"Inquisitor."
"Mr. Barrant."
Bellona and Kleyn exchanged formal greetings.
Bellona turned to the young girl beside Kleyn, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "She must be your daughter, I presume? Her beauty is truly remarkable."
Offering a slight compliment, Bellona retrieved an engraved bolt pistol, extending it towards the girl. "I hear you have an affinity for weaponry? Consider this my introduction gift. Take care with it—this gun has silenced many traitors."
"Thank you, Inquisitor." Kleyn's daughter accepted the weapon, inspecting it closely. Though designed for mortals, the bolt pistol was lethal enough to pulverize flesh.
"The gun for my daughter is no form of compensation," Kleyn remarked coolly.
"Of course," Bellona nodded, her tone equally steady. "As per our agreement, once you bring us within the Talon System, any world within its reach, you'll receive one ton of Blackstone."
"How did you come by the Blackstone, if I may ask?"
"I have connections within the Mechanicus."
As Bellona and Kleyn continued their discussion, Eyn observed Kleyn keenly. The scar across Kleyn's face, the calluses on his hands, and the breadth of his knuckles hinted at something more than a trader's life. Bellona's intelligence from the Inquisition suggested Kleyn was a mere opportunist, a Talon native who, before the Talon Lord's conquest, provided weapons and ships. Yet the man standing before Eyn resembled more a battle-hardened warrior than a wealthy speculator.
"Forgive my interruption." Eyn addressed Kleyn. "I've heard much of your story, sir. I admire you greatly. Is it true you funded the Talon Lord's unification?"
Kleyn smiled faintly, his brow raised. "Any figure of prominence is surrounded by stories. If I were to confirm or deny them all, I would be long exhausted."
Eyn had hoped for more, but the pointed look from Bellona silenced further questions. With their exchange concluded, Bellona handed Kleyn the key to the cargo hold, while he directed her to a prepared merchant ship. The deal was struck, and both parties appeared satisfied.
"I look forward to our next collaboration," Bellona said, bowing.
"If fate allows, I would welcome it," Kleyn responded, returning the gesture, before he and his retinue entered the elevator.
Bellona led Eyn and Belant through the station toward the port. The path required passing through a dimly lit tunnel. Something about the lack of traffic in such a busy place set Eyn's instincts on edge.
"This trade feels... wrong," Eyn murmured, gripping Bellona's arm. "Kleyn is no mere speculator."
Bellona stopped, her gaze icy. "A keen observer, as always. But the question remains: should I trust your judgment or the findings of my fellow inquisitors?"
"Trust your peers?" Eyn countered. "Have you considered that the investigation began only after your request? In the Talon System's tightly guarded networks, how reliable could such intelligence truly be?"
"I understand your caution," Bellona replied coldly. "But we've invested too much to abandon the plan now." She pressed on, her steps resolute.
Reluctantly, Eyn fell back in line, casting a wary glance at the silent Belant. The tunnel stretched interminably ahead, the faint light casting eerie shadows.
Suddenly, the lights flickered, plunging them into brief darkness. As they returned, Eyn saw a metallic figure blocking their path. It was a metal-bound creature, multiple mechanical arms protruding, a power sword clutched in one hand. The lights began to strobe erratically, creating an ominous atmosphere the figure seemed to relish.
"You..." Bellona began, but before she could finish, her right arm was severed, blood splattering the tunnel walls. The pain hadn't even registered before she recalled the split-second event: the metal creature lunged from twenty meters away, slicing with unnatural speed.
As it prepared to strike again, sparks erupted from its surface—Belant had fired two specially crafted armor-piercing rounds, though neither did more than mar the polished metal.
Eyn surged forward, unleashing a psychic force that blasted the metallic figure down the tunnel's length. With no time for thanks, he scooped Bellona onto his back, sprinting in the opposite direction.
"We were double-crossed by that trader!" Eyn shouted, fury and frustration boiling over. "Why couldn't you just let this go?"
"Your impatience blinds you!" Bellona managed, though blood loss weakened her retort.
Their flight was cut short when a shadow emerged ahead—a Null. The presence of the soulless being sapped Eyn's strength, forcing him to a halt, unable even to carry Bellona further.
Through strained vision, Bellona recognized the figure—it was the Talon Lord's personal guard she had once glimpsed on Cadia.
The question of who wanted her dead was now answered.
The guard advanced, his power sword gleaming as he closed in. Eyn positioned himself in front of Bellona, breath labored, as the proximity of the two Nulls made his head spin. Yet he stood firm.
When they were mere meters apart, a gunshot shattered the tense silence. A bullet pierced Bellona's forehead.
Eyn spun around, horrified.
"You have no idea what horrors she would have unleashed." Belant's voice was icy, and he fired two more rounds to ensure Bellona's end.
The guard watched, stunned. Even he hadn't anticipated such a betrayal.
Eyn, paralyzed by shock, instinctively turned to flee, but his path was blocked—the metal-bound assassin now awaited him.
"His psychic abilities don't even match the Hive Mind's strength," it said to the guard, scoffing. "Had I known, I'd have saved myself the trouble and taken her head off in a single stroke."