"Have you considered the consequences of saying that?" Fax looked the old nobleman dead in the eye. "Take it back, and I can pretend none of this happened."
Bishop Hydrak chimed in, "The Emperor's messengers should be met with reverence and obedience."
"My loyalty has been trampled underfoot, my family's standing is threatened, and now I'm expected to bow and scrape?" The old noble spoke with venom in every word. "From this day forward, my family refuses to carry out any of his orders unless he reverses those foolish reforms."
With that, the old noble turned and stormed out of the hall.
"It's not enough that he reverses it; he must also apologize to us personally! Otherwise, my family is pulling its support," another shouted.
"Me too! I will never accept this humiliation."
Many influential figures rallied behind the old noble. They left in a huff, vowing to stand united and sink or swim together until the Emperor's messenger caved in and apologized.
The remaining nobles, though hesitant about the reforms affecting their own family interests, chose to stay. For them, loyalty trumped all—at least for now.
After the meeting, Fax immediately informed Daniel of the threats. Daniel simply smiled and issued a new order.
"If those families are unwilling to do the work, then let the people who are willing take their jobs."
"Immediately remove those family members from their posts and promote a group of people" Daniel commanded. "In addition, we need to find ways to drastically improve the welfare of the military and the workers to win the hearts and minds of the troops and the populace."
Daniel had no intention of giving an inch.
He instructed Fax to promote available, capable people from the Middle and Lower Nests.
Since the wealthy and powerful generally spent all their energy playing politics and engaging in rigid social etiquette, most of the day-to-day work of the city bureaucracy was already handled by grassroots personnel.
The newly promoted officials quickly took charge of the entire Hive City's operating framework.
The major families, who intended to threaten Daniel by refusing to cooperate, suddenly found themselves out in the cold.
Their members were removed, and the pariahs from the Lower and Middle Nests took their seats. With the implementation of various welfare systems, the people and the military threw their support behind the reform.
If this continued, the old families would lose all their leverage.
"We must not sit back and wait for the axe to fall. We have to let him know that without us, he will never establish stable rule!" Some influential leaders made an appeal, hoping all families would unite to save their own skin.
The families united in secret, using every conspiracy and smear tactic they could muster. They incited ignorant people to march, and then ordered the gangs they secretly supported to infiltrate the parade and attack the guards maintaining order. Military units planted by the nobles took the opportunity to enforce the law violently, pouring gasoline on the fire and worsening the conflict.
The situation in Tyrian Hive quickly went south. Rioters poured out, smashing and destroying property. Gang members seized factories and industrial facilities.
Guards who should have responded swiftly were deliberately misled by the families' plants, resulting in high inefficiency and allowing the riots to expand. Most importantly, the saboteurs were armed with military-grade gear that only regular troops should possess.
Fax realized the riot was a calculated counterpunch from the powerful families. He immediately mobilized a trusted security force to set up defenses near the Governor's Residence to protect his own family.
Daniel immediately established communication with Fax.
"Planet Atomal is still under threat from Chaos, yet these fools are creating chaos for their own selfish ends," Daniel said, his voice hard. "They have crossed my red line. I will not tolerate this. I must hit them where it hurts."
Fax looked worried. "How about we call a truce and appease them?"
"Reform is not a tea party," Daniel shook his head. "If we compromise now, they will pull this stunt again next time. These vampires are never satisfied. They are always greedy and insatiable."
"You collect evidence of the families' involvement, and I'll handle the rest."
The Tyrian Spring Quest
Communication ended. Daniel pondered for a moment and started editing a new mission on the console.
Limited Time Quest: Tyrian Spring
Arale watched from the side, tilting her head.
Daniel glanced at her. "Study this, Arale. In the future, when the Master is busy, you will take the initiative to issue these tasks."
Arale nodded. "Don't worry, Master. I will definitely study hard and try to make you less tired."
"That's a good girl." Daniel praised her and opened a communication link with Faraday. The former Captain had recently been promoted to Colonel.
"Sir Guide," Faraday stood ramrod straight, his voice booming.
"There's a riot in Hive Tyrian. You must immediately dispatch a group of non-commissioned officers and take command of all troops in the Hive City, under my direct authority."
