Warhammer 40k: Melee Warriors

Damn it... how could I have known that these fumes could enhance spiritual energy? Komi thought with annoyance.

Before Komi could reply, Commissar Tran continued, "There's another issue. The Jin family wants to talk to you. They hope you can prove to them that you truly are a saint..."

At this point, Komi stopped in his tracks and looked intently at Commissar Tran, asking, "Proof? What kind of proof do they need from me? It can't be that I recite the entire Imperial Proclamation."

Commissar Tran fiddled with the brim of his hat, clearly finding Komi's answer somewhat disrespectful and offensive. He coughed lightly and replied, "They are quite skeptical of the combat prowess you have demonstrated. They don't believe you can kill so many traitors and aliens with just steel javelins, so they want you to show them what you're capable of."

"Heh, that's all you want?" Komi chuckled after hearing this. "When? Where?"

“If you don’t need rest, you can do so tonight. General Derek will make contact with them in the central dome controlled by the Goldfinch family,” Commissar Tran replied.

"Contact them as soon as possible. Let's see if they are truly loyal servants of the emperor who refuse to eat meat porridge, or damned traitors who have already abandoned the emperor's glory."

When meeting these nobles, Koji was too lazy to change into a gorgeous and luxurious outfit; he simply put on a bulletproof breastplate provided for officers before going to the banquet.

At the very center of the city's highest point, where all the roads converge, lies the so-called central dome. This massive hemispherical structure is protected by a shield, leading Gu Jian to suspect that the building was designed based on the shield's defensive range.

"Please wait here for a moment." The servant of the Jin family stopped the carriage where Komi was. He showed his humility and obedience, and his pleasant voice made it difficult for Komi to feel angry at him.

Some servants came over; they were quite magnificent compared to the nightmare creatures of the bottom nest, with gilded shells and neat stitching that were pleasing to the eye and could be regarded as works of art.

Komi watched as the machine servants raised their arms, which had been converted into spray guns, and sprayed some shimmering powder onto the vehicle's surface.

General Derek, who was accompanying them, explained to Komi, "This is a necessary preparation to get through that central dome shield. Without these powders to disrupt the shield, we cannot get through it. We must use continuous firepower to deplete the shield's energy."

Koji indicated that he understood, and General Derek pointed to the guards beside them and said, "They will also be going in with us. They are all reliable men, and they will not hesitate to give their lives if you give the order."

Looking at the soldiers with their devout and even somewhat familiar faces, Koken also acknowledged General Derek's thorough consideration; he certainly didn't want to meet the Golden Silk Family alone.

Passing through the shield, an arched wall opened to the left and right, allowing Koken to observe this richest and most mysterious region in the world.

The gardens that had astonished and bewildered the stone were now fully unleashed within this central dome. Vast expanses of green grass covered the artificial hills, and lush forests concealed farmhouses and even alien species resembling deer and horses frolicking among them.

The road, seemingly paved with pebbles from the river, stretches on and on, eventually leading to a cascading waterfall where a rainbow forms amidst the splashing mist, creating a dreamlike scene.

If he hadn't prepared himself mentally, Kojima would have thought that the central dome had been cultivated by a barbaric spirit race.

Luxury and wealth are not expressed by ordinary gold and jewels; true wealth is the mastery and unrestrained waste of the planet’s most scarce resources.

Every blade of grass you see here, every breath of air you take, and the rivers and lakes shimmering under artificial sunlight are things that 99.999999% of people in Red Mining World could never build in their dreams.

Komi even saw golden wheat fields swaying in the wind like ocean waves. These crops were meticulously tended by the family slaves, not for the purpose of producing more grain, but only to be beautiful enough to win a smile from the nobles who controlled their fate.

Komi silently observed everything around him, then suddenly muttered, "I'm starting to miss those orcs..."

Although the voice was soft, it was enough for the people in the car to hear clearly. General Derek said nothing, then sighed and explained for the Golden Silk family. After all, no matter what, the Golden Silk family was the ruler of this world. As long as they satisfied the empire's tax and loyalty requirements, how to govern their world was not within the empire's consideration.

