Chapter 693 New Moon Arrives
Terra, Praetorian Way.
Bustling and crowded.
Flags are fluttering and ribbons are flying.
"Long live the Navy!" "Praise to the God-Emperor!"
The road from Lions Gate Airport to the Royal Palace of Terra has been crowded with enthusiastic and crazy men, women and children. Millions of citizens stand on both sides of the wide road, waving flags with the numbers of the Imperial Navy's fleets. Separated by a human wall of Imperial Guardsmen and soldiers and Advocates from the Ministry of Justice.
HNA fighter jets roared over the heads of the crowd, dragging colorful smoke into the hazy atmosphere. Cheering people sang hymns and prayers, servo skulls equipped with projectors and loudspeakers loudly shouted the hull number of each battleship, and occasionally fat babies with white wings could be seen flying by.
"What is that, Arlo?"
Fei asked curiously, blinking her blue eyes.
"Cherubian, a kind of servitor."
Fu Qinghai withdrew his gaze and replied calmly.
In the era when Fu Qinghai had just become the chapter leader, Cherubeus had been invented by the Mechanicus, but it had not yet been used on a large scale because this kind of servitor had no production and combat use. However, as the influence of the state religion in the imperial society became more and more important, and its status became important, the state religion became the largest source of orders for the angels. They use this pure and innocent image of the servitor as a propaganda tool. Cherubim will often chatter around the holy tomb and church, or follow the bishop and loudly recite various fanatical words.
Fu Qinghai led Feiyi and Vera in disguise and mingled with the crowd. Fu Qinghai shrank in size, and the two women also took off their power armors. The three of them were wrapped in robes and hooded, no different from the poor but fanatical people around them, watching this grand triumphal parade with cold eyes.
"It's like the beast has been taken down."
Fu Qinghai curled his lips and sneered in a low voice.
"Knowing the development of the plot, but unable to change it."
Vera looked at the crowd around and sighed.
In the center of the Guards Avenue, the officers and soldiers of the Navy Honor Guard, holding ceremonial knives and shotguns, marched forward in a neat formation, accepting the cheers and praises of the people on both sides. Fu Qinghai noticed that several Skyhawk-class shuttles passed by in the sky, landed one after another and disappeared into a group of buildings in the distance.
The Skyhawk shuttle is usually the transport of the big shots.
"What is that place?"
Fu Qinghai asked Vera with his mouth full.
"Imperial Naval Strategic School."
Vera followed his gaze and said:
"Lamson is going to give his victory speech there."
"Can we go in?"
Fu Qinghai then asked.
Vera raised her head and glanced at him:
"You two can't, but I can. What, you want to hear about the military experience of the High Lord Admiral?"
"Oh."
Fu Qinghai pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled.
I thought to myself: When I was fighting Orcs, Spirit Tribes, and Chaos, Lan Song’s ancestors were sucking milk in their infancy. What can I learn from him?
"Forget it if you can't get in."
Fu Qinghai shook his head and said.
He raised his head and squinted his eyes at the buildings in the distance, and saw the Skyhawk-class shuttles landing one by one in front of the Imperial Naval Strategic College. The richly dressed dignitaries walked down the ramp with the help of their attendants. They greeted each other politely, and then walked into the academy gate on the scarlet carpet.
Maybe a cardinal from some planet.
Or he could be the de facto governor of a certain star region.
"See him building tall buildings, and watching him entertain guests."
Fu Qinghai suddenly murmured the lyrics:
"Look at him...the building collapsed."
Vera can't understand Chinese.
She turned to look at Fei:
"What is he talking about?"
Feiyi shook his head to express his ignorance.
"Let's go, there's nothing to see anymore."
Fu Qinghai took Fei Yi and squeezed out of the crowd.
…
Terra, Imperial Naval Strategic School.
Wangorich stood alone among the crowd of onlookers.
Quietly looking at Lan Song who was eloquent on the podium.
It is common sense that when a person is alone, he is more vulnerable to attack.
The successive Grand Masters of the Court of Assassins often teach their assassins to patiently and methodically observe the target's behavioral patterns, learn the target's life trajectory, and then wait until the target is at the most vulnerable moment before taking action.
