Three shots rang out. Li Qingyu sat on the steps at the entrance to the Hydrological Station and began to wait humbly, while picking a poison capsule out of his tooth to discard it as unnecessary.
Soon, a growing roar of engines was heard, and Lieutenant Rudolf arrived with his soldiers.
Lieutenant Rudolf was extremely alert: the barrel of the Chimera APC's autocannon nervously swept from side to side, and the soldiers held their weapons at the ready, aiming at all suspicious corners. They were deathly afraid that a psychic would suddenly jump out and finish them all with some terrible sorcery.
Li Qingyu waved his hand at the lieutenant:
"Don't be nervous. That psychic is already gone and won't be back here. This place is yours now. It was captured thanks to your valiant team, Lieutenant Rudolf, who heroically occupied the position."
With these words, he led Rudolf into the forest and pointed to the rebel corpses lying everywhere.
"Here they are, the evil rebels, destroyed by you personally at the head of the detachment. Now all the glory is yours!"
The corpses had already begun to decompose, and any experienced veteran would have realized at first glance that it was a fake. But no one cared. Discipline in the PSS on this planet was limping on both legs, so no one would conduct a thorough investigation.
Besides, the regimental commander was related to Rudolf somehow. The guy wasn't promoted only because he had recently received a rank, and it would be indecent to do it too often. But a mark for merit would definitely be put down.
And why nitpick when there are piles of homemade rebel weapons lying on the ground? Bringing these trophies to headquarters is more convincing than enemy heads. The industrial potential of the rebels is low, and people there are cheaper than weapons. Sometimes, for one homemade gun, you have to lay down three or four rebels.
Lieutenant Rudolf briefly examined the bodies and waved his hand. The soldiers immediately opened fire on the forest, and the Chimera's autocannon added several impressive volleys to the surroundings.
Having made enough noise, Rudolf allowed the soldiers to enter the "battlefield," collect the homemade rifles, and prepare them for shipment to their superiors as proof of success. The corpses were piled up and burned. Now this victory belonged to him, whether he wanted it or not.
Then the lieutenant ordered the defense of the Hydrological Station to be organized so that the rebels wouldn't recapture it. After finishing with the orders, he offered Li Qingyu a cigarette.
"I'm in your debt again. There's nothing to say. If you need anything in the future, just ask. If it's not too difficult, I'll arrange it."
As soon as these words were spoken, the system issued a notification: the reputation level with Lieutenant Rudolf increased from Lv1 to Lv2.
New items unlocked:
Military grenade - 300 fertilizer coupons;
Flashbang grenade - 200 fertilizer coupons;
Armor-piercing round (AP) - 50 fertilizer coupons each;
Remote explosive - 2000 fertilizer coupons;
2-7x scope - 5000 fertilizer coupons;
Light carapax armor (Level 4, limit 1/1) - 10,000 fertilizer coupons;
Ceramite military helmet (Level 4, limit 1/1) - 5000 fertilizer coupons;
Active noise-canceling headphones - 1000 fertilizer coupons.
The increase in reputation immediately gave Li Qingyu access to a bunch of high-class military equipment. But the good news didn't end there.
"If you see our company's vehicles outside the camp," Rudolf said, "you can confidently ask for a ride. I'll warn the soldiers."
Li Qingyu whistled. This would significantly simplify evacuation. If he was lucky enough to stumble upon a vehicle from Rudolf's company, he could just hail them and comfortably drive to the Hive with his loot. Beautiful!
The lieutenant ordered the delivered heavy weapons to be installed and simple fortifications to be erected, after which he got into a PSS military truck to return to camp with a report.
On the way, Li Qingyu asked the question that concerned him most:
"Do you have a way to help me get a Middle Hive ID?"
He had long wanted to unlock access to the Middle Hive. His intuition told him that many new contacts awaited him there, and materials for improving his sanctuary could likely only be found in the upper levels.
The system clearly stated: Lieutenant Rudolf had a way, but it would cost 100,000 fertilizer coupons for bribes. Li Qingyu wanted to know the details – he had almost gathered the required amount of coupons, all that remained was to find the time and pay to open a new map.
