I am in Warhammer's Heartsteel

Chapter 013: Hestia's Nest City

The guards were also infiltrated by cunning individuals.

Caught between attacks from both inside and outside, Deyang finally reached the outer layer, only to find that the high wall had already collapsed.

While the remaining guards were entangled with the cunning thief, he and Pete ran wildly along the gap, continuing across the Grandno Wasteland until dawn before daring to stop and rest.

The cold wind whipped up radioactive dust that stung his face. Deyan sat on the leeward side of the giant rock, eating canned food while looking at a map he had collected from the Buto mine.

"We're deep in the Grandno Wastes. The nearest stronghold, Hestia, is to the west. Good grief, we've got some to go."

Deyang looked westward into the distance, where the gray earth and the leaden sky merged into one, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

It is certain that Hestia, Gondor's largest haunt, is over there.

More than a billion people live in Hestia.

Finding him and Pete in Hestia's Nest City is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Deyan made up his mind and put the map away.

Sleepiness washed over him, and he reached out and patted Pete.

"Are you sleepy? If not, you can keep an eye on it for a while. I'm going to sleep for half an hour."

Pete nodded sheepishly.

Deyang leaned against the rock, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

When he woke up, he wasn't sure how long he had slept, but he saw that Pete's eyes were bloodshot and as red as a rabbit's.

They probably didn't even blink.

This guy is actually quite reliable.

Deyang felt guilty; look what he had done to the emperor's dumbest child.

"Why don't you take a rest?"

"My head hurts." Pete clutched his head, grimacing. "I'm not sleeping."

Dejan was amused by his straightforward manner; it seemed he was really in pain.

Why does my head hurt?

Seeing Pete's conflicted expression, Dejan knew that the guy probably couldn't describe it, so he didn't press the matter further.

Perhaps prolonged exposure to radiation in the mine affected his brain.

With Oglin's robust physique, he should be able to withstand it.

"Let's go then, we still have a long way to go."

The two set off again.

The footprints left behind were quickly blown away by the wind.

……

Hestia's nest city.

Go to the nest.

As the lifting platform passes through the thick purification and isolation layer, the last trace of engine oil and rotten fumes belonging to the lower chamber are completely cut off, replaced by pure air that has been molecularly filtered.

The temperature is kept constant at 22 degrees Celsius.

Bright sunlight bathed the wide and clean pedestrian platform, while streamlined hovercraft sped past the church spire, leaving silhouettes in their wake.

Information flows between buildings in the form of light quantum streams.

Compared to the lower and middle nests, this place is simply paradise.

The governor's residence is magnificent.

The more impressive building next door is the Coron family mansion.

Council chamber.

Elijah sat in the main seat, listening to the chief administrator report on state affairs.

When he heard about the "Bhuto mine cult riots," he thought of Dejan and casually looked up.

"Bhuto Mine...did I leave that Kadian there before?"

The chief executive officer nodded slightly.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Where are the others?"

"Whereabouts are unknown, and whether they are alive or dead is uncertain. Should we send someone to verify?"

Claire, standing in the shadows behind Elijah, heard this and a fleeting smile vanished behind her visor.

Given Dejan's abilities, he must still be alive.

I really want to play mahjong with him again.

The thought of mahjong made Claire's hands itch slightly.

The game that Dejan taught her is really fun.

Once you get started, you can't stop.

Unfortunately, after Deyang left, no one played with her anymore.

"Never mind, they're insignificant little characters. We have important matters to attend to." Elijah, abandoning his usual nonchalant demeanor, stared intently at the chief administrator. "With so many people sent out, has anything been accomplished?"

"No inert energy reactions matching your description were found. Surface scanning and deep exploration are ongoing, but the current results are unclear."

"Useless!" Elijah frowned, displeased. "Send more men and search Gondor from top to bottom."

"yes!"

"You may all leave."

Elijah waved his hand, leaving Bruno, the psionicist shrouded in a hooded black robe, alone.

"Could there be a mistake? Is that relic not in Gondor?"

"My lord, my prophecy will not be wrong. That relic must be in Gondor. You need to be patient." Bruno pulled back his hood, revealing his pale and thin face. With each breath, a few wisps of energy mixed with the smell of ozone leaked from the suppressor interface at the back of his neck.

The air is thus distorted.

"Once you possess this sacred relic, you will become the absolute power center of your family, and no one will dare to disobey your will."

Even if the Son of God were to rise from the dead, he would still treat you as an honored guest.

The Highlords' Council of Terra is nothing but a sandcastle before you.

Elijah stared at Bruno.

After a while, a series of hoarse laughs echoed through the council chamber.

The lust for power is growing.

"I won't treat you unfairly after it's done."

"Thank you for your kindness."

The master and servant exchanged a smile, giving off a sense of mutual understanding and unity.

Outside the door, the chief administrator returned.

"My lord, Governor Fario requests an audience."

"Please let him in."

Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes, with a belly as big as Nurgle's, walked in. Upon seeing Elijah, he bowed so low that one might mistake him for kneeling.

"Good day, Your Excellency Corren. Are you comfortable staying in Gondor?"

Elijah gestured dismissively to the seat. "Speak, what is it?"

"Alas, to be honest, I have come to you for help." Governor Fario rubbed his hands together, looking worried. "Gondor is becoming increasingly unstable. Cult activities are rampant, violence is escalating, and sheriffs in several districts have reported sightings of mutant aliens."

I am worried that if we don't crack down on this soon, the situation will get out of control, so I would like to purchase some equipment from you to arm my guards and military police.

Elijah hesitated for a moment, then handed over a data tablet.

A large number of weapons and equipment are listed above.

Moonblade anti-aircraft gun, Sentinel mech, Chimera troop carrier, Tarantula turret, heavy bomb gun, molten metal, plasma...

"This..." Fario almost drooled with envy.

Elijah's next words almost made him faint with happiness.

"I'll provide you with this equipment for free."

"Your sentiments are as bright as the stars, may the God-King favor your soul!" Fario was so excited that his face turned red and his neck bulged. If it weren't for his status, he would have loved to kiss Elijah's feet.

Of course, he wasn't stupid to become governor; he knew there's no such thing as a free lunch.

"Please don't hesitate to ask if there's anything I can do for you."

Elijah had a "you're smart" look on his face.

"I need people, lots and lots of people. You should know that I'm conducting a large-scale archaeological excavation. I need you to mobilize all your resources to cooperate with my operation."

"No problem!" the governor assured him, patting his chest. "I'll personally oversee it and guarantee my cooperation."

Elijah smiled with satisfaction.

"May our cooperation bring a bright future to Gondor."

……

On the day of the Emperor's Ascension.

With the help of a scavenger, Dejan finally slipped into the Hestia hive through an abandoned chromium transport pipeline.

Lower Nest, District 137.

Stepping out of the pipe, one is greeted by a dark world made of reinforced concrete and metal grilles, with mottled buildings extending upwards to form a majestic skyline.

The air was thick, filled with the awful stench of excrement, rotting garbage, substandard fuel, and fermenting industrial waste.

The power cord was broken and making a crackling sound.

Because of the Ascension Day, the usual dirty graffiti or gang markings have been replaced with hand-painted images of the Emperor and Imperial Eagles.

Everywhere you look on the streets, you see drunkards holding celebratory wine and drinking heartily.

Noticing the malicious gazes in the crowd, Deyang instantly aligned himself with the graininess.

Welcome to the Lower Nest.

This place is blessed with outstanding people and abundant resources, and teems with livestock.

He loves it.