First Underhive Census

Time slowly passed. The Super-large Starch Factory gradually reached completion and began its pre-production process.

As a Super-large Starch Factory integrating the production lines of hundreds of Starch Factories, it could produce over 200 million tons of starch per day, barely enough to meet the food needs of the 50 billion people on Planet Badab.

As a Factory, it naturally required raw materials. Carbon sources, hydrogen sources, and oxygen sources all needed dedicated planning, or they would not be able to satisfy this enormous Factory's appetite.

Thus, not only were the 200 million laborers not disbanded, but with the addition of the second batch of 4 million Auxilia, recruitment continued. The goal was to raise the workforce to 2 billion and keep expanding various large-scale engineering facilities.

After around half a year of observation, Huron also discovered that the system's Civilian Factories increased efficiency by secretly coordinating everyone's thoughts, rather than creating things from nothing.

Therefore, he simultaneously launched three major projects: the Super-large Water Purification and Circulation System, the Integrated Air Circulation and Purification System, and the Large Plasma Reactor. Each project was assigned three Civilian Factories to accelerate progress and reduce accidents.

Not long after the three projects began, the third batch of 8 million Auxilia also completed their training and could be put to use.

With ample manpower, the Starch Factory capable of winning people's loyalty, and 30 billion Vitamin Pills all prepared, Huron intended to further strengthen his control over the Underhive.

The first step was naturally a thorough population census.

Although the Underhive was not as completely out of control as the Deep Hive, the nobles did not have much control over it either, much less the ability to conduct a detailed census.

The population figures for all of Palatos Hive, and even Planet Badab itself, were estimates. The actual population was probably far greater. This was also normal for the Imperium of Man.

Palatus nominally had 20 billion people, and the Underhive accounted for the vast majority of them. Conservatively speaking, the Underhive should have more than 16 billion people, perhaps even more than 20 billion.

Population was the foundation of the future. Not to mention anything else, there were several habitable planets in the Badab System, yet their development levels were extremely low. A whole planet had only a few hundred million people. It was an enormous waste.

Besides clarifying the population, another purpose of the census was to clearly define the boundaries of the Deep Hive, making it easier to determine subsequent handling plans.

As for how to distinguish the Deep Hive from the Underhive...

Those who refused to assist with the census order, or even obstructed it, would naturally be classified as Deep Hive territory.

As the orders were issued, millions of Auxilia entered the Underhive. With assistance from local gangs, they registered Underhive residents hidden in every corner.

To increase credibility, and also to prevent ordinary illnesses from attracting Nurgle Daemons, Huron ordered that every person be given one Vitamin Pill and five kilograms of starch, on the condition that they came to collect them in person.

With the starch infrastructure projects of the past half-year serving as proof—especially with those 200 million laborers growing stronger and rosier by the day, constantly bragging and showing off—a considerable number of Underhivers chose to believe it and were extremely enthusiastic.

Yet a large portion still resisted registration. They did not believe in such a windfall. Others refused to register for all sorts of reasons.

Even if these people made up only one percent of the population, that was still several hundred million people.

But for the current Huron, he had enough manpower to resolve these difficult cases. If anyone still stubbornly refused registration, they would be treated as Deep Hive residents and placed under direct military control.

Underhive, Carter District.

A team of registrars, led by the local gang boss, arrived at a sealed-off abandoned pipeline.

"My lord, this should be the last household." The gang boss walked up to the pipeline wall and knocked on the door.

As he knocked, he shouted, "Liam, open up! The lords have business with you!"

A gap opened in the pipeline blocked by battered Plasteel, and a delicate, beautiful face appeared in the opening. After looking around and noticing the distinguished-looking registrars behind the gang boss, his eyes lit up and he hurriedly moved the Plasteel block aside.

"My lord, are you here to give it a try too? I guarantee—"

"No." The registrar, who had been momentarily stunned by his beauty, interrupted him. "We're here to register the Underhive population. The people behind you need to be registered too."

As a registrar who had taken Gene-seed three times, he had already heard faint movements in the passage behind Liam. They sounded like... children?

