The next day, early morning.
For many days, governor Hal had not closed her eyes, due to the intense fighting on the front lines.
The day before yesterday, she had finally swallowed her pride and gone to borrow money from the nobles within the hive city, intending to alleviate the pressure on the common people and to requisition grain and fodder for the Astra Militarum.
But the result nearly infuriated her to death!
Those short-sighted, damned nobles were still crying poverty to her, saying how difficult things were for them, that their families didn't know where their next meal was coming from, making countless excuses, but it all boiled down to one sentence: they were willing to give all help, except for actual, tangible help.
In layman's terms, if she wanted money? No!
Hal was so angry that her stomach hurt, and she cursed these foolish scoundrels in her study, wondering if they thought they would be fine if the hive city was overrun by Chaos.
Just as she was pondering how to persuade these families to agree to lend money today, someone entered from outside the door.
"Lord governor, we received news that last night, Krast, Earl of the Jaba family, invited Julian, Keck, water, and twenty-three other family knights to his 130th birthday banquet."
Crack!
governor Hal's pupils constricted sharply, and Krast's cunning face immediately appeared in her mind.
She also guessed his intention for doing this, and was instantly consumed by rage, crushing the cup in her hand, veins bulging on her forehead.
"Jaba? How dare he! What is he trying to do?!"
Uniting twenty-three nobles was already openly pressuring her, the governor!
Coupled with the way these nobles pushed back when she went to borrow money the day before yesterday, she could guess the purpose of this group's alliance even with her toes: they had no intention of lending her money!
"Good, well done!"
Thinking of this, governor Hal's eyes turned fierce, she panted like an ox, wishing she could order the extermination of this group!
Calm down! Calm down!
Currently, there was still a war, with the great enemy Chaos outside, she had to consider the overall situation and absolutely could not anger this group of people.
She had no choice but to swallow this anger.
"Is there anything else?" Seeing that person still lingering, Hal asked impatiently.
These past few days, she had received almost no good news; the front lines were retreating steadily, and grain, supplies, and ammunition were about to run out.
Now, this group of scoundrels in the rear was also applying pressure, which was already giving her a huge headache.
"Uh—" "Yes, there is someone who said he wants to see you, and that he can solve your most urgent problem." The attendant replied, trembling with fear.
Her most urgent problem—governor Hal paused slightly, then immediately thought of grain, supplies, and ammunition.
"Who?!"
This matter had almost become governor Hal's nightmare, preventing her from sleeping well every night.
Now, hearing that someone could solve it, she immediately became interested.
"Speak quickly!"
"Merlin Emrys."
The attendant said obediently.
"It's him?"
governor Hal was stunned.
She had been busy these past few days and, after her initial attention, had almost forgotten that name.
She almost forgot, this bastard is a Rogue Trader, his ship is still docked in the desert area.
Leaving aside everything else—as someone who frequently needs to make long voyages, he should be able to carry a lot of necessities, right?
Although it might be a bit little to supply hundreds of thousands of Astra Militarum, even a mosquito's leg is still meat!
Thinking of this, governor Hal's heart stirred, and she said.
"Alright, go and send a formal invitation to Viscount Emrys, inviting him to be a guest at the governor's Mansion."
Upon receiving the invitation, Emrys showed a slight smile on his face.
"See, wasn't I right? This governor will definitely see me today."
Zabriel scratched his head.
He didn't understand.
Two days ago, this governor still regarded them as suspicious individuals and was unwilling to meet them.
How could her attitude have done a complete 180 today?
"Lord guesses so accurately!" After a long thought, Zabriel flattered him.
"Let's go, let's go meet this lord governor."
Emrys straightened his clothes and was the first to walk out of the room, with Zabriel following close behind him.
Before long, the two rode in the governor's exclusive hovercar and arrived at the governor's Mansion, where governor Hal was also waiting for them at the entrance.
"Viscount Emrys, I am truly sorry.
