The sudden surge of divine aura forced the murderously battle-hardened Sister of Battle to bow her head.
She closed her eyes tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably, only daring to press her skin close against Seth Knight’s firm abs, not daring to gaze into the light at all.
In her eyes, this “Living Saint” had once again drawn the gaze of the Emperor.
On Seth Knight’s retina, a card shining with dark golden luster slowly flipped over.
[Congratulations! You have obtained Legendary Gold Card: StarCraft Terran Command Center!]
[Bonus Reward: Equipped with 5 initial SCVs, fully unlocking the basic technology tree.]
[Warning: To avoid detection by high-risk entities in the current universe, the System has overwritten the building’s underlying logic.]
[Disguise Identity Setting: Lost Relic of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars — Standard Template Construct Core.]
Reading this long string of prompts, Seth Knight’s heart beat wildly.
Just when Stark Industries’ Arc Reactor was out of juice and falling short, the System handed him an absolute ace.
Others might not know, but he understood perfectly.
To the civilians of the Underhive, the industrial waste and stench-filled mountains of trash were useless junk—but under the mining lasers of SCVs, they were pure mineral crystals and vespene gas!
What “starve them out” tactic by the Minister of Military Affairs?
What 100,000 troops consuming vast military funds every day?
With a Terran base from StarCraft, he could literally turtle with his eyes closed and pump out maxed-out Marine squads, Siege Tanks, and even Battlecruisers out of thin air.
What was crazier was that using his rank as Major General, he could legally raise a fighting force of 50,000.
Even if this tech-maxed private army were exposed later, it wouldn’t matter.
Just as Seth Knight was immersed in the thrill of turning the tables—
*Zzzzt—*
The encrypted communicator tossed into the corner of the carpet suddenly emitted a harsh burst of static.
Black-market merchant Viper’s miserable cries for help were cut short by a heavy combat boot stomping down hard.
In its place came an immensely arrogant, mocking, raspy voice.
“Steve. I heard you were acting real tough in the Military Hall earlier, even daring to challenge His Excellency the Minister of Military Affairs?”
Seth Knight’s gaze went cold.
“Which dog is barking?” he asked coldly.
“Tough talk,” the voice sneered disdainfully.
“Listen close. I’m Colonel Karl of the PDF Third Armored Regiment. That palladium you specifically asked for—and those foolish Underhive rats of yours—are under my boot right now.” This story is hosted at novelping.com.
Through the communicator’s background came the sharp crunch of bone under a combat boot, along with agonizing groans from Viper and his men.
Colonel Karl’s voice grew even more obnoxious, dripping with arrogant authority.
“I’m standing right at the Mid-hive main elevator checkpoint. On orders of the Minister of Military Affairs, I have taken full control of the entire supply line for Defense Sector 17.”
“Got that? You won’t get so much as a rat or a screw through here!”
Hearing these venomous words, Alicia—hiding behind him—saw red, itching to unsheathe her chainsword and cut out that heretic’s tongue.
Karl continued his malicious declaration: “Steve, don’t think getting promoted to Major General lets you turn the world upside down. You’ve got a hundred thousand mouths to feed! The Departmento Munitorum won’t give you a single coin of pay or a crumb of rations.”
“In three days, your hundred thousand grunt troops will be starving until their eyes turn green. When they mutiny, those rogue soldiers will rip you to shreds and use your leftover bones to brew broth!”
“Now, crawl like a dog over to the main elevator checkpoint, get on your knees, and lick my boots clean. Maybe then I’ll grant you a quick death!”
A dead end with zero chance of survival, to all appearances.
Yet Seth Knight didn’t fly into a rage; instead, he let out a sharp, mocking laugh.
“Finished?” Seth Knight’s voice carried not a trace of panic.
On the other end, Karl froze for a second.
Immediately after, wild, raucous laughter erupted over the comms line.
They were convinced Seth Knight was merely putting on a front.
Without supplies, those 100,000 men were a ticking nuclear warhead bound to backfire—an impossible predicament.
“Stop acting so calm!” Karl barked furiously.
“How are you going to feed your troops?!”
Seth Knight held his cigarette between his fingers.
“Karl, do you really think holding back a few tons of rations cuts off my lifeline?”
“Prick up your dog ears and listen closely.”
“I don’t need to answer to any of you to feed my army!”
“From now on, *I* am the only rule in Defense Sector 17!”
Karl flew into a rage.
“Steve! How dare you defy the Departmento Munitorum! I’ll order heavy artillery to flatten your defense sector right now—”
“Don’t bother coming over,” Seth Knight interrupted coldly.
“Whoever blocks my cargo, I’ll take their head to consecrate my war flag. Since you like stealing so much, go wash your neck. I’m coming to the gate to take your life right now.”
*CRACK!*
The sturdy military encrypted communicator was smashed to pieces under his foot, sparks and components scattering across the floor.
Seth Knight activated the covert tactical frequency in his earpiece.
“Baldy.”
“Sir! We’re here!” Baldy’s voice instantly blared, the background filled with the metallic clatter of bolts sliding and combat knives being sharpened.
Seth Knight issued a ruthless execution order:
“Assemble the entire honor guard.”
“Everyone, target: Mid-hive main elevator checkpoint.”
“When we get there, whoever dares to stop our trucks, crush their skulls and smear their brains across the barricades!”
The sharp, domineering command slammed into the comms channel.
Baldy, his adjutant, roared at the top of his lungs, letting out a wild battle cry that tore through the air: “Kill! Smash those bastards!”
“For the Emperor! For the Commodore!”
The roars of dozens of elite veterans united, making the comms channel shake.
Seth Knight finished his last drag of the cigarette and walked over to the weapon rack.
Stark Industries’ Falcon suit was indeed out of power—the flight wings and scanning systems were completely dead—but the suit’s base was pure Vibranium.
Even without power assistance, it remained the most terrifying piece of personal bulletproof armor in the entire Hive.
Seth Knight swiftly pulled the black suit over his body, its streamlined, hard armor fitting snug against his muscular frame.
He extended his left arm.
*Clang!*
A heavy metal locking sound echoed.
The Vibranium Shield, etched with a dark star-spangled pattern, locked tightly onto his forearm.
Its heavy metal texture merged with his ice-cold killing intent.
Seth Knight glanced at Yulia, who was cowering in the corner near the door.
“Stop trembling. Get up. You’re a Spire Countess now. Come with me—if any nobles get in my way, I’ll need you to run interference.” Seth Knight strode forward and pulled open the heavy wooden bedroom door.
The roar of engines was already thundering across the estate’s assembly plaza.
Seth Knight commanded, “Lead the way. Let’s go give our Colonel Karl a big surprise.”