Alone, maybe in the bathroom, or in the bedroom, or maybe hiding in a house in the countryside. When he is most relaxed, his guards are not around. It's a good time.
When the target is accompanied by others, it will be much more difficult to move. At this time, certain compromises must be made, and direct killing actions cannot be taken. The target may be surrounded by bodyguards, hangers-on, or security personnel, and whoever they are, regardless of their level of expertise, alertness, and reflexes, they are witnesses. The presence of others increases the likelihood that the assassins will be exposed, reduces their chances of success, and reduces the likelihood of completing their mission and retreating safely.
A total of eighty-seven thousand two hundred and forty-seven were with Wangorich when he approached High Lord Admiral Lanson. The numbers are so precise because he used tiny sensor drones to scan the domed room.
But for Wangoric.
Sometimes he doesn't have to think about this basic common sense.
Because Wangoriqi was born in the Weninam Temple.
That is the famous Poison Master Temple.
"Pah, pah, pah, pah..."
Lanson, wearing a gold and scarlet military uniform, had just finished his victory speech at the Imperial Naval Strategic College, and a large number of well-dressed cadets and flight attendants were still applauding. Baby angels flutter among the banners overhead, striking golden cymbals and playing silver trombones.
Lan Song was surrounded by his armed personal guards, a group of tall, stern-faced men, wearing black uniforms with red trim and gold buttons. Each carries a sheathed power weapon. One of them, the captain of the guard, held the fur cap of the High Lord Admiral.
The guards tensed slightly as they noticed a man in black approaching through a crowd of cheering midshipmen and smiling Academy instructors and administrators who were busy complimenting Lanson's speaking skills and acumen.
"Back off."
One of the guards said, turning to face the man and standing between him and Lan Song. Lanson was busy shaking hands with the principal of the Bombing Academy, while Wangorich just smiled at the guard.
Lan Song, whose face was glowing red, turned his head and caught a glimpse of Wangorich. Seeing that he was provoked by his own guards, the Admiral deftly left the leadership of the bombing academy and turned around.
"Are you serious, Romano?"
He scolded his own guards:
"You must learn not to cause trouble for an Imperial senator."
"I'm sorry, my lord."
the guard said to Vangolic, his tone clearly not sincere. He did not recognize this humble and simple man in black clothes. Even when Wangorich walked up to him, he did not recognize him.
"Do you come to my lectures often, Drakan?"
Lan Song asked with interest.
"Hardly."
Wangorich said with a smile:
“But I guess I’ll have to come and listen more often in the future.”
Together they walked across the room and into the crowd. Trumpeter cherubs and mechanical double-headed eagles fly in the sky. Lan Song smiled and nodded to people passing by, shaking hands with some. He hardly looked at Wangorich when he was talking to him. For Wangoric, this freed up his attention to admire the painted mural on the ceiling through the flags and banners: giant battleships firing thousands of guns to destroy the enemy.
"So why are you here, Drakan?"
Lan Song asked as he walked:
"Of course you didn't come to kill me, otherwise you would have chosen a less public moment."
"Oh, then you don't know how skilled I am at my job, sir."
Wangorich answered with a wink.
Lansong turned to look at him, knowing that Wangoric was joking. It had been a long time since the High Lords Council had sanctioned the assassination of an Imperial senator.
"Sir, I'm joking."
Wangorich shrugged and said:
"Don't worry. In fact, I chose this time point precisely because it is a public occasion. I am worried that my sudden appearance in a more private place will make you misunderstand and things will become messy again. …I don’t know why, but once I show up, people become nervous. It must be because my face is not good-looking.”
The Grand Master made a joke that he thought was humorous.
"I'm busy, Drakan."
Lanson said calmly, he stretched out his hand and shook hands with Governor Volos of the Deneb Sector.
"Then I'll put it bluntly, my lord."
Wangoric put away his smile and said seriously:
"We need alliances."
"What?"
"Political alliances, my lord."
"Why?"
Wangorich smiled.
"I know it sounds crazy, we have never been allies before, and I know exactly why - I am not important enough to be nurtured. And you, my dear lord, your importance is unquestionable. ”
"Where is this, Drakan, my good friend?"
Lan Song asked, and continued to shake hands happily with other people, patted his shoulders and said some words of promise.
