Chapter 92

What fast gunplay!

Gordon Wan stared blankly as his three hands turned to ash in midair, and the three Liberator pistols clattered to the ground.

Before he could pull the trigger, the man opposite had already completed three shots, precisely piercing Gordon Wan's wrists.

Gordon Wan's body trembled uncontrollably.

He had witnessed true gunplay; before him, Gordon Wan was practically an infant.

Then, Gordon Wan saw only a searing laser beam shoot toward his brow.

His head instantly turned to ash and scattered into the air.

Zhou Yun glanced at the three Liberator pistols on the ground, casually picked them up, and stuffed them into his pocket of the fourth dimension.

"Don't just pick up and use xenos weapons," the winged figure in the Bai Guang said beside Zhou Yun's ear.

"Are you implying something about a certain space-time serpent man?" Zhou Yun glanced at him and said.

Fulgrim had picked up a sword from the xenos race known as the Genestealer, only to be influenced and possessed by the demon dwelling within it.

Zhou Yun casually sold those three Liberator pistols for a bit of small change.

With Xiang Xiang Leina's arrival at the factory, the battle situation instantly reversed.

They say the highest realm of military art is commanding one's opponent.

Xiang Xiang Leina's military prowess aside, she could truly command her opponents with her Enchanting Voice.

With just a few words, she could make those Genestealer cultists and Kin-Brothers obediently drop their weapons and step out from cover.

While watching Ark Gang members begin to transport and cremate these xenos corpses, Zhou Yun walked over to Xiang Xiang Leina, whose face looked grim.

Several Ark Gang members were saying something to Xiang Xiang Leina.

Upon seeing Zhou Yun, they all shivered uncontrollably, then respectfully bowed.

Xiang Xiang Leina waved her hand, signaling those Ark Gang members to leave.

Those Ark Gang members, as if granted a great amnesty, hurriedly departed.

"What's going on with them? Am I that scary?" Zhou Yun muttered a complaint.

Xiang Xiang Leina glanced at Zhou Yun's face, which resembled a lion in a pitch-black forest, and her mouth twitched.

"What you did in the Underhive has spread. Ryan Rus, Neos, Hogiles Lupabal..."

"The Hunter with a Thousand Faces, a fanatic of the Ecclesiarchy, cold as a lion, hunting all heretics and cults, even willing to single-handedly spark a great war between the Bishenhuang Sect and the Mutant Cultists, killing two Mutant leaders and a Paizhu Sect bishop, causing the entire First District to be destroyed by plague zombies."

Hearing Xiang Xiang Leina's words, the corner of Zhou Yun's mouth twitched slightly.

"Me, a fanatic of the Ecclesiarchy? Hunting heretics and cults?" He pointed at himself: "What kind of obscure history is this?"

Xiang Xiang Leina couldn't help but rub her brow; this set of rumors was indeed quite bizarre.

Although the events were roughly true, the judgment regarding Zhou Yun was almost completely wrong.

This fellow was clearly the greatest heretic in all of Asford.

"I suspect the Genestealers deliberately spread the message, aiming to make you widely known and easier to expose your true identity," Xiang Xiang Leina said.

Zhou Yun frowned.

Even when going to the Ark Gang, he had hardly used his true face.

So the risk of exposure was not great.

Those who knew or might guess his identity were only Xiang Xiang Leina, Old One-Eye, Governor Augustus Flax, and... Lag?

The corner of Zhou Yun's mouth couldn't help but twitch.

Xiang Xiang Leina, Old One-Eye, and the Governor were irreconcilable enemies of the Genestealers and would not expose his identity.

But this fellow Lag...

"Don't worry, I implanted a psychological suggestion in Lag and injected multiple memory barriers into his mind; he won't realize you are Ryan Rus, and even if he knew, he wouldn't have the ability to speak it out," Xiang Xiang Leina said with an expression of "trust me, I've got this."

Zhou Yun nodded slightly, then glanced toward the direction the Ark Gang members had just left and asked:

"What is the situation with this attack? Why would the Genestealers launch such a meaningless attack?"

This place is so close to the Ark Gang stronghold; the Genestealer Patriarch surely isn't unaware of Xiang Xiang Leina's strength.

A group of Hunxue Sect cultists and Kin-Brothers, plus a Killer Breed; without Zhou Yun needing to act, Xiang Xiang Leina herself could resolve it.

"It's not just here; all the major districts occupied by the Ark Gang have been attacked by the Genestealers." Xiang Xiang Leina's expression was somewhat grim.

This made the corner of Zhou Yun's mouth twitch; that could be considered a disaster.

Without Xiang Xiang Leina, the Ark Gang was only stronger than ordinary gangs.

They could fight ordinary gangs, but facing Genestealers led by the Patriarch and commanded through psychic links? That was too difficult for them.

"They suddenly drilled out from between pipes and sewers, seized parts of the factories and streets, and established strongholds in many major districts."

Xiang Xiang Leina rubbed her brow, her eyes mixed with hatred as she said:

"They are even propagandizing, claiming the Ark Gang is also one of the cruel oppressors, while they are the righteous liberators, trying to fool the residents of these few major districts into standing on their side."

