Chapter 75: Do What You Think is Right! |
Why not focus their forces on battle only after fully integrating the large Communities?
Why waste manpower and resources gathering those scattered crowds?
What could these people possibly contribute to a war?
Were they just another mouth to feed?
The Transmigrators fell silent.
They had all carefully reviewed the strategy proposed by Romulus.
The strategy was incredibly detailed. It would not hinder the Inquisition's investigation into Chaos, nor would it occupy the forces of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Even the formation of a Crusade Force served as a bargaining chip to persuade the Ecclesiarchy.
The Transmigrators had already done everything possible to ensure that those they rescued could demonstrate their "value".
They were simply being a bit "greedy", hoping to rely on their unique power, along with the help of the Ecclesiarchy, to try and save more people.
Aside from the Sisters of the Sacred Rose, no one could understand why these mighty figures were stumped by a question that could have easily been glossed over.
For an Imperial world, how many people died during the course of a war did not matter. What mattered most was that the world still belonged to the Imperium when the dust settled.
This was not malice directed at any specific group.
It was a tacit acceptance.
A tacit acceptance by the entire upper echelon of the Imperium regarding the current state of humanity, and an acceptance by humanity itself of the dark laws governing this universe.
A chilling, unspoken consensus.
The vast majority of the Imperium's high-ranking officials did not lack the resolve to sacrifice. Their eyes were always locked on their peers and their enemies; they would not even spare a glance downward.
"The Emperor needs anchors, so we must keep them alive,"
Rameses suddenly declared with utmost seriousness. At this very moment, he was in The Warp, constantly making psychic calls to The Emperor.
"This planet is teeming with the power of Xenos and heretics. We need a flock of devout believers, and the more, the better."
The other three immediately looked at Rameses.
They did not understand much about this aspect and were purely asking out of curiosity. If the Ecclesiarchy truly could not accept it, they would just take action themselves.
There was no need to force an excuse.
Romulus shook his head, feeling relieved at this, and then spoke up,
"Our reconnaissance troops will continue to fulfill their duty of investigating Chaos alongside the Inquisition Guard. The forces composed of Cadians and Carcharodons will head out to seize control of the land-based void shields and the Anti-Air Array."
"Once we quickly establish an operational model for the Crusade Force based on the Ecclesiarchy and the congregation, our Combat Power will be rapidly liberated. The Black Templars will carry out the rescue missions independently, so there is no need to worry about delaying the investigation into the Chaos corruption and the Word Bearers."
"Now, I expect us to proceed with the plan. Great Sister Arabella, I will leave the coordination with the Shrine of the Bloody Rose in your hands."
With that said, Romulus was the first to turn around. The U-Shaped Insignia embroidered on his shoulder cape swept past the Sister's eyes, its cobalt-blue threads flowing with a liquid luster under the sunlight.
You people...
At the rear of the group, Aglaia, who had remained silent the entire time, did not know what to say for a moment.
Everyone else was thinking about how to tear through this chaotic defensive line and pool their strength to breach their respective destinations. Yet, these ancient warriors intended to continue pushing themselves to the absolute limit under the high pressure of entering the upper hive, all in a bid to save more people?
Was it madness? Naivety? Willfulness?
"Why?"
The young Inquisitor gripped her pen and whispered softly.
The group gave no answer. There were no lengthy speeches, nor did they passionately expound on humanistic spirit or the importance of life.
They merely kept walking forward.
"We just want to tell you, to tell them—"
After taking a few steps forward, The Angel among them turned around.
He tapped his forehead with his index finger, pointed at the Inquisitor, and then pointed into the distance.
"Faced with such a situation, what else can humanity do besides simply dying?"
They knew very well that they could not save everyone, just as life could never be forever united or truly equal.
But why must one fall into depravity along with the surrounding filth just because they are at rock bottom?
Why couldn't things develop in a positive direction for once?
They would try their best to save as many people as possible. Because they held the chips to exchange for lives in their hands, they intended to try.
Simply because their choices would not be distorted, and their will would not be misinterpreted.
This fire of hope should not, and would not, be extinguished.
And what else was there left to say?
Arthur sighed softly. Spouting pretty words was useless right now. If deeply ingrained mindsets could be overturned with a single sentence, the world would not suffer from so much ignorance and foolishness.
It was better to get down to business first. They also needed to spread the necessary propaganda on Romulus's end.
Just like with the Dawn, it would ultimately be a long process. But once the children taken in for collective education grew up, they would surely bring about some positive changes.
'Wait, why are you guys charging ahead so recklessly?'
Rameses suddenly felt the need to make everyone properly understand exactly what The Warp was, and what Faith represented within it.
How could saving people be meaningless?
They could provide food and water, the Ecclesiarchy could provide fanatical Faith, and The Emperor could use this to manifest miracles.
"Faith is like the high ground. If you don't occupy it, the heretics and Xenos will. The fewer humans who believe in The Emperor, the less power he can project onto this planet, and vice versa. This world is already in grave danger; we must fight for every single ounce of strength we can get,"
Seeing the gazes of everyone around him gathered on himself, Rameses explained in detail, before emphasizing his point.
