Warhammer: Don't Call Me the God of All Machines

Chapter 975 Makado's Suspicion

Macado admires the chief, truly admires him.

Everything the chief did was almost saintly, demonstrating the indomitable spirit of humankind.

He was one of the most outstanding scientists, engineers, inventors and innovators, but when his colleagues gradually stopped considering themselves as part of humanity, he stubbornly persisted in human supremacy.

His greatest enemies were his former colleagues, whom he fought against with his own wisdom.

But it was precisely this overwhelming brilliance that triggered Macardo's deepest vigilance.

He understood human nature too well, and he understood the process of creating "idols" too well.

He personally participated in shaping the concept of "Emperor": gradually elevating Neos, originally just an immortal with powerful spiritual energy, to a god-like status, shaping him into a pillar of the human spirit, and creating a near-perfect leader.

In this process, he was both a participant and a sober observer.

He knew that even under the emperor's glorious facade, Neos himself had experienced confusion, anger, pain, and even less honorable schemes.

The greatness of an emperor lies in his ultimate overcoming of these negative aspects of human nature and his choice to sacrifice and dedicate himself to humanity as a whole, but he was by no means born perfect.

The image of the chief in front of us, as presented in the narrative, is far too... flawless.

He possessed extraordinary wisdom capable of unlocking the secrets of the ancient saints. In order to save humanity, he unhesitatingly gave up everything external and spent thousands of years searching for a hope that might exist or might not.

Although humans in the Golden Age achieved an incredibly long lifespan thanks to extraordinary life-extending and rejuvenation technologies, they were not immortal.

He had almost no selfish desires, no wavering, and none of the negative emotions that might arise in a long and desperate struggle: anger, paranoia, or resentment and bitterness towards fate.

This is so perfect that it doesn't seem like a real person; it's more like an idealized, refined spiritual symbol.

If Macardo were to choose another person to become the "Emperor," then the Chief would be a much more suitable candidate.

You should know that if you strip away the halo around an emperor, he is actually a person with many flaws.

The Emperor's handling of his parent-child relationship with the Primarch was so poor it was almost unbearable to watch, making one seriously doubt whether this was the level of skill expected of an immortal with tens of thousands of years of life experience.

If the Emperor had treated the Primarchs better, the Great Rebellion would not have been so devastating.

Secondly, the empire created by the emperor was essentially a very "rubbish" tool of governance. It was riddled with hidden dangers, yet the emperor failed to change it and simply continued to use it as a temporary tool.

If someone like the Chief were to become the leader, Makado believed that many of the internal conflicts within the Human Empire would be resolved.

Makado knew very well that the more perfect a person's image was, the more dangerous things might be hidden behind it.

History taught him that behind the deified figures often lie shadows or costs that are deliberately concealed.

Is the chief scientist of the golden age before us a truly selfless saint, or a conman who has packaged himself flawlessly?

He is the one who holds the Emperor's seal, which also means that even when the Emperor begins to relax, he must remain vigilant.

Marcado wouldn't mind using the most malicious eye to speculate about the chief in front of him, even if he was wrong in the end, at least he would have ruled out the worst possibility.

The mastermind's brain began to work at high speed, like the most sophisticated difference engine, breaking down and analyzing the timeline information provided by the chief:
At the end of M20, the Chief made his last public appearance, opposing the corrupt forces among humanity, before disappearing completely.

In the final stages of M21, the Chief finally completed his conjecture and reached the Black Library via the network, subsequently exploiting vulnerabilities to steal the legacy of the Ancients.

Meanwhile, the M23 Iron Man Rebellion broke out in full force, and the protracted civil war of the Dark Ages of Technology entered its most brutal phase.

So, what about the M22 in the middle?
In his narrative, the chief described the arduous exploration process that spanned a thousand years from the end of M20 to the end of M21 in a relatively clear manner.

But what was the Chief doing for a full millennium after successfully stealing the Old Ones' legacy and returning to the real universe, until the massive Iron Man Rebellion broke out in M23?
How did he specifically apply the stolen knowledge of the ancient sages? Besides sowing the seeds of free will in the Iron Man, did he do anything else more direct or profound?
To truly make the knowledge and technology that originally belonged to the ancient sages our own, we still need a long time to digest and practice it.

For example, did he secretly support certain rebel leaders, and where are the boundaries of such support? Was there some degree of manipulation involved?

Makado himself was once the leader of the human resistance, but he never felt that an invisible hand was controlling him.

He was certain that the choices he made and the principles he followed stemmed from his own independent thinking, rather than ideas imposed by outsiders.

If the Chief truly possessed knowledge and technology far exceeding that of humans, why didn't Makado encounter such extraordinary beings within the resistance? Or was he simply content to remain in the shadows, indirectly aiding humanity?
As for the possibility that the Chief might have died unexpectedly after returning to the galaxy from the Black Library, Macado had already ruled it out.

