Hadley Planetary Governor

Three days have passed since I arrived in the Mid-hive.

Living under someone else's roof. It couldn't be more comfortable.

After delivering the items ordered by Priest Aruman and neatly stacking them in the warehouse, Alvin finished his work.

His main job was to transport goods. It wasn't strenuous; compared to the Underhive, it could even be called easy and pleasant.

He originally thought there would be no pay. After all, the Tech-Priest had taken him in, and providing him with a stable job and a resident permit was already the greatest help.

But unexpectedly, Priest Aruman still paid him a daily wage of 10 Krone according to Mid-hive standards.

Considering that Alvin had just come up from the Underhive and likely had no money in his pockets, Priest Aruman even advanced him half a month's wages for his daily expenses.

Although Priest Aruman's temper was sometimes quite volatile, shouting "Omnissiah above!" and spewing Gothic curses mixed with binary profanity, fundamentally, Priest Aruman was an undeniably good person.

In the 40K universe, where all sorts of unsavory characters and fanatics abound, people like Priest Aruman were truly rare.

However, the only thing that confused Alvin was the complex, hard-to-understand emotion that was always mixed in Priest Aruman's gaze when he looked at him.

"A Tech-Priest. He probably wouldn't like that sort of thing, right?"

Whenever he thought of this, Alvin couldn't help but shiver and immediately suppressed such blasphemous thoughts.

No, no, it's absolutely impossible!

The Adeptus Mechanicus isn't Christianity, and Priests aren't priests. How could they have such perversions?

Even if, for the sake of argument, the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus did have perversions, it should be a deep love for machinery!

"There's no more cargo today. You can rest early."

Priest Aruman was unaware of Alvin's "blasphemous" thoughts. After checking the warehouse's inventory, he granted him half a day off.

"Thank you, Priest Aruman."

Alvin was slightly taken aback, shaking off the blasphemous thoughts from his mind.

Taking this opportunity, he could go explore the Mid-hive and perhaps pick up some supplies. Maybe there would be a pleasant surprise?

"Go ahead."

Priest Aruman moved with slow steps and turned towards the side door.

Inside was the Tech-Priest's forge, piled high with all sorts of weapons and mechanical creations. Alvin's eyes watered with envy, but he knew what he could and couldn't do.

Priest Aruman had treated him well. If he were to do something like that, wouldn't he be an ungrateful wretch?

Recalling his gaze, Alvin walked out of the sanctum.

"Wait."

Just as Alvin had one foot out of the sanctum, Priest Aruman called out to him.

"Priest Aruman, is there something you need?" he muttered inwardly, turning to look at Aruman, awaiting his next words.

Priest Aruman walked over slowly and took two 500-Krone notes from his pocket. "The Grox Steak at 105 Fernand Street tastes good. Remember to bring me a portion when you come back, and a bottle of Amasec. The rest of the money is yours to spend as you please."

"I understand, Priest Aruman."

Alvin reached out and took the two banknotes, folded them, and tucked them into his inner pocket before leaving the sanctum.

Amasec was the Imperium's most famous strong liquor, produced on various worlds, but with vastly different tastes.

He was somewhat surprised that a Tech-Priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus would have such a taste.

He wasn't much of a drinker, but the Grox Steak mentioned by Priest Aruman made Alvin's mouth water, and he couldn't help but swallow involuntarily.

Grox Steak was made from Grox, the most common livestock in the Imperium. It had a unique flavor and was juicy, considered a good alternative to beef steak, and was very popular among the working class.

After passing through several alleys, Alvin suddenly noticed that the streets were unusually crowded today.

People were surging, as if with a common purpose, heading in the same direction. Alvin, feeling a bit curious, grabbed a passerby and asked, "Uncle, is there something big happening today? Why is everyone out?"

"Young man, you're new to the Mid-hive, aren't you?"

The elderly man smiled, looking Alvin up and down, and said with a proud face, "Today, the great Hadley Planetary Governor will lead his retinue to review the hive. It's an annual grand event, and no one wants to miss this opportunity."

Hadley Planetary Governor?

Hearing the name, Alvin froze for half a second. Wasn't this the person Tark suspected?

"Uncle, can you tell me about this Hadley Planetary Governor?" Alvin put on an act of being inexperienced and slipped the old man another 20 Krone.

Clutching the two Krone coins, the old man's face lit up with joy. This was equivalent to two days' wages. He cleared his throat and began to talk about Governor Hadley.

"Young man, you were born in a good era."

"Fifty years ago, Lossel was very barren. Because the Imperial taxes were too high, many Planetary Governors changed hands until Governor Hadley took office."

"Lord Hadley is no ordinary man. Shortly after taking office, he resolved the Imperial taxes, encouraged production and labor, and created many job positions. This is how he gradually built the once barren Lossel into what it is today. Not only did he reduce our taxes, but he also increased everyone's income."

"Everyone in the Mid-hive is very grateful to Governor Hadley, so many people voluntarily attend the parade he holds every year."

"Are these parades held every year?" Alvin asked, somewhat surprised.

"Of course! Don't underestimate our Lossel Planetary Defense Force; they are all elites!" The old man leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "Let me tell you a secret. The child of my neighbor was selected from our Lossel Planetary Defense Force to become an Astra Militarum!"

Alvin became increasingly confused. The Governor Hadley described by the old man seemed very different from the one Tark had described.

One is an old fox, seemingly wise and far-sighted, who secretly supports the cult's development; the other is a governor who deeply loves his people and governs with diligence and clarity. Which one is the real one?

"Enough talk, the military review is about to begin."

The old man left in a hurry, and Alvin snapped back to attention, immediately following him.

The crowd was truly too dense; he estimated that more than half of the Mid-hive's population had gathered in front of the Hive's main gate today.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Three dull bell tolls echoed through the skies above the Hive.

"Is this... the bells of the State Religion?"

Although he had never heard them before, within the melodious yet solemn chimes, mixed with sacred hymns, like holy water cleansing the soul, Alvin felt a tremor from the depths of his being.

Immediately after, he saw the Hive's main gate, a hundred meters tall, slowly opening amidst the sounds of heavy bolts and machinery.

An absolutely luxurious and extravagant hovercar, escorted by honor guards on both sides, slowly drove into the Hive, onto the spacious and spotless streets.

Flowers rained down like petals, and beneath the sacred hymns, a thousand-strong army followed closely behind the hovercar.

At this moment, two figures in the hovercar caught Alvin's attention.

One was older, appearing aged, yet his spine remained straight. He wore magnificent noble attire, with a jeweled dueling sword at his waist, exuding an air of majesty and solemnity.

Clearly, this was the rumored Hadley Planetary Governor!

Beside the Hadley Planetary Governor stood a youth with fair skin and a slightly gloomy expression.

The instant he saw the "youth," Alvin felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, his mind buzzing!

If, before, he couldn't be sure if the Hadley family had connections to the cult.

Then, at this moment.

Amidst the petals scattered along the streets, the countless people erupting in thunderous cheers;

Under the reverberation of the State Religion's bells, as millions shouted the Hadley Planetary Governor's name, Alvin felt as if plunged into an ice cellar, a chill penetrating his very bones!

This was because the noble youth standing beside the Hadley Planetary Governor, gorgeously dressed with handsome features.

Was none other than the cult "Psychic" whom Alvin had personally witnessed in the Underhive industrial district!

Currently over three hundred followers, feels like next week's recommendation is a bit uncertain~ (T_T)