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Chapter 215: From Now On, This is a Bad Custom
🕑 Added 2025-10-02 10:41:35 +0000 UTCChapter 215: From Now On, This is a Bad Custom
The shuttle passed through the cloud layer, and the bustling cityscape of Astorgius spread out beyond the viewport. Cardinal Jorge operated his data-terminal, explaining the planet's current situation to the Primarch in detail. His explanation was exhaustive. Hundreds of Sisters Dialogus and cardinal-adjutants moved through the archives, and whenever Romulus suddenly threw out a specific data point, the Cardinal could immediately call up the corresponding statistical document.
Romulus now understood why this shuttle was so large.
As the aircraft flew over a newly constructed energy production zone, Romulus suddenly asked, "What was the planet's promethium output for the third quarter of this year?"
"74.2 billion tonnes, a 12.3% increase quarter-on-quarter. We can export a certain amount to supplement the planet's food supply," Jorge replied without hesitation, simultaneously signaling an aide to retrieve a more detailed data-sheet from the complex archives. "However, our refining efficiency is far below that of a standard Imperial industrial world. Without the support of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the technology we can apply is limited." He cautiously explained his difficulties.
"The Dawnlight Fleet will provide technical support," Romulus said, the light of the projector dancing across his face, illuminating the faint smile on his lips.
This is how it should be done. When a leader comes for an inspection, what's the point of throwing a banquet or cowering in fear? Lay out your achievements, show your work ethic. Isn't that a thousand times more useful than those tedious formalities? Those Imperial nobles would rather continue their debauchery. The few who realized what a Primarch represented either pretended not to believe it or made token concessions, as if that could somehow stave off their impending doom.
Romulus was no mass-murderer. If you clearly stated you were willing to change, would he not give you a chance? At least if you were willing to act, even if you failed, it was a mistake of methodology, not of values.
Romulus noticed the light of the projection casting deep shadows on the Cardinal's face, making the fine lines at the corners of his eyes particularly noticeable. The data, precise to two decimal places, and the way Jorge's lips would tighten when discussing each problem, were silent proof of the Cardinal's deep understanding of the world under his governance. And the data supported his claims.
"Did you reference Macragge in your planetary construction?"
Although Romulus still wore a formal smile, Jorge could hear the approval in his tone.
"Yes, my Lord. The self-circulating system of Macragge was a great inspiration." The leather of the power-chair creaked softly as the Cardinal rose and began to adjust the hololithic projection of the star system. "As it happens, the Astorgius system has two gas giants. The third moon of one of them has a complete ecological system, capable of providing 72.3% of the cardinal world's food consumption. With some imports, we can, in theory, completely meet the demand."
"I believe it is more of a distribution problem," Romulus said, giving the data-sheet in his hand a slight shake. The paper rustled crisply. The amount of imported food was clearly in surplus, but it wasn't reaching the people. Such problems were a daily occurrence for humanity. Even in the 21st century, the incident of the "fire dragon burning the granaries" was not unheard of, and the church was a prime breeding ground for corruption.
"Yes, my Lord," Jorge replied softly, his gaze still on the teeming crowds of the faithful below. The shadow of the aircraft passed over a plaza, causing the people to look up.
"Your governing philosophy?"
"The Frateris Militia has always preached 'justification by works'," Jorge said, turning to face him. "We try to regulate the behavior of the faithful through doctrine, to make them better servants of the God-Emperor. But the doctrines of the Church of the Dawn have given me new inspiration. Bad customs will be abandoned. Under our limited conditions, the church will also pay more attention to the people's livelihood."
"I believe," the Cardinal continued, "that no matter how oppressive the Imperium is, it should not go so far as to withhold the very food that fills the bellies of the God-Emperor's subjects."
He had recognized the problem, and so he would try to solve it.
Romulus smiled as he scanned the world below, finding Astorgius more and more to his liking. They were paying attention to the physical and mental well-being of their people, and were trying to solve the problems, not just covering them up with pious nonsense about a lack of faith. They were getting to the heart of the matter. The Imperium might be short on this or that, but it was never short on food. No matter how oppressive the system, it could at least afford to feed its people.
It was not hard to guess that this Cardinal's appointment was likely a deliberate attempt by the Ecclesiarchy to curry favor, but a deed done is a deed done. At least they were willing to try.
"Your name, sir."
"Jorge Francisco, my Lord," the Cardinal replied, neither servile nor arrogant.
"I will remember it," Romulus nodded. He then put down the documents and began to study the planet. Navradaran immediately took the hint and added Astorgius to the shortlist of candidates for the sector capital.
