Chapter 334: A Thousand Years of Darkness, Sin Takes Root

Citizens of the Empire born in stable worlds such as garden worlds or agricultural worlds can't help but demonize the densely populated world of the Empire, that is, the hive world. People always think that their world is black and white, plus the various historical and values ​​of the Lower Hive that are of great importance in the history of the Empire, as well as the more notorious murders, assassinations, homicides, and suicides.

But unlike the cruelty imagined by most people, the Low Hive, the Lower Hive, and those notorious places actually account for a small proportion of the Hive. On the contrary, the Middle Hive with the largest population is just a place where countless ordinary people's long lives are consumed. There is no murder here, no chaos, but only boring work and unchanging daily routines day after day. If there were no invasions and destruction, the mortals in it would probably never see evil in their lifetime.

But even if the Lower Hive is very rare, it still occupies a considerable place in the Empire's sentient beings, just because it is cruel, vicious, narrow-minded, and terrifying.

Because the Lower Hive is the last refuge and burial ground for those who are desperate in the Empire's Hive, it is also the exile place for countless marginal figures.

This area is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Empire or any functional department of the planet in name and in fact. Only the Ministry of Justice and the Inquisition will enter this area fully armed to investigate cases, fight against the infiltration of Genestealers, or capture wild psychics.

Because it is out of the control of the Empire, the Lower Nest has almost no official infrastructure support. All the oxygen, fuel, pure water, food and various supplies needed for survival in a giant artificial city like the Hive City cannot be supplied by the official.

Compared to the Sub-Nest, which has high electricity prices but at least has recycled water or electrolyzed water or electricity, everything here is maintained by various unofficial forces.

And the residents here are almost blindly regarded as lawless by normal people, and the reality is roughly the same. In order to escape the laws of the Empire, the lawless land of the Lower Nest is the favorite place of those who serve the law of the jungle. So far, it can be said that the people who fear the Lower Nest the most are the residents of the Hive City.

When the Imperial Guard's chariots passed through the roads of the hive city, such concerns were vaguely visible among the officers. They did not believe that there were normal roads and social order in such places. Many people even thought that the lower nest was a fighting arena for poisonous insects, beasts and barbarians to fight each other. Many officers felt that it was obviously stupid to go through the lower nest directly to the main nest, which was useless except for wasting ammunition and fuel.

It was only the appearance of Wild Snake and the intelligence he brought about the hive city that made the senior officers of the Imperial Guard change their minds. He pointed out that as long as a small amount of supplies were paid, a local organization could provide a wide and comfortable road directly to the bottom of the main nest.

Of course, the hive city is well connected and has many roads, but the roads are also different. The places that can pass through the large tracked transport vehicles are controlled by the main local gang forces, and there are many guilds and various organizations. However, Wild Snake kept it to himself and did not tell them the real name of the organization and its situation. He only asked them to prepare some spices.

Those were the food spoilage that the Imperial Guard brought to them after a long war. In other words, they were to cover up the smell and eat it if they could. They could also be used as rewards when things went well. After all, the Decapitation Corps, which was composed of the sharpest troops in the star zone, had the most complete and diverse supplies.

But compared to those things, the lieutenant was not worried about evil or haze. Instead, he was more concerned about who the Wild Snake was and where he was going to take them. Although he took out a series of certificates and badges to show that he was on the side of the Empire, and although he knew everything about Skadi and the Imperial Guard, and even about him, the lieutenant still couldn't rest assured.

Behind him were the elite of the Empire, and the Master Chief, who had always opposed many things, was uncharacteristically so. His psychic sense felt that this person had no malice. Although it was vague, this mortal had opened his heart. If he didn't lie, then he could trust him. It can be said that if it wasn't for the Master Chief's approval, the lieutenant would have shot.

Just to prevent him from running away, this man, who was not sure whether he was an uninvited guest or a ally sent from heaven, was given a special Chimaera, a mobile command center designed for temporary command. Its biggest feature was a powerful Astartes, the strongest veteran among Catachan soldiers, and several elite stormtroopers and hundreds of baggage or transport vehicles that stuck it in the middle of the vehicle group.

Such an honor made it difficult for Wild Snake to say that it was easy. At least several hell guns and bolt shotguns were against his head, and there were things like precision explosive guns. It was probably difficult for even traitor space marines to receive such an honor.

