Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 1031 09.1030: 'The Hanging Throne'

"what happened?"

Jadvig's voice trembled faintly in the empty garden, as if a night breeze could blow it away.

The final verdict, "Someone wants your mother to die with you," was like a heavy hammer forged from ice crystals, shattering everything she had known for over twenty years.

Her world was collapsing, and the solid quartzite floor tiles beneath her feet seemed to turn into quicksand, leaving her nowhere to stand. A wave of dizziness rushed straight to her head.

"During your mother's childbirth, an assassin infiltrated the medical staff and injected a special chemical reagent into her life support fluids. That substance was colorless and odorless, but it could instantly disrupt blood clotting."

The Duke's voice was icy, "She suffered severe abdominal bleeding, and her vital signs disappeared at one point. If it weren't for the loyal family physician I had arranged to be in the next room, you and your daughter would have both died then and there."

And that wasn't the first time. I've thwarted countless similar plots, but the enemy's methods have become increasingly sophisticated and unpredictable, their schemes increasingly resembling unfortunate accidents.

Horatio's gaze unconsciously swept around.

He looked up, his gaze precisely catching the reflections of several infrared scopes hidden in the shadows of the surrounding building domes and columns.

The sentries and snipers responsible for security were taken aback. They couldn't understand how this man could make such a precise eye contact with them from hundreds of meters away in the dim light.

“I see,” Horatio muttered to himself. “That’s why, even now, your residence is always guarded by so many elite guards, security experts, and countless sentries. This isn’t just a precaution; it’s practically a state of war.”

"As long as the hidden dangers remain, their feast can be interrupted at any time. Only when the hidden dangers are all dead can Polaberia truly become their treasure trove, where they can take whatever they want."

If the bloodline of Władysław survives, they fear this matter will offend the Holy Terra.

If this gets out into the open, a large number of people will likely not only lose all their illegal investments in Polaberia, but their entire intricate family networks will also be brought to trial.

Horatio understood.

[I was right. I'd found it strange before—how could a mere Ministry of the Interior of Calesis have the authority to unilaterally declare the demise of a knightly world and forcibly transform it into a colony of the capital planet? So that's the root of the problem.]
"So, your decision to retire from the highest levels of the military when you were in your prime must have been related to this," Horatio's question hit the nail on the head.

A hint of approval flashed in the old man's cloudy eyes. He looked at Horatio and a self-deprecating and weary smile appeared on his lips: "You are much smarter than I thought, High Commander."

That's right. Anyway, because of the blood curse of the Lana family, I am destined to leave the army before I turn forty.

Since this secret was unknown to anyone, I took advantage of it. When I was thirty-nine years old, I made a deal with Marius Hax.

I voluntarily resigned from the military and completely withdrew from the center of power; in exchange, my wife Maria had to 'die'.

She will live in seclusion here under an assumed name, never to appear in public again in any capacity.

And it was announced that the descendants of the Rana family would forever relinquish any claim to the throne of Polaberia.

I traded my future and my wife's freedom for the protection of the sector governor's fate.

He allowed the nobles who were already exploiting Polaberia to continue their plundering, while mediating the political disputes over interests, manipulating the overall situation as a neutral, benevolent savior.

In this way, he, Marius Hax, as the governor of the sector, could completely consolidate the stability of the capital of Calicus and make Polaberia the most secure piece on his political chessboard.

In return, I secured the temporary safety of my wife and you siblings.

The Duke's gaze swept over Yadviga's pale face, his voice heavy as a mountain: "Perhaps, in your eyes, failing to eradicate all the masterminds behind the scenes is a sign of my incompetence."

But our enemy is an invisible interest group comprised of countless greedy families, chambers of commerce, and even high-ranking officials in the sector, not some individual that can be slain with a single sword stroke. To swing a sword at the void in search of our enemy is nothing more than a futile act of drawing the sword and looking around in bewilderment.

But I cannot ignore the deadly threat lurking in the darkness.

Even an ancient family like the Rana could be silently wiped out of the world at any time when faced with large groups that unite for common interests and plot against us.

The extent of Calicus's filth is beyond the comprehension of outsiders like yourself.

In Sintira, assassination is the cheapest and most efficient way to silence your opponents.

Therefore, the deal with Marius Hax was the best possible solution I could make under those desperate circumstances—a deal that could kill two birds with one stone.

He paused, then looked around at the two young men: "Of course, I'm telling you this not to gain your understanding or sympathy. I don't need sympathy; I'm doing very well!"

Rather, it's to make you clearly understand what kind of ruthless wolves you are about to face, and what kind of deeply entrenched obstacles you are encountering.

Horatio fell into deep thought.

The situation was far more complex and perilous than he had anticipated.

This is no longer a simple military operation, but a political game that has plunged into a quagmire.

He will likely need stronger and more reliable political allies to pry open a crack in this stagnant pool.

Seeing Horatio lost in thought, the old man turned his sharp, hawk-like gaze to his daughter, his tone carrying a hint of cruel questioning: "Now, do you understand?"
If they discover that the last bloodline heir of the Vádizław royal family, the first in line to claim the rightful title of Polaberia, the new High Princess, is actually piloting her mother's knightly mech across the land of Polaberia...

Guess how many people would go to any lengths to erase you from this world?

He clearly knew that Yadviga's ultimate goal was to find the legendary Knight mech left behind by her mother.

"Then let them try!"

Yadwiga abruptly raised her head, a defiant flame rekindling in her still tear-filled eyes. She practically roared, "My knight's chainsword will teach them what it means to never lay a finger on something they are not worthy of touching!"

"Innocent!"

The old duke rebuked him sharply, his voice filled with exasperated anger and deep worry, "That's why I've always forbidden you from returning to Polaberia alone! You'll die there, a meaningless and worthless death! Your courage is worthless in the face of absolute, insane interests and conspiracies!"

The old man put his hands behind his back, suppressing his surging emotions, and stated his solution in an almost cold tone:

"Unless you marry a family whose power, after merging with the Lana family, is enough to rival the entire Sintira Noble Council."

And that is the fundamental reason why I must arrange a marriage for you.

The Lana family is now isolated and helpless in Calicis, surrounded by countless treacherous individuals who covet our wealth and status.

We desperately need a reliable political ally to improve our precarious situation.

While the contractual alliance formed by marriage isn't entirely reliable, it remains the most stable bond of interest we can currently achieve!

(End of this chapter)