The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 960: Quality Over Quantity

After leaving the annoying Hyllus’, I decided to walk towards the more pleasant company.

Valerica was still talking to that man. For some reason I wanted to find a fault with the man, probably my Oedipus complex at play, but the guy looked alright. A bit over six foot and he had an arm wrapped around the shoulder of a very beautiful woman who was around five foot two.

Both seemed to be smirking, laughing, but Valerica wasn’t, she looked...

I started walking forward and when I was in earshot I called out.

"Babe! There you are. Your sister, I swear, is- Oh hey who’s the company?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her rear into my crotch as I rested my chin on her shoulder.

The duo looked at me confused for a moment before turning to Valerica who immediately picked up on my attempt at a rescue.

"Oh there you are, sorry. I got distracted by running into an old acquaintance of mine." She then swiftly changed position, hugging me tightly from the side. "Dear, this is Varro Vardanis and his lovely companion for the evening, Bismuth Kreeger. She is a famous actor since you don’t keep up with the local trends. Varro, Bismuth. This is my... Very good friend~ Apollo Lambdason."

I extended my hand out to both of them. "Pleasure to meet you both."

I gripped Varro’s hand first and applied a little bit of my enhanced strength into it. The man didn’t appear to be Psionically gifted so I noticed when his forehead suddenly erupted in cold sweat.

Before he could yelp in pain, I pulled back and smiled at the woman. "Bismuth? I do like a woman with the name of a gemstone." I relied kindly before suddenly feeling my spleen being squeezed by Valerica’s grasp.

The woman then took my hand and a massive smile emerged on her face. "Oh how kind of you to say, sir. Though Bismuth is just my stage name. I am actually called Bertha, though you can imagine why I don’t go by that. Wow you are tall, are you from a low gravity planet or do they just grow like giants where you come from? Sorry, I am rambling."

I smiled. "No, I am just blessed genetically. I just grew big everywhere." I then stood in a very specific way and it worked as Bismuth took a ’subtle’ glimpse below the waist only to spot a very specific outline in my pants.

Her eyes flared for a moment, but managed to compose herself. "I-I see. Well lucky you then."

I then turned to Varro and pulled Valerica tighter. "If you will excuse me, I want to steal my date back before we have to go deal with the vultures. Some more alone time with those lips of hers... Sorry, my inner thoughts tend to escape me at times, come on babe, lets go."

"Of course, Valerica. It was good catching up." Varro declared, but Valerica didn’t even look at him again, her eyes were looking up at Apollo, smiling smitten."

"Bye, nice meeting you both!" Bismuth declared and I gave her a little head nod before walking away, still glued to Valerica.

Once we walked a safe distance away, Valerica spoke. "You didn’t need to do that. He was just pissing me off with some remarks, I was fine."

I nodded my head. "You are right. I didn’t have to. But my girl doesn’t have to deal with anything alone. No matter how strong she is, I will always support her. Because I love her very dearly." I then kissed her on the temple as we walked and she patted me on the chest.

"I raised you right, that’s for sure. Now remove your hand from my ass, I think you made your point."

"Nah, I think they are still looking. Just a few moments longer." I replied, prompting Valerica to roll her eyes.

"Men... So how was meeting the other Hyllus’? I bet it was a shit show. I swear only my direct blood like you, Rhea and the other one are the only competent ones in the family, the rest a bunch of..."

"YOU DID WHAT!!!" We suddenly turned towards a very loud scream only to see Serena red in the face, her shoulders heaving up and down in her tight black dress.

"Yeah, it was not the best first interaction with the rest of the family." I admitted. "Anyway, should we begin the torture? I think she will need a few moments to cool off first."

Valerica watched her sister yelling at her youngest child, a look of smug superiority formed on her face as she did so. ’Quality over quantity, slut.’ She then squeezed her son and now date for the evening and replied,

"Lead the way, my love. I will not leave your side for a moment."

...

Moments Earlier:

"Oh quit your bellyaching. I have told you once before and I will tell you again. No matter how old you get, if you act out of line, as your mother I will put you in your place. Now let me have a look at the both of you. Serena stated before checking her two sons.

Other than their ears, no signs of her ’hands on parenting’ could be spotted. She then smiled and patted them both on the shoulder. "Good boys. Now, don’t embarrass me or the family again tonight, do you understand?"

The two middle aged men looked downtrodden, but nodded their heads. "Yes mamma."

Serena smiled. "Good. Now go and do your jobs and don’t bully your nephew unless you actually want his job."

Dex and Luke looked between each other upon realising neither actually did want that job, it was too much effort after all. They then scampered away to begin their important task of socialising.

Serena then resisted the urge to rub her eyes and smear her makeup as she thought to herself. ’Perhaps the prude was right about quality over quantity as fuck me I love them, but they are morons; They take after their old man thats for sure...’

She then thought of something, forcing her to smirk. ’At least I know my next child will be beyond competent with their daddy’s genes...’

Thinking of him, Serena began walking back to where she had left him behind and found Ryan and Katie alone. She frowned, but Apollo might have sneaked off to talk to- ’ Wait, where did Hecate and Circe go? Did they really sneak away? Oh well, more Apollo for me~’

Serena then walked over to her child and grandchild. Upon being spotted, Katie beamed with delight and spoke. "Mother! It is so good to see you. I have missed you so much."

Serena was about to speak, but Katie continued. "So, can you believe Carmine? Apparently he was stationed on the same world you were right? Then he comes back and doesn’t even stay home when he arrives back. Just grumbles something about how he is working on an important case and then runs off to his shitty secret club! I’m not some sow he decides when he wants to sleep with me. I have needs! I have my right mind to take up a lover to put him in his place and-"

"Daughter... Be quiet." Serena said and Katie zipped up at which point Ryan bowed respectfully towards Serena.

"Grandmother. I am glad to see you return back in good health. Where if you don’t mind me asking, have you been staying since your return? Your presence was noticeably absent at the Hyllus building."

" Hello Ryan dear. It is always nice when my family shows the right amount of respect. I was staying with Valerica. I had some business with her. Speaking of. Have you both seen Apollo yet? What did you think? Did you like him?"

Ryan suddenly felt his gut drop out of his ass ’Oh no...’

Katie, however...

"Apollo? Never heard of him. Ryan and I have just been speaking to one another, we haven’t seen anyone else... Actually! EWW! Not that you have brought it up. Some vagabond came over looking for spare change. Disgusting. To think some purple haired freak has the gall to speak to me? A Hyllus! Don’t worry though. I put him in his place. He will think twice before attempting to talk to his betters again, I even threatened him with our Hyllus wrath! You should have seen it, he might have been tall, but the mere mention of our strength had him quaking in his boots and running away with his pathetic clothes and face. Honestly-"

"YOU DID WHAT!!!" Serena couldn’t take what she was hearing anymore and screamed out in rage.

"M-Mommy?" Katie suddenly paused and began shaking after being yelled at

"Idiots... All fucking idiots... You are going to apologise right this instant and hope with all your might that he forgives you, or by the stars... If he has told Valerica..."

"W-What do you mean? Why would some vagrant know Valerica, mommy? He was just some backwater farmer trash who-"

*SLAP!*

Serena slapped Katie’s face before grabbing the back of her neck and dragging her face within millimetres of her own.

"That was Apollo you stupid brat! You know, Apollo Lambdason. The man Valerica adopted. The one Kathrine is dating. And not only that, he is not just a fallen archon, he is a Sentinel... Do you know what you have done to yourself? If Valerica finds out you spoke to her new favourite thing in the universe, you will have just signed your own life away, you stupid, stupid girl!"