The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis watched the progress through his glasses, the holographic display flickering with multiple perspectives from the surveillance ants scattered throughout the base. Rodion's voice spoke in his head, outlining the details of the structure and guard shifts.

Now it's time for the next phase of the plan.

<The syndicate base has minimal security during the early morning hours. Most guards switch out between three and four a.m., leading to an overlap of reduced personnel. Optimal time for infiltration would be during this interval.>

Mikhailis leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"A skeleton crew, huh? Makes sense they'd all want a bit of sleep at some point. Who'd expect ants in their pajamas coming for a visit?"

<Your analogy is noted, though unnecessary. The guard shift analysis shows multiple weak points on the second underground level. This will be the ideal entry point for the abduction.>

Mikhailis nodded, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. It was risky, but that was half the fun. Besides, what were a few syndicate members compared to what he was planning for the bigger picture?

"Alright, let's set this up. Early morning infiltration it is—I want it to be clean, quick, and quiet."

<Affirmative, Your Highness. The optimal route through the tunnels has been established. Chimera units are on standby.>

Mikhailis took a deep breath, glancing at the holographic layout again.

"Alright, time to make things happen. Show me the structure of the power supply—we're going dark for this one."

<Displaying power supply schematics now. The workers will sever the lines to the underground sections, resulting in a blackout in levels one through three.>

Mikhailis couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.

"I love it when things go dark. It makes sneaking around so much easier." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the display.

"Rodion, make sure everything's ready. We're going in before the sun even thinks of rising."

___

The frog chimera ant let out a low croak, its vocal sac vibrating slightly. The sound echoed through the tunnel, its strange reverberation muffling any noise the other ants made as they moved. Mikhailis grinned, watching the team proceed without issue.

It's like having my own little stealth squad. I wonder if this is how the superhero of bats felt.

<Your focus on irrelevant comparisons is noted, though redundant. The frog chimera ant's ability is proving effective in minimizing sound emissions.>

Yeah, yeah, Rodion, let me enjoy my moment here.

The workers reached the power supply junction located beneath the base's main structure. Mikhailis took a deep breath as he watched the ants work, severing the key power lines leading to the base's lower levels. The lights flickered for a moment before plunging the underground floors into darkness.

Through the surveillance feeds, Mikhailis could see guards fumbling with their flashlights, their voices raised in confusion.

"Well, there you have it. It's lights out, boys." Mikhailis muttered, a sly smile forming on his lips.

The frog chimera ant continued to lead the way, moving through the now-darkened corridors with deliberate caution. The soldier ants followed, their powerful legs carrying them swiftly and quietly over the concrete floors. They slipped into the sleeping chamber, the faint sound of snoring echoing through the otherwise silent room.

Mikhailis leaned forward, his eyes focused on the scene unfolding in the display. This was the tricky part—get in, take the targets, and get out without alerting anyone.

Piece of cake... I hope.

The Scurabons moved swiftly, their small bodies darting across the sleeping chamber as they approached the targets. Each Scurabon carried a sedative-laden stinger naturally, which they used to inject the sleeping syndicate members. The sedative worked quickly, ensuring the targets remained unconscious as the ants worked.

The soldier ants moved in next, their strong mandibles gently gripping the sleeping figures as they began wrapping them in enchanted vines. The vines glowed faintly, their magic binding the targets securely for transport. One of the syndicate members stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open as if on the verge of waking.

The frog chimera ant let out another low croak, its eyes locking onto the groggy figure. The hypnotic energy radiated from its gaze, and the man's eyes closed again, his body relaxing into unconsciousness. Mikhailis grinned, nodding approvingly.

"Good work, froggy. Keep them nice and sleepy."

The soldier ants began lifting the bound syndicate members, their powerful limbs making the task look effortless. Mikhailis watched, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anticipation. This was it—the culmination of careful planning, executed flawlessly by his chimera team.

Now let's get out of here before anyone realizes what happened.

The chimera ants moved quickly, retreating through the underground tunnels with their abducted targets in tow. The worker ants followed, their movements methodical as they sealed the tunnels behind them, leaving no trace of their passage. Mikhailis watched through the display, his eyes darting between the different feeds as the team made their way back to the secure section of the tunnel system.

Mikhailis let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Well, that went even better than I expected. Rodion, you know what this means, right? We're officially in business."

<If by 'in business' you are referring to the successful kidnapping of criminal elements for intelligence purposes, then yes, Your Highness, we are indeed 'in business.'>

Mikhailis chuckled, shaking his head.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You know, for an AI, you can be pretty sarcastic when you want to be. I like it." He stood up, stretching his arms over his head before turning his attention back to the display.

"Alright, bring them in. It's time for a little chat."

The abducted syndicate members were brought into a large underground chamber, their bodies still bound in the enchanted vines. The chamber was dimly lit, with a few glowing crystals providing a faint, eerie light. Chimera soldier ants stood guard, their large, imposing forms casting long shadows across the walls.

Of course, he wouldn't be entering the room directly, but he was going to use the ants to carve words to make them read and answer.

It would be more eerie that way, right?

The chamber felt cold, the air damp from the depths of the underground. The syndicate members began to stir, the effects of the sedatives starting to wear off. Mikhailis watched as one of the men blinked groggily, his eyes widening in confusion as he took in his surroundings. The enchanted vines held him tight, preventing any attempt to move or escape.

Mikhailis grinned, leaning closer to the display.

"Rise and shine, boys. It's time for a little chat."