Bringing People into the Fold

Art Student led everyone to the residential section of the living area. The entire warship had 150 residential levels, each containing a large number of rooms. The cafeteria, fitness areas, and training grounds were located elsewhere.

Art Student had decorated the warship's interior lavishly. Even the floors were golden; he felt that only such splendor could suit his status.

The entire battleship contained living quarters, soldier training areas, weapons production zones, Art Student's research area, farming zones, livestock areas, and a large number of warehouses.

Art Student had designed the entire battleship as an integrated whole. In an emergency, it could support people traveling through deep space for long periods without resupply, remaining entirely self-sufficient.

Art Student first arranged rooms for everyone. Each room covered one hundred square meters and could house two to four people. If necessary, it could temporarily accommodate as many as eight.

Art Student then took everyone to the cafeteria and taught them how to eat there.

Bread.

A large loaf made from synthetic starch, with sugar added to make it soft and sweet.

Roasted mushroom slices.

A poisonous mushroom unique to the Underhive. After being sterilized through high-temperature cooking and then roasted over a blazing fire, it became exceptionally delicious.

Giant-Toothed Rat meat.

A huge Giant-Toothed Rat steak. Art Student had genetically modified the Giant-Toothed Rats, removing the mutations from their bodies and making them enormous, with each weighing ten tons.

Every part of a Giant-Toothed Rat was put to good use by Art Student. The flesh was eaten, while the bones were used to make soup.

Small amounts of assorted vegetables and fruits, along with drinks in all kinds of flavors and beer.

Everyone devoured the food as if they had been starving for lifetimes.

"Ah, this bread is so delicious! So sweet."

"This meat is delicious too!"

"Ah, is this what a real person is supposed to eat?"

Everyone stuffed food into their mouths while constantly marveling at it. These were delicacies they had once never dared imagine.

Every one of them ate until their bellies were round, then lay back in their chairs, unwilling to move as they savored the flavors lingering in their mouths.

After Art Student had eaten his fill, he placed a pack of cigarettes on the table and took one for himself, holding it between his lips.

"Want to try one? This is good stuff."

Art Student looked at everyone and smiled.

The others copied Art Student, puffing out clouds of smoke.

"Children can't do that. This is something only adults get to enjoy."

Art Student's huge hand covered the cigarette pack directly, blocking Lilith's little paw as it secretly reached over.

"Oh."

Lilith withdrew her hand unhappily, puffing out her cheeks as she answered softly. Everything that had happened today had been a tremendous shock for a little girl, and now she wanted to put anything strange or interesting into her mouth to see what it tasted like.

"My lord, I know some people. Can I introduce them to you?"

Gray raised his head and looked at the giant before him.

"You can. No cultists, no gang members who kill for pleasure. Anyone else can be introduced. But you are all far too weak right now. Train here for three months first. After three months, you can seek out people you know and introduce them to join me and receive my protection."

Art Student said happily.

He had thought he would need to go out and recruit more people himself. He had not expected his new subordinate, Gray, to be so proactive and voluntarily help shoulder the recruitment work. The man had good instincts; he would promote him later.

"I understand. But my lord, what training do we need? The fact that we can survive in the lowest levels of the hive city should prove that our survival abilities are not bad."

Gray asked doubtfully.

To them, surviving in the Underhive for a long time was proof of strength. Those who were too weak had long since been killed. The Underhive was a place where the strong preyed on the weak, and anyone without strength might not even survive three days.

"You know of the Emperor's angels, the Astartes, don't you? I can make you as powerful as them."

Art Student said blandly.

But to Gray, those words were like a thunderbolt exploding beside his ears. He could become as powerful as an Astartes.

"I... my lord, can I become that powerful too?"

Gray asked in disbelief.

Gray was not the only one stunned. Everyone else was left gaping as well.

The Astartes were as powerful and mysterious as demigods, beings beyond the reach of mortal longing. They fought across the galaxy, spreading the Emperor's wrath.

Even children in the Underhive had heard stories about the Astartes from their elders. Many people in the Underhive dreamed of being chosen to join the Astartes, but it was nothing more than an unreachable dream.

"You can, but don't expect to become that strong in three months. Three months can only bring you to the peak of human capability. To become as powerful as an Astartes, it will take at least five to ten years."

Art Student shattered everyone's fantasies.

"My lord, I understand."

Gray answered obediently.

"If any of you want to fight, you may join the fighters. If you do not want to fight, that is fine too. You will learn all kinds of useful knowledge here, so do not worry about being abandoned.

Everyone here will find work suited to them. There are plenty of positions: learning to grow vegetables and fruit, raising Giant-Toothed Rats, learning how to treat the sick, learning management, and more.

So it is perfectly normal if you do not wish to fight. Do not force yourselves."

Seeing that some of them did not wish to fight, Art Student could not help but comfort them.

After hearing Art Student's reassurance, the people who had been sitting there anxiously followed Gray's lead and knelt in Art Student's direction, praising him aloud.

"My lord is merciful."

"Get up. I don't like people kneeling to me. It makes me feel like I've ascended to heaven."

Gray lowered his head and said softly, "I wouldn't dare."

Gray led everyone to rise from the floor.

"Gray, since you want to invite people you know, I'll give you an opportunity. If ten of the people you bring want to fight, I'll make you a squad leader. If there are a hundred, you'll become a unit commander.

Since you were the first person willing to follow me, and the first willing to take initiative, how about it? This is your reward."

Art Student looked at Gray and smiled.

"Thank you, my lord. I will devote myself to handling this matter well. I will not disappoint you."

Gray suppressed his excitement and tried his best to keep his voice calm.

"Good. Gaia will teach you the Imperium's official language and writing from now on, while Ares will teach you how to become stronger."

After speaking, Art Student clapped his hands. Two golden robots, each three meters tall, entered through the door.

After entering, the two robots first saluted Art Student, then turned to the others and introduced themselves.

"Hello, everyone. I am Gaia. From now on, I will be responsible for teaching you the Imperium's official language and writing. You may come to me with any questions you have."

"I am Ares. I specialize in combat."