Chapter 112: The Black-Armored Knight Descends from the Sky

For the next period of time, Ninglu's focus would be to conquer the surrounding worlds, with Vostonia as the center.

In this situation, the key was the number of Junluanzhanshi, so the Primarch first turned his gaze toward the Chief Apothecary.

"Mitchell, I want to hear your report first. How are the expansion of the apothecary scale and the Gaizao Shouhu progressing?"

"Father, five intern apothecaries have passed the assessment and become full apothecaries."

"Another fifty-two apprentices have passed the test and become intern apothecaries, and the number of servants capable of assisting with Gaizao Shouhu has also increased by two hundred and thirty-one."

Hearing the progress in personnel training reported by the Chief Apothecary, Ninglu nodded with satisfaction.

"Well done, I am satisfied with your progress."

The Gene-Father's praise left Mikel feeling greatly encouraged.

"As of today, a total of thirty-nine thousand five hundred and thirteen Candidates have undergone Gaizao Shouhu, and the number of failures is ten thousand four hundred and eighty-two."

"Among them, only forty-three unfortunately suffered Death; all other failed Candidates have survived."

"Excluding the battle-brothers who have already followed their respective Chapters into combat, the fleet has a total of nine thousand five hundred and thirty-two Order Shadow."

Ninglu nodded slightly; since his return to the Legion, the number of Warriors had more than doubled, which was a cause for joy.

"Mikel, your work has been highly effective."

The Primarch then said to Gabriel, "Ensure the supply of power armor and weapons, and let every Order Shadow receive their weapons."

"As you wish."

The Techmarine immediately accepted the order, and seeing the Gene-Father turn his gaze toward him, he began his report.

"I and the Techmarines have dismantled various machines we collected, and combined with the deciphered data, we discovered that the technology contained in the metal wings that support their flight can be used to make relevant improvements to the technology mastered by the Adeptus Mechanicus."

"It is expected that after the improvements, it can be used for the Auxilia to increase their mobile combat capabilities."

"Continue the research, but do not mention it to outsiders."

Huang Laohan's disgust for Xenos technology was not as high as it was for knowledge and culture, but he did not like it either.

Ninglu was also unwilling to share the Legion's discoveries with other Legions; it was most appropriate as a secret of the Order Shadow.

This would neither invite infamy nor prevent the accumulation of a technological advantage unique to the Eleventh Legion.

"Continue the research."

Ninglu turned to Arsena and asked.

"I want to hear the scan report of the Persephone Star System."

"My lord, there are five Planets in this star system, and the Auger Matrix scan found that three of them are inhabited by humans."

"It has been confirmed that the civilization level of the natives is backward, and their weapons pose no threat to the Junluanzhanshi."

As he spoke, he operated the Control Staff, lighting up the three Planets on the Star Map, and then introduced them one by one.

"The most eye-catching of these is this world; the standard code for Imperial cartographers is Persephone Prime EX1."

"The environment on it has not suffered any damage and is very suitable for human habitation; the natives have built it into a magnificent world, which can be called a garden."

"What is strange is that although there are life signals, the density is very low, and the total population of the entire Planet is estimated to be no more than fifty million."

Arsena frowned and said, puzzled.

"According to my preliminary calculations, in such an environment, humans should flourish, and the population should at least exceed one hundred million."

Ninglu tapped his fingers on the back of his chair, scanning everyone in the Strategy Room, and after a few seconds of thought, he issued an order.

"Kirkland, lead three squads of recruits to the surface and tell them that as part of the human species, they should submit to me."

"By your command, Father."

Wearing a suit of black armor with a Bolter Pistol and Chainsword at his waist, he felt exhilarated to have received an honorable mission from the Gene-Father.

Seeing that the Primarch had finished issuing orders, the Primarch Attendant began to report.

"My lord, the other two Planets are marked as Persephone CW-2 and CW-3 respectively; they also maintain their original ecology, but are not as beautiful as the main Planet."

