Warhammer: Empire Reboot

"Your Excellency, the Master of the Seal."

"I need an explanation."

"of course."

Lawson nodded.

"And you are entitled to hear this explanation."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of several battle group leaders changed slightly.

Lawson did not use his position to pressure them.

He first acknowledged their qualifications.

This is very important.

Those present were all renowned generals of the empire, not local nobles in the governor's mansion who would kneel down at the mere mention of a title.

Lawson raised his hand, and the tactical star map unfolded.

The Vigilant Star, Nakmonde Pass, the Black Legion fleet, the Greenskin Front, the Plague Zone, and the Genestealer Contaminated Layer all appeared before everyone's eyes.

"We are now standing on a planet that is about to be torn apart."

"The outer layer is Abaddon, the surface is Greenskin, and underground are Genestealers."

"The plague has not yet been eradicated in Eastern Tolia."

“Nobles, officers, unions, transportation departments, water purification systems, chapels—all have proven to be places that can be infiltrated by the enemy.”

No one spoke.

Lawson continued:

"The Empire excels at confronting enemies in the open."

"But Slaanesh's corruption often doesn't occur on the front lines of the battlefield."

He looked at Ash Velos, who was kneeling on the ground.

"It is hidden in aristocratic banquets, in officers' private liquor cabinets, in hedonists, drug addicts, decadent collectors, planetary governors dragged down by desire, and a bunch of fools who think they are just slightly indulgent."

"By the time we see the devil, it is often too late."

These words silenced many of the guild leaders in the hall.

They had all beaten Slaanesh followers.

I have also seen many worlds not fall into the flames of war, but rot away little by little in banquets, art, potions, desires, and aristocratic gatherings.

The representative of Imperial Fist slowly lowered the muzzle of his gun.

"Your Excellency, do you mean to use her to find out Slaanesh's corruption?"

Lawson nodded.

"Correct."

He looked at Ash Velos.

“She understands the taste of Slaanesh believers better than any judge.”

“If I lock her up, I can dig out the whole chain of decay along her nose.”

Cardan Stronos's prosthetic eye frequency increased.

"Logically speaking, if a high-level Slaanesh entity is completely restrained, it does indeed have the value of reverse detection."

Haldo Frosty frowned.

"The devil's words cannot be trusted."

Lawson did not deny it.

"So I don't rely on her loyalty."

Lawson walked over to Ash Velos and touched the collar around her neck.

The dark gold patterns lit up.

Ash Velos shuddered and forced down her painful cry.

"The collar contains the Emperor's Golden Flame, as well as my psionic restrictions."

Lawson looked at everyone.

"If she dares to send out a signal that shouldn't be sent, her head will explode."

"If she dares to deliberately damage the Empire's war situation, her head will explode."

"Even if she wanted to return to the Warp through death, her soul could not return."

Ash Velos knelt on the ground, his teeth clenched.

Calga finally sheathed his sword.

He looked at Lawson, his tone complex.

“Your Excellency, the risk you are taking is too great.”

"If this gets out, it will cause a lot of trouble."

Lawson said calmly, "You all saw how many people died on Vigilant Planet."

"If the Slaanesh corruption chain continues to hide, even more will die in the future."

"The empire has not survived to this day because it is clean."

"It's because there are always people willing to carry the dirty stuff forward."

The hall fell completely silent.

Half an hour passed.

Calgary slowly knelt down on one knee.

Now everyone's eyes were on him.

"Your Excellency, the Master of the Seal."

"You have borne a stigma and risk that most people could not bear for the empire."

I understand your choice.

"The Ultramarines acknowledge the necessity of this action in the current war situation."

If Tigurius were here, he might add a few more words about risk and psionic monitoring.

But Calgary knows that attitude is the most important thing now.

If he, as the leader of the Ultramarines Chapter, doesn't express his opinion, the other Chapter leaders will continue to have doubts.

However, Vigilant Star cannot withstand internal suspicion at this moment.

Haldor glanced at Calga and also knelt down on one knee.

"Even Space Wolf would recognize it."

"I don't like demons."

He looked up at Lawson, grinning to reveal a fang-like smile.

“But the Lord of the Seal keeps the Great Demon by his feet and uses her as a hunting dog to find dirty things.”

"I accept this!"

He added another sentence.

"If anyone tries to bite me over this, I'll bite them back first."

Stronus of the Steel Hand bowed in the Steel Hand etiquette.

"The Iron Hand confirms that this decision is in line with the principle of maximizing the benefits of the current war."

White Scar, Imperial Fist, Crimson Fist, Graveyard Eagle, and other chapter representatives have successively expressed their views.

They weren't fooled by a few nice words.

These are all commanders who survived the battlefield.

They understand the risks and the costs.

They understood better that the empire often survived by using such appalling methods.

Lawson's decision to lock up a Keeper of the Secrets as a tool carries extremely high risks and a severe stigma.

But he personally took on the responsibility of control.

They then used this demon to counteract Slaanesh's corruption.

This is significant for Vigilant Star, which is currently facing the Black Legion, the Commoner Prince, the Plague, and the Greenskins simultaneously.

They understand this.

So they took sides.

Lawson sighed, his smile tinged with helplessness.

"I'm glad you understand."

"What I fear is that some people only see a great demon following me, but they can't see the lock around her neck, nor the rotten roots she can dig out."

He then changed the subject.

"The court will probably come after me because of this."

No sooner had he said that than Haldo Shuangpi stood up abruptly.

"Courtroom?"

"Let them come."

"Wolf Fang will teach them how to shut up."

The representative of Imperial Fist said in a deep voice, "If the Inquisition raises any objections, Imperial Fist will submit the wartime records of the Vigilant Star to prove that this action is in line with the needs of the current war situation."

The Crimson Fist represents a more direct tone.