The next day.
Elsa received an invitation from governor Lucianne Agamemnus, the current powerful governor of Vigilus and the head of the Agamemnus family, from the world governor's Mansion.
Early in the morning, the Agamemnus family dispatched several stewards and dozens of luxurious hovercars, clearing the entire street. The ceremony and display were undeniably grand!
This scene was a stark contrast to the deserted sight when they first arrived that day.
"Please wait a moment, everyone."
Elsa's gaze was indifferent. Ignoring those waiting outside, she entered the mansion alone.
Logically, the stewards sent by Agamemnus should have been ushered into the mansion's main hall to await their Master's summons. But being left outside like this, their expressions naturally soured, yet they were helpless.
It was normal for them to harbor resentment.
Before they came, the governor had specifically instructed them that no matter what the heir said or did, they were not allowed to show the slightest disrespect and must treat him with the highest protocol.
"Lord, the Agamemnus people are here."
Elsa came to the bedroom, helped Emrys get dressed, and then handed him the invitation. The adoration in her eyes almost overflowed as she looked at him: "Just as you predicted, they couldn't sit still."
She had initially thought that this trip to Vigilus would lead to Emrys hitting a wall. Even Mr. Carol and even lord Arthur had predicted the same before their departure.
But who could have imagined that in just two days... the deadlock would be broken!
The speed of Agamemnus' change in attitude, from initial indifference to today's enthusiasm, was astonishing, as if they had become different people.
Haughty at first, then respectful later, it was laughable.
It's just... that sometimes, the words that came out of this lord's mouth could truly scare people to death. It's a good thing lord Arthur wasn't here, otherwise, he would surely have had a heart attack.
Sorting through her jumbled thoughts, Elsa quickly lowered her head, afraid her shy expression would be seen. She cleared her throat and asked, "Lord, do you need to reply to them now?"
"What's the rush?"
Emrys waved his hand, fastened the sash around his waist, and said calmly, "Let's have breakfast first. As for the people outside... let them wait patiently."
Did they really think he had no temper?
Are you kidding? Ask Khorne in the Great Rift above his head; he always pays back grievances!
Having been left waiting at the spaceport that day, Emrys naturally wouldn't give Agamemnus a good look. He intended to use this incident to express his displeasure to the governor.
As for whether doing so would lead to a complete falling out?
No, no, no, not only would it not lead to a falling out, but it would also add a bargaining chip to the upcoming negotiations. Emrys' subtext was telling Agamemnus that he held the greatest 'resource' and did not have only one option!
"Lord, isn't this..." Elsa was a little worried, wanting to ask if it was a bit too arrogant?
"Don't worry, I know what you're concerned about."
Emrys chuckled, reassuring her, "Now, the situation has reversed. We are not asking them, but they, in turn... are asking us."
Human nature inherently harbors greed, and nobles are often as greedy as pigs. Therefore, the people of the Agamemnus family would never miss such a huge windfall of benefit!
Moreover, by controlling a large amount of pure 'water resources,' it is equivalent to controlling the lifelines of Vigilus's hundreds of billions of civilians. The Agamemnus people want to regain the power diluted by the Ecclesiarchy and the Stygies Sector. This is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Of course, the premise is... that he can fulfill his promise.
Then the question arises: why should Agamemnus believe the empty words of an heir like him?
It's simple, precisely because he now has four shining golden characters on his forehead: Merlin!
Do you understand the value of Imperial Charter, Execute First and Report Later, Feudal Lord, and Merchant Dynasty?
In ancient terms, no matter how fallen a prince, he is still a prince, not some random cat or dog that can be provoked!
After finishing breakfast, Emrys handled some matters in the study. It wasn't until noon that, led by Elsa, he slowly changed his clothes and walked out of the mansion.
"I'm sorry, I was a bit busy, so I was delayed for a while. You don't mind, do you?"
Looking at the steward who had been left waiting at the door for several hours, his face darkened, Emrys smiled, a hint of subtle sarcasm on his lips.
"No, no, no, it should be us who disturbed your work. We are truly sorry." Although he was cursing inwardly, the steward still forced a smile: "We are truly sorry. A few days ago, someone in the family deliberately concealed your whereabouts, which led to governor Lucianne not knowing of your arrival at Vigilus. Today, she specifically sent us to welcome you and host a welcome banquet for you."
"Oh, who concealed it?"
This was just a pretense, an excuse obvious to anyone with eyes, but Emrys seemed unaware, staring intently at the steward with a serious expression: "Tell me the name so I can hear it. When I go back, I'm going to tell Grandpa."
