Hadley Planetary Governor

Three days had passed since he arrived in the Mid-hive.

Living under someone else's roof. It was almost too comfortable.

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

His main task was moving cargo. It could hardly be called strenuous; compared to the Underhive, it was practically relaxed and comfortable.

He had originally thought he would receive no pay at all. After all, the Tech-Priest had taken him in and was willing to give him a stable job and an identity card. That alone was already the greatest help he could have asked for.

Unexpectedly, however, Tech-Priest Aruman still paid him ten crowns according to the Mid-hive's standard daily wage.

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

Although Tech-Priest Aruman could be rather hot-tempered at times, shouting, "The Omnissiah above!" before spewing High Gothic mixed with profanities in binary, he was, at heart, undeniably a good man.

In the 40K universe, a chaotic stew of all kinds of freaks and fanatics, people like Tech-Priest Aruman were truly rare.

However, the one thing that puzzled Alvin was the complex emotion in Tech-Priest Aruman's eyes whenever he looked at him—an emotion that was difficult to understand.

"A Tech-Priest. He wouldn't actually like that sort of thing, would he?"

Whenever that thought crossed Alvin's mind, he could not help shuddering and immediately stopped himself from entertaining such blasphemous ideas.

No, no, no. That was definitely impossible!

The Adeptus Mechanicus wasn't Christianity, and a priest wasn't a clergyman. How could they possibly have that sort of fetish?

Even if he took the worst-case scenario and the priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus really did have such fetishes, they ought to be exclusively devoted to machines!

"There isn't much cargo today. You can take the rest of the day off."

Tech-Priest Aruman had no idea what "blasphemous" thoughts were running through Alvin's head. After inspecting the cargo in the warehouse, he gave him the rest of the day off.

"Thank you, Tech-Priest Aruman."

Alvin froze slightly and flung the blasphemous thoughts from his mind.

This was the perfect opportunity to look around the Mid-hive and perhaps purchase some supplies. Maybe he would even stumble upon an unexpected bonus.

"Go on."

Tech-Priest Aruman moved slowly toward the side door.

Beyond it was the Tech-Priest's forge, crammed with all kinds of weapons and mechanical creations. Alvin was certainly tempted, but he knew what he could and could not do.

Tech-Priest Aruman had treated him generously. If he actually did something like that, wouldn't he be biting the hand that fed him?

Alvin tore his gaze away and walked out of the chapel.

"Wait."

Just as Alvin was about to step out of the chapel, Tech-Priest Aruman called out to him.

"Tech-Priest Aruman, is there something you need?" Alvin wondered what this was about and turned to look at Aruman, waiting for him to continue.

Tech-Priest Aruman slowly approached and pulled two five-hundred-crown banknotes from inside his robes. "The Grox Steak at 105 Fernan Street tastes quite good. Remember to bring me one on your way back, along with a bottle of Amasec. You can spend the rest of the money however you like."

"Understood, Tech-Priest Aruman."

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

Amasec was the Imperium's most famous liquor. It was produced on countless worlds, but its taste varied enormously from place to place.

What surprised him was that even a priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus enjoyed drinking it.

Alvin was not much of a drinker himself. The Grox Steak Tech-Priest Aruman had mentioned, however, made his mouth water, and he swallowed instinctively.

Grox Steak was made from Grox, the most common livestock in the Imperium. Its flavor was distinctive and its juices plentiful. It was essentially a substitute for beefsteak and was extremely popular among the working class.

After passing through several alleys, Alvin suddenly noticed that the streets were far more crowded than usual.

People thronged together, all seemingly headed toward the same destination. Curious, Alvin stopped a passerby and asked, "Sir, is something big happening today? Why has everyone come out?"

"Just arrived in the Mid-hive, lad?"

The elderly man smiled and looked Alvin up and down before saying proudly, "Today, the great Hadley Planetary Governor will lead his guards in reviewing the Nest City. It's an annual grand ceremony, and nobody wants to miss it."

Hadley Planetary Governor?

At the name, Alvin froze for half a second. Wasn't he the person Tucker suspected?

"Sir, could you tell me about this Hadley Planetary Governor?" Alvin put on an ignorant expression and slipped the old man twenty crowns.

The old man's face lit up with delight as he held the two crown coins. That was equivalent to two days' wages. He cleared his throat and began talking about the Hadley Planetary Governor.

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

"Fifty years ago, Losel was actually very poor. The Imperium's taxes were so high that it went through many Planetary Governors, until Governor Hadley took office."

"Lord Hadley was no ordinary man. Not long after taking office, he solved the Imperium's tax problems, encouraged everyone to work and produce, and created many new jobs. That was how he gradually built the once-impoverished Losel into what it is today. Not only did he reduce our taxes, he also increased everyone's income."

"Everyone in the Mid-hive is grateful to Governor Hadley. That's why so many people come of their own accord to attend the parade Governor Hadley holds every year."

"Is a parade like this held every year?" Alvin asked in surprise.

"Of course. Don't underestimate Losel's Planetary Defense Force. They're all elites!" The old man leaned in conspiratorially and lowered his voice. "I'll tell you a secret. My neighbor's child was selected from our Losel Planetary Defense Force and became part of the Astra Militarum!"

Alvin was becoming even more confused. The Governor Hadley he heard about from the old man seemed rather different from the one Tucker had described.

One was a far-sighted old fox suspected of secretly supporting the growth of a cult; the other was a diligent and incorruptible governor who loved his people deeply. Which one was the real man?

"That's enough talk. The parade is about to begin."

The old man hurried away. Alvin came to his senses and immediately followed.

The crowd was so dense that he estimated more than half of the Mid-hive's population had gathered in front of the Nest City's gates.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Three deep tolls echoed above the Nest City.

"Are those the Ecclesiarchy's bells?"

He had never heard them before, but the melodious, solemn bells carried sacred hymns within them, like holy water washing the soul. Alvin felt a tremor deep within his spirit.

Immediately afterward, he saw the Nest City's gate, more than a hundred meters tall, slowly opening amid the heavy bolts and the grinding sounds of machinery.

A luxurious and extravagant-looking hovercar slowly entered the Nest City's broad, spotless streets under the protection of honor guards on either side.

Flowers drifted down like rain. Under the sacred hymns, a ten-thousand-man army followed close behind the hovercar.

At that moment, the two figures aboard the hovercar caught Alvin's attention.

One of them was an older man. Although he looked aged, his back remained straight. He wore splendid aristocratic clothing and had a Duelist Sword set with jewels at his waist. His bearing was solemn and imposing.

Clearly, this was the legendary Hadley Planetary Governor!

Standing beside the Hadley Planetary Governor was a young man with snow-white skin and a slightly gloomy look between his brows.

The instant he saw the "young man," Alvin felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. His head rang with a buzzing sound!

If he had previously been unable to confirm whether the Hadley Family was connected to the cult,

then at this moment—

As petals scattered along both sides of the street and the countless people erupted in thunderous cheers;

as the Ecclesiarchy's bells echoed and millions of people shouted the name of the Hadley Planetary Governor, Alvin felt as though he had fallen into an icy abyss. The chill pierced him to the bone!

Because the aristocratic young man standing beside the Hadley Planetary Governor, dressed in splendid clothing with handsome features,

was none other than the cult "Psyker" Alvin had personally witnessed in the Underhive industrial district!

The current readership is only a little over three hundred. Looks like next week's recommendation is going to be a long shot~ o(╥﹏╥)o