One hour before the Curie shift, the twenty-three families of Tizca Hive City gathered at the Spire Tower. Five of them also owned a Spire Tower.
A man with a augmetic jaw and vocal cord implant, dressed in a red robe with gold embroidery, asked worriedly to a woman in a red gown with an ornate decorative implant on her forehead:
"Countess Yelena, do you know the origins of this new king?"
"During the White-Night Shift, many families were attacked, blood stained the Hive Capital, and entire lineages were slaughtered. Even the Hymanski family Spire Tower, with a millennium of history, was captured. Isn't this possibly a trap?"
"Kozubal, don't let fear cloud your mind," Yelena said with a calm smile and firm tone.
"According to surveillance footage, this new king is powerful, but his numbers are too small. His armed forces are fewer than two thousand. Including the workers entering the Upper Hive, the total is under one hundred thousand, not enough to control the entire hive."
She glanced at the heavily armed gang members surrounding them, all casting fierce looks, and said in a low voice:
"Moreover, his subordinates might be good fighters, maybe even competent warriors, but they are not suitable administrators. If they treat upper hive workers with the brutal methods used in the lower hive, it will only spark chaos."
"As long as this new king isn't insane, he will stabilize the situation with the existing forces and quickly restore Tizca's productivity. Only then will he gain the support of the Omnissiah's servants."
"And the fact that tonight's coronation ceremony was issued by the new head of the Fender family, in the name of the Magos Kaminsky, shows he has already reached a deal with the Martian tech-priests."
Yelena's deep blue eyes fixed on the baron of the Skorupski family. Though he lacked political wisdom, his family's coal and ore mining operations were crucial to the Kournikova family and could not be lost.
"Kozubal, no matter what kind of person this new king is, you will come with me and pledge loyalty to him immediately."
"He lacks manpower right now. The first to submit will gain the most. Do you understand?"
"At your command, Countess."
Kozubal responded respectfully and stood behind Yelena in relief.
Halfway into the Curie shift, Howard Fender returned from the altar of Vostroya No. 25 of the Mechanicum Spire Tower.
He reported to Nareth that Magos Kaminsky had agreed to craft equipment for him, then went to the hall to answer questions from the clan heads.
Nareth accepted a crate of gavels presented by Bukayo and placed it on an industrial-style metal table behind him after a quick glance.
He tapped on a datapad and brought up a strategic map of Vostroya, then posed a question to the blond youth:
"Bukayo, I want to conquer Vostroya. What do you think my next target should be?"
"My lord, please allow me a moment to consider."
Bukayo didn't answer immediately. He carefully requested time to think, eyes locked on the strategic map as his mind raced.
Five minutes later, he spoke:
"My lord, I believe the next target should be Lukevo Hive City."
"Why Lukevo? Mazov and Szczecin are closer."
"My lord, I am analyzing based on your methods. Going directly for Lukevo aligns with your pattern."
Nareth nodded slightly and smiled.
"Elaborate."
"In your first work cycle at Hantmann, you made two gangs submit. In the second, you seized the foundry. Then, instead of attacking smaller factories, you went straight for the largest, the Magnitogorsk Steelworks under the dome. With its control, you quickly absorbed the rest."
"After securing the Hantmann West Dome, you didn't conquer other domes. You directly attacked and captured the Spure Tower of the Boleslaw family, who controlled Tizca."
"My lord, I believe your strategy is to strike at core nodes directly, then handle the rest one by one."
Nareth appreciated how clearly Bukayo summarized his actions and mindset. The blond youth was spot on.
What Bukayo hadn't guessed, and Nareth himself hadn't expected, was that the "Barbarian" potion had triggered a genetic awakening, changing his original plan to accumulate strength before taking the upper hive.
"Why is Lukevo a key node?"
"My lord, Tizca, Mazov, and Szczecin are all too far from Vostroya's true power center."
"The Mechanicum's Altar No. 1 in Vostroya is the real power hub, and Lukevo's altar is the closest core altar to Tizca. It's the site of Altar No. 3. By controlling the Hive City where that shrine is located, the Mechanicum will be forced to recognize your ambition."
Bukayo shrugged with slight self-mockery.
"It's not just about the altar. The Muscans of Mazov, the Magdans of Szczecin? They're cultural outliers, they are not the mainstream of Vostroya. The Sosvrodians in Lukevo are."
"Like our distant homeland, Terra's holy city, Warsaw, and…"
He wanted to name a fringe city, but the Arshavin family records had little about Terra. Warsaw was the only place he knew, the Vostroyans' homeland, sacred city, and origin.
"Yes, like the difference between a central city and a border town."
Bukayo declared with reverence and confidence, "I believe that once you take Lukevo, the Magos will see the truth: you are destined to rule Vostroya, and they should support you."
"Excellent," said Nareth with admiration. Bukayo had grasped his intentions just from observing his actions. The Sleepless potion didn't enhance his wisdom; his intelligence already far surpassed that of Roslov.
Though the Emperor had defined him as a blade of slaughter, Nareth didn't believe, unlike Konrad Curze, that terror and violence could shape a bright future for Vostroya.
To conquer Vostroya, he needed to redefine the Mechanicum's role.
If he treated them as enemies, then in a world where the Mechanicum held massive influence, he'd face enemies on all sides, even many in the lower hive worship the Machine God.
He wouldn't reduce this developed industrial world to ruins just to rebuild; that was no different than colonizing a world scarred by pollution and industry.
Forcing the Mechanicum to cooperate with him, using their technology for expansion while nurturing gifted individuals and loyal followers, and gradually reforming Vostroya, was his strategy.
'Maybe this is why the "Kingdom of Disorder" chose me to walk the path of the Black Emperor. Develop with rules and resources, then build a new order — that is my vision.'
Nareth looked at Bukayo.
"I have a task for you."
"My lord, please command me."
"After the ceremony, take the equipment Howard prepared for you and head to Lukevo. Gather intelligence."
"As you command, my lord."
Nareth's communicator buzzed. He answered, and Howard's lowered voice came through the channel.
"My lord, Magos Kaminsky has arrived at the ceremony hall."
"Your coronation is in one standard minute."