"Hmm? What is this?"
Romulus's pupils suddenly contracted. The Primarch's powerful visual system projected the scene from the plaza below onto his retina with perfect clarity. In a square filled with the thick scent of incense, a group of hunched figures stood in a short line, watched by church officials. But at the end of the line was not the usual distribution of holy wafers, but a burning pyre. These figures, draped in holy robes, most of them elderly, entered the flames under the gaze of the faithful.
As they entered the fire, they were engulfed in flames, but showed no signs of being burned by mortal fire. They knelt in the flames, a smile of release on their faces, and then, they stopped moving, slowly dissolving. Outside the magnificent temple, pools of crystal-clear holy oil were slowly mixing with the residue of the dissolved bodies.
Every time you began to have a little hope for the Imperium, it would slap you in the face.
"Cardinal Jorge, what is this?" Romulus felt a visceral discomfort. He had just been thoroughly disgusted by the various Imperial nobles and had only just regained a little hope. But he managed to keep his voice even.
"That is the rendering of consecrated oil," the Cardinal replied, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather. He pointed to a distillation apparatus at the edge of the plaza, where white-robed monks were pouring the melted fat into holy vessels.
"And this is not a 'bad custom'?" Romulus's voice was tinged with a rare surprise, and a suppressed anger.
The Cardinal, in turn, looked slightly surprised, a 'is this considered a bad custom?' look on his face. "They are all carefully selected, devout believers. They..."
"Alright. Explain the reason for this," Romulus said, rubbing his eyes and cutting the Cardinal off again.
"Drops of the consecrated oil are mixed into weapons by a priest's ritual, for blessing. They can also be mixed into pigments or ink to ensure a sanctum is not defiled and that texts are not altered," the Cardinal explained.
"Is it effective?" Romulus asked. "For example, in repelling heresy and corruption."
"It is," the Cardinal nodded seriously. "The church selects the most devout followers each quarter. Their immediate families receive a tax exemption. The holy oil is also an important part of the tithe system. A significant quota must be delivered to the Throneworld each year."
So it was a practical application of a methodology? My word... Romulus mused. He hadn't paid much attention to the Ecclesiarchy before, leaving it to Karna. He hadn't expected such a bombshell the moment he decided to take a closer look.
"Hey, Karna," he said, opening a comms channel to Karna, who was still wrangling with the other sects.
"What's up?" Karna's face wore a perfect smile as he fought the urge to kill most of the people in the room.
Romulus described what he had just seen.
"Ah, so that's where the Cardinal went," Karna said, waving away a red-robed prelate. "Yes, the so-called holy oil is the same stuff the Grey Knights use. Except the Grey Knights' is better. They use actual saints."
"So you..."
"Think of the saint's blood we use to sign documents."
"Are the souls enough?" Romulus asked.
"Did you forget the Blood Angels have the Red Grail?" Karna asked in surprise, then quickly added, "Master Arthur cracked the blood-generation method of the Sanguinary Priests long ago. I'm mass-producing Sanguinius's blood now. A stamp with that is more effective than any saint. Who needs this stuff?"
"So this sacrifice by the Ecclesiarchy is completely unnecessary, right? We have a substitute," Romulus said, checking his memos and finding that there was indeed a report on this. I need to get the affairs of the Phalanx system and Macragge in order and then do a complete handover. Dante and Calgar are not getting off easy. He rubbed his temples. While he trusted his companions completely, he couldn't afford to make such low-level mistakes.
"Of course. I've already ordered a crackdown. But it will require some... cutting. The holy oil trade is a lucrative business. Very lucrative," Karna replied. "Ask the Cardinal if he has any scribes. Master Arthur hasn't made a move yet, which means this guy should be reliable."
So you and Arthur have been working one in the light, one in the dark all this time? No wonder the religious reforms had been met with such a warm welcome everywhere, without a single whisper of dissent.
"Right," Romulus said, and seeing his companion was so reliable, he cut the connection. He then sighed and pushed the souls of the deceased towards the Emperor. The Emperor reluctantly accepted them. Faith was a poison, especially the faith of these devout subjects, who were constantly pushing the "not a god" Emperor onto his throne.
"Haaa~"
This damned universe. Romulus was speechless. This was a choice created by this universe. From a practical standpoint, it was understandable. He then turned to the Cardinal and said, "From now on, this is also a bad custom. It must be abandoned."
It was time to begin the remediation of this planet. After all, it was a good candidate for a sector capital, with a high-quality population and a relatively cooperative local leadership.
"Yes, Lord Romulus."
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