Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 807 (08.806): 'Work and the Ball Game'

In the days that followed, Horatio's life was fragmented into countless high-speed segments.

His figure moved between the cold metal corridors of the port area, the solemn stone corridors of the Loyal Succession Academy, the bustling banquets in the Governor's Mansion, and his residence with Farida in the Sky Garden, the only place where he could let down his guard.

The endless stream of tasks never stopped, but he was not overwhelmed by the ever-increasing burden.

His years of military service taught him that trying to "finish" everything was a delusion.

Reasonable planning, decisive delegation, and a clear understanding of priorities are the reins to wield power.

Now, the entire Vegas area is under his full jurisdiction by a decree, and he is effectively the governor of this steel jungle.

Following the blueprint and hopes left by Falida's mother, he raised and mobilized funds to build factories belonging to the Imperial Navy on the ruins and rubble.

The once turbulent "Labour Gang" has been transformed under his long-term planning and iron-fisted integration into a more organized and mutually supportive union-style structure, and has been renamed the "Abyss Harbor Vegas Mutual Aid Association" as an autonomous organization.

Any citizen living in the midst of Vegas and struggling to make ends meet can receive basic shelter and assistance from the mutual aid society.

The pharmaceutical factory Horatio seized from the Spider Gang is no longer the dilapidated workshop located at the border of Middle Nest, with its rudimentary equipment and only capable of producing bandages and inferior anesthetics. It has grown rapidly, like a dragon's tooth that has been planted, extending and developing in all directions.

Today, a vast supporting industrial belt has formed around it within a 100-kilometer radius. The pharmaceutical factory itself has been upgraded into a modern large-scale factory capable of mass-producing Imperial Navy military-grade individual first aid kits, with its products continuously being supplied to the Gothic Fleet's war reserve warehouses.

Meanwhile, the criminal network in Lower Nest, through years of infiltration by informants and plainclothes officers, provided a vast intelligence network for the Navy's intervention to reorganize Lower Nest in the Vegas area.

Zone Zero, once considered a lawless zone, has also undergone a thorough purge.

Those parks and industries belonging to various gangs, with unclear ownership, and found to be engaged in illegal transactions or the production of contraband were all confiscated in accordance with imperial law.

Any gang that dared to resist was quickly dismantled under the cold gaze and merciless shotgun barrels of the Ministry of Justice officers.

The tall law enforcement officers, clad in black armor, stood guard over the streets like mobile fortresses.

One after another, once arrogant gang leaders and lawbreakers were linked together with heavy shackles and, under the awe-inspiring gaze of the Xiachao residents, were escorted onto armored transport vehicles.

Beside them, the terrifying mechanical mastiffs emitted a low, menacing growl from the vocal cords in their throats, and viscous engine oil dripped from the corners of their mouths from time to time.

The centralized advantage of the empire was fully demonstrated at this moment—the will of the ruler could be implemented to every corner of the grassroots with unprecedented power and efficiency.

The factories that produced drugs and contraband were razed to the ground amidst the explosions.

Instead, new factories producing gun parts, uniforms, and military supplies sprang up.

The instruments and machines that were originally used for crimes were dismantled, sorted, and reassembled one by one, and under the skillful hands of the imperial engineers, they were given a new lease on life and put to use for the emperor's great cause.

"Zero Zone," once a chaotic place where gangs ran rampant and rules and laws were mere empty words, has now been transformed into "Imperial Navy No. 0 Armaments Control Zone," producing war supplies for the loyal servants of the God Emperor.

Its main responsibility was to meet some of the equipment needs of the newly formed naval landing force of the Gothic Fleet.

While its current production scale is insufficient to supply the massive forces of the future, it is more than enough to provide expedited equipment for the current pilot units.

Deacon Jonathan, a steady and taciturn man, served Horatio diligently in Lower Nest for many years and finally received the reward he deserved.

He was officially appointed as the Production Executive Officer of Armaments District No. 0, and his responsibilities expanded from simply overseeing the daily production and operation of a single pharmaceutical factory to managing a vast system of several dual-use military and civilian factories.

Horatio never mistreated those who were loyal to him.

They may never know what great cause their daily toil is ultimately contributing to, but Horatio can assure them that any loyal dedication will be richly rewarded.

