Chrysalis

[Regardless of the quality of the goods your colony produces, there will need to be a reduction in the price due to your very nature,] a snooty brathian merchant says to me.

Inside the bubble, these, I’m assuming, exceptionally wealthy men and women aren’t quite as impressive as they are outside of it. Their flowing robes and elaborate garments are adorned with loose fabric that dances and swirls through the water as they move through it. In the bubble, it attempts to do the same, powered by some enchantment, but ultimately it fails to be nearly as impressive.

[We’re monsters,] I reply, flatly, [though I suppose you could make an argument we are similar to the bruan’chii. Only the first Queen was actually born from the Dungeon, the rest of us are her children, either directly or by several degrees.]

[The bruan’chii don’t have cores.]

[Oh, we’re obviously more monster than they are, I don’t mean to imply otherwise. You were saying something about our nature?]

[Monsters don’t adhere to the same levels of cleanliness or hygiene as the civilised races,] the merchant declares as if stating the obvious. [There is no doubt your produce has more contamination than would otherwise be the case.]

No way she said that. I focus a bit to see a little more clearly. Yeah, I’m pretty sure she’s a she. Imagine attacking a colony… not just any colony, the Colony, about cleanliness!

It’s been the same with all of these merchants. They don’t necessarily mean what they’re saying, all they want is to find an angle to drive down the price. The fact that they’re talking to me at all and attempting to haggle means they’re interested in buying.

[We clean ourselves with acid,] I snap. [Acid. Do you clean yourself with acid?]

[What? Of course not!]

[Then please take a step away, I don’t want my carapace contaminated. Look, look at that ant over there, you see what she’s doing?]

I point with an antenna and the merchant turns to see.

[It—]

[She.]

[... She… appears to be rubbing her legs all over herself.]

the hind legs, see how they stretch to the back.

yes I think I see what

diluted form of formic acid on her back legs, then using it to clean her legs, then rubbing those across her carapace. You are watching an acid bath happening in real time. No mould, no dirt, no nothing! We are the cleanliest species on

to take

reason she’s doing that, and so many other members of my family, is because we don’t feel clean here in your city. We live packed together in nests surrounded by earth and stone,

you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has

aren’t you

to. My legs

discuss compensation from the city for imposing its poor hygiene

~~~

interested in these ingots,] Smithant said. [I

what you mean,] Cobalt confirmed. [The smelting

[Of course.]

two carvers turned to their ‘agent’. The Island Conglomerate had sent someone

in these ingots here. Could you

[Of course.]

turned to the agent and relayed the ants’ request. The owner of

for two-fifty. That’s

two ants

we go is asking significantly over the value of the

we’ll find someone more reasonable

the merchant protested as the ants began to move away, and the mage reached

in price. He’s asking

percent too much,] Cobalt replied,

They took another step.

and Irisod reached out to them once

you are very discerning customers, the merchant is willing to come down another