The Imperial Glory remained docked at the Rath Forge World's void-port.
Numerous supply and repair vessels surrounded her, like a bloated queen bee encircled by her drones.
Inside the spacious conference room, representatives and high-ranking officials from various factions gathered.
Those who couldn't arrive in time participated via holographic projection.
The development of Lighthouse technology had made real-time inter-galactic communication a reality.
Even across vast distances, people could converse without delay.
This technology had not yet been popularized among civilians, but it was fully utilized at the military level.
With the help of Lighthouse technology and Arale's powerful computing capabilities, the entire Calixis Sector's military command chain could communicate unimpeded.
Utilizing this communication advantage, the Loyalists had steadily pushed back the rebels, forcing them towards the Malz System.
The conference room was very spacious, and each seat had a personalized name card placed on it by servants.
Those attending the meeting took their seats according to their names.
Astra Militarum generals sat next to Ecclesiarchy Battle Sisters.
Adeptus Mechanicus priests and savants, clad in crimson robes, occupied a corner of the conference room by themselves.
The Titan Legion's Princeps looked somewhat constrained; they sat in front of the Astra Militarum generals.
Inquisitors, the Knightly Houses, and representatives from various planets took their designated seats, even projections were cast to the corresponding positions by servo-skulls.
"Our financial situation is somewhat grim," said Fang, Daniel's right-hand man, opening the discussion.
After the Syntilla campaign ended,
Daniel did not restore Syntilla to its status as the Sector Capital, but instead bestowed this honor upon Atomal.
Currently, Fang was both the Governor of Atomal Planet and the second-in-command of the Calixis Sector government, responsible for identifying and rectifying shortcomings in Daniel's various decisions.
When he spoke, everyone listened quietly.
"The current funding gap has reached three trillion, and as the war progresses, this gap will further expand, estimated to reach ten trillion in a week."
"We must find effective ways to bridge the gap, otherwise we will face a temporary halt in military operations."
Fang's words caused some groups in the meeting to smirk and smile.
Their opportunity had arrived.
With the reforms encountering setbacks, it was the perfect chance to advocate for the abolition of these reform measures, to set things right, and restore the original state.
After Fang took his seat, Herod, the Governor of Tarka Planet, immediately stood up to speak.
He had short golden hair and a handsome face.
The aristocratic etiquette he had cultivated since childhood made his demeanor impeccable.
"Living Saint, with all due respect, perhaps the reforms should be paused first, and the rebels completely defeated before proceeding."
"In many past campaigns, there were many contradictions encountered in war, but never before has it been forced to stop due to a shortage of funds like today."
"Loyalty is what every Imperial citizen should do. How can loyalty be used to demand returns and rewards?"
"I am not denying the reforms, I am just saying that at this stage, they are not suitable."
"That makes a lot of sense." Someone echoed Herod's words.
"Please, Living Saint, pause the reforms and completely defeat the rebels first."
"Loyalty is loyalty. How can one demand the Emperor to give back? As the saying goes, loyalty that is not absolute is disloyalty."
"Indeed, expelling the rebels is the top priority."
"......"
Daniel was not swayed by these words.
He knew what these people wanted to do.
They simply wanted to use the war to force him to stop the reforms.
As the saying goes, a single push is enough, then morale wanes, and finally, it's exhausted.
If there are problems now, will there be no problems in the future?
If you stop when you encounter a problem, and then stop again when you encounter another problem later.
After several repetitions, the populace would lose confidence, and the reforms would naturally fail.
"This meeting is precisely for solving problems. Indeed, we haven't encountered this problem before, but you also haven't won any battles before, have you?"
"So eager to lose, are you trying to curry favor with your Tzeentch master?"
Daniel's tone was calm, yet it made Herod's scalp tingle and his legs turn to jelly.
Ah, no!
You, a reformist who advocates for science and rationality, why are you playing the Ecclesiarchy's game now?!
"I… I certainly am not…" Herod denied, his face flushed.
"Then why are you so eager to deny the reforms?" Daniel pressed on, "It seems your momentum is quite strong. Was this premeditated?"
Those who had just echoed Herod's words turned pale and quickly denied it.
"Living Saint, I did not collude with anyone."
"I don't know anything, I just thought it made sense."
"......"
"I… I… just thought we should stop first, win this war, and expel the rebels before anything else," Herod weakly explained.