Until the day of final victory, people will know from the empire's epic history what a great achievement they had participated in and accomplished, without him having to tell them in person.

This suffocating busyness only allowed for a brief respite on the day of Abridal Loyalty Academy's anniversary.
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The inspiring bugle call resounded through the sky, echoing above every spire and dome of the Abridal Loyalty Academy.

Tens of thousands of teachers, students, alumni, military officers and dignitaries, as well as residents of Upper Nest in the Throne District, participated in this unprecedentedly grand celebration.

The streets outside the academy were packed with people from all walks of life, who participated in this planetary celebration in their own ways. Admiral Venuska Catalia, who had not appeared in public for a long time, was also present.

Dressed in a magnificent general's uniform, she delivered a brief but powerful address from the reviewing stand, extending her sincerest blessings and highest hopes to the students of Loyalty Academy and the preparatory students who were about to join the Imperial Navy.

As the lord-general finished his speech, a salute was fired, exploding into clusters of brilliant colorful clouds in the sky.

Looking up at the sky, you can see several battleships that have been specially dispatched from the shipyard and are now moored in near-Earth orbit.

Their massive silhouettes gleamed in the sunlight, and the long, bright flames of their plasma engines at the stern, like the spears of gods, traced magnificent trails in the dark space.

However, compared to the massive naval review that covered the sky on the anniversary of the Gothic War victory, today's scene seemed somewhat lacking in grandeur.

Although the few imposing battleships were quite imposing, the sparse, scattered lights in the sky still revealed the Gothic fleet's dire situation.

In recent years, fleet battles have been frequent, especially among cruiser-class ships, with over 90% of cruisers being deployed to various corners of the star system to carry out endless fleet operations or escort missions.

Even these battleships are only temporarily docked in port to fulfill their defense duties at the fleet's anchorage and to meet the combat readiness requirements for immediate deployment.

The grand military parade and performance took up the entire morning.

That afternoon, Horatio finally put down his arm, which was aching from saluting for so long.

He took off his heavy, ethereal blue woolen military uniform, along with the jingling medals and ribbons, and handed them over to his accountant and secretary, Yin Shuyao.

He then changed into a blue and white team uniform. The light and breathable fabric made him feel a long-lost sense of ease, as if he had returned to the youthful days when he and his classmates were sweating on the green field of Zhongsi Academy.

Exercise is considered one of the oldest human instincts.

Therefore, even in the cold and cruel forty-first millennium, athletic competitions remain an indispensable part of the celebratory ceremonies of the human empire.

From triumphal processions commemorating great victories to Olympic-style events showcasing imperial power, and important anniversaries of various military academies, sports competitions have always played a vital role in uniting people and forging wills.

"Ready? Swifthawks!" Horatio clapped his hands and shouted to his teammates.

"We are ready!" Archie, Louise, Ledos, Fiedio, Harvey, and David Betty, these former classmates, now elite officers of the Imperial Navy, shouted in unison, their voices resounding throughout the arena.

All eleven of them graduated from Abridal Loyalty Academy and were truly the chosen ones of 'heaven'.

Standing opposite them was a team led by Chung-Sze-Sheng from the School of Law.

These young people, dressed in black and red team uniforms, were all agile, with sharp eyes and faces full of high-spirited fighting spirit.

Until... Horatio, who was 2.1 meters tall and had a burly build like a battering ram, took the striker position.

"Uh... Colonel Cochran... he personally took to the field?" A player from the Department of Justice nudged his teammate with his elbow, his voice filled with incredulous astonishment.

“I thought he was a man in his fifties. It’s shocking, he looks like he’s only in his early twenties, about the same age as us.”

“My God, his size… he’s practically a miniature Astartes.”

"Don't get distracted! He's so tall, he can't run fast! Everyone concentrate, the race is about to start!" their captain whispered.

The loyalists quickly adjusted their breathing and resumed a strong defensive stance.

They appeared more serious, not only for the sake of victory, but also to avoid losing face for the Ministry of Justice.

The members of the Swift Skyhawks team, facing these "youngsters" who were still quite inexperienced in their eyes, displayed a fearless composure born from the baptism of real combat.

Two teams from different universities, with vastly different styles, stood face to face, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

(End of this chapter)