On the defensive line of the pipeline zone, the rescue work was nearing its end.
Arye glared at Deville: "Scum from the logistics department, don't think we'll thank you just because you helped save people!"
"I don't need the gratitude of you Underhive dwellers,"
Deville responded with an air of superiority. "Everything I do is for the Governor. One day, he will recognize my loyalty and contributions!"
"Damn bastard, what are you so proud of? We're the heroes here. I heard the Governor hands out some kind of medal to heroes. Maybe the ship coming to pick us up is already on its way! We'll soon be heading to the spire to meet the Governor. You'll be so jealous!" Arye grumbled.
Deville laughed, as if he had heard a joke: "Ignorant Underhivers!"
He turned away, no longer wanting to see Arye, who he compared to a Grox.
Suddenly, an assault craft flew in, landing not far from them, drawing everyone's attention.
A spire assault ship!
The hatch opened, and an official from the Department of Military Affairs, flanked by two guards, approached Arye and Kaes.
The official's face was cold as he glanced at them: "Captain Arye, Cadet Staff Officer Kaes, you are to accompany me to the spire immediately. The Governor wishes to see you!"
What!
Everyone present was stunned.
"By the Emperor, you've got to be kidding me!"
Arye couldn't believe it. He had just been speaking nonsense earlier, but now the Governor had actually summoned him!
The military official's tone was unmistakable:
"The Governor is waiting for you. This is an order. To disobey is to betray!"
He gestured for them to follow.
Realizing it was true, Arye smirked at Deville:
"Eat that, bastard! I'm off to meet the Governor!"
Deville stood there in shock, muttering to himself, "How is this possible... Why would the Governor meet an Underhiver..."
Kaes, snapping out of it, grabbed Arye by the arm: "Come on, Cyclops, let's go!"
Quickly, Arye and Kaes followed the official into the assault ship.
The craft took off, heading toward the spire in the royal district.
Deville was left standing there, covered in the dust kicked up by the departing ship.
Gone was his earlier arrogance, his eyes fixed on the direction the craft had flown.
Determined, he vowed silently to work even harder in fulfilling the Governor's orders with twice the loyalty.
He had to achieve his family's long-held dream—an official audience with the Governor.
He couldn't lose to an Underhiver!
Inside the assault craft, Arye nudged Kaes: "Hey, kid, why do you think the Governor wants to see us? He's not really going to give us some kind of medal, is he?"
"Stop dreaming, that's impossible," Kaes replied after thinking for a moment. "I bet the Governor wants to talk to us about the mutant surge.
You remember the huge explosion that happened at the first pipeline defense line, right? The blast hit the command center directly!"
"Are you saying those command center bastards might all be dead?" Arye rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
The commanders of the Defense Forces were all from the royal district, and they had never treated the Defense Forces as people.
They often created brutal combat plans with no regard for the soldiers' lives, leading to heavy casualties.
"We've heard nothing from the command center so far. It's possible they were all wiped out."
"Damn, that's a big deal!" Arye slapped his thigh, a mischievous glint in his eye.
But when he noticed the cold gaze of the military official opposite him, he quickly toned it down.
The assault ship landed on the spire's estate landing pad.
As Arye and Kaes stepped off the craft, they were awestruck by the sight before them.
The spire estate, renovated by the Grant family for millennia, was the epitome of luxury and artistry on the entire planet.
It was the perfect fusion of Imperial cold architecture and Victorian grandeur.
Neither of them had ever seen anything so breathtaking and magnificent in their lives.
Though they weren't well-versed in art, the beauty it conveyed was something anyone could feel!
Arye, at that moment, didn't know how to express the awe in his heart.
If a wandering poet stood here, they might compose a hundred beautiful poems.
"Damn, this place is gorgeous!"
Arye marveled as he took a deep breath: "Even the air here is sweet!"
He felt lighter all over, almost floating, even a bit dizzy.
The spire estate had its own protective shield and air filtration system to prevent extreme situations.
The estate's rear garden was even filled with green plants.
The air here was the freshest on all of Urth.
Arye, having spent his life breathing in the polluted and heavily recycled air of the lower hive, was bound to have such a reaction when inhaling pure air for the first time.
Arye, with his single eye, looked around curiously.
Soon, he spotted the hundred-meter-tall statue of the God-Emperor.
"Emperor above, is that thing really this big?"
From afar, it hadn't seemed impressive, but standing near it, he realized how massive it truly was.
Kaes squinted, noticing something unusual:
"There are people up there, repairing the statue…"
He frowned, deep in thought, but the military official's cold voice interrupted him.
"You may proceed!"
With that, the official turned and re-entered the craft. He had no chance to meet the Governor himself.
The assault ship flew away.
Arye and Kaes were led into the spire estate.
After undergoing a series of checks, including body searches, decontamination, disinfection, and mental tests, Arye caught a whiff of his own scent and was almost intoxicated by it.
"Damn, this stuff smells amazing!"
"Don't say anything foolish when we meet the Governor!"
Kaes appeared calm, but deep down, he was nervous.
After all, they were about to meet the most powerful person on the planet, a man who held its fate in his hands!
After a lengthy process, they were finally notified.
They could go see the Governor!
Inside the Governor's office.
Eden stretched, having just received the report. The men he had summoned were about to arrive.
He picked up two files from his desk and reviewed them.
They were the dossiers of Arye and Kaes.
"Immortal Arye, Cunning Kaes..."
The more he read about them, the more they seemed like protagonists.
They reminded him of the old Cyclops and Little Kaes from the legends!
"Talented people!"
Eden nodded in satisfaction.
"With such strategists at my side, what do I have to fear from this Warhammer 40K universe?"
Soon, Arye and Kaes were ushered into the Governor's office by a maid.
"You've finally arrived. Good work!"
Eden greeted them warmly.
"Damn... cough... Governor, sir!"
Seeing the young, noble, and overwhelmingly charismatic Governor, both Arye and Kaes were momentarily flustered, unsure of how to respond.
Kaes controlled his slightly trembling hand and bowed deeply: "Governor, I offer you my most sincere greetings!"
Arye, seeing this, hurriedly stammered and followed suit.
"Governor, I… I greet you as well!"
(End of Chapter)