Chapter 408

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Protagonist:

Lin En

Lena

In the past, he might have asked about the source of the intelligence.

But after everything they had been through, Dominic was too lazy to ask.

Asking would only get him excuses like "local archives record it" or "scout reconnaissance obtained it"; better to save his strength and fight directly with this intelligence.

"Understood." Dominic nodded, his gaze returning to the tactical map.

"General Griffith, your fleet is temporarily assigned to the Left Wing Strike Group, deploying along the planet's orbit to continuously suppress the enemy's left wing with incendiary shells."

"I will have the Central Fleet Group adjust firepower, concentrating all Light Spears and available burning weapons to focus fire on the enemy flagship first."

His finger pointed at the largest heavy cruiser at the far end of the screen.

"That's the flagship. Destroy its command core, and this damn traitor will truly fall into chaos."

"Understood!" Gus stood at attention and saluted. "The Breviss Fleet will carry out the order without fail!"

The communication cut off, and the image on the screen disappeared.

Dominic immediately turned to his deputy officer:

"Karen, relay the order: all ships immediately inventory their burning ammunition stockpiles."

"All Thermite Torpedoes and Element Combustion Shells are to be moved to the forward launch tubes. Also..."

He almost didn't hesitate before making the following decision:

"Also, have the Military Chaplain Corps prepare. Gather the holy relics, holy oil, and the ashes of past high clergy enshrined on the ship..."

"As for the Mechanical Priest side, have them modify a batch of incendiary shells as quickly as possible and stuff these things inside."

Deputy Officer Karen froze for a moment, then immediately understood:

"Yes, sir. I'll go at once!"

Orders passed down layer by layer, and the entire fleet immediately sprang into action.

Meanwhile, in the Ship Cathedral on the lower decks of the James Tong, the scene changed abruptly.

Bishop Wenka stood before the altar, holding a gilded Holy Prayer Book in both hands, leading over a dozen pastors and believers in quietly chanting the Purification Prayer.

Candlelight flickered before the Emperor's Holy Image, the scent of incense filled the solemn hall, and the golden Emperor's Holy Image lowered its eyelids, overlooking the believers below.

Ever since the Nurgle Fleet appeared, Bishop Wenka had remained here.

He knew the space battlefield was dangerous, the Plague Power was omnipresent, and only through unceasing prayer, relying on the God Emperor's Protection, could they shield the entire warship from corruption.

As the prayer reached a critical point, he was about to raise his Holy Staff when his heart suddenly jumped.

An inexplicable irritation and anger surged like a tide, as if something precious was being violently desecrated by someone.

"Not good..."

Bishop Wenka abruptly raised his head, a flash of startled anger crossing his cloudy eyes.

His ancestors!

The sages and generations of bishops resting in the columbarium beneath the church, and the holy relics left behind by the State Religion over so many years of military service...

It seemed someone had set their sights on them!

"Bang!"

The church's heavy oak doors were slammed open from the outside.

Several hundred Marine Military Police in Black Power Armor strode in, their military boots striking the polished marble floor with crisp and heavy sounds.

The leading captain had a stern expression, his gaze sweeping over the astonished pastors and believers in the church before finally landing on Bishop Wenka before the altar.

"Bishop Wenka, we are very sorry to disturb your prayer." The captain gave a military salute, his tone righteous and solemn, without a shred of apology.

"The Nurgle Fleet is pressing in, and the entire fleet is in imminent danger."

"Approved by Lieutenant General Dominic, we need to requisition all holy oil, holy relics, and the sages' remains in the columbarium within the church to make Purification Incendiary Shells to resist the Chaos Fleet."

"Outrageous!"

Bishop Wenka trembled with rage, the Holy Prayer Book in his hand nearly falling to the ground.

He pointed at the captain, his voice trembling with anger:

"Do you know what you are doing?!"

"These are holy relics! They are the remains of sages! They are the objects of faith for believers to venerate and worship!"

"Do you intend to use them as shells to attack the Chaos Great Enemy?"

"This is too ridiculous! It is blasphemy! It is disrespect to the God Emperor!"

"Bishop Adult, the situation is urgent." The captain remained unmoved, not yielding an inch.

"The God Emperor teaches us to take the protection of humanity as our duty."

"Now that Chaos is upon us, countless soldiers and civilians are dying to the Plague. If these holy relics can be turned into purifying fire to slay the Chaos lackeys, that is truly not betraying the sages' will."

"If we cling to regulations and let the Plague Fleet break through the defensive line, killing everyone on the ship, and even causing billions of Breviss living beings to fall into the merciful father's demonic clutches..."

He glanced at Bishop Wenka, and seeing no rebuttal, spoke the final sentence.

"That would be the greatest betrayal of faith."

He waved his hand, and the military police behind him immediately split into two lines, heading toward the holy relic cabinets on both sides of the altar and the columbarium at the rear.

"Stop! I'd like to see who dares!" Bishop Wenka placed his Holy Staff horizontally in front of him, his beard bristling.

"Without my permission, no one is allowed to move a single holy relic in this church!"

The captain frowned slightly, but did not dare to truly lay hands on the Bishop.

Just as both sides were deadlocked, Deputy Colonel Karen's communication came through, her voice clearly transmitted through the captain's communication device into the church:

"What's going on? Hurry up! The fighting ahead is critical, and ammunition modification cannot wait!"

"Tell Bishop Wenka that holy relic-made ammunition is indeed effective against the Plague Fleet; the Breviss Fleet has already tried it for us."

"And afterward, Lieutenant General Dominic will personally apologize to him, with all consequences borne by the Lieutenant General alone."

"Now, execute the order immediately!"

The captain put away his communication device and bowed slightly to the Bishop: "Bishop Adult, please forgive my offense."

The military police no longer hesitated, stepped forward a few paces, and politely but firmly asked the blocking pastors to step aside, opening the doors of the holy vessel cabinet.

Bottle after bottle of exquisitely packaged holy oil, piece after piece of silver holy vessels engraved with holy marks, as well as the bone boxes and bone coffins placed in the columbarium.

All were roughly carried out and loaded onto the transport carts waiting outside the door.

Bishop Wenka stood before the altar, watching holy relics being carried away one by one, his chest heaving violently with rage.

That damn Breviss again!

Does the other side still have any reverence for the God Emperor's authority?

Though he no longer spoke out to block them, he had already made up his mind to thoroughly investigate this Breviss's state religion afterward, to see if they had fulfilled their duties!

He gazed at the candlelight flickering before the holy image, his lips trembling, until it finally became only a heavy sigh.

God Emperor above, I hope... this act can truly protect the empire's people.