Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 903, 08.902: 'Bribery? No, this is a 'donation' to the Gothic Fleet.'

The meeting was still ongoing, but Horatio had already gotten up and left.

The boulder he cast, called "Warning," is stirring up chaotic ripples in the stagnant waters of the "Prince's Court."

The merchants and wandering warriors, caught off guard by the Imperial Navy's sudden ultimatum, were frantically discussing countermeasures with their respective allies, calculating potential losses or gains, and guarding against possible attacks from their adversaries.

Amidst the murmurs, Horatio walked through the hall.

He could feel countless gazes directed at him from behind—some filled with awe, some with resentment, and some with ulterior motives.

He could hear suppressed whispers.

Some people described him as "authoritarian and domineering," while others criticized him as "arrogant and haughty." But many more people marveled at his "extraordinary courage"—daring to confront the "Emperor" of Colonus, Carrigos Wintersco, without flinching, and completely overwhelming the arrogant man in terms of presence.

He didn't care.

He can't always put on a friendly face.

One can offer some warmth to allies, but only leave a chilling cold to cunning snakes.

The theory of Machiavelli, the ancient Terran scholar, still applies to the politics of empires in the 41st millennium: if you want those who hold absolute power to respect you, you must first make them fear you.

As Horatio prepared to leave the magnificent palace and return to his "Flying Fortress" built of gray-black steel, Abelard, the former naval captain who was over fifty but still vigorous, respectfully approached Horatio.

“My lord.” He bowed deeply to Horatio.

"Your speech was brilliant and powerful. What you said truly addresses many of the problems exposed by the distorted competition among the merchant dynasties today."

He paused, then looked up, his scarlet prosthetic eye gleaming with a complex light in the dim light.

“My mistress, Lady Theodora von Valancieus, wishes to see you alone. Would it be possible to spare a moment of your time for a private meeting with my mistress?”
-
In the luxurious VIP living room, the air is filled with the fragrance of exotic plants and the rich aroma of aged spirits.

Horatio followed Steward Abelard to the jeweled woman.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a decisive Imperial Navy officer like you at our port. Without a doubt, you’ve stirred up a storm here.” Theodora gently swirled the crystal glass filled with golden liquor in his hand, a playful smile playing on his lips.

She gestured to the steward, Abelard, to pour Horatio a drink.

"What do you mean by that, Madam?" Horatio maintained basic courtesy and distance, the bottom line that the Imperial Navy and the merchant ronin should not associate with each other was firmly etched in his mind.

“Those Calicus fleet officers who were not transferred to the Cardia Gate defense line, especially those responsible for patrolling the waterway.”

Theodora spoke casually, but the content of the conversation was incredibly sharp: "A significant portion of them are in cahoots with us, the traveling merchants. As regulators, they profit by turning a blind eye to many of their actions. Or rather, we have consciously banded together and bribed them."

She took a sip of her drink and continued, “If you go to the upscale taverns outside now, you’ll find men and women in naval officer uniforms drinking themselves into a stupor in the salons with merchants, ronin, or their envoys, all clutching bottles of liquor.”

"Is this a common phenomenon?" Horatio asked, frowning.

"Of course it's very common. They call it 'socializing,' which is neither against the rules nor illegal; it's just having a few drinks and receiving some gifts, like what naval officers often do."

Almost every officer in the patrol fleet would take time to come to our port of call and enjoy our hospitality and pleasures. This stood in stark contrast to their colleagues serving on other arduous defensive lines.

Lady Theodora put down her gin glass and smiled, “Therefore, only a high-ranking officer like you, from another combat fleet, of noble lineage, renowned reputation, and distinguished service—neither under the command of the Calissis fleet nor relying on the resources we provide to power your own warships—can ensure that these regulations are strictly enforced today.”

"Any mid- to low-ranking officer in the Calissis fleet would probably have ended their service today." "I was simply fulfilling my duty. And I truly don't need to rely on anyone or any power; I can stand out in the Imperial Navy on my own."

Horatio politely declined the wine glass offered by Steward Abelard with a gesture, and gently placed the golden glass back on the table.

“I must take my leave, madam. I cannot keep Major General Brues waiting for me for too long.”

“Please wait a moment, I have a ‘donation’ I would like to give you.” Mrs. Theodora handed a data board to Abelard, who then respectfully presented it to Horatio.

"Profit margin? No, I don't need it. I serve the God-Emperor, not money." Horatio's eyes widened as he looked at the information on the data panel Abelard handed him, but after a moment's pause, he still refused.

Although he said he didn't need it, when he caught a glimpse of the "100" profit point displayed on the data board out of the corner of his eye, even his resolve couldn't help but flutter.

Profit is a 'universal' value system established by wandering merchants in this dark void, utilizing their authority and complex and meticulous business links. It is the hard currency in the massive trade of the human empire.

It can be used in almost any star system with a trading system of traveling merchants and wanderers.

Horatio could use these profits to get anything he wanted—supplies, weapons, ammunition, equipment, even lost STC fragments, gene seeds… and almost anything that could be traded.

But as an officer of the Imperial Navy and as a supervisor of traveling merchants and ronin, accepting bribes was a despicable act he would never do.

He refused to compromise his moral principles by crossing the line into the sewers of the underworld.

“You seem to have misunderstood. Do you think this is a bribe? No, no, no, I have faith in Lord Horatio Cochrane’s character and virtue.”

Lady Theodora seemed to sense Horatio's hesitation. She laughed heartily and continued, "This is a gift I am donating to the Imperial Navy's Gothic Fleet in the name of the Von Valancius dynasty, in gratitude for the Holy Navy's outstanding contributions to the stability of the Void."

I hope to provide some meager resources to support this suppression of the rebellion, and a 'profit-sharing' approach is clearly a more flexible and convenient option. May the glory of the Divine Emperor shine upon every starry sky.

Mrs. Theodora performed a standard yet dignified Eagle salute.

Giving it to an individual is a bribe.

Donating to the fleet is a donation.

These are two completely different situations.

Horatio considered it for a moment, and realized that he did not seem to have the right to refuse a gift donated to his fleet by a merchant ronin dynasty.

However, this place was too far from the fleet headquarters, and he didn't have time to report the situation to Lord Admiral Katarina.

Moreover, coincidentally, as the Supreme Lord Colonel who has the authority to represent this fleet, he can accept this huge sum of money on behalf of the fleet, and... spend this huge sum of money to serve the fleet.

At this point, Horatio no longer needed to make excuses; he should just handle things officially.

He returned the greeting with a smile: "In that case, I will accept this gift from the von Valancieus dynasty on behalf of the Gothic fleet. I will use every penny of these resources to serve the public good."

"I look forward to seeing you again, Your Excellency." Lady Theodora gave a meaningful smile. "I believe we will meet again in the Colonus Expansion District after the rebellion in the Duchy of Severus is quelled."

The fox's laugh.

(End of this chapter)