During the time spent on Conquered World No. 37 (Code Geass), aside from drilling troops, the Second Legion continuously debugged the captured Britannian and EU Knightmare units, reallocating them to the Imperial Auxilia for use.
So far, the results had been promising. The Knightmare knight formations were already taking shape.
Since that was the case, they might as well be deployed to battlefields of higher intensity for real testing. After all, Budo's Second Legion controlled the entire original manufacturing world of the Knightmare system and could replenish losses quickly.
"Order Budo to transfer two-thirds of the Knightmare Frame units refitted with Honkai energy power sources to the Astartes Third Legion…"
Let Liver take them to reinforce the Astartes Ninth Legion Blood Angels and the Sisters of Battle.
"Liver…"
The moment she thought of Liver and his Third Legion Black Marlin, Selene felt a faint headache coming on.
"What exactly is wrong with that guy? Is he just slacking off? As one of the original three founding legions, how has he conquered only twenty-something worlds?"
The First Legion Dark Angels, under Alex's leadership, had already conquered over fifty worlds.
Budo's Second Legion Retributors had slowed slightly due to prioritizing investigations of World No. 37 and handling troop training matters, but even so, they had taken more than forty worlds.
Yet Liver's Third Legion Black Marlin—despite being the third-largest Astartes Legion—had progressed noticeably slower. His conquest count had even been surpassed by some of the younger legions.
It wasn't that he was doing poorly. On the contrary, every world conquered by the Third Legion recovered exceptionally well.
Whether designated as recruitment worlds or forge worlds, they returned to stable operation rapidly, continuously adding fuel to the Empire's expanding Great Crusade.
One could say that although the Third Legion's conquest count was lower, the average quality of its conquered worlds ranked the highest among all legions.
But still… Liver looked far too relaxed.
Other legions fought with relentless ferocity, yet with him, it always felt as though he was holding back—too composed, too effortless.
At that moment, the images of Kizaru and Lorgar Aurelian surfaced in Selene's mind.
"…Ugh. What an ominous thought. No, I need to put more weight on his shoulders."
Selene was not the Emperor. She certainly wasn't about to destroy all the worlds Liver had conquered and then make the entire Third Legion kneel in repentance.
If she did that, what would she be—a lunatic?
"Oh, you want to slack off? Fine. I'll personally micro-manage. I'll give you precise orders myself."
...
"Planetary Governor, is it?"
Lelouch rose and walked to the crystal floor-to-ceiling window of the reception palace, gazing out at the palace complexes beyond the sea of clouds.
"I heard the officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs say that beyond the palace city walls lies the civilian districts. Unfortunately… the palace grounds are simply too vast. Endless halls stretch as far as the eye can see."
At present, Lelouch and the others were inside a reception chamber located at the outermost edge of an enormous standalone palace structure.
He could not imagine what material possessed the structural strength necessary to support a single palace complex large enough to function as an entire urban district.
Though this was supposedly one of the most peripheral and 'simple' areas of the palace, a single glance around told a different story.
Frescoes, oil paintings, murals—lavish gold and silver ornamentation placed everywhere. The corridors and courtyards were embedded with radiant gemstones. The magnificent layout radiated opulence, visible at a glance.
Whatever material had been used in the palace's construction shimmered faintly under the lighting, emitting a soft, gentle glow that was neither harsh nor glaring.
Lowering his gaze through the crystal window, Lelouch saw a vast courtyard bathed in brilliant sunlight. Verdant greenery flourished there, with rear gardens connecting seamlessly to colonnaded walkways and a broad front hall.
There, they saw those golden-armored giants, fully armed and clad in heavy plating—like colossal steel constructs humming faintly with unseen power.
Having been formally invested and recognized as one of the Holy Selene Empire's own, Lelouch and his sister at least now possessed guarantees for survival. They would not be casually humiliated.
Only then did he calm himself enough to properly observe his surroundings.
Even at a considerable distance, the cold, silent, and deeply intimidating aura of the golden Royal Guards was unmistakable.
Their resplendent armor shone brilliantly—no words like magnificent or splendid seemed sufficient. They were worthy of the name Royal Guard.
"Tithes, head taxes, recruitment worlds, forge worlds…"
Pressing his hand lightly against the smooth crystal window, Lelouch recalled the responsibilities of a planetary governor as explained at the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters.
"'People first. Develop technology. Promote civilizational advancement.' Hah. It's hard to believe that such a transcendent empire would be so urgent about scientific and civilizational development."
Ordinarily, in worlds where supreme power was concentrated in individuals, technological advancement tended not to be prioritized. Yet the Holy Selene Empire somehow possessed both.
There were warriors capable of leveling cities with a single strike. Generals who could freeze continents at will. And an Empress who could extinguish stars with her hand…
With such immense disparities in individual power, why would the Empire still exert every effort to advance technology and build civilization? Was its strength rooted in civilizational level?
"Well, unlikely. Perhaps expansion is the real goal, and technology is merely a byproduct."
Lelouch let out a self-deprecating chuckle, unaware that the notion he dismissed was already dangerously close to the truth.
"Regardless, the immediate priority is restoring production in Conquered World No. 37 under the Second Astartes Legion Retributors—to supply the continued expansion of the Great Crusade."
Just as Lelouch was considering the future—
"Governor Lelouch, Her Majesty requests your presence."
...
Astartes Third Legion Black Marlin Expedition Front.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Before them lay what appeared to be an abandoned city.
Chaos. Filth. A nauseating stench.
Collapsed buildings littered the landscape after the fighting. The ground was piled high with blackened, mangled flesh and remains—lonely and horrifying.
"Disgusting. Is this entire world made up of undead corpses? What a waste of time… Men! Prepare Honkai fission bombs for bombardment!"
"Hold it, hold it, Legion Commander! Perhaps we shouldn't. Even if civilization's order has collapsed, it was still once a human world. It might still have value."
"Legion Commander Liver—there's a communiqué from the General Staff…"