Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 355 Rewarding the Wandering Merchants
In the fourth month of 842, the fleet of the Eleventh Legion arrived in Moab.

Inside the Primarch Palace of the Shadow of the Throne, Nimrod listened with a smile to Per Koscielny's report.

With the capture of Moab, the Eleventh Legion now controls the entire transportation hub of the Colony Abyss.

In Nimrod's memory, Moab had always been a transportation hub for the Metu United Empire.

Even after the Empire established the new Colony district and the Abyss Port was built, Moab remained the second largest hub planet in the region, serving as a crucial transit point between the Cyclops Cluster and Manach.

"My lord, as of now, the Eleventh Legion has lost 2,560 Shadow Order members."

"More than two thousand of them died in the battle to capture Moab."

Ning Lu's eyes darkened. The 11th Regiment participated in the "First Randan War," and its losses were replenished after the war, bringing its total number to over 20,000.

After suffering the worst losses in history, the number of people has fallen to 17,900.

[It will take two to three rounds of new recruits to restore the number to 20,000.]
While Nimrod pondered, Per continued his briefing:
"After testing in the Void War, the improved Randan fake reading technology device has been successfully verified, and the Mitu people cannot detect our disguise."

After a moment's thought, Ninglu spoke:
"Your battle group has suffered significant losses and is no longer suited for direct combat."

"I have decided to entrust Hurricane Star to you. Utilize the advantages of the modified warships to clear out the surrounding area with the Mitu warships and take control of this planet."

As Ninglu spoke, Alsena Dunn manipulated his control staff, projecting a holographic image of the star map and marking the location of Hurricane Star.

"The Mitu people did not develop Hurricane Star, but that planet contains rich mineral resources and is the most valuable world for future development in the Colonid Abyss."

In Ninglu's memory, it is currently just a hurricane star in a barbaric world, but it will rapidly rise and grow into a forging world in the future.

Although Hurricane Star's production capacity is not as high as Mezoa and Incaladion, and it is only a second-tier forging world, it is still far more valuable than the many worlds in the Cyclops Cluster.

During the grand birthday celebration, Hurricane Star sided with Horus, becoming one of the future strongholds of the Dark Mechanicus.

Hurricane Star is mine now.

Although Hurricane Star's resources are not as abundant as those of the Triken system, they surpass those of Vostonia and Koss.
“As you wish,” Per replied. Although he could not participate in the Battle of Manach, the Black Emperor’s words made him realize the importance of Hurricane Star.

“My Lord, I have discovered in Moab a chicken-like creature with golden feathers all over its body.”

"Because it brings warmth to the cold Moab, as if the sun is shining, the locals call it the Sun Feathered Chicken."

“I thought you might be interested, so I brought five.”

Ning Lu's eyes flashed when he heard the name "Sun Feathered Chicken".

[The main ingredient for the potion "Sun Priest" in Sequence 7 of the "Sun" pathway?]
"You've put in a lot of thought. I'll check the gift you brought later."

After Per left, Nimrod looked at Lewis von Valancius, the traveling merchant who had accompanied the legion.

"Lewis, the Klonid Abyss star map and intelligence you brought back have been of great help in the battle against the Mito aliens, and you deserve a reward."

"Among the Cyclops, there are 105 worlds suitable for human habitation, of which 72 are still undeveloped. You can choose any three worlds, and they will belong to the von Valensius family."

"Zawarich also belongs to you. I hope you can restore its production capacity as soon as possible and, as an agricultural world, supply food to the worlds of the Cyclops Cluster."

To encourage the traveling merchants to continue serving him, Nimrod allocated four planets to him for development.

“My lord, I will certainly continue my efforts to discover more of the world for you,” Lewis said excitedly.

The von Valensius family had previously received ships and a large amount of wealth as rewards for their achievements.

Although all four worlds require resources for development, the family can afford it.