These past two days, due to the busy war efforts, I didn't have time to receive you.
You won't blame me, will you?"
Having a favor to ask, governor Hal adopted a very humble posture, greeting him with warmth as if the person who had treated them coldly two days ago was not herself at all.
"Not at all, not at all, I understand lord governor's difficulties." Emrys also smiled, looking completely unbothered.
Nobles, after all, none of them had thin skin.
The two exchanged pleasantries for a moment, then walked together into the reception banquet hall.
During this time, the two conversed very happily.
But Hal always inadvertently steered the conversation to the main topic, yet Emrys deliberately pretended not to understand.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the governor saw that he still refused to get to the point, and she became a bit impatient, unable to resist asking.
"I heard that Viscount Emrys can help me solve my current urgent needs?"
"That's what I said, lord governor."
Emrys smiled in response.
"Then do you know what my current urgent needs are?" governor Hal stared intently at him.
"From the Chaos invasion until now, what lord governor lacks most, I guess, should be—military strength, supplies, and ammunition, right?" Emrys said calmly.
"As expected of Viscount Emrys, nothing can be hidden from you." Hal sighed, then began to pour out her troubles.
"To be honest with you, the supplies for the three hundred thousand Astra Militarum, including ammunition, are already becoming critical.
Viscount Emrys, how do you intend to resolve this matter for me?"
As she spoke, governor Hal stared intently at him.
"Very simple."
Emrys smiled and said.
"Naturally, I will go to those wealthy nobles to borrow from them, such as the Jaba family.
I hear they are very rich, so I presume they shouldn't mind lending you a bit, right?"
Upon hearing this, governor Hal's hopes, which she had harbored, shattered in an instant, her brows furrowed tightly, and her tone suddenly became much colder.
"If they were willing to lend, I wouldn't need to come to you.
Since lord Emrys has no other solutions, please return for now.
I still have important matters to attend to and no time to fool around with lord here."
With that, governor Hal directly stood up.
"What if I were to say that they would voluntarily donate all their family assets to fund the war effort?" Emrys said, unhurriedly and with a calm smile.
Voluntarily?
governor Hal scoffed.
"Lord Emrys, you are too naive.
They—they would never voluntarily donate their family assets.
Are you dreaming?"
"Why don't you go and ask them, lord?"
Emrys remained unhurried, chuckling as he said.
"Trying won't hurt, right, lord governor Hal?"
governor Hal stopped in her tracks, looking at Emrys' confident demeanor, and felt a hint of doubt in her heart.
Could it really be feasible?
"Alright, I'll trust you one more time."
She turned and instructed her attendant to find those people.
Then, governor Hal sat in her chair, staring at Emrys, trying to find some flaw on their faces, but unfortunately, Emrys kept smiling, as if nothing mattered.
Soon, the attendant ran back in terror.
"N-no good, lord governor!"
"What are you panicking about?!"
governor Hal's face darkened, and she snapped.
"Has Chaos broken in? Calm down and speak clearly!"
Unexpectedly, the attendant, his face full of terror, said.
"Lord governor, I—I went to the Jaba family, and found—found that everyone inside is dead, and the nobles invited by the Jaba family, their heads have all been cut off and arranged together.
This is a Chaos invasion of the hive city!"
"What?!"
Hal was utterly shocked, subconsciously crushing her wine glass, and stood up directly, her face filled with horror.
But then, she seemed to have thought of something.
"Was it—was it you who did it?!"
governor Hal's pupils constricted, and she suddenly turned to look at Emrys, her eyes filled with furious indignation.
"You—how dare you?!"
"Lord governor Hal, you can eat ran, but you can't speak ran." Emrys calmly put down his wine glass, looking at her with a half-smile.
"Didn't your man already say it? This was the work of 'Chaos', what does it have to do with me?"
"Didn't you hear him say?"
Emrys smiled broadly.
"It was 'Chaos' that invaded the hive city and slaughter the loyal Jaba family."