The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

<An efficient perspective. This method of control is effective, but it cannot replace true leadership. You rely on adaptability and wit to maneuver situations—not a horde of hypnotized subordinates.>

Mikhailis chuckled. "Oh? Is that a compliment?"

<A statement of fact.>

He smirked but didn't push further. The truth was, Rodion was right. He wasn't looking to amass a cult of mindless thralls; he just needed tools—tools that could be used and discarded as necessary. And now that they understood how Hypnoveil's evolution functioned, they had to be extremely careful with deployment.

His mind was already racing through potential countermeasures. Stronger-willed individuals would resist over time, which meant that a high-ranking enemy with strong mental discipline could break free, or worse—identify the parasite and seek ways to counter it. He'd need contingencies.

But before he could dwell too much on that, Rodion's voice cut through his thoughts.

<Shall we shift focus to the Enforcer of the Technomancers?>

Mikhailis exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as he leaned back in his chair. "The big guy, huh?" His fingers tapped idly against the wooden table. "Alright, hit me."

<He is among the most dangerous individuals within the Kingdom of Mist. Based on the gathered intelligence, his combat capability rivals Queen Elowen, Great Knight Vyrelda, and Serelith. However, unlike them, his power does not stem from raw strength alone.>

That made Mikhailis frown slightly. He had suspected as much, having watched glimpses of the battlefield footage through the Chimera Ants' surveillance. The way the Technomancer forces moved under his presence had been unnatural—too rigid, too obedient, as if shackled by something unseen.

"Go on."

<His presence alone alters the battlefield. Witness reports suggest that warriors under his gaze suffer an inexplicable decline in combat efficiency—hesitation, miscalculation, and even outright surrender. It is as though his existence erodes confidence itself.> Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

Mikhailis narrowed his eyes. "A psychological aura?"

<A possibility. However, it is too consistent to be mere intimidation. Even veterans and high-ranked warriors were affected, despite lacking any personal knowledge of him. This suggests a more profound influence—one that operates beyond standard fear responses.>

Mikhailis considered that for a moment. If the Enforcer had a power that actively weakened the will of those around him, it would explain why the Technomancers had remained so organized despite their fractured chain of command. No ordinary commander could maintain that level of control amidst chaos.

He drummed his fingers against the desk. "So, we're talking about something that isn't just fear—it's willpower suppression."

<Correct. Unlike Serelith, whose strength originates solely from magic, his ability appears to act passively, reducing resistance without direct contact. It is unclear if this is an innate magical field, an artifact, or something else entirely.>

Mikhailis let out a low whistle. "That's dangerous as hell. Someone who doesn't need to fight because their opponents just… stop trying?" He smirked, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, no thanks."

<There is more. Those under his command show an unnatural level of loyalty, bordering on zealotry. This is not standard military discipline. Even those who should have resisted to their last breath chose to kneel.>

That caught Mikhailis's attention more than anything else.

He had seen blind loyalty before. He had fought fanatics, cultists, and soldiers who were too devoted to their cause to see reason. But this sounded different.

"You're saying it's not just fear of him, it's something deeper?"

<Affirmative. This level of obedience suggests either long-term conditioning or a direct form of mental influence.>

Mikhailis clicked his tongue. "A mind-control effect, but subtle. They don't realize they're being manipulated."

<Exactly. The moment they enter his presence, doubt creeps in. Their resistance crumbles. They begin second-guessing their actions until all that remains is submission.>

Mikhailis leaned forward, resting his chin on his fist. "That's not a battlefield commander. That's a damn warlord."

<And an exceedingly effective one.>

He sighed. "Alright. What's the counterplay?"

<Avoiding direct confrontation. Even without his ability, his martial prowess is on par with the greatest warriors of Silvarion Thalor. Given the unknown nature of his influence, engaging him without preparation would be foolish.>

Mikhailis smirked. "Don't worry, I have no plans to throw myself at an overpowered enemy just yet." He stretched his arms, shaking his head. "We'll keep our distance."

<Wise. Now, there is additional intelligence from our surveillance efforts.>

Mikhailis sat up straighter. His usual playful demeanor faded just slightly, his eyes sharpening. "The scout's report?"

