The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 140 Searching For Goblins' Nest

"Hmm... The Northern Province, huh...?" Mikhailis muttered as he gazed at the map, his glasses displaying a projected hologram of the region. Rodion was feeding the map into his field of view, scanning data collected through the onkey robot back in the castle—which had already gathered all the necessary documents to assist him.

Mikhailis nodded. He needed all the information he could gather before setting things into motion.

The holographic map rotated and zoomed into a stretch of forest, where several markers indicated key locations.

"Leylines and pheromones… no wonder it's like a buffet for monsters," Mikhailis mused.

"Rodion, spread the map—start the holographic display."

Mikhailis stood up, his gaze still fixed straight ahead as the glasses shifted the display—the map expanded into a 3D hologram around him, sprawling across the room. The edges of the forest stretched far into the ceiling while valleys carved into the floor, a scaled replica of the Northern Province right before his eyes.

He started walking around, the 3D map remaining fixed in position, allowing him to move through it as if standing amidst the terrain itself. His eyes traced the territory lines and Count Arvis' fortress.

"We are here," Mikhailis said, pointing at a marked spot.

"The Northern Province's fortress city—Count Arvis' territory, acting as the defensive front against monster incursions. Then, of course, the secondary and tertiary walls further north—designed to keep the civilians safe and prevent monsters from slipping through."

His fingers hovered over the outer parts of the forest, where markers highlighted certain areas. He squinted at the glowing holographic map, the soft blue hues reflecting in his eyes.

"And based on what we're seeing," Mikhailis continued, "there are at least four areas that could potentially serve as breeding grounds for the Thalorian Goblins and Tanglebeetles." He shifted his focus to one area, marked in red.

"This place in particular—it's got the right environmental factors. Moisture, cover, proximity to mana-rich sources… it's almost ideal for insect nests."

He circled the map, tilting his head.

"The thing is, it's all about understanding the ecology," he began, his tone shifting, his focus on a small cluster of symbols.

"Where would a nest thrive, considering the natural predators and the resources needed for it to sustain itself?" He pointed to a spot farther west.

"This is likely—there's water, a slight elevation, and enough food to support a colony."

Mikhailis adjusted his glasses.

"Rodion, take notes: in this cluster, mark potential Tanglebeetle hives and assume the goblins are sharing territory." He paused, scratching his chin.

"Also, make a cross-reference with similar areas we've scouted before—let's look for any parallels."

"Exactly," Mikhailis affirmed.

"They need access to fungi, and while they prefer dark, damp places, they also need proximity to open spaces for hunting. Most of these points you've cross-referenced have the same characteristics. That makes this area…" He pointed at an unmarked spot.

"The most probable candidate for a central nest. If I were a goblin king, that's where I'd set up shop."

"Good. Let's start dispatching Chimera Ants to these points for scouting," Mikhailis decided. He adjusted his glasses and took a deep breath.

Enjoy new stories from empire

"We've got to get intel before anything big starts moving."

Mikhailis cleared his throat sharply, his cheeks flushing slightly.

"Ahem! Rodion, I think now would be a perfect time to pull up the visual feed of our scouting team."

The holographic map around him shimmered, replaced by a transparent screen—it displayed the visual feed from the dispatched Chimera Ants. Mikhailis focused on the video, watching as the ants crawled silently along the ceiling of a dark cavern passage, their segmented bodies moving in sync, careful to avoid detection.

He was studying the feed when something caught his eye—a flicker of movement in the darkness ahead. Two red eyes shone through the gloom, followed by a figure covered in armor that seemed almost organic, like twisted roots wrapped around a scrawny green form.

"Is that… a Thalorian Goblin?" Mikhailis muttered, his body tensing.

"Don't let him run!" Mikhailis barked, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the projection.

The feed zoomed in on the goblin as it started to move, sensing danger. It turned abruptly, its twisted armor rattling, and tried to sprint down a side tunnel—but before it could even take a step, the ground beneath it erupted. Five Chimera Ants burst forth, their mandibles snapping as they blocked the goblin's path.

The creature let out a shrill screech, scrambling backward, but it had no chance. The remaining Chimera Ants swarmed from the ceiling, dropping around it like a net, their limbs grappling onto its arms and legs, forcing it down to the cavern floor.

The projection showed the Hypnoveil Variant moving forward, its glowing eyes locked onto the panicking goblin. The air shimmered around it, and the goblin's struggling began to slow, its frantic attempts to escape turning sluggish as the hypnotic effect took hold.

Mikhailis watched, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the scene.

"Great. Now it's time to hypnotize this guy and send him back to its nest. We'll see what secrets he can bring us."

Mikhailis took a step back, exhaling slowly. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly as he removed his glasses, letting them hang loosely around his neck.

We're finally getting somewhere. If this goblin leads us to something useful, we might be able to take care of this mess before it gets any worse.

He looked toward the window, where the night sky spread across the horizon, the stars barely visible against the dark expanse. The looming threat of the Goblin Apostle and the monster outbreak weighed heavily on him, but a part of him—the part that loved a good challenge—felt ready.

"Alright, Rodion," Mikhailis said, his tone lighter, "now let's just hope our little green friend plays his part well."

Mikhailis grinned, adjusting his glasses once more.

"What can I say? Drama and heroics make life interesting."