The Bizarre Adventures of the Oil Man, but Starting with Warhammer 32K

The inevitable requirement for establishing a chapter was the tithe of gene-seed. To prevent the Second Legion's seeds from being discovered and to expand the army, these Imperial Fist seeds would be stored and handed over to the Empire in batches as the tithe.

After this batch of seeds is delivered, I have to consider where to get some new seeds to fool the tithe tax, but that’s a story for later.

It's worth mentioning that the Lords' Council should have allocated at least one more warship to the new chapter. However, the current Solar Fleet itself is also very tight, and such a large empire can't spare a single warship that can be directly delivered to the chapter.

For this matter, he met with Hayes and Wangerich separately after the High Lords' meeting and asked them to come up with a solution, but both of them said they were powerless.

"After the Battle Moon was resolved, the Astropaths have restored communications with some Imperial sectors, and we have also contacted some Forge Worlds."

Wangerich explained: "Although there are no existing ones, the Ministry of the Interior has placed an order, and a strike cruiser will be included in the battle sequence of the new regiment after its construction is completed."

Li Ang was unhappy about this.

He understood the empire's predicament and helplessness, and knew he couldn't force it. But Leon really needed his fleet.

He is no longer the rich man who just captured Maxim and brought Hayes' expeditionary fleet into the team.

Hayes returned to the Empire and became Guilliman's regent. The armies and fleets that were already under his name naturally returned to the Empire's combat sequence and were no longer used by Leon.

The only available ship under Leon's name was a light cruiser-class forged ship that was plucked from Maxim - and it was not for combat.

It has been almost two years since I was hunted by the Black Legion. I lost my ship at that time, but after going around in circles, I still don’t even have a warship. How can I seek justice?

“How many years will it take to deliver?”

He expressed his dissatisfaction to Hayes and Wangerich frankly, but Wangerich gave him an unexpected answer.

"About half a year, depending on when you can reach the Taiping Star Region."

"?"

What are you doing here? Is this the efficiency that an Empire should have when it takes at least 20 to 30 years to build the most common cruiser?

Li Ang's eyes widened. He thought for a moment and realized something from the keyword "Taiping Star Region".

"Huangquan No. 8?"

His place of origin, Huangquan No. 8, is in the Taiping Star Domain. However, unlike the heart of the Taiping Star Domain he chose, Huangquan No. 8 is located in a star region in the Taiping Star Domain that is closest to the Sun Star Domain.

Although there are few stars in the Taiping star field itself, the area where Huangquan No. 8 is located is still quite lively.

"Yes, Huangquan No. 8 is willing to undertake the construction of the new regiment's strike cruiser. He promised that as long as you go to Huangquan No. 8, you can pick it up at any time."

Wangoliqi replied, handing the Huangquan No. 8 delivery function authorization to Li Ang: "I thought you would have to make a detour, but I didn't expect you to choose the Taiping star field as the battle group's home planet. This is actually convenient."

Li Ang knew that Huangquan No. 8 was an anomaly within the Empire, but they also possessed all the "virtues" that a motor oiler should possess. "They undertook the construction work for free? What else did they ask for from the Empire?"

"They only ask us to deliver the necessary construction materials or resources of equal value, at a fair price, without any deception."

Li Ang knows that free is the cheapest: "Then they have a big appetite."

"If you're worried, the Empire can also place the order with another Forge World."

"No, that would take too long... I'll go back to Huangquan No. 8."

The fact that Huangquan No. 8 didn't ask for much money and resources meant that it had other intentions. As for what they were, Li Ang was not sure.

He recalled and was sure that he had no living enemies on Huangquan No. 8.

For the sake of a strike cruiser, it wouldn't hurt to go back.

Hayes agreed with Leon's decision: "They are most likely seeking the friendship of a new regiment. Compared to a strike cruiser, this friendship is not a big deal."

Wangoliqi left first, leaving Hayes and Leon alone. When the two were alone, Hayes brought up another topic.

"You need to focus on other things right now."

"Other things?"

Li Ang was a little confused.

