Of course, Guilliman was a reasonable man. He forced himself to swallow the feeling that Adam was talking nonsense with his eyes wide open, only letting out a sigh.
"Since things have come to this, let us investigate first."
The nature of such a large-scale bombing was extremely severe, even by Imperial standards. The pilot project in the Eternal City was a key item for the Imperial Regent's Department of Logistics. Their original plan was to rebuild all existing hive cities based on technology recovered from the Dark Age of Technology and certain xenos races.
With the help of the reorganized Adeptus Mechanicus, the Department of Logistics would begin a massive reboot of the Empire's collapsed grassroots control. They would completely renovate the dilapidated and ruined facilities of the hives, eventually using these means to replace the now backward and inefficient Tithe system.
However, the moment the project began, the Eternal City was struck by opposition forces. This was an event that could not be ignored. Of course, Adam did not need to act personally. Within ten minutes, through site reconstruction and tracking by the Custodes, the situation became clear.
"So, it really was an attack launched by the conservative factions within the Inquisition?"
Adam was clearly not surprised. He took the report, his gaze sweeping across the holographic display, looking thoughtful. To be honest, he had always been dissatisfied with the Empire's lack of virtue in governing its worlds. The Empire possessed the technical reserves for environmental terraforming, but they simply did not treat the bottom-tier people as humans. Their minds were filled with twisted, regressive thoughts, insisting that suffering tempered the will—forcing people to endure unnecessary hardship.
Adam's evaluation was: a bunch of idiots!
How had the peace of the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar ever hindered the recruitment of the Ultramarines? They conveniently ignored how Guilliman had rapidly raised an army of two hundred thousand Astartes to save the throne back then. Setting aside whether they arrived in time, one had to admit the speed of that mobilization was staggering.
"Yes." Guilliman, standing nearby, also saw the report and nodded heavily. "All evidence indicates that the Inquisition is deeply involved in this."
At this moment, the Primarch had a massive headache. The Inquisition, an agency established ten millennia ago by Malcador the Sigillite, had played a significant role in protecting the Empire. However, its internal stagnation, corruption, and infighting were constant sources of frustration for Guilliman as Imperial Regent.
"What does the High Lord representative of the Inquisition, Lady Cleopatra Ers, have to say about this?" Adam asked.
"She has no particular opinion. Lady Ers claims she was unaware. The Inquisition is such a mixed environment that even a High Lord is merely their representative and has little jurisdiction over other Inquisitors," Guilliman said. "My suggestion is that the Inquisition is indeed out of step with the times. But right now, to minimize internal friction, we need a surgical, precision strike rather than taking the initiative to attack the whole body."
Guilliman sighed again. Thinking of the current state of the Empire made him weary. If it weren't for the man before him—who had entered the Throne Room to meet the Emperor in front of everyone, received an unquestionable canonization by the Ecclesiarchy, gained the recognition of the Custodes, and was even revered as a god by the Mechanicus—Adam's status would be a different story.
Combined with the recognition of Guilliman, who represented the Astartes, Adam's position in the Empire was beyond words. However, the Inquisition was an organization that doubted everything. There were still many fanatical Inquisitors who viewed Adam's actions as heresy, especially after he performed "miracles" for the Martian Mechanicus.
"In that case, let's wait and continue processing the event."
"Naturally," Guilliman said. "I have already made arrangements."
Meanwhile, in the broadcast booth of the Eternal City, a man wearing an Inquisitor's uniform looked at the consoles with a grim expression. If anyone else had been present, they would have easily seen the Inquisitor's pupils trembling with shock. This was because he had also witnessed the miracle-like time reversal on the monitors, which had effortlessly shattered his meticulously planned attack.
However, the Inquisitor quickly regained his composure. Damned heretic!
As a man of wide experience, he would never be like the ignorant Imperial masses who viewed such a phenomenon as a divine miracle. The Inquisitor's face contorted, and a violent, scorching rage burned in his heart. This was unforgivable! Without a doubt, this was another bizarre sorcery from a heretic!