"..."
Damn it, how can there be such a difficult person?
The steward was almost stunned. It was clear the other party was unhappy, but he couldn't offend him, so he could only lower his head and say through gritted teeth: "Merlin, the specific name... I really don't know, but governor Lucianne will definitely deal with this matter seriously!"
"Alright, then I'll ask governor Lucianne."
Emrys suddenly understood, patted his shoulder, showed eight white teeth, and grinned: "I'm very angry, so this matter... I will definitely pursue it to the end!"
If he said he would pay back grievances, then he would definitely pay back grievances!
Merlin' honor could not be tarnished for no reason. This honor... must be reclaimed, otherwise, in the future, wouldn't any petty noble dare to provoke Merlin?
Oh no, this kid is looking for trouble!
The steward was numb. Now, it was certain that when he returned, governor Lucianne would most likely pin the blame on him.
Then, Emrys, leading a secretly delighted Elsa, got into the luxurious hovercar, turned to the steward, and hooked his finger: "What are you standing there for? Do the stewards of Agamemnus not even understand this much etiquette?"
"I am very sorry, lord Emrys."
The steward was filled with grievance but was helpless. He could only hurry over and close the car door for him.
This time, Agamemnus had really kicked an iron plate.
Soon, the motorcade drove into the core area. In the magnificent spires, luxurious decorations were everywhere, showcasing Agamemnus' status to the fullest!
And under the steward's guidance, Emrys stepped into the top floor and met the governor, Lucianne Agamemnus.
"I am the planetary governor of Vigilus and the head of Agamemnus." Lucianne, with considerable dignity, rose from her golden chair and nodded in greeting: "On behalf of Vigilus, I welcome your arrival, lord Merlin Emrys , and apologize to you and the great Merlin for the disrespect of the past two days. I will properly resolve this matter."
"I fully understand your difficulties, governor Lucianne, but... the honor of Emrys cannot be defiled."
Emrys looked at the governor, his gaze unwavering, and said coldly, "Someone must pay the price for this. I hope you can understand."
His meaning was simple: if this matter wasn't given an explanation and a satisfactory solution, then the subsequent matters... would not need to be discussed.
Lucianne seemed not to have expected this young heir to be so difficult. She had deliberately offered a way out, but the other party simply kicked the ladder away.
"Then... how do you wish to resolve it?"
Lucianne's eyes slightly chilled, but then she remembered that the other party could provide a large amount of pure water resources. If used well, it could completely regain the power the family had lost. She immediately gritted her teeth and swallowed her anger.
"On the way here, your steward said that someone in Agamemnus deliberately concealed this matter from you." Emrys' gaze was slightly cold, and he said lightly, "Since that's the case... then please bring him here, and I will deal with it personally. How about that?"
Lucianne gritted her teeth, caught in a dilemma.
This kid... why isn't he playing by the rules?!
Looking at the governor who was fuming but couldn't vent, Emrys said with a calm expression, "governor Lucianne, the basis of cooperation is trust. You wouldn't... be unable to meet even this small request of mine, would you?"
His meaning was simple.
Either he gets to vent his anger today and reclaim his lost face; or everyone stops talking, because they're not the only ones lacking water, and there are two others eyeing them greedily next door!
Finally, the standoff ended with Lucianne's concession.
She ordered the butler to find a profligate scion from the family, one who usually performed poorly, to take the blame.
With things escalating to this point, the Agamemnus' reputation had been thoroughly trampled underfoot.
The way they had made 'Emrys' lose face before, it was all being returned to them now. One couldn't help but feel the scene was quite ironic.
Soon, the butler quickly brought over a bewildered, corpulent, obese man, who resembled a flying pig from afar, tied up and dragged along.
The fat man's mouth was sealed, and he seemed to sense his impending doom, squirming desperately towards Lucianne's feet. His face, bloated with fat and utterly repulsive, was contorted with fear, and tears and snot streamed out, a truly disgusting sight.
Lucianne kicked the fat man in the face, gritting her teeth, veins bulging: "You idiotic bastard, you've brought shame upon the family!"
The female governor's strength was clearly not insignificant. With a few kicks, she left the fat man's face swollen and bruised, blood gushing from his nostrils and lips, making him look even more detestable.
Clearly, she was simply venting, releasing all the resentment she had accumulated from Emrys onto the fat man.
After vigorously kicking him for several minutes, Lucianne finally finished venting and turned to Emrys: "Is this punishment enough?"
However, under the female governor's chilling gaze, Emrys' lips curled into a slight smile: "Not enough."
