Chapter 60: Favorable Policies

Chapter 60: Favorable Policies

Lucan, accompanied by Bishop Holter, arrived at Pilgrim's Square.

The toppled holy icon of the Emperor had been re-erected.

However, the icon still appeared damaged, and the bloodstains upon it had not yet been completely cleaned.

In such a short time, it was impossible to fully repair the Emperor's statue.

However, the large number of corpses that had been piled up in Pilgrim's Square had been cleared.

But the overall appearance of the square was still as it had been during the battle.

A temporary high platform had been constructed; this was where Lucan was to give his speech.

"My Lord, the holy icon has not yet been repaired, the square has not been leveled, and even the bloodstains have not been cleaned. Are you certain you wish to give your speech here?"

Holter looked at the scarred and battered square, for a moment unable to be sure if Lucan was serious.

In the past, any assembly before the Emperor's holy icon was always solemn and majestic. When had this place of pilgrimage to the God-Emperor ever suffered such a state?

Although he didn't agree with Lucan in his heart, who could argue now that Lucan was a Living Saint?

"What does it matter? This is a testament! Here, the God-Emperor witnessed our loyalty. These bloodstains and battle scars are the proof of our brave fight for the Imperium!"

Lucan didn't mind at all. Compared to a pristine Pilgrim's Square, the square in its current state would resonate more easily with the people; after all, not long ago, people had fought here with their very lives.

The main theme was a sense of shared experience.

Lucan walked onto the high platform. By now, more and more people had gathered in Pilgrim's Square.

Lucan's Marines, a large number of the Dynasty's ordinary soldiers, and important members of the Dynasty were all arrayed in the surroundings.

They all awaited the Rogue Trader to give them the order to counter-attack.

The square was filled with a grim, martial atmosphere.

And the one hundred "outstanding" civilians selected from Agathos stood not far from the high platform.

Feeling the atmosphere of the entire square, they couldn't help but tremble. To this moment, they still didn't know why the Rogue Trader had summoned them.

And their position was as if they were about to be interrogated. All their minds were racing, wondering if they had somehow offended the Rogue Trader.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Lucan walked to the center of the high platform.

Pavian had already finished setting up the broadcast equipment for Lucan and nodded towards him.

Looking at the hundred thousand-plus people gathered in the square, Lucan couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

When was the last time he had spoken on a stage? A speech under the flag in middle school?

The scene from that time was still vivid in his memory. Looking at the thousand or so people in the school, his voice had trembled.

As the broadcast began, Lucan's voice reached the ears of everyone in the uphive.

"Ahem… Warriors of Agathos, subjects of the Dynasty! I am your Rogue Trader, Lucan Mongorte.

Not long ago, right here, under the witness of the God-Emperor, we repelled those traitors who had succumbed to Chaos.

Although we won, the arch-traitor has not yet been brought to justice, and countless people in the underhive still face danger. For every day we do not reclaim the underhive, the light of the Golden Throne cannot shine upon it.

Many sacrificed their lives for the God-Emperor in that battle. In the name of the Rogue Trader of the Mongorte Dynasty, I declare that those who died heroically will receive sufficient pensions!

Furthermore, the Dynasty will establish its own Schola Progenium! The children of the fallen will have the opportunity to study at the Schola Progenium!

The Dynasty will provide them with the best learning environment! Those who ultimately pass the selection will have the chance to enter the Planetary Defence Force as officers, or even become a member of the glorious Raynor's Raiders!"

The bigger the enterprise, the higher the demand for talented and loyal individuals. Poaching from the Navy was not a long-term solution. Although cultivating one's own talent would take more time, only this method could be truly trusted.

Lucan's words caused a huge reaction among both the nobles and the commoners.

The Dynasty's soldiers, though called soldiers, were more often treated as a consumable part of the Dynasty's assets. Although the Dynasty would provide a small pension if they died in battle, that was the extent of it. Support for their families and aid for their children had never existed before.

For the Dynasty of the past, these soldiers were expected to be loyal to the Dynasty. Even if you died in battle, you were merely fulfilling your duty. Your soul returning to the Golden Throne was your greatest reward.

But now, it was different. These soldiers knew that even if they died in battle, their families would be provided for, and their children could even enjoy an education they could never have dreamed of before.

Moreover, Agathos originally had no Schola Progenium; there were only elite schools for the children of the Mongorte Dynasty's nobles.

Those who graduated from there would enter various departments of the Dynasty to serve as officers or officials.

You could say these nobles were tyrannical and immoral, but you couldn't say they were incompetent. The strict and comprehensive education they received from a young age made most nobles capable of performing their duties.

And the teaching staff for the Schola Progenium would be provided by the teachers from the former noble academies. Lucan would also select elite veterans from the army to conduct their combat training.

With this move, Lucan was granting a portion of the nobles' benefits to these soldiers who fought for the Dynasty.

Not to mention the chance to join the Raiders… These warriors had seen their performance on the battlefield with their own eyes.

And the Raiders would also enjoy the best treatment.

Lucan wanted to build the Raiders into an Astra Militarum regiment renowned throughout the galaxy, like the Vostroyan Firstborn – the best soldiers, the best equipment, supported by the entire Dynasty.

Even if the nobles were somewhat dissatisfied, they dared not say much. Look at the traitor Valentin: a rebellion of such scale, even with Chaos involved, had been crushed by the Rogue Trader. Not to mention Lucan could slay Space Marines with his own hands.

Lucan looked at the soldiers' fervent gazes and knew his words had taken effect.

The nobles, however, looked as if they wanted to speak but hesitated.

After announcing the matters concerning the soldiers, Lucan turned his gaze to the ragged refugees below the stage.

Faced with the Rogue Trader's gaze, they didn't even dare to look up.

This was a person they could never have even hoped to see before.

"And you! The Dynasty has seen your contributions! Not just in the underhive, but even while you were taking refuge in the uphive, even when you didn't have enough to eat, you still excellently performed your duties, maintaining your faith in the God-Emperor and your loyalty to the Dynasty!

Do not worry! In the future, everyone on Agathos will bid farewell to hunger! I will drastically reduce the work-points required to exchange for food, water, and energy, and I will also give extra remuneration to those who work diligently.

And for you, the one hundred most outstanding among you, I, as the Rogue Trader, will also bestow upon you your due rewards.

You will receive residency qualifications in the uphive and possess your own dwelling! The pious among you will be able to enter the Ecclesiarchy and become priests!

And every year from now on, I will select the most outstanding 100 people to receive the same reward, and the selection process will be personally supervised by me! In the name of the God-Emperor, I will eliminate all forms of corruption!"

When this news spread throughout the entire uphive, everyone erupted.

Even from Pilgrim's Square, Lucan could hear the cheers coming from the shanty towns.

If what Lucan had announced before had little to do with them, the people of the underhive, then what he said now concerned the vital interests of every single one of them.

The quota of one hundred people was insignificant compared to the population of the underhive, but it was at least something to hope for. But the changes to the exchange for living resources and the increase in pay – that was the key to whether they could actually eat and drink their fill.

And Lucan had enough confidence to bear the burden of these benefits. If his own planet's resources couldn't support them, then in the future, he would go out and plunder! Explore! Trade!

Wasn't this what he, as a Rogue Trader, was supposed to do?

(End of Chapter)