"This sentence is really inspiring."
Wangoric said:
"Indeed, 'my good friend,' I know you don't mean that literally, but it tells me that you are willing to be polite and pleasant to me in public, and it does encourage me. So let me change The rhetoric — we need to be allies, we should be allies.”
"Explain it to me before I lose my patience."
Lanson said with a smile on his face. He turned around and smiled and waved to the two squadron commanders standing not far away.
"You are a very important person."
Wangoric continued:
"Perhaps one day, one day soon, you may become the most powerful person in the entire Terra and even the entire Empire. I know that the balance you maintain in the High Lords Council is very stable. You bring other The high lords have gathered around you, and no one will tolerate behavior that is detrimental to you."
It did not go unnoticed by Wangorich that he was at the center of Lanson's display of power and influence - the Imperial Naval Strategic School. This navy's most elite academy is about to become Lan Song's private youth organization. Lan Song had already graduated, but he made no secret of his love for it. Graduates of this military academy received the best opportunities for promotion. In return, the cadets showed an almost blind support to Lan Song. Many of them proudly called themselves "Lansong Party members" and imitated Lan Song. Tactical theory throughout his career.
"But the thing is, while no one can go against you for now, some people might try."
Wangorich said with hints of authenticity.
"What's the meaning?"
"Such divisive behavior is foolish, but there are factions, my lord, who may try to oppose you, even if it is in vain, but it will harm the current empire."
Lanson looked directly at Wangorich for the first time.
He stood still and stared at him for a while.
"Who are you talking about?"
Lan Song asked in a deep voice.
"I will not betray the trust placed in me, my lord."
Wangorich smiled and replied:
"The real key issue is the 'beast'."
Lan Song felt incredible after hearing this:
"The Beast? Drakan, this is a completely military problem. Why would a layman like you, er, I mean, a politician, be interested in it? We've already defeated the Orks and Orcs in the Vesperils system. Their armed satellites and the Imperial Navy can deal with any problem, and we have the ability and confidence to completely eliminate the Orks without you having to worry about it.”
"We should all be interested, my lord, all of us. This is an extraordinary military disaster. I can tell you bluntly that my department's intelligence capabilities across vast areas of the Empire may not be as good as those of the Inquisition." , Not as good as the Ministry of Military Affairs, not even as good as your fleet, but - my intelligence capabilities in other imperial departments are beyond your imagination. "
Wangorich said with a serious expression.
Lanson did not respond to Wangoric's words. He continued to shake more people's hands and have more short conversations, but his subtle expressions showed that he was still listening.
"Beast, maybe it's not that simple. I have a hunch that some departments or agencies have more intelligence, but they have not shared it with us. The war will not end here, it is far from over."
Wangorich said to himself:
"So I think this is a problem. Of course, I'm just a layman, not a military general. But it seems to me that we are divided on how to deal with this issue. Certain... factions, or certain figures, they Have another opinion. When the problem comes, they may not agree with your opinion on how to deal with it, and they may want to adopt an alternative policy. They will use the excuse of how to deal with the beast and this series of problems correctly. you."
Wangorich leaned closer and whispered:
"And that could be fatal, not to you, but to the country. You think your power group in the High Lords Council is invulnerable, but everyone else has to fight to the death anyway, right? And then What? A stalemate, a brutal, political, internecine struggle among the High Lords, complete paralysis, and the Imperial Senate was unable to take action or formulate any policy... just as the Empire was threatened. When? Anyway, my dear lord, my dear friend, the fact is that if the beast develops into a real threat, then now is not the time for the High Lords of Terra to be trapped in a pointless and hopeless war with each other. During the war, the empire must not become vulnerable, even if there is only the possibility of becoming vulnerable!"
Wangorich rarely said a long paragraph, and finally came to a decisive conclusion. This is completely different from the usual style of the Grand Master of the Assassin's Court, which shows that this long speech may come from his sincerity. Lan Song couldn't help but glance at Wangorich again. He could feel the urgency.
"I could be a politician, an outsider."
Wangorich also stared at him and said:
"My seat and the influence of my department are no longer what they used to be. But I will not stand idly by and watch the empire in such a dangerous situation of almost political paralysis. After all, if my department still has any meaning, That is to be the last safeguard to prevent the human empire from falling into such a dangerous situation! Sir, this is one of the two important reasons why you need me as your ally."
