Conquest of the Dome

Facing the Arbites's intimidation, Nimrod remained calm.

"I brought Magneto Steelworks under my command not for myself, but for Khanty-Mansi Dome—and for you, Arbites."

The young master of House Fender looked intrigued, while the Arbites was so angered he laughed.

"Don't spout nonsense, kid. You seized the steelworks for yourself. How is that for me?"

"Vostonia has served Mars for thousands of years. What do the Omnissiah's followers value most? Efficiency is their foremost concern. Am I wrong?"

Listening to Nimrod's calm, measured voice, Dimitrov's violent emotions gradually settled, though he still did not understand what any of this had to do with him.

The Arbites's tone softened as he asked.

"You're right, but what does that have to do with your forcible occupation of the steelworks? And how is it for my sake?"

"The steel industry where Magneto Steelworks operates is upstream of Foundry D-46. Chandler, an Old Terra management scholar, long ago said that controlling upstream enterprises allows for optimized resource allocation and greater resource efficiency."

"Once my foundry controls the steelworks, efficiency can rise dramatically. Khanty-Mansi Dome will stand out among the many domes, and you will enter the Tech-Priests' field of vision."

Hearing this, Dimitrov fell into contemplation. All of Vostonia was ruled by nobles and Tech-Priests from Mars. If he gained even a single Tech-Priest's favor, he could ascend to the Upper Hive.

After a brief silence, he spoke.

"Why you? Wouldn't it be better if I controlled it myself?"

Nimrod smiled confidently.

"If the Arbites acts personally, it will inevitably provoke fierce resistance from numerous factories. You would lose a great deal of manpower."

"If I annex the factories, they won't immediately form an alliance. They won't realize my appetite is this large. By the time they react, the situation will already be settled."

"I have the ability to swallow every factory, and only I can improve the efficiency of the entire dome."

Dimitrov looked at Nimrod. He had been persuaded by his logic and could sense his overwhelming confidence, as though the boy would accomplish whatever he said. But remembering Fender's instructions, he still forced himself to find an excuse.

"Rules cannot be broken."

"Not so."

Nimrod instantly recalled the legal knowledge he had gained after drinking the potion and found a Tezwork precedent he could cite.

"As I understand it, thirty-eight years ago, House Kournikova launched a surprise attack without precedent and seized fifty-two Upper Hive chemical plants within nineteen work cycles. In the end, it won before the Tribunal Assembly formed by nobles and the Adeptus Mechanicus, thereby monopolizing the chemical industry."

"Furthermore, according to the Guide of the Omnissiah written by Magos Kivior, Chapter Eleven, Tezwork Governance Regulations, Article Eleven of the Factory Management Rules, Detailed Clause Eleven: 'All past precedents in this Hive City may be cited as the basis for judgment.'"

Although Vostonia had yet to join the Imperium and the Adeptus Arbites had not entered Tezwork Hive, the unique dual-headed politics of the region had given rise to a distinct decision-making body.

They inherited Old Terra's arbitration system and established an arbitration institution sharing the same name as the Adeptus Arbites' adjudicative body—the Arbitration Court.

The Arbitration Court's members consisted of nobles and Tech-Priests. They deliberated major matters, and this had also given rise to special professions such as Lawyers.

When this system extended to the Lower Hive, it was simplified into judgments made by an Arbites alone.

The blond noble stared intently at Nimrod. The precedents and clauses he had cited were things only great Hive City Lawyers could possibly know. How could he, a mere Lower Hive youth, possibly know them?

Judging by his appearance, he doesn't look like a Lower Hive resident at all. But he's still a teenager. Even Upper Hive Lawyers would still be learning the fundamentals at his age. It would be impossible for them to have mastered legal provisions to this extent.

Dimitrov's gaze was unfocused. He was not even sure whether the Guide of the Omnissiah contained such a clause. As an independent Arbites, he only needed to understand the rules themselves.

As he pondered, he heard Nimrod speak.

"I believe this noble from the Upper Hive certainly knows this regulation."

"Insolence! How dare you address my lord by name? You should address him as 'my lord'!"

"No matter," the young noble said, applauding as he looked at Nimrod appreciatively. "A splendid argument, as splendid as the pleadings of the great Lawyers I have heard in the Tribunal Hall."

