The Backdoor Attack

The next day,

"Everyone, take this planet and proclaim your deeds and glory to the world."

"In the darkness, only the law endures! Beneath the thunder, the rebels shall fall!"

"Move out!"

"Night Haunter."

"I'm here."

"I hope we can work together in good faith."

"Heh, work together in good faith."

Curze's forces emphasized high mobility and the most efficient means of assassination and intimidation.

Given the size of their current force, they were actually ideal.

Their departure from Quintus Hive City was completely silent.

No one knew where these judges of the night had gone, and no one sensed anything amiss.

Everyone infiltrated through the underground transport network, heading for Fourth Hive City as fast as possible.

After reaching the designated location, Curze immediately contacted Talos.

"Grand Inquisitor."

"Hmm. How are things?"

"We have effectively taken control of Fourth Hive City, and used it as a base to infiltrate Third and Second Hive Cities."

"Our results so far: Fourth Hive City is under control, we've infiltrated 30% of Third Hive City's Mid Hive, and 28% of Second Hive City."

Curze looked at Talos in surprise.

He had actually been focusing his attention on Sevatar and Shen all along.

But Talos's ability was truly unexpected.

Then again, anyone Father had invited to join the family dinner was no ordinary person.

Compared with Father's wisdom, you still have much to learn.

The Night Haunter's voice rang out in Curze's mind at just the right moment.

He was right.

"Talos, stay in Fourth Hive City and keep an eye on developments at all times. Everyone else, regroup here, then set out for First Hive City."

"Understood!"

With the solid foundation Talos had laid, the entire operation sped up considerably.

On the way from Fourth Hive City to First Hive City, Curze spared no effort in conquering territory.

A strange phenomenon began to spread across the planet.

The Eternal Night Justiciars had left Quintus Hive City, and they were appearing in other Hive Cities-at the same time!

Yes, the army Curze led was moving too fast.

In the Hive Cities' snail-paced communications network, the Eternal Night Justiciar Legion had appeared in different places at the same time!

"What do we do now?"

In First Hive City's Upper Hive District, all the nobles and oligarchs had gathered to discuss a response.

"This Bat of Eternal Night killed the Adeptus Mechanicus's Archmagos in Quintus. Perhaps we can join forces with the Adeptus Mechanicus."

"Join forces with the Adeptus Mechanicus? Haven't those Tech-priests picked this place clean enough already?!"

"Everyone, this is no time to argue. We need to stand united if we're going to resolve our current predicament."

A gray-haired old man holding a walking stick spoke in a strong voice in the conference room.

"Mr. Vasavin, do you have an idea?"

"Yes. In this moment of life and death, we need to sacrifice the tail to save ourselves."

"Sacrifice the tail? Forgive me for speaking frankly, Mr. Vasavin, but have you been frightened out of your wits?"

"Heh. Take a look at this."

The old man tossed a Dataslate onto the table, and its image was projected into the air.

It showed the wasteland outside Quintus, where something was writhing.

"Are those bugs?"

A nobleman frowned at the image, his face turning a little pale.

"Those are people."

"People?"

"Yes. They're all people the Bat of Eternal Night drove out of Quintus Hive City. A rough estimate puts their number at two billion."

"According to the latest intelligence, half of them have already died in the wasteland."

"And have you noticed? In the image we're looking at, we can't see a single corpse."

"Then... where are the corpses?"

"Here."

Blech!

Blech!

Blech!

As the image changed, everyone present began to vomit uncontrollably.

They saw mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

Mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the literal sense!

"He... he's a demon!"

In that moment, fear began to surge through the conference room.

It was like an underground river suddenly breached with a pickaxe: water erupted under enormous pressure, engulfing the entire conference room in an instant.

In the waters of that underground river flowed endless blood, permeated by unparalleled terror.

The only sounds in the conference room were breathing and thumping heartbeats, like Death beating a strange rhythm on a drum.

"Please forgive my presumption, Grand Duke Vasavin."

Vasavin sat to one side, looking at the nobles, who had fallen silent with fear.

"A long life of comfort has left you unable to think or judge for yourselves."

"Everyone here is a true master of this planet, descended from its noblest bloodlines."

"As for the person who is turning the other Hive Cities upside down at this very moment, he isn't a devil. He's a lowborn, a terrorist."

"We need to stand united."

"Contact the leadership of the other Hive Cities outside Quintus Hive City immediately. We need to join forces."

Although communications between the Hive Cities were weak at present, they needed to cooperate at a time like this.

Only then could they kill that terrorist!

As First Hive City prepared to contact people in the other Hive Cities to deal with Curze, changes were also taking place in Quintus Hive City.

It was the third day after Curze's departure.

"Uncle, someone has come to visit," Sevatar said.

To keep Han Mingxuan safe, Curze had left Sevatar behind.

"Who?"

"The head of the Tempatio Family."

Pationa?

"What does she want?"

"She says it's about the code of law, and that she has some questions she'd like to ask."

Oh?

"Should I turn her away?"

"No. If we refuse the family head's request, it will cause trouble."

"It would be like telling the outside world outright that once the Eternal Night Justiciar Legion leaves, we become easy prey."

"That wouldn't be good for us."

"Sevatar."

"Yes, Uncle."

"Starting today, anyone who wants to visit can come in, as long as they have a legitimate reason. There's no need to stop them."

"But that would put you in extreme danger."

Sevatar's task was to protect Han Mingxuan. If anything happened to him, Sevatar would feel that even taking his own life wouldn't atone for it.

"Heh. We have the final say in the Hive City now. One Tempatio can't stir up much trouble."

Sevatar went out and led Pationa inside, and Han Mingxuan simply watched her.

Pationa had changed her outfit this time. It was still in shades of purple, but it did look somewhat fresh and elegant.

Mm, she really was a clothes hanger. She looked good in anything.

"Please sit, Family Head Tempatio."

"Please forgive my unannounced visit, Father of Night."

"It's nothing. I hear you still have some doubts about certain provisions of the code?"

"Yes, Father of Night. I have some questions I'd like to ask."

"Sevatar, explain them to Family Head Tempatio. I'll listen in, and see whether you've been keeping up with your studies lately."

"Yes!"

Huh?

That wasn't right.