"Ten million is a relatively convenient unit," Farida said with a cunning smile, as if she had read Horatio's thoughts.
"Strive to become a Naval Officer, Mr. Kirkland.
They are all Captains, and they all serve the God-Emperor, but some Captains live in luxury every day, with their own chefs, comfortable and spacious bedrooms, exclusive chefs and attendants, while other Captains drink muddy water and eat canned food in the trenches. They may be equally great, but if you have a choice, don't let the opportunity slip through your fingers."
Farida gently blew dry the flamboyant handwriting on the check, then pinched a corner with her fingers and pressed it, and a unique emblem appeared on the check.
—That was the Hood Family crest.
"But I have a premonition that I will experience both of these lives," Horatio shrugged.
He had no prejudice between military branches, and he knew very well that while the Navy was important, the Navy alone could not stop the invasion of Chaos on local battlefields.
To save his own life, he had to become an all-rounder like Solar Lord Macarius, proficient in both land and sea.
Practice makes perfect, and if he had the opportunity in the future, he would not rule out gaining experience with the Imperial Guard.
Then, using this valuable experience, without causing trouble, he would try to perfect the theory of combined sea and land operations, treading the grey line of the Imperial Code, and eliminate the increasingly outdated separation between the Navy and Astra Militarum in the Imperium.
Horatio's answer surprised Farida. She frowned, pouted slightly, completely unable to understand what the young man in front of her was thinking.
She puffed up her chest and said indignantly:
"One hundred thousand is the maximum amount that can be immediately withdrawn from the financial Servitor here. This money should be enough for you in the short term. Any larger amount will require a transfer of funds."
Horatio looked at the amount on the check, and his jaw dropped as if dislocated.
"One hundred thousand…"
[Damn, do these rich girls just add zeros casually?]
Horatio remembered that the purchasing power of gothic coins was similar to RMB, but prices fluctuated greatly depending on the supply chain and region.
Things bought in Middle Hive seemed much cheaper than in Lower Hive, but after accounting for consumption tax, the price difference narrowed again.
But no matter where, one hundred thousand was an undeniable huge sum.
"What? Not enough?"
"No, no, it's enough." Horatio mentally calculated how thick a stack of large-denomination banknotes one hundred thousand would be, his heart pounding, a rare blush appearing on his cheeks, and a faint layer of cold sweat on his forehead.
"If it's not enough, just find me~" Farida chuckled softly:
"Where are you going now? I'll drive you there in my hovercar."
"You came here in a Valkyrie Fighter just like me. Where did you get a car?"
"My father's."
"Then how will he go back tonight?"
"Oh, Gentleman, surely you don't think our Hood Family only has one car in the Navy Department, do you?" Farida raised her rosy lips, blinking her almond eyes as if to ask back.
"…"
[Unbelievably rich!!!]
Farida showed a smug, shallow smile. She handed the check to the servant and instructed: "Prepare Rear Admiral Alexander Hood's car as well and have it wait at the Navy Department Senior Officer Hovercar Pad."
"Yes, Miss Hood," the servant respectfully took the check and replied in a steady voice.
"That's possible?" Horatio gained another piece of knowledge.
"Of course, follow me, Mr. Kirkland."
"Oh, alright."
"Where are you going?"
"F-4 Block of Vegas District."
Horatio followed Farida through winding paths, stepping onto a luxurious elevator decorated with gold and mahogany, which led directly to the Senior Officer Hovercar Pad.
As the elevator door opened, warm sunlight shone on Horatio, dispelling the coldness in his limbs.
The breathtaking clear sky and the magnificent skyline formed by the most prosperous area of the entire planet directly entered Horatio's eyes.
Whoosh—a surging engine roar came from above his head.
Horatio looked up, several fighter jets cruising at high altitude for duty streaked across the blue sky like an ocean, and he could vaguely see hundreds of twinkling space warships in low-earth orbit, as well as the beautiful sky with bright plasma plumes spraying from their sterns.
The angels in the sky had wing-like main wings, powerful twin tail fins proudly stood on the fuselage, and strong engines left long contrail plumes.
Those were Lightning fighter jets, high-maneuverability air superiority fighters produced by Sepra-Mundi, the Segmentum Obscurus Naval Headquarters and Forge World.
[How beautiful.] Looking at the beautiful sky scenery before him, Horatio secretly praised.
His bright blue, agile eyes retracted their gaze to the platform, where the officers present were all dressed in splendid Imperial Navy general and field officer uniforms.
The lowest rank was a Navy Lieutenant Colonel, serving as a frigate Captain.
The Senior Officers were dignified and imposing, holding exquisite and luxurious Imperial Navy command scepters or sabers, conversing or strolling with elegance and composure.
"Let's go, that elegant and noble black senior hovercar with the Hood Family crest is my father's vehicle. Remember our family's crest, or people will think you're a Lower Hive dweller."
Farida waved her slender finger, pointing to an elegant yet majestic black hovercar, her lips proudly curved upwards, completely unfazed by the presence of high-ranking officials. She puffed out her proud chest, looking like a noble and triumphant young lady, confidently and elegantly striding towards the hovercar.
"Ah, yes, yes." Horatio maintained a smile, shrugging helplessly. Given how much she had helped him, he indulged this little girl's haughtiness for now.
Meanwhile, in the Navy Department building.
"Sir, two matters require reporting."