The audience around them applauded more enthusiastically, and Lanson raised his hand to wave gently to express his gratitude to them, and his bodyguard escorted him to the stage steps.
"Oh, they love you."
Wangoric said:
"They stamp their feet, they yell, they want you to get back on the podium and go to the next event."
Lansonton turned around under the steps of the central stage, looked back at Wangorich, and saw the Grand Master of the Assassin Court standing there, no longer walking side by side with him.
"We'll talk at your convenience."
Wangoric raised his hand and said:
"Quickly, go up and keep walking."
"What's the second reason?"
Lan Song suddenly asked.
"My lord?"
"You said I need you as an ally for two important reasons."
Lan Song stood amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd and asked:
"What's the second one?"
"Very simple, my lord."
Wangorich slowly raised the corners of his mouth.
A dark and cold light flashed in his eyes:
"You may not want me as an ally...but you definitely don't want me to be your enemy."
…
Terra, deep in the slums of the Diamond City Hive.
A dilapidated house sandwiched between two buildings. You need to go through countless stairs and dark alleys to reach it. The air is filled with the smell of dampness and decay, and the regular vibrations of the tram passing by are along the tracks. Passed to the roof.
Vera Nora pulled out a chair at the dining table:
"Sit wherever you want, don't be too particular."
Fu Qinghai raised his head and looked around. Dim and flickering lumen light strips were attached to the horizontal beams. The furniture was very simple and even crude. Fortunately, he had shrunk in size, otherwise he still wouldn't be able to fit into this narrow, low room.
"Is this your so-called secret stronghold?"
Fu Qinghai said.
"Yeah, one of my safe houses."
Vera Nora nodded and said:
"I also have an office in the Inquisition headquarters, although it is small, incomparable to the one my mother had. But I don't think you two want to conspire with me in the Inquisition headquarters, right?"
The three of them sat around the circular dining table.
An iron ceiling hangs overhead.
Vera Nora pulled out a stack of cards from the secret grid and spread them out one by one on the dining table. Each card had a character's avatar and the corresponding position and name.
"Through the communication I just had with you two, I realized that you know nothing about the current Terran political scene. These are character cards I made myself, so that I can usually use them to sort out the intricate plots and character relationships of the original works."
Vera spread her hands and explained.
Fu Qinghai glanced at the cards on the table.
All the names can be seen at a glance:
Lord Commander of the Empire, Lord Guilliman, Udo.
High Lord Admiral Lanzon.
Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard, Hess (red cross).
Forge Commander of Mars, Kubik.
Minister of Justice, Zeke.
Minister of the Interior, Akers.
The ecclesiastical pope, Methrine.
Inquisition representative, Wienander.
Navigator Ambassador, Gibran.
Abbot of Xingyuting, Anwa.
Abbot of Xingjuting, Sack.
Merchant Fleet Spokesperson, Yuskina.
There are exactly twelve character cards.
Fu Qinghai understood instantly.
Representing the Supreme Twelve on the Council of High Lords.
"The former Commander-in-Chief of the Guards, Hess, died in the Adamantua sector. The name of the person who succeeded him was Williot, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard. I haven't had time to find a photo of his face, so for the time being, There is no character card for him.”
Vera pointed to the crossed card and said.
"No Wangorich? Isn't he the High Lord?"
Fu Qinghai turned his head and asked strangely.
"He was."
Vera explained:
"But in the previous reorganization of the Imperial Senate and the High Lords Council, he was defeated. The seat of the Assassin's Tribunal was replaced by the Tribunal. So strictly speaking, Wangorich is now only an Imperial Senator, not the Supreme Lord. Twelve people.”
"oh……"
Fu Qinghai nodded understandingly.
Then the conversation changed and he asked:
"So what's the point of showing me a bunch of dying people?"
Vera was slightly startled when she heard this.
Although Fu Qinghai has not read the original novel of "Beast War", the synopsis of the related video has already said: After the end of Beast War, the Grand Master of the Assassin Court killed almost all the high lords, and then began his dictatorship .
