Chapter 58: First Mind-Reading

Ninglu saw through "Warp Insight" that Rosicky's emotions were fluctuating, presenting a conflicted posture.

"What is your business?"

Upon hearing this, the Tech-Priest did not hesitate further; he knelt on one knee, in the manner of a Vostonian, and spoke.

"Rosicky Cech offers his loyalty to King Ninglu."

Ninglu did not accept immediately; he attempted to read Rosicky's mind, following the psychic techniques he had learned from the Data Crystal.

His consciousness, like an inconspicuous flying insect, spread toward the Tech-Priest, while simultaneously throwing a difficult question at him to force his attention onto thinking about how to answer.

"Why do you suddenly pledge your loyalty to me?"

Ninglu's consciousness spread toward Rosicky, and relying on "Warp Insight," he successfully found the gateway to the mind at the center of the Tech-Priest's emotional vortex.

The Tech-Priest's gateway to the mind was slightly different from what he had expected; it was not a steel-gray "iron" gate composed entirely of cold, logical steel.

Upon it were colorful desires, and even more so, the deep red of pulsing ambition...

After Ninglu's consciousness hovered for a moment, a portion of it, like a snail's tentacle, extended from the head of the "flying insect" and tentatively permeated toward the colorful gateway area.

The moment the "tentacle" touched Rosicky's gateway to the mind, Ninglu's eyes noticed the Tech-Priest's brow furrow slightly.

He realized that Rosicky's senses were sharper than he had imagined. Considering this was his first time reading a mind and his technique was not yet proficient, he decided to abandon the attempt to infiltrate the mind and chose an easier area.

"My King, the Cech family and the Finde Family have been on good terms for generations. I have known Howard for a long time; he often praises you and has asked me to join him in offering you our loyalty."

Ninglu's consciousness withdrew from Rosicky's mind and spread toward the Tech-Priest's brain.

Compared to the sensitive mind, the brain was an easier area to infiltrate.

Most people's minds are much purer than their thoughts-filled brains; a drop of water seeping in is like a droplet falling onto a calm lake, causing constant ripples.

A water droplet seeping into the brain, however, is like merging into a tide, making it less likely to attract the owner's attention.

"During the time I have followed by your side, I have seen with my own eyes the many miracles you have accomplished: boarding Xenos warships, conquering the Cradle of the Sea. I have never heard of anyone who could build such achievements as you have."

Ninglu's consciousness infiltrated Rosicky's brain and found countless arrows of different colors and sizes flashing past.

The Mind-type Aether Masters of the Fulao believe that a person's thoughts are dominated by one specific idea at any given moment.

This dominant thought is the subject's current leading thought, the one they are consciously aware of.

Other complex thoughts are those influenced by various factors.

For example, when facing an enemy, the emotion of Fear takes dominance, which might lead a person to think of surrendering.

When Fear does not take dominance and is suppressed by reason or courage, the subject might not be aware of it; it might not have an effect, or it might cause muscles to tense instinctively or stimulate the secretion of adrenaline.

After Ninglu's consciousness infiltrated Rosicky's brain, it immediately locked onto the thickest arrow flashing through the "air"; it was colorful and flew back and forth within the Tech-Priest's brain.

His consciousness, like an arrow, flew to the side of its flight path just as the colorful arrow turned back.

The moment the arrow swept past, his consciousness latched onto it from the side.

Ninglu instantly understood Rosicky's thoughts: 【At best, I can only become a Sage within the Adeptus Mechanicus, and that would take at least fifty-six years.

This is the most optimistic estimate based on my family and my mentor's situation.

If I pledge my service to King Ninglu, the situation will be vastly different. What is certain is that his ambition is immense, too great for the Vostonian system to contain, and he only has Woyiqiehe as a technician under him; I have vast room for development.】

After reading Rosicky's thoughts, Ninglu understood, and his consciousness withdrew back to himself.

The consumption of the entire process was huge for a psychic new to the Mind school, but as a Primarch with a powerful consciousness, he only felt slightly tired.

The Primarch, having completed his first mind-reading, said to himself: 【As expected, my keen perception is also reflected in psychic abilities.

The Mind school is the most suitable psychic discipline for me. I only spent five work cycles to initially master it and complete my first mind-reading, and the subject was not someone without defenses.】

A smile appeared on Ninglu's face; he did not mind Rosicky's ambition.

"Rosicky Cech, I accept your loyalty."

The one-second wait felt exceptionally long to Rosicky, and he bowed and said.

"My King, I will certainly do my utmost to execute your every command."

Ninglu nodded slightly, and after pondering for a moment, he spoke.

"Wait outside, and come in after five minutes."

"As you command, my King."

The Tech-Priest executed Ninglu's order with perfect precision, walking in exactly five minutes later.

Ninglu pointed to the table at the STC Canpian just retrieved from the Kingdom of Disorder and spoke.

"You are to copy the construction template data on this table immediately."

After Rosicky acknowledged the order, he walked to the long table and discovered five different data storage media placed upon it: two Data Slates, a chip, a Data Crystal, and a disc.

His mechanical tentacle picked up the nearest exquisite rectangular thin sheet; he was very familiar with the patterns on it.

After inserting the data chip into the data interface embedded in the back of his neck, a torrent of data flashed across the Tech-Priest's electronic bionic eye.

【It really is the portion of the sacred construction template data mastered by the Finde Family. Howard is just as I thought, offering complete loyalty to Ninglu; no wonder he is so highly valued.】

After a shift, Rosicky's mechanical prosthetic limb put down the Data Slate.

"My King, I have copied and backed up all the data."

"I need you to immediately design an implementation plan to promote and apply this in the twelve Hive Cities under my control."

"Especially the Mag-trans; I want them laid out in every Hive City and between them, and after that, on every warship."

Rosicky could not help but be shocked; the first task Ninglu gave him was a massive project. Vostonia had never seen large-scale construction of this magnitude.

His preserved flesh-and-blood heart could not help but thump; he felt power and high-spirited fighting will in Ninglu's words.

"My Lord, as you wish."

After the Tech-Priest withdrew, Ninglu sent a message to Yelena, ordering her to implement Teziwoke's system in each Hive City and for Buksa to rebuild the garrison forces.

He temporarily halted his path of conquest; the territory currently under his control needed time to stabilize. He needed to wait for each regiment to complete their reinforcements and establish garrison forces before continuing the conquest.

In the Lower Hive of Naliyangmaer Chaodu, in a dim passageway, Bukayo, wrapped in fur, looked at First Captain Geleigori and asked.

"So, because Muluoze's industries have been repeatedly attacked, he has already led a team to the Lower Hive, intending to wipe us out?"

(End of chapter)