84: Chapter 84 Are there any beauties in the city?

On the third planet of the "Cheng Tianxin" star system, the Aquila flag atop the Hive City, symbolizing the rule of the Corpse Emperor, was roughly torn down.

In its place was a battle flag embroidered with a ferocious bone bow and stars; this was the emblem of the Lie Gong Clan.

The air was filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder and scorched metal, but there had not been much actual fighting.

The Hive City Governor, Klo Kedar, was a man who knew the times. His troops had merely poured a symbolic barrage of fire into the sky, enough to justify the pay from the Emperor, and then impatiently opened the massive city gates.

For nobles willing to cooperate, the Cheng Yu Empire had a clear policy: not only would they be allowed to live, but their personal property and family safety would also be guaranteed.

This point had been clearly communicated to every planetary ruler who might become a target through various channels by the Empire's propaganda machine before the war began.

Archer Cheng Yu, the clan leader known for his bravery and lechery, was currently sitting atop a siege armored vehicle that resembled a mobile fortress.

The armored vehicle's massive tracks crushed over the streets of the outer Hive City district, which were littered with rubble and discarded parts.

He wore heavy, master-crafted power armor, the plating covered in scratches and bullet holes from battle, while his crimson cloak snapped in the dust-filled wind.

Archer Cheng Yu looked down upon the massive city that had just submitted to his feet with the typical posture of a conqueror.

Most of the Hive City's residents huddled behind dark windows or in dilapidated shacks, peering at this strange army with numb eyes.

For them, changing the flag on the city walls was a common occurrence.

No matter who sat in the palace at the top of the pyramid, they still had to struggle for tomorrow's food and water.

In the core area of the Hive City, in front of the plaza of the former Governor's mansion, the surrender ceremony was taking place.

Hive City Governor Klo Kedar, a cyborg over two hundred years old, was leading his family, retainers, and servants, all kneeling in a vast, dark sea.

His level of augmentation was extremely high. One side of his face retained aged, sagging biological tissue, and that cloudy, fleshy eye struggled to maintain a respectful expression; the other side of his face was a cold metallic structure, with a mechanical prosthetic eye glowing red, scanning left and right, seemingly assessing the strength and threat of his new master.

Klo shouted in a voice clearly tinged with electrical static, "Your humble subject, Klo Kedar, together with all the obedient citizens, sincerely welcomes General Archer Cheng Yu to take over the Hive City. We are willing to serve the General with the loyalty of dogs and horses!"

However, perhaps due to excessive nervousness, or perhaps an interference in the data stream of his mechanical prosthetic eye, the direction of his kowtow was off by more than ten degrees, facing directly at one of the personal guards beside Archer Cheng Yu.

A trace of imperceptible mockery curled the corner of Archer Cheng Yu's mouth; he had no interest in such an old bureaucrat who was always trying to ingratiate himself.

"I'm over here. Where are you looking?"

Governor Klo shuddered in fear, hurriedly adjusting his direction, and began kowtowing like a pestle pounding garlic again, but this time the angle was even more off.

Archer Cheng Yu couldn't be bothered to correct him again. "In this city… are there any beauties?"

His gaze swept over the kneeling crowd in the plaza. "Search carefully for me and send them to the main camp later. If you can't pick out at least five that satisfy me…"

He paused, his fingers lightly tapping the holster of the bolter pistol at his waist. "Your head will be removed!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Rest assured, General! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

At this moment, one of the Cheng Yus Clones, who had been standing quietly by Archer Cheng Yu's side dressed as a strategist with a feather fan in hand, stepped forward and whispered a word of caution: "Clan Leader, is this matter… appropriate? If the Madam finds out, I fear she will be displeased, leading to friction."

Upon hearing this, a trace of displeasure flashed across Archer Cheng Yu's face. "Strategist Chengyu is overthinking! I have led the boys through bloody battles for over half a month, and now that we've finally taken this star system, can't I enjoy myself a little?"

He patted Strategist Chengyu on the shoulder. "Besides, why would you let her know?"

A look of embarrassment appeared on Strategist Chengyu's face as he gently waved his feather fan. "This… gossip can be lethal."