Rudolf replied casually, as if it were a trifle:
"My relative works in the genetic archive. You need to pay 100,000 fertilizer coupons to grease the wheels from top to bottom, then give blood and enter your data into the database. After that, you can freely enter and exit the Middle Hive."
"Are there any hidden pitfalls?" Li Qingyu inquired. "Won't it be discovered later?"
Rudolf burst out laughing:
"Hidden pitfalls? What are you talking about? The Lords of the Upper Hive are happy when the number of Middle Hive citizens increases – more taxes can be collected. If you can afford to pay 100,000 for citizenship, it means you have money to pay taxes. Pay on time, don't break the law – or at least don't get caught by bailiffs – and no one will care who you are or where you're from."
Li Qingyu clicked his tongue. This is Warhammer 40k, baby. Corruption here is the load-bearing structure.
"What," Rudolf asked suspiciously, "does a free Marauder suddenly want to become a respectable citizen of the Middle Hive?"
Li Qingyu shook his head:
"Not exactly. I just want to be able to move freely, it's convenient for business."
He fell silent, lost in thought, exhaling smoke. The truck rumbled slowly along the bumpy road towards the PSS camp.
Rudolf glanced at Li Qingyu. His face reflected a struggle. Finally, after some time, he said hesitantly:
"Listen... if you do me one favor, I'll make you a citizen for free?"
Li Qingyu immediately perked up. What a proposal! To complete a quest and get Middle Hive status for free – that's much more pleasant than spending 100,000 coupons.
"Agreed!" he exclaimed impatiently. "What do I need to do? Eliminate someone? I'll even kill your regimental commander if necessary!"
Rudolf silently glanced at Li Qingyu, cursing this scoundrel in his mind, and said:
"No need to kill anyone. The matter concerns Little Joel."
"Little Joel?" Li Qingyu was surprised. "Is that the one who was paralyzed below the waist?"
Rudolf sighed, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.
"Yes. He's paralyzed. The Planetary Governor's payments won't be enough for his family even until next month. Without his army salary, with a bedridden patient on their hands... Soon they won't be able to pay taxes, and the whole family will be thrown out into the Lower Hive."
Li Qingyu understood what he was getting at.
"You want me to look after Little Joel's family in the Lower Hive?"
"Not just them. It's about all future wounded. Soldiers who lose their combat capability are doomed to the same fate. Their families will inevitably go to the bottom."
Li Qingyu frowned. He didn't like the idea of becoming a nanny for invalids and their relatives.
Life in the Lower Hive is harsh. Invalids, women, children, the elderly – as soon as they exit the Great Elevator, their time begins to count down. Even healthy, strong men don't all survive there.
Li Qingyu, of course, considered himself a tough guy, capable not only of surviving down there but also of succeeding, but he wasn't sure he could handle a whole crowd of dependents.
And where would he house them? His Sanctuary, though large, was his home. He wasn't going to share it with strangers. He could leave them with the Black Merchant – Lv2 reputation allowed him to hope that Nepal would do him a favor, but that wasn't a solution. Li Qingyu couldn't support them forever just like that.
Now it becomes clear why work in the Lower Hive is so important. Without work, a person doesn't even have a chance for a dignified death, let alone life.
Li Qingyu fell silent. Rudolf's face darkened even more. Could it be that even this man couldn't help?
The lieutenant knew that things were bad down there and didn't want his comrades to suffer. But he was just a company commander. What could he do? Looking at the Marauder's puzzled face, Rudolf's heart sank lower. If even such a fierce fighter couldn't protect them... what awaited them below?
The silence lasted about five minutes. Finally, Li Qingyu reluctantly spoke:
"You seem to have a poor understanding of what the Lower Hive is."
He talked about how less than ten percent of the condemned who are sent down by the Great Elevator survive. He talked about the brutal war between the Chem Gang and the Fertilizer Gang, about the law of the jungle that reigns at the bottom.
