Chapter 100: The Reader

Void Hunter, the Primarch's office.

Arsena Dunn pulled up the Star Map and projected it onto the tactical table.

Ninglu scrutinized the Star Map before him; between the Vostonia system and the A-068 system where the Crystal Illusion was located, vast areas remained shrouded in mist.

The scattered, dotted regions were areas that the machine-cultist exploration fleets had reached via blind jumps through the Warp.

The Primarch slid his finger, traced a corridor on the Star Map, and asked his attendant in a testing tone.

"If I were to dispatch Junluanzhanshi to explore these regions, it would consume too much time. Do you have any suggestions?"

After pondering for a minute, Arsena spoke up.

"My Lord, since you believe that deploying Junluanzhanshi for exploration is a waste, then we should utilize other forces."

"You should make full use of the privileges granted by the Imperium; there are aspects of the Imperial Code that can be leveraged."

"You finished reading it?"

When Ninglu became a "Lawyer," he had been directly infused with this massive code, so he naturally knew how complex its contents were.

After the "Reader" became an attendant, the workload was heavy, yet he had actually found the time to finish reading it.

"My Lord, in order to better serve you, I believe it is necessary to read the Imperial Code."

"Only then can I offer constructive suggestions when you need them."

The silver-haired "Reader" displayed his initiative perfectly, then immediately offered his suggestion.

"According to the Imperial Code, you have the right to appoint Rogue Traders; they explore the unknown regions of the Imperium on your behalf based on your authorization."

"The Emperor himself was adept at using Rogue Traders for exploration; the Rogue Trader Hail Deannis discovered the Parama system for the Imperium in the year 803."

Ninglu nodded in satisfaction; Arsena's thoughts were the same as his own.

Free labor is better used than wasted, and it is far better than exhausting one's own strength; this is also the proper use of rules.

Thinking of this, he issued an order to his attendant.

"After returning to Vostonia, collect information on the Imperial supply fleets and scout for suitable candidates among those conscripted merchant ships."

"Locals can also be considered; although they lack experience in inter-system navigation, as long as they possess a spirit of adventure and good capability, that will suffice."

"I will provide them with assistance."

The various families of Vostonia had high loyalty, so it was feasible to provide appropriate help, such as a Frigate or Destroyer, or perhaps dispatching severely disabled, retired Auxilia veterans to serve as officers on their ships.

"As you wish."

Arsena bowed to accept the order, and Ninglu glanced at the hanging clock.

"It is about time; Malena is coming."

Ninglu had not appointed Malena as an attendant, even though he felt her "Physician" abilities and loyalty were superior to Arsena's.

Considering the needs of the "Mother" path's subsequent acting, both the Sequence 7 "Harvest Priest" and the Sequence 5 "Druid" required closeness to nature, so the Primarch did not appoint her as an attendant.

But during this time, he would dine with both of them to understand the progress of the Milaojiapans from another perspective.

While Ninglu was speaking, inside the medical cabin, Malena had just finished an exhausting surgery.

The moment it ended, the "Physician" felt, as usual, a sensation of food digesting within her body.

She took off her white medical coat, and just as she stepped out of the modification cabin, two Vostonia Auxiliary Army soldiers immediately approached her, carefully pushing a cart.

"Lady Malena, please have some water."

Both of them had been saved from the operating table by the "Physician," and they had paid all the Monarch Coins on their persons—the currency issued by Ninglu after he unified Vostonia—to earn this chance to thank her in person.

"Alright."

Malena smiled, and the perfect countenance of the Biopsychic stunned both battle-hardened veterans for a moment.

They immediately regained their senses, not harboring any unrealistic thoughts, but simply being instinctively awestruck.

Malena reached out with her fair hand, lifted the tempered glass partition that blocked the smell of disinfectant, picked up a silver cup, and drank it in one gulp.

"Thank you."

Malena placed the cup back in its original spot and said with a smile.

"No need to thank us..." the two said hurriedly, finally finding their chance, and quickly added, "We should be the ones thanking you for saving our lives."