A Navy Colonel, about thirty years old, with neatly styled hair, dressed in a crisply ironed Naval Officer uniform, and wearing two golden tassel epaulets on his shoulders, pushed open the door to the Fleet Military Intelligence Headquarters' commanding officer's office, carrying a golden-edged Naval bicorne hat.
"Speak, Lieutenant Commander Elphinstone."
"First, the Navy Development Committee wants us to finalize a plan for the Vegas District operation within two months. But as you know, disputes from all sides regarding this area have never ceased. Currently, there's a protest march against the Guild Alliance in F-4 Block.
To prevent the situation from escalating, I asked my civilian friend, Lord Humphrey, the Permanent Undersecretary of the Administrative Affairs Department, to hold back the Guild Alliance Government's order to deploy the Planetary Defense Force by stalling the administrative approval process, but the Guild Alliance has hired a group of mercenaries and bounty hunters to go there."
The Colonel walked towards the lonely man standing in front of a huge classical Baroque-style floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in a general's uniform, staring thoughtfully out the window.
Complex thoughts were drifting with the cigarette between his fingers.
"You gave that slippery fellow a lot of benefits, didn't you?"
"Still within acceptable limits, Sir."
"Thank you for your hard work. Continue to strengthen the Childer of Loyalty Marine patrols there, increase police visibility, and accustom citizens to Naval management; this is the basis for other plans. Have the Marines keep an eye on those 'gun-wielding thugs' (the Navy's derogatory term for bounty hunters) and absolutely prevent bloodshed. Next." The man flicked his cigarette ash, then suddenly frowned, his gaze sharp.
He saw a message on his data pad: his convertible hovercar had left the Navy Department, and the one who had arranged for the car was none other than his daughter, Farida Hood.
But that was not the issue. What truly made him frown was the report from the driver who had been left behind: riding in the passenger seat with Farida was a strange young man.
"Your daughter has found Horatio Cochrane, the son of the late Lieutenant Commander Thomas Cochrane, who disappeared in Lower Hive eight years ago. He will enter the Loyalist Academy, Fleet Maritime Department tomorrow."
"Understood," the man replied grimly.
—
"Speaking of which, your family is so well-off, why did you become a Noble Hunter Vigilante?"
Horatio leaned back in the passenger seat, curiously watching the bustling streetscape outside the window, his peripheral vision occasionally glancing at the thick stack of consecutively numbered 1000-gothic coins banknotes in front of him.
This was also the largest denomination of gothic coins issued.
"To avenge my mother."
"You are truly amazing. You're the first action-oriented person I've met. Clearly, you're just…"
Horatio thought for a moment, feeling that the term 'weak woman' was inappropriate; she had already proven her capability through her actions and was a strong warrior, equal to himself.
"What?"
"It's just that I remember, don't Noble Hunter Vigilantes operate as 'Kill-teams'? Why are you always alone?"
"…" Farida pursed her lips: "I prefer to be alone, for freedom. Others can't keep up with my actions."
Horatio glanced at her, already understanding the underlying meaning of her words.
"Please be very careful in the future. This is the first time, but it might not be the last. Now I am also a Childer of Loyalty reserve Sergeant, so if you need anything, you can always find me."
"You should first figure out how to earn all your academic credits," Farida chuckled, as the vehicle drove from the dazzling sunlight into the dim underground:
"I hope when I see you next time, you're still in the Navy, not the Storm Troopers."
Horatio laughed: "Of course, since it's Miss Hood's command, mission accomplished."
"Hmph, you smooth talker. I can't even imagine how slick you'd be if you actually became a Naval Officer in the future."
Horatio raised an eyebrow: "A soldier's mission is to complete tasks. I'm not interested in anything else."
[Am I really not interested?]
Horatio suddenly asked himself, his eyes widening in surprise.
What was that just now…
"Why are you going to that wretched place?" Farida asked, puzzled.
Vegas District, as the 'legacy' left by Farida's mother, was a residential and commercial area where one could see the characteristics of Lower, Middle, and Upper Hive simultaneously.
Its F-4 Block was adjacent to the PW-P-15 Megaport Freight Zone, a lively and complex Middle Hive area where goods from all over the galaxy circulated.
But it was precisely this liveliness that led to extremely poor local security, and the Hive City Law Enforcement willing to stay and work there were basically those who could operate in both legitimate and illegitimate spheres.
People with better luck might be pickpocketed ten times while passing through the block; those with worse luck might be robbed and beaten in an alley or dead end, and might not even keep their lives. The Law Enforcement wouldn't care—after all, only the riff-raff who paid them could cause trouble here.
"Nothing, I haven't been there in a long time, just want to go back and see."
—
"Sir!" The Gentleman ran over in a panic.
"We can't contact him anymore, and we don't know if that kid has been dealt with. His subsequent whereabouts have vanished without a trace!"
The fat man stood in front of the stained-glass window, his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands.
"Damn it, forget it for now. The summoning ritual is on hold until that guy, or a better sacrifice, is found!"
"But…"
"There are no 'buts.' First, help that guy. We absolutely cannot let the Navy control Vegas District. I need to meet with him. You go activate Plan B, do it immediately!"
"Yes! Yes! Lord Wuji!"
The fat man gnashed his teeth: "Damn it, this time I have to spend a fortune. I will! I will get that position! I will not fail!"
After discussion by the Documentary Court, it was decided to change 'Maogang' to 'Abyss Port' in the domestic publishing house's Chinese translation, a name with more of a Warhammer feel. In the following text, when readers see 'Abyss Port,' it refers to Maogang!