Warhammer 40: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 166 Controlling the Blood Raven

Artanis, welcome to this world!

Gao Yi walked up to Artanis.

Looking at the human before him, Artanis knew that Gao Yi had given him his identity.

"The Protoss are willing to serve the Creator."

"Let's not call me the Creator anymore. Just call me Lord like everyone else, Artanis. Are you getting used to this body?"

“There is no discomfort or conflict, but I can feel that my psionic power has not yet recovered to its full strength. Lord, where are my people? I cannot sense the presence of any other kin in the Kara?”

"Don't worry, they will come to this world soon. I have some enemies, and I may need you and Kerrigan to work together to deal with them."

Artanis looked at Kerrigan, but Kerrigan, unlike Artanis, did not possess all of his memories. She did not understand why Artanis harbored such hostility towards her.

Gao Yi guessed that Artanis would definitely need more soul stones, and he had already begun ordering the dynasty and the alliance to start collecting soul stones from the Eldar.

Although the cold market trade in the expanded area is very developed, soul stones are not so common. Unless the enemy is completely annihilated in the battle with the Ark Eldar, the surviving Eldar will take away the soul stones left behind by the fallen Ark Eldar and inject them into the infinite circuits in the Ark.

This is how they escape from Slaanesh devouring their souls.

However, with some time, it should be possible to collect quite a few. After all, these things can't be eaten or drunk, and Gao Yi believes that those who possess them will sell them if they are offered sufficient compensation.

"Artanis, I need to record your combat data."

Artanis used his psionic energy to condense a light blade once more, and Gao Yi was in the testing grounds where he could record Artanis's current combat strength.

Some priests from the Holy Machine Order accompanied Gao Yi as he excitedly recorded the data that Etanis was displaying.

The priests were no longer surprised by Artanis's existence; their lord seemed to bring them new surprises every now and then.

The appearance of the Zerg has rendered the Protoss, who are more like humanoid aliens, insignificant in their hearts.

Instead, they were drawn to the technology contained within Artanis's various equipment.

All of the Protoss's technology originates from psionic energy. Although psionic energy is dangerous here, learning from its technology can further enhance the dynasty's technological foundation.

While Kerrigan possesses powerful psionic abilities, her influence is primarily focused on aiding the Zerg's development. Artanis, on the other hand, embodies more of a powerful warrior with immediate combat capabilities.

An individual who possesses both strong leadership and management skills as well as formidable combat capabilities.

Heavy energy armor protected his body, and the shield powered by both psionic energy and plasma was currently withstanding damage from bombs, C-14s, plasma weapons, and various other types of weapons.

Every warrior is precious to the Protoss, so they always invest heavily in defensive equipment. The Protoss' shields are far superior in performance to the Imperial's existing plasma shields.

The test results were satisfactory. Although it did not reach the point where the shield could not be broken for a long time, it could completely withstand various physical and energy damage. After a short period of disengagement from combat, the shield could be restored.

The sharpness of the energy blades formed by the psionic restraints on Artanis's arms is astonishing.

This equipment, which allows Protoss to precisely control the psionic energy within their bodies to form weapons, may not seem like much to ordinary people, but it can greatly enhance the combat power of individuals who rely on psionic energy to fight.

Artanis's speed and strength surpassed that of any recorded warrior in the dynasty, allowing him to eliminate large numbers of enemies before the shield could be broken.

Artanis from the Warhammer world inherited not only ordinary memories but also hundreds of years of combat skills.

Unfortunately, Gao Yi didn't have any extra soul stones on hand. He was eager to try out the Protoss units and buildings, as he was more interested in the Protoss's various technologies and other combat units.

In the Warhammer universe, the overwhelming number of enemies, except for a very few, is ultimately no match for sheer numbers and the opponent's massive ships and heavy artillery.

While the Terran air force can hold its own against the Protoss in the game, in the lore, the Protoss warships are the strongest of the three races, far surpassing their ground forces. The Spear of Adun, the Golden Fleet—just thinking about it is exciting!

This can make up for Gao Yi's shortcomings in large warships.

The message from Damon was like a pillow delivered to someone who was sleepy.

"To exchange a large number of soul stones for the dynasty's technology?"

Blood Raven's suggestion made Gao Yi consider it as well.

For someone as wealthy as Space Wolf, he might need to rely on friendships to maintain the relationship by proving himself and gaining the other person's approval.

After all, the Space Wolves are a wealthy warband with no shortage of resources, manpower, or warships. Gao Yi is unlikely to try to manipulate them with benefits.

However, this may not be the case for warbands like Blood Raven.

The more pronounced these characteristics are in a warband, and the less background it has to support, the greater its needs and disadvantages in a particular area.

This could become Gao Yi's leverage to control his opponent.

As a specialist in Mao equipment, you may not lack relics and equipment used by Astartes, but no matter how many relics or equipment you have, you can't eat them. You can't conjure up gene seeds and qualified troops out of thin air using these relics.

After all, not everyone is Guilliman or Doraemon, able to produce as many gene seeds as they want.

Gao Yi had already figured out how to extract more benefits from this battle group that only took in but never gave out.

The fact that there are so many think tanks is both their strength and their weakness.

The unique genes contained in the gene seed mean that Blood Raven Chapter recruits undergoing modification surgery may not only die from the inherent dangers of the surgery itself, but may also experience psionic outbursts or even demonic possession.

These unsuccessful candidates are imprisoned in the Warband's special prison, the "Tower," for research and to find a solution.

Each person who is rejected represents a precious genetic seed that has been wasted.

Beyond these selection processes for new recruits, the extensive contact between the Warband's intellectual institutions and the warp is extremely dangerous. Forbidden contact and knowledge can lead even the intellectual institutions of Astartes to fall into corruption and go out of control.

If things get out of control, it means that these warband members will be honorably executed.

This isn't a game where you can simply recruit another team if one dies. Blood Ravens have endless offspring, and for a warband already suffering a significant loss, having to endure these non-combat casualties is an unbearable blow.

Others might not be able to solve this problem, but Gao Yi has a solution.

Ian's example is right before our eyes. After being enhanced by the God Machine, his resistance to the negative effects of psionic energy increased dramatically. And the God Machine is not only used on Gao Yi's subordinates; any object can become the recipient of the God Machine's blessing.

Even a small amount of psionic crystals can achieve very good results.

Gao Yi was certain that if he offered such terms, the other party would be irresistible!
This is something that could almost change the entire Blood Ravens Chapter's predicament and make up for its fatal weakness.

Gao Yi felt that he might be able to recruit a very strong fighting force.

This is also a long-term business for Gao Yi. You need to restore the number of your battle group members, and battles will also cause losses. You will always have new recruits and new think tanks.

Gao Yi wasn't worried that Blood Raven would come to steal it. Even if a large-scale conflict broke out, Gao Yi wasn't afraid of this remnant battle group. Moreover, since the other side was a loyal battle group, his identity as the Emperor and the Living Saint could provide an extra layer of insurance.

The fact that only Gao Yi can control the Divine Machine means that he also needs to go to Sintira to retrieve those Soul Stones!
“Tell Damon that I want to make the deal with Blood Raven myself.”

(End of this chapter)