The lieutenant paid more attention to the auspicious instrument. He did not trust Wild Snake, but he supported himself to pass through the lower nest. At this moment, the Imperial Guard rarely reached a consensus because of this man.

However, he still looked at the auspicious instrument and the situation displayed on it to avoid being attacked. However, it was not surprising that the Engil chose to defend, passive, and wait for their savior. The road was empty, and there were only civilians in the dilapidated houses in the distance looking at them with fear.

The roads in the hive city are not as narrow as most people imagine. On the contrary, they are quite wide, beautiful and clean. Because they bear the heavy task of transporting materials and dispatching PDFs, they can even be said to be unobstructed. Their Gothic viaducts, dark skies, dim lights constitute the inseparable blood vessels, pipelines, and composition of the entire huge world.

The rather depressing streets revived the second lieutenant's thoughts. When he was a PDF soldier, he was once dragged away on this road like cargo, but his thoughts quickly broke because the road ahead was like hell. That way.

Chaotic symbols and the breath of death lead to a completely broken road. This is a nightmare place that connects the bottom. At this point, the empire and the lawless land are like a shield composed of illusory hallucinations, separated in a bad and even cruel way. .

The lack of roads and infrastructure makes the entire intersection look like a place leading to a dark place of death. Gothic-style buildings are replaced by ruins and skeletons, and the towering artificial sky turns into low and narrow tunnels. In the huge hive city, The middle and lower levels are very different.

The lights of the Imperial Guard transport truck shined in. With the fierce light, several small strange creatures flashed through the narrow gap. Their dark green bodies had strange properties, but Master Chief Catachan said. "Catachan Brain Lobe, I didn't expect to see the real thing here. I thought I would never have the chance to see the plants on Catachan. Although I am a fake, I have never forgotten the training of the old lieutenant colonel."

Wild Snake said like a know-it-all at this moment. "Those are plants native to Catachan that can stick to their leaves, parasitize on the bodies of organisms and then control them to become servants and nutrients. They appear to be just small and medium-sized rodents, native to the notorious Monloda, It is called giant rat, and it is also the main meat of the people at the bottom. "

the ensign scolded. "I don't care! Bastard, I need your information and destination. If you are of no use, I will shoot you!" He was dissatisfied with the distrust this man brought to him, the hero of Destruction Eagle But he said.

"I think it's very interesting, Mr. Wild Snake. You can write a catalog of creatures in the nest, including common monsters and twisted nightmares, things that soldiers may encounter. Then we can have the deputy command vehicle provide the soldiers with "Radio, you are funny and graceful. I think those things can be one of the few joys in war."

The second lieutenant was still dissatisfied, but this was indeed useful. He was not a messy person, but he just looked at this strange man warily, and he still asked reluctantly. "We are going to hand over to that organization. I can't put the fate of soldiers on your disloyal lies."

Sergeant Doom Eagle retorted. "I said, Mr. Wild Snake means no harm, my psychic energy is telling me so."

the ensign asked. "What if he lied to you? What if he is also a wizard? You trust your evil magic even more than your mortal comrades. I respect you, Astartes, but I wish we were more vigilant."

The sergeant shook his head. "We have no choice. Mr. Wild Snake helped Lord Alan Bair. We are originally on the same rope."

"One-sided words!" The second lieutenant is still dissatisfied. He only believes in his brothers and comrades, but does not cherish others. This is also because he is surrounded by comrades selected by his superiors, and the wild snake looks like a cynical clown. .

The wild snake spoke now. "Sir, it's natural that you don't trust me, but I need to let you understand that our interests are the same." He took out the document in his pocket, which marked the rosette of the Inquisition, announcing the death date of the man in front of him. Because as the core of the traitorous judge's lackey, his life is not long.

After the second lieutenant read the verdict, he licked his lips and then said. "You want the boss to protect you? Grand Inquisitor's dog, do you think I will let you go for what you did to Skadi?" He pointed out this matter. If he had not participated in the Inquisitor's attack on Skadi, then this would The verdict will not fall. Although the tribunal has unlimited power and is frightening, flies cannot bite seamless eggs.