To the ancients, the Jin family was a group of extravagant and wasteful pigs, but to the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Jin family was an excellent ruler who could pay the full amount of taxes.

"The Golden Silk Family spent a long time building this garden, and with the presence of trading fleets, the actual price of these plants wasn't too high..."

“But maintaining this magnificent natural scenery on a planet with a collapsing ecosystem must be very costly, right?” Komi asked casually, leaving General Derek speechless and only able to nod heavily.

With a creak, the vehicle came to a stop. Komi got out and saw beautiful and graceful servants standing on both sides of the road. Half-male and half-female, Komi lowered his head as he got out of the car. Earl Ryan, the patriarch of the Golden Silk Family and the ruler of this world, stood at the end of this path of servants.

Behind the count were his guards and important family members.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. May the Emperor bless you and this world." Earl Ryan bowed to Komi, seemingly unconcerned about Komi's dark skin, a result of years of mining.

"Hello, Earl Ryan. The Emperor protects every world, but sometimes his power is hindered by certain people." Komi squinted as he scanned Earl Ryan up and down, looking rude and aggressive.

Earl Ryan wore a perfect smile, showing no aversion to such an offense. "The Emperor's intentions are quite profound, and the interpretation of his miracles troubles every devout and loyal servant of the Empire. I think we just have a slight disagreement in understanding the Emperor's true intentions... Of course, I believe that all conflicts will disappear after this conversation, if the Emperor's thunder is not a lie fabricated by the soldiers."

The Emperor's Thunder...

This was the soldiers' respectful way of referring to the loud noise Komi made when he threw his spear. Komi knew this clearly. He gripped Earl Ryan's outstretched hand tightly and said expressionlessly, "You will soon understand the truth of Thunder's power."

Chapter 72: Earl Ryan's Explanation

It resembled a medieval training range for crossbowmen, except that the targets weren't made of leather or wood, but rather thick blocks of metal that could be used as armor for Leman Rustank.

“We originally intended to use some cultists as targets, but after thinking about it, we realized they were too filthy, so we changed our plans,” Earl Ryan said to Komi. To ensure Komi could perform perfectly in the demonstration, he had placed various styles and materials of javelins on the square table.

Koji only picked out the cheapest and most basic steel bars, weighed them in his hand, and said to Earl Ryan, "Hopefully, this imperial thunder will clear your dazed mind..."

Earl Ryan did not refute, but simply bowed to Komi with a humble smile.

The first steel bar was launched under the expectant gazes of the crowd, flying far away. Although it did not leave any mark on the metal block, Gu Jian's accuracy and stability in throwing the spear alone made people realize that he was extraordinary.

The mechanical monks were more concerned with the steel bar's posture during flight. They discovered that this steel bar, which was not straight in the strict sense and did not even have tail feathers to balance its posture, drew a smooth and beautiful arc.

This led them to secretly exchange binary codes using flashing lights, silently conversing about whether a faint but resilient mechanical spirit might also exist within the steel bars.

One by one, the steel bars were laid to the ground, and soon the fifth one was reached.

Komi closed his eyes, knowing that a critical hit was about to be delivered. The warriors who had seen Komi throw spears to kill demons before were also filled with anticipation. The emperor's thunder would once again resound, shocking the demons and inspiring the soldiers.

With a sudden burst of strength, the fifth javelin flew out with an inexplicable force.

It seems that the more one actively contemplates this mysterious power, the more obvious it becomes.

Just like a person's field of vision, a normal person's field of vision is able to see part of their own nose, but most of the time people ignore this and only realize that it is quite obstructive to their field of vision when they focus their attention on their nose.

Or take breathing. Natural breathing requires almost no thought, but if someone gives you a slight reminder, the automatic mode immediately switches to manual mode, and the perception of each breath becomes clearer.

Koji thought to himself, and then watched as the fifth javelin exploded on the metal block with a bang, and hot iron sparks flew like fireworks onto the surrounding land.

