Mikhailis chuckled. "Oh? Is that a compliment?"
He smirked but didn't push further. The truth was, Rodion was right. He wasn't looking to amass a cult of mindless thralls; he just needed tools—tools that could be used and discarded as necessary. And now that they understood how Hypnoveil's evolution functioned, they had to be extremely careful with deployment.
His mind was already racing through potential countermeasures. Stronger-willed individuals would resist over time, which meant that a high-ranking enemy with strong mental discipline could break free, or worse—identify the parasite and seek ways to counter it. He'd need contingencies.
But before he could dwell too much on that, Rodion's voice cut through his thoughts.
