"My lord, the entire treasury belongs to you."
Howard spoke devoutly. He had just used the Spirit Sight Nimrod had taught him to observe the world, and even this most basic technique had shown him the power of Beyonders.
Spirit Sight could grasp the emotions of the person one was speaking to. It was a practical skill for nobles, allowing them to secure the greatest possible benefit in negotiations.
"No need. First, do your job as an Arbites."
Nimrod saw Howard's desire for greater power and cautioned the blond nobleman.
"Send everything I marked to the palace."
Without a moment's pause, Nimrod pointed out twelve types of potion ingredients, nineteen items in total, including the Siren Stone he had seen earlier.
He also selected eleven non-potion materials and mixed them in with the rest.
"My lord, I shall dispatch someone to deliver them to your palace immediately."
On the way back, Nimrod sent Rawlslev a message ordering him to report to the palace.
After returning to the palace, Nimrod immediately sorted through the potion ingredients in his possession.
He had gathered the ingredients for the "Sailor" potion and another dose of the "Warrior" potion.
Aside from that, the "Witch" potion still lacked one main ingredient: the Millipede Snake, which was actually a mutated venomous centipede that prowled the Lower Hive and could grow up to two meters long.
Since there was no suitable candidate, Nimrod was in no hurry to brew the Potions.
He then received Rawlslev.
It was Rawlslev's first formal briefing, and he was somewhat nervous. He took a deep breath.
"My king, during the previous assault on the Hive Spire, the following defensive battle, and the campaign to purge the rebels, a total of two hundred and fourteen brothers were killed in action."
"At present, one thousand and fifty-three men remain capable of fighting. Most are rebuilding the Hive Spire's defenses, while three hundred and seventy are guarding your fifty-eight factories."
"There are also one hundred and six wounded. They survived, but all of them have lost parts of their bodies."
Rawlslev checked the figures on his Data Slate and completed the first section of the casualty report.
When he compiled this report and saw those numbers, he finally realized what a glorious victory it had been.
They had taken the entire Hive City while losing only a little over two hundred men. Such a glorious victory could only have been forged by Nimrod, a verse from the myths of Old Night.
"I will pay Priest Rosicky to replace their prosthetics."
"After that, ask them whether they wish to continue serving in the 1st Vostonian Regiment, or choose homes among the Upper Hive residences of those fallen houses."
"Yes, my king."
Rawlslev accepted the order. A trace of longing appeared in his eyes, only for him to hear Nimrod's next appointment.
"You will serve as commander of the 1st Regiment."
Nimrod recalled the future Astra Militarum's organization: ten men made a squad led by a squad leader; two to five squads made a platoon led by a platoon commander; two to six platoons made a company led by a company commander; five to ten companies made a regiment led by a regimental commander.
He adjusted it according to their current circumstances. "Ten men to a squad, with a squad leader; five squads to a platoon; five platoons to a company; ten companies to a regiment."
"Recruit the missing personnel from the Upper Hive. Once the regiment has been formed, you will be its commander."
Rawlslev barely kept up with Nimrod's pace as he hurriedly recorded the regiment's structure. He could not write many of the words, so he could only substitute letters that he alone could understand.
When he heard that he was to become regimental commander, his hand slipped, and the page slid to the next sheet.
"Besides forming the regiment, you are to replace the soldiers' weapons and equipment, teach them how to use them, and pay attention to firepower coordination."
Rawlslev came back to his senses. This was not difficult for a "Warrior" like him.
"Ask the captain of House Howard's guards about training subjects, then make adjustments as appropriate."
Thinking of how he would conquer the Oceanic Movement after leaving Vostonia, and how the "Sailor" potion could only display its greatest effects on an Ocean World, Nimrod continued.
"Also, add swimming to the training program. Find the Water Guild and demand their cooperation."
"Your regiment will one day campaign on an Ocean World. That is the purpose of this training."
"You must also watch for outstanding performers within your regiment. I will assess them in future battles."
After drinking the "Sailor" potion, one would gain the Beyonder ability of "Aquatic Transformation." Whether one could swim before did not matter; potential and loyalty were the key.
"Yes, my king."
After recording each key point, Rawlslev continued his report.
"The workers from the Khanty-Mansi Dome have all entered the dome. They have been assigned to the factories and are working hard to learn how to operate the complex machinery under the guidance of the original workers."
"Only the factory owners were collateral branches of Boleslaw's family, and they have all been executed. After learning that you have the support of Magos Kaminski, the foremen of every work group expressed their willingness to serve you."
"At present, all factories have resumed operations and can fully return to normal within three Work Cycles."
Nimrod nodded slightly. "Do any of our people have technicians capable of analyzing a Standard Template Construct?"
"My king, anyone in the Lower Hive who knows a hundred or so words is already considered a scholar. We have always tinkered with those weapons based on experience."
"People like Bukayo are fugitives from the Upper Hive, but true technical talent is a resource controlled by the nobles. They would never end up in the Lower Hive."
"Add one more subject to your training program: studying. Go find Howard."
Rawlslev accepted weakly, "Yes..."
Seeing Nimrod's expression change slightly, he immediately straightened up.
"Yes, my king."
"Go."
After Rawlslev took his leave, Nimrod pondered in secret.
Even an STC fragment cannot be put to use immediately.
I need technical talent. If I cannot find any, I will have to cultivate it myself. The "Know-it-all" potion still lacks two ingredients.
What I lack is not merely a technical expert, but all kinds of administrative talent as well. Some of those nobles would be qualified for such positions. They must be racking their brains for ways to obtain one.
After resting for a while, Nimrod met Rosicky in Bainiban.
The young Tech-Priest had sharply defined facial features and still retained some human characteristics. Having been warned beforehand, he wisely suppressed his curiosity toward Nimrod's flesh.
"King Nimrod, Rosicky offers you his greetings."
The lower pair of his Mechanical Prosthetics held a Data Slate as he asked, "What type of weapon do you wish to use?"
Nimrod's digestion progress was already past halfway. Since he still needed to play the role of a "Barbarian," and attacking other Hive Spires would require breaking through gates, he decided to use a heavy weapon for the time being.
"A heavy halberd."
"I hope to receive the weapon and armor as soon as possible, preferably within eight Work Cycles."
As transitional weaponry and equipment, Nimrod did not make many demands. Speed was what he valued.
"I will do everything I can, but I will need your cooperation. There are some technical parameters that must be decided by you. What proportions do you want between your weapon and your height?"
Rosicky remained meticulous as he continued questioning Nimrod.
In Curiban, Nimrod sat at the metal table and chairs collectively crafted by the artisans of the Khanty-Mansi Dome, handling official business.
[Hive City Garrison Reconstruction Plan]
During the conquest of the Hive City, fewer than one in ten of the garrison troops who intercepted Nimrod survived.
His own men were already insufficient for guarding the Hive Spire and factories. For now, the guards of House Finde were temporarily handling the garrison's duties, but this was not a long-term solution.
The report in Nimrod's hands was a proposal submitted by House Finde's guard captain after questioning the surviving garrison soldiers. However, it was far too conventional: recruit personnel, then have the several dozen surviving guards train the newcomers. It would take far too long.
Just then, the communicator rang.
"My king, Countess Yelena of House Kournikova requests an audience."
"Let her in."
Before you continue