The Emperor’s Angel of Death

“Hmph! That's quite the excuse.”

After hearing UR-025's explanation, Sorshyan, though with a displeased expression, realized that it was indeed correct, even if it sounded like self-justification.

He then examined other options, but they were either too complex and difficult to manufacture, or too noisy and hard to conceal.

“Isn't your attitude a bit too perfunctory?”

“My database is incomplete. These are indeed all the suitable technologies I could find.”

Seeing its attitude, Sorshyan didn't say much more and simply waved his hand.

“Then I'll arrange things for you after I deal with the Tyranids. Take it away.”

As soon as UR-025 was taken away by the Phoenix Guard, Dorar entered the side hall.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, I have two matters to report. First, this is the publicity plan we have drafted. Please review it.”

Veronica took the scroll from the handmaiden and slowly opened it. Sorshyan, who was beside her, also curiously looked at it.

“.The Phoenix King wanders the lost streets, cloaked in splendor and shimmering light, walking solemnly towards his destined destination. Beneath his hood, his mask is clean and bright, reflecting distant lights. This part of the city is in darkness, the magnificent buildings on either side deserted and empty. No candlelight or soft glow shines from the unlit windows, only the ghosts of the past haunt the echoing forecourts and gardens.”

Veronica looked at Sorshyan and teased:

“You went alone to an old crone world, how brave my husband.”

Sorshyan simply shrugged in response.

“.Servants of the Great Enemy, they are everywhere, gazing in smiles, savoring in tears, listening in music, singing their songs atop the highest towers and beneath the shade of pavilions. The great Prince walks deeper into the city, ignoring the demons' invitations, their painted bodies dancing in the city's bathed decadent light. The further he goes, the faster the rhythm of the music becomes.”

“.Before the Great Enemy touched his arm, the Prince felt her touch. The Phoenix King frowned in anger and summoned the sacred fire of Asuryan. Instantly, a huge ball of fire exploded and burned in the air. The Great Enemy's remains fell apart, and the bound spirits cheered. The remaining demons were stunned and no longer had the courage to continue, fleeing in all directions. All the released ancestral souls cheered towards the Prince: Hail the great Phoenix King! Hail the great Phoenix King!”

Sorshyan wanted to say that it was a third-rate story, but on second thought, such a simple story would be easier to spread. After all, it would be difficult for the spreaders not to embellish it. A simple structure would prevent misunderstandings.

“Just leave it at that.”

Sorshyan didn't really care about this kind of thing. Frankly, the influence of the Royal Court today was built up by him bit by bit, supported by a strong armed force. Without these, even if you have the best story, no one will take it seriously.

“What else is there, Dorar?”

“About the Steel Eyes Raiders pirate band.”

“Pirate band?”

Dorar's mention of these people surprised Sorshyan. Although the plan to incorporate the scattered Eldar pirates had been proposed a long time ago, it had not been very successful. Most of the Eldar who wanted to be pirates were young people who hated being controlled and yearned for freedom and a dissolute life. Even the Royal Court, which was relatively free compared to the Craftworlds, was just a larger cage in their eyes. Therefore, although this plan had been proposed for several years, only six pirate bands had actually been incorporated. Five of them were small pirate warbands, with as few as a dozen ships and a hundred or so people, and the larger ones had forty or fifty small ships and three or four hundred people. The largest was the Star Slayer pirate band, which was willing to join the Royal Court only with the help of Samhain's coordination. However, they were not incorporated into the Tears of Paradise fleet, but were reorganized with other pirate bands into the Star Slayer Blade fleet. Since most of the ships were micro-sized warships, their main task was to patrol and guard between the various savage kingdoms. The Royal Court's webway spiritbone shipyards were still building large warships for this fleet.

So the pirate bands didn't actually increase the Royal Court's strength much. Sorshyan didn't pay much attention to this matter, basically leaving it to the Privy Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to operate themselves.

However, Sorshyan did remember the Steel Eyes Raiders. Veronica had said that it was a large pirate band with over a thousand ships.

“.Is there any progress?”

“Yes, Your Highness. After a long period of contact, Kellys Kanelli has basically accepted the Royal Court's conditions. This is mainly thanks to the help of Craftworld Mymeara. The pirate queen Kellys Kanelli was originally a Soulseer of Mymeara, but later left for some unknown reason and established the Steel Eyes Raiders pirate band. During the operation to save Lord Keiris in Mymeara, the Steel Eyes Raiders also sent a fleet to assist in the battle.”

“Well, that's a good thing. Alvalide's work is still effective.”

“But...”

Dorar suddenly changed the subject, and Sorshyan knew that things were not that simple. He raised an eyebrow and said:

“Did she propose any new conditions again?”

“Everything is as Your Highness expected. Kellys Kanelli has encountered a problem and hopes that the Royal Court can help solve it.”

Sorshyan grinned and looked at Veronica beside him.

“Look, that's what pirates are like. When they're fine, they keep talking about freedom. I remember that a pirate band leader replied to the Royal Court with 'Free people cannot breathe the corrupt and autocratic air of dictatorship.' But when something happens, they'll cry for help?”

Veronica softly said to Dorar:

“Dorar, what kind of trouble did she encounter?”

“The Steel Eyes Raiders have set their sights on a prize, or rather a cargo, but this cargo has attracted other coveters—the Riftclaw Cabal from the Shadow Hub.”

“Shadow Hub...”

Sorshyan muttered the name. He remembered this place. It was a webway area that the Iron Thorn Lord had to pass through to attack the Screaming Vortex. Charon had specifically mentioned this.

“Isn't it a webway entrance near the Calixis Sector?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I always thought that belonged to Commorragh.”

“Commorragh is the hub of the webway, but not the only city. In the days of our race's prosperity, the webway was known as the land of a thousand cities. There were thousands of cities inside. Commorragh was just one of them. Most of the cities were destroyed with the collapse of many webways during the Fall, and the rest were destroyed in the subsequent daemon invasions. However, the ruins of some cities were later used as the front lines of the cabals' activities. For example, hubs like Shaa-Yorr were built on the ruins of former cities. However, the Shadow Hub is slightly special. It is indeed completely independent of Commorragh, or rather Vect, because it is a place where losers flee, and one of the very few places where they can escape Vect's wrath.”