A Vindicare Assassin.
A master of assassination within the Officio Assassinorum, having undergone countless years of training and augmentation. Such an individual could wait in a single spot for a decade just for a fleeting moment's opening. Fortunately, this mission had seemed simple: the target was merely an Underhive gang leader.
Why this man needed to be eliminated was not for the assassin to consider. He only needed to execute the orders of his superiors.
One shot was enough to liquefy all internal organs. To account for the possibility of the target having augmented redundant organs, he had fired a second shot as a precaution.
Mission accomplished.
He did not stow his rifle. He waited to confirm that the body would be discovered, ensuring absolute death. Instead, he watched as the "corpse" sprang to its feet and lunged toward his position.
"Non-human?"
A Vindicare was not incapable of dealing with xenos or daemons, but the tactical response for each was entirely different. He needed a moment. His immediate priority was to report this anomaly to Borlais, his current temporary superior.
"Eh?"
He uttered a syllable of pure surprise. Compared to the other temples, a Vindicare did not possess overwhelming advantages in close-quarters combat. However, they were still not targets that a common xeno could kill at whim.
He turned his head. Yuki's silhouette appeared in mid-air without warning.
Optical camouflage? How? Is it a xeno with such innate abilities?
"Motherfucker."
Yuki tore through the Vindicare's body, tentacles extending from his hands to rapidly drain the man's blood. Fortunately, Vindicare assassins were not equipped to self-detonate upon death.
While disposing of the body, Yuki dealt with Yuno's frantic psychic calls.
"Yuki! What's happening on your end? Why did you just suffer catastrophic damage?"
"I was just targeted by the Officio Assassinorum. Likely the work of that new Inquisitor. Dammit, an Inquisitor who can mobilize the Assassinorum is going to be a real headache."
"Should we start the uprising early?"
"No. That would only trigger the planet's defenses prematurely. We've already infiltrated the Planetary Defense Grid; we just need a little more time."
Yuno remained deeply concerned. "But if there are more assassins..."
Yuki finished absorbing the Vindicare's blood, gaining a vast amount of knowledge and tactical data in the process. "No. This won't happen a second time."
...
Griffith summoned Yuki.
The atmosphere was stiflingly oppressive. Both knew exactly what the other wanted to say. Finally, Griffith spoke first.
"An Inquisitor has arrived. A much more troublesome one. No one knows the truth of what happened last time, and now he's here searching for it."
"That's likely a lie. The relationship between Inquisitors is far colder than the bonds between Chaos cultists. He's just looking for achievements to seize more power."
"So we're the sacrificial pawns?"
"Griffith, you should know better than anyone that even in those robes, as a so-called Arch-Cardinal, you're just a consumable in the eyes of the Inquisition."
"Do you have a plan?"
"Six months, Griffith. Stall him for six months, and I'll have a way."
Griffith's expression turned uneasy. Six months to brush off an Inquisitor?
"Do you expect him to just drop dead suddenly? And then have a third Inquisitor come to investigate that? If that happens, the next one won't hesitate to brand us as traitors and call down an entire Space Marine Chapter and a Navy fleet. We won't have the strength to fight back."
"Then do you have a better idea, Griffith? Let's just both do our best."
...
Yuki strolled through the streets of the Spire with Yuno following beside him.
"Our goal is different from theirs. Our requirement is to avoid any major trouble before the fleet arrives."
"So you're just going to try and stall him out?"
"Based on the intel I have now, the fleet the Inquisitor brought is only a dozen ships, mostly docked near the Convent. Surely the Hive Fleet can handle that?"
"Heh. That question is a bit insulting to me, don't you think?" Yuno teased.
Yuki gave a forced laugh. "Let's try a new restaurant. We won't have many more chances in a few years."
The entertainment and service facilities of the Spire were in no way inferior to a modern society, though most were located in districts directly under the Planetary Governor. Many high-society figures frequented these areas. Over the years, Yuki had established contacts with several important individuals, placing his people in key positions. Even the Planetary Governor held a slight acquaintance with him; if Yuki were to ask, a noble title on Planet Ender would be his for the taking.
A noble rising from the Underhive—it would be a spectacle unheard of in Ender's history.
"Mr. Yuki, we have been looking forward to your arrival."
The server's attitude was incredibly humble. Yuki had gained a certain reputation in the Spire's social circles, particularly for his wealth, which seemed disproportionate to his background.
"Yuno, is there anything you want to eat?"
Yuno stared at the menu. She wasn't picky about food, though something delicious was always welcome. "Hmm, give me the Roasted Whale-Beast."
Whale-Beasts were native creatures from before the planet's ecology was completely devastated. Their meat was succulent and considered a staple of the upper class. Yuno poked at the large slab of meat served to her; it was so tender it practically wept juice.
"That looks delicious!"
The voice didn't belong to Yuno, but to another girl with a pleasant face. She walked straight up to them with an air of unearned familiarity and extended her hand.
"Hello! I'm Angel. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"And you are..."
Yuki was caught off guard. Social etiquette, anyone? Who just walks up and interrupts like this? He was about to snap at her, but then he noticed the surrounding people were even more deferential toward her than they were toward him.
Is her identity special?
He quickly cross-referenced her face with the memories of everyone he knew, finding no match.
"I am the daughter of Inquisitor Borlais."
Yuki narrowed his eyes. An Inquisitor has a daughter? Truly, the galaxy is full of wonders. Out of caution, he subtly used his psychic power to gauge the reactions of the onlookers. It was true; she really was his daughter.
"Yes, I'd like to be your frie—"
"Be a friend my ass. Get lost, princess. There's no seat for you here."
Wait, why was this different from what she expected? It was the first time Angel had ever encountered someone who dared to speak to her like that. Did this man not know her father's power? But how could anyone in the Spire not know the Inquisition?
Yuki glared at Angel.
"What? Are you waiting for your father to come and demand justice for you?"
This guy definitely knows who I am! Angel was beyond furious.