At these words, Lucianne's face changed dramatically, her eyes cold and sinister, dark as if brewing a storm: "Then what kind of punishment do you think is enough?"
"Elsa, tell Lady Lucianne!"
Emrys looked directly at the female governor, unflinching, his gaze showing no fear, and suddenly spoke loudly: "What punishment is due to anyone who dares to insult the name of Emrys?"
"Death, lord," Elsa immediately understood his intention and replied in a cold voice.
Lucianne's pupils constricted sharply. She had never expected the other party to be so 'bold,' demanding the execution of an Agamemnus right away!
"Lady Lucianne, did you hear clearly?" Emrys' gaze held a hint of scrutiny.
He, of course, knew that the fat man before him was purely a 'scapegoat' pushed out. But so what?
Even if Ogryn were here, he could guess that the true person who gave the order was this female governor. But Emrys precisely wanted to slap Lucianne hard in the face, right in front of her!
Don't think that just because Emrys has fallen, he can be bullied by just anyone!
Such a forceful attitude naturally made Lucianne's face turn ashen. How could she not see Emrys' intention?
The other party was clear-cut, clearly here to establish his authority!
If the scapegoat was really killed, where would her face be? Where would the Agamemnus' face be?
Suddenly, Lucianne felt a pang of regret. She shouldn't have listened to the Elder's advice and insisted on giving him a 'show of force,' only to end up putting herself in an awkward position!
"Forget it, I won't make things difficult for Your Excellency, the governor."
Emrys shook his head as if regretfully, then gestured to Elsa, making to leave: "We came with sincerity, but unfortunately, the Agamemnus family doesn't seem to have shown due sincerity and respect. I'm very disappointed."
He had just turned and taken two steps, silently counting down in his heart.
3, 2, 1
Bang!
The countdown ended, and a gunshot rang out.
Don't misunderstand, it wasn't Emrys who was shot. A voice full of anger came from behind simultaneously.
"Your Excellency, Emrys, now! Are you! Satisfied?!"
In that angry voice, Emrys slowly turned his head and saw the noble lying in a pool of blood, his forehead shattered, red and white viscous matter splattered on the expensive carpet.
The solemn and dignified reception hall of the planetary governor was suddenly filled with a chilling murderous intent.
He turned his gaze to Lucianne, who was clearly suppressing her anger, and smiled slightly: "Very good, Lady Lucianne, your decisive action has not only removed a parasite for the Agamemnus but also reclaimed dignity for Emrys, proving your sincerity."
The female governor's chest heaved with anger, and her eyes were bloodshot: "Please, Mr. Emrys, let's move. It's a bit dirty here. We'll go to the side hall."
"No need, I feel safe here."
Without waiting for the other party to act, Emrys sat directly on the chair, travel his legs as if he were at home, and beckoned to the ashen-faced Lucianne: "Your Excellency, governor, don't be so reserved, please sit. Since you've proven your sincerity, then next, we should discuss business. Let's not waste time."
Upon hearing this, Lucianne almost lost control and pulled out her gun to shoot him too.
What do you mean 'waste time'? From beginning to end, weren't you, that bastard, deliberately looking for trouble?!
Emrys showed no panic at all. The reason he dared to do this was, of course, because he had confidence.
If it were an ordinary under-hive dweller, even if Emrys had the courage of a bear and a leopard, he would never dare to touch the interests of a noble.
You dare to sell precious water resources?
All his actions were based on one premise.
He, Merlin Emrys, was the sole heir of the Emrys Rogue Trader Dynasty!
It was only with 'Emrys' backing him that he could deter the ill-intentioned and greedy nobles, making them sit down obediently and be willing to cooperate with him.
By noon the next day, he would probably hear the news of his suicide by a gunshot to the back of his head in his bedroom.
Sometimes, don't overestimate the moral standards of nobles too much. At least in Emrys' eyes, the moral standards of some nobles could rival those of the Dark Eldar.
The Agamemnus could leverage their home-turf advantage to deliberately make things difficult for him, or even completely ignore this heir.
But even if they were given a hundred times more courage, they wouldn't dare to touch a single hair on Emrys' head.
After all, no one was willing to endure the full retaliatory actions of an ancient Rogue Trader Dynasty, not even the Agamemnus.
Otherwise, wouldn't the high-ranking High Lords have already acted?
Fortunately, the female governor who commanded Vigilus was not a foolish idiot. After calming down slightly, she regained her composure: "I heard from Vennidar that you can provide us with a large amount of pure water resources. Is what Your Excellency, Emrys, said true?"
