91: Chapter 91 Making a Deal with the Sage of Ruler

After learning of Xia Xingchen's requirements, the Dominus immediately used a Servo-skull to investigate the available production output.

"Sector K1 will serve you."

Tech-Priest Dominus Thalia immediately sent the order to the manufacturing plant in Sector K1.

"Very well, your order has been dispatched. All supplies are expected to be delivered to you by the end of the month."

After speaking, the Dominus changed the subject:

"However, I require a deposit now, at least half of the total value."

Xia Xingchen immediately indicated that there was no problem at all.

The Dominus was stunned upon hearing this. Could Xia Xingchen really afford to pay that amount?

She had originally assumed the Governor before her would delay payment.

One hour later.

The Dominus stared in disbelief at the neatly stacked adamantium before her.

"As you requested," the Tech-Priest beside her introduced to the Dominus, "1.5 tons of adamantium as our deposit. Do you have any further questions?"

Seeing this, the Dominus had nothing more to say, and her tone toward Xia Xingchen improved significantly.

"Rest assured, your requirements will be delivered into your hands on the last day of the standard Terran month."

After finishing, the Dominus instructed her subordinate Tech-Priests to prepare for the collection of payment, and she had to return to coordinate the production of the entire Forge World.

A Dominus came to Xia Xingchen's side and led him to a place to stay.

However, as Xia Xingchen walked along the road, he felt very strange; the Tech-Priests he encountered would glance at him from time to time.

The feeling of being constantly stared at by men made Xia Xingchen feel a chill.

Why was this happening?

Xia Xingchen had completely failed to notice the attraction that the power armor he wore, a relic from the Dark Age of Technology, held for those oil-worshippers.

A Servitor led Xia Xingchen into a luxurious palace, and only then did Xia Xingchen breathe a sigh of relief.

Xia Xingchen sat on a chair.

Cassandra and Hecuba, one poured tea for Xia Xingchen, while the other helped him take off his power armor.

Xia Xingchen removed the heavy power armor and finally felt the relief on his body.

At dinnertime, Xia Xingchen had a rare moment of rest; after all, he didn't have to deal with missions or worry about those battles.

It was a pity that this place was not a Garden World, otherwise he could have actually gone out to see the scenery.

On a Forge World, all you can see are countless factories; if you like visiting factories, that is definitely a good option.

Just as Xia Xingchen picked up his tea, preparing to take a sip, there was a sudden knocking sound at the door.

Hecuba quickly walked to the door and then pushed it open.

The person who arrived was the Dominus who had received Xia Xingchen earlier.

"Praise the Omnissiah," the Dominus introduced himself, "May I be permitted to enter and see the Governor? To introduce myself, my name is Reis."

Xia Xingchen heard the commotion at the door, and after Reis entered.

He immediately noticed with delight that the power armor had already been removed from Xia Xingchen's body.

This time, Xia Xingchen finally realized something was wrong; their target didn't seem to be him, but rather the power armor on his body.

"Respected Governor." Because he had a request for Xia Xingchen, this Dominus lowered his posture and spoke in a tone as conciliatory as possible,

"Could you allow us to study your power armor for a period of time? I guarantee, in the name of the Omnissiah, that I will return it to you completely intact."

Xia Xingchen did not refuse after hearing this.

After all, he was the one asking for help; if he could build a better relationship with these oil-worshippers, many things would become much easier.

"That is no problem."

After obtaining Xia Xingchen's permission, Reis immediately had the Tech-Priests who had been waiting outside carry in equipment and Servitors.

Then, under the shocked gazes of Xia Xingchen, Cassandra, and Hecuba, they treated the power armor like a priceless work of art, having the Servitors carefully place it onto a transport machine.

A Servo-skull kept scanning, ensuring that the power armor did not sustain any damage.

"You can actually be a bit rougher; it isn't that fragile, rest assured."

"My dear Governor," Reis dared not show the slightest disrespect to this holy relic, even if it was only temporarily in their possession, "Professional matters should be left to the professionals."

After speaking, Reis turned to stare at that damn Servitor, whose movements were excruciatingly slow.

"Praise the Omnissiah! Servitor No. 1, be careful, do not make me lose my temper in front of our guest."

Thus, after bustling about for more than ten minutes, the members of the Adeptus Mechanicus transported the power armor away. Reis respectfully performed an Aquila Salute to Xia Xingchen before walking out of the door.