Looking at Earl Ryan, this ruler, who was always humble and maintained aristocratic airs, was completely dumbfounded. He opened his mouth wide and let out a sound that was almost a groan, his eyes wide as if they were about to bulge out.

Fanatics like Sister Nancy shed tears, treating the sound of the explosion as if it were heavenly music.

The loyal servants of the Ryan family were also filled with awe at the power displayed by Koken. Wherever the imperial order existed, there was no human being who did not revere and respect the great emperor and the one who carried out his will.

If Earl Ryan hadn't been standing there, these loyal servants might have knelt down the moment the thunder roared, offering devout prayers for Komi.

"Earl Ryan." After quickly scanning the expressions on everyone's faces, Komi said leisurely to Earl Ryan, "Do you still have any questions? A loyal servant of the Emperor?"

Earl Ryan shuddered upon hearing this, and his bronze skin, which was often exposed to ultraviolet rays, turned noticeably whiter. His appearance only made Koji wary, fearing that the earl might go mad at any moment and explode like a bomb in front of Koji.

Fortunately, Earl Ryan hadn't gone completely mad. He knelt down in front of Komi with a thud, then crawled on his knees to Komi and prostrated himself before her, crying and shouting in a voice like that of a fanatical believer.

"Oh... my saint... my saint! You have finally arrived, the savior chosen by the Emperor has finally arrived..."

Koji took a few steps back, afraid that Earl Ryan would rush up and lightly kiss his boots.

This stark contrast between arrogance and obsequiousness left Koken somewhat bewildered, but a glance at those around him revealed that their expressions were relatively normal, and they were staring at Earl Ryan with the look of a prodigal son returning home.

Religion is truly terrifying...

Komi swallowed hard, feeling that it was a bit unreasonable, but also quite reasonable.

Think back to the plague war, when the little girl about to be possessed by the Emperor was imprisoned. The fighting nuns sent to rescue her clashed violently with their guards, and many loyal and good people died in this conflict...

Komi composed himself and questioned Earl Ryan, who was lying in front of him.

When asked why he abolished the mobilization corps law, and why he deployed his family's private army to defend the top of the tower...

Earl Ryan did not raise his head, burying his face in the soil as he answered Koji as clearly as possible, "Please allow me to answer your questions one by one, Your Majesty, starting with the most recent events. The mobilization of the family's private army was not a whim, but the best plan made based on the circumstances at the time."

"Oh?" Komi narrowed his eyes. "What's the best plan? I'll give you time to explain."

“Thank you for your kindness and tolerance.” Earl Ryan expressed his deep gratitude to Komi, and then said, “A rebellion broke out in Upper Nest, and all communication between the cities was cut off. Every army was fighting under the siege of traitors... At that time, we did not know that a saint like you had descended upon Upper Nest, so we made this decision in haste.”

Anywhere in the hive can fall, but the very top must not be allowed to fall. Supplies for the tax-collecting fleet are stored in the warehouses, as are the purification systems that maintain the hive's air and water circulation, not to mention the central heating corridor. If these facilities fall into enemy hands, they won't even need to attack; a few months of holding out will be enough to completely overwhelm the hive with suffocating air, toxic water, and icy cold.

Earl Ryan's explanation was quite thorough, and Koji thought that if he were in his position, he might have made a similar plan.

"Then what about abolishing the Conscription Law? How do you explain that decision?"

Earl Ryan raised his face, his expression filled with regret and remorse. He shook his head at Komi and said, "I must admit that abolishing the mobilization law was indeed a foolish decision. I had thought the orcs' successive retreats were a great victory for the frontline legions..."

"However, it turns out that the orcs' fighting force was not damaged at all; they were merely retreating to lure us forward," General Derek added from the side.

Earl Ryan's face grew even paler, and his body seemed to sway precariously. "Originally, I couldn't make this decision, but the orcs' strength has been greatly diminished after the internal strife. With the current army, we can easily achieve victory... To be honest, if the hive hadn't rebelled, the formation of the reorganized battalion would have been enough to completely annihilate the orcs."

