Hordem Art arrived at the location specified by the Enforcer. Behind him was a small squad of gang members dressed in various pieces of damaged flak armor, clutching autoguns.
Beside them lay several massive piles of corpses. They had clearly been waiting for a long time, and impatience was beginning to show on many of their faces.
A subordinate approached Art, rubbing his hands together, and whispered, "Boss, do you think maybe..."
Art immediately turned and barked in a low voice, "Shut up!" He turned back toward the tunnel entrance, a hint of anxiety crossing his face.
Suddenly, from the shadows of the tunnel, several figures in Enforcer gear slowly emerged. Leading them was Alexei.
Even though their flak armor looked battered, Art breathed a sigh of relief when he saw them pushing a cart full of weapons. Though he wondered why the Enforcers behind Alexei had their faces completely covered, he hurried forward to meet them.
Alexei signaled Art to stop as the man ran toward him with a beaming smile.
Art pulled a folded piece of paper from his coat and said hurriedly, "My Lord, you've finally arrived."
"What, did we keep you waiting?" Alexei responded with a chilling smile.
"Not at all, not at all," Art said, waving his hands dismissively.
"Come and count the weapons." Alexei beckoned him over, then looked toward the massive piles of corpses nearby.
Hmm... looks like nearly a thousand bodies. I wonder how they transported them all.
"Everything's perfect." Art walked back with a satisfied expression. The firearms were exactly what he wanted. As for ammunition—don't be ridiculous; the 'Lord Enforcer' had given them the guns, and asking for bullets would be like asking for a summary execution on the spot.
"In that case..." Alexei reached out for the map. After receiving it, he shook hands briefly with Art. "A pleasure doing business with you."
"My Lord, do you need us to help with the bodies..." Art asked in a low voice.
"No need. You may leave. I will find you again next time." Alexei lowered his head to study the map, waving them off. He wasn't worried about them spying—not if these thugs valued their lives.
After a while, Alexei looked up from the map and stared into the distance. "So it's there. No wonder..."
The map indicated that most of the Evolution Cult (Genestealers) were active near his landfill, specifically around the territory of the gang that had recently been wiped out. There was a massive Underhive industrial zone where countless workers labored to process ore and forge weapons for various gangs. They even supplied some equipment to the Planetary Defense Forces (PDF).
The factory zone was connected to his landfill by numerous winding, dilapidated alleys. Beneath it lay a labyrinth of abandoned buildings and ancient pipes—the perfect hiding spot for a Genestealer Patriarch and the earlier generations of the cult.
Most of those workers, their families, and even the gangs near the factory were likely already worshippers of the Four-Armed Emperor. It was no wonder the Adeptus Arbites had cracked down on the 'Skullcrushers'; the Enforcers must have sensed something.
However, this small concentration of Genestealers probably wasn't enough to attract a Tyranid Hive Fleet yet. There were likely much larger cults in other Hives on this planet. For now, he would deal with these. Once his Zerg had consumed this cult, his faction would have the strength to protect itself and eventually consume the entire Underhive.
Behind him, dozens of Drones began transporting the corpses. The 'Enforcers'—actually Changlings (Mimicry Zerg)—stood guard in the distance.
Alexei ignored the thick stench of blood and filth. He walked over to a pile of bodies and noticed a strange object left behind by one of the gang members.
"A toy?" He picked it up and squinted at it. It appeared to be a high-end toy for a noble child from the Spire. Reading the manual, he clicked his tongue. "Tsk, how extravagant."
It was a doll that provided real-time feedback based on the user's emotions. Most children born in the Underhive didn't live long enough to play with toys.
Alexei carried the doll back into the Hive. Abathur approached him slowly. "Master. Biomass sufficient. Can evolve."
Alexei nodded. "Handle it. Call me when it's done." He then turned toward the girl's room.
Creak... He cautiously pushed open the rusted iron door and saw the girl sleeping in the center of the room. The sound woke her, and she rubbed her eyes, looking at him with a hint of nervousness.
Alexei felt relieved that her reaction wasn't as violent as last time. Truth be told, he was more afraid of her than she was of him; she could probably crush him like an ant if she lost control.
"Did you sleep well? I brought you some food and a toy," he said softly, kneeling as usual.
He pushed the starch bars and the doll toward her. The girl accepted them and looked at the toy with curiosity. Suddenly, the doll let out a chirpy "Hello!"
The girl was visibly startled. A massive surge of psychic energy erupted, instantly shredding the doll into pieces. Alexei's eye twitched violently.
A look of distress appeared on the girl's face. She opened her mouth and forced a raspy voice from her throat. "Sorr... y..."
Alexei took a deep breath. "It's okay. I'll bring you a better one next time." He reached out hesitantly and patted her head. "Can you tell me your name?"
The girl looked confused, then shook her head. "Name? Don't... know."
"Sigh. Then I'll call you Ellie from now on," Alexei said softly. When the girl nodded, he felt a weight lift from his chest. So far, so good. He decided to stay and talk with her for a while.
Hordem Art hummed a tune as he walked back toward his base, his subordinates following closely with the newly traded weapons. The deal had been a success. If he could get close to the benefactor behind that Enforcer, he might truly have a chance to return to the Spire. Those bastards who exiled me will... hmm?
Art stopped. Blocking their path was a figure in black robes holding a strange wooden staff.
"Hey, what are you doing?" A subordinate raised his autogun and moved forward.
Suddenly, the subordinate groaned and collapsed. His body twitched a few times before falling still, crimson blood pooling beneath him.
Art was shocked. A Psyker?! "Get him!"
Countless bullets poured toward the robed man. However, the man simply tapped his staff on the ground.
In an instant, everything went silent. The world froze. Bullets with trails of flame hung motionless in mid-air, and the terrified expressions of the gang members were locked on their faces.
"Art... the time of prophecy has arrived..." A shrill, piercing voice came from beneath the hood.
The robed figure walked up to Art and pressed a hand—shaped like a bird's claw—against his chest. A sharp, wrenching pain followed. Art felt as if his heart was being crushed. With his last bit of strength, he caught a glimpse of the face beneath the hood.
It was a face of hideous, distorted agony, like a demon crawled out from the depths of hell. With just one look, he heard countless whispers and mocking laughter exploding in his mind.
Despite the horror, Art recognized those gloom-filled eyes. It was his uncle... the one who had exiled him from the Spire.
Thud. Time resumed. A dozen bodies fell straight to the ground. The robed man stood among the corpses, muttering to himself.
"Praise my Lord. Everything is according to the plan... This planet shall become the ultimate sacrifice..."