Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 613 Feralus's Response
Ferrus nodded slightly.

The range of motion is extremely small.

Only the servo motor under the neck armor emitted a barely perceptible hiss.

"I received the court's 'congratulations'."

Her voice was deep and powerful, with a unique metallic vibration that echoed between the metal walls of the hall.

"Medusa always followed the Emperor's will and the laws of the Empire."

“Your ‘routine’ can begin.”

She paused briefly, a cold glint flashing in her silver eyes.

"But please remember to be efficient."

“I dedicate my time to forging sharp blades and preparing for war, rather than wasting it on endless paperwork and empty questions and answers.”

The thin layer of respect on Warren's face cracked almost instantly.

But he quickly smoothed it over with amazing self-control.

"Of course, my lord."

"It is precisely because the empire relies on pillars like you that it has been able to stand firm amidst the storms."

He then changed the subject and began to ask those carefully crafted, sugar-coated questions.

"Given that your return is a miracle unprecedented in the Empire's millennia-long history, the Sector Archives urgently need to update the sacred records concerning you in order to more accurately convey the Emperor's power."

"Would you be willing to condescend to share...some of your feelings at the beginning of your return?"

He deliberately slowed his speech, carefully observing the Primarch's reaction.

"For example, what are your initial impressions of the current level of technology in the Empire?"

"After all, thousands of years have passed, and many ancient technologies have been lost, which is regrettable; but at the same time, perhaps there have also been some...unexpected 'developments' and 'adaptations'?"

This question, seemingly a casual greeting, actually hides a poisonous trap.

It attempts to guide Ferrus to evaluate the current state of the Empire, especially the technological state under the control of the Mechanicus.

Any criticism or disappointment with the existing technological system could be misinterpreted as a questioning of imperial legitimacy and disrespect for Omnesia.

Any statement that reveals overly advanced or unfamiliar knowledge may immediately trigger suspicion about the source of that knowledge and the person's true identity.

Ferrus's silver eyes, like two cold searchlights, were fixed on Warren.

It was as if it could penetrate his skull and see directly into the churning suspicion beneath.

"The trajectory of technological development in empires has its own specific historical causes and practical constraints."

Her answer was watertight, neither denying nor affirming the status quo, attributing it to objective factors.

"What I am concerned with is not judging the past, but how to make use of all available conditions in the present to forge the most effective and reliable weapons to deal with enemies that threaten the survival of mankind."

Her voice became even colder and harder.

"Indulging in nostalgia and empty talk will not win any war for the empire."

As Felus spoke, a Tech Priest to Warren's left, with a miniature multispectral sensor cleverly disguised as a Scripture Seal emblem at the tip of a mechanical appendage hidden beneath the wide sleeves of his robe, subtly adjusted its angle to aim at the Primarch on the throne.

Inside the instrument, a sophisticated circuit operates silently.

On the screen, the energy reading began to fluctuate wildly.

It exhibits an extremely complex energy characteristic pattern that has never been recorded in a database before.

This energy signature is neither a purely bioelectric signal nor the plasma core fluctuation of a standard Mark-powered armor.

It also contains an extremely weak, yet stable, background radiation harmonic.

Its spectral characteristics are subtly similar to the echoes left by subspace entity activity, but there are also fundamental and difficult-to-analyze differences.

The priest's metal-covered fingers, which were operating the instruments, trembled almost imperceptibly.

This abnormal data stream was quickly transmitted back to the "Purifying Fire" in orbit in real time via an encrypted link for analysis.

Although Warren didn't turn around, his highly alert nerves caught the almost negligible unusual reaction from his entourage. A thought struck him, and he pressed for more information.

The questions became more specific, even beginning to involve specific tactical details and examples of technological applications from the Great Expedition ten thousand years ago.

The attempt was to trigger deep-seated memories of "the past Ferrus" in Ferrus.

Observe its response for any minor breaks, hesitations, or inconsistencies.

Feralus's answers were always concise, cold, and imbued with the unquestionable authority characteristic of Primarchs, based on absolute power and experience.

Her memory of past major battles is clear and precise.

He even casually corrected a historical error Warren cited regarding the early deployments of the Istvan system.

The judge's face paled slightly at the level of detail he captured, as if he had been pricked by an invisible needle.

However, when faced with questions involving personal feelings, philosophical speculation, or general discussions about the state of the empire, she showed obvious and increasingly strong impatience.

The lines on the metallic face seemed to have become even colder and harder.

They seem to think that these questions are a huge waste of precious time and brainpower.

"Judge,"

When Warren attempted to indirectly explore "the metaphysical implications of the process of death and return on the understanding of life forms," ​​Ferrus interrupted him bluntly.

The impatience in his voice had transformed into a chill that was almost tangible.

"The way you are asking questions right now is more like asking a Primarch for answers, as if you were interrogating a heretic or a mutant."

Her gaze, sharp as a cold blade, swept over the technical priest who was trying to retract the scanning probe into his sleeve.

"And your entourage, have those hidden gadgets detected the 'abnormal' signals you're looking for?"

Are you 'satisfied' with the results?

The atmosphere in the hall instantly plummeted to freezing point.

It was as if even the faint sound of the air circulation system had disappeared.

The Iron Hands guards on both sides remained standing still, but their fingers seemed to grip the weapon handles even tighter.

Warren had no idea that Ferrus would be so direct and blunt in bringing this to the forefront.

He felt a slight warmth in his cheeks.

But the rigidity honed by his long career as a judge allowed him to force himself to remain calm.

However, the muscles in his neck appeared somewhat stiff.

"Excuse me, my lord!"

He bowed slightly and spoke a few minutes faster.

"This is absolutely a misunderstanding!"

"All testing procedures are standard practice according to Imperial security regulations, designed to ensure that all records are accurate and without any disrespect intended!"

"Our loyalty to you is as clear as day..."

"Then improve your efficiency and speed up these 'standard procedures'."

Felus's voice, like a cold hammer, slammed heavily onto the adamantite floor, interrupting his explanation.

"Medusa has many practical matters to attend to and neither welcomes nor has the time to entertain meaningless loitering and spying."

The first audience ended in an unpleasant atmosphere of near-open hostility.

Warren and his entourage maintained the last shred of politeness as they slowly withdrew from the Anvil Hall.

The heavy alloy door closed behind them.

It was as if two worlds were separated.

(End of this chapter)