The Imperium's Frontier: Allies of The Imperium

Isn't it interesting? The lower-class violent groups of humanity always seem to leave an impression of being savage, vulgar, and ignorant. Honestly, even most members of the Devout Society give off that vibe, don't they? Including the Hammer Gang, you would simply categorize them all as Lower Hive gangs.

But for another group, the members of the Crime Syndicate, this standard of classification seems entirely different.

Unlike most hive gangs who dress in rags and are covered in crude, inferior implants and weaponry, the members of the Crime Syndicate are impeccably dressed. Honestly, it's hard to believe that these "civilized people" in suits, with their well-groomed hair and features, are actually members of a hive gang.

They don't look like Lower Hivers at all. They wear fine clothing and carry master-crafted weapons—or pieces that are practically works of art—looking more like a small group of idle young nobles organizing a private club.

And this way of standing out among the many violent groups in the hive depends largely on their boss, Philus von Jan-Christol.

A mouthful? Exactly, because that is a typical name for a noble of The Imperium. Yes, you heard that right; Philus is a noble of The Imperium, though that doesn't mean much. After all, he is a bastard; people always rumored he was born to the old Jan-Christol and some mistress.

But no one knows the truth. After all, the old Jan-Christol is dead, along with his own biological son, and—well, add in the daughter, the wife, and so on—to be precise, the whole family is dead.

No one knows how that accidental fire started, and no one wants to know. Even in the Upper Hive, a place where curiosity is rampant to an unreasonable degree, very few people would discuss or delve into how the Jan-Christol family was wiped out; no one even mentions the surname.

People generally call him the "King of Revelry," Philus. The reason is simple: Philus owns the most and the best clubs and nightclubs in the entire Upper Hive. This is very popular, and Philus is also very adept at dealing with these Upper Hive elites.

He is also very popular with women; many young ladies and socialites love this handsome blonde man. I can confirm this because, right now, in the private testing room of this club, our dear Mr. Philus is holding court with a woman on each arm.

Two beautiful women lean against his sides; they are both gorgeous, definitely beauties in the eyes of any normal person, and carry a certain seductive flair.

They lean against Philus's chest, laughing softly in melodious voices or whispering secrets. Philus has his arms around their shoulders, but his attention doesn't seem to be on these two scantily clad women who would make most men's hearts race.

The blonde Philus is pondering a problem—a problem that appeared suddenly. To be precise, it didn't just appear; this problem has existed for two months, but he didn't expect that person to suddenly come looking for him, tonight of all nights.

"Mr. Philus, Mr. Vito has arrived," someone said outside the door. Philus raised his eyes and tilted his head slightly. "Please, let him in."

The automatic door opened, the reflective glass sliding to one side. A man walked into the horseshoe-shaped room, accompanied by a woman—a woman Philus knew and was familiar with.

Philus nodded to her in greeting. "Hello, Miss Silver Snake. I didn't expect you to come here as a guest with Mr. Vito."

Silver Snake smiled, linking her arm with Vito's. "How should I put it? Life always gives you surprises, Mr. Philus." "Indeed, Miss Silver Snake. Especially you, Mr. Vito. I didn't expect us to meet in this way, at this moment, in this place."

Philus raised his hand slightly. "As you can see, this isn't a suitable place for a formal meeting. If you had notified me earlier, I would have prepared a more comfortable place to receive you."

Vito also laughed and shrugged slightly. He looked around the room and nodded with satisfaction. "I think it's quite nice. At least Silver Snake and I like it, and besides, this place is very suitable for some informal topics."

Philus looked at Vito's brilliant smile, nodded slightly, and patted the shoulders of the two ladies. "Ladies, let's talk later. Give this gentleman and me some space now."

The two seductive women didn't say anything; they stood up and left the private room, their high heels clicking on the floor. Philus looked at Silver Snake, then at Vito, his meaning couldn't be clearer.

Vito smiled slightly and nodded at Silver Snake. "Wait outside, would you? My dear." "Of course. Enjoy yourselves; I'll go find a drink."

Philus smiled, appearing very proper and polite. "Kri, please look after Miss Silver Snake." "Yes, Mr. Philus," the head of security outside the door replied, gesturing for her to follow.

Silver Snake let go of Vito's arm, waved, and turned to walk out of the room. As she left, the automatic door closed, and the room instantly fell silent, all the noise and clamor blocked out.

Philus leaned back on the horseshoe-shaped sofa and gestured for Vito to sit. Vito sat down naturally on his left, as composed as if he were in his own club.

"You didn't bring a weapon, Mr. Vito? I heard your marksmanship is superb," Philus asked, pointing to Vito's belt. Indeed, nothing was hanging there; this was quite different from Vito's usual habits.

He smiled and shrugged slightly. "I'm on a date tonight. It's not really appropriate to carry a gun when out with a girl, don't you think, Mr. Philus?"

Philus smiled slightly and leaned back against the sofa. "Now, please speak, Mr. Vito. Is there something I need to know about your date coming here?" "A warning. A timely warning."