"That's right. Terra doesn't have enough transport ships right now."

Originally, there were tens of thousands of merchant ships, but the merchant fleet representative Tour, who is now dead, had destroyed most of the merchant ships under the artillery fire of the Battle Moon when he formed the Crusade Army.

As someone who had fought on Maxim for more than half a year, Hayes knew a little about Leon's plan.

Compared with Veritus and Wangerich, he understood that what Leon wanted was not only a chapter home planet, but also to use the production equipment on Maxim as the foundation to build his own forging hive and even forging world.

The problem is that moving those production equipment requires a considerable amount of transportation capacity, which is absolutely impossible without a complete transport fleet.

With the fall of the Battle Moon, order was restored on Terra, and the few remaining merchant ships had already set sail again, heading for several mining and agricultural worlds that the Empire had confirmed were safe.

Their transportation capacity is insufficient for the entire Terra, so it is naturally impossible to allocate it to Leon.

This is not a problem that can be solved by killing the merchant fleet representative Tour.

Li Ang pondered for a moment, his thoughts stumbling. "Since you're the one raising this question, does that mean you have a solution?"

"I can only give you some advice. You can seek help from Mars or the Rogue Trader."

The merchant fleet controlled transport ships belonging to the Empire, but the Mechanicus and the Rogue Traders were outside the Imperial system and were not implicated by Tour's folly.

"A traveling merchant..."

Leon didn't understand Rogue Traders. He had been in Warhammer for a hundred years, and this group that often wandered around the borders of the empire was still too mysterious to him.

Rather than an unknown group, he preferred the Casting General whom he had taught a lesson before.

"I'm going to go to Mars to talk to Kubik first, and then I can bring back the gene seeds belonging to the chapter from Mars."

Chapter 233 The mysterious wandering merchant.

The ship carrying Leon slowly entered the orbit of Mars, and the observation window of the bridge reflected the now mottled appearance of the red planet.

After being "visited" by the Phalanx, a small half of the once dense orbital defenses turned into debris that Mars could not recover, and the situation on the ground was worse than before Vashtor's visit.

The neatly arranged forging temples are now covered with charred craters, and the ruins of several giant plasma reactors are still spewing poisonous smoke, dyeing the already scarce atmosphere of Mars a sickly purple-red.

If you look closely, you can even see if flames of battle will erupt across Mars.

"It seems the civil war is more intense than we thought."

Amidel sighed as he stood beside Leon.

"It doesn't matter. Just send a message to General Casting and have him lead us in."

The message sent by Leon soon received a response from Kubik. Under the other party's guidance, Leon's foundry ship was anchored in a still intact spaceport, and from there he went directly to the Temple of the Casting Director.

The dome of the Foundry Director's Temple still stands tall, but the splendor within has faded.

The projection of the holographic image was intermittent due to energy shortages, and the number of servitors responsible for maintaining the equipment's operation had been reduced by two-thirds. Most of the remaining ones bore traces of repairs from battle damage.

Kubik sat on the data throne he had rebuilt. Dozens of data cables extended from his scarlet mechanical head and directly plugged into the Thinker array on the throne base.

Of course, this array of thinkers is far less powerful than the previous one.

When Leon stepped into the temple, Kubik, who was sitting on the throne, forced a stiff smile.

"Sage Leon, I thought you would come earlier to inspect your 'trophies'."

"You know, things are always so bad on Terra. But Mars doesn't seem to be much better."

Leon looked at the Casting General, who had regained some of his momentum. "Mars is almost being torn down into a scrap metal graveyard, yet your Excellency the General looks so radiant?"

"The reshuffling of power always involves...necessary losses."

Kubik avoided Leon's sarcasm and said, "Just tell me, what do you want this time?"

Leon shrugged and showed Kubik the authorization document given to Amidel by the High Lords Council.

"I have brought the permission for the formation of a new chapter, authorized by the High Lord. This includes a corresponding reserve of 500 gene-seeds. I hope that control of the gene-seed bank remains in your hands."

"only these?"

"And, of course, a strike cruiser that was supposed to be provided by Mars."

