Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 547. Gigantic beetle (1)

"Why did you come, though? Is there a reason for the two-day break?" The Countess asked.

Theo nodded. "I came to give some orders to the Ant Queen. I am done now, so I will have to leave in a few hours to reach the academy tomorrow, Mother." Theo explained, making the Countess nod.

The Count couldn’t help but ask, "What did you want to command?"

Theo looked at him and knew the Count couldn’t help himself.

"I want to have the hive connection with the Ant Queen even when I am in the royal capital, Father." He said and continued, "It can only happen if the Ant Queen starts its expansion toward the capital. It might take a lot of time, but it’s worth it, I believe."

The Baron kept looking at him and then went into thought.

"Hmm... the royal capital is a little too far for a creature like an ant, but there is a bigger issue, Theo." The Baron said, making Theo listen intently.

"The ants might be harmless right now, but with time, I believe you can make them stronger and bigger. When you do that, their presence, which you will take to the kingdom’s capital, will start to be detected. You know what will happen then?" The Count asked.

"...They will start hunting them?" Theo asked, making the Count nod.

"If no one takes any responsibility, the Emperor will order hunting teams to subjugate anything coming near the capital, Theo."

Theo thought about it, and it was not something that hadn’t come to his mind yet. There had been some thought about it.

"Can I talk to the Emperor about it later? He has already seen them." Theo said.

The Baron frowned at that thought. So did the Countess.

"You don’t need to tell that person anything."

"And besides, nobody will ever approve this plan of yours." The Count spoke.

Theo nodded to that, and the Count explained further.

"Think about it. If someone were to send thousands of beasts toward our castle and expect us to just let them, would we do it, Theo?" He asked, making Theo shake his head.

"And besides, you need to stay low with your ants. Don’t tell anyone about what you are doing, or they will only try to come up with ways to make you fall. It will be the first academy experience all over again."

Theo had a grave expression at that. He could handle anything thrown at him, but for his family to be stuck in his miseries with him, there was no way he would let that happen anytime soon or ever.

"I will keep that in mind, Father." Theo spoke.

"How is the food in the royal academy, Theo? Looking at you, they might be adding extra nutrients and proteins to it." The Countess spoke with a smile to change the topic.

At the conversation about food, his forehead flashed white and a silhouette came out right away.

The mantis skittered its way forward while still materializing before it got very close to the Count.

"Hahahaha! The glutton is here!" The Count roared in excitement as if meeting someone he had wanted to meet for a long time.

The Count aggressively patted the mantis’s head, making it screech in a very alien-like tone. The Countess could only keep her eyes away from it, knowing well what would happen if she looked at it.

The mantis went closer to the drawer that was on the Count’s side and before Theo could do anything, it went and placed its forehead gently on the handle and pulled it back.

Theo felt goosebumps all around his body, not because the mantis had done something so basic as a task.

But because all this time, the mantis only knew how to destroy and kill. See a wall in front of you? Break it. See a door in front of you? Break it.

To go from that perspective to carefully opening drawers was the type of intelligence Theo never worked for the mantis to gain.

And as expected, there was a star stone inside the drawer, which the Count gave to the mantis to eat leisurely.

But just when it got near the mandibles of the mantis, the orb broke right away with some pieces on the ground and some directly in its mouth.

While it was eating all that, Theo went and talked with them both about the most random things ever, and then after an hour, he went and took a good shower. So did his attendants before he left again.

The Count and the Countess made sure that his arrival was a secret and no other heir would know about it. Theo didn’t want to feel bad that he didn’t meet his siblings.

Theo had to leave behind what he actually wanted to do and give his time to.

But he was in the real world now, and everything couldn’t be molded just for him. The travel back to the academy was filled with sadness, but duty was duty.

A day later,

Theo stood in front of his team, and he couldn’t help but be at a loss for words.

Velra was with them too, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

"This is how they did in your absence, student." Velra spoke as he pointed at the four students.

Rhvard was covered in dust while Osric had a big bruise on his face. Valerya and Saevra’s clothes were dirty too as if they had just come back from a camping trip in the forest.

"You were right, they are miserable without you. And that needs to change." Velra spoke again.

"So, student Theo, I have decided to increase your vacation days. Come practice anytime you want, but you won’t participate with them till they are good enough." The professor spoke.

All four individuals just looked here and there without making eye contact with anyone, especially Valerya.

Theo was surprised to see the pride in her eyes go away in such a short time.

But even with that, he couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

"Sure, Professor. I will take my leave now. If you need me for something, I will be right back." Theo spoke and left.

It was time to make some bigger insects to change the world.