"My people are engaging them everywhere, but overall, the situation is not good..."

"The Genestealer Patriarch did this on purpose; his claim that he would use endless assassinations against us was a complete lie, used to fool us and divert our attention."

Xiang Xiang Leina ground her teeth:

"He has chosen to fight us head-on."

Zhou Yun pinched his chin.

It was not strange for the Genestealers to choose a head-on war; the Tyranids were already approaching Asford, and the Genestealers no longer needed to hide.

And the Astra Militarum and other Imperial forces had not yet arrived in Asford, while the PDFs, under the Governor's leadership, were collectively slacking off.

The Genestealers' opponents now were only the various district gangs led by Xiang Xiang Leina's Ark Gang.

"My people fear no death and dare to participate in battle, but they have ultimately not undergone sufficient training."

Xiang Xiang Leina's expression grew even more grim:

"We're still short on people who can command in battle. The gene-thieves have split into nearly a hundred small units — I, I simply can't command them all at once."

That is probably also deliberate on the gene-thieves' part.

If the gene-thieves had come out in full force, gathered into one unit to strike a single hive district, Xiang Xiang Leina could still rely on her psychic powers to fight back.

But now, the gene-thieves' commander relies on a psychic link and command ability to simultaneously direct over a hundred gene-thief squads in their attacks, each squad as nimble as one of his fingers.

And Xiang Xiang Leina's command ability and the men under her simply cannot cope with so many attacks at once.

The gene-thieves want her running herself ragged.

Whether in tactics, strategy, or the quality of soldiers, the Ark Gang is being crushed dead.

No wonder Xiang Xiang Leina's expression now looks as if she'd eaten two lumps of Nurgle-spirit.

Zhou Yun's brow also creased slightly. If the gene-thieves really do take the Underhive, that would genuinely be some trouble.

If that happens, the advantage held by the Tyranid swarm will be far too great.

Zhou Yun actually had a plan in mind — one concerning how to resurrect Saint Gillys.

This plan required that the Tyranid swarm's advantage in the Underhive system not be too great; the Empire had to be made to hold out until a third party intervened.

Zhou Yun rubbed his chin.

"In short, that's the situation."

In the Spear Tip tavern, Zhou Yun swirled the crimson wine in his cup and said to Old One-Eye:

"Xiang Xiang Leina's off running around putting out fires now. I'll see if I can get the Governor to do his duty for once."

"After all, the pdf is the only force in Ashford that can still resist the gene-thieves."

Though he said as much, Zhou Yun had no intention of persuading the Governor with nothing but a silver tongue.

He had other ideas.

Old One-Eye listened to Zhou Yun's words, was silent for a moment, then said: "I can't guarantee he'll offer help."

"You know that data-slate in my room, right? Memorize the passphrase and key below — you talk to him directly."

Zhou Yun nodded slightly, committing to memory the passphrase and key Old One-Eye dictated in a low voice.

He rose, walked into the room behind the tavern, picked up the data-slate on the table, entered the key, unlocked the screen, and entered the call interface.

After a moment, a low, dry voice sounded from the other end of the data-slate.

Zhou Yun recognized it as the voice of Governor Augustus Flax.

"Passphrase," the voice said from the other end of the data-slate.

Zhou Yun remembered the passphrase Old One-Eye had given — a string of code-words forming a cipher.

But he grinned and did not recite the passphrase Old One-Eye had provided.

"'Spiral Staircase,' 'Unicorn Beetle,' 'Ruin Street,' 'Fig Tower.'"

"'Unicorn Beetle,' 'Path of Teresa,' 'Unicorn Beetle,' 'Singularity,' 'Giotto.'"

"'Angel,' 'Hydrangea,' 'Unicorn Beetle,' 'Singularity,' 'Secret Emperor.'"

This string of passphrases was of course completely wrong.

But Governor Augustus Flax on the other end of the data-slate clearly recognized Zhou Yun's voice. After a pause, he continued: "Tell me, how many arms does the merciful Hua Di Huang possess by nature?"

"One head, two arms," Zhou Yun answered crisply.

The other end of the data-slate fell into a near-death silence, until after quite a while Zhou Yun heard Governor Augustus Flax sharply draw in a breath.

He continued in that dry voice: "Recite the first two lines of the Book of Holy Sayings."

"Rejoice, for I bring you the good news of awesome power."

"The Great Horned Rat walks among us! Yes! Yes!"

Zhou Yun said, barely hesitating.

A series of soft, sharp intakes of breath came from the other end of the data-slate.

Augustus Flax drew in breath after breath, steadying himself.

"Could you have a care for an old man's constitution?" Augustus Flax asked.

What Zhou Yun had just said was simply too explosive.

!. Read

If Augustus Flax himself weren't also not clean, he would really have reported Zhou Yun to the Ecclesiarchy.

"You don't suspect I'm a worm of the Underhive?" Zhou Yun asked with great interest.

