Buksa, clad in a red robe, meticulously delivered his report to Nimrod.
"My King, the reconstruction plan I drafted for the guard force will recruit twelve thousand men."
"Of those, around three thousand will come from the formerly unofficial Upper Hive Arbites. Because they are not nobles, they cannot enter the Arbitration Court, and unwilling to go to the Lower Hive, they can only attach themselves to the guard force and handle cases such as worker disputes."
"But these Arbites all possess varying degrees of experience. I can complete their training within five Work Cycles. The specific training programs and labor hours are as follows..."
After hearing the report, Nimrod nodded in satisfaction.
"Buksa, you will serve as commander of the Tezwork Guard. Assume the post immediately."
"My King, I will give it my all and rebuild the guard force within a month."
Buksa spoke excitedly. At last, he had been given the chance to display his abilities. In the past, this position had been monopolized by one of King Boleslaw's illegitimate sons.
As Yelena led six Assassins and Buksa out of the palace, Bukayo stepped down from a rapid assault craft in the shantytown beside Lukpo Hive City.
The shantytown residents turned to look at him, and Bukayo noticed the greed in their eyes.
He immediately drew his las-pistol from his waist and gave orders to the men Howard had assigned him.
"Attack!"
Eighteen minutes later, Bukayo drove a short blade through a Mutant's hand.
"Speak! Where is there a passage that can get me into Lukpo Hive City?"
A moment later, after obtaining the information he wanted from the three captives, he spoke to the captain beside him, who wore gold-trimmed white attire.
Bukayo then slung a backpack taller than himself over his back and headed toward Lukpo alone.
"You wait in the shantytown. I'm going in alone."
"May your journey go smoothly."
The captain watched Bukayo's retreating figure, his eyes filled with fear. He had never seen such a terrifying and merciless youth. Then he suddenly remembered.
The new king seemed even shorter than him before. How terrifying. If their hair and eye colors were not different, I might even suspect they were brothers.
But now, the new king looks like a god.
Eight Work Cycles later, Bainiban.
Tezwork Hive, Water Guild Reservoir A-167, Water Tower No. 5.
Nimrod stood atop the Hive Spire, steady amid the howling cold wind.
Rawlslev stood beside him in the frigid gale as well, but he needed to wear a breathing mask.
"The one who keeps jumping into the water, passing out, and being dragged back out is the best-performing recruit among the new soldiers."
"His name is Szczesny. He is thirty-three years old, and both his parents are factory technicians."
"Other than swimming, he ranked first in every training program, even surpassing many veterans. He is also the only recruit I have appointed as a captain."
Nimrod gave a slight nod. Watching the determined Szczesny shake off his subordinates and leap into the reservoir once more, his pale body, swollen from prolonged soaking, quickly sank beneath the water.
Only then did the soldiers wandering nearby dare dive in and drag him out.
"Not bad. Strong body, steadfast will."
"In the battles ahead, the company under his command will follow me."
"As you command, my King."
Nimrod's communicator rang. Seeing that it was from Bukayo, he spoke to Rawlslev.
"Come with me. We will hear Bukayo's briefing."
After returning to the palace, Nimrod saw the youth waiting in a side hall. Bukayo's expression was as calm as ever, without the slightest trace of fatigue.
"My lord." After connecting his Data Slate to the cogitator, Bukayo said, "The ruling family of Lukpo is House Piatkowski, and its current king is Puhach."
"The people of Sosvold are devout believers of the Omnissiah. They believe flesh is weak and machinery endures forever. Puhach is even more extreme—he forces everyone around him to undergo mechanical augmentation."
"Puhach commands a direct military force of fifteen thousand men. Every one of them has received cybernetic augmentation. This consumes enormous wealth and is also why he cannot expand their numbers."
Nimrod looked at the projection. The body within it was made of streamlined metal and painted red. Its left arm had been converted into a folding mechanical blade, while its right arm was a mechanical claw.
There was not a trace of human features on its face, and a dangerous red light flickered in its eyes.
The image shifted. A tall, broad-shouldered man with neat short blond hair wielded a longsword, swiftly cutting off the head of an enemy attacking him with a swinging mechanical right arm.
"My King, one person worthy of note is Thierry. His father, Count Viera, refused mechanical augmentation because it would affect the family's ability to reproduce. The mad Puhach had his head twisted off with a mechanical claw."
"After that, Thierry led the remaining guards of House Viera in guerrilla warfare throughout the Lower Hive, attacking House Piatkowski's transport routes and even launching several assaults on the Upper Hive."
"Puhach launched several large-scale purges, but Thierry evaded them every time. I believe someone among the Upper Hive families dissatisfied with his brutal rule has been passing him information."
Bukayo moved his hand, bringing up image after image.
"Although Thierry is only twenty-four, he is already Vostonia's most famous bounty hunter. It is said that he has mastered the Way of Osberkh-Vaya to its utmost limits and is the greatest swordsmanship master."
At those words, Rawlslev stared intently at the blond nobleman in the holographic projection.
"He accepts assignments across several Hive Cities, including Hive City No. 1, and completes every mission. This is also the primary source of funding for the Freedom Liberators under his command."
"Most of those assignments are issued by the kings of Hive Cities around Lukpo. They have irreconcilable ideological and material conflicts with the extremist Puhach. One thing is certain: House Piatkowski has no allies."
After hearing the briefing, Nimrod immediately understood why Bukayo had focused on Thierry.
"You believe I should cooperate with Thierry Viera and launch an attack on Puhach."
"My lord is wise. That is precisely the case."
"If you can win Thierry over, you will not only gain an armed force familiar with Lukpo, but also acquire a capable subordinate and quickly secure the support of the people of Sosvold after the conquest."
Nimrod tapped his fingers lightly against the table. "Can you find him within four Work Cycles?"
Bukayo smiled confidently. "My lord, leave it to me. I will not disappoint you."
"Set out immediately. Once I arrive in Lukpo, I will contact you."
"As you command, my lord."
Bukayo immediately put away the Data Slate. After leaving the palace, he summoned the captain of House Finde, who had just finished a hearty meal and was resting on a comfortable bed.
Nimrod looked at Rawlslev. "Is your regiment ready?"
"My King, not a single severely wounded soldier has retired. They are all willing to continue fighting at your side until death."
"Though the recruits are still green, their fighting spirit is high. They are eager to distinguish themselves."
He spoke in a firm tone. "I believe you do not wish to hear that we are unprepared. You have already decided to launch the attack at once."
"Gather your regiment immediately. Nightfall Troupe, depart. Destination: Lukpo."
"As you command, my King."
Nimrod then sent communications to Howard and Yelena.
"Curiban, convene the royal council."
In Curiban, within the renovated council chamber two levels below the top floor, Nimrod sat upon a throne crafted to his measurements.
The throne was forged from Miguel Steel and painted entirely black.
Behind the throne extended thirty-three black spears. A golden crown was impaled upon the central one—the crown of House Boleslaw.
Below the throne, the heads of the major houses stood on the left, while the cabinet Yelena had just assembled stood on the right.
"Howard, you brief us first."
Before you continue