Ⅱ
Abel froze, then began shouting repeatedly-
"Master, are you insulting insects?
Why can't I have a wife and children?
Or do you not know that Vampire Ancestor Insects have a sense of family, too?
Besides, I've worked so hard. Why couldn't I have a wife and children?"
Arthur had learned something about the Vampire Ancestor Insects' sense of family through Abel's fragmented memories-they were more or less monogamous.
Why more or less?
Because some Vampire Ancestor Insects had both a husband and a wife.
Others, unable to truly display their charms, chose to grow old alone.
After all, for Vampire Ancestor Insects, the cost of raising offspring was far too high. Not only would their strength decline, but their children's existence would also bind them with an invisible force.
Together, these two factors would leave even powerful Vampire Ancestor Insects utterly vulnerable.
That was precisely why Vampire Ancestor Insects had become so scarce.
Even the Blood Duke's father, the Blood Prince, had achieved nothing despite his strenuous efforts to breed them.
Of course, those were not Arthur's reasons for deciding that Abel belonged to the category destined to grow old alone.
He had simply considered their actual circumstances-
"Abel, what role do you think you're playing?"
"Playing a role?"
Abel froze, then the Vampire Ancestor Insect began to think.
Abel was no fool, and after only a few seconds, he guessed the answer.
"I'm bait?!"
"Yes."
Arthur nodded in confirmation without spelling out anything further.
Abel fell silent.
Arthur had not explained, but Abel understood.
If someone was using a Vampire Ancestor Insect as part of a scheme, that insect certainly could not have a family. Otherwise, the Vampire Ancestor Insects' simple devotion to family would inevitably cause serious trouble-there had been cases of female insects bringing their young