Eleven standard seconds before the coronation ceremony, Nimrod entered the ceremonial hall.
The breathing of the many nobles caught. The approaching giant was far more imposing than he had appeared in the surveillance footage.
Kozubar and most of the others secretly thought, [Could a deity from the myths of Old Night have descended?]
Some thought of Svantovit, god of war, but the giant did not have four heads and four faces.
Others thought of Perun, god of thunder, but the giant did not have a bronze head.
Yelena and some of the other nobles frowned as they studied Magos Kaminski from the corners of their eyes.
[Could he be a cyborg of the Adeptus Mechanicus? Unwilling to accept the dual-headed political structure, had they simply overturned the table and unified Tezwork?]
A torrent of countless zeros and ones surged across Kaminski's augmetic eyes, moving so quickly that they produced a faint crackling sound.
Then the summarized scan results appeared in binary code. At the same time, the built-in translator automatically translated Lingua-technis into Vostonian Low Gothic according to its preset program:
[Threat level: Lethal threat.] [Physiological structure: Unable to analyze.] [...]
The Magos realized that the giant before him exceeded the scope of his scanning and analytical capabilities.
But he did not stop. He forced the scanning module to continue operating until a wisp of black smoke rose from it. Only then was he forced to stop, while the two mechanical tentacles extending from his upper back reached forward.
After sparks flickered for a moment, Kaminski's scanning module returned to normal. He turned his head aside unwillingly.
Howard Fender wore splendid red robes trimmed in gold as he addressed everyone in a clear voice.
"Gentlemen, ladies, today we gather here to witness the beginning of a new era."
"House Boleslaw has been corrupt for far too long. They openly seized and secretly sabotaged the industries of every house."
"King Boleslaw was a Hive Giant Rat clinging to Tezwork—despicable and greedy."
The blond count's words stirred the anger of everyone present. Every house had suffered losses to a greater or lesser extent.
"Fortunately, a great man descended from the heavens. Nimrod came to Tezwork and overthrew King Boleslaw's brutal rule."
"The servants of the Omnissiah have also seen the light of the God of All Machines shining upon him."
"Now, let us invite Magos Kaminski to crown the new king."
The two lower mechanical tentacles of Kaminski's body raised the crown. The pair of tentacles above took it and lifted it high, then he stepped toward Nimrod.
Red and green lights flickered across the Magos's filter screen as rationality fiercely clashed with his instinct to explore mysteries.
The distance of one hundred and twenty-one meters felt like ten kilometers to Kaminski.
He arrived before Nimrod and was just about to tell him to lower his head and recite the ritual's sacred words when Nimrod directly reached out, took the golden crown, and placed it on his own head.
His throne had not been bestowed by the Adeptus Mechanicus. It was the result of his own conquest.
Everyone was stunned. This did not conform to tradition.
Red lights flashed wildly across Kaminski's filter screen, and the Sonic Array synthesizer emitted a trembling voice.
"Nimrod... crown... procedure..."
This time, the Magos did not enter maintenance mode, but his overheated logic-processing module was temporarily unable to complete its calculations.
"Magos Kaminski, you cannot reach my head. It is more appropriate for me to wear my own crown."
The nobles fell silent. In an occasion like this, every action carried special political significance. The new king's action was not merely a matter of height, as he claimed. It carried a particular political meaning.
They all looked at the two upright double-headed scepters on the crown, and the same thought inevitably surfaced in their minds.
*[It seemed that King Nimrod did not believe the royal house and the Adeptus Mechanicus stood side by side as two equal heads.*
*Then what did Kaminski think?]*
The many nobles held their breath, their palms sweating. Could another great war be about to erupt?
Even Yelena, who had been so certain before, could not help doubting her own judgment. Was the new king a madman who wanted war with the Adeptus Mechanicus?
Everyone turned their eyes toward the Magos, waiting to see how he would react.
Kaminski remained silent for several seconds. To everyone except Nimrod, the time felt extraordinarily long.
At last, the synthesized voice of the Sonic Array rang out.
"May the Omnissiah bless you, Nimrod!"
The Magos did not recite the sacred coronation words written by Magos Kivior as he had during every previous ceremony, but he had made clear his recognition of Nimrod as the new king.
Nimrod remained calm. Kaminski was indeed as he had imagined. Procedures were important, but political ceremonies were not as important as efficiency and industrial output.
The Magos had discovered that Nimrod's combat power exceeded the scope of his calculations, and he also hoped that Nimrod's immense strength could resolve Vostonia's crisis. The Tech-priests would not choose war over political tradition.
Within his logic, ensuring efficiency and industrial output was far more important than political tradition.
Accepting Nimrod's breach of tradition was the inevitable result of his logical calculations.
Nimrod would cooperate with the Adeptus Mechanicus, but he had to lead it. If he could not lead, then there was no need to cooperate. He would reduce them to ruins and rebuild afterward.
Today was only the beginning. As his strength increased, he would reshape Vostonia's order according to his own will.
Howard let out a breath of relief. If war had broken out, no one aside from him would likely have stood with Nimrod.
To prevent any further accidents, he shouted loudly.
"The new king has ascended the throne. Will you not offer your loyalty?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he was the first to kneel on one knee. Following Muskan tradition, he proclaimed loudly.
"I, Howard Fender, offer my loyalty to my king, Nimrod! Whatever my king commands, I shall obey! I shall carry it out!"
Yelena had been beaten to it and hurriedly knelt on one knee.
"I, Yelena Kournikova, offer my loyalty to my king, Nimrod! Whatever my king commands, I shall obey! I shall carry it out!"
Kozubar and the others also came to their senses and hurriedly offered their loyalty to the new king.
Nimrod swept his gaze across them. "I accept your loyalty."
After the others rose, he addressed Howard, who had yet to stand.
"Howard Fender, I hereby grant you the title of count in recognition of your loyalty and contributions."
Nimrod once again broke Muskan tradition. Titles should have been granted in his own Hive Spire, not in a noble's residence.
"The titles of the others shall remain unchanged. Your industries and factories will resume operations immediately."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully accepted the order.
"As you command, my king."
"Howard, stay. Everyone else, carry out your orders at once."
Kaminski walked up to Nimrod.
"At the next Bainiban, Tech-Priest Rosicky will discuss the designs for weapons and armor with you."
"According to the agreement, restore operations at all Upper Hive factories within five Work Cycles."
"I will fulfill my promise."
After everyone else left, Howard had Bukayo fetch the prepared equipment from the steward, then went to the palace.
"Rawlslev will take over the industries formerly owned by House Boleslaw. As for the industries of the other houses, produce a distribution plan within one stellar hour."
"As you command, my king."
Howard understood that although Nimrod had given him the industries of the other fallen houses, he could not distribute them however he pleased, much less enrich himself by assigning the most profitable industries to House Finde.
To earn Nimrod's trust, he had to allocate them according to industrial relevance and the principle of maximizing efficiency.
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