The Eternal Forge!
Unexpectedly, this happened right after leaving Baal. Alvin pinched his temples, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "What is this 'Shadow Dome' you're talking about?"
"The Shadow Dome, established in the 41st millennium, was originally a council organization founded in Nomad Port by five Rogue Trader families during the most chaotic period of the Chronos Expansion Zone. Its main responsibility was to control trade."
Carroll said slowly and deliberately, "But later, in the process of infighting and annexation, only one remained, namely the Fernando Dynasty."
"This council has developed to the point where it's almost universally known. Even the Vought are powerless against its existence because they can't find concrete evidence to challenge it. It has been operating in Nomad Port for many years."
The Fernando Family, with its deep-rooted power.
"That's amazing?" Upon hearing this, Alvin couldn't help but feel even more respect for this family.
Those who can leave the Vought helpless are extremely rare; this alone gives us a glimpse into the bigger picture.
We now know just how powerful the Fernando Dynasty really is in this small corner of Nomad Port!
Calling him a "local tyrant" wouldn't be an exaggeration!
Based on the information above, Alvin speculated that the Imperial Navy commanders and local nobles bribed by Fernando had probably formed a deeply entrenched group of shared interests!
It's so difficult, so incredibly difficult!
"Any other information?" Alvin wanted to find a loophole, so he asked, "For example, regarding this Shadow Dome Council, what exactly are you referring to as controlling the transactions?"
"All!"
Carroll's tone was grave as she said in a deep voice, "In Nomad Port, the Fernando Family controls every transaction you can imagine, from daily necessities to warship supplies and weapons resources—all under the control of the Shadow Dome Council. And in reality, the Fernando Family are the 'King of Shadows' of the entire Chronos Expansion Zone!"
"That's outrageous! The King of Shadows!"
Even Alvin was taken aback.
However, what Carroll said soon afterward made Alvin's heart race once again.
"The Fernando Family not only controls the Black Market, but has also secretly funded Orks, Dark Eldar pirates, and even— Chaos Lord!"
They not only funded pirates, but also revealed the locations of some Rogue Trader, waiting for them to be robbed so they could buy the spoils from the pirates and then resell them to various forces such as the Imperium and Chaos.
Holy crap, the Alvin were shocked. This wasn't just a local tyrant anymore, he was a regional governor, a cancer on the Imperium!
"No, isn't he afraid that doing this will attract the attention of multiple forces, who will then launch a joint attack?!" Alvin immediately saw that the Fernando Family's business practices concealed a huge hidden danger.
With such a huge appetite, aren't you afraid of bloating yourself to death?
Do you really think the Dark Eldar, Chaos Lord, and Orks pirates are any kind of benevolent beings?
Rumors circulate that the Fernando Family possesses an ancient, alien artifact, and it is this "artifact" that has allowed the Fernando Family to maintain its position amidst the conflicts of various factions.
Perhaps it was due to her age, but Carroll's thinking had slowed considerably. After catching her breath, she slowly said, "But I can tell you, this is not just a rumor. The Fernando Family possesses a fragment of an artifact called the 'Eternal Forge'."
"This artifact fragment, known as the 'Eternal Forge,' allows the Fernando Family's warships to ignore Warp Storm, force their way through any threatening area, and even locate targets in chaotic Warp without the need for Star Whisperer."
".-·Holy crap?!"
Alvin's pupils constricted sharply. How could such a powerful artifact have fallen into the hands of the Fernando Family?!
"Of course, the Vought is unaware of the existence of this artifact. They only suspect that the Fernando Family possesses technology that is suspected to be Old Ones relic." Carroll spoke with a proud expression, "No one else knows about this except us."
"Grand Sage Carroll, I have a question," Alvin scoffed, turning to stare intently at him. "Isn't your knowledge of the Fernando Family a little too detailed?"
It sounds like Carroll knows a lot about the "Fernando Family." He knows so much about their rise to power, their family motto, human trafficking, and smuggling of Xenos technology—things that should be kept secrets—as if he saw them with his own eyes.
This isn't just understanding; it's practically tearing someone's underwear off!
That's weird, so weird!
Seeing Alvin's suspicious gaze, Carroll felt a little embarrassed. She coughed a few times, turned her head away, and dared not meet his eyes. She said somewhat guiltily, "Actually, we also contributed a lot to the rise of the Fernando Family and obtaining the trading license issued by the High Lord."
Okay, we've found the source!
Alvin was somewhat speechless. "So, you mean the Fernando Family was originally subordinate to us?"
"That's correct, Your Highness."
Carroll probably felt ashamed too; his former "little brother" was now riding on his own people's necks and swaggering around, which was indeed embarrassing to talk about.
"Back then, we supported the Fernando Family mainly for two reasons," Carroll revealed this hidden history. "The Nomad Port of the Chronos Expansion Zone is a necessary route to the Black Zone, and at that time the Imperium could not control this place. We needed to establish a safe and reliable outpost, so we chose the Fernando Family."
"Secondly, as you know, the Chronos Expansion Zone is rich in resources and contains numerous relics of Xenos civilizations. We can use the Fernando Family as cover to conduct some transactions here, thus avoiding the Vought's investigation."
"Understood."
Alvin nodded, indicating that he understood the whole story.
In short, the Fernando Family was originally the Valshius Family's "black glove."
It's specifically designed to handle shady dealings, such as reselling Xenos technology and people.
But who could have imagined that the previous patriarch, his adoptive father, disappeared after piloting the family warship deep into the Black Zone, leading to the decline of the Valshius Family, leaving only Holman to struggle to keep it afloat.
The former "master" has weakened and is naturally unable to control this fierce "watchdog".
No wonder Carroll said that the chances of them getting back what the previous head of the family had entrusted to the Fernando Family were extremely slim.
They'd be a fool to give it to them!
With the "Eternal Forge" and the Valshius Star Chart, it's no wonder that the Fernando Family was able to grow from a mere Rogue Trader to a top-tier Merchant Dynasty in just a few hundred years, and even control the Nomad Port the Imperium's border!
Trying to snatch food from the mouth of such a behemoth is, for Valshius at his current state, utterly absurd—like lighting a lamp in a latrine. He's courting death!
Seeing Alvin's angry expression, Carroll forced a smile and comforted him, "It's alright, Your Highness. It's alright if we can't get the star map. With this incomplete map, as long as we can find traces of the previous head of the family's route..."
We can still find the missing former head of the family!
"No!"
Alvin's brow furrowed, his stubbornness flaring up, and he sneered, "I'm always the one who benefits, when has it ever been anyone else's turn to take advantage of me? Anyone who eats my food, I'll make them spit it out!"