Chapter 28: Worm of the Underworld

Above the boundless industrial smog of the Hive, atop this city forged of steel and chaos,

deep within the ancient spire-palace of the Viceroy, Augustus Flax slowly opened his eyes from a soft sofa draped in red velvet.

A bottle of Quartus golden red wine lay beside his hand,

the cork removed, the priceless crimson wine flowing from the bottle and soaking into the blood-red velvet sofa.

Augustus Flax let out a wine-soaked burp, gazing dazedly at the ceiling hung with ornate crystal chandeliers.

A night of drunkenness could not erase the pain of the nightmare,

that nightmare could not be erased,

Augustus Flax thought blankly,

no amount of wine, music, or pleasure could dispel that nightmare,

no amount of schemes, calculations, or spies could uncover that nightmare,

no amount of armies, soldiers, or weapons could halt that nightmare,

that nightmare had haunted him since he was still a young seventeen-year-old, and clung to him ever since,

he had built vast projects, raised private armies, even taken in illegal psykers who had fled from the Black Ships,

yet as he aged, the shadow of that nightmare grew ever thicker,

it lurked in the smog-choked streets of the Lower Hive, extending four grotesque claws, waiting for Augustus to fall from the pinnacle of the Hive and into its monstrous maw.

Since then, Augustus had scarcely cared about the Lower Hive—or rather, dared not care about it,

he had expended all his strength, focusing solely on securing his own safety.

The flickering lights seemed to carry Augustus Flax back to his younger days again.

And reminded him of that brother, Titus Flax, the Worm of the Underworld.

“Titus, my brother.”

“Titus, the Worm of the Underworld.”

Augustus Flax murmured to himself.

When he was still a child, he was the sole son and only legal heir of the Flax family,

his family had ruled this planet through a long past, and he was destined to become its Viceroy,

at that time, Augustus Flax was confident he could fulfill the Viceroy’s duties better than any of his predecessors—he was wise enough, diligent enough.

But when his parents returned from a galactic trade meeting, everything changed.

Augustus Flax’s mother bore the family another child,

Titus Augustus, his younger brother, his blood kin,

yet born with four arms and claws, grotesque as a repulsive mutant.

But Augustus’s parents turned a blind eye, showering the deformed mutant with all their affection,

even declaring he would replace Augustus as the family’s new heir.

But what Augustus could not endure was not jealousy—it was fear,

he vaguely sensed what kind of monster his blood kin truly was,

he had seen his parents repeatedly lead guests to visit the newborn brother,

those guests never returned, and even palace guards and servants often vanished.

His parents ignored the monster, instead personally training it to govern the entire planet.

Augustus feared—he feared he would vanish like those guests, servants, and guards.

He found a few trusted guards, won the support of the nobles with their aid, and launched a rebellion against his parents and that monstrous brother.

Blood flowed through the Viceroy’s palace,

his blade pierced the chests of his corrupted parents,

but his deformed brother, that monster, that beast, that worm, escaped,

it must have fled deep into the city, hiding in the shadows of the Lower Hive—or even the Underhive,

whispers of disappearances and strange occurrences frequently surfaced in the Lower Hive of Fedia,

Augustus Flax’s brother, the monster bearing the same blood as him,

Titus Augustus, acquired a new name: “The Worm of the Underworld.”

Augustus curled his aged body like a frightened child upon the damp sofa,

whispering sobs, trembling with fear,

Titus would surely seek revenge—he was coming, soon, very soon.

At that moment, a data-slate placed beside the sofa on the table suddenly lit up.

He extended his trembling, withered arm and picked up the data-slate.

After a series of complex commands, keys, and inquiries, Augustus confirmed the person on the other side had not been corrupted.

“We didn’t find Ignis Kalkas’s notebook,” said the voice on the data-slate.

“Tell me, in detail,” Augustus asked, his voice low and dry.

The voice on the data-slate relayed the details to Augustus.

“He’s lying to you! That Lower Hive scavenger is lying to you!”

Augustus said sharply, his voice brimming with uncontainable rage.

From the voice alone, he knew the scavenger was lying,

he had definitely found that notebook!

“He found it—but he knows what’s inside!”

“I bet he destroyed it or hid it!”

After a burst of fury, Augustus lowered his head and spoke weakly:

“Tell him I’ll double the price.”

“If he won’t give it up, forget it. I never had much hope for that notebook to begin with.”

“Or rather, I’ve long had no hope for anything.”

Augustus leaned back on the sofa, eyes tightly shut,

like an old man waiting for death to arrive in the next moment,

he opened his eyes and looked at the data-slate,

“Old friend, be careful.”

“Two of our people were just assassinated by Titus’s killers. You might be next.”

He spoke dryly to the data-slate.

“Aren’t you the same?” replied the voice on the other side, mercilessly: “We’re all nearing it. The curse is always there.”

“But the Emperor taught us to face corruption with faith.”

Augustus gave a dry chuckle, ignoring the old friend’s disrespect toward the Viceroy.

The data-slate severed the connection; the lavish, spacious room fell silent once more.

Augustus curled up again, hugging his knees, trembling with unease.

Lower Hive, new stronghold of the Arkite Sect,

under their Master’s leadership, the Arkite Sect seized this district,

their Master now occupies the former gang’s stronghold, gradually extending control over nearby streets.

Many Arkite members, clad in linen robes and painted with tail-flame starships, came and went,

busy and diligent, like a swarm of worker bees.

Zhou Yun, draped in a linen robe, wearing Larg’s face, stepped into the stronghold.

(End of Chapter)