The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis leaned back into his cushioned chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest as he monitored the progress displayed on the glasses' interface. The underground fortress for the Skullborne Ravager was coming together nicely—an expansive hidden stronghold, buried deep beneath the surface, and it seemed that the chimera ant workers were making impressive progress. The top of the fortress was being covered with soil and foliage, blending it with the natural surroundings. Each worker ant moved with purpose, their movements precise, the earth piled and smoothed to leave no trace of the underground construction.

"It's starting to look like a proper fortress," Mikhailis muttered to himself, a smile curling on his lips.

Maybe even fit for an evil overlord. Not that I'd call myself one... yet. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

He switched the feed to observe Skullborne Ravager. The imposing creature, now in his goblin champion form, was in the midst of supervising the cleaning efforts of the fortress. With his height, muscular physique, and a crown of bone-like protrusions on his head, Skullborne Ravager looked every bit the menacing figure Mikhailis intended him to be. He worked alongside the chimera ant workers, his powerful hands carefully arranging stone blocks, positioning them to make the fortress appear both practical and formidable. He paid particular attention to the throne room, ensuring that the centerpiece—a throne made of twisted roots and bone—looked impressive enough to instill respect or fear.

"Looks like he's taking his job seriously," Mikhailis said, chuckling as he watched the Skullborne Ravager shoo away one of the ants when it misplaced a stone.

"And I gotta say, I'm a fan of the throne. Very dramatic."

<The construction progress is ahead of schedule, Mikhailis. Estimated completion time has shortened by approximately 18%. Additionally, I have an update regarding the scouting mission.>

Mikhailis perked up at Rodion's words. He leaned forward, focusing on the display that shifted to show the scouting report.

"Scouting mission? You mean our goblin recruitment drive?"

<Precisely. The chimera soldier ants have located a group of Thalorian goblins approximately three miles northeast of the fortress. The group appears to be disorganized and without a strong leader—exactly as you were hoping for. There are twenty-one individuals in total, comprising a mix of males and females, mostly young adults.>

Mikhailis's eyes sparkled with interest as he reviewed the feed. The goblins were indeed a sorry sight—their small camp was poorly maintained, their supplies meager, and there was no sign of a capable leader. They bickered amongst themselves, their faces painted with frustration and hunger.

"Perfect," Mikhailis murmured, his grin widening.

"This is exactly what we need. A bunch of lost goblins, looking for someone to lead them."

<Shall we initiate the plan to establish Skullborne Ravager's dominance over them? The opportunity appears optimal.>

"Yeah, let's go ahead. Make it look good, though. We need Ravager to come out of this looking like a proper hero," Mikhailis said, rubbing his hands together in excitement. "Let's show them what a real leader looks like."

<Understood. Commencing strategy to establish dominance. The objective is to portray Skullborne Ravager as a strong leader and protector. Proceeding to initiate the direwolf lure.>

Mikhailis settled back into his chair, watching intently as the scene unfolded. This was going to be interesting. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of expanding his influence, of seeing how these goblins would react to their new "savior."

Time to see how this plays out. And who knows, maybe I'll get some loyal followers out of this.

___

Mikhailis watched as the Skullborne Ravager moved through the underground corridors of the fortress, accompanied by a group of chimera ant soldiers. He moved with purpose, his massive form casting long shadows on the walls as they made their way towards the surface.

The plan was simple but effective—create a situation where the goblins would be threatened, and then have Skullborne Ravager step in as the savior. It was classic misdirection, but it was also exactly the kind of thing that worked on goblins, who valued strength and protection above all else.

The chimera soldiers moved ahead of Skullborne, their task clear. They were to find the nearby direwolves and subtly provoke them towards the goblin nest. Mikhailis watched through the feed as the ants approached the wolves, careful not to be seen, making noises and rustling bushes until the wolves took notice.

The direwolves, sensing potential prey, perked up, their ears twitching. The chimera ants backed off, herding the wolves subtly towards the goblin nest. It was delicate work—too much noise and they would draw attention, too little and the wolves might lose interest.

The goblin nest came into view—twenty-one goblins, scattered around a small clearing. They looked as disorganized as Rodion had said, a mix of scrappy fur and makeshift weapons. Mikhailis grinned, excitement building as the wolves neared the nest.

The goblins spotted the wolves at the last second, their small, wide eyes going wide with panic. They let out cries, high-pitched and frantic, scrambling to pick up their weapons.

