Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 543

Although Felus prioritizes efficiency, a complex emotion still flickered in his eyes when he looked at Allegana.

Kaul's massive mechanical body resonated with a low-frequency approval: "Technical feasibility analysis: The conduit-based solution significantly improves efficiency. Expected energy loss is reduced by 17.3%, and response time is shortened to the nanosecond level."

Backlash Risk Model: The existing database lacks directly supporting cases. The probability of occurrence is less than 0.047%. The risk is acceptable. It is recommended to optimize the catheter material by using a gold-plated coating.

He approached it purely from a technical perspective.

Auregana stood firm: "If even a 0.47% risk is triggered, it will be a 100% disaster for Sister Liz! This is not a simple technical issue; it is a matter of principle!"

His Excellency the Governor seconded her to collaborate on a project, not to use her as a disposable resource! Forcing this plan would not only harm her, but also trample on the trust placed in the court!

The argument raged fiercely in the cold air, with Olegana arguing her case forcefully, and the three remained deadlocked.

After the argument failed to reach a conclusion, Oregana realized that she had to seek a higher ruling.

She quickly compiled a detailed report, presenting Liz's physiological monitoring data, Ferrus's catheterization plan, Caul's risk assessment, and her own strong objections directly to Chen Xi.

Several days later, after Olegana's urgent report was delivered to the Governor's Office and received a response, Hathor arrived at Rostov III under the pretext of being dispatched by the Governor to inspect the progress of the project.

She was dressed in a crisp, dark gray uniform, her expression calm, her eyes sharp, and she held a data tablet that shimmered with a faint, eerie light in her hand.

Her arrival froze the atmosphere inside the research facility.

For the first time, Feralus's silver-grey eyes turned completely to Hathor, and Caul's massive mechanical body stopped groaning as the optical array focused on her.

The smell of ozone in the air seemed a bit heavier.

Ignoring the somber atmosphere, Hathor walked straight to the central holographic projection, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed catheter design of Felus, and then glancing at the physiological monitoring data of Liz that Olegana had retrieved.

She raised the courtroom data panel in her hand, her voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "Sages, Governor Chen Xi has reviewed Sage Aurejana's report and has made a final ruling on the handling of 'Nightingale'—Sister Liz."

Feralus's massive body tensed almost imperceptibly, and his silver-gray pupils seemed to contract and focus on Hathor.

Hathor's voice echoed clearly in the silent design room: "Sister Liz, as the Sister of Silence and under the direct protection of the Inquisition, has the highest priority in terms of her personal safety and integrity of will."

She is neither a property for forging the world, nor a consumable experimental part or tool.

She paused, her gaze shifting to Ferrus, her tone turning cold: "Your Excellency explicitly forbids any scheme that physically conduits, instrumentalizes, or irreversibly interferes with the very nature of their life."

Her 'emptiness' force field is a valuable resource, but the person who carries it is an even more valuable and irreplaceable ally.

Any attempt to 'partition' it will be considered malicious damage to the court's assets and could result in the immediate termination of the cooperation agreement, and more serious consequences.

The interior was deathly silent, save for the low hissing of the ventilation system.

Felus's face was as if cast in steel, cold and expressionless, but her metal knuckles suddenly tightened, making a soft "click" sound as they slammed heavily onto the adamantite tabletop, leaving a tiny dent.

Hathor, seemingly oblivious, continued, “Your Excellency acknowledges the necessity of the project and recognizes the core role of the ‘emptiness’ force field as the ‘silent anchor.’ However, you require that the solution must be based on ensuring Sister Liz’s safety, creating relative comfort and agency within world standards.”

She must be the operator, not the part being operated.

Sage Aurejana's concerns are well-founded.

The efficiency model of the Kaul sage must incorporate a 'safety threshold for the vital signs of untouchables' as a hard constraint.

Her gaze settled on Feralus again: "Feralus, the core logic of your plan needs to be completely restructured."

Hathor gently placed the data panel on the central console, its glowing light shimmering: "This is His Excellency the Governor's official order. The project continues, but the 'tooling' approach is immediately scrapped. I request that you, my sages, devise a new integration plan for the 'silent anchors' within the framework that meets the Governor's requirements."

After the order was read aloud, Hathor nodded slightly and prepared to turn and leave.

"Wait." Felus's voice was like two rough metal plates rubbing together, low and suppressed.

Hathor stopped and looked at her calmly.

Feralus' massive body slowly turned toward Hathor, his silver-grey eyes burning with a cold fury that was no longer the calm impatience he displayed when faced with technical disagreements, but rather the blood feud and humiliation that had been forcibly suppressed for millennia.

“You… a traitorous soul disguised as a secretary, what right do you have to point fingers here, to interfere with my work with your so-called 'orders'? To interfere with the logic of forging this world?” Her voice had a metallic resonance, each word like a hammer blow on a fine gold floor. “Your very existence is a desecration of reason! What do you know about efficiency? What do you know about costs? All you know is betrayal! Just like ten thousand years ago!”

The air inside the design room seemed to freeze. Olegana's data stream instantly stopped, and Kaul's optical array flickered rapidly.

Hathor stood silently, enduring Feralus's almost tangible rage and deep-seated hatred. Her calm expression remained unchanged, but something seemed to have settled deep within her eyes.

“Ferus,” Hathor’s voice remained steady, yet carried an undeniable penetrating force, “I am conveying the will of His Excellency the Governor, which has nothing to do with personal grudges or matters from ten thousand years ago.”

Your emotions are interfering with your professional judgment on the current task.

“Emotions?” Felus let out a cold snort full of sarcasm and anger, his voice like the roar of an overloaded engine. “Faced with you, I have only one emotion—a complete desire for destruction! Your very existence is an interference!”

The governor's will? He's blinded by your hypocritical facade! You are unworthy to stand here, unworthy to serve the empire any longer!

Hathor's eyes finally sharpened, like a drawn blade.

She did not avoid Feralus's gaze, which was filled with destructive desire; instead, she went to meet it.

“Felus,” she said, her voice low but carrying a strange, chilling power that seemed to penetrate the soul, “shut up your useless roar. This is the Rostov Forging World, not Istvan V.”

Your duty is to complete the tasks assigned by the governor, not to dwell on the unchangeable past.

If you cannot control your emotions and allow them to affect your normal work, then you are truly betraying the trust placed in you by the Governor and the responsibilities entrusted to you at this moment!

(End of this chapter)