This being, who has reached the pinnacle of human intellect, is most likely immune to death. After all, he even found a loophole in the treasure left behind by the ancient saints. What kind of enemy could kill such a being?

The cults that Guilliman and others destroyed before all had the technology to create immortal beings. Can't the Chief do the same?
In fact, at this point in time, the possibility that the Chief is still alive is very high in Makado's opinion. Perhaps the Chief's true form is currently hiding in some unknown place, silently observing the things they have accomplished.

Macardo's suspicions were not malicious, but rather stemmed from the profound lessons he had learned during his long reign and his clear understanding of the complexities of human nature.

Behind every grand narrative lie hidden details, and beneath every glorious image may lie untold choices or costs.

He needed to know the truth. After all, it seemed that the Emperor and Loxi believed in this Chief almost unconditionally. If the Chief had problems, it would be a huge risk to the decision-making of the entire human race's leadership.

Macardo took a deep breath; the excitement and reverence in his eyes had not disappeared, but the depth and caution befitting a seasoned politician had returned.

"Your Excellency, I deeply admire your achievements and sacrifices; however, please forgive an old man's confusion and thirst for knowledge."

Makado's voice was steady and clear.

"In that long twenty-second millennium...where exactly were you? And what crucial actions were you taking?"

“Those things are long gone now, and everything has returned to dust. I think even if we told the truth, it wouldn’t have any bad impact.”

Upon hearing Makado's doubts, Rosie felt a surge of confusion and anger.

He knew the Chief earlier than anyone else. In the ivory tower of the Pan-Solar System Alliance University, he hid his identity as an immortal and sat in the Chief's class like an ordinary student.

He witnessed firsthand how the chief wisely guided people through their confusion, how he treated every seeker of knowledge with inclusiveness, and how he cultivated generation after generation of scientists and politicians who have gained great renown in human civilization.

The chief had long seen through his secret, but never revealed it. Instead, he gave him more trust and guidance.

In Rose's mind, the Chief's love for humanity was pure and unwavering, requiring absolutely no reason.

The reason why the emperor has such unconditional love and trust for humanity is partly due to the influence of the chief.

This trust and respect were already etched into his soul, and he believed that the greatness of the chief needed no dark interpretation.

The Emperor, after Macado spoke out, remained as silent as possible.

His life experience was far more complex than that of Roche. Ten thousand years of time allowed him to see into the deepest corners of human nature and forged a more independent will.

He also respected his teacher, but Macardo's concerns were not entirely unfounded.

The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow may be. He chose to listen to the conversation between Macardo and the chief rather than rush to defend or refute.

The chief looked at Macado, his eyes not showing anger at being questioned, but rather a cautious appreciation and approval of the one who held the seal.

“Your caution surprises me, Seal Bearer; it is an extremely precious quality,” the Chief said.

“M22…that was indeed a crucial and complex period. I obtained some of the ancient saints’ technology and knowledge and successfully returned to the real universe and back to human society.”

"Just as I had planned, I used the knowledge and technology I acquired to secretly build several secret bases, converting the technology I possessed into visible power."

“I have built a more powerful and intelligent supercomputer and artificial intelligence, whose capabilities completely surpass those of other similar systems of the time. This is a necessary condition for us to fight against the Golden Alliance.”

“I supplied the most urgent technology to those resistance groups that are still persisting so that they can continue.”

"But I am not in a hurry to reveal my existence. The role I can play by hiding in the shadows is much greater than the role I can play by exposing myself to the world."

Makado and the others listened attentively as the chief described his experiences, each pondering the veracity of his account.

However, even the most vigilant Makado couldn't detect anything amiss at this moment.

“However,” the chief’s tone subtly changed.

"It was during this period that I gained a deeper understanding of the Warp through the legacy of the Ancients, and it was then that I truly 'saw' the terror that had been lurking behind the veil, a terror that had always made me feel uneasy."

That wasn't merely an energy storm or dimensional distortion; it was the concept of life! It was built upon the clash of extreme emotions and thoughts of intelligent beings—a greedy and eternal "god"!

His voice carried an unprecedented heaviness, a clarity born from confronting the ultimate malice of the universe.

“I realized that even if I successfully eradicated the internal problems of the Golden Alliance and monopolistic giants, even if human civilization were to get back on track under my guidance... we would still be unable to get rid of the covetousness of those beings.”

“They have always been there, not just for humans, but for all life with a soul.”

"As long as humans have emotions, thoughts, and desires, we will always be on their plate. The more prosperous humanity becomes, the greater the potential nourishment. This interdependence is almost unsolvable."

The chief's eyes revealed an emotion of helplessness.

