Such fast gunmanship!
Gorden stared blankly as his three hands turned to ash in mid-air, and his three Liberator pistols clattered to the ground.
Before he could pull the trigger, the man opposite him had already fired three shots, precisely piercing Gorden's wrists.
Gorden's body trembled uncontrollably.
He had witnessed true gunmanship; in front of this man, Gorden was like a baby.
Then, Gorden only saw a scorching laser beam shoot towards his glabella.
His head subsequently turned to ash and dissipated into the air.
Alexander glanced at the three Liberator pistols on the ground, casually picked them up, and put them into his four-dimensional pocket.
"Don't just pick up Xeno weapons to use," Sanguinius said into Alexander's ear.
"Are you implying a certain Warp snake-man?" Alexander glanced at him and said.
Fulgrim was influenced and possessed by a demon residing in an alien sword he picked up from an Xeno race.
Alexander casually sold the three Liberator pistols for a small sum of money.
As Reyna arrived at the factory, the tide of the battle instantly turned.
They say the highest realm of military strategy is to command your opponent.
Reyna's military prowess aside, she could truly command her opponents with her Seducer's Whisper.
With just a few words, she could make those genestealer hybrid cultists and brothers of the race obediently drop their weapons and walk out of cover.
Alexander watched the Ark Gang members begin to transport and cremate the Xeno corpses, then walked up to Reyna, who looked troubled.
A few Ark Gang members were saying something to Reyna.
When they saw Alexander, they all shivered and then bowed respectfully.
Reyna waved her hand, signaling the Ark Gang members to leave.
The Ark Gang members, as if granted amnesty, quickly departed.
"What's with them? Am I that scary?" Alexander muttered.
Reyna looked at Alexander's face, which resembled a Lion in a dark forest, and her mouth twitched.
"What you did in the Lower Nest has spread... Leman Russ, Neoth, Hoggilius. Lupaerbal."
"The Hunter with a Thousand Faces, a fervent believer of the Adeptus Ministorum, as stern as a Lion, hunting all heretics and cults, even single-handedly instigating a major war between Four-Armed God-Emperor Cultists and Mutant cultists, killing two Mutant leaders and the Four-Armed God-Emperor Cult bishop, leading to the destruction of the First District by plague zombies."
Listening to Reyna's words, Alexander's mouth twitched slightly.
"Me, a fervent believer of the Adeptus Ministorum? Hunting heretics and cults?" He pointed to himself: "What kind of wild history is this?"
Reyna couldn't help but rub her temples; this rumor was indeed a bit bizarre.
Although the general events were true, the assessment of Alexander was almost entirely wrong.
This guy was clearly the biggest heretic in all of Ashford.
"I suspect the genestealer are deliberately spreading this news to make you widely known and more easily expose your true identity," Reyna said.
Alexander frowned.
Even when visiting the Ark Gang, he had rarely used his true face.
So the risk of exposure was not high.
Those who knew or might guess his identity were only Reyna, One-Eye, governor Augustus Flax, and... Lager?
Alexander's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
Reyna, One-Eye, and the governor were sworn enemies of the genestealer and would not expose his identity.
But Lager, that guy...
"Don't worry, I've implanted psychological suggestions in Lager and injected several memory barriers into his mind. He won't realize you are Leman Russ, and even if he did, he wouldn't be able to say it," Reyna said with an expression that conveyed, 'I've handled it, you can rest assured.'
Alexander nodded slightly, then glanced in the direction where the Ark Gang members had just left and asked:
"What's with this attack? Why are the genestealer launching such a meaningless attack?"
This place was so close to the Ark Gang's stronghold, and the genestealer patriarch was not unaware of Reyna's strength.
A group of hybrid cultists and brothers of the race, plus an assassin, Reyna could handle it herself without Alexander's intervention.
"It's not just here; all major districts occupied by the Ark Gang have been attacked by the genestealer." Reyna's expression was a bit grim.
This made Alexander's mouth twitch; that was truly a disaster.
Without Reyna, the Ark Gang was only slightly stronger than an average gang.
They could handle ordinary gangs, but facing genestealer led and commanded by a genestealer via psychic link? That would be too difficult for them.
"They suddenly emerged from pipes and sewers, taking over some factories and streets, establishing strongholds in many large districts."
Reyna rubbed her temples, her eyes filled with resentment, and said:
"They are even spreading propaganda, claiming that the Ark Gang is also one of the cruel oppressors, and that they are righteous liberators, trying to fool the residents of these districts into siding with them."
"My people are fighting them everywhere, but overall, it's not looking good..."
