Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 906, page 08.905: "Buy One Get One Free"

"The results I let you choose weren't enough?" For the first time, a hint of angry electronic noise appeared in Lati's synthesized voice.

"Logically, its value as an intangible asset is sufficient. But that is knowledge, and intangible knowledge cannot be immediately converted into profit—my sage, please understand the difference between asset value and working capital."

This means I am still unable to pay the subsequent penalties, and therefore unable to obtain further research funding—knowledge without financial support cannot help us to more deeply understand the truth of the God of Machines.

Therefore, you need to pay me 'profit points.' In the Calicus sector and the Colonus expansion, it is the most valuable equivalent, and we only recognize this." Father Pascal's logic was clear and cold.

“If…” Lati wore a warm smile, but that smile didn’t reach her prosthetic eye, “If I don’t have a ‘profit margin’ but still want your things, what should I do?”

“That… is indeed regrettable.” Father Pascal humbly performed a gear salute, but the energy matrix of the enormous mechanical axe in his hand emitted an ominous hum, and the binary protection in the other world was instantly updated and made even more secure.

“Very good.” The last trace of emotion vanished from Lati’s polite smile, and a powerful pulse of source energy surged forth from her brainwave repeater.

"Then give me back what belongs to me," she murmured to herself, a murmur that no one could hear.

The moment she revealed that cold smile, heavy and hurried footsteps came from the archway to their side.

The tense atmosphere between the two technical priests seemed to freeze in an instant, as if the pause button had been pressed.

"I've finally found you, Father Latti." Horatio strode over, only to find two technical priests staring at each other rather blankly.

"Oh, Captain~ you've arrived." Upon seeing Horatio, Lati immediately dropped her cold demeanor, put on a charming smile, and took a step back.

A faint electric current flashed beneath the scarlet robes of Father Pascal, who stood opposite her, and a faint smell of burning emanated from him.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, he slowly turned around and used his optical sensor to look at the newcomer. After quickly scanning Horatio's identification markings and rank, he nodded slightly in salute.

Yoyo poked her furry ears out from behind Horatio. She keenly sensed the unusual atmosphere and, as was her habit, took the safest action to avoid danger.

"Boss, it's this guy in the red robe. He came down with someone else when we were in Starport, but now I don't know why he's all alone," Yoyo whispered.

Horatio nodded, then looked at Latti and smiled in a conciliatory tone: "So, how did your talks go?"

“Without a ‘profit point,’ a deal cannot be made,” the priest in front of him continued in his monotone synthesized voice.

“I told you to choose from the results I sent you,” Latti replied dismissively.

"Rejected. The knowledge transfer cycle is too long, and there is a lack of working capital to cover the penalties for breach of contract," the tech priest repeated woodenly.

"How much profit margin?" Horatio asked Father Pascal.

Father Pascal's optical sensor flashed and reported a number: "Fifty-five profit points. Thirty points are for breach of contract penalties, and twenty-five points are for subsequent research funding. In addition, I will select a research result from her knowledge base."

Soon, a detailed list was transmitted to Horatio's data panel. He scanned the surging data stream, which meticulously detailed the arguments and evidence for "why so many profit points," citing several guiding interest rates from the Central Bank of the Calesis Sector capital, as well as the applicability of several Imperial common laws and sector special laws. At first glance, it did seem logical and well-founded. Horatio didn't rush to reply. He walked to Lati's side and asked in a low voice, "Lati, what are you up to now? What's in that box? If you don't tell me, even if you get it, I won't let you take it on the ship."

Latti's lips moved up further.

"Don't worry, you won't do that. Because that's one of the things you want and need."

"So, what exactly is this?"

Lati's prosthetic eye scanned the surrounding environment, and the sound array behind her emitted an active noise-canceling wave that was inaudible to the human ear, creating a "sound-encrypted space" between the two of them.

"It's complicated for your original brain that hasn't been baptized by the God of Machines. But to put it simply, your future third and final surgery is still missing a little bit of... 'technical means'. And, if you want to mass-produce a warband of Astartes as planned, this thing can also be used."

Horatio frowned upon hearing this.

"Gene editing equipment?"

“This concept is too general, but you can understand it this way for now. A detailed explanation would probably take a very long time. In short, I assure you that this artifact will ultimately lead humanity to a brighter future, I swear.” Lati seemed to know everything she was describing, and confidently patted her chest as she assured Horatio.

"How do you know he'll definitely sell?" Horatio asked in a low voice.

"Don't worry, I roughly know his research area. In the second batch of documents, there are research projects that he can't refuse."

“Your answer is too uncertain. I’ll give it a try. Fifty-five profit points is no small number. The maximum load capacity of a standard transport ship is only one ‘profit point.’ Fifty-five is the total profit of fifty-five ships of supplies.”

"Don't worry, Captain, I swear to you, the cost of those fifty-five profit points will be worthwhile. Even if you don't understand its importance now, I'm willing to make up for your expenses in other ways later." Lati grinned mischievously. "Tell me what kind of military equipment or vehicles you want, and I'll do my best to get you a batch of brand-new, unlabeled goods that have just come off the assembly line—it's normal to discard a few unlabeled 'rework defective' vehicles from each batch."

"You'd better keep your word." Horatio rolled his eyes at Latti.

“I swear to the all-knowing and all-powerful Om Messiah, I will keep my word.” Lati’s posture was full of confidence, and he looked at Horatio with a gaze that, based on past experience, would reduce suspicion the most.

Horatio nodded. Since Latti had already brought it up, let's consider it an advance purchase of military equipment.

“Too expensive.” Horatio turned to Father Pascal, shook his head, and said firmly, “I can’t spend so much of the fleet’s ‘profit’ on something with uncertain efficacy. Unless…”

Horatio's gaze swept over the other boxes.

"...Send us another unsold item as a head. It will be personally selected by our chief technical priest."

“…” Father Pascal fell silent, motionless, his brain's logical engine calculating and weighing the pros and cons at an unimaginable speed. But soon, his optical sensors lit up again, and he looked at Horatio and said:

"Sure. You can choose another one."

(End of this chapter)