Warhammer: Filial Piety Makes Power

Chapter 30 Alpha: Huh? I've become a stand-in.

As the saying goes, there are only zero times or countless times when it comes to women's clothing. As the bottom line was broken time and time again, in just six months, Fugrim went from initially refusing to wear it to getting used to it.

After all, what does Alpha, the Primarch of the Empire's 20th Legion, who is known as Snow White, have to do with Vorgrim of Chemos? When you're out in the world, you give yourself an identity; everyone has a disguise!
As for why this kind of abnormal change in mentality occurred, one reason is that your second brother will always be your second brother. Mordred will always win with all sorts of righteous tricks, and so far he has never repeated himself.

If he cannot defeat the opponent despite his best efforts, then the morally upright Forgrim will naturally abide by the bet.

On the other hand, it's because dressing up as Snow White to swindle and cheat is just too appealing.

Take Atlas's current financial revenue as an example. On the surface, Atlas's main business is divided into three categories. The first is the recycling, repair, and reuse of discarded military supplies, which is the real core business.

By collecting and repairing junk, the tranquil world has created numerous job opportunities and cultivated a large pool of potential motor oil repairmen.

This was the result of discussions between Mordred and all the company commanders and the Great Sages. He planned to develop Tranquility into a technology industrial base, making Atlas a military-industrial complex like the global behemoths the Emperor had described.

From simply maintaining military supplies, they evolved into designing and developing weapons, ultimately enabling everyone to use Atlas's weapons.

The second category is biological modification, or rather, biochemical experiments hidden under the guise of agricultural product exports.

Mordred took this very seriously, partly because most of the legions had genetic defects, and partly because Tranquility was an ideal place for conducting biochemical experiments.

There's no shortage of gene samples. Even if Ning Jing doesn't have any, she can search for them in the nearby Katachang. In fact, Ning Jing was once a playground of the dark technology era, and her AI contains a lot of bio-modification technology. It would be a waste not to pull off a heist.

Finally, and currently the largest share of Atlas's revenue, is entirely attributable to Mordred personally.

Simply put, it's the entrance fee for Mordred's daily dinner.

It sounds incredible, but it's true. That's why Fulgrim gradually got used to dressing as a woman and becoming an imperial idol—those traveling merchants were just too rich.

The Space Marines of Atlas risked their lives to smuggle supplies, but what they managed to retain was only a drop in the ocean. Moreover, each time they took very little supplies, they would pick up extremely rare items to take back and recycle. Atlas had no shortage of ordinary military supplies.

After all, no matter how unethical Mordred is, he wouldn't do something like the front lines are in dire need while the rear is well-fed. Sometimes he would even use his own granaries to support the front lines.

Unlike other merchants, the Viable Merchant Ronin are in a different situation. During this period of great expedition, it can be described as a 30K version of the Great Western Development.

No matter how large the Imperial Legion is, it is only a small part. In terms of wealth accumulation and number of ships, it is far inferior to these interstellar adventurers.

As for why such a powerful group of merchant ronin would fawn over Mordred like lapdogs, the reason is actually quite simple: they are afraid!
They fear being devoured by suddenly appearing aliens, their families being killed by space pirates, and being completely swallowed up by their competitors.

What's that saying again? "My neighbor hoards grain, I hoard guns; my neighbor is my granary."

Small-time traveling merchants are fine, after all, they're just out on the roadside, barefoot and fearless, they'd love to be swallowed up. But those who are considered traveling merchant families, they dream of gaining the protection of the Second Legion.

"Second brother, I feel like I can't go back anymore. I really want to rest!"

Snow White, dressed in a magnificent long gown, sighed, attracting whispers among several human maids, who were clearly captivated by Forgrim's charm.

Only the dog-man maids remained unfazed, pondering what to do after get off work—whether to beat up their husbands or go to the arena to fight each other. After all, they couldn't appreciate Forgrim's beauty; he had no fur and no tail.

But the dogs quickly became excited because their real leader had arrived.

"Well done, girls! Eat as much as you want when the banquet starts. You'll get double pay when you get back, and you can take whatever you like home. It's all well-deserved." "Yay! Long live the chief!"

Even now, Fugrim can't understand why the dogmen are so simple-minded, nor can he understand the big dogs' inexplicable loyalty to his wicked second brother. Could it be that Mordred's skin is actually that of a dogman?
"Boom~"

A finger tapped Fugrim's forehead, interrupting his thoughts.

"Fu Laosan, are you badmouthing me behind my back again? Hurry up and get moving, there are so many people waiting for us outside, don't you want to go to sleep early?"

"Yes, all I want right now is a good night's sleep."

There was absolutely no psychological burden associated with exploiting child labor, even though, in Mordred's childcare plan, Fugrem only got two hours of sleep a day.

But then again, he himself uses the learning machine to replace his sleep time every day, immersing himself in those magical little bits of knowledge. Giving Forgrim two hours of rest is already very kind, okay? Why doesn't he think about his own reasons?

Mordred scooped up the "delicate" Snow White and instructed her:

"How can you sleep at your age? But luckily, your second brother isn't some kind of demon. After we finish this job, I'll give you two days off, and then you can show your true face."

"Huh? Really! But why do I still want to keep fooling those businessmen? The profits from just the last six months are more than I've saved up in three years."

Glancing at Fogrim, who had already developed a path dependency, Mordred wasn't sure if it was because her parenting had been too successful, or if her third son had awakened his feminine side, but she still patiently explained:
"We've found a solution to the wilt disease in your territory. Including the supplies allocated to you, it's enough for you to rebuild the legion's framework. The reason we can't keep up the charade is simply because we have a better plan to control them..."

In the banquet hall, countless family patriarchs gathered together, seemingly polite to each other, but in reality, they all wished they could punch their peers to pieces, especially the younger generation, whose atmosphere was almost explosive.

They didn't know why His Highness Mordred had gathered them all together, but they knew they couldn't be outdone by their peers.

Every woman was dressed to the nines, trying her best to exude her charm, while the men would talk loudly and use their eloquence and courage to bolster their own image. Everyone hoped to gain the Primarch's attention.

Of course, there are also some brilliant minds who go against the grain, with an extremely abstract art style. They don't seek the approval of the original creators, but only want to express themselves to the fullest. They are a group of people who are really having fun.

Before the guards could drive the group of abstract artists away, two tall figures appeared before them. They were none other than Princess Mordred, whom they had been longing for, and Princess Alpha, the twentieth Primarch of the Empire.

“You may wonder why I have gathered you here, but do not be alarmed, I understand your thoughts.”

But as you all know, Atlas is short of manpower and simply cannot control such a large trade area. Therefore, I have brought my younger sister as my witness and decided to join forces with the Third Legion to establish the Tranquil Chemos Joint Economic Zone to protect you, the adventurous citizens of the Empire.”

Having already coordinated their statements, Forgrim naturally wouldn't show any weakness and immediately began to explain the main structure of the sector. The crowd below whispered among themselves, discussing what benefits this policy could bring them.

After finishing her story and seeing that the atmosphere had been built up enough, Mordred dropped another bombshell.

"Atlas wants to form a special force directly under the Legion. When I think of everyone's loyalty, I have no way to repay you. So when it comes to recruiting soldiers, my first thought is of you, my beloved ministers."

I will not keep this honor to myself. Every clan leader can send their children to serve the empire.

So, what do you think? You won't refuse my kind offer, will you? My dear friends.

(End of this chapter)