Commissar Tran nodded in agreement. The formation of the reorganized battalion was indeed the last straw that broke the orcs' back, but now it had become a defense force stationed in various cities due to the rebellion in the hive.

(Thanks to reader 20230402175056643 for the 1200 Qidian coins reward. I wanted to update yesterday, but I gave up when I realized I didn't have any drafts saved up.)

Chapter 73: When Life Goes Too Smoothly

After hearing Earl Ryan's explanation, both Komi and the officers who had previously harbored resentment towards him had a better opinion of him.

Indeed, if so many unexpected events hadn't occurred along the way, they would be on the path of attacking the orcs right now, instead of coming to the top and proving their saintly status to this nobleman.

To sum it up simply, Earl Ryan might just be a bit ruthless, treating human lives as numbers he can manipulate at will, like the supplies piled up in his warehouse, where he can change the numbers on documents with a flick of his finger.

By the general standards of an imperial governor, Earl Ryan and his family did a pretty good job, after all, he protected tax revenue quite well, which would certainly earn him praise from the officials of the Ministry of the Interior.

“Alright, Earl Ryan…” Komi sighed, “Since you have no intention of making this world worse, are you willing to obey my orders and restore peace to this world?”

“We are willing to serve you, my saint. The Golden Silk family will serve you, your will guides our swords, and we will forge a shield to protect you with our blood and corpses.”

“Earl Ryan... I’m very pleased that you’re so cooperative.”

"Sage, may I have the honor of inviting you to dine here?"

Komi stared at Earl Ryan's devout, tear-streaked face for a long time before replying, "No, my tongue still prefers the bland taste of military rations and the smell of disinfectant. If you truly wish to serve me, then use that spirit on the battlefield to annihilate the enemy."

"Your teachings have been truly enlightening, and I will inscribe these words on a prominent place on the family stone tablet."

Leaving the scenic dome, Gu Jian frowned, feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Subsequently, the entire hive became Komi's support, and countless soldiers and civilians united under the banner of the saint. Those traitors who had colluded with the dark forces were eradicated, and the elite family private soldiers stationed at the top returned to the front lines.

Iron Eyes was still busy dealing with the attacks from the Red Cloak, and Komi needed to take this opportunity to launch a clean and decisive breakthrough against the orcs and surround and eliminate them.

The offensive was led by Komi himself, and it was a heavily armored legion. Those tanks that Miyan had complained about, with their shiny paint, became Komi's vehicles.

The infantry regiments providing cover for the heavy armored legion are equally elite. The family guards, supported by the Golden Silk family with a large sum of money, will follow the heavy armored legion's breakthrough. Leading them is the patriarch of the Golden Silk family, Earl Ryan, who showed humility in front of Gu Jian.

There's a reason their family was able to achieve great success in the Red Mining World. Earl Ryan's ancestor was a general in an Astral Legion who eliminated many Xenomorphs during a colonial expedition. These achievements earned him and his soldiers a planet as a reward.

Nowadays, the top families are mostly established by members of the Astral Legion, while the people of Lower Nest and Upper Nest are mostly from trade fleets.

Earl Ryan changed out of his aristocratic attire and put on a military uniform, looking quite imposing. Komi ordered him to accompany him so that Komi could monitor whether Earl Ryan was truly loyal to the Emperor and his human identity.

Under Komi's leadership, the imperial army swept through the land with unstoppable momentum. When his javelins exploded in mid-air, the orcs fled in terror, exclaiming that their leader was invincible.

Three months of swift attacks nearly wiped out the Iron Eye tribe. This orc warlord, who was slightly inferior to Fang Tu, was also killed by Komi, and his head became a commemorative medal to adorn the Komi statue.

Then came the remnants of the tooth-like protrusion, and finally the red-cloaked man and his fart-like minions.

These fart-sprites' talent for guerrilla warfare gave Komi a major headache. In the end, he relied on Red Cloak's absolute trust in the fart-sprite master to set a trap, causing the fart-sprite leader, who could be said to have been personally cultivated by Komi, to die a gruesome death.