Chapter 53: Battle Sister, Genestealer Cult
Boarding the hovercar arranged by Rebecca, Lucan headed towards the cathedral in the Spire District.
Looking out from within the vehicle, although the victory had lifted some of the gloom from people's faces, many had also lost family members in the battle.
Those who survived temporarily suppressed the pain in their hearts; they had no energy to dwell on such things. Their primary concern was how to stay alive.
However, some people were already implementing Lucan's orders. Under the protection of soldiers, vehicles laden with food were parked in various locations throughout the uphive, distributing grain according to registered lists.
Although this food consisted of mixtures like corpse starch, wood-pulp bread, and various fungi, merely being able to fill their stomachs made these refugees, who might have only eaten a meal or two every few days before, deeply grateful to Lucan.
"My Lord, do you hear them? They are all singing your name and cheering for you," Rebecca said with a smile.
"Isn't it my responsibility to ensure my own subjects are fed? Rebecca, did Lord Ludwig never think about improving life in the underhive?"
"Hmm? Improve life in the underhive? The Dynasty already shelters them and allows them to live on this land; isn't that enough? The Dynasty lets them exchange labor for basic survival resources. Surplus resources should be used for expansion, my Lord; that is the Dynasty's primary mission. Lord Ludwig never used to consider such matters."
Hearing Rebecca's words, Lucan knew this ingrained mindset couldn't be changed in a day or two, so he said no more.
"My Lord, we have arrived!"
Rebecca helped Lucan open the car door. Standing at the steps of the cathedral, Lucan looked up.
This cathedral, belonging to the Ecclesiarchy, was one of the few well-preserved buildings in the entire uphive and Spire District.
Even in the most difficult times, no one dared to dismantle or damage this temple dedicated to the God-Emperor.
Its magnificence was second only to Lucan's own palace.
Hundreds of white steps stretched all the way to the cathedral's ornate main doors.
The entire cathedral maintained a Gothic style. Its exterior walls, made of metal and stone, bore numerous exquisite relief sculptures, each of which could be considered a work of art.
These reliefs depicted famous Living Saints of the Ecclesiarchy and some significant historical scenes.
The roof, made of stained glass, gleamed brilliantly.
Lucan ascended the steps. Two priests pushed open the great doors for him. Upon entering, Lucan immediately felt a sacred aura; the entire cathedral was spotless.
A colossal statue of the God-Emperor stood in the very center of the cathedral, while a smaller statue of Saint Drusus was to the God-Emperor's right.
Inside the cathedral, some small figures were flitting about, wiping down the church and organizing scriptures.
Taking a closer look – well now! Weren't these the Cherubim that famously broke Guilliman's composure and silenced Horus?
These mechanical constructs known as Cherubim – resembling infants in form, a combination of flesh and metal, with wings, flying everywhere – were exceptionally common within the Ecclesiarchy.
These seemingly infant-like things were not actually made from real living babies but were cloned and cultivated by Magi Biologis.
They could perform menial tasks, carry ammunition, conduct reconnaissance, and even fight if necessary. However, Lucan found their appearance rather unsettling; otherwise, he might have wanted a couple for himself.
The vast cathedral was almost empty; only two people awaited Lucan's arrival before the God-Emperor's statue.
The man on the right, dressed in a bishop's robes, was likely Holter. Beside him stood a Battle-Sister.
From the bloodstains covering her armor, it was clear she had just come from the battlefield.
"Didn't they say all these Battle-Sisters had entered the underhive?!"
Accompanied by Rebecca, Lucan walked up to the Bishop. Lucan couldn't help but glance up at the statue of the God-Emperor; he truly feared the "Old Man on the Throne" might suddenly jump up and drag him away for research. Fortunately, it showed no reaction.
Lucan felt Bishop Holter staring at him intently with sharp eyes, as if trying to determine if Lucan truly was the person rumored to be blessed by the God-Emperor.
Lucan had heard Rebecca's description; this old man before him, who looked somewhat aged, was no ordinary character. Though he appeared somewhat frail, his combat strength was formidable; he had likely undergone considerable gene-enhancement.
