"I don't know how you found out, but you'd better not lie to me."
Dominic finally stopped wiping the bull's horns. He looked up, and his red eyes did not show the sense of crisis Lynn had imagined in the face of the Orks.
Instead, it evoked the excitement of a hunter discovering the perfect prey.
It seems that what's about to happen isn't an invasion of hundreds of millions of Orks, but rather a long-awaited hunt.
Lynn was about to say something, but then shut his mouth.
His prepared explanation of the difficulties in defending Brevis and his request for support from the Imperial Fleet were now stuck in his throat.
Judging from the opponent's current state, they seem extremely eager for a fight?
He was afraid of saying the wrong thing and affecting the other person's decision, so he decided to keep quiet.
Lynn simply nodded in the end and said in a deep voice, "The intelligence is absolutely true."
" Ragnar's main fleet has been at sea for three days. At its normal speed, it will arrive at the Carl II orbit in four days."
"Understood." Dominic resumed fiddling with the bull's horns, saying nothing more.
The message to leave was clear, so Lynn didn't linger and turned to walk out the door.
Stepping out of the VIP reception area, a cold wind carrying the smell of engine oil from Star Harbor hit him, and Lynn finally snapped out of his daze.
He boarded his private transport plane, leaned back in his seat, and frowned deeply.
Dominic's attitude was very strange.
It was so strange that it made him feel uneasy.
What exactly is he trying to do?
Is it really just that he simply enjoys fighting?
The transport plane flew through the chaotic blizzard toward the governor's mansion.
The Hive City still bustling, but Lynn's mind was in complete turmoil.
He had to make a decision quickly, one that would determine the fate of Carl II.
Upon returning to the governor's mansion, Lynn did not linger for a moment and rushed straight into the governor's office.
The office was brightly lit, and a huge star map floated in mid-air, densely marked with Calixis's troop deployments and flight path information.
Rena, in her pink Ripper form, was perched on the edge of the star map, listlessly poking at the light spot representing Carl II with her tiny claws.
Upon seeing Lynn enter, it immediately jumped up and nestled into Lynn's arms.
" Lynn, you're back! What did Dominic say? Is he willing to help us fight the Orks?"
Lynn carried the Ripper, walked to the star map, and placed it on the table.
He picked up a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.
"I don't know." Lynn exhaled a smoke ring.
He didn't say anything, only that I shouldn't lie to him.
"Huh?" The Ripper tilted its head, looking puzzled.
What does that mean? Is he going to help or not?
"I don't know either, that's the most troublesome part."
He walked to the star map and traced his finger back and forth between Carl II and Brevis.
"Now, we have two choices." Lynn's voice unconsciously became somewhat heavy.
"The first option is to abandon Carl II without firing a single shot."
"Immediately recall Gus and the expeditionary fleet, and as before, wage a protracted war against the Orks using orbital defenses and the Forbidden Wall."
"No!" the Ripper immediately objected.
" Lynn fought so hard to take down Carl II, how can we just give up like this?"
Rena didn't care whether Carl II was important to humanity; she only knew that Lynn had worked very hard to conquer it.
"I know," Lynn sighed.
"But this is the safest option. If we abandon Carl II, given the Orks ' nature, they won't get enough combat experience."
"They will definitely choose to continue their advance and launch an attack on Brevis."
"By then, Dominic won't even have the chance to watch the show."
"But what if the Orks, after capturing Carl II, don't attack Brevis and instead remain inactive?"
"Then we just lost Carl II for nothing?" Ripper said unwillingly.
Lynn patted the Ripper's head with some relief; it was what he had been most worried about.
Dominic's fleet was powerful, but he was there to collect taxes, not to fight for Brevis.
Without sufficient incentive, he could very well sit back and watch the two sides fight.
"And what's the second option?" the Ripper asked.
"The second option is to hold out for the Carl II." Lynn tapped on the details of the expeditionary fleet guarding the Carl II.
"At the same time, send all of Brevis's main fleet there to fight Ragnar's fleet to the death."
"No way!" This time it was Lynn's turn to deny it.
"But that's too risky. Our fleet has just been through the Battle of Carl II and hasn't had enough rest and replenishment."
" Ragnar's Orks fleet outnumbers ours by at least five times. If we fight them head-on, our fleet will likely be completely annihilated."
"And what if Dominic still doesn't make a move?" Lynn's eyes were filled with worry.
"If he stays on the sidelines with his fleet, waiting until we're almost done fighting the Orks, then comes out to reap the rewards."
"At that point, Brevis, having lost its fleet for self-defense, will be completely finished."
Both options have fatal flaws.
As long as Dominic chooses to "watch the show," they, unable to utilize the power of the Tyranids, can only watch helplessly as Brevis declines.
Lynn stubbed out his cigarette in frustration, then lit another one; the ashtray was already overflowing with cigarette butts.
Lynn felt too passive; she didn't like that feeling.
The initiative is in Dominic's hands.
For him, all he could do was gamble.
Dominic is truly a warmonger who can disregard responsibility and profit.
Just when Lynn was at his wit's end, his private encrypted communicator suddenly rang.
This communicator was reserved solely for communication with Inquisitor Sorine.
Lynn's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pressed the answer button.
"Hey, Sorine, what's wrong?"
" Dominic is gone." Sorine's cold voice came through the communicator, but with a hint of surprise.
"Gone?" Lynn was also somewhat surprised. "Where did they go?"
"It should be Carl II," Sorine's voice regained its calm.
"Just one hour after you left the reception area, he set off with all the warships whose hull damage did not exceed 30%."
" Of the Tithe Fleet, only the Black Ship and four escort ships remained, while one cruiser continued repairs at Starport."
" The Gemstone went along too."
"What?" Lynn slammed the cigarette butt down hard on the table, making a hissing sound.
"What did you say? He took the main fleet to the Carl II?"
"Yes," Sorine said affirmatively.
"I'm currently aboard the Gemstone, following them. They're using a conventional route, which is how I determined their course."
Lynn was a little dazed; she was still figuring out what to do when Dominic had already moved in.
And without any conditions or requirements, they simply led their main fleet to the Carl II on their own initiative?
This was something Lynn, who had been immersed in the intrigues and power struggles of officialdom ever since she transmigrated here, never expected.
It took Lynn a full half minute to finally come to her senses.
He couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha~"
" Lynn? What's wrong?" Ripper looked at him worriedly. "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing, I just didn't expect it to turn out like this." Lynn's tone was full of relief.
"Is he perhaps a Khorne Cultist? "Lynn thought to himself.
Then he shook his head, after all, there were quite a few people like Chao Xiong among those who believed in you, Emperor.