"They have the value to be saved."
He somewhat hated himself for lacking Arthur's eloquence, unable to resonate with the Imperial citizens as naturally as he did. But the truth was, the other three present did not have a deep understanding of the power of Faith. Due to their past education, they mostly viewed the Ecclesiarchy as an inflammatory organization.
After listening to Rameses's words, the three Transmigrators only felt a deepening sense of sorrow.
How pathetic it was that saving lives actually depended on their "value".
But this was the underlying logic of this damned universe.
"...Sigh."
Rameses wanted to say something more, but upon seeing the situation in The Warp, a pleasantly surprised expression immediately appeared on his face.
The Emperor was finally willing to act decently for once.
The Superior was the first to hear the sound of something shattering.
It sounded like someone tapping on glass from across the Galaxy. The neural interface lining her armor flared with sudden, searing pain, and her retinal projection began to flicker with afterimages of the Emperor's holy emblem.
The Pure Gold Aquila Emblem atop the shrine was melting, and the Obsidian Shrine Inscriptions were oozing a pale golden liquid. The droplets rolled down the wings of the martyred angel and landed with absolute precision on the paper document in her hands.
Then, the golden droplets spread out, etching themselves into golden handwriting, adding the dialogue exchanged between Romulus and the Bishop.
However, it offered no response whatsoever to the Superior's earlier question.
The attitude conveyed was self-evident.
"This is..."
The Superior's hands began to tremble, and even the Bishop beside her cast a look of sheer fanaticism.
This was a blessing.
Bestowing a blessing was a power possessed only by the divine.
To be capable of invoking a miracle from the God-Emperor meant they could only be living saints.
The words of the saints were the words of The Emperor.
"We shall strictly obey the commands of the Holy Saints!"
The Superior and the Bishop dropped to one knee in unison, bowing reverently to the four figures bathed in golden light.
All lingering doubts among the crowd vanished.
"...I suppose The Emperor still has some humanity left in him."
Seeing that all the necessary elements had come together, Romulus spoke to his companions.
For the time being, it was virtually impossible for humanity to cast aside the Ecclesiarchy.
Because their god could truly manifest miracles.
However, a tool was ultimately just a tool; its effectiveness depended entirely on the one wielding it. As things stood, The Emperor sitting upon that throne was likely the best possible outcome for humanity.
"Then we will keep the original plan unchanged. Just let me know whatever material needs you have,"
he immediately ordered, his voice laced with soaring enthusiasm.
The Emperor's timely manifestation undoubtedly proved the correctness of their decision to the humans of this world, granting them the confidence to lead these devout believers in initiating change.
Arthur and Karna exchanged a glance, preparing to first conquer the military nodes surrounding the Shrine of the Bloody Rose.
Rameses, meanwhile, found a secluded spot. He intended to take advantage of the commotion in The Warp to capture a few more little sprites to do the heavy lifting.
None of them had any intention of altering their chosen paths, yet at that very moment, they were fueled by unprecedented passion.
A passion that urged them to go all in, to turn things for the better.
Sigh.
Ah... people.
Whenever people had chips in their hands, they couldn't help but strive for more.
Whenever people were young, it was easy for them to become oblivious to the vastness of the heavens and the earth.
"..."
Within The Warp, the freezing sun once again retracted its rays, beginning to accumulate its power.
He manifested miracles solely because He could not let these four give up on humanity. He could only use their faint glimmer of hope to bind them to the cause.
He wanted humanity to gain more.
"Hehehe..."
In the distant Segmentum Solar, upon a planet named Terra, a corpse seated upon a throne let out a low, echoing chuckle.
The god had not yet realized that He, too, had been swept up in the current.
Go forth, go forth.
Go and do what you think is right!
——
"Arabella, did I incur the disgust of the Saints?"
Looking at the departing figures, the Superior's face was tinged with shame.
"No, the Saints would never harshly criticize anyone who has dedicated their life to humanity, for they know this is not your fault,"
Arabella shook her head.
"What they despise are the evil entities preying upon humanity, and the vile customs born from them. They loathe those vermin that, upon sensing a shred of human conscience, rush forward to tear at flesh and blood like hyenas catching the scent of a carcass."
"Filthy, corrupted entities cause goodwill to be misinterpreted, warp one's conscience, and turn those who should have been noble into savage beasts."
"They want to tear them to pieces. They want to show people that kindness brings rewards. They want to awaken whatever little conscience remains in human hearts, even if it is only a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand people."
"But that number will eventually grow. It will inevitably increase as time goes on. Even if the journey is fraught with challenges, they are at least walking the path right now."
She spoke softly, articulating every word clearly.
"...A grand ideal,"
the Superior remarked.
"Will we live to see that day?"
"Do you remember the question I asked when we first met, Superior?"
Arabella replied with a question of her own.
"Have you already found the Relic worthy enough to halt your wandering?"
"Yes."
Arabella admitted without a shred of hesitation.
"I have already found it."