Warhammer: Starting with Industrial Revolution

Upon hearing Ronin's words, Governor Karl showed no sign of relief; instead, his gaze grew even more desperate.

"Ronin! Don't cause any trouble! You want to go to the Church of the Holy Blood? That's the territory of the State Church. Although our remote, godforsaken planetary empire can't care about it, and there's only one priest here, Father Moras, the State Church is not something you can mess with! Stop it, we're already doing quite well!"

He screamed almost incoherently, shaking his head like a rattle-drum.

Ronin simply stood up slowly and gently patted Governor Karl on the shoulder.

"Governor, I understand your concerns, but in this world, it's either advance or retreat. War could break out in our star system at any time, and with our current state, we will become the first planet to perish in the war. By then, it will be too late."

He spoke sincerely, understanding Governor Carl's concerns; this man had always only wanted to live a comfortable and peaceful life.

Governor Karl understood what Ronin was saying, but his inherent timidity and caution still made him uneasy.

But perhaps it was the influence of the Lord of Pleasure's power, or perhaps it was because of Rhonin's sincerity and affirmation.

Governor Carl's rebuttal ultimately remained unspoken.

He released Ronin's wrist, which he had been holding tightly, and looked as dejected as a wronged child. "Ronin, I believe you. But you must be careful. Father Moraes is, after all, the representative of the state religion on this planet. If we offend him, we're really doomed."

"I not only have no intention of making him angry, but I'm also trying my best to cheer him up. Please rest assured, Your Excellency."

Ronin smiled and gently comforted the perpetually flustered Governor Karl.

Leaving the Governor's Mansion, we didn't actually go very far; soon we arrived at the Church of the Holy Blood.

Located in the upper part of the city, it stands out from the surrounding magnificent aristocratic mansions, like an isolated island forgotten by time.

Large sections of the old chapel's exterior plaster have peeled off, and the rust on the railings reveals the unique vicissitudes of this place.

Luo Ning pushed open the half-closed church door, and was greeted by a cold, damp atmosphere and a faint musty smell, several degrees lower than the outside temperature.

Most of the benches in the chapel were covered in a thick layer of dust, except for two or three in the front row near the altar, which were wiped clean.

Beside the altar at the far end of the church, an elderly man with gray hair was quietly watering a potted plant that was about to wither.

Looking at the robes that had been washed until they were almost white, Ronin knew at a glance that this was Father Moraes, the sole representative of the Imperial Church of Truth on this planet.

Father Moraes was focused on watering the plants, seemingly oblivious to Ronin standing beside him.

Luo Ning wasn't in a hurry; he simply stood quietly beside the old man, knowing that not disturbing him was the greatest courtesy.

After Father Moraes finished watering, he raised his head and gazed quietly at Ronin before him. His cloudy eyes were full of weariness, as if he had suffered the ravages of time.

"What brings Lord Ronin to my humble chapel?"

Ronin bowed deeply, showing as much respect as possible, and said slowly, "Father Moraes, greetings. I bring you the Governor's regards."

Moraes didn't reply, but just stared coldly at Ronin.

But in his heart, only one sentence echoed clearly and simply: "Nobody comes to the temple without a reason; this guy coming to see me must be up to no good."

Ronin wasn't angry, after all, that was indeed the case. At least he had never thought of taking the initiative to visit this down-on-his-luck planetary priest before, and he had never consulted his opinions when making various changes.

The last time the two met was probably when the tithe team came, but Luo Ning didn't take the initiative to talk to them.

Father Moraes didn't care about any of that. He had been demoted and brought to this planet. Although he didn't know what had happened, the once respected priest had almost completely withdrawn from worldly affairs since then.

"Father, the Governor's Office recently planned to establish a reformatory in the Lower Nest district, the purpose of which is..."

"no."

Before Ronin could continue, Father Moraes refused outright, as if he didn't want to hear another word from Ronin.

Luo Ning was taken aback, then softened his tone and continued, "Father, you haven't finished speaking."

Father Moraes's cloudy eyes suddenly became incredibly sharp, but only for a moment. The next second, he reverted to his usual helpless old man appearance.

"You plan to bring education to those barbarians at the bottom of the hive? Does Lord Ronin know that the Empire has a crime called heretical enlightenment?"

He seemed to be talking to Luo Ning, yet also to himself, but Luo Ning was not allowed to interrupt him at all.

"Lord Ronin, I know you are now the one who truly calls the shots on this planet, and I know you have certainly made many preparations to bribe me. But this is something I cannot do."

"No amount of money can buy back a life burned at the stake."

Father Moraes spoke calmly yet sincerely, without holding anything back from Ronning.

Ronin knew that Father Moraes had been the academy ecclesiastical master of the Star Sector Archdiocese twenty years ago, but something had happened to him later, and he had become a lonely figure on a remote planet.

From then on, he almost never concerned himself with worldly affairs, only seeking to live a peaceful life until his death.

Threats and bribes are ineffective against this type of person.

Fortunately, he hadn't planned to do that anyway.

Luo Ning cleared his throat and slowly said, "Father, you've been on this planet for 20 years. You know better than anyone how rotten it has become. Gangs run rampant, cults are everywhere, and every year believers are bewitched by chaos. As the only state priest on this planet, do you really feel no unease at all seeing all this?"

"What did you say?" Father Moraes looked up at Ronin, and for the first time, an undisguised anger appeared on his aged face.

"I apologize, Father, I meant no insult." Ronin bowed slightly, but the bow remained neither servile nor arrogant. "I know you have your reasons, but this time, the Governor's Office truly wants to give the people here a way to survive."

"What I have established is a loyalty educator belonging to the state religion. What I want to teach them is not some fallacies or heresies, but basic labor skills, how to maintain the pipelines of the Nest City, and how to use their own hands to serve the Emperor, contribute to the Empire, and earn food and human dignity."

"If they can see hope, they won't follow the cult or rebel."

"This is not heresy; it is your unparalleled achievement as the state priest in gathering believers, eliminating the breeding ground for cults, and practicing the teachings of the emperor."

"The millions of people in the entire Lower Nest will become the Emperor's most loyal followers because of you. And all this glory and achievement is due to you."

"So what if the Archdiocese finds out? Not only will they not blame you, they should reward your loyalty and bestow upon you a share of glory."

Ronin spoke eloquently, and he could clearly sense that Father Moraes' heart had softened.

But just then, a strange feeling suddenly gripped his heart.

Behind a side door deep inside the church, a breathing sound could be heard, hidden there, eavesdropping on their conversation without moving.

Luo Ning tensed instantly, his hand on the pistol at his waist, his tone suddenly turning icy as he said in a deep voice to the closed side door, "Come out, or I'll have to resort to violence in this sacred hall."

But the person who came out the next second surprised Luo Ning greatly.

The person who came out was a woman.

She was dressed in a simple, dark nun's habit, her face showing just the right amount of panic and unease. Her head was slightly lowered, and her hands were nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, making her look like an ordinary nun who had been frightened.

But Luo Ning could see at a glance the shrewdness and calculation hidden deep in her eyes, as well as the mature temperament that was completely different from her simple appearance.