"You have persuaded me. The steelworks you seized originally supplied raw materials to House Fender. That was also why I came."

"When I heard that a boy ten years younger than I had achieved so much in such a short time, I decided to meet you in person."

"Now, your performance has earned my admiration."

He turned to the Arbites. "Dimitrov, give him a chance. I want to see how far he can go."

"Yes, my lord."

Seeing that Nimrod had gained Lord Howard's favor, the Arbites's eyes were filled with envy.

Howard Fender turned back. "But I have one condition. I want to place an observer at your side."

"Don't rush to refuse. He won't restrict any of your actions. He will merely observe your abilities. If you perform well enough, I will support your expansion in the Lower Hive and may even help you reach the Upper Hive."

Nimrod contemplated for a moment. Thinking of the rare material known as Psyker Crystal, he knew that aside from Psyker Artisans, only nobles and Tech-priests were likely to possess it.

"Fine, but I want a Psyker Crystal."

"You certainly ask a high price." Howard fell silent briefly. "No problem. But you must control every factory in Khanty-Mansi Dome within one month and increase production capacity by more than ten percent. Can you do that?"

"Of course."

Seeing Nimrod's confidence, Howard grew even more curious. He spoke to a subordinate beside him holding a Plasma Gun.

"Yasin, go with him."

"Yes, young master."

Dimitrov said to Nimrod, "Congratulations, Nimrod. Magneto Steelworks is yours, and you are authorized to annex every factory in Khanty-Mansi Dome."

As Nimrod heard those words, he felt his spirituality become much more lively.

Hmm, by playing the role of a Lawyer, gaining benefits, and earning others' recognition, my digestion is more effective than simply seizing benefits.

Sixteen work cycles later, Upper Hive.

Howard Fender sat in his office, his brows tightly furrowed.

As he contemplated, the vox-link communication system within his Artificer Power Armor emitted a series of beeps. He answered it, and his private butler's voice came through.

"Master, Yasin has returned."

Hearing this, Howard's frown deepened. His order to Yasin had been to return and report only once Nimrod's actions had produced results.

Could he have taken control of every factory in the dome so quickly? How is that possible?

Don't tell me he's dead. No, impossible. With the abilities he displayed, there was no way he couldn't accomplish it. But how could it have happened so fast?

"Send him in."

A moment later, Yasin hurried inside.

"My lord, Nimrod has already taken control of all sixty-three factories in Khanty-Mansi Dome. He has increased production capacity by fifteen percent."

Howard froze. Only after several seconds did he recover.

"How did he do it?"

"My lord, his combat strength can only be described as terrifying. Even if all of us whom you trained attacked together, we would be no match for him."

"I suspect he is the product of genetic agents, perhaps even raised in an Adeptus Mechanicus genetic laboratory. In just over ten days, he grew a great deal taller. His combat could only be described as art—precision, efficiency, and lethal strikes..."

Yasin spoke without pause, vividly recounting Nimrod's entire conquest of the dome.

Howard, who had been reclining in a leather chair, gradually sat upright. In the end, he propped his chin on one hand and listened intently to his confidant's report.

"He also has certain other traits. His speeches are extremely inspiring. Those listless workers seemed brainwashed by him, bursting with enthusiasm. Some gang leaders even heard his speeches and voluntarily pledged loyalty with their men and factories."

"However, he truly did accomplish it. He standardized factory management, improved the efficiency of the entire production chain, and made sure both the workers and enforcers were well fed."

"Not only the workers—even those former gang scum followed his regulations and carried them out seriously. They're like..."

Yasin thought for a while before finding an appropriate term from words his lord had used before.

"That scum seems completely reborn. I dare say the Arbites's men are already weaker in combat than Nimrod's subordinates."

"He really did it."

Howard stood stunned for more than ten seconds before suddenly thinking of the problem he currently faced.

Perhaps he can help me solve my current trouble.

He abruptly rose, used the family crest—a golden lightning bolt on a red field—to open a secret chamber, and selected the largest Psyker Crystal from more than a dozen. It was one meter long and ninety centimeters in diameter at its cross-section.

Howard Fender was the future First Company Captain of the Eleventh Legion, a character created by the group member "I Love Hotpot and Cold Drinks."