The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 961: Look Who It Is!!!

’I was right all those months ago... This is hell.’ I thought for the nth time already. My will to live was slowly being drained.

Smile, wave. Continue. Smile, wave. Continue. It was monotonous and I hated it.

’This is hell.’

The only thing that was keeping me going was Valerica’s occasional words of encouragement.

Though it was only just enough to stop me from jumping good all the way up to the palace.

After two hours, I was on the verge of desperation, I was even risking praying to gods for aid, but I knew better than that. Fortunately a miracle occurred in the form of a sign just ahead of us.

No Media beyond this point.

I felt life return to my tortured body and I grasped Valerica’s hand tightly as she was talking to some media outlet or something... I started drowning out everything within the first five minutes and couldn’t be bothered paying attention again.

Passing the media sign, I felt my body press through a barrier of some sort, and in an instant, the empty location beyond the sign was suddenly filled with Nobles.

"Apollo, that was an important conversation I was just having. You really shouldn’t have pulled me away." Valerica said before rubbing my cheek affectionately. "But it’s alright. I can tell you have been stressed for a very long time. Well done, you did so well and I am so proud of you."

I took a deep breath after she said that, it helped a bit, but I was still feeling all the stress of those cameras in my shoulders.

It was then it was like someone read my mind as a powerful set of hands suddenly grabbed each of my shoulders and squeezed hard. I didn’t even care about stranger danger, I needed the squeeze.

"My word, son. You look like you are ready to murder everyone here. I don’t think I saw you this exhausted after you came back from fighting all bloodied and battered." A strong gruff voice spoke out.

Turning around, I smiled wearily at Sigismund. "Honestly, I would rather fight another Warlord than deal with those vultures again. That was ass."

"HA! Hahaha." Sigismund began bellowing and as he did the surroundings turned scarily quiet.

Sigismund also realised this and frowned at all the pussy nobles. "Say something funny and maybe you will here me laugh more often- WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT!" His voice suddenly boomed and the nearby nobles stopped looking over and began initiating normal conversation.

Sigismund then turned to Valerica who was still smiling after the yell. "Good to see you Val. You have a good son here. Did he tell you that he joined a Hoplite wall with the Praetorians? Quite the achievement for the Hyllus name."

"No, Actually. He didn’t tell me that. Though I am not surprised. My child was raised by me after all, he is destined for greatness! He did tell me you were snatching up his accomplishment though. Really, my king? I mean, I understand why, but why?"

Sigismund raised an eyebrow. ’Raised? You adopted the man not even a year ago what are you- Right.. Hyllus’. Mental, but useful.’

"I’m just trying to get some of the attention off our lad here. He already looks dead after dealing with the media for two hours, imagine them following him around for the foreseeable future because he killed a you know what at nineteen."

Valerica grunted. "Fine, but with this and this little mission into alien space, I expect my one and only child to be heavily compensated for his efforts. Not just a pat on the back and a thumbs up."

"Naturally, Valerica. Naturally. Now while you know I love conversing with you, do you mind If I steal Apollo from your company for a little while? I have a small surprise for him before I begin the main ceremony."

Valerica instantly turned to me, to check if I was ok with what Sigismund just said. A very sweet action.

"And might I add on, if he comes with me, he won’t have to do any more media po-"

"Let’s go already!" I said, perhaps a bit too desperate, causing him to laugh again, once again scaring the crowd silent until he glared around.

Valerica seeing this smiled. "Alright love, let me know if our king becomes too much for you. As a guardian, I can probably kick him in the ass and get away with my life, but for now I’ll wait for Serena to catch up and talk with some of the nobles here for public relations."

Sigismund smirked hearing that and said nothing else as he began to chaperone me away.

As we began to walk away, I could hear the nobles around begin talking about us, mostly about who I might be. Unless you were a socially omnipresent entity like Myu and the other Sepiidae, I knew I was not famous by face yet. Only appearing a few times for public events and such.

And as much as I wanted it to stay that way, after today, I knew that was no longer going to be the case.

"The pussy nobles have nothing better to do than spread gossip, son. Just ignore them, they aren’t worth your time. You should only interact with those at your station. Warriors, battle brothers and sisters. Honestly lad, out of all the noble family you could have fallen in with when you came from the fringes, the Hyllus’ are one of the very few that have my genuine respect."

The two of us then proceeded to walk a short while. We ended up making our way to a large balcony section of the outer palace. Below hundreds of thousands- Scratch that, millions of civilians were below. Awaiting their Military kings speech of victory and other topics. I could see tech getting set up even now, ready for the event.

Sigismund walked past without batting an eye and we eventually arrived at a door guarded by two Praetorians.

"Your grace." They said, stepping aside for Sigismund.

"Sentinel." They then addressed me, I recognised the armours from Lleon T1 so I gave them a head nod as I passed.

As we entered the room, a modulated voice suddenly called out. "Sigismund?!? What did I tell you about walking off? We need you calm for the- *Binaric squawk* Apollo Lambdason!!!"

Before me stood a woman that was more metal than flesh. The last time I had seen her, she had been wearing her red cloak over her entire body. Right now it was partially wrapped around her body as she was working when we walked in, so I could see a lot of her.

Black metal shaped her body. Gears, wires and other gizmos were all over her. Head to toe she really was more metal than flesh Though even with her metal, she still appeared feminine in form, her metal having certain curves, most likely for pure human aesthetic if nothing else. She had no mouth, in place was a small gas mask like apparatus in which she talked through.

The only part of her body that still had flesh and blood from the outside was around her glowing cybernetic blue eyes that were wide with delight as she began walking over towards me on a set of mechanical tendrils that jutted out of her back.

"Jocasta. Long time no see. How have you been?" I asked nicely. My past experiences with the woman left a positive impression on me.

"*Squark* I have been busy, Apollo, very busy. Most recently, I have been focused on a certain genetic formula that our king has been testing himself. Might I say, how impressed I am with your work. You truly have an ingenious mind. While I have focused my body into another path compared to yours. I respect science no matter the form. Now stand still, let me scan you."

Jocasta then wrapped her tendrils around my body, pulling me close to her as she proceeded to place her hands on my chest, her eyes glowing even brighter for a moment.

She stayed perfectly still for five seconds before pulling away, turning to Sigismund for a moment then back to me. "Sentinel... Your Psionic and Physical growth is... Astonishing. By all my calculations, your growth does not compute. I am at a loss for words."

Sigismund chuckled at Jocasta and proceeded to pat me on the back. "I told you, the lad is different. Though don’t try to pester him on his secrets, he might not have realised I noticed, but yesterday at dinner, he was quite sly about spilling the beans about his teacher and his training.

Jocasta then looked at me and made a strange whirring sound that I interpreted as her sucking her teeth. "Is that so?" She then got even closer and her modulation suddenly turned into a whisper.

"I am sure I could find a way to get those secrets out of you Apollo. Remember, my offer for a bisensuous collaboration still stands if you desire to also learn how my body-"

"-Apollo!" A voice suddenly yelled with great delight and glee. Turning towards the voice, my mood flipped upside down. All the grievance of having to deal with the vultures vanished as I opened my arms wide and yelled back.

"Ronnie!"