Chapter 423: Only One Person in the Empire Can Shield You from the Storm

As a member of the Neiwu Force, Iltu believed the Emperor's will was not derived from any religious scripture, but from the concrete laws of the Empire.

He devoutly believed the Empire's laws were the true Holy Scripture, the true embodiment of the Emperor's will; as long as the Empire operated strictly and impartially according to its laws, it would inevitably develop as the Emperor intended.

All the Empire's tragedies today were fundamentally caused by the failure to enforce the Empire's laws.

But Iltu still mourned the sudden death of the former Papal Pontiff Bartol Selist, and understood why Guilliman had first eliminated the Papal Pontiff.

The Pontiff held the power to interpret the Emperor's will through faith; the former Pontiff shared Iltu's view that the Empire's laws were the embodiment of the Emperor's will, giving Iltu a decisive advantage.

Every opponent of Iltu had to bear the psychological burden of defying the Emperor's will, causing many moderate High Lords and subordinate lords to lean toward the conservative faction.

Now, ironically, it was Iltu's own supporters who bore that psychological burden.

He had to launch a more direct, more ferocious offensive before Guilliman and his allies fully twisted the Emperor's will into some grand crusade.

"My lord, I believe matters of faith should be left for the Church to discuss after the meeting concludes."

"I hear there's still some debate within the Church regarding His Holiness Saint Dora."

Iltu laughed heartily and said:

"We understand your desire to seek the Emperor and earn glory through a grand crusade, but such a venture must still receive approval from the High Lord Council."

Iltu first pointed out that Zhou Yun faced major controversy within the Church, then skillfully framed Guilliman's push for the crusade as a personal quest for glory.

Most importantly, Iltu aimed to have the High Lord Council outright reject the crusade itself, preventing Guilliman from employing a sausage-cutting strategy.

Early crusade actions—mobilizing fleets, reclaiming star systems near Terra—were easier to gain approval for, but the grand crusade itself provoked hesitation.

Originally, Guilliman could have proceeded gradually; now Iltu had severed that opportunity, and this small victory left him slightly smug.

"I fully support a vote on the crusade itself," Guilliman said, smiling.

"Then let us begin," Iltu said instinctively, eagerly.

But he quickly noticed Guilliman showed no panic—as if this outcome was precisely what he had planned.

"No," Guilliman glanced slightly at Iltu. "The first matter we vote on today is not this."

"Lord Tiruien, please inform the High Lords what today's first agenda item is."

All High Lords' gazes instantly converged on Tiruien.

"The agenda item submitted by Lord Ers, Chief of the Inquisition: after investigation, the Inquisition has uncovered massive infiltration of heretics and cultists within the Neiwu Force. Here are the materials."

Tiruien spoke calmly as carts of documents, pushed by the Cadia 184th Regiment serving as guards, entered the council chamber.

The former palace guards, the Lucifer Blackguards, had been deemed unfit and were forced by Leina to run laps around the equator; the entire palace guard had been replaced by the Cadia 184th Regiment.

Iltu stared in shock at the mountain of documents, then turned in disbelief toward Ers, the newly appointed Chief of the Inquisition.

"Ers, you—" he trembled with rage.

Ers remained expressionless, refusing to even look at Iltu.

In truth, these documents were not the result of Inquisition investigations—they were hastily compiled over recent days by the clowns wearing Blindspot Stars.

They had uncovered countless traitors, Chaos worshippers of Tzeentch and Slaanesh, and various heretics embedded within Imperial institutions, compiling them all into these files.

Now, over a hundred clowns, their forms hidden by Blindspot Stars, surrounded the High Lords.

Seeing their work finally bear fruit, the clowns began wiping away tears with expressions of profound emotion.

"What is the meaning of this?! How dare you investigate the Neiwu Force without informing me!"

"Do you suspect the loyalty of the Neiwu Force?! How could you do this?!"

Iltu screamed, his fury reaching its peak.

His liver ached—he knew full well the Neiwu Force harbored traitors, cultists, and spies—but it was a colossal department with billions of employees; how could corruption be entirely eradicated?

Besides, what of traitors, cultists, spies, and heretics? Don't they work?!

"How can you investigate everything?! If you investigate the entire Neiwu Force, who will do the work?!"

"Have you forgotten?! Every decree you issue is carried out by the Neiwu Force!"

"The Empire today was forged by the diligence of billions of Neiwu Force officials—they shield you from the storm!"