Liam's expression stiffened, but he quickly resumed that soft, alluring look. "My lord, you must be joking. It's just me here. This lord can testify to that."

As he spoke, he looked toward the gang boss.

The gang boss went pale. "N-No, don't call me lord. But, my lord, there really is only Liam here. Uh, I and all those customers can testify. For years, nobody else has ever been seen here."

The registrar raised a brow. He had initially thought this man was a pimp controlling a group of young prostitutes, but it did not seem to be the case.

"This is an order jointly issued by the God-Emperor's Angel and the planetary governor." He pulled out a data slate and opened the registration form. "No one may refuse. Call everyone out and register them one by one. Those who register will receive five kilograms of starch and one Vitamin Pill each."

"Otherwise, the people who come next time won't be as easy to talk to as us."

"My lord, I..." As an Underhiver, Liam had heard plenty of horror stories about people from the Upper Hive. That was why he did not want the children to come out. Who knew how these people would treat them?

"Ahem." The gang boss interjected at that moment. "Liam, these lords are servants of the Angel. They serve Lord Angel and can be trusted. You know those workers who recently went to build the Starch Factory, right?"

Liam nodded. Those workers had been frequenting his business lately, spending more lavishly than ever before. Every one of them was rosy-cheeked and carried an indescribable vitality.

"They're all ordinary Underhivers. You know what they used to be like." The gang boss smacked his lips. "Lord Angel really does hand out starch and Vitamin Pills."

Liam fell silent for a while before calling into the passage, "Ramsey, bring everyone out."

Rustling sounds came from the dark passage. Soon, a pale older child led a group of equally pale younger children pouring out of the tunnel.

"Big brother, who are they?" Ramsey, the leader, was somewhat wary. One of his arms had been severed, and he held a homemade machete in his other hand.

"It's fine. They're here to hand out food. Have everyone register. Answer whatever they ask." Liam gave him a reassuring smile.

"Name, age, can you listen, speak, read, and write..." Ramsey led the children in answering the questions posed by several registrars.

The lead registrar looked at Liam instead. "One more thing. At most a year from now, the new Badab Codex will be announced. What you're doing now falls within the scope of a major crackdown. Find another line of work as soon as possible. The new Codex won't prosecute people like you for past offenses."

Liam's expression changed. "My lord, I... what else can I do?"

"Get a job, of course." The registrar spoke as though it were obvious. "The entire Hive City is undertaking massive construction projects right now, and it will eventually expand to the whole planet. People are needed everywhere. Can you write? Can you do arithmetic?"

"I... know a little." He answered instinctively, then gave a bitter smile. "My lord, with this body of mine, I can't carry anything too heavy."

"If you can't be a porter, do something else." The registrar took a flyer from his backpack. "If you can read and write, attend registrar training or work as a clerk at a construction site."

"If you perform well, you can also be selected for the Chapter Auxiliary. Then you can support these children without doing this kind of work. For now, the Chapter can take these children in on your behalf. They'll be fed, housed, and educated."

The registrar did not discriminate against Liam. Back when he was an Underhiver, he had frequented businesses like this often enough himself. In the Underhive, this was considered morally upstanding entertainment. It was far more normal than inhaling all kinds of chemical substances or torturing Underhive residents to death.

Besides, this man was raising such a large group of children. The registrar felt ashamed of his own lack of compassion by comparison.

The Auxilia now viewed this sort of mindset very favorably. As long as Liam did not lose his mind and cause trouble later, he would sooner or later become a member of the Auxilia.

After the registration was complete, the registrar advised Liam before leaving, "Think it over carefully. Go collect the food at the Carter Gang's former headquarters in five days. We've already turned it into a square."

A little girl clung to Liam's leg, drool running from the corner of her mouth. "Brother Liam, is it true what that person said? Will they give us food?"

Liam forced a smile. "It's true. We'll have it in a few days."

And no one questioned how Liam, someone so delicate and frail, could protect himself and these children in the Underhive.

Because he was a Theta-class Psyker. Even without using Psyker Power, he could make others more focused, keep them from thinking about anything else, and leave them physically and mentally content.

The registration team had also been affected by this, overlooking the anomaly.