<Yes. The Hypnoveil's effect was even more potent than anticipated. The infected officers unknowingly spread the influence further, causing a chain reaction within their ranks. At present, the enemy's chain of command is in complete disarray.>

Mikhailis's grin widened. "So, we turned them into their own worst enemies. Beautiful."

<Indeed. However, there is another revelation of significance—the source of the poisonous mist.>

Mikhailis's grin faded slightly. He had anticipated this conclusion but hearing it confirmed made it more real, more pressing. "What did we find?"

He leaned forward, elbows resting on the worn wooden desk of his rented room. The candlelight flickered, casting long shadows across the space. His mind was already fitting the puzzle pieces together, but he wanted to hear it in full.

Rodion didn't hesitate.

<Environmental patterns suggest an artificial origin. The contaminated regions do not follow natural spread patterns, nor are they consistent with known magical phenomena. The decay in crop yields, soil degradation, and air toxicity are too uniform. The contamination is being actively maintained.>

Mikhailis exhaled slowly, his fingers steepling. "So, they're the ones behind the poisoned lands?"

<Affirmative. The precise method remains unclear, but based on infiltration footage and cross-referenced environmental data, the effects are too consistent to be a natural phenomenon. The mist is not an incidental byproduct of their magic—it is a deliberate construct, possibly engineered to sustain itself with minimal interference.>

Mikhailis narrowed his eyes. That aligned with what he had observed. The mist hadn't spread in chaotic waves or irregular patches like natural blight would. Instead, it hovered with a strange precision, dense in certain locations but lighter in others. Someone was controlling it.

"If the mist persists, Serewyn and its surrounding territories will remain dependent on the Technomancers for survival," he murmured, thinking out loud.

<Correct. Food scarcity will increase reliance on external imports—many of which, coincidentally, are managed or influenced by factions tied to the Technomancers. A calculated maneuver to ensure dependency.>

Mikhailis leaned back, rubbing his chin. His eyes darkened. "They're ensuring that only they hold the cure."

<Precisely. This explains the observed shifts in trade routes and the black-market surge. The food supply is being throttled just enough to create controlled desperation—enough to keep the populace subdued, but not enough to trigger full-scale rebellion.>

Mikhailis scoffed. "Clever bastards. So, they're starving the people just enough to keep them weak and reliant, but not enough to make them desperate enough to rise up."

<That is a reasonable assessment. The lack of open rebellion suggests that the suffering is meticulously balanced. If the citizens were pushed too far, unrest would destabilize the region. Instead, they have created an environment where hardship is tolerable but unbreakable—where the people have no choice but to endure and comply.>

Mikhailis clicked his tongue. "They're playing the long game."@@novelbin@@

<More than that. They are controlling the battlefield before the war even begins. Starving armies do not fight wars. Weakened populations do not rebel. The mist is a means of warfare that requires no soldiers—only time.>

Mikhailis shut his eyes for a moment, processing. He had suspected the Technomancers were involved in the mist's spread, but he hadn't expected it to be this methodical. He had assumed it was a defensive measure, a deterrent against invasion. But no—this was something worse.

This was control.

His fingers tapped against the desk rhythmically. "Then that means… if we were to remove the mist, we wouldn't just be helping the people—we'd be cutting the Technomancers off at the knees."

<Correct. However, direct removal would pose its own challenges. The mist is likely sustained through a network of magical sources. Disrupting one location would not dismantle the entire system—it would merely be a localized relief. The full scope of their infrastructure remains unknown.>

Mikhailis smirked. "Then we find out, don't we?"

Rodion hesitated for a fraction of a second—something that, despite being an AI, he sometimes did when anticipating Mikhailis's reckless tendencies.

<...Proceeding without full data on the mist's mechanisms is inadvisable. If we fail to account for its origins, any disruption could result in unforeseen consequences.>

Mikhailis chuckled, though there was no humor in his voice this time. "We don't have to remove it just yet. We just need to make them think we can."

<A strategic bluff, then.>

"Exactly. If they believe someone is close to unraveling their game, they'll scramble to protect their secrets. And when people scramble, they make mistakes."

<An acceptable approach. However, any actions taken must be precise. If they suspect interference, they may accelerate their plans—or worse, enact harsher measures to silence opposition.>

Mikhailis's smirk grew. "Oh, I'm counting on that."

The revelation settled in the air, heavy with the weight of consequence. The game had just shifted, and Mikhailis was already planning his next move.