Chapter 1085: Warhound Titan Foundry

Fulgrim looked at Yingxin's eyes, which were filled with longing, and finally compromised.

"Just... just in the observation area. You cannot enter the production zone, you cannot disturb the staff, and we return once we've finished looking. Also, we have to change our clothes; we can't go to the industrial zone in what we're wearing now."

"Great!"

Yingxin jumped down from the windowsill, the gloom on her face swept away.

"Are we going now?"

Leman Russ checked the time.

"It is... four in the afternoon. The Foundry operates twenty-four hours a day, but the observation area closes at eight in the evening.

We have one hour to prepare, one hour for the journey, and we can watch for two hours. Perfect!"

Leman Russ grabbed Yingxin's small hand.

"Let's go, back to change clothes first! Wear something sturdy; the industrial zone is very dusty.

Fulgrim, you go change quickly too, don't wear that velvet training suit of yours; if it gets stained with oil, it won't wash out!"

Fulgrim sighed.

"Understood. We will meet at the Seventh Hall on the east side in thirty minutes. Remember, keep a low profile, don't attract attention."

"Understood!"

Leman Russ had already pulled Yingxin and run out of the study area.

Fulgrim watched their disappearing backs, shook his head, and the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.

Perhaps Leman was right; sometimes, a little unplanned adventure really could make life more interesting.

Fulgrim stood up, straightened his collar, and also left the study area.

Thirty minutes later, at the Seventh Hall on the east side.

Following Leman Russ's suggestion, Yingxin had changed into a practical set of work clothes, a dark gray jumpsuit.

Leman Russ was wearing similar work clothes and had a small bag of dried meat hanging from his belt.

"You can eat this if you get hungry on the way."

Leman Russ noticed Yingxin's curious gaze and grinned.

Fulgrim arrived last.

He wore a simple dark blue engineering suit, perfectly tailored to fit, his silver hair tied back with a hairband.

"Are you sure this is a 'low-profile' outfit?"

Leman Russ looked him over and teased.

Fulgrim ignored him, turned to Yingxin, and crouched down to look her in the eye.

"Remember our agreement, Yingxin. Only stay in the observation area, follow my and Leman's instructions, and tell us immediately if you feel any discomfort. Do you understand?"

Yingxin nodded earnestly.

"I understand, Brother Fulgrim. I will be very good."

"Good."

Fulgrim stood up and operated the hall's control panel.

"Target: North Continent Industrial Zone, Seventh Station. Authorization code..."

North Continent Industrial Zone.

Chimneys hundreds of meters high spewed white steam; massive pipes crisscrossed in the air; on the transport tracks, trains fully loaded with ore and parts glided by.

Yingxin opened her eyes wide, leaning against the observation window, her small face almost pressed against the glass.

"Wow... so... so big..."

Leman Russ laughed triumphantly.

"This is nothing, the real big guys are over there..."

Leman Russ pointed to a particularly massive complex of buildings on the horizon.

The silhouette of the buildings was sharp and geometric, the surface covered in heavy armor plating, with complex antenna arrays on top.

In the semi-open, massive space, one could vaguely see the skeleton of some kind of giant machine.

"Warhound Titan Foundry."

Fulgrim said softly, admiration flashing in his eyes as well.

"The pinnacle of the Star Alliance's ground forces. Let's go, the observation area is at the three o'clock direction, about two kilometers away."

Yingxin observed everything around her with curiosity.

Workers in heavy protective suits were inspecting pipes, hovering engineering platforms moved through the air, and she saw real-time production data displayed by holographic projections...

"It's not what I imagined."

Yingxin said in a low voice.

"Not what you imagined?"

Leman Russ asked.

"What did you think the industrial zone would be like?"

"More... dirty? More... dangerous?"

Yingxin searched for the words.

"But it looks very clean here, very orderly. Although it's very loud, everything is proceeding in an orderly fashion."

Fulgrim said with a smile.

"That is the industrial standard of the Star Alliance, little one. Efficiency, safety, order—none can be lacking.

Father often said that a civilization's industrial level reflects its degree of civilization."

They walked for about twenty minutes and arrived at the entrance of the observation area.

This is a circular platform built on high ground, with a transparent protective barrier, allowing one to overlook the entire core area of the Foundry.

There are several Observers on the platform, mainly officers and engineers, who are recording something using Data Pads.

When the two Primarchs and a child appeared, everyone was stunned.

A Lieutenant officer hurried forward, stood at attention, and saluted.

"My Lords Primarch! I am Lieutenant Kael, Security Officer of the Foundry. May I... is there anything I can do for you?"

Fulgrim returned the salute elegantly.

"Lieutenant, we are here for an informal visit. We will only observe from the perimeter and will not interfere with your work."

Lieutenant Kael was clearly somewhat nervous.

A sudden visit from Primarchs had never happened in his career.

"O-of course, my Lords. Do you need me to arrange a guided tour for you? Or provide protective gear? The radiation and noise levels in the core area of the Foundry..."

"We will just take a look from the observation area."

Leman Russ interrupted him, having already walked toward the edge of the observation deck.

"Go back to your duties, Lieutenant. We will call you if we need anything."

Lieutenant Kael hesitated for a moment, but eventually saluted and left.

Lieutenant Kael retreated a short distance away and reported the situation in a low voice through his Communication Device; a visit from Primarchs, regardless of the reason, had to be recorded and reported.

Yingxin did not notice these details.

Her entire attention was captured by the scene before her.

Looking down from the observation deck, the core area of the Foundry was in full view.

It was a massive space, at least a hundred meters high.

In the center of the space, the skeletons of three Warhound-class Titans were being assembled simultaneously.

"Do they pilot them from inside?"

Yingxin pointed at the Warhound Titans and asked.

"Yes."

Fulgrim replied, taking out a small Data Pad that displayed the technical parameters of the Titans.

"The standard crew for a Warhound-class Titan is three: one Princeps, responsible for master control and tactical decisions..."

Leman Russ added.

"And piloting a Titan is not just simple machine operation.

The Princeps needs to connect directly to the Titan's Machine Spirit through a neural interface. It is like... like the Titan becomes an extension of your own body. You can feel its 'sensations,' its 'desires'."

"Machine Spirit?"

Yingxin asked curiously.

Fulgrim explained.

"This is a special field of Star Alliance technology.

Sufficiently complex mechanical devices, through long-term use and maintenance, will gradually develop a kind of... existence similar to consciousness."

Yingxin nodded, appearing to understand but not quite.

Watching the construction process below, she suddenly noticed a detail.

"Those workers... they look so small in front of the Titans. But they aren't afraid at all."

"Because this is their job."

Leman Russ said.

"Just as soldiers fight for the Star Alliance, these workers labor to build war machines. Everyone has their own place and their own contribution."