Listening to these details, Rudolf's face turned black. He had already decided that Li Qingyu was indirectly refusing, but then he suddenly changed his tone:
"Here's what I want to say. If you entrust your people to me, I, having given my word, will protect them with all my might. But I don't guarantee that I can save everyone. In the Lower Hive, I'm on my own. I don't have my own gang, I have connections with the right people, but I'm not a local warlord who controls a district. If you are willing to accept the risk that they might die due to my mistake, then hand them over to me. I will try to place them. In the worst case, if they are tortured or humiliated, I will shoot them in the head so they die quickly and with dignity. So, does that suit you?"
Li Qingyu weighed everything. After all, it was just a few extra mouths to feed. He was just thinking about creating a small faction, and he needed people for the dirty work. And here they were, coming to him on their own.
Rudolf, listening to Li Qingyu, understood: despite the many grim caveats, this was an agreement. He himself had never been down there, but rumors abound. You could get stabbed just walking down the street. He didn't expect his soldiers to live in paradise down there. He just wanted to give them at least a small chance. Even a tiny one.
"Sigh... Thank you from me and the guys. And... yes, if the worst happens, make sure they go quickly. I'll be grateful to you for that too."
The rest of the journey passed in oppressive silence. The truck entered the PSS camp.
Rudolf called a military medic, who took Li Qingyu's blood. The lieutenant slipped the test tube into his pocket.
"Don't leave yet. Stay in the camp for a couple of days. I'll take care of your citizenship. It will be ready by tomorrow evening."
Li Qingyu nodded. Rudolf rushed off to his business, and the Marauder was left to wander around the camp.
This time, he was once again convinced of the PSS's sloppiness. The sentries on the watchtower were fast asleep, and the autocannon crew at the perimeter were playing cards, not even looking at their machine gun. If the enemy weren't such a rabble, this camp would have been wiped out long ago.
"Truly, Warhammer 40k is a world where the one who messes up the least wins," Li Qingyu sighed, entered Rudolf's tent, plopped onto the camp bed, and slept like the dead until morning.
He was rudely awakened. Opening his eyes, he saw Lieutenant Rudolf's grim face above him.
"Your citizenship is ready. From now on, you can freely visit the Middle Hive. And now, quickly, follow me!"
Without giving him time to recover from his grogginess, he literally pulled Li Qingyu off the cot and dragged him to the army SUV. As soon as they jumped in, Rudolf barked an order, and the driver sped off towards the Hive.
Seeing such haste, Li Qingyu asked what had happened.
"Little Joel's family didn't have money for treatment, they owed the Two Serpents School. Yesterday, the bailiffs came and took them away. Today, they are being sent to the Lower Hive with the first batch of convicts! You have to intercept them, or they're finished!"
Hearing this, Li Qingyu merely said, "My things will stay with you for now," and asked no more questions.
The car sped to the station. Li Qingyu jumped out on the run, snatching the driver's standard PSS assault rifle.
"Hey! That's my gun!" the driver protested, trying to get his weapon back, but Rudolf stopped him.
The lieutenant pulled three full magazines from the driver's loadout and shoved them into Li Qingyu's hands. After a moment's thought, he drew his semi-automatic pistol from his holster and tucked it into Li Qingyu's belt.
"You must protect Little Joel. His spine was broken by a rebel bullet when he was saving a comrade."
Li Qingyu checked his weapon and jumped into the train car. Rudolf followed him.
"Be calm. The Marauder Li Qingyu keeps his word. Joel's family is under my protection!"
The doors of the railcar slammed shut, and the train carried them deep into the Hive.
When they arrived, Li Qingyu and Rudolf found themselves inside the hive city itself. Thanks to the presence of an officer in uniform, no one stopped Li Qingyu, who was armed.
And since he now had the status of a citizen of the Middle Hive, the alarm did not go off when passing through the genetic scanner. The duty officer merely glanced at him and lost interest.
They ran towards the Great Elevator. Rudolf kept glancing nervously at his watch.
Finally, as the massive Great Elevator appeared ahead, its doors were just beginning to open. The first batch of exiles was slowly entering. They made it.
Lieutenant's eyes were diamonds – in a crowd of a thousand beggars, he instantly spotted the family of Little Joel.
"Faster! They're there! I entrust their lives to you!"