Warhammer Survival Guide

Chapter 19 The Displeased Machine Soul

This was different from our previous meeting at the Governor's Palace.

She wasn't wearing a helmet this time; her face was angular, with several old scars etched on her cheekbones and jaw.

His short, silver-white hair stood straight up close to his scalp, every inch of it hard and stiff.

Her gaze was direct and cold, possessing a penetrating power.

Black power armor covered his entire body.

The armor plates are thick, and there are signs of wear and welding repair at the joints.

The searchlight cast a stark white glow on the surface of the breastplate.

The edges of the double-headed eagle emblem etched in the center have faded due to years of wiping, but they are still very clear.

She stands with her back straight and her shoulder blades naturally drooping.

His right hand remained at the grip of the explosive gun at his waist.

The armor emitted a low, steady hum, synchronized with the breathing.

Luo Wei went to meet him.

He was neither obsequious nor overly enthusiastic.

He was just standing five steps away.

This is a safe distance that shows respect without making people feel threatened.

He bowed slightly.

"Welcome to the Seventh Granary, Your Excellency, Chief Guard."

Lilith did not speak immediately.

Her gaze swept over Lo Wei like a scanner.

Then, looking past him, he gazed at the group of laborers digging trenches in the distance.

Then I looked at the roaring fermentation tanks.

Finally, I looked at the newly modified harvester with a menacing appearance, parked in the corner.

"That's good, it conforms to the 'basic production order' you mentioned in your report..."

Lilith's voice was hoarse yet steady.

It has a metallic feel, like the result of someone who has roared on the battlefield for a long time.

She pointed to the distance, where people were queuing in an orderly fashion to receive their meals, showing no signs of disturbance.

"On my way here, I saw the situation at the third and fifth grain depots."

"It's complete chaos there. The supervisors are cowering in the fortress, and mobs are looting the warehouses."

Lilith looked away.

He took a closer look at the young man in front of him, who looked somewhat thin, or perhaps more like a scholar.

That night, the governor sent her to fetch Lowell.

At the time, she didn't think there was anything special about this guy.

They treated it as just routine business.

Now I have to admit that I shouldn't have judged people by their appearance.

"But here, what I see is an army."

This statement carries significant weight.

In the empire, forming an army without authorization is a harbinger of rebellion.

Luo Wei's heart tightened.

However, his expression remained as calm as a rock.

"This is merely a necessary organizational form to ensure production, Your Excellency the Chief of the Guard."

Luo Wei answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"As you can see, these people are holding shovels and wrenches, not explosive guns."

"They are fighting for the Governor's tithes, not for anything else."

"For the tithe..." Lilith murmured, "A very good reason."

"If Case, that piece of trash, had even half your awareness, he wouldn't have turned himself into a piece of meat that can only do math."

Obviously.

The Governor's Office was fully aware of everything that was happening here.

Luo Wei did not respond.

Silence is the best response at this time.

Lilith waved her hand.

The soldiers behind him immediately opened the rear hatch of the armored vehicle.

Inside the armored vehicle, there were no military police or judges that Love had been worried about, but rather neatly stacked wooden crates.

The box was printed with the double-headed eagle emblem of the Imperial Military Affairs Department.

It also has warning signs printed with "explosive" and "dangerous materials".

"The Governor has received your letter."

Lilith walked up to Rowe and said in a low voice.

"The umbrella ribs are complete, only the skin is missing... Hmph, you're quite good at using metaphors."

She patted her heavy power armor gloves.

"There are six heavy logging rifles, two thousand armor-piercing rounds, and fifty high-explosive incendiary grenades in here."

"These are all old parts salvaged from the last hive war, and some might still be stuck. But they're still better than the steel pipes your farm workers have."

Looking at the boxes, Lowe breathed a sigh of relief.

This is not charity.

This is recognition.

This is Governor Alicia's recognition of his abilities.

This also tacitly approves of his "act first, report later" behavior.

"Thank you for your generosity, Governor." Lowe bowed deeply, this time sincerely. "With these 'skins,' this umbrella will hold up."

"Don't be too happy yet," Lilith cautioned. "These things didn't come for free. The Governor asked me to pass on a message to you."

She said, word by word:

"The rain has already started. If your umbrella leaks and soaks the tithe ledger... then you might be the next one sent to the Cult of Mechanics to be made into a wetware server."

Luo Wei met her gaze without backing down.

"Please convey this to the Governor."

He spoke slowly, his tone revealing an iron will.

"As long as I stand here, not a single drop of rain will fall into the Seventh Grain Depot."

A few seconds later, Captain Lilith smiled.

It was a very brief smile.

With a touch of admiration, and a touch of pity.

"Good luck, clerk... no, special agricultural advisor."

She turned around and strode toward the armored vehicle.

"Let's go. We're not needed here anymore."

With the engines roaring once more, the black convoy, just as it had arrived, quickly disappeared into the night.

All that remained were tire tracks.

And those wooden crates filled with deadly weapons.

Luo Wei stood there, feeling the cool night breeze on his cheeks.

