In a luxurious secret chamber, the air was filled with a peculiar musk that possessed a fatal allure, as if it could incite the most primal indulgences buried deep within one's heart.
A strong man, his body covered in purple, blasphemous tattoos and hideous scars, pushed away a pair of slender, snow-white arms that were clinging to his neck. He stretched, loosening his stiff muscles. Under the dim lighting, his dark, robust body seemed coated in a layer of oil, looking firm and full of vitality.
Behind him lay about nine women, their bodies marked with bruises and scars, scattered in disarray.
However, from their cold body temperatures and the lack of rise and fall in their chests, it was evident that these people had likely been dead for quite some time.
What was eerie was that despite their differences, all these women had smiles on their faces. No, it should be said they died in the throes of the ultimate pleasure.
This was the price of indulgence!
The victor didn't even glance at the mess behind him. He grabbed a towel from the side, draped it over his head, and walked toward the shower. A short while later, he emerged wearing a bathrobe and walked out of the secret chamber.
In the living room outside, he sat on a wide sofa, took out a bottle of fine wine that his servants had already chilled, poured himself a glass with relish, and drank it in one go.
This was the former Inquisitor who had betrayed the Ordo Hereticus, Tosak Rome. It was clear that his life after betrayal was far more nourishing than his time serving the Inquisition.
Ever since he switched allegiance to that entity's sect, he had tasted the marrow and couldn't stop. He was addicted. His complexion, mental state—everything—was incomparable to before. It was a qualitative leap!
"The taste of this indulgence is simply exquisite."
Although life in the Inquisition came with immense power, Inquisitors were people of strict self-discipline. Their so-called "fun" usually consisted of listening to the agonized wails of heretics being tortured.
Where would they find such an experience of drunken stupor and dreams of death? Endless gourmet food, beauties of all kinds, and inexhaustible fine wine.
Especially since this was a ritual to please that entity.
Slaanesh was known as the God of Pleasure. Her power came from the joy of her followers. Slaanesh's devotees were always in constant pursuit of various pleasures, forever immersed in hedonism.
Eventually, they would lose themselves in pleasure, decaying day by day, falling into despair, and ultimately leading to their own self-destruction.
However, that was for the lowest tier of believers. As a former Inquisitor, Tosak Rome had "awakened" with the "help" of a certain kind-hearted individual. Throwing oneself into Slaanesh's embrace came with benefits.
Tosak Rome's eyes were crimson like a beast's. The tattoos on his body became even more bewitching in color. Whether it was an illusion or not, the purple lines seemed to dance on his skin like venomous snakes.
"My psychic power has increased again!"
As long as one performed acts that brought pleasure, that entity would actively grant rewards. This was very common among Daemons.
To receive, one must first be granted a boon, allowing the fallen to sink deeper and deeper.
Therefore, Daemons would always appear very generous, readily bestowing their own power upon these fallen souls.
And to obtain this immense power, the fallen were often required to commit acts that brought about evil. In the end, without even needing the Daemon's guidance, the user's power itself would bring about very evil influences.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock came from the door.
"Enter."
Tosak Rome swirled his wine glass, speaking unhurriedly.
After receiving permission, a bald man with crude mechanical implants in his arm walked in. His name was Didier Santini, the boss of the unlucky Jamie whom Kenmei had captured, and the leader of the "Wild Horse Gang."
"My Lord, all arrangements are in place."
Didier Santini spoke to Tosak Rome with utmost reverence.
He didn't know where this lord came from, but powerful martial force was always the best stepping stone. The fact that his Wild Horse Gang could gain a firm foothold in the trans-world Middle Hive had a lot to do with serving this master well.
Besides, the task this lord had assigned wasn't anything difficult. It was nothing more than adding a small decoration to the private rooms of every brothel.
But what Didier Santini didn't know was that the "small decoration" in his eyes could determine the fate of everyone in the Middle Hive, and perhaps even the entire Hive World.
---
Since the traitor's scheme was clear, there was no need for Kenmei to fumble around in the stinking, massive lower levels. He turned his attention to the Middle Hive.
The checkpoints, which were like the Wailing Wall to the lower-class residents, were virtually nonexistent for Kenmei and Elena. With the help of the intelligence division, they passed through unimpeded, moving from the pitch-black bottom layer to the Middle Hive of the Hive World.
The Middle Hive of a Hive World was typically the Imperium's arsenal or assembly line for certain daily necessities, bearing the production function of the entire Hive World. As a result, the Middle Hive was densely packed with visible smokestacks. Although the sky was covered in gray dust spewed from countless factory chimneys and the air was full of pollutants...
Even during the day, streetlights had to be on to see the road ahead. It gave Kenmei the illusion of being in medieval London, with industrial exhaust filling the sky. But compared to Asheli at the bottom, where slaughter and chaos were everywhere, this place was practically heaven.
The Middle Hive area was home to a large number of civilians, accounting for two-thirds of the total Hive population, mostly factory employees.
Kenmei looked at the report in his hand. In the Middle Hive area alone, the number of registered red-light establishments reached a staggering 8,900, not counting the underground venues.
So, one could imagine how large the profit margin of this cake was if one occupied the market here.
Even if Kenmei and Elena split up, checking over four thousand establishments each... Laughable. They couldn't possibly check them all.
That was the dumbest method.
The other method Kenmei thought of was very easy. It didn't require them to go inspecting; it could even make the enemy come to find them.
To this end, Kenmei went to the local Adeptus Arbites (law enforcement) department in the Middle Hive. He simply flashed the identity of a high-ranking Imperial official that he had asked Inquisitor Lord Horst Eisenhorn to legally forge for him. That afternoon, after shooting a few old slickers who only agreed but didn't act, the supervisors of these departments were instantly made submissive, doing things according to his rules.
Not to mention, when Kenmei changed into luxurious clothes and had Elena act as his secretary, the vibe of a powerful noble taking a beauty on a trip really came out.
As for why he didn't use his identity as an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus? It was for fear that the people here were colluding with merchants and would alert the enemy, and also for fear of scaring the enemy away.
After all, the notoriety of Inquisitors was widespread. Between an ordinary high-ranking Imperial official and an Inquisitor with a powerful threat of force, which one would be more likely to be targeted while walking at night?
What Kenmei wanted the law enforcement department to execute was the closure of all underground illicit establishments in the Middle Hive. As long as he didn't say stop, they weren't allowed to open for a single day.
Not only were they not allowed to open, but Kenmei also wanted law enforcement to launch the largest-scale "anti-vice" crackdown in the history of the Hive World, arresting all personnel involved and locking them in the Middle Hive's prisons.
Kenmei intended to ensure the "Wild Horse Gang" couldn't eat a single bite of rice. He smashed their rice bowl, so he didn't worry that they wouldn't come personally to "deliver warmth."
Kenmei had the capital to flip the table.