The wild snake just raised its hands in a gesture of surrender. "Yes, my lord, I have committed many sins. Although it can be said that some of them were forced, I still did it subjectively. But you and this war need me, and the Skadi people also need me. Without me, Bombings and false extermination orders will fall, but with me, you can safely cross the nest now."

He is always like this, calm and calm. From this point of view, he may really be more suitable to inherit his position as master than Nova. His words are true and false, and his goals are vague. He is like a buffoon, jumping around in the palace without knowing it. When will a blade strong enough to kill any noble or important person emerge?

The second lieutenant's expression froze. He looked at the road he was leading. It was wide and wide. Although it looked clumsy, it was enough to accommodate the troops' luggage. It seemed that he was serious.

Then he mentally prepared himself for the expectation that he would see gangsters, aliens, and even more terrifying things next, and put down his weapons against this weirdo named Wild Snake.

The entire space inside the vehicle became silent. Wild Snake just picked up the brown paper given to him by Master Chief of the Destruction Eagle. The only sound of Shasha's writing became the only sound. After about 30 minutes of standard Terra time, the vehicle crew stopped and the communicator transmitted Hearing the sound, the lieutenant stuck his head out and looked outside. The crooked metal structure covered the road like a sentry tower. At first glance, it looked no different from the one made by beasts, but it was a little less colorful.

said the hoarse and vague voice in the communicator. "Wild Snake Boy, you've become rich. Imperial Guard. Have you brought the 30 kilograms of spices you promised?"

The wild snake stopped writing and answered. "Yes, long time no see, Nest Master. I didn't expect that meeting again now would be so dramatic."

"Shut up, take the thing down and give it to me." His mood seemed uncertain.

The second lieutenant asked the soldiers to drive the loaded trucks over, and at the same time opened the door on the opposite side. After the sound of metal, those twisted and grotesque creations slowly opened the door. Some enemy soldiers, those lower-class residents in very "punk" clothes, After picking off the goods with crude projectiles and ugly arms, the monsters on top waved their arms.

The second lieutenant had not seen the situation clearly until the vehicle crew moved forward, and then the second lieutenant passed by the monster on the sentry tower. He saw that thing, with a bald head, twisted "head lines", and a scary white face. Skin, and three or even four damn arms.

The second lieutenant resisted the urge to draw his weapon, and then watched the crew slowly pass the monster barrier. He cursed at this moment. "Wild Snake, what the hell are you doing? The Church of Genestealers? Those villains who disobey the Emperor?"

The wild snake answered at this moment. "Yes, but this excellent road is controlled by them. Those monsters, look, the house outside the window, they are all soldiers, those crooked metal lairs each have more than 300, fully armed twisted monsters, they Not as perfect as my fourth-generation relatives who can enter human society, they can only hide here. "

"But as long as the tentacles of the Great Devourer can't come over, these people are no different from gangsters. At the same time, those who believe in the Four-Armed Emperor make them think that the Imperial Guard can be trusted. They are also the only people I can think of who can be traded and will not be afraid. Your firepower does not serve the lord, but only your own beliefs and desires."

But the second lieutenant cursed. "They are fucking monsters bred with human flesh and blood!"

replied the wild snake. "But they won't go back on their word, they won't cheat, they won't exploit ordinary people, and they won't suppress good people for no reason. They just want to live, and this place is not the world, and the Great Devourer will not come. On the contrary, this world's I don’t know how many gene stealers there are in Zhonghe Shangchao. They are just like humans, almost the same, and you can do business with them. What’s the difference here?”

The lieutenant's breathing became rapid. He raised his weapon, preparing to execute the heretic, and then start a battle with the monsters here to help the nest clean up the hidden dangers here.

But his arm was captured by the Astartes, and he seemed weak at the moment. The sergeant just looked at him and said. "This is also part of the empire. It's not that it doesn't exist. It's just that you can't see it. If you clean it up, it will come again. It's better to turn a blind eye..." His words were helpless, more numb, yes, The sector has been saved, but the danger is still there. This is what this empire is like. Festering everywhere, defeating the Red Corsairs, the Orcs, the Great Devourer, and many more...

At this point, the second lieutenant put down his weapon. This Chaodu man who had never cried in his life buried his head in his position and sobbed silently, because he realized for the first time that this young life discovered for the first time that human beings In the end, there is probably no hope.