Chapter 253

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Protagonist:

Lin En

Lena

The Empire does not care in the slightest how Brevis is faring.

They do not care whether Brevis has just suffered a massive Greenskin invasion, nor do they care that Brevis's population has plummeted by one third.

They care even less that Brevis's grain reserves have hit rock bottom and that it still faces the enormous threat of the Dolido Greenskins.

They care about only one thing: whether you have paid the Tithe on time and in full.

As long as you fail to pay the tax, what awaits you is the Tribunal's judgment, the Imperial Navy's punitive expedition.

The entire planet will be declared a "Rebel World" and then utterly exterminated.

"Damn the Empire!" Lin En cursed in a low voice, his tone filled with anger and helplessness.

He naturally knew what the Tithe meant.

The Empire's Tithe comes in many varieties, is incomparably harsh, and the collection standards often change.

It all depends on the Ministry of Internal Affairs' mood and the resources needed by the local star domain.

As a Hive World, the most basic Tithe for Brevis is the Tithe of Manpower.

Basically, every Hive World must hand over one tenth of its population to the Empire each year as manpower for the Star Realm Army.

In the Warhammer World, people have always been the cheapest "goods"; Lin En could still barely accept this.

The Vanguard Army's large-scale recruitment of recruits and preliminary training during this period was largely to provide suitable manpower for the Tithe.

But Lin En heard that last year, for other reasons, the Tithe Fleet did not arrive on time.

That is to say, he has to pay two years' worth of Tithe at once.

Thinking of this, Lin En rubbed his temples again; it really was a headache.

But what Lin En worried about was that, besides the Tithe of Manpower, other resources would also be levied this time.

After all, the Calixis Star System where they are located seems to be in the Menglong Star Domain, where the "Thirteenth Black Crusade" began.

The Cadian Gate was destroyed, the Great Rift unfolded; it is estimated the entire Menglong Star Domain is fighting fiercely.

So it is quite "normal" for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to levy additional resources from Hive Worlds.

Grain, minerals, industrial products, armaments, even Spirit Energy Users.

These are what would truly cost Brevis its life.

Grain is precisely what Brevis lacks most right now.

After the Greenskin harassment, Brevis's main grain source, Dolido, was completely occupied.

Now, it relies entirely on the grain production lines in the hands of the Upper Level Nobles to barely maintain operation.

If the Tithe collector also demands large quantities of grain, Brevis will immediately erupt in a large-scale famine.

The number of those who starve to death will be an immeasurable figure.

And more troublesome, more terrifying than grain, are Spirit Energy Users.

Once the collector proposes levying Spirit Energy Users, the Star Tongue Court's Black Ships will follow.

The Inquisitors and "Silent Sisters" on those Black Ships hold the power of life and death.

They will hunt down all Spirit Energy Users on the planet like hounds, regardless of age or gender.

Afterwards they will take the qualifying Spirit Energy Users onto the Black Ships.

Subsequently, the vast majority of Spirit Energy Users will be sent to Terra, fed to the one on the Golden Throne, becoming fuel for the Warp "Warp Torch".

Lin En himself is not a Spirit Energy User, but many Gene Thieves lurking on Brevis possess psyker talent.

Not to mention those "Cold Soldiers" on the Brevis Icefield; once Black Ships arrive at Brevis, they face the risk of exposure at any moment.

When that happens, not only will all of Lin En's plans come to nothing, but he and Lena, and everyone loyal to him, will be thoroughly settled by the Tribunal and Black Ships.

"Must return immediately." Lin En decided on the spot, without any hesitation.

The situation on Kal II is also tense, but at least the Greenskins have been scattered for now and will not launch a large-scale counterattack in the short term.

As long as Dolido does not immediately launch a large-scale assault, with proper defense, holding out for a week or two is completely fine.

But Brevis is his current foundation.

If Brevis falls into chaos and the Tithe has issues, then all his previous efforts will turn to bubbles.

He will lose everything and become a homeless wanderer once again.

"Relay my command." Lin En spoke in a deep voice into the Communication Device,

"Peak Obsidian, and all Destroyers and Escort Ships, remain on Kal II to assist defense."

"All Ground Forces also stay behind."

"I will lead the 'Lightning', 'Swift Wind', 'Thunder' three Turbulence-class Frigates and return to Brevis immediately."

"Adult, you are returning with only three frigates? Too dangerous!"

A senior officer said in surprise, "What if we encounter a Warp storm, or space pirates......"

"No time." Lin En shook his head.

"Every extra ship delays us by another minute; three Turbulence-class Frigates are the fastest speed, and that is enough."

He walked to the Star Map, looking at the marked positions of Brevis and Kal II, his gaze heavy.

The Dolido Greenskins will sooner or later learn the news that Kal II has fallen.

They will certainly counterattack.

The coming week will be the most difficult, and also the most cruel, test for the Expedition Fleet.

"Go get Gus." Lin En said.

Soon, Gus walked in with quick steps.

He wore a Vanguard Army officer's uniform covered in bloodstains, his bearing straight and tall like a pine.

He had grown a thick mustache, covering his originally overly delicate chin, adding a few points of rugged temperament.

Those once clear eyes, carrying a trace of timidity and confusion, had now become deep and firm, filled with the steadiness and ruthlessness of one long seasoned on the battlefield.

In just six short months, that White-faced Pretty Boy who had once depended on a woman, been depressed and unsuccessful, and been mocked by everyone, had already completely transformed.

He had become a true soldier capable of shouldering responsibility alone.

"Adult, you were looking for me?" Gus gave a standard Eagle Salute, his movements clean and sharp.

Lin En looked at him and nodded in satisfaction.

During this expedition, Gus's performance had far exceeded Lin En's expectations.

Most of the time, Lin En was busy manipulating the "one versus seven" Orc Puppets, going deep inside the Green Skins, stirring up trouble and sowing discord.

The fleet's daily mobilization, logistical supply, and several key feints were almost all single-handedly managed by Gus with Lena's assistance.

His military talent had been thoroughly awakened in the baptism of blood and fire.

He could always make the most correct decision at the most critical moment.

Exchanging the smallest price for the greatest victory.

Even more rare was his loyalty to Lin En.

According to the system display, Gus's Affection Level had already reached a full 30 points.

This value doesn't look high, but its gold content is extremely high.

Lin En had observed that ordinary Expeditionary Force soldiers mostly had an Affection Level toward him between -10 and 0.

Those Brevis civilians who had survived because of his policies had an Affection Level toward him of only around 10.

In this dark and desperate world, being able to break into positive numbers already counts as loyal and devoted.

After all, when he first met Lena back then, Lena's Affection Level was -55 points; she hated him so much she wanted to eat him on the spot.

Lin En handed Gus a cigar and lit one for himself as well.

"How long have you been with me?" Lin En took a drag of the cigar and asked casually; amid the swirling smoke, his expression was somewhat blurred.

Gus took the cigar, lit it, took a drag, and then answered respectfully:

"Reporting to Adult, six months and seven days, not a day more, not a day less."

He remembered it clearly; from that day on the Xian Ge Hao, his life had completely changed.

Lin En smiled, blew out a smoke ring, then suddenly raised his head, looked into Gus's eyes, and asked point-blank:

"Hmm...... the matter on the Xian Ge Hao, do you still hate me?"