"Unless Tiberius wants me to die of heart failure," Augustus Flax said. "He would never answer my passphrase like that."

"He knows doing so would only make me more wary."

Augustus Flax was silent for a moment, then said:

"I know what's happening in the Underhive. Tiberius has begun to move."

"I also know what you want. I won't pull the pdf out — what if Tiberius uses the chance to slip into the Upperhive and assassinate me?"

"So long as there's any danger at all, I won't pull the pdf out."

The corner of Zhou Yun's eye twitched slightly.

When it came to fear of death and caution, Augustus Flax and the gene-thief chieftain were cut from the same cloth — worthy brothers indeed.

The reason the two of them could use the Upperhive as a boundary and live in peace for decades was probably that each was wary of the other and dared not strike rashly.

"In that case, stay right where you are. Don't move."

Zhou Yun sighed, his face full of regret, and said:

"I'm off to the Upperhive to kill you."

"Huh?" On the other end of the data-slate, Augustus Flax doubted his own ears.

"You don't need to worry about worms of the Underhive assassinating you anymore — I'll take care of that problem for you."

Zhou Yun said with sincere conviction:

"Before he assassinates you, I'll kill you first. No need to thank me."

The air was deathly silent, leaving only the sound of Augustus Flax sucking in a sharp breath,

"Are you insane? I'm the Governor, the planetary governor of Ashford."

"So?" Zhou Yun asked sincerely.

"You can't do it." Augustus Flax insisted flatly.

"Why can't I? I can infiltrate the Underhive, enter the First District, kill the Gene-Stealer Zhezhu Sect bishop, and scare your brother into fleeing for his life."

"If it hadn't run so fast, it would have joined your dead parents long ago."

Zhou Yun leaned closer to the data-slate, letting his voice carry clearly to Augustus Flax's ear:

"What makes you think you'll survive? Your psyker troops? The PDF? They can't stop me."

"Or are you planning to hide in your 'safe' crypt? I know where your crypt is."

Zhou Yun actually didn't know — he was simply saying it to scare Augustus Flax:

"I hope when I stand before you, you can run as fast as your brother did."

"You—" Augustus Flax's voice wavered with shock,

His crypt had been built in secret, managed internally only by servitors — there was absolutely no way Zhou Yun could know about it!

Could he really know the location of his crypt? Augustus Flax felt a chill run down his spine.

"Aren't you afraid of death? Assassinating a governor is a grave crime — you won't be let off."

"I won't die." Zhou Yun shrugged indifferently,

The Right-Wrong Diviner had already confirmed it —

Before the Shield of the Underworld was destroyed, as long as he hadn't yet redeemed the Arbitrary Door, he wouldn't suffer serious harm.

As for after the Shield of the Underworld was destroyed — the entire star system would have blown up, who'd care about the life or death of a single planetary governor?

The Shield of the Underworld wasn't his alone as planetary governor.

"This is a bit shameless of you, isn't it?" Augustus Flax was momentarily beside himself with rage.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

Zhou Yun said flatly:

"I'm a thug who mixes with illegal psykers and Underhive gangs, a heretic who spouts blasphemies and deserves the pyre, and I've even collaborated with mutants who worship the Plague God."

"I'm an Underhive rat! A barbarian! A rogue! Shamelessness is what I deserve."

"And you? As governor, are you doing what you should be doing?"

Some people feign civilization to mask their own barbarity, some use barbarity as protective coloring, some enjoy the alienation that comes from being seen as barbarians,

Whichever it is, barbarity can become a handy weapon at critical moments.

Listening to Zhou Yun's mockery, Augustus Flax found himself unable to speak.

"I can give you money." Augustus Flax said after a moment of silence.

Zhou Yun merely curled his lip and said nothing.

If he could maintain the balance between the Imperium and the Tyranids, let a third party enter the fray, the money earned in the end would definitely be more than what Augustus Flax could offer.

"I can arrange a ship ticket for you, send you away from Ashford."

Augustus Flax, seeing Zhou Yun say nothing, continued to raise the price:

"You can go to Baal — that's the homeworld of the Blood Angels, absolutely safe."

"..." Zhou Yun's mouth twitched, barely holding back his laughter.

Augustus Flax, seeing Zhou Yun still say nothing, clenched his jaw and said word by word:

"I-I can give you a batch of weapons, enough to arm an entire gang."

"Also, Radburn was once the finest member of the PDF — I'll lend him to you to train your people."

"The money I just promised still stands."

A faint smile curled at the corner of Zhou Yun's mouth —

He'd finally squeezed some juice out of this bastard.

"Add more." Zhou Yun said with a smile.

Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.

This time Augustus Flax only fell silent for a few short seconds,

As if he'd long since made his plan: "The Underhive doesn't only have your faction to resist Tiberius."

"I can introduce you to another faction, and even pay to have you hire them."

"Oh?" Zhou Yun raised an eyebrow.

"Have you heard of the Bai Si Sect?" Augustus Flax lowered his voice, as if discussing something terrifying.

"What white silk? What feet? What white-silk feet?"

(End of chapter)