Chapter 9: Conquering the Dome
Facing the Arbitrator's oppressive aura, Nimrod remained calm.
"My bringing the Magneto Steelworks under my control is not for myself, but for the Hantexi Dome, and even more so for you, Arbitrator."
The young master of the Fend family revealed an interested gaze, while the Arbitrator was amused despite his anger.
"Don't talk nonsense, boy. You clearly seized the steelworks for yourself. How could it be for me?"
"Voss-Toria has pledged allegiance to Mars for thousands of years. What do the followers of the Omnissiah value? Efficiency is their top priority, am I right?"
Listening to Nimrod's calm and soothing voice, Dimitrov's volatile emotions gradually subsided, but he still didn't understand how the other's words related to him.
The Arbitrator's tone softened slightly as he asked,
"You're right, but what does that have to do with your forceful occupation of the steelworks? And how is it for my sake?"
"The steel industry, where the Magneto Steelworks is located, is upstream from Foundry D-46. The ancient Terran management scholar Chandler long ago stated that controlling upstream enterprises can achieve optimal resource allocation and improve resource utilization."
"Once my foundry controls the steelworks, it will greatly increase efficiency. The Hantexi Dome will stand out among the many domes, and you will enter the sight of the Tech-Priests."
Hearing this, Dimitrov fell into contemplation. All of Voss-Toria was ruled by nobles and Tech-Priests from Mars. Even gaining the favor of just one Tech-Priest would allow him to ascend to the upper hive.
He remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Why you? Wouldn't it be better if I controlled it myself?"
Nimrod smiled confidently and said,
"If the Arbitrator were to act personally, it would inevitably provoke strong resistance from many factories, and you would lose a large number of men."
"When I annex factories, they won't immediately form an alliance. They won't expect me to have such a large appetite. By the time they react, the situation will be settled."
"I have the ability to annex all the factories, and only I can improve the efficiency of the entire dome."
Dimitrov looked at Nimrod. He was persuaded by the other's logic, and he felt an even stronger sense of confidence, as if the boy would do exactly as he said. But remembering Fend's instructions, he still forced a reason.
"Rules cannot be broken."
"Not necessarily."
Nimrod instantly recalled the legal knowledge he had gained when he drank the potion, finding a precedent he could cite from the case law of Tetzvok.
"As far as I know, thirty-eight years ago, the Kurnikova family launched a surprise attack without precedent and seized fifty-two chemical plants in the upper hive within nineteen work cycles. They ultimately won victory in the adjudication conference composed of nobles and the Mechanicus, thereby monopolizing the chemical industry."
"Furthermore, according to the 'Omnissiah's Guide' written by Sage Kivior, Chapter Eleven, 'Regulations for the Governance of Tetzvok,' Article Eleven, 'Factory Management Rules,' Clause Eleven: 'Past precedents of this hive city can all be cited as the basis for judgment.'"
Although Voss-Toria had not yet joined the Imperium, and the Department of Justice had not yet stationed itself in the Tetzvok hive city, a unique decision-making body had formed locally due to the special dual-headed political system.
They inherited the ancient Terran arbitration system and established an arbitration institution with the same name as the Department of Justice's adjudication body—the Arbitratorium.
Members of the Arbitratorium were composed of nobles and Tech-Priests, making decisions on major matters, which also gave rise to special groups such as lawyers.
This system, extended to the underhive, was simplified to a single Arbitrator making decisions independently.
Hearing this, the blond noble stared intently at Nimrod. Only the great lawyers of the hive city were likely to know the precedent and clause the other had cited. Yet, he was just a boy from the underhive. How could he possibly know?
[Looking at his appearance, he doesn't look like an underhiver at all, but he's still a child. Even the great lawyers of the upper hive are still learning the basics at this age. It's impossible for him to have such a grasp of the law.]
Dimitrov's gaze was blank. He wasn't even sure if that clause existed in the "Omnissiah's Guide." As an independent Arbitrator, he only needed to grasp the basic rules.
Just as he was pondering, he heard Nimrod speak.
"I believe this noble from the upper hive must know this regulation."
"Bold! How dare you directly address the Lord's name! You should address him as 'Lord'!"
