The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 101 Infiltrating The Syndicate (1) The Monsters

Mikhailis settled into the soft comfort of the sofa as soon as they reached the royal chambers. He leaned back, a grin playing on his lips, stretching his arms lazily over the backrest. The spacious room was dimly lit, the gentle flicker of the chandelier's crystals above catching the light just so, filling the space with an aura of both luxury and coziness.

He kicked his feet up on the coffee table, sighing softly in relief. Finally, a moment to himself.

But there wasn't a moment to waste.

<Initiating operation briefing,>

Rodion's voice filled Mikhailis's head, dragging him out of the blissful comfort he'd just found.

"Oh, come on, Rodion. Can't you let me relax for just a second?" Mikhailis muttered, his voice lined with playful annoyance.

<Negative, Your Highness. We have imminent business to attend to.>

There was a hint of sarcasm in Rodion's tone, as if he were amused by Mikhailis's desire for leisure time.

<We need to discuss the syndicate operation. The surveillance and infiltration team of chimera ants have been positioned below the syndicate base. All available workers and soldiers—100 each—are already in place, awaiting further orders.>

Mikhailis sighed, straightening up. He knew better than to argue, especially now that they were starting something big. A devilish smile played at the corner of his lips—finally, the first steps toward taking over the syndicate were happening. Not that anyone else knew. Not yet, at least.

<Display on screen,>

Rodion added. A holographic image lit up before Mikhailis, projecting from his glasses. The schematics of the base were clear, with every entrance, guard position, and tunnel neatly labeled. Mikhailis watched in silence, his eyes tracing over the glowing lines.

"So, what's our plan tonight?" he asked, his eyes bright with anticipation.

<First, a partial extraction,>

Rodion responded, almost a hint of excitement in his tone.

<Tonight, we focus on retrieving specific resources from their underground facilities. There are two targets: a giant slime, approximately five meters in height and width, with exceptional regenerative properties, and a hypnotic glass serpent—a species capable of hypnotic suggestion. These creatures could prove beneficial.>

Mikhailis's eyes widened as the images of the monsters appeared. The giant slime alone was enough to pique his interest. It had to be the biggest he'd ever seen. Its regenerative powers were exactly what he needed for the chimera ants—a perfect food supply that replenished itself, indefinitely. He couldn't help but grin at the thought of the Queen Chimera Ant's eyes lighting up at such a treat.

The serpent was interesting, too. Its hypnotic abilities could be used to bolster their own forces, help them navigate situations without spilling unnecessary blood.

Mikhailis stood up, stretching his arms over his head.

"Alright then, let's do this. We're not just barging in, though. We're doing this quietly." He paused, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"It's time to show these criminals how we do things."

<As always, Your Highness, you do enjoy a bit of flair.> There was a hint of sarcasm in Rodion's voice.

Yeah, yeah. I know, Mikhailis thought, the grin never leaving his face.

The holographic images shifted as Rodion began to detail their entry points and escape routes. Mikhailis paid close attention—there could be no mistakes. There were still guards stationed in various places, and he knew full well the value of keeping his own involvement in all of this completely hidden.

He wanted those monsters, but he couldn't risk the syndicate realizing who was behind their disappearance.

The chimera ants had already dug tunnels, directly beneath the storage area where the creatures were kept. It was almost like a zoo—a place filled with captured monsters, each confined to a cramped cage. When Mikhailis had infiltrated the base with Aria, he'd caught glimpses of the creatures, monstrous beings that made his blood run cold in excitement.

Now, it was time to set his sights on two particular targets.

<The slime's cell is located directly above our primary tunnel,> Rodion explained, a marker appearing on the holographic projection. <If we execute the extraction correctly, we will bring it underground without alerting any guards.>

"Sounds good. And the serpent?" Mikhailis asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

<The serpent's containment is more heavily guarded. I estimate that we will need a diversion to successfully remove it from the area. A localized, contained distraction should suffice.>

Mikhailis smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Perfect. Let's create a little chaos, shall we?"

____

The night was dark, with only the faint light of the moon filtering through the clouds. Below the surface, in the winding tunnels carved by the chimera ants, things were far from quiet. Hundreds of worker and soldier ants scuttled through the dark, their antennae twitching as they awaited orders. The air was filled with anticipation—tonight was a hunt.

Mikhailis stood in the main tunnel, his eyes fixed on the holographic display projected by his glasses. He could see everything—the positions of the guards, the location of the monsters, the paths his ants would take.

Rodion's voice echoed in his mind.

The worker ants moved first, their sharp mandibles slicing through the earth with precision. Slowly, a gap opened above them—the bottom of the giant slime's cell. Mikhailis watched, his heart pounding in excitement. It was a delicate operation—one wrong move, and they'd alert the guards stationed just above.

<Structural integrity holding,>

Rodion reported, his voice devoid of any emotion.

The workers moved quickly, opening the hole wider. The slime was unaware, its gelatinous body rippling gently as it rested. Finally, the opening was complete, and the slime began to slip through, its massive body descending into the tunnel below.

Mikhailis grinned, his eyes wide as he watched the creature fall. It landed with a soft, wet thud, its body rippling but remaining intact. The workers immediately moved to seal the hole above, their movements swift and efficient.

Rodion's voice held a hint of satisfaction.

Mikhailis took a deep breath, his eyes shifting to the next part of the plan. The serpent was kept in a different section of the facility, one that was far more heavily guarded. He needed to create a distraction—something big enough to draw attention away from the creature, but not so big that it would alert the entire base.

"Alright, Rodion," Mikhailis whispered, a grin spreading across his face.

"Let's give them something to worry about."

<Deploying diversion units,> Rodion replied, his voice cool and steady.

The soldier ants moved quickly, positioning themselves near a stack of crates filled with enchanted items. At Mikhailis's signal, they began to push, their powerful legs straining as they toppled the crates. The sound of wood splintering and metal clanging filled the air, echoing through the underground chambers.

"That should do it," Mikhailis muttered, his eyes fixed on the holographic display.

The guards reacted immediately, their voices shouting in confusion as they rushed toward the source of the noise. The area around the serpent's cell was left almost completely unguarded.

<Now!>

Rodion's voice urged.

The worker ants moved in, their bodies blending seamlessly with the shadows. They reached the serpent's cell, their antennae twitching as they located the weak points in the structure. Slowly, they began to dismantle the bars, their mandibles working with precision.

Mikhailis watched, his heart pounding in his chest. The serpent was awake, its eyes glowing faintly in the dark. It hissed softly, its body coiling and uncoiling as it sensed the disturbance. For a moment, Mikhailis feared it would lash out, that it would alert the guards to their presence.

But the worker ants were too quick. The bars fell away, and the serpent slipped through the opening, its body moving with an almost liquid grace. The workers guided it down into the tunnel, their movements synchronized as they led the creature away from the facility.

Rodion's voice held a note of triumph.

<All units, retreat.>

Mikhailis let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, a grin spreading across his face. They'd done it. Two powerful monsters, taken right from under the syndicate's nose. And no one had any idea what had happened.

<Guards have returned to their posts,> Rodion reported.

Mikhailis chuckled, leaning back against the tunnel wall.

"Well done, Rodion. Well done, everyone. Looks like tonight was a success."

<Indeed, Your Highness. Though I must say, your penchant for theatrics does make these operations more… entertaining.>

You know me, Rodion. I like to keep things interesting.

He glanced at the serpent, its body coiled in the corner of the tunnel, its eyes glowing faintly. The slime rested nearby, its massive form rippling gently. They were both incredible creatures, and Mikhailis couldn't wait to see what they could do