Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 1035, 09.1034: 'The Church's Goodwill'

"Excuse me, who is he?"

After being interrupted by this fanatical, almost manic visitor, Horatio maintained an awkward but polite smile, turned his head, and asked General Latouch-Trewell beside him in a barely audible voice.

The old general didn't speak, but simply gestured with his eyes, and then quietly pushed a data board on the table in front of Horatio.

Horatio picked up the data tablet, his fingertips slid rapidly across the smooth screen, lines of encrypted personnel information flashing past his eyes.

Hironimus Doloroso, the newly elected Monsignor of the Tarsus subdistrict.

As a representative of the "sworn" clergy, his personal file was marked with two glaring words: fanaticism and piety.

However, among the countless clergy of the Church of England, this was not enough for him to stand out, much less enough for him to obtain his current status—as the mouthpiece of Cardinal Ignatius, participating in such high-level military conferences.

The real point is his identity as a "sworn brother".

According to the intelligence Horatio currently possesses, the "Great Revolution" that previously swept across Sintira and nearly overthrew the ruling class of the entire planet has also stirred up a huge wave within the clergy.

It brought a serious problem that had long been deliberately concealed and difficult to talk about by the higher-ups to the forefront and made public – the religious beliefs of the Calesis Sector had long been deeply infiltrated and coerced by the remnants of an ancient heretical party.

They call themselves "true believers of the Emperor," but the current Archbishop has labeled them as apostates.

This name wasn't just randomly chosen.

They are remnants of the Apostolic Age, staunch supporters of Van Diehl's doctrine, which is said to have originated from the infamous Halo Sector.

That ancient star sector has always been a thorn in the side of the Imperial Inquisition. It is said that more than half of the heretical cases in the entire Misty Starfield are inextricably linked to it.

This heretical sect is patient, highly secretive, and adept at using unsuspecting proxies to carry out its many schemes.

Missionaries, the Star Guardians, fanatical militias, local law enforcement officers, and even the Inquisition itself may all be unknowingly manipulated from within the sect.

Their belief system is classified as an extreme branch of the "Imperial Salvationists," and apart from those highly learned theologians, ordinary people simply cannot distinguish the subtle differences between their doctrines and the orthodox beliefs of the state religion.

Therefore, their doctrines are extremely deceptive and inflammatory, and even some steadfast judges may resonate with them.

This has led many people to question the state religion's assessment: Are all members of this sect really heretics?

Or are they the expeditionary force that aims to restore true faith to this long-degenerate and corrupt empire?

For a long time, monks who were infiltrated by the idea of ​​"absconding" have used their right to interpret the core works of the state religion, such as the Book of the Holy Word, to spread the seeds of heresy throughout all social strata of Sintira.

Nobles, military officers, traveling merchants, bureaucrats... every social class was infiltrated by them, and they had their eyes and ears.

The outbreak of the Sintira "Revolution" completely tore away the fig leaf that was supposedly an "internal church affair".

When a portion of the angry crowd vented their fury on the Order of St. Drusus, Cardinal Ignatius keenly sensed the danger of the faith collapsing.

The state religion must compete with "absconding followers" for the people's faith.

Amidst these internal and external troubles, many loyal individuals with the virtue of asceticism and close ties with the people have emerged from among the frontline clergy who have long been deeply involved in grassroots churches.

They spontaneously and voluntarily "swore an oath" to humbly and willingly become spiritual guides for the vast majority of revolutionary citizens to connect with the divine emperor, rather than praying only for nobles and the rich.

These people called themselves the "Oath-Taking Faction." Those high-ranking clergy who were closely tied to the interests of the nobility and supported the old aristocratic class mostly refused to "take the oath" and were therefore called the "Oath-Refusing Faction."

Ultimately, the unexpected "Great Revolution" profoundly shook the absolute dominance of the aristocracy.

Hedging their bets and simultaneously eliminating dissidents led to a major reshuffling of the Order of Saint Drusus.

The Grand Cardinals remained steadfast and unshaken; while the vacant positions left by the killing or hasty escape of many high-ranking clergy were quickly filled by these "Oath-taking" clergy.

Many people, though they became high-ranking priests overnight, still retained the simple attire and ascetic habits they had when they were low-ranking priests, and firmly believed that this was the only way to communicate with the God Emperor.

This is the fundamental reason why this grey-robed priest named Hironimus Doloroso would appear at a military meeting of this level.

Normally, he should be wearing a white robe trimmed with gold and holding a golden shepherd's staff that gleams with gold.

"The location will not change."

The official from the administrative palace emphasized in a condescending and arrogant tone, clearly not acknowledging the gray-robed priest's status or position from the bottom of his heart: "Now, every planet and every satellite in the sector has its own position and mission."

Only the colony of the capital city currently has this vacancy, which can be used to establish a training base for the Imperial Navy.

Moreover, it is closest to the capital city of Sintila, making it an ideal planet with the most superior geographical location, demonstrating our high regard and deep affection for the Shield of the Gods.

He glanced at Doloros with disdain. "Besides, as a Monsignor, how dare you presume to speak of the faith and resolve of the nobles of Polaberia?"

“Is that so?” The grey-robed priest abruptly raised his thin, bony fingers, his voice hoarse and high-pitched. The staff in his hand, inlaid with the Book of the Holy Word, trembled slightly with his rapid breathing. “Then let all the priests and nobles of Polyberia stand up! Let them swear an oath! An oath to the Order of Saint Drusus! An oath to the people of the God-King! An oath to the eternal, one, and supreme God-King on the Golden Throne!”

The officials in the administrative palace were speechless with shock at his words, and could only snort coldly: "Perhaps you can go back and report to your archcardinal."

"Let him personally send a delegation to Polaberia and demand that the local nobles and priests take an oath."
-
The latter half of the meeting was spent in pointless verbal sparring between the church and the Ministry of the Interior.

However, Horatio didn't care at all.

He came here today only to hear an answer and to preserve his most important asset—the recruited free men.

Regardless of the final adjustments, he would still have to go to Polaberia. Now, the unexpected intervention of the state church had actually saved him a lot of trouble.

This reminded Horatio of a timeless, enduring saying: When you open a window and are refused entry, if you're willing to tear down the roof, they'll allow you to open the window.

At the end of the meeting, Monsignor Hironimus Doloros of Sutas also conveyed a signal to Horatio regarding the order of St. Drusus—that the order recognized Horatio's status as a 'saint.' His guillotine was legal and valid in the Callis sector.

This was at the behest of the Archbishop, even though their religious beliefs were very different from, or even alienated from, those of the Holy Rose.

The Order of St. Drusus, the state church, is willing to assist the saint at the church level by recruiting additional crew members and soldiers for the orbital landing force from among the faithful, as well as by providing supplies donated by the public.

Since the State Church has extended a friendly olive branch, Horatio intends to accept it as much as possible, whether out of political maneuvering or because the State Church has other ideas.

Because in the complex Calicus sector, having one more ally is always better than having one more enemy.

Whatever the Drususian Order's true intentions may be.

(End of this chapter)