The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 66 The Hierarchy of Strength

Still, Mikhailis had a small smile on his face as he thought about her. She had dependable people around her—Aelthrin, Vyrelda, Selerith, and even that stern lady Cerys. It wasn't like she was alone in this.

As he glanced around the room, he noticed that everything was in perfect order, as always. Not a speck of dust, not a wrinkle on the bed sheets. He knew it wasn't only Lira or the other maids who tidied things up. His trusty monkey robot often handled things automatically, too. But today, there was something else.

Mikhailis paused, a grin spreading across his face as his eyes picked up subtle movements in the corners of the room. Tiny, diligent ants—worker ants from his chimera ant colony—scuttled around quietly, almost invisible if you weren't looking for them. He could sense them because of the bond he shared with the queen ant, but they were otherwise practically undetectable.

It seemed the queen ant had assigned some workers to tend to his room. Mikhailis marveled at their efficiency. The ants were cleaning up dirt and dust, but they were doing it in a way that ensured they remained hidden from even the sharpest of senses.

He chuckled and turned to Rodion, his AI companion. Rodion's voice echoed in his ear.

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow.

"Bioluminescent camouflage? Now, that's cool."

Mikhailis let out a low whistle, impressed.

"You mean I'm being guarded by tiny, sneaky bodyguards all the time now? I kind of like that. Good thing I didn't ask for a more visible guard."

Mikhailis snickered, picturing Lira's puzzled expression.

"Yeah, she's been asking if I've been secretly cleaning up. I guess it's thanks to these diligent workers. That's kind of amazing, really."

Mikhailis perked up at that. He moved over to his computer and tapped on the display. The screen lit up, showing the intricate layout of the chimera ant colony. He saw it right away—a larger chamber that hadn't been there before. The worker ants were bustling inside, and his eyes widened in fascination.

"Rodion, what's this new addition?"

These plants are suitable for low-light conditions and provide high nutritional value.>

Mikhailis watched the screen, a grin stretching across his face.

The ants were farming.

Farming!

This level of intelligence was something he hadn't anticipated. It wasn't just about brute strength or expansion anymore—his ants were evolving in ways that were more akin to building a society.

"Wow, they really are learning fast. Farming, huh?" He shook his head in disbelief.

"The queen's pretty sharp, isn't she? Figuring out that more mouths to feed means more food production is needed. But this... farming mushrooms and roots underground... that's pretty impressive."

Mikhailis nodded, his eyes glued to the screen. He could see rows of mushrooms being tended to, the worker ants delicately maneuvering around the young sprouts, ensuring they had the right amount of moisture and space. There were tiny irrigation lines made of carved channels, guiding water droplets to where they were needed.

It was intricate, almost delicate work—more like something you'd see in an art exhibit than an ant colony.

It made him think of how far they had come since the beginning. The queen had eaten a few magic insects and gained abilities that were more magical and adaptive. Now, they weren't just surviving—they were strategizing, planning, building. It was an ecosystem of its own, something out of his dreams.

Mikhailis leaned back in his chair, smiling to himself. His little ant empire was growing, and who knew what kind of potential it had? The possibilities were endless.

"Her Majesty is at the King rank. The same as Lady Vyrelda and Earl Vaelis."

Mikhailis let out a low whistle.

"That damn handsome Earl is at King rank? Impressive."

Lira nodded, her face serious.

"Of course, Your Highness. With a flick of their finger, they could send you flying if they wanted."

Mikhailis let out a wry chuckle.

"Thanks for the elaboration, Lira. Really comforting stuff."

He muttered under his breath, barely audible.

"No wonder Elowen's unbeatable in bed... though I did manage to 'defeat' her and still in a winning streak, though, so I guess unbeatable is not really the perfect word?"

Rodion's voice chimed in, tinged with amusement.

Mikhailis grimaced.

"Oh, shut up, Rodion," he said, shaking his head. Then he turned back to Lira.

"Lira, I've got another question. Is there a similar ranking system for monsters and magic beasts?"

Lira nodded.

"Yes, there is. It's the similar one with the strength classification we use. One moment." She walked over to the bookshelf, reaching up to grab a thick tome from the very top of the bookshelf. The book was titled-

"Encyclopedia of Monsters and Magic Beasts."

She handed it to Mikhailis, but before he could take it, Rodion's monkey robot zipped forward and snatched the book, startling Lira.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, taking a step back, her eyes wide.

The monkey robot promptly opened the book, flipping through its pages as Rodion began scanning the contents.

Mikhailis frowned.

"Baron rank, huh? I guess that means we've still got a long way to go." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"It's okay, though. We're just getting started," he muttered, watching the robot return the book to its place.

He turned to Lira, giving her a grin.

"Thanks, Lira. I guess that means my ants still got some work to do before it can take on the big guys."

Lira smiled, even though she has no idea what he meant, and what use those bugs, those ants that he loves to monitor really worth for.

"I'm sure it'll catch up quickly, Your Highness."

Mikhailis leaned back in his chair, looking around the room, the ants moving quietly, Rodion's mechanical arm retracting, and Lira finishing her cleaning.

He felt that familiar thrill of excitement bubbling up. Things were changing, evolving. His chimera ant colony was growing, the kingdom was moving, and Elowen's challenges were becoming their challenges. It was like being in the middle of a story—full of magic, intrigue, and all the unpredictable elements that made life exciting.