"Wolf! Bad wolf!" one of the goblins screamed, holding up a branch that looked more like a child's toy than a weapon.

The wolves growled, baring their teeth, and lunged forward. Chaos erupted, goblins running in every direction, tripping over each other in their desperate attempt to get away. Mikhailis could almost feel the fear radiating off them.

Skullborne Ravager burst onto the scene, his massive form an imposing figure against the chaos. He charged at the wolves without hesitation, his weapon—a jagged piece of metal—swinging with deadly force.

He didn't roar, didn't shout—Skullborne didn't talk. He just fought, his silence adding an eerie edge to his movements. The goblins stopped, some staring in awe as this massive goblin-like figure took on the wolves. The direwolves, startled by the sudden resistance, turned their attention to Skullborne.

The chimera ant soldiers stayed hidden, moving around the perimeter, subtly helping by guiding the wolves' movements. They ensured that Skullborne was the center of attention, that every goblin saw him as their savior.

One of the goblins, smaller and weaker than the rest, found itself cornered by a wolf. It let out a terrified wail, its small form trembling as the wolf lunged. Skullborne moved quickly, his large body placing itself between the wolf and the goblin, his jagged weapon swinging down with a heavy thud. The wolf yelped, collapsing to the ground, and the small goblin looked up at Skullborne, eyes wide with awe.

"Big... strong goblin... save Gik," it muttered, its voice shaky.

The other goblins began to gather, their eyes fixed on Skullborne. The direwolves, outmatched and confused, began to retreat, their instincts telling them to find easier prey.

Mikhailis watched with satisfaction as the scene unfolded. The goblins were clearly impressed. Skullborne stood there, breathing heavily, his weapon resting on his shoulder. He looked every bit the formidable leader Mikhailis needed him to be.

"Now, time for the final act," Mikhailis whispered, leaning closer to the screen.

Skullborne extended a hand towards the goblin he had saved—Gik. The small goblin stared at the hand, then at Skullborne's face. Slowly, hesitantly, it reached out and took the offered hand, pulling itself up.

"Gik... follow big goblin," it said, its voice filled with awe.

The other goblins murmured amongst themselves, their eyes shifting between Skullborne and each other.

"He save us... strong goblin... leader?" one of them said, its voice filled with uncertainty.

Skullborne didn't respond—he simply stood there, his presence commanding. The chimera ants moved around the clearing, bringing out food they had prepared earlier. It was simple—roasted meat and foraged berries—but it was more than the goblins had seen in a long time.

The goblins' eyes widened at the sight of the food, their stomachs growling audibly. They looked at Skullborne, then at the food, and back at Skullborne.

Mikhailis could see the hesitation in some of them, especially the older ones. They were wary, suspicious of this new figure who had appeared out of nowhere. But the younger goblins, the ones who had seen Skullborne fight, were already stepping forward, drawn by the promise of food and protection.

Gik, still standing beside Skullborne, looked back at the others, raising a piece of meat above his head. "Food! Strong goblin give food! Follow big goblin!"

The older goblins grumbled, but Mikhailis could see their resolve weakening. The promise of food, of safety, was too much to resist. One by one, they stepped forward, taking the offered food, their eyes still filled with a mix of fear and awe.

The chimera ants moved subtly, demonstrating small feats of strength—lifting heavy logs, moving rocks—making sure the goblins saw just how powerful Skullborne's "followers" were. It was all part of the plan—show them strength, show them power, and they would fall in line.

Finally, one of the oldest goblins, his face lined with age, stepped forward. He looked up at Skullborne, his eyes narrowing.

"Big goblin... you lead us? Keep us safe?" he asked, his voice rough.

Skullborne simply nodded, his expression unwavering.

The old goblin grunted, then nodded slowly. "We follow. You strong. You keep us safe."

Mikhailis let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, a grin spreading across his face. "There we go," he murmured, leaning back in his chair. "Nice and easy."

The goblins gathered around Skullborne, their loyalty solidified. They had found a leader—someone who could protect them, feed them, give them purpose. Skullborne gestured for them to follow, leading them back towards the newly constructed fortress.

Mikhailis watched through the feed, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. This was just the beginning. The chimera ants were powerful, but they were limited in their ability to blend in, to interact with the world. The goblins, on the other hand, were perfect for expanding his influence beyond the underground nest.

As the goblins disappeared into the forest, following Skullborne towards their new home, Mikhailis couldn't help but smile. He leaned back, folding his arms behind his head, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

"Nice! Now we have our little Thalorian goblin underlings on our hands."