Listening to the old man's grumbling, Kaiser Whitefang couldn't help asking how old he was.
"Me? I'm probably thirty? Who knows? There's no sun down there, no clocks either. We all estimate time by the factory whistles. When the tallest, largest cooling tower stops spewing white mist, we know another year has passed and the next production cycle is about to begin."
A whistle sounded, and the old man grew somewhat anxious. He pointed at the coworkers waiting for him by the roadside and gave Kaiser Whitefang an apologetic smile.
Kaiser Whitefang waved it off, showing that he did not care about such trivial matters. He merely watched the old man's retreating back while stroking his bearded chin.
"Though this place has none of the beauty of a garden world, none of the towering, magnificent buildings, none of the rich and colorful cultural life."
"Their lives have become better than before. That is the best thing."
"That's right, Bennett. That is the best thing."
As they walked along the broad streets of the hive city, they finally saw the party that had come to greet them.
A group of silent Krieg soldiers. Their black greatcoats and gas masks were their most distinctive features.
"My lord, this is the Krieg Reconstitution Regiment. I am Colonel Erika. My commanding officer ordered us to receive you."
"Why did he not come himself?"
"Uh..."
Though Kaiser Whitefang could not see what Erika looked like beneath her mask, he could still hear the hesitation in her voice.
"Answer the question, soldier."
"The commanding officer is receiving people from the Inquisition... It is very... chaotic over there."
"Oh?"
The group hurried forward alongside the Krieg soldiers. Only upon reaching the church did they discover what this supposed chaos meant.
A group of Tempestus Scions bearing the