Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 678 Persuasion and Secrecy

The silence within the Helm's Chamber seemed to solidify, pressing heavily on every inch of air, and even time itself seemed to stand still in this space constructed of ancient rock walls and heavy secrets.

The towering dome disappeared into deep shadows, with only a few beams of light pouring down from the stained glass windows, like searchlights focusing on Chen Xi and the short, cloaked figure beside him, with dust floating in the beams of light.

The question from the High Master Azrael, like a bomb exploding from a gun, carried with it icy energy and an unquestionable tone, echoing throughout the hall.

He not only demanded an explanation of the source of the information, but also went straight to the heart of the matter—how could an outsider touch upon a taboo that even the highest echelons of the empire had no right to see?

Chen Xi could feel the weight in the eyes of the inner ring members. It wasn't just simple suspicion, but an instinctive vigilance that came from thousands of years of experience against anything that might endanger the core secrets of the warband.

He took a deep breath, not out of fear, but to sharpen his psychic perception to its highest level, to capture the most subtle fluctuations in the emotional fields of the ancient warriors behind the stone table.

He understood that any hint of panic or hypocrisy would be exposed under such scrutiny.

He spoke again, his voice steady, with the characteristic tone of a judge, a blend of authority and detachment, but with an added deliberate solemnity regarding the weighty issue.

“High Master, Masters,” he nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over each face behind the stone table, etched with the marks of time and war, “I understand your doubts. For an Inquisitor to meddle in the ancient affairs of the First Legion is indeed no ordinary matter.”

He first acknowledged the special nature of the situation to show respect for the other party's position.

"Regarding the source of information, my previous statement was not untrue. The ancient archives of the Inquisition contain many fragments unknown to the outside world. They are often sealed away, not because they are insignificant, but because they are...too sensitive, or because they contradict the imperial historical narrative irreconcilably." He once again cleverly invoked the vague but difficult-to-refute concept of "internal archives of the Inquisition."

“My mentor, a Grand Master of the Inquisition who dedicated his life to uncovering deep-seated threats, firmly believed that certain deliberately forgotten past events might harbor the seeds of future crises. When granting me the appropriate authority, he warned me: ‘The truth may be disturbing, but the destruction caused by ignorance is far more thorough.’” He added weight to his words by quoting a deceased and unverifiable authority.

He then steered the conversation toward the potential connections to the current threat.

"As for why I connect these dusty records with the discovery of the 'Azure Dawn' and the recent unusual movements around the 'Monument'..." Chen Xi paused slightly, as if considering the most precise wording, "This is not unfounded speculation, but a faint thread that has emerged after analyzing all the scattered intelligence."

He began to build the logical chain.

"The star map on the bone plates found in the Genestealer's lair, after preliminary reconstruction by the Sage of Oregana, points to ancient coordinates that overlap with some ancient records I've consulted regarding the star system surrounding Caliban. And those fragmented logbooks, though incomplete, show grammatical structures and specific vocabulary usage habits that, according to language analysis experts, resemble some records of exiles from the Horus Rebellion—not direct traces of Chaos Corruption, but rather a… more archaic Gothic variant stripped of the Imperial State Religion's framework." He presented specific technical details to make his reasoning more convincing.

"At the same time, the intelligence I obtained from multiple peripheral channels regarding the mysterious attackers near 'The Rock' all pointed to one thing: they had an extraordinary understanding of the outpost's defense system, and their operation was precise and efficient, far beyond the reach of ordinary Chaos Raiders or Alien Pirates. This understanding was more likely derived from... internal knowledge."

He carefully avoided using the direct term "fallen angel," but his "internal understanding" was clear enough to point in that forbidden direction. Several members of the inner circle exchanged glances, but no one interrupted.

“Piecing these fragments together,” Chen Xi continued, his tone growing increasingly somber, “a disturbing possibility emerges: Is there a force that not only knows your history, but is itself derived from that history, and is using this knowledge to probe the ‘Metalstone’, or even to plot something bigger?”

He paused again, letting the weight of his words settle, before throwing out the most crucial connection.

"Recently, both the discoveries in the lair and the strong echoes I've captured through my psychic senses from the depths of the warp—themes of 'loyalty,' 'betrayal,' 'redemption,' and... 'awakening'—have made it impossible for me not to connect all of this with the oldest legend: the prophecy that the Lion King Leon Eljonsson has not slumbered forever and will one day return."

When the word "awakening" was directly associated with "Lion King," Chen Xi clearly sensed a momentary erratic breathing in at least two Grand Masters behind the stone table. Azrael's gaze remained as sharp as a hawk's, but a complex emotion seemed to flicker within it—a ripple of deep longing, heavy responsibility, and a strictly suppressed expectation.

Chen Xi knew that he had touched the most fundamental nerve.

“I am not asserting that the prophecy will necessarily come true,” he quickly added cautiously to avoid appearing arbitrary, “but I think we must consider the possibility that these unusual movements are related to some subtle change in the Primarch’s dormant state? Is it possible that some force—perhaps Chaos, or some other enemy we do not yet fully understand—has already noticed this change and is trying to interfere with, obstruct, or even exploit this process?”

He elevated the issue to the macro level of imperial security.

"The Imperial Light is facing unprecedented challenges in the Dark Ages. The Chaos foe is growing increasingly rampant, and the Xenomorph threat is sweeping across the cosmos. In this perilous situation, every Primarch's potential return is a priceless treasure to the Empire, but it could also become a target that the enemy is eager to eliminate." His voice carried a deep-seated concern based on a profound understanding of the war situation, and it sounded incredibly genuine at this moment.

"Therefore, my purpose in coming here is not to satisfy my own curiosity and to find out the secrets of the First Legion, but to fulfill an inquisitor's duty to the overall safety of the Empire. The ancient information and recent discoveries I have may be scattered, but if they can be combined with your organization's deeper understanding of its own history and the current situation, they may help us to clarify the nature of the threat more quickly and ensure the safety of His Majesty the Lion King's resting place—or rather, the place where he may return."

He finally revealed his intention to "cooperate": "I am not asking to share all of your organization's secrets, but rather hoping to achieve information complementarity within the necessary scope. Perhaps these 'fragments' I have brought can fill in a missing piece of your intelligence puzzle."

After Chen Xi finished speaking, the Hall of Helms was once again enveloped in a long silence.

(End of this chapter)