Chapter 58: The Grain is in Position

Chapter 58: The Grain is in Position

The shattered remains of the Sanctus's corpse still lay on the ground. At this moment, every corner of the entire palace was filled with soldiers to prevent any further incidents.

In the wrecked reception room, almost all of Lucan's key personnel had gathered.

"My Lord, please give me my due punishment and strip me of my position as Governor. It was my dereliction of duty that allowed you to be attacked within your own palace!" Rebecca knelt to one side, her face filled with guilt.

She dared not imagine what would happen to this planet if Lucan had died.

"Enough. Stand up, Rebecca. He didn't succeed, did he? Besides, Agathos cannot do without you right now."

The Sanctus's body was extremely flexible; who knew from which ventilation shaft or sewer it had crawled out. Lucan could only have people screen the entire palace and reinforce all pipe and conduit entrances.

Inquisitor Ian was now crouching on the ground, examining the shattered corpse of the Sanctus. He looked at the corpse, then at Bishop Holter.

"Bishop Holter, you shouldn't have struck so heavily. Now it will be very difficult to even ascertain the subject's identity."

"Struck heavily? This filth actually dared to harm the Living Saint personally appointed by the God-Emperor! Even burning it with a melta dozens of times over would not be excessive!"

"The God-Emperor's personally appointed Living Saint?"

"That's right! The God-Emperor issued a divine oracle! He told me Himself!"

And Lucan, at the opportune moment, mobilized the psychic energy he had absorbed from the Cold Sun.

His entire person was enveloped in a golden radiance.

Holter's statement, combined with the golden radiance emanating from Lucan, forced Ian to believe it, even though it completely defied logic.

If it were possible that these priests could also be deceived by the Ruinous Powers, then the psychic fluctuations Lucan was faintly emitting at this moment completely solidified his status as a Living Saint.

And as a psyker himself, Ian could feel the power of the God-Emperor; he had sensed it during his time at the psyker academies on Terra. He would never forget it in his lifetime.

Everyone in the room stared at Lucan in astonishment. Those belonging to the Dynasty were overjoyed at Lucan's new identity.

The status of a Rogue Trader already came with many buffs; now, with the added buff of being a Living Saint, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways through the Expanse?

Ian's eyes widened. The Rogue Trader he was sent to observe had transformed into a Living Saint?

"Inquisitor Ian, there's no need to wonder where this assassin came from," Lucan said.

"They are xenos from the Tyranid Genestealer Cults, a type known as a Sanctus!"

"Genestealers?"

The Koronus Expanse hadn't been subject to a large-scale Tyranid Hive Fleet incursion, so some people might not be very familiar with them.

But as an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, how could Ian not know of these powerful xenos who had brought disaster to the Imperium?

"By the God-Emperor! These terrifying xenos have actually appeared on this planet?"

"Inquisitor, you need not worry too much for now. They shouldn't have developed to an uncontrollable stage yet. The invasion by Chaos should have had a significant impact on them as well."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Intelligence from the Battle-Sisters tells me the Genestealer Cult should be in the hive bottom. Once my army enters the underhive, I will immediately organize a force to carry out a raid!"

"Lord Lucan, you must act quickly. Once they reach a certain scale, they might attract the tendrils of a Hive Fleet!"

"This is my planet. I'm more anxious than you are. Don't worry! Verre, have someone clean this place up."

Lucan knew he was destined for another sleepless night.

On the highest balcony of the palace, Lucan overlooked the uphive.

The uphive, which was usually lit brightly day and night, now only had essential lighting equipment active.

With the energy supply from the underhive cut off, the uphive's own energy had to be directed towards defensive installations and production.

Civilian energy use was restricted to a minimum.

"Captain! A large fleet has entered the Agathos system!" A communication came from the fleet in orbit.

"A fleet! Where is the fleet from?"

"It is the fleet of the Winterscale Dynasty! Their Rogue Trader is also aboard. The Rogue Trader has sent a communication request, asking for permission to land on Agathos!"

Hearing this, Lucan knew the grain he had bought had arrived!

"Grant their landing request, but only allow him to bring a small number of guards!"

Lucan knew this fellow was tainted by Khorne, though he himself was likely unaware.

He even had a Khornate cultist hiding by his side.

Lucan just didn't know to what extent his corruption had reached compared to the game.

Lucan summoned the busy Verre and Rebecca and had them arrange a decent welcoming ceremony.

Before long, a large number of transport ships arrived in the skies of Agathos. Massive quantities of grain were transported to designated locations as requested.

After a simple inventory count, the amount of grain was enough for Agathos to last until Omiron's production was restored.

And the shuttle carrying Caligos also landed in the square before the palace.

Lucan stood at a distance, with two lines of Raiders flanking the path.

When Caligos stepped out of the shuttle and saw the Raiders on both sides, a look of desire appeared in his eyes.

Lucan sized up Caligos. Compared to the game, this version appeared even more robust; the muscles beneath his clothes looked ready to burst.

However, this time, his first mate, the one who had corrupted him in the game, Huiban Wolteng, was not standing by his side.

Caligos strode over. But as he came before Lucan, he felt a sense of unease all over his body.

He even felt his desire for battle diminishing…

"Strange…" Caligos hadn't yet realized that under the influence of Lucan's ability to purify the negative effects of the Warp, the constant influence of Khorne's corruption on him was being subtly reduced.

Lucan, looking at the 1-point increase in his Psy-crystal balance, could also confirm that the Caligos here was indeed affected by Khornate corruption, just not to an irredeemable extent.

Otherwise, Caligos wouldn't just be feeling a slight discomfort.

"Lord Caligos, are you alright?"

"I'm fine… You're a strange one, aren't you, Lucan Mongorte? I didn't expect you to resolve the siege of the uphive in such a short time. Previous intelligence told me your uphive was about to be overrun. I was originally thinking of coming to join the fun, to chop off a few traitors' heads!"

"Those traitors are not worth mentioning. There are still some fellows hiding in the underhive, but it won't be long before they are dealt with as well. By the way, where is your first mate? Why isn't he with you?" Lucan asked tentatively.

"Interesting. Are you interested in my first mate? I discovered a Craftworld Eldar fleet. I sent him to deal with those xenos. If not for completing this trade with you, I would have gone to chop off those xenos' heads myself."

Caligos's words were filled with a sense of regret.

"Perhaps you should pay more attention to this first mate of yours. Isn't his desire for battle a bit too exaggerated?"

"Hmph? Lucan! The affairs of my Dynasty's first mate are none of your concern!"

Lucan didn't directly tell Caligos that Wolteng was a Khornate cultist. Just as if Caligos had told him Verre was a Chaos cultist, he wouldn't have believed it either, and would even have considered it a provocation.

How could Caligos, based on a single sentence from Lucan, question a loyal servant who had accompanied him through countless battles?

"Hmph! Enough with the nonsense. You should know why I've come. Let's complete our transaction. That Jae woman wasn't a fraud, was she? You're not planning on withholding the goods from me, are you?"

"Of course not. The items are all prepared for you."

(End of Chapter)