"Of course, if Your Excellency, governor, doesn't believe it—"
Emrys waved his hand casually and gave Elsa a look.
Elsa understood, handed over the item she had been given earlier—a full jug of water.
Lucianne suspected nothing, took the jar, opened it, sniffed, and then lightly licked a bit, her pupils instantly constricting: "So sweet!"
Nonsense, how could it not be sweet?
Emrys chuckled inwardly. This was mineral water he had specifically brought from Resident Evil.
Water from the 2K era, wasn't it naturally purer and sweeter than 40K water?
Lucianne's eyes showed shock. She marveled inwardly that an ancient Rogue Trader Dynasty could obtain water of such quality, but then she had a question: "You mentioned 'large amount.' May I ask how much water of this quality you can provide?"
"As much as you want, I have as much."
Emrys said, with a hint of playfulness, enunciating each word: "I swear by Emrys and the Emperor's name, there is no deception."
On Vigilus, pure water resources were equivalent to the 'salt and iron monopoly' of the old era!
And merchants who controlled the 'salt and iron' monopoly could often easily manipulate, and even control, the lifeblood of a dynasty.
Although slightly exaggerated, it still reflected the importance of water resources on Vigilus.
Indeed, after hearing Emrys' words, Lucianne's previous displeasure was long forgotten. She stared at him eagerly: "What do you want?!"
"High-level life-extension surgery."
After a brief pause, Emrys' gaze narrowed slightly: "And the supreme command of the Stormtroopers of the Tempestus Scions."
Are you trying to rebel?!
If not for her years of political training, Lucianne would have blurted it out.
But after calming down, she stared at Emrys, her expression shifting between sunny and cloudy: "The Stormtroopers are His Majesty's troops. I don't have the authority to hand over their command to you."
What kind of international joke is this? The Tempestus Scions, those are the elite forces of humanity!
"Your Excellency, the governor, this is no fun," Emrys shook his head, saying meaningfully: "Although you technically don't own the Stormtroopers, you actually have the command authority to deploy them. And please rest assured, I will absolutely not do anything that would harm you."
"I can temporarily transfer command to you."
Lucianne rubbed the armrest, as if having made up her mind, and said in a deep voice: "But any deployment must have my approval."
"Deal!"
Emrys' lips curved upwards, finally resolving a matter on his mind.
His target was never the Tempestus Scions, but the core of the entire event: the Aeldari Ark!
After finalizing the specific cooperation agreement, Emrys used an excuse to leave the mansion.
With command over the '47th Antrell Lion Regiment,' subsequent actions would proceed much more smoothly.
For the Craftworld Aeldari, in the process of beheading the cult leader and retreating, their greatest enemy was neither the powerful Astartes nor the so-called Astra Militarum.
The reason was simple: the Astartes weren't here at all.
Currently, the only two Space Marine forces that had arrived at the Vigilus were a mixed force of the Iron Hands and their successor chapter, the Brazen Claws, led by Iron Father Kardan Stronos, and a portion of the Primaris Marines from the Space Wolves' Blackmanes Great Company, led by Primaris Commander Haldor Frostfur.
But these two Space Marine forces were currently battling genestealers in the adjacent sector and were completely unable to attend to the temporarily safer Hyperion Sector.
Although the Astra Militarum were the Emperor's coinage, unless a large number of them were used to leverage their numerical advantage, it would be difficult to stop the Aeldari who were determined to leave.
Therefore, the only ones who could pose a threat to the Aeldari were humanity's most elite troops, the human-form Astartes-like Tempestus Scions within the Astra Militarum!
As long as he controlled this force and slightly restrained the Astra Militarum, he would have a great chance to create an opportunity to meet the Aeldari.
The Craftworld Saim-Hann Aeldari were among the few Aeldari who harbored intentions of peaceful negotiation with humanity; although they adhered to the principle of repaying every grievance, they also held the belief of repaying every kindness, so he had to seize this rare opportunity!
Furthermore, he was also serving the Imperium; didn't the Regent, the Thirteenth Lord, even have an Aeldari 'darling wife'?
Surely the Emperor would understand his difficulties!
Moments later, the grav-car returned to the mansion, and Emrys sat in the hall, pressing his fingertips to his brow.
Ever since he came to the Vigilus, his mind hadn't stopped for a single moment.
It had been operating at a high frequency, and coupled with the negative effects of the 'Great Rift,' it was inevitable that he would feel some irritation and headaches.
Upon seeing this, Elsa immediately and thoughtfully went behind him, using her long, jade-like, slender fingers to gently massage his head, easing his tense nerves.
