Chapter 30

Three days have passed since arriving in the middle hive.

Living under someone else's roof... it couldn't be more comfortable.

After transporting the items ordered by Priest Aluman and neatly stacking them in the warehouse, Alvin finished his work.

His main job was to move some cargo, which wasn't heavy, and compared to the lower hive, it could be called relaxed and pleasant.

Originally, he thought there would be no reward. After all, the Tech-Priest taking him in and being willing to provide a stable job and a resident permit was already the greatest help.

But he didn't expect Priest Aluman to pay him a salary of 10 crowns according to the middle hive's standard daily wage.

Considering that Alvin had just come up from the lower hive and it was highly unlikely he had money in his pocket, Priest Aluman even prepaid him half a month's salary for daily food expenses.

Although sometimes Priest Aluman's temper was quite irritable, shouting "Omnissiah be praised" and then spouting High Gothic mixed with binary-language profanities, essentially, Priest Aluman was an undeniably good person.

In the 40K universe, which is full of monsters and demons, people like Priest Aluman are truly rare.

But the only thing that puzzled Alvin was that in the eyes of Priest Aluman when looking at him, there was always a complex emotion that was difficult to understand.

"A Tech-Priest... shouldn't like that kind of thing, right?"

Every time he thought of this, Alvin couldn't help but shiver and immediately stopped such blasphemous thoughts.

No, no, no, absolutely impossible!

The Adeptus Mechanicus isn't Christianity, and a priest isn't a father; how could there be such a hobby?

Even if he took ten thousand steps back, if a Tech-Priest really had a hobby, it should be a special preference for machines!

"There's no more cargo today, you can rest early."

Priest Aluman didn't know the "blasphemous" thoughts in Alvin's head. After checking the cargo in the warehouse, he gave him a half-day off.

"Thank you, Priest Aluman."

Alvin was slightly startled and shook off the blasphemous thoughts in his head.

Taking this opportunity, he could just go stroll around the middle hive and buy some supplies by the way. Maybe there would be an unexpected surprise?

"Go."

Priest Aluman moved with slow steps and turned toward the side door.

Inside was the Tech-Priest's forge workshop, piled with all kinds of weapons and mechanical creations. Although Alvin was envious, he knew what he could do and what he couldn't.

Priest Aluman treated him well; if he really did that, wouldn't he be an ingrate?

Withdrawing his gaze, Alvin walked toward the outside of the sanctuary.

"Wait."

Just as Alvin had one foot out of the sanctuary, he was called back by Priest Aluman.

"Priest Aluman, is there anything?" He muttered in his heart, turned to look at Aluman, and waited for the other's follow-up.

Priest Aluman walked over slowly and took out two 500-crown banknotes from his bosom: "The Grox steak at 105 Fernand Street tastes good. Remember to bring me a portion when you come back, and a bottle of Amasec. You can spend the rest of the money as you please."

"I understand, Priest Aluman."

Alvin reached out and took the two banknotes, folded them, and tucked them into his inner pocket before leaving the sanctuary.

Amasec is the most famous liquor in the Imperium, produced on all major worlds, but the taste varies wildly.

What surprised him a little was that a priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus would actually like this.

He didn't like alcohol much, but the Grox steak mentioned by Priest Aluman made Alvin's mouth water, and he couldn't help but swallow subconsciously.

Grox steak is a steak made from the most common livestock in the Imperium, the Grox. Its flavor is unique and juicy, and it is a popular alternative to beef steak, well-received by the working class.

After passing through several alleys, Alvin suddenly found that there were more people on the street than usual today.

The crowd was moving, and everyone seemed to be heading in the same direction with a common purpose. Alvin was curious for a moment and stopped a passerby to ask: "Uncle, is there any big event today? Why is everyone out?"

"Young man, just arrived in the middle hive?"

The elderly man smiled, looked Alvin up and down, and said with pride: "Today, the great Planetary Governor Hadley will lead his guards to inspect the hive city. It's a grand annual festival, and no one wants to miss this opportunity."

Planetary Governor Hadley?

Hearing this name, Alvin was stunned for half a second. Isn't this the target of Tuck's suspicion?

"Uncle, can you tell me about this Planetary Governor Hadley?" Alvin put on a look of someone who hadn't seen the world and gave the old man another 20 crowns.

Holding the two crown coins, the old man's face showed a satisfied expression; this was equivalent to two days' wages. So he cleared his throat and began to talk about Planetary Governor Hadley.

"Young man, you were born in a good era."

"Fifty years ago, Losel was actually very barren because the Imperial taxes were too high, leading to many changes in Planetary Governors, until Governor Hadley took office."

"Lord Hadley is not ordinary. Not long after taking office, he solved the Imperial taxes, encouraged everyone to produce and work, and added many jobs. That's how he built the once-barren Losel into what it is today. Not only did he reduce our taxes, but he also increased everyone's income."

"Everyone in the middle hive is very grateful to Governor Hadley, so many people come spontaneously to participate in the military parade held by Governor Hadley every year."

"Is a military parade like this held every year?" Alvin was a bit surprised.

"Of course. Don't underestimate our Losel Planetary Defense Force; they are all elites!" The old man leaned in secretly and whispered: "Let me tell you a secret: the child of my neighbor was selected from our Losel Planetary Defense Force to become an Astra Militarum soldier!"

Alvin was even more confused. The Governor Hadley he heard about from the old man seemed different from the one Tuck described.

One is an old fox who is suspected of secretly supporting the development of the cult and is deep-thinking; the other is a governor who loves his people and is diligent and clear-headed. Which one is real?

"Enough talking, the parade is about to start."

The old man hurried away, and Alvin came back to his senses and immediately followed.

The crowd was too crowded. He estimated that most of the middle hive's population was gathered in front of the hive city gate today.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Three dull bell tolls echoed over the hive city.

"This is... the bell of the Ecclesiarchy?"

Although he had never heard it before, the melodious and dull bell tolls were mixed with holy hymns, like holy water washing the soul, making Alvin tremble from the depths of his soul.

Immediately after, he saw the hive city gate, which was over a hundred meters high, slowly opening amidst the sound of heavy iron bolts and mechanical operation.

A luxury hovercar, escorted by honor guards on both sides, slowly drove into the spacious and spotless streets of the hive city.

Flowers fell like raindrops, and under the holy hymns, a ten-thousand-man army followed behind the hovercar.

At this moment, two figures on the hovercar attracted Alvin's attention.

One of them was older. Although he looked old, his spine was still straight. He wore gorgeous noble attire and a dueling sword inlaid with gems at his waist. His posture was dignified and solemn.

Obviously, this was the legendary Planetary Governor Hadley!

And beside Planetary Governor Hadley stood a young man with snow-white skin and a slightly gloomy look between his brows.

The moment he saw the "young man," Alvin was struck as if by a heavy hammer, and his head buzzed!

If it was impossible to determine whether the Hadley family had ties to the cult before.

Then, at this moment.

Amidst the flower petals falling on both sides of the street and the countless crowds erupting in tsunami-like cheers;

Under the echo of the Ecclesiarchy's bells, at the moment when millions of people shouted the name of Planetary Governor Hadley... Alvin felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, the chill penetrating his body, cold and bone-piercing!

Just because that noble young man, standing beside Planetary Governor Hadley, dressed in gorgeous clothes with handsome features.

Was exactly the cultist "psyker" Alvin had witnessed with his own eyes in the lower hive industrial zone!