Dora Cawl?

"No."

Augustus Flax's expression did not change much.

"I investigated it for you. Nama Carl's life was completely normal."

As he spoke, Augustus Flax handed Zhou Yun a file.

Zhou Yun opened it and saw that it contained Nama Carl's life story.

"Nama Carl's husband was a junior manager at an asteroid mining company in the Stygian System."

"Several decades ago, a roving band of Orks attacked the Stygian System. The asteroid belt was among the first places struck."

"Nama Carl's husband was there. He demonstrated his loyalty to The Emperor and died for it."

Augustus Flax spoke in an even tone.

While he spoke, Zhou Yun looked through the file in his hands.

Sure enough, Nama Carl's husband had died during the Ork invasion of the asteroid belt.

He had organized the workers to resist the Orks and died as a result.

Because of that, Nama Carl was deeply respected in the surrounding area.

"After that, Nama Carl lived a simple life centered on work and family, occasionally teaching mathematics to nearby children."

"Her only hobbies were teaching and mathematics. There had never been any sign of corruption in her life."

"When the chapel beneath your feet was built, she even made a donation."

"This is the receipt from back then."

Augustus Flax pointed at a receipt in the file.

The receipt showed that Nama Carl had indeed donated money to the chapel.

The donation amounted to 6,561 Blood Coins, nearly all of Nama Carl's savings.

On the surface, Nama Carl really was a devout follower of the Imperial Creed, and her only interests were harmless enough.

Her sole shortcoming was that she came to pray relatively infrequently.

Over the past four years, she had only come 153 times.

Yet seven days ago, she had still come to this small chapel to pray.

Everything really did seem normal.

The only problem was—

Zhou Yun calculated the number of times she had prayed.

One hundred and fifty-three. The three digits added up to exactly nine.

But Zhou Yun did not voice his suspicion.

It sounded far too forced.

Was he really being too suspicious? No, something was wrong. Nine parts out of ten wrong.

"Don't worry. If corruption truly appears, I won't mind bombing the entirety of District Nine."

Augustus Flax reassured him.

"There is always a way to stop corruption from spreading."

Zhou Yun frowned slightly.

District Nine was the only route through which many districts of the Lower Hive could reach the Upper Hive. If this place were destroyed—

The transportation costs for supplies from the Lower Hive would rise dramatically, and food along with all kinds of daily necessities would inevitably become more expensive.

People would certainly die.

It might even develop into riots and rebellion.

"Let the people of the Lower Hive suffer a little. I'll suppress any unrest myself," Augustus Flax said gravely.

This bastard. Zhou Yun shook his head.

Clearly, killing Nama Carl now would eliminate every potential problem.

Though Nama Carl did indeed seem innocent.

"Nama Carl is a devout follower of the Imperial Creed, and her husband died for The Emperor. If I kill her with PDF troops without conclusive evidence—"

"...Some may question my loyalty."

Noticing Zhou Yun's gaze, Augustus Flax shook his head and told the truth.

"And your loyalty wouldn't withstand scrutiny at all." Zhou Yun shrugged.

This Augustus Flax had previously wanted to obtain Ignis Calcas's notebook.

That notebook recorded corrupting incantations from planet Deven.

Zhou Yun strongly suspected that Augustus Flax intended to use the corrupting knowledge within as a final layer of insurance.

If the Hellworm truly reached him, he would drag all of planet Asphodel down into Chaos with him.

"Yes, which is why I can't let you use the PDF."

"If she must be killed, it can only be done secretly, without anyone finding out."

At that, Augustus Flax smiled.

"And it's not just me. Your loyalty wouldn't withstand scrutiny either."

"You are associating with an illegal psyker."

At those words, Zhou Yun smiled.

"I merely keep an idiot."

"I can't compare to you, Governor, keeping a whole private force of illegal psykers who escaped from Black Ships."

"Governor, you wouldn't want the Ordo Hereticus to discover that you are harboring illegal psykers, would you?"

Augustus Flax's previously calm expression stiffened at once.

"How did you know?" A trace of barely perceptible alarm entered Augustus Flax's voice.

Augustus Flax had hidden those illegal psykers in his secret underground palace.

The entire complex was managed by servitors, so there should have been no possibility of information leaking out.

Zhou Yun merely gave Augustus Flax a brilliant smile.

"...I underestimated you."

Augustus Flax had no choice but to admit it.

"Let's discuss cooperation. Radbon told me you need money. I can provide it."

"But I need you to make a trip to the Bottom Hive."

At that, Zhou Yun's eye twitched slightly.

Why was it the Bottom Hive again?

"Though I have informants in the Lower Hive, I have none in the Bottom Hive. That place belongs to cultists, mutants, and Hellworms."

"Since you can travel through all sorts of ruined districts without being harmed, I assume you have a way to enter the Bottom Hive and investigate the Hellworms?"

"After all, you even know that I keep illegal psykers."

As he spoke, Augustus Flax reached into his pocket, took out a linen-wrapped pouch, and handed it to Zhou Yun.

Zhou Yun opened the pouch. Inside were bloodstones as pure as blood.

Every one was as large as a thumb and of extremely high quality.

"This is not payment. It is a gift between friends."

Augustus Flax smiled.

"As long as you go to the Bottom Hive and bring me back some useful information, I will give you more."

Without changing expression, Zhou Yun pretended to tuck the bloodstones into his clothes, then slipped the pouch into his Fourth-Dimensional Pocket.

Seeing the 150,000 yuan exchanged from the bloodstones, Zhou Yun's gaze toward Augustus Flax suddenly turned fervent.

What if I tied this guy up and extorted him directly?

But Zhou Yun remained somewhat cautious.

"Let me confirm something. Are you the real Augustus Flax?" Zhou Yun asked tentatively.

"You really are interesting." Augustus Flax nodded in praise. "To think you could tell that I am not the real one."

"What you are seeing now is a servitor made by a Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus who happened to pass through more than twenty years ago."

"That Magos was very interested in my family's blood. After I gave him several young children, he made this servitor for me."

"Not only does its appearance remain synchronized with mine, it can also be remotely controlled through special equipment, performing delicate movements perfectly and appearing no different from a human."

So it really was not him. Zhou Yun could not help looking over this servitor version of Augustus Flax.

It was almost impossible to tell that he was a servitor. He resembled Augustus Flax in appearance, his expressions were vivid, and he could even transmit consciousness remotely.

Which Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus possessed such exquisite skill?

"May I ask that Magos's name?"

"I heard his name was Belisarius Cawl."