Chapter 43: Bukayo's Assessment

Ninglu knew Vostonia could not hold out for long; he had already decided to conquer the Sea of Music as soon as possible.

After finalizing the framework of the deal, Ninglu further confirmed the various details of his battlecruiser with Kivior-9.

He did not want to receive a ship that was merely a hollow shell, so he questioned Luoxiji to determine the most advanced technology currently mastered by the Adeptus Mechanicus, from the smallest hull plate materials to major modules like engines, lances, and void shields.

Among these, in addition to the broadside batteries, there were also elevated ether cannons on both wings.

Of course, he also had his own requirements for facilities such as his private quarters and the armory, all of which Ninglu proposed.

After all, this warship would be his flagship before he returned to the Imperium.

Throughout the entire process, he kept his Spirit Vision active, observing the auras of both individuals.

After finalizing all the details, Ninglu and Kivior-9 signed the "Agreement on Technology Development and Trade between Sovereign Ninglu and Mars Technology."

He did not use the title of the Hive City ruler—King—but instead replaced it with a new Low Gothic word.

The political implication contained within was that he would become the sovereign who unified Vostonia.

The Sage discussed the word "sovereign" with Ninglu, and upon learning it was merely a special title he had bestowed upon himself because he occupied four Hive Cities, he did not inquire further.

Luoxiji was lost in thought; during the time he had spent by Ninglu's side, he had gained some understanding of this giant, who would never perform meaningless actions.

When signing and stamping, Ninglu pondered for a moment and decided to use the symbol of the "Black Emperor" path as his personal seal.

He quickly sketched an image on the data slate: disordered black arcs, followed by surrounding wings, spikes, and an abstract crown above.

Woyiqiehe followed the image and quickly completed the production of the electronic seal.

After signing the agreement, Ninglu ordered the Fourth Regiment to retreat, taking all the loot they had found, including the Fulao Boliren and the psychic staff.

He was on the Bridge, listening to Szczesny's briefing.

"My Lord, after I made contact with Finde and the Kurnikova Family, I formulated a plan to lure Luobote with the loot, and I took the opportunity to lead a strike team to seize the ship; he has been captured alive by me."

"Well done," Ninglu nodded with satisfaction; Szczesny's growth proved his judgment was correct, "Imprison him and hand him over to Bukayo after returning to Vostonia."

While Ninglu's fleet sailed toward the Sea of Music, in the Lukebo Hive City of Vostonia, in the Nuo fu ge luo de Qiongdeng of the Lower Hive.

A thin child, wearing ragged clothes and covered in mud, asked anxiously.

"Mikhailovsky, you said there is corpse starch to eat here, is it true?"

"Look, there are thousands of youths gathered here; will anyone really give us little burdens who can't do the work of adults corpse starch to eat?"

A youth wearing pants pieced together from rags and boots that were full of holes and did not fit, patted his shoulder heavily.

"Geleigori, don't worry, what I say is guaranteed."

"I heard this lord is also a youth, and he has already held an event in another dome."

"However, there are conditions to get a meal; I heard you have to pass a harsh test. That time, thousands of youths from over a dozen domes participated in the test, and only three hundred or so passed."

Mikhailovsky's brown pupils flickered with light, "As long as you pass, you will be able to eat your fill every meal from now on."

Geleigori swallowed his saliva subconsciously: "If I can really eat my fill, no matter how hard the test is, I must pass it."

While many youths were discussing in twos and threes, a youth with brown skin and blue eyes walked out from the darkness.

A youth of about fourteen or fifteen beside him struck the iron frame of the high platform heavily with the sheathed chainsword in his hand.

The youths were all startled and turned their heads to look.

Everyone looked at the youth on the platform, who was wearing custom-fitted carapace armor.

Bukayo looked down at them and spoke.

"Not long ago, I was just like you, a wandering youth in the Lower Hive who couldn't get enough to eat, but now I can eat whatever I want at every meal."

"You also have a chance; as long as you can complete my two assessments, you will become a member of the Vostonia Third Regiment."

"Look there."

Everyone followed the direction of his finger and looked at the pitch-black door that opened along with the sound.

"Inside that factory, all light sources have been extinguished, and there are a total of one thousand black stones inside that emit a faint glow like the one in my hand."

"Those who can see them within one meter without any obstruction, and anyone who finds one, will receive a standard ration of corpse starch for an Upper Hive technical worker today."

"During the process, there are no restrictions on any means, as long as you can get them; you can steal, you can rob, you can cooperate, or you can go it alone. If you are lucky, you can find a stone, hide it to cover the faint light, and bring it out."

Bukayo clapped his hands, drawing the attention of those looking at the factory gate.

"The important rule is, walk out of the other three exits with the stone, and you will pass the first round of the test."

"You are not allowed to rob the stones from those who have walked out of the factory!"

His blue eyes swept sharply over the crowd.

"The rules are that simple, the assessment begins now!"

Bukayo watched the youths scrambling toward the factory, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled are the most miserable groups in the Lower Hive, and his own personal experience told him how desperately these youths lived.

Most youths in the Lower Hive die before adulthood; those who live to adulthood are all ruthless characters, and even those lucky enough to be spotted by gangs, like him in the past, could only be said to be barely surviving.

As long as you give them a way to live, they are the most loyal subordinates. Compared to those adults who have their own agendas and would look down on his age and body, these youths are more malleable.

Moreover, the youths who pass the two tests he set are not only outstanding in physical strength, intelligence, and other aspects, but also possess specialties in certain areas.

Just like the youth holding the chainsword, he had a strong body, a good mind, and was quite skilled in melee combat. He used a steel pipe to clear three checkpoints and learned the first rule of "Osberh-Waya" in just three work cycles.

An hour later, the first youth ran out of the factory.

Geleigori clutched the stone and ran wildly; his clothes were torn, and his shoes were gone, but when he stumbled out and felt the lumen lamp above his head, he knew he had succeeded.

The second round of the assessment set by Bukayo tested stamina; every youth walked in a long, narrow corridor, and the three hundred who persisted the longest passed the assessment.

Just as Bukayo's second assessment was underway, the fleet led by Ninglu arrived above the orbit of the Cradle of the Sea.

After Luoxiji connected the data slate to the cogitator, he began to introduce the situation of this world.

"The total area of the Cradle of the Sea is 702 million square kilometers, of which the ocean area is 594 million square kilometers, accounting for 84.62%."

"The land area consists of 7,381 islands of varying sizes, of which more than 1,672 islands are inhabited, with a total population of approximately 17.5 million before the Xenos invasion."

"A population of over 17 million is distributed across 49 islands; the seafood and grain they produce ensure the development of Vostonia, and the Sages hope you can eliminate the invading Xenos on these islands."

(End of chapter)