This time, Nimrod entered the "Kingdom of Disorder" differently from before. Previously, it had been only his consciousness, hazy and intangible.
Now, it was his "Astral Body," and everything felt more real and far richer.
His "Astral Body," several times larger than his physical body, had barely arrived in the "Kingdom of Disorder" when it immediately sensed a series of changes within this Realm of Black Mist.
The most obvious change was the expansion of the illuminated area. Everything within a thousand-meter radius around him was bathed in light.
He also sensed that the entire Realm of Black Mist was actually inverted. Above him was ground made of something like Obsidian, and he stood on it with his feet upward and head downward.
Nimrod came to a realization. "Kingdom of Disorder! The shadow of order!"
He stepped forward. After a few paces, he adapted to the sensation of being on the other side of a mirror.
Nimrod came before the Blasphemy Slate and found that the areas containing five new Sequences had lit up. One of them was Sequence 8 corresponding to "Lawyer."
Sequence 8 "Barbarian" potion formula:
Main ingredients: one Lung Spider lung sac, one pair of Ogryn arms.
Supplementary ingredients: 1,100 milliliters of Helas Volt, one Psyker Crystal, 1,100 grams of Mithal Steel.
Extraordinary ability: ...
Some people might find it strange that after advancing from Sequence 9 "Lawyer" to Sequence 8, one became a "Barbarian."
But Nimrod understood the logic behind it: if recourse to the law failed, then one would inevitably resort to force. That, too, was a kind of rule.
What caught his attention was that every ingredient shimmered with light, which meant they could all be found in Vostonia.
The steelworks he had just occupied could produce Mithal Steel. Together with the Helas Volt, he already possessed two supplementary ingredients.
Psyker Crystals often appeared in areas where Warp energy was active and were used as psionic materials. The long Age of Strife had been accompanied by Warp Storms sweeping across the galaxy, so it was not strange for Vostonia to have Psyker Crystals.
He knew that Lung Spiders were a special kind of spider found in Vostonia's Hive City. The only thing that surprised him slightly was the Ogryn.
Did Ogryns really come to this world to make a living?
Nimrod continued examining the other four illuminated areas and discovered that they were all potion formulas for Sequence 9 of other pathways.
Of those, Vostonia could provide all the potion ingredients for three: "Arbites," "Sleepless," and "Reader."
No potion ingredients for "Cultivator" could be found in Vostonia. Most of that Sequence's ingredients were crops such as rapeseed.
Nimrod was not surprised in the slightest. This planet, which would one day be designated an industrial world by the Imperium, had long since had its ecological environment destroyed.
I can start gathering potion ingredients and training my subordinates.
He noticed that the Chainsword was not among the unlocked potion formulas.
Weapons are most likely potion ingredients for the pathway that includes "Warrior."
With that thought, Nimrod returned to the real world. He wanted to try something.
He drew the Chainsword and gripped it in his right hand, letting spirituality flow from his fingers.
When he returned to the "Kingdom of Disorder," he found that the Chainsword had come with him into the Realm of Black Mist. He placed it on the ground.
The Chainsword still lay flat on the ground and did not fall out of this shadow realm.
Nimrod could not help smiling and sighing.
"After advancing to 'Lawyer,' my Source Essence authority has increased. I can bring objects into the 'Kingdom of Disorder.'"
"A must-have for any protagonist: storage space!"
Nimrod immediately stored all the black vodka in the "Kingdom of Disorder." He also ordered that during every work cycle, one-twentieth of the Mithal Steel forged be delivered to the control room.
He also ordered the Artisan to forge a suit of armor from Miguel Steel, based on his current build and sized for an ordinary seven-year-old boy.
As a Primarch, he developed far faster than ordinary people. Preparing it for a seven-year-old might be slightly large, but at his current growth rate, it would fit within at most one stellar month.
Just after giving the orders, Rawlslev arrived at the control room.
"Boss, the Arbites sent one of his men with an order for you to see him immediately."
"His tone was forceful. I think it's because you took Magneto Steelworks."
Nimrod assumed a thinking pose and lightly tapped his brow. Rawlslev's aura had taken on a dark hue; he was worried about him.
"I understand."
Nimrod immediately rose and headed for the Arbitration Hall.
The guards at the entrance looked at him with an extra degree of vigilance. One of them spoke solemnly.
"Please leave your weapons behind."
Nimrod handed his Lasgun and Chainsword to his subordinates respectively. The two received the weapons with both hands, as though accepting a sacred mission.
His expression remained calm as he walked toward the Arbitration Hall, discussions drifting into his ears.
"Let me see, let me see. I didn't get to see him during my last assignment. Is that the boy? He looks only five or six years old."
"Yeah! It has only been two days since he killed Vulture, and he has already taken out Iron Fist. That old man was a ruthless character. Even the big shots in the Upper Hive knew him."
The newest novel is first released here!
"The big shot upstairs is the young master of House Finde. I heard Vulture was his man. Could he be here to settle accounts with him?"
"What a pity. He was too hasty. If he had grown steadily, he would definitely have become a major figure in the future. He might even have ascended to the Upper Hive."
Though the Lower Hive and Upper Hive were both parts of the Hive City, the gulf between them was like an insurmountable chasm. The dream of countless Lower Hive residents was to become Upper Hive residents. Riding an elevator thousands of meters upward while achieving a leap in social status was vividly called ascension.
Nimrod caught the key piece of information in their conversation: an Upper Hive noble was in the Arbitration Hall.
He secretly raised his guard, while also becoming more interested in the coming meeting.
Upon entering the Arbitration Hall, he saw a handsome blond youth of around fifteen or sixteen seated in the main seat, his sapphire-blue eyes studying him.
Unlike the dull complexion of Lower Hive residents, the youth's skin was fair and healthy-looking.
Nimrod sharply noticed that he wore a magnificent suit of Artificer Power Armor. It looked somewhat similar to Arkan Confederation armor and was likewise Baroque in style.
Its Carapace Armor encased a powered exoskeleton. The helmet was completely covered in armor, with only the section providing the wearer with a heads-up display made of bulletproof glass.
Weapon systems were mounted at the ends of both arms: Heavy Stubbers for ranged combat and drills for close combat.
Unlike Arkan Confederation armor, this suit was not equipped with disposable rockets.
He also sharply noticed that the armor was unstable and difficult to maintain. Only noble houses with the ability and wealth to maintain it could pass it down from generation to generation.
Are Vostonia's nobles so well equipped, or does House Finde have close ties with the Adeptus Mechanicus and receive technical support from Tech-priests?
Nimrod could not reach a conclusion. The young master of House Finde was the first noble he had encountered.
Four guards stood behind the noble, clad in Carapace Armor and fully armed.
The young master of House Finde did not speak. He signaled Dimitrov with his gaze.
The Arbites understood. After clearing his throat, he loudly demanded,
"Nimrod, what exactly are you trying to do? Isn't one Foundry enough for you?"
"It has only been a few days, and you've already seized Magneto Steelworks."
"In a few more days, are you going to seize my position and take the entire Khanty-Mansi Dome as well?"
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