The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 773: The Right Call

Jocasta observed as Sigismund began to grow, reaching nine feet in a mere moment, his military fatigues ripping, his under-suit stretching to accommodate his expanding body. This rapid increase in size could only mean one thing...

She readied her weapons, aiming them at her king. Her intention was to deploy her potent tranquilizers for this situation. However, just as she prepared to fire, the rage-filled monarch spoke.

"Oh? Well, this feels... peculiar." The king then glanced around the chamber. "The colors appear more vivid. Oh?" he suddenly exclaimed, his voice now soft and melodious as he looked upon her.

"Jocasta, would you be so kind as to put those away? I truly detest the week-long digestive issues that follow when you administer those to me."

"*Binaric squawk?* My King?" Jocasta inquired, instantly lowering her weapons. "Are you in your right mind?"

Sigismund nodded affirmatively. "Oh, absolutely. I'm feeling fantastic. These emotions are incredibly heightened, hence the sudden growth, but my limbic system feels like it's receiving a gentle massage, calming the rage. It's far more pleasant than a large needle damaging it, I can assure you. This is some serious stuff right here," he stated, shaking the inhaler in his hand.

He then turned his attention to Hailey. "Is this how it was for you, my dear? I feel as though I'm floating on a cloud. I haven't felt this relaxed in... Hell, I've never experienced such relaxation. It's genuinely disheartening."

Sigismund grew another half foot after uttering those words before shrinking back down as his emotions stabilized. Hailey then shook her head. "No, my experience was nothing like that. Here, allow me to demonstrate."

Hailey proceeded to take an inhaler and take a dose herself. Instantly, she became silent and acutely aware. Even in his euphoric state, Sigismund's mental faculties remained completely sharp. He detected the sudden tensing in Hailey's posture, the alertness of someone trained in combat, constantly surveying their surroundings. Yet, the surge in her capabilities came without any adverse effects – no sudden spike, no rush, no rage.

Sigismund let out a chuckle before addressing Jocasta. "So much for your pill regimens and lobotomies, Jocasta. I've never felt so in control since my awakening. Hailey, how much longer until this effect wears off?"

"About an hour, give or take," Hailey replied, her speech slightly faster than usual, her thought processes reacting just a fraction quicker. Sigismund now perceived the drug's value even more clearly, realizing it had a different effect on him, potentially influencing its potency.

That extra second, or even half a second, could mean the difference between life and death.

Jocasta then approached the desk, retrieving the pill Sigismund had opened. She began scanning it with every available tool, querying, "Hailey, what are the other effects of this pill?"

"I'm uncertain, but Apollo did leave some paperwork, which I placed in the case and-"

Jocasta snatched the papers and started reading them with frantic intensity. Midway through, she reached into the case, pulled out a syringe, and injected it directly into her head.

"Hmm~ Just as I suspected. I sense something in my brain, though not nearly as potent as you two, possibly due to my cybernetics interfering. Clearly, the more biological a subject is, the greater the effect. It makes sense. Ronnie, come take a pill."

Ronnie eagerly stepped forward without hesitation. He would ingest poison if Apollo commanded it. Upon taking the pill, he swallowed it and simply closed his eyes, reveling in the benefits bestowed by the prodigy of the outer family.

Ronnie felt his mind become exceptionally clear. However, the effects weren't limited to him. Within his Mindspace, the parasite residing in his Origin, derived from Sophia’s poison, was absorbing the pill’s influence. The outcome was a state of heightened awareness mixed with a gentle, lingering pleasure throughout its being, which Ronnie experienced as a soft hum of appreciation.

An hour passed.

Sigismund was genuinely impressed and remained so for forty minutes until the drug's effects naturally subsided. He was left with a frown as he shrank back to normal. Those brief moments of bliss had made him temporarily forget how tiresome his usual emotional state truly was.

The others were still under the formula's influence, so he addressed Jocasta. "What's the scientific basis for this? Is it ethical?"

Jocasta ran her fingers across her faceplate, where her mouth would be, before nodding, not even turning towards the king as she continued her reading.