While enjoying Elsa's massage, he closed his eyes: "Aren't you curious why I'm doing this?"
"I trust your judgment, lord."
Elsa's lips were slightly pursed, and her clear eyes showed deep trust: "You must have your reasons for doing this; you don't need to explain too much to me."
Although she didn't understand why Emrys was so insistent on asking Lucianne for command of the Tempestus Scions.
And every deployment had to be approved by her; on the surface, this was almost a guaranteed losing deal!
But she believed in Emrys; judging from his past actions, they always had a clear direction.
Sometimes, trusting a person doesn't require any reason at all!
After a long silence, Emrys, with his eyes closed as if asleep, murmured softly: "Elsa, it's so good to have you."
Elsa's movements suddenly stiffened for half a second, but quickly returned to normal.
Of course, if Emrys were to open his eyes at this moment, he would surely see the young girl behind him, her delicate earlobes flushed with a shy crimson.
It seemed she confirmed he was asleep before Elsa mustered her courage, her bright eyes brewing with some emotion: "You're mistaken; I'm the one who should be grateful. Meeting you is my greatest fortune, lord Emrys."
She had wanted Emrys to sleep a little longer, but alas, there always seemed to be endless matters to deal with. Just half an hour later, an urgent voice came from yesterday's communicator.
Emrys, being a light sleeper, quickly woke up, glanced at the communicator, and indeed, it was the unlucky Rosales.
"Damn it, why didn't you tell me a spaceship was going to crash here?!"
Rosales in the projection looked extremely disheveled, several of his mechanical prosthetics had been torn off, and sparks were constantly flying out.
How tragic, but suddenly I really want to laugh, what to do?
Emrys forcibly suppressed the upward curve of his lips, putting on a helpless expression: "Esteemed Lord Rosales, you don't actually believe that prophecy comes without any cost, do you?"
The enraged Rosales was immediately speechless.
In the end, he could only swallow his anger, still somewhat shaken as he said: "Fortunately, I ran fast and detected something was wrong in advance, otherwise those things you wanted would have been destroyed along with the Otteck starport by that unknown spaceship."
"The things I wanted?" Emrys keenly caught the keyword, his eyes instantly gleaming: "You mean..."
"This time, you have me to thank, Lord Emrys." Rosales said triumphantly, as if taking credit: "Just two hours ago, Archmagos Amos had officially delivered the goods you requested to the Otteck starport and entrusted them to me."
Upon hearing this news, Emrys' mood was very complex.
On one hand, it was the long-awaited 'gene-seed,' which he had been hoping for, and finally got!
On the other hand, the Otteck Hive Sector was about to be completely enveloped by plague!
"Lord Rosales, I sincerely give you a piece of advice." Emrys took a deep breath, his face solemn: "Do everything you can to leave Otteck immediately. Even if you go to Hyperia, never stay here, otherwise the Chaos forces of the Plague Father will completely turn Otteck into a living hell!"
"I have some resistance to biological diseases." Rosales hesitated, he didn't really want to go to Hyperia: "Can't I just stay in Otteck for half a month?"
Because, over there, they were already fighting like mad dogs; the Ork Orks and genestealers were almost on the verge of conquering Siluria!
Going back at this point in time, wasn't that looking for death?
However, Emrys quietly looked at him: "I forgot to mention, that spaceship is infected with the Gellerpox."
"..."
Rosales shivered, immediately nodding vigorously: "Go, I'll leave right away. Thank you for saving my life again, Lord Emrys!"
What was the Gellerpox, that it could make an Archmagos Mechanicus show such a terrified expression?
Gellerpox: when a starship undergoes long-duration Warp travel, it can subtly contaminate and damage the Geller field generators and related equipment on the vessel, a supernatural plague.
This supernatural disease from Father Nurgle not only infects the ship's machinery but also spreads to the operators, whether human or other organisms, and even to mechanical constructs, which become infected and gradually merge into one under the influence of the Gellerpox!
Coincidentally, the steel structures accumulated over generations in Otteck were almost the most suitable breeding ground for the Gellerpox!
That's why Rosales was so terrified; he was just afraid that if he ran too slowly, he would be 'fused' with machinery for the rest of his life.
"It seems I'll have to make a trip to Hyperia after all." After Rosales hastily hung up the communication, Emrys rubbed his temples, contemplating how to retrieve those gene-seeds.
He had to cultivate his own power; only then could he gain a foothold in the chaotic Imperium!
Emrys had been considering this idea for a long time, including making relevant arrangements starting from the Alien universe.
