Warhammer 40: My Fiancée Fulgrim.

Chapter 70 Bait
into the night.

Byzantium's day-night cycle is similar to Terra's, and its solitary satellite high in the sky even performs, to some extent, the function of the moon.

"Casca, have you found anything?"

As she slowly entered the ornately decorated room, Fugrim gently patted the table, chairs, and sofa carved from ancient wood, as if acknowledging the maker of the furniture.

With Casca's help, she took off her long, still slightly warm terracotta combat boots and plopped down on the sofa with extremely unladylike manners.

Unfortunately, it's still a bit small.

"Phew, at least I can finally take a short rest."

Fugrim smiled with relief.

As a Primarch who always presents herself perfectly, she always behaves with utmost poise and decorum in front of others.

Of course, this is under the condition that there is no interference from Casca.

When Fugrim is alone or with Kasgar, her mischievous personality, hidden deep within her perfect performance, will be revealed.

As her possessiveness towards Casca intensifies, it seems increasingly impossible to keep the truth hidden any longer.

The best example is that he had the other party act as his male concubine before.

Their accommodations were located not far from the governor's residence, outside which lay a tranquil garden, with loyal sons of the emperor taking turns standing guard at the gate. This was quite a luxury for Byzantium.

"I haven't found any further clues."

After walking around the room and finding no listening or surveillance devices, Kasgar sat down next to Fugrim.

Seeing Kasgar sit down, Fugrim revealed a mischievous smile, rotated his sitting posture ninety degrees, stretched, and put his feet on the other's thighs.

"Then I'll punish you by making you rub it for me."

Her fair, slightly pink toes bounced up and down happily, as if urging Cass to hurry up.

"What do you think is going to happen? This assassination attempt."

"Needless to say? Nobles."

"It's always those nobles."

Forgrim reluctantly let her silvery-white hair fall down her back and found a comfortable position to close her eyes and rest.

"They're not just after me, they're also targeting that old governor."

Why did they kill the governor?

“They are unwilling to submit. The governor has agreed to almost all of our demands, but the nobles are afraid that their power will be taken away by a terrifying empire from outer space.”

"Even if it means self-destruction, it's worth it?"

"There's nothing we can do; fools are fearless. That's just how things are."

"And what about Byzantium? Do you have any new findings?"

After a pause, Fugrim asked, seemingly enjoying the service from Casca.

“I asked the preacher Pike before, and she seems to have obtained quite a few reports from the Byzantine government.”

"Since the assassination attempt, Governor Pandion seems to have placed all his bets on us, and has given us easy access to key documents."

The most frequent reports were of uprisings.

After civilization declined and aristocratic oligarchs controlled all aspects of people's lives, the exploitation of the lower classes intensified as the nobles lost confidence in the future.

Riots and protests seem to permeate all government documents.

"This is another one who only collects tithes and then doesn't care about anything else."

But saying that seems a bit dangerous.

But it's alright, since the 30K era still preached the truth of the Empire and sent out many preachers.

This is quite important.

"Apart from the better environment, it's no different from what we encountered on Chemos."

Fugrim sighed and concluded, "Any further discoveries?"

"Yes, there is a name."

It seems that many names of uprisings and folk associations appear in Byzantium's official records.

Kaska frowned deeply: "Sabazius."

A name that starts with S.

"I've heard this name from the assassins too. Who is it?"

"Folk tales, but they are more than just folk tales."

An existence that their emperor's son has yet to encounter.

Casca was pondering how to phrase his words.

Perhaps it's a legend, or some kind of veiled hint about demons; who knows?

It's really hard to find the answer in the original text, which is full of riddles.

He didn't want to be like Old Huang, saying nothing and watching the other person fall into the ditch.

But he wasn't sure if the "Sabazius" the Byzantines spoke of actually existed.

Casca looked at his right hand, which was covered with golden-red cracks.

"It's so itchy."

As he pondered, he heard Fugrim's soft chuckle beside him.

He seemed so engrossed in thinking that he neglected his work. "Hmph, take this!"

She grinned mischievously and gently kicked Casca's chest and face with her feet.

"Forgrim".

"Ok?"

"Do you have a better way? A way to completely eliminate those stupid guys?"

Byzantines' political environment was complex and intricate, and to completely eradicate it and turn it into an asset for the Great Expedition often required a long period of transformation.

But the sons of emperors do not have that time.

They must act swiftly.

"It's hard."

After a moment of thought, she answered.

During the assassination attempt at the banquet, Fugrim taught them a terrible lesson.

But this also made them hesitant to act rashly, and they went into hiding from then on, not daring to take any action on their own.

"I."

Casca patted his chest and offered his services.

"The only thing that can make you worry is me in their eyes."

"They will most likely target me next, kidnapping me to negotiate with you."

"I happen to need to speak with the pharmacist."

"This is the best opportunity to lure the snake out of its hole."

"No!"

Fugrim vetoed it quickly.

"Do you have a better way?" Casca sighed.

The answer is no.

"But I'm still worried about you."

"Unless... you wear this."

A silver-white metal collar, with her name, Fugrim, engraved on it in exquisite artistic lettering.

It seems to be another magical artifact she created herself.

"As long as I wear it, I can sense your signal and provide assistance at any time."

Wherever it is, as long as it does not leave the planet, it emits a faint sensation.

Coupled with its sturdy material, comparable to a riot shield, Casca was doomed.

"You rascal, you didn't prepare this thing a long time ago, just waiting to take it out now, did you?"

"whee."

She didn't answer, but her actions betrayed her eagerness.

Click.

Before Casca could answer, she took it up to him first.

"Wait, Fugrim, where's the key?"

"what?"

"I mean, where's the key to this thing?! I can't possibly wear it for the rest of my life."

"Ah—I swallowed the key."

She opened her mouth wide in a triumphant manner, her eyes filled with a smug smile.

"You're prepared to wear it for the rest of your life."

It was late at night.

The emperor's sons, who were guarding the garden mansion left to the extraterrestrial visitors, suddenly disappeared for reasons unknown.

The door was quietly opened, and Casca glanced around furtively before slipping out of the manor.

He spotted three or four assassins crouching under the eaves of a house not far away.

The group seemed surprised by Casca's sudden escape.

"Could it be bait?"

"It's possible. Otherwise, why would he go out at this time? There must be something fishy going on."

"Hmm, let me take another look."

It seems these people are very wary of Casca's every move.

Then, the assassins saw him knock on the door of the apothecary Melousin's manor.

The other party reluctantly opened the door, and after looking around again, he tiptoed into Melusin's room.

"?"

"Damn it! This guy is having an affair even though he's already with Princess Star!"

(End of this chapter)