CHAPTER 7
Experts have a tendency to be idiots in all things common sense. I see it as a simple consequence of overspecialization.
— An expert philosopher
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War, Alex supposed, was a rather boring card game. Sure, there had been countless attempts to spice it up, but every variant seemed to miss the point entirely.
War wasn’t about logic or strategy. It was about slamming two sides against each other and praying life turned out in your favor. At its core, it was a game of endurance—a lesson not lost on Alex as he flipped over his next card: a jack of spades.
Gerald followed suit, flipping over a jack of hearts.
“Well,” Alex muttered, eyeing the cards. “Looks like this battle’s about to get a bit more interesting.”
“It most certainly is, Your Majesty,” Gerald replied smoothly, flipping his next three cards with deliberate precision: a king of clubs, an ace of spades, and a three of hearts.
Alex blinked. Did I say that out loud?
Surveying the board, he forced a grin. “A strong start from you, but don’t think I’ll give up that easily!”
“You didn’t say that out loud, my lord,” Gerald replied, smiling faintly. “And if I may, this game has a lot more to do with luck than will.”
Alex froze for a moment, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek adamantite bracelet. As he clasped it around his wrist, he said casually, “I thought the Imperial armor blocked psyker abilities. Have there been advancements in that field?”
Gerald’s smile widened. “Of course, my lord. Technology in the Milky Way never stops progressing, even if the monarchy’s strength has... diminished.”
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Alex scowled, studying Gerald more closely. He’s awfully comfortable for a member of the Imperial Guard, Alex thought. A noble house, perhaps? That would explain how he avoided the psyker draft.
He frowned, suddenly regretting how little he’d learned about the people around him during his first brief stint as king. Though, to be fair, five hours doesn’t give you much time to get to know anyone.
“Enough delaying, Your Majesty,” Gerald said, his tone polite but firm. “Play your hand.”
Alex smirked. “Of course. Prepare to witness why the royal family remains superior to the noble houses.”
At that, Gerald twitched—an almost imperceptible reaction, but enough to confirm Alex’s suspicion. Definitely a noble house. The question is, which one?
Flipping over his first card, Alex revealed a four of spades.
“A loss,” he murmured. “But still recoverable.”
The second card came next: an ace.
“Tie,” Alex said, his heart racing slightly. “It all comes down to this.”
Just as he reached for the third card, Gashon’s voice crackled over the loudspeakers. “We’ll be landing in Sector 3 shortly. Please ensure you have steady footing and are prepared for descent.”
Alex grinned, gathering the cards into a neat stack. “I guess we’ll never know who won this one, Gerald.”
“I suppose not, Your Majesty,” Gerald said, standing and stepping behind Alex with an almost imperceptible bow. “If you ever want to play again, I’d be happy to oblige.”
Alex chuckled. “Well, if I survive the next couple of hours, I might just take you up on that.”
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ELSEWHERE...
Across the galaxy, the top ten academic universities were practically invaded by Imperial Guard units, their mission clear: locate the best experts on the void domain and bring them to Sector 3.
But wherever they searched, the results were the same. The experts had all vanished—dead, retired, or mysteriously lost a thousand years ago.
All except for one.
At Gloxwork University, a solitary professor of void studies was found in a secluded laboratory. Though irritated by the sudden interruption, she was quickly shepherded onto a vessel bound for Sector 3 to meet the young king and his entourage.
Haste was paramount.