Human destiny is truly full of twists and turns, both internally and externally.

"At that moment, I seemed to understand the deepest true thoughts of those 'old friends' who stood on the opposite side of me."

They did not completely ignore the threat of the warp; on the contrary, they may have perceived the dangers of the warp earlier and more clearly than anyone else.

That feeling of powerlessness, of being watched by a higher-dimensional being, is enough to destroy any rationality.

"So I decided to take the risk of contacting one of their key figures—Adrian Saul."

He was once one of my closest collaborators at the Xinghai Institute of Physics, a brilliant but arrogant scientist.

Later, he became a core member of the Golden Council, spearheading several 'Ascension Projects.' Using ancient technology, during a break in one of his secret experiments, I brought him to one of my absolutely safe dimensional rifts.

The chief projector paused slightly, as if replaying that decisive conversation.

His voice became deep and magnetic, drawing everyone into that unknown event.

-

In the cold dimensional rift, Adrian Thor, the once dashing leader of the Golden Men, was now pale, but his eyes still held the inhuman calm and scrutiny unique to the Golden Men.

He looked at the chief scholar in his old-fashioned scholar's robes, his eyes showing little surprise, but rather a hint of expected certainty.

“Chief… it really was you. You didn’t die.” Adrian said, “To be able to find me so accurately and break through all my security measures, it seems you’ve gained quite a bit during your years of disappearance.”

He looked around and quickly made up his mind.

"This space does not belong to any known dimension. Is this a private space that you found using your own power?"

“I suppose so,” the chief replied calmly, looking directly at Adrian. “Adrian, I only have one question: Why? Why did you all choose this path? To destroy the golden age we created with our own hands, to treat your fellow countrymen as worthless weeds, all for the sake of pursuing that elusive ascension?”

“We have made countless public statements and attacked each other, but now I want to hear your truest thoughts.”

“Vague and ethereal?” Adrian let out a short, cold sneer, a laugh devoid of any warmth.

"Chief, put away your idealistic pity. Do you think we can't see it? Can't see what's behind that cosmic veil?!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a long-suppressed anger and fear:

"It is the void, the abyss, the endless enemies that feed on our souls! They are there, whispering, tempting, waiting for us to make mistakes, waiting for civilization to fall into chaos, and then feasting on us!"

"How long do you think the prosperity of the Golden Age will last? In the eyes of those beings, we are nothing more than domesticated livestock, the fatter and more delicious we are!"

"The reason they didn't immediately attack humans is that the era we live in is simply their dormant period."

"My fellow Alliance scientists and I sensed their presence earlier than you think, Chief!"
That omnipresent, malicious gaze, that precise provocation of the desires deep within our souls, has destroyed many of us…

He took a step forward, closing in on the chief, his eyes flashing with a mixture of fervor and reason.

"Power! Only absolute power can fight against them! Only by becoming like them, or even surpassing them, can one gain the true right to survival!"
Ascending to godhood is the only way out, to become the rules themselves, to become a concept. Only then can we escape the fate of being domesticated and exploited, and only then can we control our own destiny!

"Is this your reason for trampling on ethics, enslaving your fellow citizens, and even dragging the entire civilization into self-destruction and civil war?" The chief's voice remained calm, but beneath that calm lay immense power.

"Using the suffering and death of countless innocent people as fuel to ignite the flames of your so-called divine throne? What essential difference is there between this and the 'enemy' you fear?!"

"The difference?" Adrian's eyes sharpened and became filled with a sense of superiority.

"The difference is that we are proactive; we are saving ourselves! We are striving to evolve, instead of being like those 'ordinary humans' who are indulging in false peace, waiting to be harvested in a daze!"

"Their suffering? It's a necessary price! It's the growing pains of evolution! When new human gods are born, a new order will be established, and everything they endured will be given new meaning!"

“Their sacrifice will become the cornerstone of the new divine kingdom, their genes will be optimized, and their descendants will obtain true and eternal peace under God's protection. Isn't this a higher form of salvation?”

"Chief, you are not the kind of person who can be deceived by false appearances."

“We can provide those humans with a more comfortable living environment, and then watch them be devoured by malicious entities in the warp in the future.”

“We can also do extraordinary things, seemingly bringing them suffering, but what we are doing is for a greater salvation.”

"You should understand which is better and which is worse."

The golden figure named Adrian spoke passionately, gazing at the chief as if hoping to see a wavering on his face.

"So, you feel perfectly justified in pushing billions of your compatriots into purgatory, just to exchange for a few of your own slim chances of becoming new gods?"

The chief's voice trembled slightly, a testament to his heartache at the loss of his former friend who had fallen into despair.

“Slim chances?” Adrian said proudly. “I don’t think so.”