"Gene seeds are not a problem. But battleships...Mars' current production capacity must be prioritized to replenish losses."

"I guess so."

Li Ang suddenly smiled and said, "That's why I came to ask for the transport ship."

Kubik paused, looking Leon up and down, inside and out, trying to figure out what he was going to do.

The logical conclusion of the thought loop points to Maxim, the forging world that Leon originally captured.

Maxim, being too close to Mars, was not a good place for Leon to thrive. No matter which faction on Mars won the civil war, they would inevitably extend their influence back to Maxim.

Kubik knew that a daring technological heretic like Leon would definitely not be willing to obey the governance of Mars. No matter what he wanted to do, he would definitely not stay in Maxim.

So he wanted the transport fleet to transport the remaining production equipment on Maximus and build his own forge world on the Chapter homeworld?

Creating a forge world is not an easy task. Some sages may work hard all their lives to turn only one hive in a hive world into an industrial hive. However, if there is a ready-made and complete set of basic equipment, this task can be accomplished.

Especially since Leon had previously robbed a lot of basic means of production on Mars, as long as he could find a reliable source of raw materials...

The more Kubik thought about it, the more terrifying it became.

Maxim's high-value production line had already been taken away in Augustus's first round of relocation. If Leon took it away again, there would only be a piece of white land left when Mars returned.

In addition, Leon himself would definitely not obey the authority of Mars, and the forging world he created would definitely be as rebellious as his birthplace, Huangquan No. 8.

What will happen if we allow these traitors to work together?

No, this transport fleet cannot be given out no matter what!

"Transport ship? You've seen the current situation on Mars. The civil war is still ongoing, and resources are scarce. I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what?"

Leon interrupted him, "Lord Kubik, you seem to have forgotten whose 'assistance' enabled you to return to this position?"

The air in the Foundry Temple froze.

Seeing that Leon ignored his "euphemism", Kubik's expression turned cold.

"Mars will always be on the other side of the Imperial Double-Headed Eagle. We are not under Terra's complete control, and naturally we will not be easily 'constrained' by you."

He was initially controlled by the Astra Militarum and the Last Wall, but both were fully mobilized for the assault on Battle Moon, leaving Mars and returning to Imperial control after the war.

Even if it was true that Leon helped him regain the position of Casting General, there was no need for him to be timid towards a sage who had lost his military support.

But Leon smiled, and that smile sent a tingle through Kubik's logical circuits.

"Really? Then you can give it a try. See if Mars's 'independence' can preserve everything you have now."

Amidel beside him made a gesture to draw his weapon, and in response, the automatic weapons in the Foundry Temple also locked onto Leon.

But no one really took action.

Looking at the calm Leon, Kubik began to calculate - calculate whether Leon's threat was real and whether he could bear the consequences.

He had witnessed Leon's mysterious methods on Mars, and was surprised when the high wall quickly captured the battle moon.

Li Ang was the mastermind behind all this, and he didn't dare to bet whether Li Ang had any new tricks up his sleeve.

After all, Kubik didn't dare to really turn against him.

Finally, his shoulders sank slightly, and his mechanical joints made a deflated hiss.

"…Transport ships are currently unavailable."

The Casting General was still unwilling to give in on this point, but he changed the subject: "However, in terms of gene seed, I can give you more."

Li Ang raised his eyebrows: "Oh?"

"I can double the amount granted to you by the High Lords Council. But you'll have to figure out the transportation yourself. Transportation capacity on Mars is 'really' scarce."

"Interesting. How do you plan to deceive the High Lord?"

"Mars is in the midst of a civil war. It's normal for a batch of gene seeds to be wasted due to damage to the cold storage."

"Wouldn't that make Mars look incompetent?"

"It was just a small mistake."

Kubik corrected Li Ang's statement.

"What's a big mistake?"

"It would be a big mistake if someone found out."

Only Kubik and Leon knew about the extra seeds. Leon understood that Kubik wanted to use the seeds to exchange for the transport ship, and also to use their common "little secret" to bind the two of them together.

Li Ang thought about paying it.