"Actually, yes... quite ethical. It appears to be purely chemical. It seems Apollo did integrate some artificial human genome. I'm unsure of his reasoning, as it falls outside my expertise, but I believe with a dedicated team of biologists and chemists, the formula could be replicated quite readily... However..."

Sigismund understood Jocasta's line of thinking. "Euc 6 won't be pleased with this, even though it's a creation from the Sentinels. Acquiring a drug from a Psionic being... Atropa will surely retaliate, and I really don't want to deal with that woman again."

Jocasta then chimed in, "Furthermore, they are terrified of new advancements. 'Oh no. You can't do that, we have followed the same procedures for millennia, why would you seek change?' Honestly, get lost, you miserable '*squawks*'."

Disregarding the mock argument Jocasta was having with herself, Hailey interjected, "Then don't purchase it using your Kingship title. Use your personal funds and designate it solely for military production. This ensures you have complete authority over the production process. The Institute of Science will have no claim, and your soldiers will receive the necessary product without troublesome individuals like the Atropas conducting unethical human experiments first to gauge the limits of my love's creation and potentially ruin it. Based on the accounts from Althea, an acquaintance from the academy, those scoundrels frequently distribute counterfeit medications. Imagine your soldiers receiving such treatments."

*Tssk*

Sigismund took another puff from his inhaler, prompting Jocasta to exclaim,

"Will you cease using the drug until I have completed further trials! I have faith in the princess and Apollo, but for heaven's sake, my king. Consider the ramifications if something goes awry!"

Sigismund shook his head. "If I expect my troops to take this drug, I must first be willing to expose myself to its effects. I am not a cowardly monarch like the oaf on Euc 1." He then quickly turned to Hailey, "Oh, don't Oh wait, hahaha! You likely concur with me."

Hailey smirked and gave a simple nod, causing the king to chuckle once more before a thought struck him. "Wait, are there no adverse effects from taking them consecutively?"

Hailey shrugged. "Apollo mentioned he took four back-to-back during our testing. It primarily enhances your body's internal production of chemicals and hormones, while also reducing pain receptors and the biological restraints that hinder you from utilizing your full strength. Unlike the Lyssa, there is no external substance entering the bloodstream."

"That seems to hold true, based on my current observations," Jocasta added.

Sigismund nodded. The sentinel continued to impress. A bright young man possessing the strategic mind of a warrior and the intellect for such an invention? He had made the correct decision.

Approaching his disheveled uniform, he retrieved a pair of reading glasses from his pocket, adjusted them on his nose, and addressed Hailey, "Very well, Hailey. Shall we reach a mutually agreeable arrangement and secure fair terms for your boyfriend's creation?"

...

Academy of Psionics:

A group of strikingly beautiful women were enjoying a picnic in a verdant field, their presence naturally drawing the attention of onlookers. Many individuals couldn't help but steal extra glances, with some even pausing their activities to admire the scene.

However, no one dared approach. The aura emanating from the most captivating woman among them conveyed a clear warning: 'death to trespassers,' thus maintaining a respectful distance.

The woman in question, Orchid, let out a low growl before voicing her frustration, a sentiment she had expressed before. "I don't understand why we must sit out here and be observed. I'd much rather be at home."

"W-well, if you find the sunny day unenjoyable, perhaps we could return to your place?" Evanthe suggested, having applied ample sunscreen to protect her fair complexion from the sun.

"Nah. Apollo instructed us to behave and act like ordinary people while he's away. This is what normal people do: sit down and enjoy lunch with friends. You know, if I inform Apollo when he returns that you've been sulking around the house the entire time, he'll be displeased with you, right?" Janine said, smirking triumphantly as Orchid turned to fix her with a menacing glare.

A look that once instilled fear in Janine, but after witnessing the woman earnestly pleading with Apollo, adopting the most adorable expression, to fulfill her deepest desires... there was nothing Orchid could do to intimidate her anymore.

The group continued with light conversation for a while until the bright day suddenly took a dark turn. It was at this moment that the group noticed two men, clad in trench coats and fedoras, approaching them.

"Good afternoon, ladies. Please accept our apologies for the abrupt shift in the weather today. Might we have a word with an Orchid Lambdason, please?"