The Muscular Man

The battleship's gun deck, Cannon Position 2.

Skulls flew through the air. Hundreds of slaves crouched behind the loading bay of a massive cannon, the air thick with the smell of oil and metal from the cannon's interior, mingled with the sweat of the slaves.

"The ship might be under attack! Get up and load the Nova Cannon, all of you!"

An officer strode in, roaring orders and cracking a crackling golden whip against the metal floor.

The slaves immediately gathered in an orderly fashion, just as they had countless times before. They formed two lines and slung the iron chains connected to the hoisting device over their shoulders.

Unseen by them, the Nova Cannon shells were transported to the hoisting device by other slaves. Then, the slaves at Cannon Position 2 shouted a unified slogan, exerting force in unison to drag the hoisting device and shove the shell head into the Nova Cannon's chamber.

The officer had supervised this loading crew many times, but each time, his gaze couldn't help but fall on the slave who had recently joined them.

The slave stood at the front of the line.

This position required the strongest, most powerful, and most resilient slave, and the one currently working there perfectly fit the role.

He was about two meters and ten centimeters tall, with massive muscles bulging beneath his skin. His skin was like steel, gleaming under the dim light of the gun deck. As he pulled the chains, his muscles flexed as if he were a carbon-based engine containing infinite power.

Looking at this slave, the officer was reminded of the Angel of the Emperor he had seen in his childhood—the Astartes. Tall, valiant, glorious superhuman warriors.

It wasn't easy for a mortal to grow to such a size.

And because of his unusual physique, he was the only slave whose name the officer remembered—he was Lu Jin. A strangely pronounced name.

"Report, sir!" A thin slave lowered his chain and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Cannon Position 2's Nova Cannon is loaded!"

The officer nodded in satisfaction. "Prepare for rations. I'm about to be promoted, so I'll give you something good to eat today."

The slaves immediately swarmed around him, showering him with blessings.

Lu Jin walked past the officer and sat on a pile of debris, pulling a piece of dry bread from his pocket and gnawing on it.

The mess cook soon arrived at the deck where Cannon Position 2 was located, slammed two iron buckets onto the ground, and left.

The so-called improved rations were nothing more than replacing one bucket of water with a bucket of soup made from unknown ingredients, while the other bucket still contained dry bread.

The slaves lined up to get their food, then dispersed in small groups around Lu Jin.

No one paid Lu Jin any mind, merely eating and conversing.

"I heard that when the ship was boarded last time, that kid killed a heretical Astartes."

"Yeah, I saw it with my own eyes, but we've talked about this countless times."

"..."

Lu Jin knew they were talking about him.

However, he had corrected them long ago: he hadn't killed an Astartes. That heretical Astartes had boarded the ship and fought one of the ship's Astartes. He killed the latter while being heavily wounded, and Lu Jin had then taken advantage of the situation.

Lu Jin's classification of the event was "taking advantage." Although he hadn't been promoted or escaped his slave status because of it, he had discovered his unique trait through that incident.

That is, as long as he killed someone, he would gain a bit more strength and replenish his stamina.

Lu Jin stuffed the last piece of bread into his mouth, extended his hand, and stared at his fist.

This body was what he had brought into this universe when he transmigrated. Although he didn't know who to thank, he was grateful that he had brought his body along instead of just his soul.

So, this body wasn't the result of killing that heretical Astartes, but a portion of the strength within this body was.

"Kid."

A male and female slave approached Lu Jin, placing two iron buckets in front of him.

Lu Jin lowered his head first, finding seven or eight pieces of bread and a little soup left in the buckets, then looked up at the two in front of him.

"Here, kid." The woman took a piece of bread from her bowl and handed it to Lu Jin.

"You don't have to give me food every time... everyone always leaves plenty for me," Lu Jin said.

The other slaves heard this and glanced at Lu Jin, either lowering their heads to continue eating or smiling at him.

This was also a habit of the crew. Each time, they would eat a little less, leaving more for Lu Jin, who was the largest and most prone to hunger.

"My child is alive thanks to you; otherwise, he would have been crushed by that iron chain last time." The man smiled, handing over the bowl filled with soup. "It's only right that my wife and I thank you personally. Thank the Golden Throne, and thank you."

Lu Jin had been smiling, but his smile vanished when he heard the thanks to the Golden Throne.

He didn't understand what these slaves had to be thankful to the Emperor for.

"I thank you both." Lu Jin took the bread and soup and devoured them.

The couple sat down in front of him to eat.

A child ran over and threw himself into the couple's arms.

Even children had to work on this deck. He had been at the back of the line holding the iron chain during loading just now.

"I haven't asked for your names yet," Lu Jin asked while eating.

Lu Jin had been on this ship when he transmigrated. From the day he woke up until now, his plan was to escape the next time the ship docked at a world.

Because of this plan not to stay long, Lu Jin hadn't developed any relationships. These people who usually tried to leave him more food received more of his practical help, and he hadn't bothered to ask for names or backgrounds before.

"Call me Darian," the man said, hugging his son.

Lu Jin nodded, glancing gratefully at the family of three, and silently vowed in his heart: I will remember the kindness of everyone, including you, for this meal.

From birth until now, Lu Jin has never feared death or hardship, but he fears not being full.

A moment later, the slaves were full and satisfied.

Lu Jin pocketed the remaining piece of bread, silently convincing himself he was "full" while looking at the family of three before him.

Darian's son, nestled in his parents' arms, fell into a deep sleep.

