Stars for the good Warhammer.

Chapter 298 Gene Promotion (4K words)
Is the existence of the Alliance a new hope for the human empire and even the entire galaxy?
Or does it bring a new threat?
To this question, the girl named Grey Wind did not give a direct answer, but said meaningfully that some things were better seen with one's own eyes. Then she first sent people to send the merchants to the fortress world [Keml] which had just been bombed by the fleet.

Standing in a research vessel with stealth capabilities, Abelard, a merchant from the Solar Star Region, saw that the defense facilities originally built outside the hive city had been completely destroyed after the previous continuous orbital bombardment. Dense light spears cut off the mountain tops and blasted gullies in the already barren land. The raging flames from the burning building wreckage and the dust in the air dyed the sky crimson.

Faced with the fleet that blocked out the sky overhead and the pressure brought by the Skyfortress, the nobles in the fortress were obviously unwilling to give up easily. Under the order of the mad tyrant, taking advantage of the pause in the orbital bombardment, millions of lower-class residents in the hive city were driven into the extremely harsh wilderness with almost no means of protection.

In order to safeguard the power of their family, the tyrant's minions joined forces with gang members to force the people to dig trenches crisscrossing like a spider web on the outskirts of the hive. They used tunnels and bunkers built with waste materials to form an extremely crude defense line under the threat of muskets and bayonets, guarding the hive fortress where the nobles hid and opened multiple void shields.

These people had almost no weapons that could pose a threat, and there was no heavy equipment in the position. In fact, the high temperature and toxic air on the surface alone was enough to kill them. It was obvious that the tyrant just wanted to use those poor people to buy more time for himself.

After witnessing the general situation on the battlefield, Abelard knew very well that this could not be called a battle at all. Once the ground battle officially started, it would only become a one-sided massacre. Perhaps the girl named Grey Wind wanted to use this to further demonstrate the absolute dominance of the alliance and the consequences of opposing it.

Apparently, the people on the ground also realized this. Looking at the [Hymn Throne] above their heads that almost covered the entire sky, some people began to pray, praying for salvation.

Then, something unexpected happened.
At first, Abelard thought that these poor souls who were driven out of the fortress would be the first to suffer orbital surgical strikes to clear the way for the Legion's attack. However, as the bombing was restarted, countless spears of light fell from the sky to the ground and were finally concentrated on the fortress where the nobles were hiding.

Under the saturation attack from the Skyfort and the fleet, the deadly bombardment was like hail piercing through the awning made of plastic film, and in just three seconds, it tore into pieces the barrier that the nobles thought they were safe. Ironically, most of the people who were driven out to die by them were saved as a result.

Later, under the instigation of the alliance, countless men and women in the chaos began to turn their guns and join the siege against the nobles and their minions.

After seeing the tyrant being pulled out of the rubble and executed in front of everyone, the scene of the people cheering for the "saviors" left a very deep impression on Abelard.

He didn't understand why those people reacted like that.

How can they be sure that the alliance will bring benefits?

Shortly after that, the girl named Grey Wind led the Empire's representatives to several surrounding planets, where they saw neat and orderly cities and factories, producers in neat uniforms, and people gathered together and laughed in green gardens after the environmental transformation. Even for the knowledgeable traveling merchants, such a scene was extremely rare.

Abelard did not believe that the Alliance, which held such power, would treat these lowly beings in such a gentle and even dreamy way. Perhaps all this was just a specially prepared performance. While the Alliance members were talking with the businessmen who were traveling with them, Abelard, who was walking in the garden square, stopped a young woman who was operating a data board beside the green belt, ready to use his actions to expose the Alliance's lies.

"Hey, I have some questions for you."

Due to excessive concentration, the sound did not attract the other party's attention at first, until Abelard stood next to the woman.

When she saw that a nobleman in luxurious clothes and with a serious expression had appeared in front of her, the woman, who felt a little panicked, instinctively wanted to kneel down and salute, and kept asking for forgiveness for her disrespect.

However, just as she was about to bend down, her peripheral vision accidentally caught a glimpse of the data tablet in her hands. Recalling her current identity as a citizen of the Alliance, the woman, who was trembling like a small animal, straightened up again under Abelard's gaze.

"Sir, what can I do for you?"

Looking at the nervous look on the woman's face, Abelard first looked her up and down carefully. Judging from her healthy figure and her ability to operate the data tablet skillfully, she should be the child of a wealthy businessman or official.

"If I remember correctly, this world called Grag should have originally had a large hive city for producing promethium, but now it has been transformed by the Alliance into a dome world with a greenhouse. I want to know how the Alliance deals with the untouchables who originally lived in the lower nest."

As he spoke, Abelard raised his head and looked at the transparent dome covering the city. According to his understanding, this world called Grag was originally a world of death that could be called the same as Valhalla.

Due to unstable stellar activity, the planet is frozen in extreme cold most of the time. Except for a small number of people, most residents in the hive can only keep warm with the toxic exhaust gas regularly discharged from factories.

Abelard wanted to know how the Alliance dealt with those people. In his opinion, there might not be much difference between the Empire and the Alliance, because this was the law of operation in this galaxy.
"Also, I want to know your true thoughts on the alliance's rule. Don't worry, if you are willing to answer seriously and tell me your true thoughts, I will reward you handsomely."