"It's alright," the noble young master said, clapping his hands while looking at Nimrod with admiration. "Excellent rhetoric, as brilliant as the arguments of the great lawyers I've heard beside the adjudication hall."
"You've persuaded me. The steelworks you seized originally supplied raw materials to the Fend family, which is also the reason for my visit."
"When I heard that a boy ten years younger than me had achieved such success in such a short time, I decided to see you in person."
"Now, your performance amazes me."
He turned to the Arbitrator. "Dimitrov, give him a chance. I want to see what he can do."
"Yes, Lord."
Seeing Nimrod gain the favor of Lord Howard, the Arbitrator's eyes were full of envy.
Howard Fend turned back. "But I have one condition. I want to send an observer to your side."
"Don't rush to refuse. He won't restrict any of your actions. He's just observing your abilities. If you perform well enough, I will support your expansion in the underhive, and even help you go to the upper hive."
Nimrod pondered for a moment. He thought of the rare psychic crystals. Besides psychic artisans, only nobles and oilers were most likely to possess them.
"Alright, but I want a psychic crystal."
"You drive a hard bargain," Howard was silent for a moment. "No problem, but you must control all the factories in the Hantexi Dome within a month and increase production by more than ten percent. Can you do it?"
"Of course."
Seeing Nimrod's confidence, Howard became even more curious. He said to a subordinate holding a plasma gun beside him,
"Yasin, you go with him."
"Yes, young master."
Dimitrov said to Nimrod, "Congratulations, Nimrod. The Magneto Steelworks is yours, and you are also authorized to annex all the factories in the Hantexi Dome."
At the same time as he heard these words, Nimrod felt his spirituality become much more active.
[Hmm, by acting as a "Lawyer," gaining benefits and the approval of others, the digestion rate is better than simply seizing benefits.]
Sixteen work cycles later, the upper hive.
Howard Fend frowned deeply, sitting in his office.
Just as he was pondering, the audio-intercom system within his well-crafted power armor beeped. He connected, and his personal butler's voice came through.
"Master, Yasin has returned."
Hearing this, Howard frowned even more deeply. His order to Yasin was to return to report only after Nimrod's actions had yielded results.
[Could he have controlled all the factories in the dome so quickly? That's impossible.
It's not possible that he died, impossible. With the abilities he displayed, it's impossible for him not to succeed, but how could it be so fast?]
"Tell him to come in."
A moment later, Yasin hurried in.
"Lord, Nimrod has already controlled all sixty-three factories in the Hantexi Dome. He has increased production by fifteen percent."
Howard was stunned, only recovering after several seconds.
"How did he do it?"
"Lord, his combat power can only be described as terrifying. Even if all of us you've trained went together, we wouldn't be his match."
"I suspect he's a product of gene-alchemy, maybe even cultivated in the gene-labs of the Mechanicus. In just over ten days, he's grown much taller. His fighting can only be described as art—precise, efficient, and lethal with a single blow..."
Yasin spoke eloquently, vividly describing Nimrod's conquest of the dome.
Howard, who had been lying on the leather chair, gradually sat up straight, finally resting his chin on his hand, listening intently to his confidant's report.
"He also has certain other qualities. His speeches are very inspiring. Those lifeless workers were all as if brainwashed by him, full of energy. There were even gang leaders who, after hearing his speeches, led their men and factories to pledge allegiance to him."
"However, he did indeed deliver. He standardized the management of the factories, improved the efficiency of the entire production chain, and even made sure the workers and thugs were all well-fed."
"Not just the workers, even those former gang scum followed his rules seriously. They were like..."
Yasin thought for a while before finding a suitable word from those the Lord had used.
"Those scum were like they had been reborn. I dare say that the Arbitrator's men are no longer a match for Nimrod's subordinates in combat power."
"He really did it."
Howard remained stunned for more than ten seconds, suddenly thinking of the current predicament he faced.
[Maybe he can help me solve my current troubles.]
He suddenly stood up, used the family signet ring with a red background and a golden lightning bolt to open a secret room, and took the largest psychic crystal from the dozen or so inside. It was a meter long with a cross-sectional diameter of ninety centimeters.
Howard Fend is the future First Captain of the Eleventh Legion, a character set by the group member "I love hotpot, I love cold drinks."
(End of this chapter)