Dominic put down the last investigation report in his hand and yawned.
Sunlight streamed through the thick bulletproof glass, dancing on his fiery red hair, but it couldn't dispel the boredom that lingered between his brows.
He was already tired of the nobles' insults, and the commoners' praise was also to his surprise.
Kerry von was indeed a rare and good governor, but that did not change the fact that Tithe had to be paid.
It couldn't dispel the pent-up frustration that had accumulated in my heart after half a year of Warp travel.
But just now, his finger traced the edge of the Dataslate, and his gaze fell on an attachment labeled "folk rumors".
That was the most outlandish legend about Kerry von that investigators had collected in the Lower City.
Dragon of Frost.
Dominic's eyes flickered slightly, showing interest.
During the investigation of Kerry Von, the Dragon of Frost was almost unavoidable; the army and wildlings alike would mention the creature.
Legend has it that it is an ancient creature born deep within the ice plains, possessing the power to control ice and snow, and is the guardian of the planet Brevis.
Only those truly chosen by the planet can gain its recognition.
He initially thought it was just a myth to fool children.
However, the appendix to the investigation clearly states that in the early days of Kerry von's tenure, everyone thought he was also an incompetent governor.
The turning point came at a meeting when Kerry von disregarded the interests and reputation of the Noble Council and formed the Vanguard.
On his first campaign, when he went to the front lines of Brevis Forbidden Wall to fight the Orks.
He became separated from the main force and was attacked by radical savages who had been bribed by the nobles.
A million barbarian cavalrymen set out to surround and kill Kerry von.
Just as his life hung by a thread, a giant dragon, entirely blue, descended from the sky.
Having stopped a million cavalrymen, in a fit of rage, the million barbarian cavalrymen instantly turned into ice sculptures.
"To single-handedly annihilate a million savage cavalry..." Dominic muttered to himself, his fingers gently stroking his chin.
He had witnessed the power of the Space Marine and the might of the Titan God-Machine, but could a legendary dragon achieve such a feat?
More importantly, this rumor spread widely throughout Brevis, from scavengers in the Lower City to workers in the Midtown, and even many nobles in the Uptown believed it without a doubt.
They all say that Dragon of Frost's approval is Brevis's approval.
Kerry Von was able to turn the tide in six months because he was the chosen one selected by the Dragon of Frost.
It was thanks to this legend that he was able to successfully subdue the unruly Brevis savage.
"Interesting." Dominic's eyes lit up.
His grandfather was the dean of the Star Sector Schola Progenium, and was obsessed with the ancient legends and historical sites of various planets throughout his life.
When he was a child, his grandfather liked to tell him all sorts of stories about alien creatures on other planets.
Influenced by his grandfather from a young age, he also became interested in these mythical creatures of historical significance.
His private collection room is filled with specimens of legendary creatures collected from various planets.
A desert beetle from Armageddon, the larvae of the Catachan Devil, and even a small piece of Tyranids.
If the Dragon of Frost, such a unique mythical creature, truly exists in Brevis's collection, then it would undoubtedly be the most dazzling piece in his career.
Besides, he's genuinely bored right now.
The fleet's repairs will take at least several more months to complete, Tithe issue can be put on hold for now.
Rather than getting moldy in the reception area, why not try your luck on the ice field?
"Someone come here!" Dominic called out towards the door.
"My lord." The captain of the guard immediately entered.
"Get ready, we're going to the ice field." Dominic stood up, stretched his limbs, and his eyes were full of excitement.
"I need to go find that so-called Dragon of Frost."
The captain of the guard's expression changed instantly.
"My lord, the ice plains are too dangerous! Not only are there Orks, but also ferocious wild beasts and harsh weather."
"Besides, we're not familiar with the terrain, what if..."
"There's no 'what if'," Dominic interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"I'm not going on a picnic."
"Pass on my order: have the priests provide me with a Baneblade Super-Heavy Tank as a transport vehicle, and also have the Third Thunderbolt Fighter Squadron patrol and guard the skies over the ice plains."
"Also bring a squad of the Sisters of Silence, and my personal guard squad."
The captain of the guard opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more, but seeing Dominic's determined eyes, he swallowed his words in the end.
"Yes, sir."
Half an hour later, a hunting team that appeared to be streamlined but was actually extremely luxurious set off from the starport and flew towards the Brevis Ice Plain.
A Baneblade Super-Heavy Tank, painted in dark gold and burgundy, left deep ruts in the icy plains.
At the front of the tank, Dominic rode a six-legged, red, alien mount.
It was a creature that Dominic found on a planet with incredible gravity; it was not only adapted to all kinds of harsh environments, but also incredibly fast.
He was dressed in a light, high-tech Power Armour, carrying Lasgun made in Ventria, and his red cloak stood out against the snow.
Behind him, twelve elite Ventria guards rode high-powered motorcycles, spreading out in a fan shape, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
Each guard's Power Armour and weapons are top-of-the-line models.
Further in the sky, twelve Thunderbolt Heavy Fighter roared past, leaving white contrails and bringing the entire airspace under surveillance.
Sisters of Silence Ralfa rode alongside Dominic on a motorcycle.
She was dressed in pure black " Vratine Armour," with a face shield covering her face, leaving only her cold gray eyes visible, alertly sensing everything around her.
Ralfa sighed helplessly to himself.
She's been with Dominic for five years.
Outsiders all assumed that she had come to help him collect the Psychic Power Tithe.
But only she knew that her true mission was to protect Dominic.
Dominic Ventria is not only the legitimate son of a duke in the Ventria Family, but also a key figure personally selected and groomed by the High Lord of Terra Imperium.
He was exceptionally talented and became a rear admiral in the Imperial Navy at a young age, repeatedly making outstanding contributions in the battles against Chaos and Xenos.
But precisely because of this, he became a thorn in the side of certain Chaos forces.
Adeptus Astra Telepathica sent her here to prevent him from being corrupted by Chaos and to protect his safety.
But this young master is just too much of a troublemaker.
After six months of waiting for its Warp journey, it became restless as soon as it landed.
The Tithe issue hasn't been resolved yet, and they're already thinking about going to the ice plains to find some mythical creature.
But she didn't know what to say.
All she could do was stay by his side and ensure his safety.
" Ralfa, do you think dragons really exist in this world?"
Dominic turned his head to look at the Sisters of Silence beside him and asked excitedly.
Ralfa didn't speak, but simply shook his head slightly.
She raised her hand and gestured: [Be careful, the ice field is dangerous.]
"Don't worry." Dominic smiled and patted the Power Axe at his waist.
"With you here, and so many elite guards, and besides, I'm not that stupid."
Seeing his excited expression, Ralfa remained silent, but instead became even more vigilant in sensing the surrounding Psychic Power fluctuations.
She could sense that deep within this icy plain, there lurked an extremely faint, extremely cold aura.
The aura was strange; it was neither the corruption of Chaos, nor the wildness of the Orks, nor human Psychic Power.
It is like the ice field itself: ancient, cold, and silent.
Could it be... that dragons really exist?