As he spoke, the slightly fat man took out three small throne coins from his shirt pocket with his fingers. That was a common currency in the human empire. Just three coins were enough to buy the lives of many undernesters.

What surprised Abelard was that after hearing the word "untouchable", the look in the woman's eyes gradually changed.

"My Lord, I don't understand what you are going to do, but I am the pariah you mentioned. My parents were refiners at that promethium factory. They died in the factory long before the Alliance fleet arrived, at the hands of you nobles. It was the Alliance who helped me bury them."

The woman's words caused Abelard to fall silent.

"The Alliance gave us survivors two choices. One is to leave here and go to Haven's Ideal City to work, and the other is to stay here and join the upcoming planetary development activities. The Lord Gabriel ordered the construction of this [Perfect City] for us as a residence for the colonists who stayed in Grag."

Listening to the woman's firm tone, Abelard couldn't believe his ears at this moment.

"Are you saying that this dome city was built by the Alliance specifically for you?"

"With the help of Lord Gabriel's [Machine Soul] troops, it won't be difficult to build a small settlement."

When he heard this, Abelard hesitated for a moment while looking at the blooming flower beds in the distance. About ten seconds later, he asked back in a doubtful tone.

"So what is the price? Why did the leader of the alliance do this?"

"There is no price. According to Lord Gabriel, the Lord of Ashes plans to build Grag into an academic city dedicated to training scholars. In addition, the Alliance has given me this." As the words fell, the young woman took off the leather glove on her right hand and showed the advanced prosthetic hand in front of the wandering merchant. Judging from the level of craftsmanship, it was obviously not a cheap product, at least that was what Abelard thought.

"I understand how you feel, sir."

Looking at the other person's pupils full of shock, the woman's expression at this moment was extremely complicated.

"Perhaps in your eyes, we lower-class people shouldn't enjoy such a life. In fact, we also thought so before the Alliance officially took over Grag."

"Those people used their skills for free and gave us the opportunity to receive an education, gave us housing and secure jobs. This is what the league did to us. Maybe you don't want to hear this answer, but this is the fact."

It sounded like a paradise world that only appeared in fairy tales. The woman's story actually aroused Abelard's vigilance. Long before he set out, the ministers of the state religion had reminded him that the alliance might have mastered some extremely dangerous brainwashing technology.

Otherwise, how can we explain that some people, after having contact with the Alliance, would try every possible means and even risk losing everything to come to the Alliance's territory? What's even more terrifying is that some of the Ecclesiastic agents who were responsible for investigating the Alliance even defected after lying dormant in Haven for several months.

With a cautious mood, and also in order to collect as much information as possible, Abelard continued to ask.

"So what about the people in the Alliance? What do they do on a daily basis? I'm curious about what kind of social structure the Alliance has."

The woman hesitated for a moment at this question.

"As far as I know, the Alliance is roughly divided into five levels of power based on the social authority that individuals possess."

"The fifth level is for those imperial people who have recently joined the alliance. They have the least authority, and many public facilities are not open to them."

"The fourth level is for the Imperials who have received education and passed the test. These people are the most common Alliance citizens today. Members who have achieved this level can obtain a special points account, and points are equivalent to the concept of money. They can be obtained through work or certain specific social activities on a daily basis."

"The third level is for soldiers and scholars who have reached a certain level of education. Once you enter this level, you will officially have the opportunity to advance genetically and receive your first [Gene Traits]."

Genetic advancement? This strange word obviously caught Abelard's attention, and at his request the young woman explained it.

"It is a genetic enhancement surgery that can enhance certain attributes. The most commonly used traits I know of are [Intelligence], [Strength], and [Longevity]."

"The second level is for the Alliance's Archons and certain people who have made significant contributions. These people can obtain the second exclusive feature. As for the first level, no one knows what conditions are required to reach this level, but it is said that this level has a special name called [Holy Anthem]."

Listening to the other party's endless explanation, Abelard just silently observed with the corner of his eye the artificial paradise full of gardens and temple buildings under his feet, and stared at the half-moon sword-shaped alliance emblem above the city hall.

"Does your choice now mean that you have abandoned your faith in the Emperor?"

"The Lord of Ashes does not deny the Emperor, and I do not think the Emperor would deny the existence of the Alliance either."

"So what if one day the Terra government asks you to return to the Empire?"

Faced with the question, the young woman had almost no hesitation.

"We will do everything we can to protect our new life."

Just when the fat man wanted to say something else, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Mr. Abelard, what are you doing here?"

The sudden voice startled the other party. When he turned around, he saw Huifeng standing behind him. The man quickly put on his previous smiling face, but before he could open his mouth, the voice of the communications officer came from the headset.

"Your Excellency, we have just received orders allegedly from the Primarch."

"No matter what conditions the alliance proposes now or in the future, we must not refuse and must ensure that the alliance's emotions are appeased."

The moment he heard these words, Abelard felt a little unbelievable. He couldn't believe that the Primarch would actually say such words.

And the next sentence from the other party shocked him even more.

"Lord Robert Guilliman has already set off. He will personally go to Haven as quickly as possible to conduct the next round of negotiations."

The Primarch actually planned to take a break from the expedition and go to Haven himself?

What exactly happened here?
Could this be related to the old lady named Yuton?
(End of this chapter)