"The genestealer patriarch did this on purpose. His earlier claim about using endless assassinations against us was a lie, meant to deceive us and divert our attention."
Reyna gritted her teeth:
"It chose to fight us head-on."
Alexander pinched his chin.
It was not surprising that the genestealer chose to fight head-on. The Tyranid was already approaching Ashford, and the genestealer no longer needed to hide.
The Astra Militarum and other Imperial forces had not yet arrived at Ashford, and the PDF, under the governor's leadership, had collectively given up.
The Genestealer current opponents were only the various district gangs led by Reyna's Ark Gang.
"My people are not afraid of death and dare to participate in combat, but they still haven't received enough training."
Reyna's expression grew even more grim:
"We also lack people who can command in battle. The genestealer have almost split into hundreds of small units, and I... I simply can't command them all."
This was probably also intentional on the part of the genestealer.
If the genestealer had come out in full force, forming a single unit to attack a certain district, Reyna could still resist with her psychic powers.
But now, the genestealer leader relied on psychic links and command abilities to simultaneously control hundreds of genestealer squads to launch attacks, each squad as flexible as its fingers.
Reyna's command ability and her subordinates, however, could not cope with so many simultaneous attacks.
The genestealer wanted her to be exhausted.
Whether in terms of tactics, strategy, or soldier quality, the Ark Gang was utterly suppressed.
No wonder Reyna's expression now looked as if she had eaten two blobs of nurgling.
Alexander also frowned slightly. If the genestealer really took over the Lower Nest, then it would indeed be quite troublesome.
In that case, the Tyranid's advantage would be too great.
Alexander actually had a plan in mind regarding how to resurrect Sanguinius.
This plan required that the Tyranid's advantage in the Netherworld Star System not be too great, and that the Imperium must hold out until a third party intervened.
Alexander stroked his chin...
"All in all, that's how it is."
In the Spear Tavern, Alexander swirled the crimson wine in his glass and said to One-Eye:
"Reyna is now running around putting out fires. I'll see if I can get the old governor to do his duty."
"After all, the PDF is currently the only force in Ashford that can resist the genestealer."
Although he said so, Alexander didn't expect to convince the governor with just words.
He had other ideas.
One-Eye listened to Alexander's words, then was silent for a moment before saying: "I can't guarantee he'll provide help."
"You know that data-slate in my room, right? Remember the passkey and encryption key below, you can talk to him directly."
Alexander nodded slightly, memorizing the passkey and encryption key One-Eye whispered.
He got up and walked into the room at the back of the tavern, picked up the data-slate on the table, entered the encryption key, unlocked the screen, and entered the communication interface.
A moment later, a low, dry voice came from the other end of the data-slate.
Alexander recognized it as the voice of governor Augustus Flax.
"Passkey," he said from the other end of the data-slate.
Alexander remembered the passkey One-Eye had given him, a series of words forming a cipher.
But he grinned and did not say the passkey One-Eye had given him:
"'Spiral Staircase,' 'Rhinoceros Beetle,' 'Ruined Street,' 'Fig Tower.'"
"'Rhinoceros Beetle,' 'Teresa's Path,' 'Rhinoceros Beetle,' 'Singularity,' 'Giotto.'"
"'Angel,' 'Hydrangea,' 'Rhinoceros Beetle,' 'Singularity,' 'Secret Emperor.'"
This string of passkeys was, of course, completely wrong.
But governor Augustus Flax on the other end of the data-slate clearly recognized Alexander's voice.
He was silent for a moment, then continued to ask: "Pray tell, how many arms was the benevolent God-Emperor born with?"
"One head, two arms," Alexander answered promptly and clearly.
There was an almost deathly silence on the other end of the data-slate, until a good while later, Alexander heard governor Augustus Flax gasp for air.
He continued dryly: "Recite the first two lines of the Holy Word Records."
"Rejoice, for I bring you exciting good news."
"The Great Horned Rat walks among us! Yes! Yes!"
Alexander said almost without hesitation.
A series of sharp intakes of breath came from the other end of the data-slate.
Augustus took one deep breath after another, calming himself down.
"Could you please be considerate of an old man's health?" Augustus asked.
Alexander's previous remarks were simply too provocative.
If Augustus Flax wasn't also unclean, he would have truly reported Alexander to the Adeptus Ministorum.
"You don't suspect I'm a Hellworm?" Alexander asked with interest.
"Unless Tiberius wants me to die of a heart attack," Augustus Flax said, "he would never answer my passkey like that."
"He knows that would only make me more vigilant."
Augustus Flax was silent for a moment, then said:
"I know what happened in the Lower Nest. Tiberius has started to make his move."