"Only one person in this galaxy can shield you from the storm—the Emperor. Not you." Zhou Yun glanced at Iltu and spoke calmly.

Iltu slumped back into his chair. "What exactly do you mean?"

He trembled as he opened several files and found the lists included many senior Neiwu Force officials; cold sweat broke out across his body.

How could he have known nothing about such a massive Inquisition targeting his own high-ranking officers?

Was there a mole inside the Neiwu Force? Or was there a traitor among the conservatives?

"Lord Ers believes Lord Iltu has failed in his duties and is no longer fit to serve as Chief of the Neiwu Force."

Tiruien declared slowly:

"She has submitted a motion to remove you from office."

"Remove me?!" Iltu roared.

Then he realized something—why only him?

Without him, the conservatives could still influence the High Lord Council through the Grand Admiral and the Chief of the Fawu Force.

If they could vote to remove Iltu, they could just as easily vote to remove the other two conservative High Lords.

Why only him? Iltu sharply turned to the Chief of the Fawu Force and the Grand Admiral.

The Chief of the Fawu Force and the Grand Admiral looked at each other.

Iltu clenched his teeth, glared at Guilliman, and growled: "Then let the vote proceed."

"If the High Lord Council votes to remove me, I have nothing to say—it conforms to the Empire's laws."

If Guilliman had truly turned the Chief of the Fawu Force and the Grand Admiral, Iltu was finished.

There were currently eleven High Lords present, two seats vacant.

If they secured a majority—six votes—they could firmly remove Iltu.

The first vote in favor was cast by Chief of the Inquisition Ers.

Then came Grand Mistress Mo Wen Val of the Battle Sisters, Chief of the Astropathic Choir Kellaprin, and the new Papal Pontiff Eos Ritera.

These four were staunch followers of the Primarchs and Saint Dora—all voted in favor.

And Guilliman himself, of course, also voted in favor.

Five votes now favored Iltu's removal—only one more was needed. Iltu was drenched in sweat.

He looked desperately toward the Chief of the Fawu Force, the Grand Admiral, and the Master of the Imperial Guard.

The Master of the Imperial Guard, Trajan, maintained his usual stance—he abstained to declare neutrality.

The Chief of the Fawu Force, the Grand Admiral—if one of them had truly been turned by Guilliman—

Iltu's palms were slick with sweat, half his body trembling uncontrollably.

But the Chief of the Fawu Force and the Grand Admiral both cast votes against removal.

Iltu exhaled sharply in relief.

Was this merely an attempt to isolate him? Too petty a trick.

Iltu himself cast a vote against removal.

The tally now stood at three against five. Iltu's lips curled into a faint smile.

Perhaps in Guilliman's eyes, this was still a victory.

After the Vagorich Rebellion, the Grand Master of the Assassins typically abstained, to uphold neutrality and stillness.

Thus, the votes in favor of removal would still hold a majority and pass.

But—

The Grand Master of the Assassins, Fadix, slowly lifted his head.

"Oppose," Fadix's voice was as light as air, yet—

A ripple of stunned silence swept through the council.

Grand Mistress Mo Wen Val, Chief Ers, Chief Kellaprin, and Pontiff Eos Ritera all stared at Fadix in disbelief.

Even Iltu's allies—the Chief of the Fawu Force and the Grand Admiral—were stunned.

Their shocked murmurs sounded to Iltu like celestial music.

Iltu had not done nothing these past days—he had secured the Grand Master of the Assassins' support, bringing Fadix to the conservative side.

This was his final strike, his dagger, his killing blow.

Though tradition dictated the Grand Master abstain, tradition was not law—and could be changed.

Now the conservatives held four votes: Neiwu Force, Fawu Force, Navy, and Assassins; adding Mars, which would never side with Saint Dora, they had five.

Five votes to five—deadlock. Neither conservatives nor reformers could pass any policy.

But that was precisely what the conservatives wanted—they demanded the Empire's laws remain unchanged, word for word.

Iltu basked in his triumph, joy surging through his chest.

He won—he truly won. He had defeated the Primarchs and Saint Dora!

He won—

"Support." A cold, dry voice suddenly echoed from the massive machine occupying half the council chamber.

The Forge General of Mars cast his vote in favor.

"Ud Udia Laski!" Iltu roared, spinning around. "You voted wrong! You should have opposed! You should have opposed!!"

The dwarf terminal of the Forge General of Mars turned two heads toward Iltu.

"Address me as Wuwula. That is the name bestowed by Saint Dora himself."

(End of Chapter)