"Tsk," Archer Cheng Yu waved his hand impatiently. "How about this: of the beauties selected, I'll give you two! How about that?"

Upon hearing this, the embarrassment on Strategist Chengyu's face instantly vanished. He closed his feather fan and bowed. "I am willing to die for the General!"

By evening, the temporary camp set up by the Lie Gong Clan in the central plaza of the Hive City was brightly lit and bustling with noise.

The Cheng Yu soldiers built bonfires, roasting rare beast meat requisitioned from the Governor's warehouse and drinking the captured fine wine.

As the saying goes, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be askew. The Cheng Yus of the Lie Gong Clan were deeply influenced by their clan leader, and each one was an expert in hedonism.

Every time they conquered a place, they would inevitably loot treasures and search for beauties.

However, in the vast and bizarre Warhammer Universe, women who fit the Earth aesthetic of the Cheng Yus were truly rare.

Most humans in these worlds either had strange appearances due to mutation, looked coarse and unbearable due to the harsh living environment, or were drained of all life by the dogmas of the False Ecclesiarchy.

Therefore, don't be fooled by their enthusiastic plundering; deep down, they were all suppressing an indescribable frustration.

But today seemed a bit different.

In order to save his own head, Governor Klo had truly spared no expense, carefully selecting a group of high-quality beauties from the extravagant families in the upper levels of the Hive City and sending them over.

In the center of the camp, on a seat covered with alien beast furs, Archer Cheng Yu was half-leaning, watching a young girl dancing gracefully in the middle of the area.

The girl was about sixteen years old, wearing an exquisite light purple gauze dress, with a graceful figure and beautiful dance moves.

Her face was charming, and her flowing eyes carried a natural allure that evoked pity, which was completely out of place with the cruelty of war, yet it was exceptionally capable of stirring the most primitive desires deep within a man's heart.

When the dance ended, the girl lightly carried a cup of amber-colored fine wine and walked gracefully to Archer Cheng Yu, her voice so delicate it could drip water: "The General's might is unparalleled. I admire you endlessly. Please, General, drink this cup to the bottom."

Archer Cheng Yu stared blankly, the flame in his heart that had been suppressed by war for so long completely ignited.

"Good, good! Drinking is good, drinking is good!"

He spoke perfunctorily, but instead of taking the wine glass, a large, rough hand impatiently grabbed the delicate hand of the girl who was offering the wine, stroking it incessantly and feeling the delicate, soft touch.

"General…" Two blushes flew across the girl's face, making her look even more beautiful. She struggled slightly, but it only stirred up the other's desire to conquer more. "Could it be… could it be that the General finds my appearance vulgar and my dance unbearable to watch?"

"Hahaha! How could I dare!"

Archer Cheng Yu laughed loudly, but suddenly, there was a trace of coldness in his laughter. He leaned in close to the girl, almost touching her ear, and said in a tone that was both greedy and cruel: "Beauty, you misunderstood… It's not you I dislike, I dislike… that there is poison in this wine!"

Before the words had even finished, the face of the young girl, who had been infinitely shy, changed drastically!

The tender, water-like eyes were instantly replaced by sharp killing intent. Her red lips parted suddenly, and several faint sounds of breaking air rang out. Several long, thin silver needles flashing with a cold, ghostly blue light shot out like a viper's tongue, aiming straight for Archer Cheng Yu's throat!

This turn of events happened in the blink of an eye!

However, Strategist Chengyu, who had always appeared to be immersed in pleasure but was actually staying vigilant at all times, moved!

He seemingly casually waved the feather fan in his hand, and a clever force stirred up a weak air current. The deadly poison needles were suddenly deflected just an inch away from Archer Cheng Yu's throat!

With a few dull thuds, "thud, thud, thud," the poison needles nailed into a wooden pillar nearby, the ends of the needles still vibrating violently!

"Dogs of the Assassins Court! You have some nerve!" Archer Cheng Yu was furious.

"I hate it most when people lie to me, especially when they dress up as beautiful women to deceive me!" Archer Cheng Yu felt that his not-so-pure heart had been greatly hurt.

"Death to those who betray the Emperor!" The assassin, disguised as a dancer, saw that the sneak attack had failed and, without lingering in battle, retreated rapidly like a ghost.