"At least they're not dead yet, right?"
Vera raised her head and said seriously:
"As long as you continue to participate and promote the plot, you will inevitably have to deal with these twelve people. And how can you be sure that the plot will develop as before? Players may not have the ability to change the frontline war situation, because in the Warhammer 40K universe, The scale of the war is too huge, but it can still be done to change the life or death of some plot characters on Terra, and this happens to be what the reincarnations are best at.”
"Um……"
Fu Qinghai held his chin and thought.
Vera's words do make some sense.
Most of this Supreme Twelve.
He will eventually be dealt with by the Grand Master of the Assassin Court.
But Vera's words inspired Fu Qinghai.
This is like stock trading. You know the inside information in advance. If the inside information is up, you go long. If the inside news is down, you go short. Whether it's up or down, you can profit from the stock market based on inside information. According to the plot of the original novel, it is now known that the top twelve members of the High Lords Council will undergo a complete reshuffle. How can we rely on this news to seek the best interests for the war group?
This is a question worth thinking about.
It is more complex than simply going long and short.
In the past, the Terran bureaucrat Fu Qinghai came into contact with the most was Ilya Lavare, a lieutenant general in charge of logistics in the Ministry of Military Affairs, who could easily decide the ammunition distribution and troop recruitment of several Imperial Guard regiments. The High Lords Council is the highest authority in the empire. The resources it controls and the resources it can deploy... may far exceed Fu Qinghai's imagination.
Of course, the high lords represent many different interest groups within the empire. Most of the time, their interest demands are not unified, and it is difficult to reach an agreement. However, after the Beast War is over, this split situation will change, and then there will only be one voice left in the entire twelve-person parliament——
The voice of the Grand Master of the Court of Assassins.
"Crunch..."
Fu Qinghai held his chin and leaned back on the chair, looking at the lone swaying chandelier above his head and began to think. His handsome face looked even deeper under the light of the lamp. Even though he had shrunk in size, his broad and thick muscular back still made the chair creak under the load.
"Bah chi, chi liu..."
Fei Yi leaned on the back of the chair with her legs crossed and was concentrating on digging into a box of cans with a spoon. She had no interest in the above chat content at all. Her neat short platinum hair shone in the light, and her linen robe slipped from her sides, revealing two healthy long legs with rosy white skin and quite muscular lines.
A combination of muscular hunk and dumb beauty.
Vera looked at the two people and commented silently.
I don’t know what their relationship is?
The whole room was very quiet at the moment.
The three of them had a strange harmony.
At this time, a loud noise came from outside the room, suddenly breaking the harmonious silence. The sound of hurried footsteps, horrified shouts, and murmured prayers turned into a vibration that traveled along the eaves and ridges of the house, and dust fell on the top of the head.
"Um?"
The three people in the room raised their heads in confusion.
"What's going on? Is this common in hive cities?"
Fu Qinghai looked at Vera and asked.
"I don't know... it doesn't happen very often."
Vera stood up hesitantly.
"Then go out and have a look."
Fu Qinghai pulled Fei Yi to stand without saying a word.
The three of them opened the door and came outside, finding that the area of the nest city was in chaos. People stopped what they were doing, some gathered in a few groups and pointed at the top of their heads and talked, some tried their best to climb up, and were still shouting something loudly.
Fu Qinghai looked up in the direction of their fingers.
Vera Nora's secret stronghold was in a poor location, sandwiched between several crowded buildings. But by chance, Fu Qinghai saw through the narrow gap between the interlaced railway tracks and messy wires, and through the exhaust smoke that always filled the sky above the hive city. He saw a strange big face hanging in the air, replacing Where the moon originally stood, it was so conspicuous that no one on the surface could ignore its presence.
It's coming, it's coming, it's finally coming.
Fu Qinghai stared blankly at the new moon in the sky.
That big rough and abstract face plate.
It was as if Zhengguai smiled and said to him:
"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, canned shrimp!"
…………
1. I made a mistake before. I wrote based on my impression that Wangorich was one of the twelve supreme high lords. However, it was later verified that during the Beast War, Lao Wan was not a high lord but just a veteran of the empire. So I went back and wrote it down. The previous content has been changed a bit and is not rigorous enough. I'm sorry.