However, both the experimental combination of the T-virus and G-virus, and the cultivation of the alien Queen, were still in their initial stages. It would take some time for them to be transformed into effective and practical combat power.
"It seems that after I'm done with the Eldar, it's time to go to the Marvel universe." Emrys hadn't forgotten the magical props in the movie universe, though many of them required time to mature.
For example, Tony's nano armor, Asgard's rune technology, the dwarf Race's forging techniques, and so on.
But the most troublesome problem was precisely the word 'time.' If the movie universe's plot hadn't reached a certain point, even if he went, he wouldn't find Asgard, and Tony couldn't conjure a nano armor out of thin air without accumulation.
Just as he adjusted the time ratio to 1:10, this was to maximize the saving of time in the main universe.
Including the research in the Alien universe and the viruses in the Biohazard universe, all required time to settle before they could be gradually transformed into combat power.
"With all this going on, I forgot to ask him the most crucial thing."
Emrys pinched his brow. He had been so focused on getting Rosales to run that he forgot to ask about the source of the gene-seed.
Although he was still somewhat curious, considering Rosales had repeatedly assured him that it absolutely wouldn't be a gene-seed from some Chaos Space Marine, he immediately felt much more at ease.
Just then, Elsa suddenly entered the room with small, quick steps from outside the hall: "Lord, a noble wishes to visit you."
"A noble? Who?"
Emrys raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
A sudden visit at this time? Could it be that he had gotten some inside information from within Agamemnon?
"It's Viscount Scott of the Coleman family." Elsa handed over the calling card and gave him a detailed description of this so-called Coleman family.
On the Vigilus, there were many nobles, big and small, and Coleman could only be considered a very small noble among them. The most glorious days of his ancestors were when the current Viscount Scott, by siding with the State Religion to curb Agamemnon, was promoted into the 'Aquila Council.'
The so-called 'Aquila Council' was actually a council force jointly established by Agamemnon, the State Religion, and Hades Eight, for the sake of profit and superficial stability.
But to be honest, this council was completely a sham, because even to this day, the three parties had not reached a consensus on the council's name.
Agamemnon called the council 'Aquilaria,' while Hades Eight called it the 'Gear Council.'
A glimpse through a pipe was enough to know how chaotic the situation on Vigilus was.
"Interesting, the State Religion's people are coming to contact me. Are they planning to get a slice of the pie?" Emrys didn't doubt him, so he handed the calling card back: "Prepare a little, and have him meet me in the reception room."
In any case, this Viscount of the Coleman family was also considered a force of the State Religion.
Soon, in the bright council hall, Emrys met this Viscount Scott, who was over fifty years old. His graying beard and hunched body were somewhat inconsistent with the average noble lifespan in Warhammer.
"It is a great honor to meet you, esteemed Mr. Emrys."
As soon as Viscount Scott entered, he adopted a humble posture.
It was unclear if it had anything to do with the Agamemnon family's sudden change in attitude today.
As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, especially when he's a dog of the 'State Religion'?
Emrys wore a noble-like fake smile, invited the Viscount to sit, and then got straight to the point, asking directly: "Viscount Scott, it's late. Is there something you need to see me about suddenly?"
Viscount Scott smiled slightly and said, "Esteemed Mr. Emrys, I am here on behalf of my Master, specifically to deliver a gift to you."
A gift? Master? Specifically? Something is wrong, twenty percent wrong!
Emrys' vigilance instantly went to full alert. His intuition told him that anyone in the Warhammer Universe who used these words was likely problematic!
But he remained calm, lightly tapped the table with his index finger, and looked at Scott, who was smiling broadly: "Viscount, I don't quite understand what you mean by 'Master'?"
Elsa, beside him, noticed the change in atmosphere from his small gesture and quietly reached for the plasma pistol at her waist.
Don't think that a 'secretary' can't fight. At least in terms of swordsmanship and firearms, her excellent grades were praised even by Space Marines.
The person Arthur specifically chose for him was naturally well-rounded, not just someone who could handle his daily chores.
"No need to be so nervous, Mr. Emrys." Scott's lips still held a smile. His gaze seemed to drift towards Elsa, then quickly returned, and he said meaningfully: "I have no ill will towards you. As I said, I am merely here on behalf of my Master, specifically to deliver a gift to you."
"Oh, what gift?"
Emrys sat steady as a mountain, signaling Elsa with his eyes not to act rashly. A deep blue seemed to surge in the depths of his eyes.
Clearly, that was the power of psychic energy. If he detected any unusual movement from Scott, he could instantly crush him into a paste!