Now, the Empire was once again at a critical juncture.
This damned heretic has deceived both the Custodes and the Imperial Regent. It seems those fellows are merely famous for nothing; I am the one who has received the God-Emperor's mandate! I am the savior of the Empire!
The Inquisitor was absolutely convinced of his judgment. As representatives of the Throne, most Inquisitors trusted only their own conclusions. When they became paranoid, even Living Saints would be viewed as Warp Daemons and hunted down. Clearly, this Inquisitor was such a man.
"Damn, my forces have suffered heavy losses."
Watching the Imperial troops closing in on his hiding spot on the monitors, he saw his acolytes vanishing like snowflakes under the assault. The Inquisitor sighed. No. It seemed his life was destined to end here. But even so, he would continue to serve the Emperor faithfully.
He reached out and grabbed a handset from the instrument in front of him, activating a secret communication channel. Static... After a brief sound of electronic interference, the connection was made. The Inquisitor knew he had successfully tapped into the communication equipment of the entire hive city. He had to speak all his findings now. As long as other motivated individuals heard him, they would inherit his will, continue to oppose this heretic who endangered the Empire, and save the state from fire and water.
Unfortunately, he would not live to see that day. My soul returns to the Throne!
"Citizens of the Empire, soldiers of the Imperial Guard, this is Inquisitor Farasi Lynn." His voice was heavy, carrying a martyr-like solemnity. "Today, I regret to inform you—"
The Inquisitor's voice echoed through every loudspeaker in the hive, sounding from all directions simultaneously.
"Those you trust, those who claim to bring change, are actually using the most despicable heretical means to corrode our faith and defile our Emperor!" He slammed his fist onto the console, his knuckles turning white.
"The miracles you saw are but a mask for sorcery! That reversal of time, that creation of matter from nothing, that so-called 'Braindance'—these are gifts from Warp Daemons! They seek to use these sweet poisons to paralyze your souls, making you forget your loyalty to the Emperor in your pursuit of pleasure!"
The Inquisitor's voice grew more high-pitched, his eyes burning with fanatical fire.
"I, Farasi Lynn, a loyal servant of the Inquisition and executor of the Emperor's will, swear by my blood and life today—every word I say is true! The heretic named Adam has blinded the eyes of the Custodes with his sorcery, bewitched the mind of the Mechanicus, and even deceived our great Primarch!" He took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently.
"Citizens of the Empire, open your eyes! Do not be misled by that false peace! Do not be corrupted by material pleasure! True loyalty is to hold fast amidst suffering and shout the Emperor's name!" His voice reached a roar, his vocal cords rasping from the effort.
"Now, I demand this heretic answer for—"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The roar of bolter fire interrupted his words. The Inquisitor stared blankly down as blood erupted from his chest, soaking the instruments before him. His lips still moved slightly, as if trying to say more, but only the gurgle of blood rose from his throat.
The next moment, before the Inquisitor could turn to see the killer, his body slumped heavily onto the instrument panel, lifeless. Blood soaked into the electronic communication device, causing the machine to emit a hum filled with static. Static...
Then, a figure stepped out. Commissar Yarrick, his face like iron, pushed aside the Inquisitor's corpse and picked up the communication device. His massive power claw was stained with blood, looking particularly grim in the dim light.
Then, Yarrick roared:
"We never admit defeat! We never doubt! We are forever loyal!"
"This city belongs to us, not to those who dare to spread bewitching lies, not to those who destroy our hard-won peace!"
"Citizens of the Empire, prepare for battle! Fight for peace, fight for the Emperor, fight for victory!"
"For the Emperor!"
"For the Emperor!"
In the Eternal City, every citizen who heard this voice seemed to have a blazing fire in their eyes. They wouldn't believe those tall tales! Everyone raised their arms and roared, their angry voices nearly shaking the entire hive city to its foundations!