"Then why do you believe that by simply stopping the reforms, we will achieve victory?" Daniel countered.
This question brought a touch of color back to the golden-haired man's face.
"We have a powerful army, and our army is infinitely loyal to the Emperor, daring to sacrifice. As long as you, Living Saint, give the command, they will go through fire and water, without hesitation."
"It seems my words carry quite a bit of weight." Daniel showed a self-satisfied expression.
The representatives of various factions all smiled, fawningly flattering him.
"The Living Saint is the voice of the Emperor's will. Whatever he says should be executed one hundred percent, otherwise, it is disloyalty to the Emperor."
"Indeed, we firmly support all of the Living Saint's decisions."
"......"
"Since that is the case." Daniel surveyed everyone, pointing at the few representatives who had just suggested stopping the reforms.
"Then I announce that your positions are all revoked. Furthermore, from today onwards, the family assets of everyone present shall be confiscated to sustain the war."
These words instantly caused an uproar.
Countless voices of protest erupted, almost overturning the conference room.
"No!" Herod shouted, "Living Saint, you cannot do this! We have diligently served the Imperium for over three millennia. Is this how loyalty is rewarded?"
"This is a betrayal of us."
"Please, Living Saint, withdraw this order."
"I will appeal to Holy Terra! The Cassopus family has rendered service to the Imperium, shed blood for the Imperium! You cannot treat us this way!"
"Loyalty cannot be betrayed!!"
"…"
Daniel calmly watched their clamor, and only spoke when they had all vented.
"Now, shut up."
His voice was extremely intimidating.
The clamoring representatives instantly fell silent, daring not to speak again.
Daniel looked around at everyone, his voice cold,
"Your double-faced hypocrisy is truly disgusting. When it comes to your own sacrifice, you immediately bring up your merits and achievements, demanding rewards."
"When demanding sacrifice from the populace and Imperial soldiers, why do none of you cry out that loyalty cannot be betrayed? Why do none of you appeal to Holy Terra? Why do none of you shout that loyalty that is not absolute is absolute disloyalty?"
"Many of those traitors have twisted logic and heresies, but they got one thing right: you people are utterly parasitic insects, only capable of clinging to the Imperium's body, sucking its blood, and doing absolutely nothing."
"The Imperial Army can maintain its morale because they fight in the Emperor's name, and I bestow rewards in the Emperor's name."
"Only by allowing the populace and the soldiers to personally experience the Emperor's favor and benevolence can they steadfastly protect the Imperium and resist the temptations of the Ruinous Powers."
"People living in hell will not resist hell. Fooling our compatriots with lies and deceit will only yield lies and deceit."
"The current Imperium is not the Emperor's vision, nor was it His original intention to make His subjects suffer endlessly."
"Reforms will never stop. Every Imperial citizen should feel the Emperor's benevolence. He loves humanity, just as humanity loves Him."
Daniel's voice was firm and powerful,
"The Imperium is on the brink of collapse, the flame of civilization is like a candle in the rain, precarious. I see men and women who entrust their lives to each other,"
"They shout the Emperor's name, fearlessly rushing to their deaths, only to protect the women and children behind them."
"I see selfless heroes, leaving the hope of life to innocent civilians, while they themselves die smiling on the battlefield."
"But I also see a group of damned parasites hiding behind the heroes, making the heroes fight with broken swords, while they themselves complacently continue to live luxurious lives."
"Was your ancestors' sacrifice a sacrifice, but the current sacrifice of others is not a sacrifice?"
Daniel slammed his hand on the table in front of him, the loud sound making everyone in the meeting flinch.
"Sacrifice is the cornerstone of the Imperium, and blood is the fuel that sustains human civilization, but I will never allow heroes to bleed and weep simultaneously."
"Reforms will continue to advance. The welfare of the military will absolutely not be cut. Whoever suggests cuts again, will pick up a gun and go to the battlefield, and I will be the first to use them as cannon fodder."
"In this dark age, we must stand with the Imperial populace, sharing weal and woe, and overcome these difficult times together. Only then will sacrifice and bloodshed have meaning."
"From today onwards, for those who do not die in battle, their descendants inheriting their inheritance must pay 30% to 50% inheritance tax. Governorship will no longer be hereditary and will be transferred to those with greater merit, greater ability, and who are more popular with the populace."