Vito said with a smile, one hand resting on the back of the sofa, while Philus raised an eyebrow. "A warning? I don't recall any trouble lately, Mr. Vito."

"True, not until tonight. But I have some news for you, Mr. Philus." "The Crimson Essence factory has been raided and destroyed."

Philus's expression twitched for a moment, but the surprise quickly gave way to composure—it took only a few milliseconds. A normal person would have found it impossible to detect, but clearly, Vito did not fall into that category.

"I am surprised, and even more surprised as to why you would tell me." Faced with Philus's question, Vito just smiled. "Because my dear colleagues believe that you carried out the attack." "But I didn't." "Yes, I know you didn't, but how do I convince my fanatical colleagues of that?"

Vito spread his hands slightly, leaning back on the sofa with a look of helplessness. "You see, they are all dull madmen and stubborn idiots. They think that since Mal Hammer was eliminated, you are the next target, so you and Mal Hammer collaborated to make a final stand."

"Logical, isn't it?" Vito laughed, but Philus snorted coldly. He let out a long sigh and leaned back. "I know Mosley went missing, and I know he wasn't kidnapped—he was killed. And now it seems he was kidnapped, and through some means, the factory address was leaked."

"And your colleagues think that Mal handed The Missionary over to me, and then I handed him over to the only Upper Hive force that could make that guy talk, or at least force him to—the Adeptus Arbites."

Vito snapped his fingers, smiling, clearly appreciating that Philus could understand all this without needing an explanation. "You are a smart man, Mr. Philus. Very smart."

The boss of the Syndicate sneered, his fingers tapping on the back of the sofa in a rhythmic, pendulum-like motion. "It's not hard to understand; it is indeed logical, even if it isn't the truth."

"So, what is your suggestion, Mr. Vito Constantine? As one of the top figures of the Devout Society, what is your advice?"

Philus watched Vito out of the corner of his eye. He saw that hunter-like smile. Vito, with his black hair and black eyes, crossed his legs and rested a hand on his knee, like a chess player who was about to win.

"Counterattack, Mr. Philus. Counterattack." Vito said with a smile. "I intend to give you, and Mal, an opportunity—an opportunity to solve all your problems once and for all."

Philus looked a bit confused, then nodded slightly for Vito to continue. The latter smiled and waved his hand slightly. "You see, very soon, the top figures of the Devout Society will meet me, and at the right time and place, they will welcome me into the family. It will be a grand religious feast, and everyone will be there."

"The High Priest, the leaders, the believers, and... the Patriarch." Vito's mouth curled into a cold sneer, like a hunter who had already pinned the crosshairs on the prey's forehead, his finger clicking on the trigger under pressure.

Philus frowned. "You want us to attack that place together? Wipe out all the top figures of the Devout Society? Mr. Vito, this is very inconsistent with your status. You are one of the top figures of the Devout Society, yet you want to borrow our power to wipe out most of your own colleagues."

"Of course, I can understand your approach. Using a borrowed knife to eliminate rivals is the right move, but I don't think you, or any allies you might have, can smoothly and stably take over the power of the Devout Society after all the upper-level leaders are dead. That would be a large-scale civil war, a civil war even more brutal than the current Lower Hive war."

Philus raised his hand, counting it all off. "I even suspect the scale would be large enough for the Adeptus Arbites to intervene directly. Then everything Mal and I have would vanish into smoke. The Arbites Judge doesn't accept bribes; he only has the laws and order of The Imperium in his eyes. I assume you are well aware of that."

"Even if the Adeptus Arbites didn't intervene, we would suffer heavy losses in a chaotic civil war. Mal is already unable to fight, and my strength is not enough to deal with the Devout Society's massive number of extremely crazy fanatics. That would be a holy war of faith."

"Yes, I am well aware." "Then why do you want us to trigger this civil war with you? Betting everything we have?"

Vito laughed, showing a smile that was very inappropriate for the moment. "Because you will solve the problems below for The Imperium, and the Arbites and I have other things to do. As long as you handle things properly amidst the chaos, I don't think The Imperium would mind you continuing to maintain your little kingdoms."

"Of course, I will continue to provide help, helping you solve all your problems." Vito's smile made Philus frown instantly. His handsome face was immediately filled with suspicion and vigilance. He was silent for a moment, looking at Vito, and spoke while staring straight at him.

"Who exactly are you, Mr. Vito?" "You see, Mr. Philus, you are a smart man. You have seen the world and understand the big picture, so we two smart men don't need to speak in riddles. Besides, it just so happens that I am in a hurry right now."

Vito's smile vanished. In an instant, the authority of an Inquisitor surged forth. He lifted his chin slightly, like a lord overlooking all beneath him—a lord sworn to the Great Emperor.

"I, Vito Constantine, am an Inquisitor of the Inquisition, chosen by the Emperor Himself."