Faraday looked hesitant. "What if they drag their feet?"
"Execute them for betraying the God-Emperor. Then, sweeten the pot for the loyalists with higher salaries and benefits."
"Understood." After saluting, Faraday immediately sprang into action.
Incentivized by the generous rewards for the limited-time quest, players quickly swarmed the Tyrian Hive riot zones. Wearing high-quality exoskeletons, bearing fierce firepower, and protected by shields and armor, they were unstoppable. Even the veteran players who had been promoted to Astartes made those gang members look vulnerable.
"Ha! How dare you betray the Emperor? These idiots have a death wish!"
"I don't need the backstory; I just want to mow them down!"
"Traitors die for the Horde!"
"In the name of the moon, I will crush you traitors!"
The players were incredibly excited and their morale was sky-high. They steamrolled the gang members in their path, killing all who dared to resist.
Warmaster and his teammates also joined the suppression. He too had been promoted to an Astartes, utilizing the Imperial Fists gene-seed. Combined with his passive skills like 'Stone Will,' his combat effectiveness had soared.
"Steel decays, stone endures, for the Empire!" Warmaster stood amidst the burning wreckage, massive hammer in hand, roaring loudly.
"After completing this mission, we should finally have enough honor points to apply to register our Chapter," Rigby shot and killed a distant gang member, chatting with his teammates on the communication channel.
"By the way, what will our Chapter be called?" asked BaldCustodian.
"Warmaster's Sons," Warmaster answered immediately.
The communication channel went silent for a moment, followed by unanimous and heated replies.
"Get out of here! We treat you like a brother, and you try to pull a fast one?"
"What's the matter? Trying to suck up to the Guide now?"
"Heretic! Tie him to the stake and roast him slowly!"
"Your ID is a total disaster!"
The Hive Guards also took decisive action after Faraday replaced their old, compromised commander.
"Step on it!"
"No one who dares to participate in these riots will be spared!"
"You've got some nerve defying the God-Emperor!"
The enthusiasm of the guards was also unprecedentedly high. Wearing explosion-proof gear and wielding batons and stun guns, they were eager to please. When dispatched to a riot area, they would first deliver three heavy baton strikes before asking about identities. They weren't being cruel; they were simply over-performing because the new boss had been so generous.
The guards' previous salary was only three or four thousand Throne coins, with most of the benefits funneled to officers—descendants of the noble families. Ordinary soldiers, recruited from the lower and middle nests, had almost no benefits.
As soon as Faraday took over, he announced Daniel's reform policies: soldiers' total compensation, including welfare and food expenses, would increase to 10,000 Throne coins. To encourage them, Daniel also ordered that all previously overdue wages be paid immediately, plus an extra three months' salary as compensation.
Looking at the thick stack of money and swinging their batons with newfound vigor, the soldiers felt almost unworthy of the treatment the new leadership gave them.
With the combined efforts of the players and the guards, the riot was swiftly crushed. The inner city was placed under martial law and locked down. The nobles involved in the riots were immediately purged.
Many nobles were forcibly dragged out of their homes by players or soldiers and made to kneel in a line in the square.
When Daniel left the Imperial Glory and appeared in the square, the nobles cried and screamed.
"We were wrong, Sir Guide!"
"Holy One of the Emperor, give us a chance to make amends!"
Daniel ignored them and walked over to Fax.
"Sir Guide," Fax acknowledged.
"Is that the first rebel, the one who claimed he would never obey my orders again?" Daniel looked at the old nobleman kneeling beside Fax.
Fax nodded. "That's him. He was the one who masterminded the riot, intending to force your hand."
"I know I was wrong," the old nobleman sobbed on the ground. "Forgive me, great Saint."
Daniel walked up to the old nobleman and shook his head.
"You don't know you were wrong," Daniel stated flatly. "You only know you've lost."
"Saint, how should these rebels be dealt with? My suggestion is burning them at the stake. Only flames can cleanse the evil of these sinners," Bishop Hydrak suggested.
"Resources are scarce these days," Daniel mused. "Setting them ablaze like that would be a bit of a waste."
Daniel's words made many nobles perk up, a flicker of hope in their eyes. It looked like they might get a lifeline.