Rena's voice instantly echoed in Lynn's mind, filled with unprecedented vigilance and disgust.
" Lynn, the humans on that ship... are dangerous."
"Their presence stung my Psychic Power."
" The Hive Mind and their aura are completely at odds; I cannot infiltrate their vicinity."
Lynn's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she silently replied, "I know, it's Sisters of Silence, the Black Ship of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica has arrived."
"Those marks on the ice field..."
"I've already had them clean it up." Lynn's calm tone reassured Rena.
"Don't worry, as long as we don't deliberately expose ourselves, they won't find anything."
"But during this time, you and all Tyranids units must conceal all Psychic Power fluctuations and absolutely must not reveal yourselves."
"Okay." Rena's voice lowered, but she remained vigilant.
Just then, a deafening roar of an engine came from behind.
The dark gold and burgundy Victory-class Battleship, the Gemstone, sailed into the largest berth in the main starport.
Lynn's suspicions about the fleet leader's origins grew stronger.
Seeing this behemoth up close amplifies the sense of oppression tenfold.
Even the most exquisite appearance of those massively Macro-cannon could not prevent their destructive nature.
The luxurious jewel decorations on the ship's hull did not diminish its warlike atmosphere; on the contrary, they highlighted the unfathomable wealth and power of its owner.
To be able to build a capital battleship like this, you couldn't find many families in the entire Segmentum Obscurus, or even the entire Imperium.
The heavy airlock door slammed down with a loud hiss, and white gas gushed out from both sides of the door.
A series of synchronized metallic stomping sounds rang out.
A dozen elite guards, dressed in sophisticated dark gold Power Armour, were the first to step out of the hatch.
Their Power Armour is inlaid with the same gems as the Gemstone, and every detail is exquisitely crafted.
However, key areas are covered with thick, Adamantium armor, perfectly blending luxury and practicality.
The Power Armour worn by these guards alone is of far superior quality to the exquisite Power Armour that the leaders of the various guilds in Brevis jointly crafted for Lynn.
Armed with Boltgun, they moved in perfect unison, their eyes resolute, and quickly set up a cordon on both sides of the hatch.
The aura of battle-hardened warrior emanating from him was overwhelming.
Even Lynn's most elite Vanguard veterans paled in comparison to these guards.
Immediately afterwards, a young man slowly walked out of the cabin.
He was wearing a set of elaborate, finely crafted Power Armour in the same color scheme as the Gemstone, with his helmet removed and tucked under his left arm.
He had fiery red hair, handsome features, and fair skin, yet he showed none of the frailty often associated with noblemen.
His eyes were filled with sharpness and arrogance, carrying the indifference of someone who had long held a high position, as well as the heroic and ruthless aura of a seasoned general.
He was tall and strong, and even without his Power Armour, his physique, honed through countless hours of training, was clearly visible.
Beside him stood a woman clad in pure black, precision-engineered Power Armour.
She was tall, with a signature high ponytail that extended from her helmet and hung down her back.
Her face was hidden beneath a mask, revealing only a pair of cold, emotionless gray eyes.
She exuded a chilling aura that could freeze one's soul, a trait unique to the " Blanks."
Just by standing there, the atmospheric pressure around us dropped by several hectopascals.
Beside Lynn, Isolde could feel the Psychic Power within him surging and retreating uncontrollably, as if it had encountered a natural enemy.
Even the connection with Rena's main body has weakened somewhat.
Fortunately, the connection method used by this "doll" was extremely special, and the other party did not notice anything amiss.
Lynn immediately recognized her.
The Sisters of Silence, the master of the Black Ship, and the Doomsayer, Ralfa.
He took a deep breath, suppressed all his emotions, and took the initiative to step forward.
Faced with an absolute disparity in strength, any arrogance is tantamount to self-destruction.
He bowed slightly, performing a standard Imperium noble's salute, his tone calm and respectful:
"Welcome, esteemed guests, from afar. I am Kerry Von, the Planetary Governor of Brevis."
After speaking, he extended his hand, intending to express his friendliness by shaking hands.
But the red-haired young man merely glanced at his outstretched hand, showing no intention of responding.
His eyes were filled with disdain and indifference towards the Sector Governor.
In his view, these Planetary Governor who occupied the edge of the galaxy were nothing more than insects who rose to power through connections and were only interested in indulging in pleasure.
I am not even qualified to be his equal, let alone shake hands and become friends with him.
His voice was magnetic, carrying an undeniable forcefulness and arrogance:
"I am Dominic Ventria, the highest-ranking officer in charge of this Tithe collection fleet, the tax collector of the Imperium Department of Internal Affairs, and concurrently a Rear Admiral of the Imperial Navy."
Ventria.
Upon hearing this surname, Lynn's pupils contracted slightly.
really.
His guess was correct.
Ventria, a renowned gem world within the Imperium, is a planet known for its extreme wealth and fierce martial spirit.
It is rich in the finest gems in the entire galaxy, making it a top-tier material for crafting laser weapons.
Through the continuous trade in gemstones, they accumulated wealth that is unimaginable to ordinary people.
Furthermore, through the gem trade, they have close ties with the Adeptus Mechanicus on Mars, enabling them to obtain top-tier war equipment from the Adeptus Mechanicus.
The nobles of Ventria were outliers within the Imperium aristocracy.
Unlike the nobles of other star systems who indulge in debauchery, they highly value military strength, and every noble child undergoes the most rigorous military training from a young age.
Their customs are quite similar to those of some Terra and Nordic regions, where scars and glory are considered essential to a man's dignity.
If a Ventria nobleman only indulges in pleasure, he will never be able to hold his head high in his hometown.
Only young Ventria men who had served in the military, achieved considerable merit, and bore a few scars.
Only then are they qualified to sit at the table drinking and bragging after returning to their hometown.
Therefore, the noble army of Ventria is the pinnacle of the entire Imperium Astra Militarum.
He's a top-tier player who's both skilled in combat and willing to spend money on in-game purchases.
Their equipment was extremely luxurious, their soldiers were highly trained, and their fighting spirit far surpassed that of ordinary Astra Militarum units.
Lynn had no doubt about the fighting strength of the fleet behind Dominic.
Those warships must have been meticulously modified masterpieces by the Adeptus Mechanicus, and those soldiers must have been brave warriors with high fighting spirit.
The true strength of this fleet is definitely not as "showy but impractical" as it appears.
Dominic ignored the change in Lynn's eyes and continued in his cold tone:
"I have come here to collect the Imperium Tithe from the planet Brevis for three fiscal years: M40.815, M40.998, and M40.999."
"The categories of requisitions include: manpower, weapons and equipment, food, and all strategic materials produced on Brevis."
Three years?
Lynn's lips twitched involuntarily, and it took a lot of effort to keep her inner complaints from being voiced.
He was prepared for the Tithe of M40.998 and M40.999 to be paid on time, as the previous governor had died in a Orks attack and Brevis had been unable to pay due to years of war.
But where did this Tithe of M40.815 come from?!
That's an old debt from nearly two hundred years ago!
The Administratum has actually dug up old accounts from two hundred years ago. In which year did the Tithe Fleet go missing?