The Scales (2)

Han Mingxuan placed the scales in front of Sevatar, but Sevatar didn't move. He just looked at them.

Han Mingxuan sat quietly across from him. To be honest, he was nervous.

Sevatar was in a dangerous state right now.

If he worked it out, he would stand head and shoulders above others.

If he couldn't, he would go mad.

When that happened, the demon-suppressing ruler on Curze would be the first to snap in half.

"Uncle, perhaps people are complicated."

"What about human nature, then?"

"I still believe human nature is inherently good."

Phew!

There was no problem now.

Hearing Sevatar say that, Han Mingxuan breathed a sigh of relief.

If Sevatar had answered that human nature was inherently evil, Han Mingxuan would have had a headache.

One coolheaded, rational Shen was enough for the legion.

He needed Sevatar to become someone who was both passionate and rational.

"And then?" Han Mingxuan asked.

He didn't even notice the hint of a smile appearing on his own lips.

"But human nature isn't born good. Evil thoughts exist in the heart all the same."

Han Mingxuan said nothing, only looking at Sevatar encouragingly.

"So people need guidance, and even more than that, they need a standard."

"The benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness you taught me at the beginning are that standard, Uncle. Granted, it's a very high standard, but as long as someone strives toward it, they are human."

"What about people whose minds are full of evil thoughts?"

"They need guidance, and rules too. More than anything, they need... they need laws!"

"Those who break laws and flout discipline should be judged by the law. They should be educated, reformed, or... punished, even put to death!"

Good!

Now there really was no problem at all!

"Are you still lost, then?"

"No, Uncle. I've worked it out. Maybe, from the beginning until now, some of my decisions and ideas have been too weak for this planet."

"At this stage, we need conscience, but not too much of it. What we need more is law."

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Han Mingxuan couldn't help applauding, and Curze looked at Sevatar with a delighted expression too.

"Hahahaha! Good! Sevatar, you've done very well! I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"

Han Mingxuan gave Sevatar several hearty pats on the shoulder. "You're the first student I've taught in this world, and the best!"

"Uncle..."

Sevatar was stunned. He had never imagined Han Mingxuan held such high expectations of him.

"You scared me to death. I thought you wouldn't be able to work it out, kid. Good, very good! You can be taught, you really can!"

"I was going to use these scales to teach you if you couldn't see your way through it, but it looks like you understood without my help. You've done very well!"

Seeing Han Mingxuan's unmistakable pride and excitement, Sevatar even felt a little contempt for himself.

Uncle had held high expectations of him from the beginning, but what about him?

He had been indecisive.

"Uncle, can I keep these scales?"

"Of course." Laughing heartily, Han Mingxuan placed the scales in Sevatar's hands.

"I'm glad you've come to this understanding. Go on, take what you've learned and give the entire Hive City a new face."

"Understood, Uncle."

Sevatar and Curze left Han Mingxuan's room, both happy as they went.

"Good lad, you've finally worked it out."

"Boss, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"In Dad's words, you remember it best when you work it out for yourself."

That did seem to make sense.

[Truly an admirable achievement.]

Inside Curze's mind, the Night Haunter, who had watched the whole process, offered his heartfelt praise.

[Of course. My dad is very capable.]

[Heh, yes.]

The Night Haunter had watched the whole process, and he too was deep in thought.

He hoped this world's Eighth Legion would have a different future.

Having set his mind in order, Sevatar went into an extremely efficient mode.

Even his squadmates found it a little strange.

"Sevatar, are you all right?"

"How could anything be wrong? I've never felt better."

Ever since working it out, Sevatar had become the purest supporter of the Nine Laws of the Night Bat.

He showed no mercy at all.

With the purge proceeding so efficiently, most of the lower hive and Underhive had been cleared out in less than a year.

The remaining areas were high-risk zones.

They couldn't deal with them for the time being. They would have to wait until later.

After the purge, Han Mingxuan received all the data. One glance left him feeling suffocated.

"This world really is bizarre."

In this plague-ridden, damned world, law-abiding citizens had actually become a rare breed.

He had to admit, this Warhammer World really was a cesspit.

GW really did pull these numbers out of its ass.

All they had to do was fill in the numbers, while he had far too many things to consider.

Damn it!

Their consciences were rotten to the core!

Over a billion people had been dealt with under the Nine Laws of the Night Bat.

As for the rest, most had been exiled.

The total number of exiles had reached three billion!

Yes, three billion people had been exiled.

Those left, including people sentenced to labor reform and those willing to carry on with their lives, numbered fewer than a billion.

All told, people who could be called law-abiding citizens had actually become a rare breed in this Hive City.

"Curze, what are your plans next?"

"Father, I'm thinking we should wait for a while first."

"Wait for what?"

"Wait until most of the exiles in the wasteland are dead before we make our move. I've also sent people to the Fourth Hive City."

"It's the transportation hub for all of Nostramo. As long as we control it, our next moves will be much easier."

He really was worthy of being a Primarch. Curze's mind was working better and better now.

He could already handle multiple problems at once.

There were vast numbers of exiles in the wasteland. Once the environment killed them off, it would be bad news for the other Hive Cities.

At the very least, ninety percent of the transportation routes on Nostramo's surface would be disrupted because of them.

The connections between the five Hive Cities were already weak, and sometimes they would break off relations and go to war at the drop of a hat.

Now the existing connections would simply be severed.

As long as they also took control of the Fourth Hive City, the problems with the remaining Hive Cities would soon be resolved.

"Mm. What about the nobles?"

"As for the nobles, I plan to strike while the iron is hot and start dealing with them now."

"If we don't deal with them now, then once we begin large-scale operations against the other Hive Cities,"

"Those vermin will become obstacles in our path."

"There's nothing wrong with your plan. Go ahead and do it."

Now that the Primarch was coming into his own, Han Mingxuan's retirement was approaching much faster than before.

"Dad, I have a suggestion."

"What is it?"

"Maybe... you could go take a look around the other parts of the Hive City?"

"It's not as if I've never been out. It's all artificial domes and artificial light sources. What's there to see?"

"I mean, you could build good relations with the other Upper Hive nobles. Besides, our legion is on the right track now."

"You could take a break, Dad, and do something you want to do."

Something he wanted to do?