[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor":3,"chapter-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-64":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor",{"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},1511163,1962,"Chapter 64: The Planter","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-64",64,"\u003Cp>Symphony of the Sea, Castello Island, Three Stellar Days Before Spring\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bronze-skinned woman in her early twenties approached, carrying four sacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lady Marlena, the labels on these four sacks of seeds fell off. We can't tell them apart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She anxiously placed the seeds on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Castello Island sat at the heart of the Symphony of the Sea. Seasonal schools of fish from the Coral Sea always passed by, and the islanders had never practiced farming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her family was among the first to follow the shaman's call, exchanging caught seafood for seeds and preparing to plant crops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsure which would thrive best, they bought four different kinds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman had said Castello's light and soil were well-suited for these fruits and that they would be easy to care for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their plan was simple: judge by the harvest which to grow more of next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with the labels lost, they couldn't distinguish the four kinds of seeds. All were oval, dark brown, and looked nearly identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant they couldn't plant them in the optimal areas Marlena had recommended for each crop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, Kerri, let me take a look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marlena's warm, soothing voice immediately calmed Kerri's anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Planter opened one bag and took a glance. She recognized it instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of simply identifying it, she wanted the islanders to learn how to tell the difference themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scooping up a handful of seeds with her pale fingers, she patiently explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are papaya seeds. They're a bit larger and have smoother surfaces. See?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kerri nodded hard, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about the others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are sweet potato seeds. Feel how rough they are by comparison.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Kerri picked up the sacks again. Before leaving, she asked worriedly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lady Marlena, are you sure there won't be a salt mist this spring?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Castello Island's spring sometimes brought intense tides. Because of its equatorial location, evaporated sea spray could form a salt mist that blanketed the entire island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This mist didn't just corrode metal and buildings, it could kill even inland wild plants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Kerri's family, salt mist was their worst fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely not,\" Marlena replied firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was their first attempt at agriculture, and it had to succeed. Her enhanced spiritual senses let her predict the weather accurately; there would be no salt mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Kerri left, Marlena pulled out her backup star chart data slate and continued her research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four Stellar Years Later, Castello Island, Autumn\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banana trees stood in neat rows along the shoreline, their broad leaves swaying in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clusters of green bananas hung heavily from the branches, threatening to bend them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pineapple fields, golden fruit gleamed among emerald leaves, releasing a sweet, enticing aroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the island's center, the reclaimed farmland was full of rice plants bowing under the weight of golden grain that sparkled in the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cassava fields had tall, sturdy stalks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Islanders trained by The Planter now used agricultural tools skillfully, working hard during the year's third harvest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in thousands of years, the islanders no longer had to risk their lives fishing during tsunamis or storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the grain stored from just one season, they were food-secure for the entire year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disaster prevention and response facilities were being rapidly constructed with help from tech adepts sent by Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the top floor of the palace, Vieri Barella, leader of the Tirani, looked out over the thriving scene. He had once been forced to submit to Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, he had no choice. But in these years, he'd witnessed a miracle: farming transformed the island, and fishermen now worked safer, more efficient vessels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, other larger islands were enthusiastically requesting to join the development program. Ten had already been selected for the second phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vieri had grown genuinely loyal to Nareth and had just completed a year of personal service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had passed Nareth's test and earned the right to be a \"Sailor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Vieri reflected, Nareth was handling affairs in his new hive city palace when he received a message from Wojciech Bielek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My King, the Cult Mechanicum has completed construction of your battlecruiser. Magos Kivior-9 requests your presence for delivery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Nareth resolved to begin his next phase of expansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having unified Vostroya, Nareth had spent the last few years developing the two worlds under his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Vostroyan system had only two habitable planets and no new targets within the system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Milky Way was vast, with huge differences between star systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many had no habitable planets at all, and terraforming them was too expensive to be worthwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Nareth was aware of some special systems, like the unexplored Koronus Expanse, or Serpents Cradle, which contained twelve habitable worlds, true paradises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His previous ships were only suited for intra-system travel, not equipped for warp navigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he had not rushed into expansion. Instead, he focused on domestic development and sent various regiments on rotation for void warfare training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also bartered surplus food from the Symphony of the Sea with the Mechanicum in exchange for warship upgrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the new flagship was complete, the time for expansion had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth sent a message to Yelena, summoning the cabinet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one work shift, when everyone had gathered at the palace, he rose from his desk and entered the throne room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated upon his throne, he looked at the ministers clad in black robes and gave his orders:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am setting out on a campaign. While I am away, the cabinet will remain under Yelena's leadership. Continue development as per current policy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you will, my Monarch. May you return victorious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth looked over the regiment commanders. Their eyes burned with battle-lust, eager to follow their lord on his campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Howard, you'll oversee all defense operations in my absence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you command, my Lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Howard was honored by the trust, but disappointed he wasn't chosen for the expedition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bukayo, Gul'gul...\" Nareth called ten names in succession. \"You will come with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chosen ones clenched their fists in excitement. The others lowered their gazes, stifling disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth led ten regiments aboard warships bound for Sopot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the bridge viewport, he spotted his new flagship immediately; it dwarfed the surrounding vessels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ship was long and spear-like at the front, massive and mountain-like at the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its hull was covered in turrets and weapons platforms, most notably the twin aether cannons on both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire vessel resembled a coiled beast, ready to pounce on its prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the starport, Nareth was greeted by members of the Mechanicum. Kivior-9 bowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Monarch Nareth, welcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Magos, it's good to see you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief pleasantries, Kivior-9 said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Requesting execution of contractual protocol.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Permission granted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kivior-9's mask lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Initiating identity verification protocol \u002F Delivery target confirmed.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mechadendrites connected to the interface of Wojciech's data slate. A synthetic voice followed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Contract identified \u002F Proceeding with delivery \u002F Please proceed to Dock A-2 \u002F Retrieve: Battlecruiser.]\u003C\u002Fp>",1160,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.768Z",1,"novelbin.me","18b86c7ee43d3abde55bc1703cc0022bb22267ad569e4ec5ab32258c21f41036","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-65","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-63",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]