Scott was unperturbed by the sudden drop in temperature in the room and the faint, almost imperceptible soul shriek. He calmly took a letter from his embrace and placed it on the table: "This is the 'gift' my Master asked me to deliver to you, esteemed Mr. Emrys."
A letter?
Looking at Scott, who was sitting in the guest seat, Emrys, out of caution, did not touch it directly.
He put down his teacup and said faintly, "The gift has been delivered. You should leave now, Viscount."
"Very well, farewell, Mr. Emrys."
It was just a test, but to his surprise, Scott actually stood up, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave the mansion.
"Lord, do you need me to…"
Elsa was about to say that she would help examine the letter, but Emrys stopped her with a wave of his hand.
"No, get a servitor." Emrys looked at the letter, feeling something was not quite right. He frowned deeply and then said, "Please tell governor Lucienne for me that there are 'eyes' in the council, and she should be careful of the Coleman family."
Since he couldn't solve the problem, he would bring in someone who could!
Presumably, governor Lucienne wouldn't sit idly by and let unstable factors disrupt their trade cooperation, would she?
It didn't take long for Elsa to resolve the matter. governor Lucienne's reply was that she would investigate the 'Coleman' family.
A servitor brought from outside carefully approached the 'letter.'
There truly seemed to be no danger inside; it was merely a letter. Then the servitor, with an emotionless voice, read out its contents.
"Esteemed Mr. Emrys, good evening."
"On behalf of the Sons of Vane-Blunt Cult, I invite you to witness a grand and intricate conspiracy tomorrow at 6 PM, on Helian Street in the Mid-Hive."
"Your never-before-met friend—Vane-Blunt Firemark!"
Forgot to set a timer. My mistake, four hundred monthly votes! Tomorrow, at the latest the day after tomorrow, there will be an extra update!
The content of the letter was sparse, almost just three sentences.
But it was like a thousand-pound boulder dropping into a calm lake, stirring up a tempest in Emrys' heart.
For a moment, he almost lost control and subconsciously crushed the teacup.
Amidst the crisp shattering sound, the scalding tea burned his skin, yet that scorching sensation was not even one-ten-thousandth of the shock the letter's content brought him!
"Son of Vane-Blunt, I believe that's the cult you mentioned, lord?"
Elsa was also very surprised, her expression frozen like a still animation, unchanged for a long time.
"You're right," Emrys lowered his gaze, his eyes cold, and his voice suddenly deepened: "It's the cult I've had Nergas investigating all this time."
The temperature in the council hall seemed to drop sharply, with layers of frost spreading.
If one observed closely, one would find extremely faint, barely perceptible cracks in the void, formed by interwoven flames and lightning.
"Lord, calm down!"
Realizing something was wrong, Elsa hurriedly forced Emrys to snap out of it.
Emrys took deep breaths repeatedly, clearing the chaotic thoughts from his mind, and slowly exhaled: "I'm sorry, I made you worry, Elsa."
"Are you really alright?" Elsa looked at him with extreme concern.
Ever since arriving at Vigilus, Emrys had maintained his vigilance, keeping his brain in a high-intensity operational state all day long.
Even at night, he still frowned, only shallowly sleeping for a short while.
The Great Rift had a profound impact on humans, especially psykers; almost every time they closed their eyes, they could hear and feel the surging malice from the Warp.
The superposition of these two effects caused Emrys' spirit to remain constantly tense.
And Elsa, who had always accompanied Emrys, was naturally very worried about his current state in all aspects.
"Why don't you go rest?" Elsa proactively massaged his temples, trying her best with gentle movements to relieve Emrys' stress.
"No, at least not now."
Emrys felt as if a huge stone was dragging him down, the heavy feeling making him increasingly uneasy.
In the dark, he seemed to have a premonition of stepping into a 'trap'; it was as if an invisible hand on Vigilus was slowly, stealthily closing in on him.
He wouldn't have been… set up by that damned Tzeentch, would he?
Otherwise, he really couldn't understand why the cult leader would specifically have the pawn embedded in the council deliver this invitation to him.
Surely, the cult leader wasn't just bored and decided to deliver himself to his doorstep, right?
This possibility was too low and was immediately ruled out by Emrys, so the only possibility was… Tzeentch was setting a trap for him!
So the question was, should he accept the invitation?
Voluntarily stepping into Tzeentch's trap meant that situations completely beyond expectation were very likely to occur.
Emrys fell into deep thought, his index finger habitually tapping the table.