Lewis was delighted, for unlike the share of rewards he had received in the past, the von Valensius family now had its own foundation.

He calmed his turbulent emotions and bowed as he spoke.

"My lord, I wish to participate in the Battle of Manach and personally slay the abhorrent aliens who enslave my fellow human beings."

Lewis could not forget the Metu people's massacre of humans, using them as fuel and blood.

He was unwilling to remain merely a bystander in this war.

“Commendable courage, I grant your request.” Ninglu nodded slightly; he didn’t want to lose Lewis, such a capable explorer. “Alsena, take him to my private armory to choose a ring weapon and a protective orb.”

“Yes, my lord,” Alsena replied, then led Lewis to Nimrod’s private armory.

Ninglu looked at Gios Veroni and asked with a smile:

"Gios, are you adapting well?"

“My lord, I have benefited greatly from being by your side.” Gios’s eyes shone brightly. When he was in Dametus, he only felt the powerful combat strength of the Primarch.

After serving Nimrod, the young knight learned much from the Primarch.

He believed that becoming the Supreme Queen of Dametus would bring tremendous positive changes to the broken world of knights.

The "Corrupted Baron" looked at Gios, and he began to feel that there was less of a barrier between his spirituality and the potion, and that they were slowly merging.

After being promoted to "Corrupted Baron", I took on two new men by my side: Ryan Ramirez and Lewis von Valancius.

However, they were all quite loyal to me, so the effect of their actions was not significant, and I did not receive any obvious feedback.

But Geos is different; the "corrosion" effect is obvious, and I've already absorbed part of the potion.
As Ninglu pondered, Gios bowed and said:
"Sir, my ship, the Bitter Bamboo, has been repaired by the accompanying technical priest."

"I hope to participate in the battle of Manach."

When Gios saw that the traveling merchants were all asking to join the battle, he naturally didn't want to be left behind.

The soul of the Bitter Bamboo yearns for battle and glory.

"I look forward to your performance; you will usher in a new era for Veroni."

After the meeting, Ninglu went to his private treasury. Upon seeing the five chickens with golden feathers, he confirmed that they were the main materials for the "Sun Priest".

He gave orders to remain in the shadow of order in Moab and collect the Sun Feather Chickens.

At the gates of the Primarch's private armory, the Primarch's servant placed his hand on the scanner's panel, and a black keyboard popped up.

After a moment of silence, Alsena's memory returned, and he entered an encrypted sequence that would change randomly every eleven minutes.

With a series of metallic clanging sounds, the obsidian door slid open with a roar.

"Only my lord and I can open this door."

"But only a few of those whom our Lord permits may enter."

“Thank you for your grace, my lord.” Lewis said excitedly as he followed the Primarch’s servant through the gate.

His vision was instantly filled with the sight of the art-like firearms and melee weapons on the weapons rack.

The traveling merchant felt that, in his opinion, each of these weapons could be passed down through generations of the von Valancius family.

He told himself that most weapons could only be controlled by Primarchs or at least by the Shadow of Order, and only then did he regain his composure.

Lewis followed the Primarch's servant to a corner of the private armory, where he saw rows of rings and orbs on the shelves.

Alsena said, "You can choose as many as you want, as many as you can carry."

Knowing the Black Emperor's high regard for Lewis, the Primarch's servants encouraged him to take more.

Lewis cautiously took only five protective orbs and two ring weapons; he didn't want to appear too greedy.

Seeing this, Arsena frowned. He then placed two more protective orbs on the traveling merchant and handed him five rings.

“This is what you deserve,” he continued, seeing that Lewis was about to say something more. “Your safety is also of concern to our Lord.”

Lewis's face was filled with gratitude upon hearing this.

“I will certainly not disappoint Lord Ninglu’s expectations. Von Valencius will serve the King for generations.”

The fleet of the Eleventh Legion set sail for the Manach system in the fifth month of 842.

(End of this chapter)