NOVEL WEB Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Governor
Zhou Yun stepped out of the small inn on 9th Street, 18th Residential Block, District 9.
Yesterday he and Rena had silently trailed the old woman named Nama Karl. Zhou Yun had even changed his face several times, brushing past her on purpose to get a closer look.
This mathematician and actuary had dark, sallow skin and slightly sunken eyes, probably characteristic of the southern Terra subcontinent. Her eyes showed no madness, nor the dullness common to the elderly—instead there was a peculiar liveliness to them, as if countless numbers spiraled and turned within her pupils.
Other than that, Zhou Yun hadn't found anything unusual. She showed no psychic resonance, spoke clearly and rationally, and displayed no blasphemous behavior—just occasionally lowered her head to scribble calculations in her notebook. Zhou Yun had sneaked a glance and seen it was densely filled with mathematical formulas, graphs, and derivations. Even with his previous life's college education, he could barely understand a little and saw nothing wrong.
As for Rena, she was even worse off. Having only learned some basic math from Nama Karl as a child—enough to run a gang and keep books in the underhive—but completely lost when it came to real mathematics. She couldn't even remember the string of numbers: "387,420,489."
Zhou Yun still felt something was wrong with that number, but he couldn't pinpoint what.
Finding no signs of Chaos corruption on Nama Karl, the two decided to stay for now. Zhou Yun stood outside the inn, glancing at a small chapel nearby. According to Rena, this chapel had been funded by District 9 residents themselves, with statues of the Emperor and Sanguinius, and even some scarlet sand from Baal regarded as a relic.
Zhou Yun had insisted on staying here, even though it was several streets from Nama Karl, precisely because of this chapel. If there really was a trace of Tzeentch's corruption, maybe this small chapel could resist it a little. Plus, Zhou Yun was scheduled to meet Governor Augustus Flax here.
Zhou Yun entered the chapel.
Inside, there was no electric lighting, only flames burning fiercely under the two great statues, casting an orange-yellow glow over the chapel.
One statue depicted the Emperor, holding a flaming blade and gazing into the distance. The other depicted the Angel, thrusting a power spear into a serpent coiled on the ground.
Consecrated speakers softly played holy chants, and incense mingled with sacred oil filled the air with a faint aroma. A few people sat on the pews with heads bowed in prayer.
A priest, head lowered in reverence, softly asked Zhou Yun: "Son of Man, do you seek to confess your sins to the Emperor? Do you seek the mercy of Sanguinius?"
If I wanted Sanguinius' mercy, Zhou Yun thought to himself, why not just talk to the winged figure in white light at the corner of my eye? Somehow, he seemed to glow even brighter here.
"I'm here to see the Governor," Zhou Yun replied directly.
The priest nodded gently and gestured for Zhou Yun to ascend to the second floor.
"Son of Man," the priest said as Zhou Yun ascended, "no matter how vast earthly authority seems, it is but a corner of the Emperor's radiance. No matter how brilliant earthly wealth gleams, it pales beside the brightness on an angel's wing."
"I quite agree," Zhou Yun replied sincerely. Bright enough to blind me already, he added silently, glancing at the ever-brightening winged figure in his periphery.
Hearing his heartfelt agreement, the priest's expression became much warmer and he showed Zhou Yun to the Governor's room.
Zhou Yun nodded his thanks and pushed open the door of a small confessional on the second floor.
Inside sat a withered old man, dark circles under his eyes, reading the Holy Lexicon in the corner.
The Governor of Asford, current head of House Flax—Augustus Flax.
Zhou Yun narrowed his eyes slightly. So the Governor really did come meet him face-to-face. Augustus Flax was known to be extremely cautious and rarely exposed himself to danger.
Zhou Yun sat across from him.
"So you're still a faithful servant of the Imperium after all," Zhou Yun said with a trace of mockery.
Augustus Flax calmly closed his book and set it aside. "Faith in the Emperor allows me a little peace of mind."
He deflected Zhou Yun's mockery without the slightest ripple, his eyes fixed on Zhou Yun, every facial muscle moving with practiced precision, striking the perfect balance of scrutiny and courtesy.
Training. Zhou Yun could see it—the marks of long, relentless training. Imperial nobles enjoyed privileges, but they were far from idle wastrels. Their lives were anything but easy or pleasant. In truth, they were more exhausting and burdensome than most could imagine. Many Imperial nobles and even governors died at their posts, worked to death.
The Emperor's privileges always came with corresponding responsibilities.
From birth, they were subjected to rigorous, relentless training. Every moment of every day, every movement and expression was strictly regulated. They had to master the knowledge to rule a world, learn piety and combat, master etiquette and diplomacy. Not only were they not allowed to feel weary, they weren't even allowed to look weary.
This continued until they were forged into beings worthy of the Emperor's trust.
A governor especially. To manage an entire massive planet with only a human brain was almost beyond human limits.
Augustus Flax was a bastard who had abandoned the governance of the underhive—but that didn't make him a useless one. His years of training still showed.
"You, and that rogue psyker—what are you planning in the upper hive?"
Augustus Flax stared at Zhou Yun. "Why are you following Nama Karl, that actuary?"
Zhou Yun wasn't surprised. While tailing Nama Karl, he'd already noticed someone else shadowing them. Of course Flax's agents would be involved.
"I suspect she's a heretic, corrupted by Chaos."
Zhou Yun narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Are you interested in lending me a squad of PDF troops? I can help you eliminate this little problem."
(End of Chapter)
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