Elsa did not interrupt him, continuing to do her part, trying her best to relieve some of Emrys' pressure. Although deep down, she wished Emrys would abandon tomorrow's action, she knew even if she did try to persuade him, the outcome would not change.
"Elsa, have Vennidal mobilize a regiment of the Astra Militarum."
A moment later, Emrys seemed to have made up his mind, his spirits restored: "Then, please help me contact the Commander of the Tempestus Scions."
He had figured it out; whether or not he was walking into a trap, given Tzeentch's nature, any 'prey' he fixated on was basically very difficult to escape.
Even if he escaped this time, who could guarantee he wouldn't fall into another 'trap' next time?
Damn it!
Why did that bastard Tzeentch chase him all the way from Roselle to Vigilus? Emrys was puzzled. If Khorne was relentlessly pursuing him, it was because he had insulted him, which was understandable. But… why Tzeentch?!
Emrys was genuinely curious: what exactly about him had that damned Tzeentch taken an interest in? He would change if he could, wouldn't he?
"Son of Vane-Blunt, is it?"
Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall, let alone a human?
Emrys shook off the shattered teacup, took the tissue Elsa handed him, wiped the water from his hands, and sneered fiercely: "Alright, I'd like to see what kind of ran you can stir up!"
Since there was no escaping it, he might as well fulfill Tzeentch's wish.
It's just a 'trap,' isn't it? He'd walk into it, and not only would he walk into it, but he would also thoroughly muddy the water, to see who… would be the true winner in the end!
Late at night.
The Great Rift on Vigilus emitted an eerie glow.
It was as if the evil daemons of the Warp, with their ugly, twisted, mocking faces, were faintly visible within the chaotic rift.
In the governor's Mansion, Lucianne was still working.
Suddenly, the butler knocked and entered, lowering his voice: "Lord governor, just now… Emrys, whom you asked me to keep an eye on, suddenly made a significant move."
"Speak."
Lucianne did not look up, still busy. The daily political bickering with the Imperial Cult and Hades-8 consumed most of her energy.
And the invading Greenskins and the re-emerging genestealers had caused many unexpected situations in the Hyperion Sector under Agamemnon's rule.
The situation on Vigilus was evolving in an unpredictable direction, and the family's psyker-prophets were successively losing control. All these signs made the female governor increasingly uneasy.
The butler quickly relayed the news he had just received.
A short while ago, Emrys had urgently mobilized the Tempestus Scions and a regiment of the Astra Militarum under Vennidal, their specific intentions still unclear.
"What were his orders?" Lucianne's expression remained unchanged, but she put down her quill and listened carefully.
"The Tempestus Scions received orders to patrol above the mid-hive and not deploy without further orders." The butler took a slight breath and continued: "As for Vennidal's 35th Regiment, it was ordered to proceed to Helian Street."
"What exactly is he planning to do?"
Even Lucianne found it hard to grasp the methods of this Rogue Trader Dynasty heir.
Suddenly mobilizing two regiments, surely he wasn't just playing around, was he?
Moreover, specifically stationing two regiments in the mid-hive, an inconspicuous location… could something big be happening tomorrow?
While Lucianne was pondering, the phone beside her suddenly rang. She picked it up: "What is it?"
However, the content of the call made the female governor's face suddenly darken, her pupils revealing terrifying rage: "What did you say? Say it again!"
"Your Excellency Lucianne… just now, we received news that the entire Coleman family… there are no survivors. Everyone has been sacrificed in an evil ritual."
On the phone, the person was trembling, terrified that the governor's wrath would be unleashed upon him, and hurriedly said: "The time of death for the bodies should be just a few hours ago."
A few hours ago?!
Lucianne's pupils contracted sharply. Wasn't that when Emrys' secretary, Elsa, warned her to be careful of Coleman?
"Where is Scott Coleman?" Cold sweat suddenly drenched her back. Lucianne shouted in a severe tone: "I'm asking you, where is the target?!"
"Lord governor, we did not find the target."
The voice on the phone trembled: "We searched the entire Coleman family mansion. Everyone is dead, only Scott Coleman… is missing!"
"Search! Find him for me!"
At this moment, Lucianne felt as if she was being swallowed by coldness, and angry fire flared in her eyes: "Spare no effort, even if you have to turn the hive upside down, you must find Scott Coleman for me!"
Bang!
She slammed down the phone.
Soon, the butler saw several emotions shift across the governor's face, and the air pressure in the room was terrifyingly low.
"Go, tell Emrys… this news."
Lucianne took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "And, please convey a message for me… tomorrow, no matter what happens, don't worry, I am here!"