Nimrod lifted his gaze beyond the palace's threshold, sensing not only Lysara's approach but six additional presences trailing behind her.
These six individuals, honed by rigorous training, were adept at concealing their presence, rendering them imperceptible to ordinary senses. Yet, to the acute perception of a Primarch, their signatures were as vivid as beacons in the void.
The seven soon arrived at the palace's entrance, where Lysara spoke with authority.
"I shall attend our king. Await my summons before seeking audience."
The countess, clad in a resplendent crimson gown, entered the palace with measured grace, offering a deep curtsy.
"My king."
"Lysara, what brings you here?"
"My king, I come first to express my heartfelt gratitude. By entrusting House Simanski's pharmaceutical industries to House Kovalenko, you have bestowed a great honor. I vow not to disappoint you."
Nimrod leaned back, his scrutinizing gaze fixed upon Lysara, assessing her intent with piercing intensity.
"Then I shall await your results with anticipation, hoping you will deliver a surprise worthy of my expectations."
"What else?"
"My king, permit me to speak plainly. Your followers, though formidable in battle, are constrained by their origins. In the short term, they are ill-equipped to govern Tetzvok with the requisite finesse."
Lysara's eyes blazed with fervor, a confident smile gracing her lips.
"I propose you establish a cabinet, and I believe myself capable of playing a pivotal role within it."
"Oh?"
Nimrod's response was noncommittal, his fingers drumming lightly upon the table, each tap resonating like the tolling of the Omnissiah's great bell, echoing in the countess's ears.
After an interminable three seconds, he slid a data-slate forward with deliberate precision.
"Present your plan."
Lysara's smile faded, replaced by a mask of solemn determination as she approached the table, ready to face the trial before her.
Her expression, initially stern, gradually eased into one of composure.
"My king, I have a method to swiftly rebuild the hive's garrison forces."
"I understand your urgency to restore the garrison, a task requiring a capable individual to alleviate your burdens. I have precisely such a person in my retinue."
"House Kovalenko is a matriarchal lineage. Before joining us, my husband, Baron Buksa, served the Omnissiah and acted as an independent Arbites in a dome co-governed by House Skorupski and the Adeptus Mechanicus."
Lysara produced her own data-slate, her choice of spouse guided by a rigorous standard: competent individuals from minor noble houses. She had conducted exhaustive background inquiries on each candidate, and now was the moment to leverage that foresight.
"With your permission, I shall present his dossier."
The countess, weaving her narrative with the slate's data, provided a meticulous account, concluding with a summation.
"During his tenure, Buksa recruited, organized, and expanded his own Arbites precinct."
"After joining House Kovalenko, he reformed our house's guard protocols. In the fifty-two years since implementation, our assets, including Underhive manufactories, have suffered no losses."
"Summon him immediately. Before the Hour of Nyke, I expect his report."
Lysara, not daring to delay, promptly contacted her husband. After deactivating her vox-comm, she awaited Nimrod's further directives with poised anticipation.
"Since you claim the capacity to form a cabinet, articulate your vision."
"My king, for millennia, House Boleslav's rapacious seizure of family assets, coupled with the Muscovites' apathy and insular cultural traditions, has forced each house to develop in isolation."
"Each house's strategy has been to safeguard its own industries, wary of expansion. By fostering deeper collaboration, Tetzvok's resource integration could exponentially enhance efficiency. The partnership between Houses Kovalenko and Skorupski exemplifies this potential."
The countess elucidated her meticulously prepared proposals, her words reflecting profound deliberation.
"First, we must dismantle communication barriers, hosting events such as exchange banquets to foster dialogue."
"Next, we should establish exemplars. Houses Kovalenko and Finder could spearhead a cooperative alliance."
"Once tangible benefits are realized, these results will persuade other houses to shift their perspectives, seizing the opportunity for mutual gain."
Nimrod interjected with probing questions, to which Lysara responded with clarity and conviction.
After two Terran hours of discourse, Nimrod nodded with approval, his satisfaction evident.
"You shall lead the formation of the cabinet."
"I am deeply grateful for your trust, my king. I shall not fail you."
Lysara's voice trembled with exhilaration. She had once proposed a similar plan to the false king Boleslav, only to be dismissed by that avaricious fool.
Now, at last, she stood poised to realize her political ambitions. House Kovalenko could, through this reform, ascend to a position of true influence in Tetzvok, transcending its status as a merely youthful and wealthy lineage.
As her heart surged with aspiration, Nimrod's voice cut through her reverie.
"The six outside—are they yours?"
Lysara froze, caught off guard. The six she had brought were elite assassins, cultivated from childhood using gene-craft and pharmaceutical augmentation.
Even combined, they might not match the giant before her, yet their modifications rendered them lithe, their footsteps softer than a prized curl-eared feline, their breaths so faint as to be nearly imperceptible.
The palace's entrance, separated by the audience antechamber, adjacent lounge, and servants' refreshment chamber, should have masked their presence. Nimrod, engrossed in their prior dialogue, ought not to have noticed them.
[*Against the new king, their sole chance would be a stealth assault leveraging their concealment.*
*Yet he has detected them, stripping away any such opportunity. Fortunately, I harbor no reckless designs.*]
Shock coursed through the countess, prompting her to reassess Nimrod's formidable prowess yet again.
"My king, they are assassins I have painstakingly trained."
"They shall serve as your blades, striking down those who defy you."
"Summon them."
Lysara swiftly switched vox-channels, issuing her command.
"Maria, bring them in."
Moments later, six women clad in black skin-tight suits, each bearing distinct weaponry, entered the chamber.
Some carried lasrifles slung across their backs, others bore shields and swords at their hips, their armaments a testament to their lethal versatility.
Instinctively, they appraised the towering giant seated before them with the predatory gaze of hunters sizing up prey.
Their eyes met Nimrod's obsidian depths, and a chill coursed down their spines.
Five immediately averted their gazes, bowing their heads in submission.
Only the central figure, a blonde with a high-bridged nose, clenched her lips, holding his stare with defiant resolve.
Nimrod, having surveyed the group, issued his decree without hesitation.
"You shall depart immediately for Mazov and Szczecin to undertake assassination missions."
"Your targets are the commanders and nobles of those hives. Select your marks at your discretion."
"Return in twenty-three work cycles to report."
Nimrod planned to conquer Lukov, followed by Mazov and Szczecin, forging a contiguous dominion of four hives.
Dispatching these assassins served dual purposes: testing their capabilities and weakening his foes.
Lysara, momentarily taken aback, ventured, "My king, you…"
"Tetzvok is but the beginning."
[Mazov and Szczecin lack Lukov's might, their strength akin to Tetzvok's. With the new king's prowess, they are indeed within his grasp.]
At the Hour of Nyke, Baron Buksa arrived in haste.
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🤦 : Oops! You've reached the limit for today. But just for your power stone and recommendation I might— no I would add additional Chapter.
20PS — 1 additional Chapter
40PS — 2 additional Chapter and special mention if you've contributed 3 or more PS.
That's all. Enjoy Reading!