After resting for a while, Xia Xingchen entered the bathroom and washed up briefly.

Xia Xingchen sat on the bed, staring speechlessly at the scene before him.

"May I ask, why do you two have to sleep in the same bed as me?"

Cassandra on the left and Hecuba on the right were going to sleep here tonight as well.

Cassandra gave the most perfect explanation.

"We are your personal maids; if you have any needs at night, we must be the first to rise and serve our master."

The little one, Hecuba, ate a bite of the dessert that had been brought over.

This little one particularly loved sweets, so Xia Xingchen had the people of Tri-Faer bring a large portion of desserts, all of which were given to Hecuba.

"Sister, put down the dessert. Your task is to serve our master, not to eat."

Hecuba was stunned, then immediately used her psychic powers to move all the surrounding desserts to the table beside them.

Xia Xingchen was holding a data-slate, looking at the content on it.

Most of the content on the data-slate was about weapon introductions for Tri-Faer, as well as the history of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Tri-Faer.

Cassandra and Hecuba were watching a holographic projection.

The holographic projection was similar to a television, and it was playing the movie "Imperial Hero Political Commissar."

In the middle of the night, Cassandra and Hecuba had long since fallen asleep beside Xia Xingchen.

Only the light from the holographic projection illuminated the room, and this four-hour-long movie finally reached its end.

However, Xia Xingchen didn't even glance at it; most of his attention was focused on the data-slate, because he had discovered that Tri-Faer had warships for sale.

Most of them were earmarked by the Department of Military Affairs, but there were often some that were unneeded and leaked out; would he have a chance to acquire one?

Just as a thought occurred to Xia Xingchen, before he could think much about it, the holographic projection suddenly changed channels automatically.

"Share eternal pleasure, please proceed to 666 Industrial Avenue."

Upon hearing this, Xia Xingchen immediately looked up, but before he could see the image clearly, a new advertisement appeared the next second.

The screen instantly turned from that brief purple to entirely blue.

"Do you crave eternal knowledge? Please proceed to the 999th floor of the library."

Seeing this image, Xia Xingchen was stunned, the surprise on his face not yet subsiding.

The next second, the image changed again.

It started with green as the main theme, and a few little green sprites appeared, hopping and skipping as they announced:

"Embrace eternal serenity and health, please proceed to 777 Green Garden."

Should I call the Inquisition?

This thought suddenly popped into his mind, but before it could vanish, the image on the holographic screen changed once again the next second.

A blood-red image took over the screen.

"But it requires glory and blood, please proceed to 888 House of Brass."

Upon seeing this, Xia Xingchen immediately turned off the holographic projection.

I didn't see anything just now, it's time to sleep.

The next day.

Led by the reception priest, Xia Xingchen visited the manufacturing plant in Sector K1.

The assembly lines were entirely manned by stationary Servitors; looking at the scene, these individuals were fixed onto the assembly line, working continuously.

On the assembly line, some Servitors were polishing gun barrels, while others were polishing firearms; all work was completed by fixed Servitors.

There were also some mobile Servitors on the production line, their lower bodies modified into tracks and temporary storage bins for loading and unloading products.

Whenever a product had an issue, a Tech-Priest would take it out separately to handle it personally, while those mobile Servitors would hand the tools and necessary parts to the Tech-Priest.

Xia Xingchen also observed that the efficiency of some Servitors began to decline due to long-term work, and then that Servitor was dismantled without hesitation.

A newer, younger Servitor was swapped in; throughout the process, not a single person showed any expression, just like replacing a spare part.

In the eyes of the Tech-Priests, these Servitors were no longer people, but components; if they had a problem, they had to be replaced.

Looking at it this way, the entire factory seemed to be a highly efficient entity.

Pieces of equipment were manufactured batch after batch.

Was the scene in front of him serious?

Xia Xingchen watched these Tech-Priests, each one personally inspecting, and one after another, performing incense burning and prayers.

To be honest, this last step severely affected production efficiency.

A Tech-Priest was in front of Xia Xingchen, introducing him to everything ahead.

Just as Xia Xingchen was about to finish touring the entire foundry, Reis suddenly walked hurriedly in front of Xia Xingchen.

"Dominus Reis, what is the matter? Why are you so flustered?"

"Let us go inside to talk."

Dominus Reis immediately pulled Xia Xingchen to a corner.

"I apologize to you, Governor."

Xia Xingchen was full of curiosity; what was going on? What had happened?