With guns, food, and manpower.

The stage is already set up.

Next, we'll see when those "spectators" hiding in the shadows will make their appearance.

"Buck!"

"Love gave the order."

The hem of the coat fluttered in the wind.

"Move these boxes into the repair shop. Have Father Alpha bring out the best lubricant."

"We're not sleeping tonight; we're going to give these old guys a thorough 'massage'!"

"yes!"

Buck roared excitedly.

A bloodthirsty glint flashed in his single eye.

For a soldier, nothing is more reassuring than touching a heavy machine gun.

……

The door to the repair workshop was slammed shut.

It isolated the outside noise of the wind and digging.

The air was filled with the smells of engine oil and incense smoke.

A few teetering lumens cast a dim, yellowish glow.

The shadows of those gears and hydraulic rods were stretched into a distorted and ferocious shape.

Lo Wei took off his dusty coat and rolled up his shirt sleeves.

Two arms were exposed.

Not particularly strong, but with firm, defined lines.

On the worktable in front of him were six heavy logging guns that had just been taken out of wooden crates.

Even in dim lighting, it was clear that they were not in good condition.

The barrel was covered with dark red rust spots, and several pieces of the heat dissipation handguard were missing.

The ammunition feeding mechanism was filled with dried-out grease and unidentified black grime.

There were dried bloodstains on the firing mechanism of one of the guns.

That was the last mark left by its previous owner before his death.

"The machine spirit is displeased."

Father Alpha stood opposite Rowe.

Several mechanical tentacles are cautiously probing inside the gun barrel to scan.

A worried red light flickered in his electronic eyes.

"These sacred creations have severely worn internal structures, and the tolerances of the piston connecting rods exceed the standard value by 18%."

"If it is used directly without a soothing ritual, the failure rate will be as high as 40%."

"Then let them be happy."

Luo Wei picked up a wire brush and dipped it in special rust remover.

"Alpha, prepare the holy oil and incense. We're going to give these old guys a deep clean."

He didn't directly say "disassembly and repair".

Instead, it used vocabulary that was more in line with the doctrines of Mechanics.

Science is heresy.

Only faith is truth.

Even if you're just tightening a screw, you must be praying to the god of all machines.

"Praise be to Omnesia."

Father Alpha murmured a sentence.

He then directed two servants to bring over a burning incense burner and a golden bottle of holy oil.

Lo Wei began to take action.

His movements were very slow, one could say excessively cautious.

Each pin was knocked out, each spring was removed.

He would stop, examine it with an almost reverent gaze, and then carefully wipe it with a clean white linen cloth.

This wasn't just a performance for Alpha.

For Luo Wei, these dilapidated iron lumps were his and 50,000 men's lifeline.

Any tiny oversight, any remaining grain of sand, could mean death on the battlefield.

"Click".

With a crisp metallic clang, the bolt assembly of the first logging gun was completely disassembled.

Lo Wei picked up the firing pin, which was covered in carbon deposits, and examined it under a magnifying glass.

"The firing pin head is slightly deformed, but it's still within usable limits," he muttered to himself.

Then I picked up fine sandpaper and began to patiently sand it.

"Buck, hand me that bottle of Holy Oil Number Two, the one with graphite powder added."

Buck, who had been standing by as an assistant, quickly handed over the bottle.

The one-eyed commander, watching Rowe's practiced movements, couldn't help but ask:

"Advisor, you...you used to work in the Ministry of Military Affairs? Your gun disassembly technique is even more skillful than any veteran armorer I've ever seen."

"I just enjoy reading," Lowe replied without looking up. "You can find anything in books. As long as you're willing to read, think, and understand the logic between those metal components."

He certainly wouldn't say that this stemmed from his love of mechanical engineering in his previous life.

In this world, knowledge is a dangerous force.

Disguising it as a "talent" or "imperial revelation" is always safer.

Time flies.

In the repair workshop, only the clanging of metal could be heard.

And there was Father Alpha, his deep prayers echoing.

Luo Wei's fingers were stained black with engine oil, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He maintained a breathtaking level of focus.

Rust removal, grinding, lubrication, and assembly.

Every step was taken meticulously.

Every single part has undergone repeated verification.

When the first heavy logging gun was reassembled, it had completely changed its appearance.

The dark red rust marks disappeared, and after applying anti-rust oil, it reflected a cool, luster.

The sound of the bolt being pulled back was no longer harsh and grating, but became smooth, muffled, and full of power.

"Click."

Rowe pulled the bolt and then pulled the trigger.

The firing pin struck the empty chamber with a crisp sound, producing a pleasant noise.

"The machine spirit... has calmed down."

Father Alpha's prosthetic eye gleamed with blue light as he spoke with admiration.

"You soothed its anger with your own hands. What exquisite...prayer technique."

Rowe didn't say anything, but silently picked up the second gun.

He doesn't need praise.

All he needed were these guns, so that the moment he pulled the trigger, a bullet could be fired into the enemy's chest.

Instead of letting it explode in our own hands.