"Horatio, do you believe in prophecies?"
"...I can't say. But at least this time, it should be a conspiracy." He pinched the bridge of his nose and gave his answer.
As a transmigrator, he knew that whether a prophecy came true depended on whether the higher-dimensional power behind it wanted it to.
But Farida, as a native of this world, was not allowed to know so much forbidden knowledge.
Even if Horatio himself, as a descendant of Admiral Spire, spoke carelessly, he would soon die a violent death.
Wild thoughts could very likely lead to corruption by Tzeentch.
Some things were safer kept in one's heart than spoken aloud.
"To be safe, you must stay away from me first..."
Farida turned her face, biting her lip, her eyes red and swollen as she stared into his eyes and said,
"If the prophecy is true, and the curse on me kills you, then I..." She took a breath and continued:
"Then I would truly be unforgivable. You are Admiral Spire's only descendant; the Imperium needs you. We... we cannot afford to be wrong.
I cannot, because of my personal feelings, put you in an unjust danger."
Hearing Farida say this, Horatio took a deep breath, pondering one thing in his mind:
Was the disaster in this prophecy a byproduct of the Untouchable trait?
Or were the two separate and mutually exclusive?
Considering the tragedy of the Untouchable, Bequin, in the Inquisitor Eisenhorn series he had read before coming to this world,
Farida's worries were entirely reasonable.
No one could guarantee whether the underlying effect producing this prophecy was her Untouchable trait or a hateful jest attached to her by a Chaos God.
"I will figure all of this out, but until the prophecy's risks are clear, please allow me to continue to stand before you.
After all, this is my agreement with Vice Admiral Hood."
"Thank you." Seeing Horatio say this, Farida said nothing more.
In the void, five intercept fleets sped up.
Commodore Peru closely monitored each fleet and the situation on the battlecruiser Sacred Will.
Fortunately, Vice Admiral Hood's communication remained online, and it seemed the reinforcements sent had temporarily stabilized the defensive line near the bridge.
"Commodore." The Blood Angels' Deputy Company Commander guarding the adamantium strongbox called out.
"Please speak, sir."
"According to the company's message, our strike team has successfully shut down the Retribution-class Battleship's power engines and Warp jump engines. She can't escape."
"Excellent! Thank you very much!"
Commodore Peru's heart finally settled.
This was tremendous news; the Imperial Navy would at least not lose this capital ship.
The Commodore quickly relayed this great news to the other fleets.
Vice Admiral Hood updated the coordinates of the entire disabled giant ship, drifting in the void, to the intercept fleets at a frequency of once per minute.
Everyone's hearts temporarily eased.
Another good piece of news was that the Shark Assault Boats dispatched by Elphinstone Leadership Academy would arrive shortly.
Because it was a full-load departure, the entire ship was packed to the highest specifications with Shark Assault Boats and armed forces bearing 'Military Police' insignia.
This cruiser intercept fleet could deploy 50,000 armed troops at once.
Their numbers, combined with the personnel already arrived from the Unyielding fleet and the loyal armed forces still on board, would be an absolute overwhelming force against the mutineers.
Vice Admiral Hood used the ship-wide broadcast to order the mutineers to surrender immediately, stating they had no chance of victory.
But these mutineers turned a deaf ear to the Vice Admiral's stern reprimand.
Like thoughtless robots, they launched an even more ferocious attack on the armed forces holding the bridge, seemingly ready to fight to the death.
This made Vice Admiral Hood's scalp tingle, and he was drenched in sweat.
And the mastermind behind all of this was equally distraught.
He hoped to use the mutineers to destroy the top-secret documents that could lead to a collapse, and to that end, he killed and destroyed everything he saw that might contain top-secret documents.
But until now, he hadn't found them.
Although he saw the two escaped prey, Horatio and Farida, through the eyes of these people,
These two individuals were far less important than destroying those documents.
Moreover, when these two prey escaped, they weren't carrying any suspected briefcases or similar items.
If that was the case... then it meant...
The top-secret documents could only be in Vice Admiral Hood's own hands!
The whites of the mutineers' eyes became increasingly scarlet, with more and more bloodshot veins, and they collectively turned their muzzles, launching a final general assault on the fleet command throne.
—
Farida had never felt time pass so agonizingly.
Every minute and every second of the journey felt like a searing flame scorching her heart.
Her mind was in chaos, as if her body wasn't her own.
Her round almond eyes were red and swollen, blinking only after long intervals.
But her gaze held a resolute expression, maintaining the dignity and nobility of a Vice Admiral's daughter.
Horatio stood behind Farida, whose hands were behind her back and posture was ramrod straight, and massaged her shoulders, which were stiff from maintaining her authoritative bearing.
He knew she was trying to be strong, her heart clenched, wishing she could directly see the current situation on the Sacred Will's bridge.
The iron hand's corruption suppression was about to break critical, and he could no longer use his abilities.
Horatio could only occasionally glance at Commodore Peru's expression to gauge the development of the situation.
But the Commodore's brow was only furrowed, showing no sign of easing.
"How much further is it to the Sacred Will?" Horatio walked over to the Warrant Officer serving as the Astropath and asked.
"About 9 minutes left. At the current speed, the error won't exceed 1 minute. We'll reach full visual range in about 3 minutes."
Horatio pulled out his pocket watch and set a timer on it.
"Good, continue your work."
The Warrant Officer saluted the young officer by touching his brow.
"Soon, only 9 minutes until we arrive."
Horatio said to Farida, "At least for now, Vice Admiral Hood is not in danger."
Farida nodded, and her small movements, caused by tension and worry, increased.
Her feet, encased in black leather boots, restlessly tapped. Her white-gloved hands twisted like ropes.
Horatio could see her current state of mind: the joy of hope intertwined with the worry that the danger had not yet passed.
"When the Unyielding reaches docking distance, I will lead a group of people to the bridge to protect Vice Admiral Hood." Horatio placed his hand on her shoulder, his tone serious and steady, giving the anxious Farida the reassurance she craved.
"I'll go with you."
"Mm. We will fight together today."
No sooner had he spoken than a flash suddenly erupted in the distant void.
"God Emperor, what was that?"
"Did something just explode?"
The officers who noticed the blinding flash couldn't help but panic, one after another looking towards the golden light in the distant front.
The bridge's maximum-focus observation scope identified and recorded the situation.
The observation department urgently transmitted it to the display consoles in front of the two command thrones.
"God Emperor..." Commodore Peru exclaimed.
Farida and Horatio simultaneously turned their heads in alarm to look at the fleet command throne above.
Please recommend, please vote monthly!
As readers know, I don't write cruel twists; Vice Admiral Hood is not dead.