful if you had to force a non-talented woman into your bed. Not making the offer to the talented individuals under you would be implying that there is something wrong with them. Like you are saying that either they are unbearably ugly or you believe their talent is unworthy.” Faye explained.

I supposed it kind of made sense. It seemed like the entire society had an almost unhealthy focus on the genetics of the next generation. “But wouldn’t it be considered shameful if they refused me? It sounds like some sort of catch twenty two.”

“Catch twenty two?” Faye asked, clearly not understanding the reference.

“It means a situation where you have two choices but both of them are bad. If they don’t want to join my harem then their only option is to insult me.” I explained.

“Oh I think you misunderstand. A female knight refusing a baron isn’t insulting. On average there are only a hundred female knights for every male baron. Some of those will likely settle for joining a baron’s harem. It’s understandable if some wish to hold out for the offer of a count or duke instead. It’s only insulting if someone two or more ranks below you refuses your advances. Although if they are exceptionally beautiful or have powerful family members it may not be even then.” Faye explained.

I couldn’t help but blink. “Wait, does that mean if I become a baron most of my harem will be made up of swarm knights?”

“You would probably have quite a few but the majority will be swarm squires, commoners, or beautiful civilians. Few female swarm knights are willing to resign themselves to a position of having as many children as possible. Many will just cycle through your harem every few decades. Since they are also immortal, that's still a significant number of children. It’s just over a much longer period of time.” Faye explained.

That made sense also. Not many women would want to have a child every couple years for eternity. There were exceptions even on Earth but most would just have two or three children. Of course people on Earth weren’t immortal. If they were immortal and society drove them to have more children they would probably end up repeating the cycle every few decades.

Suddenly Faye yawned and then stood up. “After today I’m exhausted. I’m going to get some sleep. Want to join me?” She asked with a salacious grin.

I grinned and followed her into the bedroom. After all, I had a bit of time before I had to purchase my next nano factory. Even if I hadn’t had time I’m not sure if I would have been able to resist that invitation.

Three and a half days later I found myself staring at the swarm screen in excitement. After the first few days I had given up on trying to purchase everything at the optimal time. Keeping up that kind of focus for more than a few days was impossible. I felt like the numbers proved that I had done a decent job.

Time: 9,977

Resource points: 100,058,012,188

Nano Cores: 7,010

Nano Drones: 78,506,694

Nano Fabricators: 933

Nano Factories: 1,867

Purchase Swarm Mental Connection (100,000,000,000 Resource Points Required)

The reason I was excited was because I had just hit a hundred billion resources. Which meant that I could finally purchase the mental connection upgrade. Eagerly I selected the option and purchased it. The screen on the cube told me to press my finger to the green circle.

A few seconds after touching the green circle I suddenly felt dizzy. Quickly I sat down and then everything went dark. When I woke up there was a message hovering in front of me. It looked a lot like the messages I read on the core factory screen. But in this case it was hovering in front of me.

Congratulations on purchasing the swarm mental connection upgrade. This connection allows you to mentally issue orders to your swarm. It also allows you to integrate multiple core factories into your swarm. In addition new upgrades have been unlocked.

Swarm Mental Connection purchased. Checking if access level is sufficient to unlock the next growth unit. Micro Drone Unlocked. 1,000 Nano Factories and 1 Micro Core required to purchase Micro Drone.

Micro Resource Points Unlocked - Micro Drones collect these instead of producing lower growth units. These resources are used to create swarm objects. For example Mana Nodes and Core Factories.

Nano Swarm Internal Upgrade Unlocked - Establishing a nano drone defense will render the swarm user immune to disease, poison, radiation, and other harmful effects. This includes any harmful action by swarm users that have an equal or lower access level. If the user is harmed, nano defenders will help to keep the user alive and heal all injuries. Cost - 100,000,000,000 Nano Drones

Nano Swarm External Upgrade Unlocked - Establishing a nano swarm allows the user to manipulate the swarm for various actions. This includes policing swarm users of a lower access level, granting mana access to civilians, and using revitalization. Cost - 100,000,000,000 Nano Drones

Revitalization Unlocked - Requires Nano Swarm Purchase first - Using nano resources and their nano swarm the user can revitalize one target. This will fully heal them. Including removing any diseases, poison, or radiation. This also completely restores any organs and limbs to perfect condition. Alternatively it can reverse damage caused by aging. Each use can reverse up to ten years of aging for any civilian or swarm user. Cost - 100,000,000,000,000 Nano Resource Points

Give Mana Access Unlocked - Requires Nano Swarm Purchase first - Using nano resources and their nano swarm the user can give mana access to one targeted sentient being. The sentient being will gain a low level access to the swarm allowing the use of mana and the swarm to accomplish various tasks. Cost - 100,000,000,000,000 Nano Resource Points