Chapter 145: Conclusion of the Discussion
Although their encounter was brief and their exchanges limited, Luo Wen found himself quite fond of Morgan, particularly because he considered the Rat Folk elder as one of “his own.”
Perhaps this fondness stemmed from how long it had been since Luo Wen had meaningful interaction with anyone.
Morgan’s earlier remark about leaving such questions for the younger generation gave Luo Wen an idea. Since Morgan had managed to find the “door,” it stood to reason that more Rat Folk could eventually locate it too. If Luo Wen hadn’t mistakenly interpreted those earlier intrusions as hostile, Morgan wouldn’t have been the first to succeed.
This realization addressed the Swarm’s deficiency in intelligent life forms. Moreover, thanks to the Swarm Network, these individuals would remain absolutely loyal to him, allowing him to proceed without concerns of betrayal.
In time, the Swarm’s intelligent members would grow in number. Luo Wen could even establish a dedicated research institute, allowing him to pursue any scientific inquiry without relying on the Rat Folk civilization. Such an arrangement would be far more convenient than covertly guiding their development.
Even so, Luo Wen decided to continue nurturing the Rat Folk civilization. They served as resources, after all—essential for producing the Swarm’s own intelligent life forms. Additionally, they provided a useful cover. Should alien species visit this planet, the Swarm, still confined to its homeworld, was too vulnerable. Having an overt civilization in place would reduce the chances of the Swarm being discovered.
The probability of such an encounter was slim, but Luo Wen prided himself on his expertise in caution.
With these thoughts, Luo Wen lost interest in unifying the Rat Folk under a single empire.
When Luo Wen shared his ideas with Morgan, the elder paused to consider before responding. “If that is your goal, Overlord, then unifying the Rat Folk Empire becomes even more critical.”