After breaking the sixty and seventy favorability thresholds, the cultivation system had accumulated two skill points. Raynor glanced at them but didn't rush to use them.
The current situation had more or less stabilized. The civil war at the Forbidden Wall had ended, the rebels were purged, Leo's innocence was proven, and he was currently reorganizing the troops. In the Hive, the nobles were as quiet as cicadas in winter, with no one daring to step out of line. On the ice fields, the Wildlings and Frost Soldiers coordinated seamlessly, ensuring the Orks couldn't stir up any trouble.
As for Luna and the Mechanicus... Raynor hadn't decided how to handle them yet. But there was no rush; at least for now, they hadn't openly broken ties. He would save the skill points and use them when the situation demanded it.
Nine days had passed since the attack on Raynor at Saint Gallus Castle. He continued to invite his "dear subjects," the nobles, to visit the Governor's Mansion.
Confiscation, confiscation, and more confiscation. A group of defiant nobles huddled in their manor vaults, trembling. Upon hearing that Guss had arrived near the estate, a sentry shook his head and sighed. "Sigh... Guss is here. Another manor is about to fall."
The names on the list grew fewer, while the grain in the warehouses grew more plentiful. Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Until that morning, an attendant delivered an invitation. Raynor opened it, read it, and rubbed his eyes. It was an invitation from the Upper Hive Council. This council, founded by Caladog, had been suspended a week before his disappearance. Now, it was being held again?
He looked at the signature of the inviter: Luna Saint Gallus. Raynor narrowed his eyes.
After the attendant withdrew, the ripper in his sleeve immediately became alert. Simultaneously, Sarah's voice echoed in his mind, carrying sharp caution: "Could it be another trap?"
Raynor didn't speak. To be honest, he was also wary. The lesson from last time was still fresh in his mind—being controlled by Slaanesh's toxin, losing his link with Sarah, and nearly being sacrificed to Slaanesh by Callum. If Sarah hadn't reacted quickly and the Ecclesiarchy forces hadn't arrived in time, he didn't know where he would be suffering right now.
He inquired around to see what this meeting was about. He eventually discovered that it was indeed different from the last one. Luna had invited many people; the list was a long string of names. Arch-Cardinal Goodwin, Chief Consul Carter, and various powerful figures. Essentially everyone of importance in Brevis had received an invitation.
In Raynor's view, this council felt like an act of ostentation. It was as if she was announcing to the world: "I, Luna Saint Gallus, am finally the head of this family. Come and see, come and witness."
Raynor let out a helpless smile. "Check it out," he told Sarah. "See what she's been up to lately."
Sarah was efficient. Through the Genestealer network spread across the Hive, she quickly mapped out Luna's recent movements.
She had been behaving. Very well, in fact. She was mostly consolidating family power, taking over departments that originally belonged to Callum. She was interviewing the veteran officials who had been loyal to Caladog one by one. Some were retained, some transferred, and some marginalized.
Everything was normal, orderly, and consistent with what a "Regent" should do. The only anomaly was that the Mechanicus had stopped being "invisible" and had begun mobilizing armed forces to assist Luna in seizing sovereignty.
Raynor listened to the report and pondered for a moment. "So, she really just wants to show off?"
Sarah didn't answer, but the emotion she transmitted carried a hint of "how should I know" helplessness.
Raynor thought for a bit and made a decision. "Let's go and see."
For this outing, Raynor brought Isud with him. Doudou was still recovering from his injuries; the big guy's resistance to Chaos corruption was terrifyingly high. However, when he was searching for Raynor outside the dining hall, he had fought a group of Chaos cultists. He had been slashed dozens of times. While it wasn't life-threatening, he was still lying in the infirmary.
Raynor had visited him once. The fellow was lying on the bed, wrapped in bandages, and gave a silly grin when Raynor walked in. "Boss, I'm fine. I'll be up in a couple of days." Raynor had patted his shoulder and said nothing.
With Isud by his side, even if the other side tried to pull the same trick, Raynor believed he had the ability to escape. Their combined combat power was now sufficient to handle most emergencies.
The Upper Hive Council Hall.
Raynor arrived right on time as usual. Today, he was dressed particularly "formally." He wore master-crafted power armor in a white-and-gold color scheme, with a Governor's medal and a row of blessed prayer scrolls hanging at his chest.
Over his shoulders was a snow-white fur mantle gifted by the Wildlings. On his left hip hung the Sword of Valenia, and on his right, the relic bolter.
He was fully armed. He didn't look like he was coming for a meeting; he looked like he was going to war.
The hall was already full. Bishops of the Ecclesiarchy, nobles of the Upper Hive, generals of the PDF, guild masters of the Mid-Hive, and leaders of the Wastelanders from the Under-Hive. Almost every significant figure in Brevis was present.
Only a few people understood why Raynor was dressed like this. Goodwin, sitting in the Bishop's seat, nodded to Raynor as he entered. His white eyes crinkled slightly, clearly holding back a laugh. Carter, sitting in the Governor's Mansion section, was momentarily stunned before also realizing the message.
The others weren't as perceptive. They just looked at the Governor's shining equipment and whispered among themselves.
"Why is the Governor dressed like that today?" "Who knows? Maybe he just came back from somewhere?" "That power armor is beautiful. I wish I could have a set..." "You? That's a collector's item from the Orne Guild. One set is worth an escort ship."
Raynor ignored the chatter. His gaze fell on the seat beside the main chair. A person sat there. A woman.
She had long white hair cascading over her shoulders. Her skin was a healthy wheat color, and her overall aura was that of an intellectual elite, though there was a hidden wildness in her bones. Her left eye was a cybernetic prosthetic—an exquisite mechanical creation with a faint blue light glowing at the pupil. Her level of body modification was quite high, yet she maintained a human form. Without a close look, she seemed like an ordinary person.
Luna Saint Gallus. The current Regent of Saint Gallus.
She was also looking at Raynor. Seeing his shining armor and the sword and bolter at his waist, she smiled. It was a smile filled with mockery.
"Lord Governor," she began, her voice clear and carrying a certain condescending tone. "It's not as if this place is dangerous. Why are you dressed so tightly?"
Several nobles beside her also started to laugh. "Indeed, the Lord Governor is far too cautious." "Saint Gallus Castle is one of the safest places in the Hive!" "Hahahaha..."
Raynor looked at those who were laughing, his face devoid of expression. He silently memorized their faces. Finally, he looked at Luna and offered a slight smile.
"Regent Luna is right," he said, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "I hope I am overthinking things."
He walked to his seat, drew the Sword of Valenia, and slammed it into the floor beside his chair. The surrounding elites felt a searing wave of sword-energy sweep through the conference room.
Silence fell over the hall. Only then did Raynor sit down. Isud stood behind him like a silent guardian.
Luna glanced at Isud. Something flickered in her eyes, but she quickly returned to her condescending expression. She said nothing more, simply withdrawing her gaze and signaling for the meeting to begin.