The Bait Is Set-Take It or Leave It
The letter contained very little, almost only three sentences.
However, it was like a huge the Rock falling into a calm lake, stirring up a storm in Alvin's heart.
For a fleeting moment, he almost lost control and instinctively crushed the teacup with his bare hands.
Amidst the crisp cracking sound, the scalding tea scalded his skin, yet the burning sensation was not even a fraction as shocking as the contents of the letter!
"The Children of Vardan, I think that's the cult you mentioned?"
Elsa was also surprised; the expression on her face remained unchanged for a long time, as if frozen in a still frame of an animation.
"You're right," Alvin said, his eyelids lowering, his gaze turning icy, his tone suddenly becoming low and somber. "It's the cult that I've been having Nelgas investigate."
The temperature in the council chamber seemed to drop suddenly, with layers of frost spreading out.
If you look closely, you can see that there are extremely faint, almost imperceptible cracks formed by intertwined flames and lightning in the void.
"Young Master, calm down!"
Realizing something was wrong, Elsa quickly and forcibly woke Alvin.
Alvin took another deep breath, clearing his mind of the jumbled thoughts, and exhaled heavily. "I'm sorry to have worried you, Elsa."
"Are you really alright?" Elsa looked at him with great concern.
Since setting foot on Alert Star, Alvin has remained vigilant, keeping his brain in a state of high-intensity operation all day long.
Even after nightfall, he still had a furrowed brow and only managed to doze off for a short while.
The Great Rift has a profound impact on humanity, especially on Psyker, who can almost always hear and feel the surging malice emanating from the Warp whenever they close their eyes.
The combined effect of these two factors caused Alvin's mind to be constantly on edge.
Elsa, who has always been by Alvin's side, is naturally very worried about his current condition in all aspects.
"Why don't you go and rest for a bit?" Elsa offered to massage his temples, using gentle movements to ease Alvin's stress.
"No, at least not now."
Alvin felt as if the Rock was weighing on his heart, a heavy feeling that made him increasingly uneasy.
He had a premonition that he was falling into a "trap," as if an invisible hand was slowly and steadily approaching him from the Alert Star.
Could it be that he was set up by that damned "Tzeentch"?
Otherwise, he simply couldn't understand why the cult leader would send a pawn planted in the council to deliver this invitation to him.
Surely it's not like the cult leader is just asking for trouble and deliberately comes knocking on our door, is it?
That possibility is too low, and Alvin ruled it out immediately. So the only possibility is that Tzeentch is setting a trap for him!
So the question is, will he keep the appointment?
To willingly walk into the trap set by the Tzeentch means that something completely unexpected and unforeseen could happen.
Alvin fell into deep thought, his index finger tapping the table habitually.
Elsa didn't disturb him, continuing to do her job and trying her best to relieve Alvin's pressure. Although deep down she would prefer Alvin to give up tomorrow's mission, she knew even more clearly that even if she tried to persuade him, the outcome wouldn't change.
"Elsa, have Vennidar gather an Astra Militarum."
After a moment, Alvin seemed to have made up his mind, and his spirits returned. "Then, help me contact the commander of the 47th Antrel Lion Regiment."
He had figured it out. Regardless of whether he had willingly fallen into the trap or not, given his Tzeentch nature, any "prey" he targeted was unlikely to escape.
Even if he escapes this time, who can guarantee he won't fall into another "trap" next time?
Damn!
Why did Tzeentch, chase him all the way from Losell to Alert Star? Alvin was puzzled. If Khorne was Khorne pursuing him because he had insulted him, that would be understandable. But... why was Tzeentch doing this?!
Alvin was genuinely curious: what was it about this damned "Tzeentch" that caught his eye? Couldn't he just change it?
"The Children of Vardan, is that right?"
Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall, let alone a person.
Alvin shook off the shattered teacup, took the tissue Elsa handed him, wiped the water from his hands, and sneered fiercely, "Fine, I'll see what kind of trouble you can cause!"
Since there's no way to escape anyway, I might as well grant the "Tzeentch" wish.
It's just a "trap," isn't it? He fell into it, and not only that, he's going to muddy the waters completely to see who the real winner is in the end!
It was late at night.
The Great Rift on the Alert Star emitted an eerie light.
It seemed as if there were demons from the Warp, their ugly, twisted, mocking faces appearing and disappearing in the chaotic rifts.
Inside the Governor's Mansion, Lucien was still working.
Suddenly, the butler knocked and entered, lowering his voice. "Your Excellency, just now... Alvin, whom you asked me to keep an eye on, has suddenly made a significant move."
"Explain."
Lucien didn't look up; she was still busy, dealing with the political wrangling between the Ecclesiarchy and the Styx Eight, which took up most of her energy.
The invading Greenskin Orc and the resurgence of Genestealer led to many unexpected situations in the Hyperion Sector under Agamemnon's rule.
The situation on Alert Star is evolving in a direction that no one can predict, and the prophetic Psyker within the family are going out of control one after another. All these signs are making the female governor increasingly uneasy.
The butler hurriedly relayed the news he had just heard.
Just recently, Alvin urgently mobilized the 47th Antrel Lion Regiment and an Astra Militarum Legion under Vennidar's command, the specific purpose of which is still unclear.
"What were his orders?" Lucien's expression remained unchanged, but she put down her quill and listened intently.
"The 47th Antrel Lion Regiment has been ordered to hover over Middle Hive and is not to move without orders." The butler took a short breath and continued, "As for Vennidar's 35th Regiment, it has been ordered to Helian Street."
What exactly is he planning to do?
Even Lucien found herself somewhat unable to figure out the tactics of this heir to the Merchant Dynasty.
They suddenly mobilized two regiments; surely they can't be playing around?
Moreover, the fact that two regiments are specifically stationed in Middle Hive, a rather inconspicuous location, suggests... something big might happen tomorrow?
As Lucien was pondering, the phone next to her suddenly rang. She answered it casually, "What is it?"
However, the content of the phone call caused the female governor's face to suddenly darken, and a terrifying rage flashed in her eyes. "What did you say? Say it again!"
"Lucien... Just now, we received news that the entire Coleman Family... is wiped out. They were all sacrificed in an evil ritual."
On the phone, the man was trembling with fear, afraid that the governor's wrath would be vented on him, and hurriedly said, "The body should have died a few hours ago."
A few hours ago?!
Lucien's pupils constricted sharply. Wasn't that when Elsa, Alvin's secretary, warned her to be careful of Coleman?
"Where's Scott Coleman?" Cold sweat instantly soaked her back Lucien shouted sternly, "I'm asking you, where is the target?!"
"Your Excellency, we have not found the target."
The voice on the phone trembled. "We searched the entire Coleman Family mansion, everyone is dead, except for Scott Coleman... who is missing!"
"Find it! Find it for me!"
At that moment, Lucien felt as if she were being swallowed by a chill, and her eyes blazed with fury. "Find Scott Coleman at all costs, even if you have to turn the Hive City upside down!"
Bang!
She slammed down the phone.
Soon, the butler noticed several shifts in emotion on the governor's face, and the atmosphere in the room became eerily tense.
"Go, tell Alvin this news."
Lucien took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "By the way, please pass on a message for me... No matter what happens tomorrow, don't worry, I'm here!"