When the uprising began, it was he who, wielding a power maul, had led the Ecclesiarchy's priests in withstanding the initial assaults. However, as the war continued to this point, almost all the Church's priests had fallen in battle; very few survived.
And Holter himself had suffered extremely severe injuries in a previous battle; a single punch from a Word Bearer had directly ruptured many of his internal organs. If not for the presence of Medics, Holter might already be dead.
Lucan also greatly admired Holter. These people all embodied their faith with their lives. Regardless of whether they were sometimes too extreme regarding certain heretical behaviors, when trouble arose, these people truly stepped up.
"Praise the God-Emperor, Bishop Holter. I hear you wished to see me. I am the current Rogue Trader, Lucan Mongorte. On behalf of the Mongorte Dynasty, I thank you for your sacrifices and contributions."
"No, it is I who should thank you, Lord Lucan. Purifying heresy is the inherent responsibility of the Ecclesiarchy. Those priests who sacrificed themselves for humanity will proceed to the Golden Throne to continue serving beside the God-Emperor. But without your timely arrival, this planet might have already fallen into the hands of the enemies of mankind."
"As a believer in the God-Emperor, and the master of this planet, isn't it also my duty to help the people here avoid the encroachment of Chaos? I hear you were eager to see me, Bishop?"
"Indeed… Are you truly blessed by the God-Emperor? Did you truly hear His voice?"
As Holter spoke these words, his voice even trembled slightly.
"I don't know either…" Lucan replied.
"How could you not know? Otherwise, how could you, with a mortal body, kill those traitor Astartes! You have no powerful gene-modifications, nor do you have implants."
"Perhaps the God-Emperor bestowed His blessing upon me without my knowledge. Regardless, everyone saw the miracle manifested by the holy icon. I believe the God-Emperor did not grant this miracle because of me, but because He pitied the people of this planet, and saw your sacrifice and courage! Especially you, Bishop Holter; you proved your piety to the God-Emperor! Everything you all did guided me and my flagship out of the Warp and allowed me to return to Agathos in time!"
"Yes… yes… the God-Emperor will not abandon His devout followers… Lord Lucan, but please permit me to examine your body. After all, the methods of mankind's enemies are far too insidious!"
"Are you suspecting a Rogue Trader of turning to the enemies of mankind, Bishop!" Rebecca interjected loudly. Like Verre, her true loyalty lay with the Dynasty, more so than with the Imperium.
"How do you wish to examine me?" Lucan asked.
Holter produced consecrated holy relics. These relics, having received veneration for a long time, possessed a keen sensitivity to Chaos corruption. Lucan had undergone a similar test when he first arrived in this world; he wasn't flustered in the slightest.
Holter then stated he wished to take a blood sample for genetic testing.
Lucan did not refuse.
When all the tests were completed, Holter also found it incredible.
"Never have I seen such a pure human…" In the world of Warhammer, people were more or less affected by the Warp to some degree; it was merely a matter of how much.
"Since I have proven myself, Bishop Holter, can you now tell me why you sought me out?"
"This is Canoness Tamiya. She and her sisters have been fighting continuously in the underhive. She says she has something very important to report to you!"
"May the Emperor protect you, Canoness. What matter did you wish to report to me?" Lucan asked, turning to the Battle-Sister.
With a head of white hair, clad in the distinctive power armor of a Battle-Sister, Tamiya's expression was exceptionally stern. A massive scar running across her entire face made her appear particularly formidable.
"There's a problem in the underhive. A peculiar heretical faith is spreading in the hive bottom!"
"A heretical faith? Not that Final Dawn cult? I believe I am already aware of that."
"It is not the Final Dawn. That faith originates from the hive bottom. My sisters and I personally saw mutants from the hive bottom, shouting the God-Emperor's name, emerge from the sump and attack those traitors!
They even take in and protect civilians, bringing them back to the hive bottom! But would the dregs of the sump shelter and protect civilians? And a large number of mutants, who would be executed by the Imperium upon discovery, professing faith in the God-Emperor – do you believe that, my Lord?"
"Of course not. Wait a minute… Holy Terra, my planet isn't infested with a Genestealer Cult, is it?!"
(End of Chapter)