Warhammer: Empire Reboot

Lord Leontus of the Sun, General Trajan Valoris of the Royal Guard, the highest-ranking representative of the Navy, Morven Val, Pope Aeos Ritterila of the State Church, and the remaining high lords were all in their respective positions.

Roskaeffler was also there.

She was one of the few who knew about today's topic because Guilliman had spoken to her beforehand.

So when the parliament officially began, she was the first to stand up.

Roskaeffler bowed to Guilliman, and then to Rosen.

"Your Excellency Regent, Your Excellency Seal Holder, and all High Lords."

"The Imperial Executive Council has been responsible for maintaining the operation of the empire for the past ten thousand years, but it has also accumulated a great deal of deep-seated problems."

"The new administrative system of the Seal Keeper's Office has begun to connect to the five major star regions. In order to avoid confusion of power and responsibility caused by the long-term parallel operation of the two systems, and in order to complete the reorganization of the Imperial Administration more quickly, I formally resign from the position of Chief Executive. Please approve my resignation."

A hushed murmur arose in the hall.

Many people had long predicted that this day would come.

I was still shaken when I actually heard Roskaeffler say it himself.

The Chief Executive is the highest-ranking official in the empire's largest civil service system.

The power of this seat has historically been enough to influence the fate of countless planets.

Now, she's actually going to resign voluntarily.

Lawson looked at Roskaeffler: "Ms. Roskaeffler, I accept your resignation, but I do not accept your leaving the administrative system."

Roskaeffler looked up.

Lawson said, "Starting today, Aoyama will take over as Chief Executive Officer."

"You will serve as the first deputy, responsible for assisting him in reorganizing the old Executive Yuan, handing over personnel, dismantling redundant agencies, and retaining the truly capable people."

“You are familiar with the old system, while he is responsible for rebuilding the new system. The empire needs the connection between the two.”

Roskaeffler was silent for a moment, then lowered his head.

"I accept the appointment."

Aoyama rose from his seat and bowed to Roskaeffler.

This is a very formal ceremony.

It is a sign of respect from the new Chief Executive to the former Chief Executive.

Roskaeffler returned the gift.

Seeing this, many administrative officials actually felt relieved.

Lawson did not abolish the entire Executive Yuan; those who are capable still have positions.

Then, Lawson looked to the other side.

The person who should have been seated at the seat of the Chief of Police of the Ministry of Justice was not present.

Instead, a suspension order for investigation has been publicly sent to judicial departments at all levels.

Lawson announced: "The former chief of police of the Ministry of Justice is suspected of a long-term abuse of power, interference in cases involving high-ranking nobles, condoning subordinates to collect judicial protection fees, and suppressing multiple major complaints involving military supplies and civilian materials. Effective immediately, he is suspended from duty pending investigation."

"During the investigation, Andre will temporarily assume the highest position in the Ministry of Justice."

Andrei stood up.

He was much tougher than Aoyama, stating directly: "Authorized by the Lord of the Seal, I will be responsible for reorganizing the Ministry of Justice to ensure that Imperial Law once again overrides local privileges, family privileges, and institutional privileges."

There wasn't much noise in the main council hall, and it was precisely because of the silence that it seemed eerie.

The Chief Executive has been replaced.

The chief of police officers under the Ministry of Justice has been suspended from duty.

A few months ago, any one of these events would have been enough to spark countless factional disputes.

Today, two things happened in quick succession, yet Parliament seemed to be held down by some unseen hand.

Everyone was looking at Lawson.

They wanted to know where he would strike next.

Lawson didn't keep them waiting long; a new projection unfolded above the council platform.

The emblem of the imperial state religion appeared.

Many cardinals' eyelids twitched immediately.

Pope Aeolus Rittila sat calmly on the high platform, his eyes slightly closed, as if it were none of his business.

He knew about this beforehand; Guilliman had spoken with him, and Lawson had given him a complete plan.

More importantly, Ritila was well aware that if the state church actively cooperated with the reforms, it could preserve the core of its faith and its basic structure.

