Three work cycles later, Nareth decided to launch a new offensive.
Thierry and Szczesny still needed ti to form their own regints, and Bukayo was only in the preparation phase.
Nareth decided to lead only the First Regint to conquer Szczecin and Mazov.
Wielding a newly repaired halberd, he led the team forward, leaving Wojciech behind to continue developing waterproof weapons.
Yelena hurried to join the team, surprised that King Nareth had already conquered the powerful hive city of Lukevo in such a short ti.
Mazov, Upper Hive, Ventilation Shaft
Maria Kurnikova, standing 2.01 ters tall, sared tube oil onto her curved blade.
Another woman, with a shaved head, was maintaining a las rifle. She glanced at the tactical wristwatch and whispered:
"Maria, the rendezvous ti has passed by thirteen standard minutes. Pironkova is likely already dead."
The six had split into two groups to carry out assassinations. Once they infiltrated the hive city, they acted separately to hunt their targets.
"Svetlana, she's not coming. She assassinated Baron Beresinski and triggered a security pursuit. There's no way she escaped with her skills."
"So it was her. I thought it was you," Svetlana said in surprise. Among the six, the others each had their own strengths, but only Maria excelled in all areas.
"My target is the Garrison Commander. Pironkova created an opportunity for ."
As Maria spoke, she wiped her blade with a yellow silk cloth.
"Follow ."
Tsvetana hesitated for a few seconds. If anyone else had attempted an assassination while the target was alert, she'd think they were insane, but Maria had the ability to seize any chance.
Garrison Commander Valukiewicz of Mazov felt like he was losing his mind. The communicator buzzed constantly; he didn't even want to look at the ssage anymore.
"Valukiewicz, the heir to our Skorupski family, has been dead for two cycles. You still haven't caught the killer?"
"Valukiewicz, I'm the new head of the Dlugowski family. My father, Beresinski, died last cycle. You must hand over the murderer."
...
After begrudgingly responding to pressure from the noble houses, Valukiewicz, his receding hairline clearly visible, decided to vent his rage on his subordinates.
He switched to the command channel and roared at the squad leaders:
"You useless fools! You can't even pinpoint a single assassin's location!"
"Damn it, if you don't find them today, don't even think about returning!"
He hung up, chugged a glass of water, and felt a bit better.
Just then, the communicator buzzed again. Valukiewicz flinched and answered weakly.
"Commander, we found the assassin! She's hiding in chemical plant B-118!"
Valukiewicz instantly perked up and shouted:
"Keep an eye on her! I'm coming over!"
He jumped to his feet and gathered his n.
"Follow . Today, we're catching that troublemaker!"
He boarded an open-top command vehicle, which sped through the streets.
Just 2 kiloters from the target location, a blinding flash suddenly struck the speeding vehicle's wheel.
The command vehicle lost control and slamd into a wall, spinning wildly.
"Assassin!"
Valukiewicz drew his las pistol. He hadn't expected the assassin to be so bold, attacking before he even entered the industrial zone.
'Those useless fools didn't report a breakout. Could there be more than one assassin?'
Valukiewicz didn't issue commands. He didn't want to draw attention and beco a target. He crouch-ran to the side of a building and scanned the surroundings.
He noticed the las gun had been silenced, there was no sound during the shots.
Each shot took down one of his n. The assassin's marksmanship was deadly accurate.
After observing for a dozen seconds, he followed the beams and confird the sniper was in the water tower.
'An experienced assassin... That water tower supplies 15 nearby factories with water—too many escape routes.'
Valukevich grabbed his communicator to call the squad leaders.
"You idiots—"
Just as he began speaking, he failed to notice a shadow silently approaching from behind.
"B-138 water tower, repeat…"
"B—"
A cold flash, a curved blade, and his head fell to the ground.
Blood splashed across her face, but Maria felt nothing, no excitent, no sense of accomplishnt from completing the mission.
After Nareth conquered Szczecin, he sent the 7th Company to seize the Termarika, a destroyer docked at the spaceport. Another destroyer, the New Sacz Sandacz, was dispatched to fight the xeno raiders.
In the royal palace, aside from acquiring materials for the Sequence 9 potion "Reader," he also obtained a key ingredient for the Sequence 8 potion "Midnight Poet," the next stage of "Sleepless": an ancient, legendary poem.
The Magdan were the most culturally ostracized subgroup among the Vostroya. They revered culture, sothing Tech-Priests held in contempt.
The Szczecin royal palace had two volus of ancient Terran poetry:
The Nightingale and the Spring by Musa Jalil
The Harmony of Light by Herbert
Nareth left behind the 3rd and 9th Companies to hold the city, then led a new attack on Mazov.
Upon entering the Upper Hive, he imdiately noticed sothing unusual: in previous hive cities, the garrison was the first to respond—but not here.
Resistance ca from Mazov's regular army instead. Nareth crushed them with overwhelming force.
Afterward, Yelena arrived with two assassins.
As he listened to the briefing, he recalled that Maria had been the only one among the six who could withstand his gaze.
'Her willpower is extraordinary.'
He evaluated her ntally as Maria, in her cool voice, finished the briefing.
"As I expected, once the Garrison Commander was dead, the noble families imdiately began vying for the position. They completely forgot about hunting down the assassin. Even after you breached the hive, they were still arguing."
Nareth nodded approvingly.
"Well done. Better than I expected."
He turned to Yelena.
"The three survivors have passed my test."
Besides Maria and Svetlana from Mazov, one assassin had survived the relatively easier mission in Szczecin.
"You will oversee Mazov and Szczecin for the momnt. Rebuild them using Tizca's thod."
In Mazov's palace, Nareth again found a "Reader" potion material, but, like before, only two potion components total: both were ancient Terran poetry volus.
Twilight by Anna Akhmatova
Shock by Adam Zagajewski
Nareth dispatched the First Company to seize the Vistula, another destroyer at the spaceport.
He returned to Tizca and, upon eting Magos Kaminsky, finally understood just how despised the Magdan were.
Upon seeing him, the Magos imdiately said:
"King Nareth, your punishnt of the Magdan has pleased the Omnissiah greatly. Before I ca, the Grand Clock of the Omnissiah rang three tis."
Nareth did not respond. He believed art also had value.
The Magos continued:
"Rosicky has forged your armor. Please fulfill your end of the pact and eliminate the xeno raiders."
"Magos, I will depart before White-Night Shift. I'll arrive at the starport next cycle."
"Take Rosicky with you. He will assist you."
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