[Warhammer: Starting as a Planetary Governor] Chapter 149 (Patreon)

Upon arriving at the orbital dock, Eden rode in a gilded hovercar inlaid with precious gems, heading straight for the hangar where the massive transport ships were docked.

This exquisite vehicle was a custom creation from a local mechanized factory, presented as a gift to him.

The factory manager had been so overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to have lunch at the Spire's mansion and to receive Eden's personally inscribed autograph that he had wept openly.

This gesture from Eden was part of his effort to encourage Urth's self-reliance and economic development.

The factory was the first independently run civilian mechanized plant established on Urth since its revival.

Founded by a second-tier lower noble of the Upper Hive, it represented Eden's vision of fostering enterprise among the citizenry.

Under the protection of his miniature sun field, which shielded the planet from Chaos pollution, Urth's economy could no longer rely solely on a ration system.

Such a system stifled economic vitality and failed to fully utilize resources and human potential.

Moreover, the Royal Court could not provide sufficient employment opportunities.

To address this, Eden introduced special commerce permits, allowing qualified citizens to establish factories, businesses, or purify polluted lands for farming or mining.

While ownership remained under the Royal Court, these enterprises operated with greater independence and profit potential.

This initiative gave capable citizens a new path for advancement, enabling them to create economic value and rise in status.

It was a closely monitored, streamlined version of free enterprise, currently in a trial phase, subject to revision or termination depending on results.

At the dock, the Thunder Warriors, Voidborn soldiers, and Dreamweaver's officers and crew were already assembled.

Eden praised and encouraged their contributions.

The spoils from this battle were extraordinary, promising many of them a rise in citizenship status.

The substantial credit rewards could dramatically improve their families' lives.

After his words of encouragement, it was time for the main event: inventorying the spoils.

The fleet included over a dozen massive transport ships, each approximately 10 kilometers in length. If fully loaded with tithe goods, their value would be incalculable.

In the current era, where warp travel was treacherous, such resources were even more precious.

Even a sector governor required decades to complete a single round of taxation across their sector, dispatching multiple fleets simultaneously.

While administrative teams began inventorying the captured resources, Eden decided to see the spoils for himself.

"Governor, I'll accompany you!"

Kaul suddenly appeared, brimming with enthusiasm. Resources meant funding, and funding meant research.

Eden gave him a warm smile.

"Ah, I almost forgot about you. Enjoyed firing that Nova Cannon earlier?"

Kaul sensed the tension but maintained his bravado.

"Of course! It was exhilarating. I recommend you try it sometime!"

Eden chuckled faintly and walked toward the boarding ship.

"Wait for me!"

Kaul hurried after him but was stopped after only a few steps.

The Interrogator Tribunal had arrived, led by the grim-faced Inquisitor Deville and several armed officers.

"Kaul, come with us. We need to investigate a few matters," Deville declared.

Kaul, while reckless, knew better than to resist the Tribunal, as doing so was tantamount to defying the Royal Court itself.

Though deeply loyal to Eden, Kaul had often pushed boundaries, which frequently landed him in trouble.

As he was dragged away, he shouted theatrically:
"Governor! I'm innocent! That cannon was my masterpiece!"

Eden ignored him. Actions had consequences, and Kaul's antics were no exception.

Deville assured Eden that Kaul would face disciplinary action tailored to his unique situation—such as sensory deprivation, immobilization, and internet bans. A fitting punishment for a tech addict.

As Eden boarded the transport ship, he brushed aside lingering doubts about whether Kaul was truly at fault.

"Doesn't matter," he thought. "He's guilty of something."

The First Ship

Eden stood at the observation window of the boarding vessel, gazing at the massive transport ships in orbit.

He randomly selected a ship and ordered the crew to approach.

Upon boarding, Eden's heart sank.

"This ship's empty?!"

Aside from basic crew and cargo-handling equipment, the vast hold was barren.

It felt akin to winning the lottery only to realize you'd misread the numbers.

Reluctantly, Eden asked the logistics officer, "Tell me the others aren't like this?"

The officer nervously checked his data slate:

"Initial reports show five of the sixteen transport ships are empty. The others are partially loaded with significant resources."

Relieved, Eden realized those empty ships were likely meant to transport Urth's tithes—a clear sign the sector governor saw him as an easy mark.

"Well, we'll see who's the real fool here," Eden thought with a smirk.

The Second Ship

Moving on, Eden boarded another transport ship—and this time, he was greeted with a shocking sight.

This ship was transporting people.

Layer upon layer of stasis chambers held countless lives—likely billions in total.

At the highest tier, Eden inspected the most valuable passengers, opening a core compartment to find…

"A performing troupe?!"

The chambers housed an array of individuals, from royal princesses and noblewomen to exotic beauties and rare xenos hybrids—thousands in total.

Their tearful, fearful gazes were enough to unsettle Eden.

Quickly averting his eyes, he ordered, "Priority protection. I'll deal with them later."

Further exploration revealed talented scientists, skilled artisans, and powerful warriors—intended subjects for genetic experiments.

This haul could significantly boost Urth's population quality and technological capacity.

Now Eden understood why the Empire coveted the tithe system—it was lucrative beyond belief.

As Eden finished inspecting the population ship, news arrived: the interrogation of the fleet commander was complete.

Reading the report, Eden frowned.

"A relic?"

(End of Chapter)

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