"For families who pioneered colonies, if they exceed five generations, they must join the military. Only after earning merit can they continue to inherit their parents' enterprises. If they die on the battlefield, their merits will be counted towards their children."
"No!" someone protested, "Our family was appointed by Holy Terra, we are the pioneers of the Calixis Sector! Why are you treating us like this?"
"Living Saint, such a decree is far too absurd," someone else said, "Without Holy Terra's endorsement, your actions could be considered treason!"
"The Primarch has returned, and Holy Terra is currently undergoing a drastic change." Daniel swept his gaze over those who questioned him.
"I have reached a consensus with him. The current Empire is a dying corpse. If it does not undergo surgery, its path to death and decay is inevitable."
"Also, instead of wasting time questioning here, why not think about how to earn merit points?!"
"As soon as the Colin Family's rebellion ends, I will distribute rewards based on the contributions made by each family. I hope that by then, you will still retain your current power and status."
"You can choose to resist, but I will never compromise. I will only regard you as traitors and declare excommunication."
Daniel's words amounted to a threat, causing the faces of the representatives of those forces to change continuously.
They couldn't defeat the Colin Family, much less the Imperial Army commanded by the Living Saint.
"Now, let's return to the issue of war funding shortages,"
"From now on, we will issue war bonds to alleviate the financial difficulties and ease the pressure."
"Once the war subsides and the lost territories are recovered, the principal and interest will be repaid one by one."
"In addition, prepare for the decisive battle. We must completely defeat the rebels in the Malz System."
"..."
...
"Bonds? Besides us, who else can afford to buy so many bonds?"
"They don't offer us concessions, yet they still expect us to buy bonds. So what if he's a Living Saint? It's wishful thinking."
"Exactly, without our support, this war definitely can't be fought."
"On one hand, he wants to get rid of us and distribute our hard-earned money to those paupers, and on the other hand, he expects us to support him unconditionally. That's a very loud abacus he's rattling."
"..."
After the meeting, many families and forces reached a consensus.
That was to resolutely refuse to buy the so-called war bonds.
They wanted to unite to force Daniel to make concessions and protect their interests.
Daniel either had to abandon the reforms or push them through forcefully.
No matter which path, it would be a huge blow to the reforms themselves.
Unfortunately, their plans were destined to fail.
Unlike the consensus reached by the privileged class,
War bonds caused a scramble among the populace and the army.
"What are these war bonds?" Pierce asked, puzzled.
Harry scratched his head, "I don't really understand either. It seems the Living Saint said there's no money for war right now, so they have to borrow money to fight first."
"Once the war is over and the money is recovered, they'll pay back the principal and interest."
"War bonds are just a certificate. When it's time to repay, you can use them to collect the money."
"Did the Living Saint really say this?" Pierce asked again.
"Yes, the news reported it. The Living Saint personally promised it."
Harry nodded and even pulled out a data-slate for Pierce to see.
After reading it, Pierce's face showed excitement.
"Then I'd better hurry and buy them with my money. If I'm late, won't there be none left?"
After the Living Saint's reforms, soldiers' salaries were paid on time, and welfare benefits also soared.
Various new types of weapons and equipment, along with the quality of food, improved by several grades.
This made many old soldiers feel as if they had entered a different world. What kind of hellish life did they live before?!
Moreover, after each war, they could also receive high commission rewards.
After a few wars, the soldiers' money bags swelled up.
As soon as they heard that the Living Saint was going to introduce war bonds, they naturally flocked to buy them.
They even offered to use war bonds to replace their original salaries.
There was no other reason than their belief that the Living Saint would never trick them.
The same was true among the common people.
Nowadays, the quality of life for the populace, compared to before, was like heaven and earth.
Labor rights increased, and basic welfare was provided.
Fresh vegetables and fruits they had never eaten in their lives were served on their tables.
Various inexpensive industrial products also entered their small homes.
And all of this was thanks to the Living Saint's reforms.
So, when Daniel introduced war bonds to raise funds,
Out of trust, they unhesitatingly took out money to buy them, offering unconditional support.
The army and the public each consumed a portion of the issued war bonds,
The rest were consumed by devout Ecclesiarchy believers.
Daniel was, after all, a Living Saint.
Even if some cardinal archbishops did not approve of his reforms of the Ecclesiarchy,
He still wielded unimaginable influence within the Ecclesiarchy.
Those fanatical believers even regarded war bonds as indulgences,
Believing that purchasing war bonds was an act of piety towards the Emperor, which could redeem some of their impious actions.
