Nobles' Conspiracy

"By the way, is there anything we still can't resolve?"

Odinson thought for a moment, then pulled out a report. "There aren't any major problems at the moment, but the manpower shortage still hasn't been resolved."

As Huron looked through the data, Odinson continued, "Although we already have over ten million grassroots administrative personnel, we're doing too many things at once. Just expanding the construction teams to five billion people is starting to get out of hand, and project efficiency has fallen far behind."

Huron understood Odinson's problem. The construction teams now had five billion people, but the newly trained Auxilia personnel numbered only fourteen million in total.

Even if they crammed everyone into the effort, each person would still have to manage three or four hundred people. On top of that, he had invested far fewer Civilian Factories than he had Starch Factories, so overall efficiency naturally dropped sharply.

Even two hundred million skilled workers who had already been working for over half a year could not solve the problem. More importantly, they had to allocate a great deal of manpower to the first population census, making their already insufficient workforce even more stretched.

But Huron could not do much about that problem either. "Then all we can do is wait. The Emperor's blessings are gradually growing stronger. In a little over a month, another sixteen million Auxilia personnel will take up their posts. Things will gradually improve then."

Odinson nodded and raised another issue. "Chapter Master, there's one more matter. The nobles have begun obstructing our construction projects and census work. It looks like they're gradually realizing something is wrong and intend to use a few petty tricks."

Huron smacked his lips. First the Ecclesiarchy, and now the nobles. How the hell could the Empire ever prosper with these vermin around?

"Placate them for now. Don't let them delay the projects. In another half year, we can start turning against them."

He glanced at the ten ten-thousand-man Boarding Assault Divisions currently training in his System Interface.

Another half year. Once he finished these projects, trained over a hundred million Auxilia personnel and over a million Special Operations Division troops, and selected the New Home National Policy, he intended to send the nobles to heaven one by one.

Whenever he thought of the various advanced technological equipment possessed by those nobles, especially fully autonomous AI and large numbers of automated machines, his anger flared.

They occupied so much advanced technology without using it for construction or production, and now they were causing trouble too. They deserved to die.

Meanwhile, the nobles Huron had been cursing gathered in the Spire Fortress of Valen Watt, the former planetary governor.

They had just received intelligence that the Astral Claws and the Ecclesiarchy had clashed repeatedly in the Underhive, with many casualties on both sides. They were now discussing how to exploit the matter to drive a wedge between them.

Marcus Salome, head of the Salome Family, was somewhat irritated. "I say we should lobby the Ecclesiarchy's upper ranks. Tell them the Astral Claws have desecrated the God-Emperor's faith and may be planning to rebel against the Empire. Have them contact other factions to investigate the Astral Claws. Better yet, draw the Inquisition here too."

Valen Watt shot him a disdainful look. "And then wait for the Astral Claws to go mad and kill us all? Or wait for an Inquisitor to arrive and kill us all? I know your family's Starch Guild has suffered heavy losses, but don't let rage cloud your head. Otherwise, you won't even be able to save your own life."

The Salome Family's core business was Starch Factories, and they had nearly monopolized the entire industry. Yet the Astral Claws had built gigantic Starch Factories and were now dumping starch onto the market at extremely low prices, even giving it away for free, causing the Salome Family devastating losses.

Klaus Vella, head of the Vella Family, seized the chance to make a suggestion. "Why not use this opportunity to curry favor with the Astral Claws' Chapter Master? Valen, hasn't your family raised quite a few devout and pure monks and Battle Sisters? Turn a few into dishes and serve them to Lufgt Huron. It might satisfy his anger over the Ecclesiarchy's insult."

As an old noble of Badab, Klaus knew quite a bit about the Astral Claws—or rather, Astartes. Those people were all extreme and stubborn, and they valued honor more than life itself.

The Ecclesiarchy had openly refused to show them respect. Chapter Master Lufgt Huron would never let it go. He would definitely retaliate.

In that case, if they turned some pure and devout followers of the Badab Ecclesiarchy into dishes for Huron, then thoroughly humiliated the local Ecclesiarchy at the banquet, wouldn't the relationship ease up?

Everyone should make money together. Why fight to the death?

"Indeed, I think Klaus makes a great deal of sense." Silas Mercer also voiced his support.

Valen looked at the two of them. The Vella Family's business was armed security, and the quality of its security personnel surpassed even that of PDF members. The Mercer Family's business was transport and logistics, and it controlled huge numbers of vehicles and personnel.

To ensure construction progress, the Astral Claws had signed numerous contracts with those two families and granted them substantial benefits. Naturally, the two families favored appeasement and compromise.

But Valen gave neither of them any face. "Idiots. Do you really think the two of you can sleep easy? They somehow produced so many administrators and registrars. Do you think they can't produce an army? And they're negotiating with the Adeptus Mechanicus to build Factories for various vehicles and rebuild the Hive City's roads. You don't honestly think you'll still be able to cooperate with them then, do you?"

Klaus clicked his tongue. "You're so capable, so figure out how to solve it yourself. I can't be bothered with this crap."

After saying that, he gave Valen no further face and left directly with the members of the Vella Family.

Silas also led the members of the Mercer Family away right behind him, disappearing through the fortress entrance.

Only after the great nobles had spoken did the remaining middle- and lower-ranking nobles begin arguing among themselves. Each controlled some minor industry—mechanical processing, energy equipment, usury, and so on—and their demands naturally differed. The hall soon became a cacophony.

If not for the Watt Family's considerable prestige, many of them would have wanted to leave with Klaus and Silas.

Oppose an Astartes Chapter? Did they have a death wish?

It had only been a little over half a year since the Astral Claws crushed the rebellious nobles. The memory was still fresh, and they knew the Astral Claws could kill them as easily as crushing chicks.

Doing business like this was fine already. Plotting against the Astral Claws? Just don't let the blood splash on me when the time comes.

After a day of turmoil, the meeting ended without result.

After Valen announced the adjournment, he immediately arranged for family members to select a beautiful, pure, and devout young female follower, process her as an ingredient, and use her to entertain guests at a banquet.

Did they really think he wanted to court death? He only wanted to bluff the other nobles and sell them for a good price.

Once he invited Huron as a guest, he would first gain favor through the Ecclesiarchy, then gain more favor through the other nobles. Wouldn't his family's position be secure then?

Huron couldn't possibly intend to exterminate all the nobles, could he? Impossible. Nothing like that had happened in the Empire for thousands of years.

Processing the follower would take another two or three months. During that time, he only needed to hold meetings every day, intimidate the other nobles, and keep them from selling him out first.

At the thought of the Watt Family reigning supreme alone for centuries to come, Valen could not stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

Being planetary governor was certainly splendid, but building a great family legacy was not bad either.