The word "Inquisitor" hung in the air, plunging the already silent room into a deathly stillness. Philus, who had remained composed and steady, saw his expression shift violently; he stared at Vito in shock, barely able to believe his ears.

"You don't need to believe me right now, Mr. Philus. The Golden Throne and the Emperor have no need for your belief or trust. What you need to know is that I have been ordered to resolve the issues of heresy and rebellion in Victoria, and the Devout Society is the target."

Vito's voice grew in volume, as if spoken by the Emperor Himself, majestic and imposing. "They worship false gods, cults, and heretical doctrines. They attempt to sever Victoria from the light of the sacred Astronomican and offer it to the Great Enemy of the Imperium within the void."

"Therefore! I have come here in the name of the Emperor to eradicate heresy and traitors. I do not need the Devout Society to live; I need their death."

"As for you and Mr. Mal, according to the laws of The Imperium, I should execute you both. Believe me, I can do it. I could purge every noble on this entire planet. But now, Mr. Philus, in the name of His Holy Majesty, I offer you a chance: help me, help the Inquisition, and you may retain all your wealth and power."

"If not, a far greater force will arrive here in the near future, and by then, you will find no mercy."

Vito finished speaking, yet his immense pressure still blanketed the room. Philus stared at him in silence for a long time, lost in thought, suspicion, and internal conflict. He had seen many idiots who boasted and lied; he had been born, raised, and risen to power in the Hive, and he knew how to tell if a man was lying.

This had saved him many times. Philus had developed the habit of watching a person's eyes. No matter the time or place, he could discern the truth from a man's gaze, and he was exceptionally skilled at it.

And right now, this man was telling the truth.

After a long silence, the boss of the Syndicate nodded slightly.

"I will help you, Vi... Lord Inquisitor. I will be loyal to the Golden Throne." "A wise choice, sir."

Vito stood up and extended a hand, a smile returning to his face. Philus stood as well and shook that hand. "We will remember your contribution, Mr. Philus, and we will ensure that you and Mr. Mal receive appropriate compensation and rewards from the legacy of the Devout Society."

"As the Emperor wills." "As He wills."

Silver Snake sat on a high stool, swirling her glass. She watched the liquid with keen interest. "How is it? Better than what you have?" "No. Apparently, the only understanding these idiots have of wine is that the more expensive it is, the better it must be."

Silver Snake handed the glass to Vito. Vito, leaning against the bar, took the drink and downed it in one bold gulp without a word. He then wore a contemplative expression before raising his eyebrows and nodding slightly. "Indeed. They should have hired you as a consultant."

Olivia rested her chin on her hand and smiled, looking at Vito. "Well? Did you convince the handsome young man?" Vito laughed, tapping the glass against the table as if sealing a deal. "We had a good talk. He's in. And now..."

The Inquisitor chuckled and extended his arm. "Shall we go back and drink something better?" Olivia smiled, hooked her arm through his, and hopped off the stool. The two looked at each other and walked toward the club entrance with a laugh.

"Thanks for the hospitality, Captain." Vito nodded politely to the guard captain as he left the club entrance. The latter nodded back slightly; he had not disturbed them, and he had ensured that no one else could, either.

Strong, tall Syndicate guards stood on one side of the club entrance, isolating the flow of patrons to the other side. The burly men formed a human wall, ensuring that the curious young nobles could not catch a glimpse of these two special guests tonight, allowing Vito and Ms. Olivia to leave with ease.

They walked through the silent, empty streets. At the end of the club street sat a car—a black, flowing sedan. Its body was as smooth as a mirror, gathering and refracting countless lights like a shimmering crystal in motion; only the lights at the front proved it was a car.

A man stood by the car, leaning against the gull-wing door. When Vito saw him, he smiled. "A fine night, Marshall."

"I can tell, Vito. And Ms. Silver Snake, I hope your activities tonight were satisfactory," said Marshall, who wore a black leather coat. The laspistol on his belt was clearly visible under the car's interior lights; it was evident he hadn't been on a date tonight.

"Very smooth, Marshall. And you, my dear friend?" Vito approached him, and Marshall nodded slightly. "The Arbites Judge wants to see you. Tonight."

"Ah, tonight is quite busy. And you, my dear? Do you mind if we extend our date?" Vito looked at Silver Snake with a smile. She smiled sweetly and shrugged slightly. "I don't mind."

Vito gave a playful smile, then turned to Marshall. He laughed and climbed into the car with Olivia. The gull-wing door closed behind them. Marshall scanned the dark street before getting into the car.

He sat in the driver's seat and started the engine. Vito leaned forward slightly in the back seat, looking at the night sky outside the window with a playful expression. "Sorry for the overtime, Officer."

Marshall gave a helpless smile and gripped the steering wheel. "You too, Lord Inquisitor."

With a press of the accelerator, the black sedan sped away, vanishing into the hazy night of the Upper Hive.

Seeking votes, seeking recommendations. I have pooled my loyalty to the heretics; vote for the Emperor!