The first batch of war bonds sold out in just one day,
Not only raising enough funds to cover the shortfall, but also making over eighty percent of the soldiers willing to accept war bonds in lieu of salary.
The representatives of many families and forces watched, dumbfounded.
Their idea of coercing the Living Saint had undoubtedly completely failed.
Moreover, they also realized a very serious problem from this matter:
Even without them, these powerful elites, the Living Saint could accomplish everything he planned with the help of the Imperial citizens.
In other words, their resistance to war bonds not only failed to gain them any say, but it would also make the Living Saint feel they were worthless,
Which would very likely accelerate the pace of their purge and the advancement of reforms.
Just like that, the newly established alliance instantly fell apart.
When the second batch of war bonds came out, they also scrambled to buy them.
While Daniel was raising war funds and preparing to launch the decisive battle,
A fresh batch of new players also logged into the game.
The cathedral in Tyrian Hive City was densely packed with people, and the noisy sounds merged into a cacophony.
"Hahaha, hahahaha, it's finally online, it's finally online."
"This is too real, awesome Klass."
"True or false, I can't tell, I really can't tell?"
"Brother, you have extraordinary bones and a distinguished appearance. Do you want to join the Lazybones Guild? This is our newly formed Warband, how about it? Interested?"
"The Lazybones, interesting. How do I join?"
"As long as you go into the crowd and shout, 'Everyone look at me!', and shout 'I'm an asshole!' three times, we'll recruit you!"
"Such a perverse condition, you're not trying to trick me, are you? I see you're a new player too!"
A new player looked at the player in front of him with the ID: (Ching Chong Boss).
Ching Chong said: "We've already formed a Warband in the game, and there are many benefits if you join."
"Right now, it's just a test of obedience, and you get a gift for joining. You won't lose anything anyway, right?"
"Okay, I believe you."
The new player ran into the crowd and started shouting.
"Everyone look at me! I'm an asshole!"
Many players were surprised and looked at the new player.
"I'm an asshole…!"
After shouting, the little new player ran up to Ching Chong, "Where's my gift?"
"Didn't I give it to you?"
"What? I didn't receive it?"
"I gave you a lesson!"
"Damn, you tricked me?"
"Haha, if I don't trick you, how can it be called The Sitting-and-Forgetting Dao?"
"Damn it… You must be Tzeentchian Heretics, I'm going to call the Inquisition…"
As the popularity of Warhammer OL continued to rise,
More and more non-warhammer fans joined the game.
As soon as they logged in, various memes flew around.
"Is this Warhammer OL? The game that countless big shots want to figure out!"
"It truly lives up to its reputation, just like the real world!"
A man with the ID: [Skull for the Skull Throne] looked at everything around him, his face filled with shock.
Such a game was leagues ahead in the industry.
A certain Antarctic Animal Company initially said they would copy one, but they quickly withdrew the project, looking dejected.
Some also thought of using connections to get exclusive agency rights and visited GW several times, but they were all given the cold shoulder.
Later, some even said they would completely ban this game to force the behind-the-scenes developer to come out and talk.
As a result, those who boasted about their extraordinary means all went on vacation.
It is said that they went to the same place as GW's editor-in-chief and senior management.
Anyway, this game is just mysterious, mysterious, mysterious.
No one knows who the developer is, or where the funding to keep it running comes from!!
Slap!
A slap landed on the back of the man's head.
"Who is it? So inconsiderate!"
The man turned his head, full of anger, and saw a giant wearing Power Armor and holding a scepter.
Years of professional habit made the anger in his heart disappear instantly, replaced by a smile.
"Brother, is something wrong?"
"Can't I hit you if nothing's wrong? What, you're not convinced?"
A mischievous voice came from inside the armor,
Then, the helmet's faceplate opened, revealing a resolute face.
It was Yuji.
"You're Fred?"
"Not completely blind yet. Also, in the game, call me by my game name, Yuji."
"Okay, Yuji."
"Go find the others first. This time is tight, and the task is heavy, so we need to work quickly."
Yuji pulled his friend and left,
Gathering the invited players, and then he led them into a magnificent hall filled with mountains of data.
"Now, we are going to start sorting through these materials and then build a financial system."
Fred looked at everything in the hall, dumbfounded.
Ah! No, am I really going to be a grunt online?!