The "Physician" also felt a slight sensation of digestion; although it was not as obvious as when she finished a surgery or saved a patient, the gratitude from the patients made her realize she was one step closer to fully mastering all her abilities.

Taking the dedicated elevator up, a moment later Malena arrived at the Bridge.

It took a few seconds for the Biopsychic to tidy up her already perfect appearance, after which she walked into the Primarch's office and saluted Ninglu.

"My Lord."

"Sit."

Malena pulled out an oak chair and sat down gracefully.

Subsequently, the Legion attendant responsible for the Primarch's meals walked in, pushing a dining cart, and placed plates of meat from the Corpse-gnawing Plain, which had been classified as an Agricultural World, onto the oak table covered with a linen cloth.

The aroma of mixed applewood and cherrywood, accompanied by the sizzling sound of dripping fat, teased the appetite of Malena, who had exhausted her physical strength and energy.

The medium-rare Green Zebra steak appeared first, its oily, marbled texture gleaming with a honey-colored luster under the candlelight.

As the blade in the attendant's silver tray sliced through the caramelized crust, the pink texture unfolded like volcanic lava, and the meat juices spread in amber ripples across the bone china plate.

The herb-marinated Curly-Horned Sheep ribs were then uncovered, oozing with crystal-clear fat; the rosemary and garlic cloves had infused their fragrance into every fiber under high heat, and the unique milky aroma of sheep fat intertwined with the scent of charcoal in the air.

From the depths of the oven came the sweet aroma of aged Lasvolt barbecue sauce from oak barrels; the Feather-Flame Turkey breast, slow-roasted for twelve hours, unfolded layer by layer like silk under the tip of the knife. The smoke ring had permeated the muscle fibers, and every slice carried the breath of fruitwood.

"Eat."

Ninglu was the first to pick up his knife and fork, speared a piece of Curly-Horned Sheep rib, dipped it in the Tidal Coral Pepper Sauce from the Cradle of the Sea, and placed it into his mouth.

The tide-like capsaicin seemed to transform into thousands of glowing little fish, mixed with the succulent meat juices, and after being amplified a thousand times by the Primarch's heightened senses, it dripped into his stomach.

"My Lord, you seem to enjoy spicy food?"

Malena watched the expression of enjoyment naturally revealed by Ninglu and asked with a smile.

"That is correct."

"Spiciness brings not only stimulation and pleasure to the taste buds, but also a deep-seated intensity and satisfaction that reaches the marrow."

Malena and Arsena were lost in thought upon hearing this, gaining a deeper understanding of the Primarch.

A moment later, seeing the Physician put down his knife and fork, Ninglu spoke up to ask.

"Is the progress of the Gaizao Shouhu going smoothly?"

"I have good news for you; Mikel and I have conducted a detailed analysis of the Gaizao Shouhu and discovered that, besides age, there is another factor affecting the success rate of the surgery."

Malena said with a smile, and Ninglu asked curiously upon hearing this.

"What is it?"

"The process for the implanted organs was designed according to Terran standards; Vostonians also live in a Hive City environment, which is relatively similar, but the Sicilians who grew up in the Cradle of the Sea have significant differences."

"We grew up by the sea, so our bone density is higher; conversely, our resistance to toxins and corrosion is worse."

Ninglu suddenly understood; he recalled that when the Chogorisian were being modified, the failure rate was also lower for a time due to their tough flesh and blood.

"Have you found a solution?"

"We have already found it; Mikel and I found a solution and made small, targeted adjustments."

"We artificially created an environment simulating the ocean, where the organs cultivated from the Gene-seed are first soaked and undergo adaptive fine-tuning."

"The most obvious effect is that it helped the older Szczesny successfully complete the fifth through eleventh Gaizao Shouhu in succession, catching up to the progress of Howard and the others."

Ninglu nodded with gratification, "That is truly good news."

Szczesny, who was being discussed by the two, was lying on the bed with his eyes slightly closed, controlling Leman's Ear to consciously enhance or filter out the noisy background sounds around him.

(End of this chapter)