"According to the scan results, the estimated populations of these two worlds are one hundred and twenty million and ninety-three million, respectively."

"Send out squads, with Gibbs and Chambers in charge."

The three Order Shadow selected by Ninglu all came from the Eleventh Chapter.

Since the natives' technological level was backward, he hoped to conquer them peacefully; this was also a manifestation of the results of his transformation of the Legion's culture.

In order to increase the probability of success, Ninglu decided to cultivate the three offspring into individuals with extraordinary abilities.

Through his observation of them during this time, the Primarch had already confirmed the loyalty of his offspring.

"You should first communicate with Arsena to confirm the details of the surrender process."

"I will see you in my office in twenty minutes."

Thirty-three minutes later, the three newly promoted "Lawyers," filled with gratitude for the abilities bestowed by the Gene-Father and pride in becoming new members of the Royal Court, walked out of the Primarch's office.

Each of them selected thirty Order Shadow from the newly transformed Vostonia recruits, boarded a landing craft, and headed to their respective targets.

Gibbs boarded the landing craft and descended rapidly; the marble city below became increasingly clear.

The Superhuman Senses of the Order Shadow already saw the knights below, who were holding black-powder weapons, wearing metal knight armor, and climbing onto warhorses, looking in terror at the aircraft descending from the sky.

He gave an order to the pilot, "Land outside the city."

"Get ready; no attacks are allowed without my command."

Having followed the Gene-Father, Gibbs already understood the Primarch's intentions; he did not like the Junluanzhanshi to be addicted to slaughter as they had in the past, turning entire worlds into ruins; if they could peacefully conquer Persephone CW-2, that would be best.

Considering that the natives lacked interstellar travel capabilities and used backward black-powder weapons, posing little threat to them, he decided to adopt a softer approach to conquer this world.

The roar of the landing craft startled the natives' warhorses, which ran off in a panic.

The knights tried their best to control their mounts, but the animals' instincts rendered their training useless.

It was only after they had run several miles that they managed to stop the terrified warhorses.

More than a dozen of the most elite knights drove their fine steeds, approaching the Monster descending from the sky with the courage to face Death.

When they finally arrived in front of the Monster, they found a squad of giants in black armor standing before them.

The giant was tall, as tall as they were while mounted on their warhorses.

Gibbs looked at the natives before him; he pressed the player on his chest plate with his gauntlet, and a broadcast in High Gothic immediately rang out.

"Listen well, we are the Human Empire, Warriors of the Eleventh Legion."

"By the order of King Ninglu, we come to inform you of the truth of enlightenment..."

The natives looked at one another; the sound emitted by the metal monster was somewhat similar to their language, yet they still could not understand it.

Gibbs was well-prepared; he tapped his gauntlet lightly, switching to the second language recorded by the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The other translated languages were synthesized electronic mechanical sounds.

The mechanical broadcast rang out time after time until the sixteenth, when Gibbs noticed a change in the knights before him, so he locked onto that translation channel.

The Order Shadow slowed his speech, "Have you heard clearly?"

A knight clad in golden armor stepped out from the crowd and spoke in a language that was similar but clearly distinct.

"I am Fes, Knight Commander of the Golden Lion Dynasty; I have never heard of any Human Empire, nor any King."

Gibbs's gaze turned cold; he caught the disrespect the other party showed toward the King, drew his Bolter Pistol from his waist, and aimed and fired in one fluid motion.

With a loud bang, the iron-clad warhorse was blown to pieces by a single shot, and Fes was sent flying by the shockwave.

Gibbs said coldly: "In our presence, your Golden Lion Dynasty is nothing but a delusion."

"Take me to see your King."

The warhorses fled in terror, and it took a long time for Fes to struggle to his feet.

He looked in terror at the black-armored giant who had descended from the sky, realizing that even they, the most elite knights of the Golden Lion Dynasty, were like ants before him.

They lacked the strength to refuse, and after a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Please follow me."

(End of chapter)