Adela's residence stood in the distant center of the Hive City.
Adela Hissman was holding a quiet meeting with the security officer Krogg in a secret room.
In the mansions of the Upper Hive's noble district, some partied through the night, some plotted how to ingratiate themselves with the new governor, and some counted their assets in preparation to flee.
Deep in the Underhive, gunfire from gang clashes occasionally rang out before being swallowed by the rain.
In the darkness lurked mutants and irradiated beasts.
This was Kent Hive City, the twisted worldview unique to the Warhammer universe.
Ninety-eight million, seven hundred and forty thousand people were packed into this inverted mountain of steel like a colony of ants.
Some lived in drunken luxury in the upper levels, wealthy for generations. Some struggled to survive in the middle levels, bullied by all. Some became bones in the depths, dying without even a place to be buried.
And soon—an utter transformation would begin.
Wang Zhong opened his eyes.
The dark golden depths of his pupils reflected the sky outside the window, gradually turning pale.
It was still raining.
But dawn would come eventually.
6:10 a.m.
The rain had not stopped. Instead, it had grown even heavier.
Dim daylight filtered through the clouds and rain, covering the entire Hive City in an oppressive, damp chill.
Outside the Governor's Palace gates, one hundred players had already formed up.
They wore uniform gray combat suits beneath rain capes, with Lasguns slung across their backs and shock grenades and combat daggers hanging from their weapon belts.
The leader was a player with the ID [Heretic Accepts the Inquisition's Judgment].
"Do you all remember?"
[Heretic Accepts the Inquisition's Judgment] swept his gaze across the team. "The 173 people on the list will be divided into six