"This kid is always sleepy, I don't know what's wrong with him," Lu Jin said. "At least that officer doesn't make him do any real work."

Hearing Lu Jin speak, the child opened his eyes and smiled mysteriously. He couldn't speak, so Lu Jin couldn't ask him why he was smiling.

"My son fiddles with those mechanical parts all night; he's good at it," Darian said, pride surfacing on his face as he looked up and mused, "If those adults in red robes upstairs discover his talent and take him away as a servant, he won't have to haul cannonballs like me when he grows up."

After speaking, Darian clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and said, "Thank the Golden Throne for granting my son his talent. Although the God-Emperor took his voice, he left him something more precious."

Lu Jin shifted his gaze.

Darian's son continued to look at Lu Jin, meeting his gaze and smiling brightly. His expression clearly indicated he had something on his mind.

This kid is probably planning some mischief, Lu Jin thought.

"Crisis averted! Unload the shells from the Nova Cannon!"

A roar came from behind the slaves.

Everyone instinctively got up to work, while Lu Jin looked in the direction of the sound.

The order came from an officer, responsible for supervising the loading crew under Nova Cannon Unit Two.

However, the previous officer had been promoted and left. The new officer looked grim, his smile never leaving his face. He was speaking to the person beside him in a very calm tone.

The one shouting orders was an attendant.

A slave lost his footing while carrying a steel cable and fell. The attendant immediately stepped forward, raising his whip.

"Wait."

The new officer gently raised his hand, signaling the attendant not to strike, then scanned each working slave.

"I am Omi, the new supervisor of the loading crew. My rule is that minor mistakes can be made during peacetime."

Lu Jin helped the fallen slave up, who quickly rejoined the line to carry the steel cable.

The new officer named Omi finished stating his management principles and fell silent. The attendant, however, stood beside him and spoke fiercely, "Sir, these lowly slaves won't behave unless they are disciplined harshly. Give them good..."

"I have my own way of managing," Omi said, glancing sideways at the attendant.

The latter immediately shut his mouth, bowed, and stepped back.

Omi scanned the slaves again, his gaze fixing on Darian's son.

He narrowed his eyes, took a breath, and a look unreadable to others flickered in his grim eyes.

The attendant followed Omi's gaze and saw that Damian's brat was barely clinging to the steel cable, looking drowsy. His face immediately contorted with ferocity.

"It seems he's not fit to work on the cannon deck," Omi said, turning smoothly to face the attendant with his hands behind his back. "Take him out."

The attendant immediately stepped forward, grabbed Damian's son by the collar, and led him away.

Seeing this, Damian thought his son was being taken to the upper deck as he had wished, so he smiled at Lu Jin and worked even harder.

However, Lu Jin frowned as he dragged the steel cable, feeling that the officer was not a good person.

The Nova Cannon is a weapon that fires special warheads.

Unlike weapons like the Macro Cannon, the warheads cannot remain in the magazine when not in use; they must be removed and sent back to the arsenal for maintenance.

Lu Jin pondered this as he finished his work. A muffled thud came from the device overhead, and the chains were released.

The slaves dispersed around the area to rest.

At this moment, a skull-shaped object flew over, descending slowly from the sky. Its empty eye sockets projected a holographic image in front of the slaves.

In an office, the new officer of Unit Two, Omi, held an electric baton and repeatedly struck a person lying on the ground.

Flashes of electricity illuminated the scene as flesh split open.

However, the person being beaten made no sound.

Everyone looked closely and realized it was Damian's mute son being beaten.

Lu Jin rushed to the holographic projection, staring at the scene with wide eyes.

The other slaves also quickly stood up and gathered around.

Damian's parents pushed through the crowd to the front. Disbelief was etched on their faces. Each time Omi brought down the electric baton, the couple's bodies would tremble violently.

Everyone else was whispering amongst themselves, wondering how Omi, who had been smiling just moments ago, had become so violent.

"Why are you hitting him!" Lu Jin roared at the skull.

Soldiers guarding the entrance and exit heard the shouts and marched over. Some raised their weapons and aimed, while others drew electric batons, ready to suppress.

Lu Jin strode alone towards the soldiers. Just as he was about to break through their ranks to find Omi, he suddenly heard a creaking sound.

A creature with the lower body of a tank tread and the upper body of a human slowly rolled over.

This bizarre half-human, half-machine creation slowly came to a halt. It suddenly opened its eyes and spoke.

"I don't want to be modified into a me—"

"—chanic—"

"According to the Ship Management Ordinance, Article on Artillery Crew Affairs, anyone hindering the work of artillery slaves is forbidden to remain at the gunnery station. Violators will be punished with twenty lashes."

"However, if the situation is special or approved by the supervisor, another person may receive the punishment in their stead."

The Mechanic Servant's words grew increasingly cold, its voice sounding like genuine machinery.

Everyone lowered their heads and averted their gaze.

The severity of the flogging depended on the executioner's personal will. Seeing the officer named Omi in the holographic image personally administering the punishment, it was clear he wouldn't be light-handed, so no one was willing to take the punishment for him.

"Let me pass! I'll take the punishment!" Lu Jin faced the soldiers.

The soldiers opened a path and then escorted Lu Jin to see Omi.

"Bring him back!"

Damian's wife shouted at Lu Jin's retreating figure.

"Please... Please..."

As he walked, Lu Jin kept turning back and nodding vigorously at the couple, as if to assure them.