If they resisted, it wouldn't just be a few nobles from the pilgrimage industry who would be hanged; a large number of clergy would also die.

Lawson surveyed the entire council and began to speak slowly.

"The national religion needs reform."

A noticeable commotion finally broke out in the hall.

"I now declare that the imperial faith shall remain, the churches shall remain, and normal religious activities shall continue."

"The system of saints is maintained, and pilgrimage itself is not prohibited."

A series of statements maintaining the status quo brought some relief to those involved in the National Church.

It seems that the person in charge of the seal is quite knowledgeable about the rules.

But they soon realized they were celebrating too soon.

Lawson's voice continued:

"The privileges of the state religion will be gradually reduced."

"First, the tax exemption is terminated. All assets under the name of the state religion involving commerce, real estate, transportation, finance, warehousing and production will be submitted to the tax department for review. Facilities for purely religious purposes may retain exemptions, but all businesses must pay taxes normally."

"Secondly, judicial immunity is terminated. Clerks who commit crimes can no longer be dealt with internally. Murder, embezzlement, misappropriation of relief supplies, enslavement of civilians, buying and selling pilgrimage qualifications, forcing believers to pay indulgences, and the like, as long as they are found guilty, will all be handed over to the Imperial judicial system. They will be sentenced if they deserve it, and executed if they deserve it!"

"Finally, private armies were abolished, and all armed forces under the names of cardinals, diocesan nobles, and private religious orders were either disbanded or incorporated into the regular defense system."

"You have one month to submit your application and make corrections. If you fail to meet the expected standards, the Bi'an Battle Group will intervene, and you will bear the consequences!"

The pampered bishops in the state church seats looked at each other, dumbfounded.

That's too ruthless!

Yes, they weren't initially forbidden from proselytizing, nor were their churches demolished.

But what's the use of that?

What truly made them respectable and able to maintain their dignity before the sector governor was never their faith itself.

Land represents taxes, industry, private armies, and the right to interpret and control ordinary believers—these are the fundamental elements.

Lawson is now essentially telling them:

You may continue to hold onto your faith.

But the money and privileges must be handed over.

The knife is already at my throat; I can't take it anymore.

A cardinal archbishop dressed in a magnificent red robe could no longer contain himself and abruptly stood up.

He held a prestigious position, with over a dozen badges representing different holy sites hanging on his chest, each one priceless.

"Your Excellency, the Master of the Seal!"

"You are interfering with freedom of religion! The property of the state religion is the result of the devout offerings of countless believers, and it is used to serve the emperor! You cannot use secular tax laws to measure sacred deeds!"

Another archbishop also stood up, filled with righteous indignation.

“That’s right! The crimes of priests should be judged by the church courts according to sacred scriptures! The secular laws of the empire are not qualified to judge the emperor’s servants!”

In the hall, some nobles exchanged glances discreetly.

This is the moment they've been waiting for.

The Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Justice are, in essence, just bureaucratic institutions.

But the national religion is different.

The state religion has faith, countless churches, and a network of clergy spread throughout the entire galaxy.

If Lawson doesn't handle this well, it could very well trigger a backlash of faith across the entire empire.

The archbishops became increasingly agitated as they spoke.

One of them had already raised his hand, pointing in the direction where Lawson was.

The words he wanted to say were almost on the tip of his tongue.

heresy!

The moment those two words are uttered, a new political storm will inevitably erupt in the hall.

Lawson gave a half-smile, and Jia Sisi's hand was already on the hilt of his sword.

The combat sequence and the cornerstone sequence are ready.

We're just waiting for him to speak.

If these parasites dare to cause trouble today, then we'll slaughter them until the blood flows like a river.

Even if you kill all the archbishops, the faith won't disappear, since the emperor is still there.

But just then, another person stood up.

Morven Val, the Supreme Commander of the Battle Sisters, is one of the High Lords.

She stepped out of her seat, walked to the front of the council platform, faced Lawson, and knelt on one knee.

This scene silenced all sound in the entire council chamber.

Moven Walter performed a standard salute.

"Your Excellency, the Master of the Seal."