"I also know what you want. I won't move the PDF. What if Tiberius takes this opportunity to sneak into the Top hive and assassinate me?"
"As long as there's even a slight danger, I won't move the PDF."
Alexander's eye twitched slightly.
In terms of fear of death and caution, governor Augustus Flax and the genestealer patriarch were exactly alike, truly brothers.
The reason why the two of them could live in peace for decades, with the Upper hive as their boundary, was probably because they were both wary of each other and dared not act rashly.
"In that case, stay where you are and don't move."
Alexander sighed, and said with a look of regret:
"I'm going to the Top hive to kill you right now."
"Huh?" On the other end of the data-slate, Augustus Flax suspected he had misheard.
"You also don't have to worry about the Hellworm coming to assassinate you anymore. I've solved that problem for you."
Alexander said sincerely:
"Before he assassinates you, I'll kill you first. No need to thank me."
There was a deathly silence in the air, leaving only Augustus Flax's gasps for air.
"Are you crazy? I'm the governor, the Planetary governor of Ashford."
"So?" Alexander asked genuinely.
"You can't do it," Augustus Flax asserted.
"Why can't I? I can sneak into the Bottom Nest, enter the First District, kill the genestealer bishop, and scare your brother into fleeing for his life."
"If he hadn't run fast enough, he'd already be with your dead parents."
Alexander leaned closer to the data-slate, making his voice clearly audible to Augustus Flax:
"Why do you get to live? Because of your psyker forces? Because of the PDF? They can't stop me."
"Or are you planning to hide in your 'safe' underground palace? I know the location of your underground palace."
Alexander actually didn't know; he was simply saying it to scare Augustus Flax:
"I hope when I stand before you, you can run as fast as your brother."
"You..." Augustus Flax's voice was filled with surprise and uncertainty.
His underground palace was built in secret, managed only by servitors, and it should be impossible for Alexander to know about it!
Did he really know the location of his underground palace? Augustus Flax felt a chill run down his spine.
"Aren't you afraid of death? Assassinating the governor is a serious crime; you won't be let off."
"I won't die." Alexander shrugged indifferently.
The right-wrong diviner had already confirmed that as long as he hadn't exchanged for the anywhere door before the destruction of the Netherworld Shield, he would not suffer serious harm.
As for after the Netherworld Shield's destruction... the entire star system would explode, who would care about the life and death of a planetary governor then?
The Netherworld Shield wasn't just for him, a single planetary governor.
"You're being a bit shameless, aren't you?" Augustus Flax was momentarily exasperated.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
Alexander said in a calm tone:
"I am a rogue who consorts with illegal psyker and Lower Nest gangs. I am a heretic who spouts blasphemies and should be burned at the stake. I have even cooperated with Mutants who worship the plague God."
"I'm a Lower Nest dweller! I'm a barbarian! I'm a hooligan! My shamelessness is to be expected."
"And you? As governor, are you doing what you're supposed to?"
Some feign civilization to conceal their barbarity, some use barbarity as a protective color, while others enjoy the sense of detachment that comes from being seen as barbarians.
No matter which, barbarity can be a useful weapon at critical moments.
Listening to Alexander's sarcasm, Augustus Flax was speechless.
"..I can give you money," Augustus Flax said after a period of silence.
Alexander merely pouted and remained silent.
If he could maintain the balance between the Imperium and the Tyranid, allowing a third party to enter, the money he would earn in the end would definitely be more than Augustus Flax could offer.
"..I can arrange a ship ticket for you to leave Ashford."
Seeing Alexander remain silent, Augustus Flax continued to raise his offer:
"You can go to Baal. It's the homeworld of the Blood Angels; absolutely safe."
".." Alexander's mouth twitched, and he barely managed not to laugh out loud.
Augustus Flax saw that Alexander still wasn't speaking, so he gritted his teeth and said, word by word:
"I... I can give you a batch of weapons, enough to arm an entire gang."
"Also, Lardben was once one of the most outstanding members of the PDF. I'll lend him to you to train your people."
"The money I just promised is also still valid."
Alexander's lips curved into a smile.
Finally, he was squeezing some profit out of this bastard...
"Add a little more," Alexander said with a smile.
If you're given an inch, you take a mile.
This time, Augustus Flax was silent for only a few short seconds.
He seemed to have already made up his mind: "There isn't only your faction in the Lower Nest that can resist Tiberius."
"I can introduce you to another faction, and I'm even willing to pay for you to hire them."
"Oh?" Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"Have you heard of... the Dying-worshippers?" Augustus Flax lowered his voice, as if discussing something terrifying.
"What white silk? What feet? What white silk feet?"