"We've been waiting for you. Your abilities far surpass anyone on the council. With you joining us, our success rate will increase exponentially!"

"We may no longer need to consume 'ordinary humans' on a large scale. We can find a more efficient and civilized way to achieve the final leap!"

"Think about it, Chief, become the creator of the new order, become a god who protects the entire human race! Haven't you always wanted to save humanity? This is the most thorough and fundamental way to save them!"

He opened his arms, his tone full of seduction:
"Once we succeed, you still like those 'ordinary humans' so much? No problem, then keep them and let them live in peace and prosperity in your divine kingdom!"

"If you join us, we can work together to create a better future, a future controlled by the best of humanity!"

The chief remained silent.

The temptation is immense.

To become a god to humanity, directly protecting humankind and completely eliminating the threat from the warp...

This doesn't seem to conflict with his ultimate goal of protecting humanity; in fact, it might even be a shortcut.
He could end this long underground struggle, avoid further sacrifices, and directly realize his grand ambition.

For a fleeting moment, both Luo Xi and the Emperor even caught a faint, almost imperceptible wavering in the deep eyes of the chief projection.

That was the thrill of a chance to completely resolve the internal conflicts of humanity.

But this wavering was extinguished instantly by an even stronger will.

The chief’s gaze refocused, becoming clearer, sharper, and colder than before.

“Adrian,” his voice was like an undercurrent beneath the ice, calm yet containing a power capable of tearing the earth apart, “the blueprint for the future you have drawn is beautiful, but please answer my last question.”

He slowly raised his hand, pointing at Adrian, and as if pointing at all the golden statues.

"Among your 'new god' reserve team, composed of tens of thousands of human elites, who will be the ultimate one? Who will sit on that one and only divine throne and become the embodiment of the rules?"

"Is it an election? Or a contest of power? When resources are limited, will you self-proclaimed best and most rational people once again wage war for the 'final producer' status?"

"Will this civil war between the candidates for godhood be less intense and destructive than the catastrophe you are creating against ordinary humanity?"

The fervor and confidence on Adrian's face froze instantly.

For the first time, his golden pupils, which had been gleaming with a cold light, contracted sharply, as if his deepest, most unwanted worries had been touched.

He opened his mouth, trying to refute, but found that any words seemed pale and powerless.

The competitive instinct among the Golden Men, the pursuit of the optimal solution, and the desire for the pinnacle of power have long been ingrained in their genes and souls.

The question raised by the chief was not a hypothesis, but an inevitable outcome.

Of the tens of thousands of individuals who aspire to godhood, only one, or a few, can ultimately ascend the throne, while the rest become meaningless sacrifices.

“But so what?!” Adrian’s voice lost its previous composure, carrying a hint of anxiety and a forced attempt to cover up his being seen through.

"This is a necessary competition, a process of selecting the strongest, the most suitable to lead a new era. We have an agreement and rules of the game between us..."

"Agreement? Rules?" the chief scoffed.

"In the face of the temptation to become the only true God, any agreement or rule is as fragile as a bubble."

If you can be ruthless to ordinary humans now, will you be able to show mercy to your own kind in the future?
What would you do to become that 'final producer'? Adrian, you know better than I do.

The chief's gaze seemed to pierce through Adrian's soul, revealing a deep-seated apprehension and fear of his equals hidden beneath the fervor.

"The ascension you seek does not lead to heaven, but to a hell built on endless sacrifice, perpetual suspicion, and infighting."

It cannot save humanity; it merely repeats the ancient cycle of fear and selfishness, ultimately providing an even grander feast for the true enemies in the warp.

A deathly silence enveloped the hidden space, and also the people listening deep within the Black Library.

Loxi and the Emperor could clearly sense the Chief's inner feelings, the resolute determination and compassion within him at that moment.

He saw through the inherent unsustainability of the Golden Man's path and their destructive contradictions.

Adrian's face turned extremely ugly, and even the absolute rationality that belonged to the Golden Man seemed to crack in the face of this cruel reality.

A hint of madness and killing intent flashed in his eyes, and his body tensed slightly, as if he was assessing the possibility of a forced breakthrough or counterattack.

But the chief's actions were faster.

He gave his former colleague no further chance to defend himself or lash out; he simply raised his other hand calmly, his fingertips seemingly pulsating with countless imperceptible, invisible forces.

"Based on the information you provided and your analysis of the inevitable outcome of your path, I regret to inform you, Adrian."

You are aware of my existence, and now you have become an unacceptable risk variable.

As soon as he finished speaking, Adrian Thor's perfect body, along with his expensive protective suit, began to dissipate.

Without any unusual sounds, energy bursts, or even expressions of pain, the golden figure silently disintegrated from the most basic particle level in an instant, as if it had never existed.

(End of this chapter)