Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 124 The Sage's Social Interactions (Fourth Update)
Having completed the initial equipment upgrades and macro-level planning for the casting ship, Chen Yu was not in a hurry to leave the Neksam Casting World.

The title of sage not only signifies authority and resources, but also brings a series of unavoidable responsibilities and social obligations.

In this hierarchical and intricately networked Mechanicus society, and even within its sub-sectors of influence, the emergence of a newly appointed sage undoubtedly throws a large stone into the previously relatively calm lake of power, creating ripples.

As a newly promoted Exploration Sage, Chen Yu first needs to spend a lot of time familiarizing himself with and consolidating the privileges he has just acquired.

This is not a simple database access key update, but involves a deeper level of system integration.

He needs to understand the specific operational processes of various departments within the foundry world, the unspoken rules of resource allocation, and the delicate balance between different research factions.

As his loyal deputy, Ignis handled a large amount of daily affairs and initial liaison work, but on some occasions, the sage still needed to personally intervene.

On the other hand, as the Great Sage Vox emphasized, the Nexus Forge and the surrounding subsectors it serves are deeply feeling the structural pain brought about by the "Second Army" policy.

This frontier star system, pioneered by the Seventh Legion's "Imperial Fist" during the Great Crusade, was already at the periphery of the Empire's expansion and had a relatively weak foundation for development.

With the once stable, massive orders from legion-level companies shrinking dramatically, insufficient demand in the regional market and external competitive pressure from other established foundry worlds have become prominent.

The infrastructure development of the surrounding imperial worlds, the daily supply of industrial consumables, the equipment upgrades of the governors' guards of various planets, and even the weapon resupply of the imperial guards' garrison units, all ultimately point to Nexus's furnaces and assembly lines.

Chen Yu's promotion, and the agreement he reached with the Great Sage Vox regarding the application and profit sharing of the "Ancient Logic Core" technology, was like a boulder thrown into a relatively calm pond.

This clearly indicates a new flow of resources within the foundry world, and also suggests that potential technological dividends may spread to related fields.

In no time, access requests and correspondence to Chen Yu's newly established office and research area came in droves.

Chen Yu did not respond to the vast majority of low-ranking administrative officials, chamber of commerce representatives, or envoys from minor noble families in the surrounding empires.

In his view, such trivial social interactions only needlessly encroach on his precious research time, and their productivity is so low as to be intolerable.

Typically, these visitors can only be received by low-level technical apprentices or ordinary priests in the world of casting.

If the visitor's identity is somewhat special, or if their "sincerity" is enough to arouse interest, Ignis might be able to make the contact.

Within the rigid hierarchy and value system of the Mechanicus, the time of a sage is a highly optimized strategic resource, far beyond what ordinary characters in the outside world can easily obtain.

However, the identities of two types of visitors and the forces they represent are closely linked to the core military structure of the world and Chen Yu's long-term plans, which compels him to take time out of his busy research and planning to meet them in person.

They represent two extremes in the spectrum of armed forces in the world: one is the Titan Legion, which symbolizes absolute power like a mobile fortress; the other is the Knight Family, which combines flexibility and assault capabilities like a precise dagger.
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The first to visit were representatives of the "Steelhound Legion," a local Titan Order stationed in Nexus.

The Titan Legion holds a unique position within the Cult of Mechanics, with its pilot families, the Divine Machines, passing down the skills and honor of piloting these sacred war machines through generations.

They are the most powerful secular military force under the Om Messiah faith, and every qualified pilot undergoes rigorous genetic screening and neural modification to ensure perfect synchronization with their Titan armor.

The meeting was arranged in a standard reception room inside Chen Yu's side hall. The interior followed the structural proportions common in mechanical architecture, with neatly arranged load-bearing structures and data cables visible beneath the soaring ceiling.

The walls are made of standard-sized alloy plates, with fine binary prayers etched on the surface.

Several data panels embedded in the wall display constantly updated technical parameters and energy flow readings.

In the center of the room stood a sturdy alloy square table with a polished surface and standard mechanical gear emblems visible along the edges.

Several chairs made of the same material surround the table, their height and angle precisely calculated to accommodate users with varying degrees of mechanical modifications.

The room is devoid of any superfluous decorations, and every element strictly adheres to the unity of form and function, showcasing the unique aesthetic philosophy of the Faculty of Mechanics, which integrates practicality and a sense of ritual.

The Steelhound Legion is represented by Walton Miller, a seasoned Titan pilot.

Unlike Chen Yu, who focused on scientific research in his approach to physical modification, Miller's modifications were entirely geared towards serving the needs of piloting Titans.

His shoulders and spine had additional support structures, and slots for neural interfaces were faintly visible at the back of his neck.

Although dressed in formal legion uniforms, the reinforced muscle tissue and mechanical joints beneath the fabric still revealed a distinct outline.

His gaze was steady, a unique quality cultivated from long periods of overlooking the battlefield from the cockpit of the Titan.

“Sage Chen Yu.” Miller’s voice carried just the right amount of respect, maintaining both his status and the necessary etiquette: “On behalf of Grand Duke Gorgon Miller, commander of the Steelhound Legion, I congratulate you on receiving the honor of being named an Explorer Sage.”

Chen Yu responded smoothly in a synthesized voice: "Thank you for your congratulations, Your Excellency. I had already heard of the Steelhound Legion's reputation in the Frontier Sector during my previous explorations."

He made a simple gesture, and a servo skull silently slid to the table, offering two drinks.

“You’re too modest.” Miller took the drink, his gaze lingering for a moment on Chen Yu’s newly equipped power armor: “The sage of exploration has a great responsibility, to face the unknown and to find the lost technological legacy for the god of machines.”

In contrast, our legion has been stationed in this sector for a long time, and although we are always ready to respond to threats, our opportunities for actual combat are indeed limited.

His tone was calm, but a perceptive listener could sense the underlying expectation.

Chen Yu's core logic quickly analyzed the deeper meaning of this passage.

As a strategic force, the Titan Legion's deployment requires matching the corresponding level of threat.

In this relatively stable sector, they lack both suitable enemies and opportunities to replenish their ranks with new Titans.

Besides waiting for the slow production schedule of the Forging World, those like Sages who frequently venture into dangerous ruins are an important channel for them to acquire new mechs and opportunities for combat.

(End of this chapter)