[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor":3,"chapter-warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-chapter-44":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Warhammer: Starting as a Planetary Governor",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1681014,2147,"Chapter 44: The Unspeakable Ritual","warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>Ugh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thug's fist went limp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dagger had pierced his windpipe with precision!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clutched his neck, gasping for air like a broken bellows, emitting a faint hissing sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the thug collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The factory worker saw the man standing behind the thug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was dressed in a shabby work uniform but looked energetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you alright? Can you stand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was gentle as he extended his hand toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The factory worker grabbed his hand and managed to stand up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain made it difficult for her to keep her balance, and she almost leaned completely into his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wiped away her tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My name is Marei, and I'm glad I found you in time, or it could've been dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marei... I don't even know how to thank you... Oh, I... I'm Arila...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The factory worker, Arila, stammered, still in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The beautiful Miss Arila, it was the least I could do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the first time Arila had ever been addressed like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had always felt invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her coworkers constantly got her name wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the factory overseer would always shout at her, \"Hey! You! Useless!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since her parents had worked themselves to death at the factory, no one had shown her any care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps one day she would die, and no one would even notice she was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, Arila once again felt the warmth of being cared for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Marei, seeing him as so gentlemanly, so kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially those blue eyes—they seemed to exude trustworthiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where's your home? I can take you back,\" he offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I really don't know how to thank you! I live in the C43 area, Room 502...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"C43 is quite a distance from here, and your injuries shouldn't be left untreated for long. I live nearby. Let me take you to my place to patch you up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arila instinctively wanted to refuse, but looking into Marei's eyes, she found herself nodding without even thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright... Thank you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going to his place for some first aid sounded like a good idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she didn't treat her injuries soon and they worsened, it could affect her work tomorrow, which would be a disaster!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn't afford to lose her job—or she'd starve to death!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold on a bit longer, we'll be there soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei supported Arila as they left the area and headed toward his place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, the thug lay on the ground, clutching his neck and struggling. He gasped in barely audible words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Help... me... someone, please save me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one could hear his cries for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breath grew more labored as he realized he was close to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear and regret washed over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holy Emperor, Governor, someone, please save me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched Marei and Arila walk away before his body went limp, and he lost all signs of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arila followed Marei through the winding corridors of the complex, until they finally reached the entrance of a communal dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, she smelled a foul stench and felt a sense of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It stinks!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei covered his nose in disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those filthy people never wash themselves, they stink like corpses!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Arila apologetically. \"Bear with it. Once I've bandaged you up, I'll take you home right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arila agreed and followed him inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she stepped through the door, a strange fragrance filled the air, and she heard the door lock click shut behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room ahead was pitch black, and she couldn't see a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, a strong sense of unease crept over her, making her hair stand on end!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the darkness, Marei's voice cut through the tension, calming her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't be afraid. All my roommates are on night shifts. It's just the two of us here...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arila's heart settled down again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei had saved her. She believed this gentle man wouldn't harm her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait here for a moment, I'll get a lamp,\" Marei said, letting go of her hand and disappearing into the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There hadn't been any electricity in this complex for ages, and the only light came from the faint glow of the emergency strips in the building's corridors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there was no chance of having electricity, let alone a lamp, inside this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light was a luxury only available in the Royal District or the residences of government officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a lamp was considered a rare luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Arila began to wonder how Marei could afford such a precious item, he returned with the lamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei's shadow approached, and he kindly reminded her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Close your eyes first, and then slowly open them so the light won't hurt your eyes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Arila quickly closed her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mister Marei, I've closed my eyes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei gently turned the lamp's switch, and with a crisp click, a warm yellow light flooded the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can open your eyes now!\" Marei's voice held an excitement he could barely contain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arila slowly opened her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the yellow light, she saw Marei standing in the middle of the room, watching her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And behind him—the unspeakable horror of the ritual!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire room was drenched in blood!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Women's flayed corpses were nailed to the walls, their flesh mangled and arranged in grotesque poses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of the women were still alive, writhing like worms, but their vocal cords had been severed, leaving them to scream silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around Marei, extending outwards, was a blood-painted inverted pentagram, its twisted symbols enough to chill the soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At various key points of the ritual lay piles of infant corpses, women's heads, and heaps of entrails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hell on Earth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arila's terror peaked. She wanted to scream for help but couldn't produce any sound, only managing to cover her mouth in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't even have the strength to turn and run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a beautiful masterpiece. Can't you appreciate their beauty?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei spread his arms wide, presenting his most perfect creation to Arila.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pentagram pulsed with a ghostly blue light, its glow flickering like a living thing's breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei walked over to her, gently taking her hand and leading her toward the pentagram.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is my gift to the All-Knowing Lord of Eyes. He will love it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"M-Mister Marei, p-please... let me go...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arila stammered in fear, barely able to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked into Marei's blue eyes, her face filled with desperation and helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, she was like a lamb awaiting slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei stroked her face, tucking her hair behind her ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can't leave. You are the best gift I could offer to the Lord of Eyes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his hand moved over her face, Arila felt her body stiffen, paralyzed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at the writhing women on the walls, seeing her fate reflected in them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear consumed her, and her tears flowed like an unstoppable flood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... please... no!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My poor little lamb, don't be afraid. Just sit down and rest...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei gently wiped Arila's tears with a silk handkerchief, his eyes filled with concern and reassurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led her to a broken bed by the wall and helped her sit down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are different from those other women. How could I bear to kill you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, instead, I will grant you the most exalted power from the Lord of Eyes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marei quickly crossed the room to a wooden box in the corner, carefully retrieving an object covered in a black cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a swift motion, he tore the cloth away, and a brilliant blue light spilled out, dazzling and mesmerizing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1271,"2026-06-06T13:29:01.687Z",1,"novelbin.me","7bbf2b834a7b1d69381f891f0825a7488feaa65b6cb8d91c4874d40a5ad68adc","warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-chapter-45","warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-chapter-43",771,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-cover.jpg"]