Governing the Hive City Begins

"Sevatar, show him."

Sevatar nodded and handed Shen the list of everyone who had been killed.

"What do you say?"

"Reporting, Uncle, I think too few were killed."

"Willing to call me Uncle now?"

"Yes, Uncle."

Han Mingxuan nodded. "You'll preside over the meeting from here on. Sevatar will assist you."

"I don't ask much of you: kill some, arrest some, and bring some under control."

"Exactly how many you kill, arrest, and control is up to you."

"Any problems?"

"None!"

Han Mingxuan then left, closing the door behind him.

The young men would surely handle things in there just fine.

The meeting lasted three hours. During that time, orders were passed out of the meeting room one after another.

They could be summed up in a single sentence.

Arrest people, behead them, and confiscate their property.

A very efficient course of action.

In less than three days, the resources at Curze's disposal had grown by multiples.

"What do you think?"

"Shen is very capable."

"Of course he is. Put him to good use and you won't regret it."

He was the Eighth Legion's last conscience. Not capable? Impossible.

With those nobles dealt with, the riots throughout Quintus Hive City had also subsided.

Only now could the Hive City's construction truly be put on the agenda.

As the saying went, start over from scratch: clean the house before inviting guests in.

The first step in construction was, without a doubt, the Scouring.

An extremely bloody Scouring at that.

A great many Quintus nobles had been thoroughly purged. Those who remained were either officials from the mid-hive who had been upright to begin with,

or puppets who had been scared out of their wits.

But the purge was far from over. It was only the beginning.

The fear brought by the night bat had far-reaching effects, and an eerie calm settled over the entire hive, from top to bottom.

Half a month later, Han Mingxuan summoned all the nobles again.

Every noble attending had lived through the whole Scouring. Now, when they looked at Han Mingxuan, their eyes were filled with endless fear.

There was no longer the slightest hint of testing him or looking down on him.

"Everyone, it's been half a month. I hope you've settled your family affairs."

"Honored Father of Night, we are ready and await your orders at all times."

Father of Night?

Tsk, tsk. Nobles, all right.

They really knew how to flatter people. There was no denying it.

"My son is clearing the parasites out of the mid-hive and the Underhive. As his father, I can't hold him back. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Perfectly, respected Father of Night. We are willing to serve as your vanguard."

It seemed killing people and sending heads rolling the first time had been a necessary measure. Good.

"Next, I'll be conducting a large-scale crackdown on crime, with no time limit."

To the nobles present, Han Mingxuan's words meant just one thing.

I haven't killed enough yet. Now I'm starting an indefinite, bloody Scouring.

As for whether this counted as the Scouring...

Of course it did!

Not only did it count, it would also go on for a long time.

But this purge was different from those before it, and completely different from the terror purge in the original story.

The original purge had been intended to spread fear, so everyone would know fear and be easier to rule.

This time, what the purge spread was not fear, but law.

"Next, I have an announcement to make."

Even the nobles present, who had lived through those bloody, terrifying hours half a month ago, felt their legs tremble now.

This Father of Night only looked gentle. In truth, he was even more terrifying than his son!

The bat of eternal night only killed key targets.

The other opportunists and ambitious schemers could still live. In fact, that was how the first purge, led by Shen, had gone.

After that purge, the nobles had gradually gathered and investigated information about Han Mingxuan.

They discovered that this Father of Night upheld the law.

Yes, he upheld the law.

Ha!

How ridiculous!

In the Nostramo of old, there had been gangs, oligarchs, nobles, ambitious schemers, opportunists, two-faced people, fence-sitters, and all manner of others.

But now?

Law.

It was terrifying to them!

One simple word, and the pressure was crushing.

Han Mingxuan had Shen bring out a book.

"According to the joint review and approval of the great Master of Mankind and the Imperial Adeptus Arbites..."

Wonderful, it's Imperial law. We can still be saved.

"Shen, who told you to bring this kind of toilet paper over?"

Wh... what?

Toilet paper?

"Uncle, this is the most authoritative and systematic legal code in the Imperium to date. It covers everything, down to the smallest detail."

Ah, I forgot these kids all came from gangs and don't have much education.

Never mind. I'll teach them from the beginning, bit by bit.

"Shen, you did very well last time, but under the present circumstances, it wasn't quite appropriate."

"I didn't think it through either. Now I'll teach you slowly. The first principle is: troubled times call for harsh laws."

"Troubled times call for harsh laws?"

At those words, the nobles' faces changed color.

Shen, the gang kid who knew nothing but killing, didn't know what it meant, but the nobles present understood Han Mingxuan's meaning.

Decimation!

In this blighted world, it was the most common and effective method nobles used to manage their private soldiers.

Han Mingxuan had thought of that too, but he didn't say so outright.

He couldn't let the bat boys pick up the bad habit of decimation.

"The law is harsh, but it is the law."

"That's all you need to understand. I'll handle the rest, and you can watch and learn. As for the specifics and implementation, those are still up to you. Understand?"

"Yes, Uncle."

Shen was excited now, but he wasn't flustered. He focused all his attention on every word Han Mingxuan said next.

"Everyone, I'm going to announce some laws now, nine in all. Shen, write them down."

Hearing this, Shen quickly took out paper and pen and prepared to record them at the side.

"Everyone, I won't say much. Just nine rules."

"The method is simple. Three rules for beheading."

"Anyone who willingly takes, manufactures, or sells hallucinogens or stimulants of any kind: kill them.

"Anyone with more than one life on their hands: kill them.

"Anyone who committed every kind of evil during the riots, but only preyed on civilians: kill them."

"Next are three rules for arrest and exile."

"Those who didn't commit any heinous acts during the riots, but only smashed, looted, and robbed: exile them to the wasteland if the amount was large, and arrest them if it wasn't."

"Those who oppressed laborers and caused deaths before the riots: exile them to the wasteland. Those who didn't cause deaths but inflicted serious harm: arrest them."

"Anyone who disturbed public order, engaged in profiteering, or forced someone into prostitution and caused their death: exile them to the wasteland. Arrest those whose offenses were less serious."

"Finally, placement and reform."

"Those who are numb and heartless beyond saving: execute them."

"Gang members who can still be saved and sincerely repent: reform them through labor."

"Law-abiding civilians and homeless people who still want to go on living: educate them, then assign them jobs."

"Does anyone have any objections?"

Only the sounds of rapid breathing and pounding hearts filled the meeting room.

"Praise your wisdom, great Father of Night."

Han Mingxuan nodded and reached out to pick up what Shen had written down.

Shen stood straight, like a soldier undergoing inspection.

"Nicely written. You handle the remaining details of implementation."