"Day 99."
Olus lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling and talking to himself.
It had been 99 standard Terran days since Guilliman had given him the one-year ultimatum.
During this time, he had searched Macragge diligently every day but found nothing.
He simply couldn't find any other transmigrators.
He began to wonder, maybe the other transmigrators weren't on Macragge at all?
To find clues, he had carefully studied the history of human colonization.
In his era, human colonies were limited to the solar system.
Although there were fleets that left the solar system for exploration, once they left, they lost contact with Terra.
Because humanity only had sub-light engines back then, and the nearest star system was several light-years away.
Olus meticulously studied humanity's space colonization history.
When Macragge was first colonized, Terra had already established a vast interstellar empire with tens of millions of colonies across the galaxy.
Most colonies started with a single colony ship, carrying tens of thousands of people and millions of human embryos.
These people were the ancestors of various worlds.
With such a vast interstellar empire, so many colonies.
Even if, in the M10 era, tens of millions of people had performed the ritual like him, on average, there would only be one transmigrator per world.
One year seemed generous, but in reality, it was merely a suspended death sentence.
If he couldn't find a transmigrator within a year, death was likely waiting for him.
With a heavy heart, Olus hastily finished breakfast, boarded his carriage, and continued his search.
Macragge was full of contradictions.
It possessed much advanced technology, like orbital elevators, space fleets, satellite networks, hover cars, etc.,
But its system was very primitive, its architecture both grand and retro, and nobles preferred horse-drawn carriages for travel.
Olus had initially found it hard to understand, but now he was completely used to it.
For example, the carriage he rode in only seemed primitive; the carriage itself was actually an unmanned hover car, just fitted with wheels.
The horses pulling it were merely luxury items used to display noble honor.
Not everyone on Macragge was qualified to own a horse, especially a good one.
Even if a commoner worked hard their whole life, they couldn't earn enough to keep one.
Olus had grown accustomed to it, no longer finding Macragge novel.
He just wanted to find other transmigrators.
"Nehemiah, can you really find them?"
Olus's expression held a hint of anxiety.
The guardian spirit solemnly patted its chest.
"He is in this city. I can sense his existence!"
Olus frowned deeply.
"But the problem is we can't find him. We've searched all over Macragge without a single clue. Isn't there a more efficient way?"
Nehemiah tilted its head, thinking.
Guardian spirits can sense each other, but what they sense is not each other directly, but their interference with the Aether.
Nehemiah had done this often to help Olus rise.
These days, it had stopped interfering with the Aether, but the traces of interference remained, so it was sure another guardian spirit existed.
It could sense that another spirit was doing the same thing.
However, unless they actually met face to face, it would be very difficult to find them in the vast sea of people.
Olus sighed silently in his heart.
Macragge was a large international city with millions of people.
Searching aimlessly was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
And he truly had no leads.
He searched until dusk, then had to give up.
Another day with nothing.
Olus stood outside the Consul's residence, patiently waiting for the guards to announce him.
He had to report regularly to Guilliman, proving he was still on Macragge, and he also wanted to use this opportunity to seek the Primarch's advice.
He couldn't keep bumping around blindly like a headless fly.
While waiting, a young man walked out of the residence.
Olus looked him up and down.
Suddenly, Nehemiah screamed excitedly in his mind: "It's him!"
Olus's pupils contracted.
His body moved before his consciousness, and he stepped forward to block the young man.
"You are?"
The young man looked at him suspiciously, obviously puzzled by the stranger's action.
"Olus Avitus."
Olus finally came to his senses and extended his hand to introduce himself.
The young man's expression was normal.
He politely shook his hand, his tone friendly:
"I'm Julius, son of Consul Gallan."
Olus took a deep breath, suppressing his inner ecstasy.
'Finally found him!'
Olus forced a relaxed smile, his voice clearly probing.
"Are you here to see the Consul too?"
"I came to see Robert. We're friends."
Julius showed no sign of impatience.
He wasn't in a hurry to leave; instead, he looked at this stranger with interest.
"Olus."
Caelan suddenly appeared at the door.
Hearing his voice, Olus instinctively distanced himself from Julius, at the same time anxiously signaling Caelan with his eyes: 'It's him! Arrest him!'
Caelan ignored his facial contortions.
"Julius, you can go back for now. Olus, come with me."
Disappointed, Olus had to follow Caelan silently into the study.
Guilliman was already waiting there.
As soon as the door closed, Olus couldn't wait to speak:
"Julius is a transmigrator!"
Guilliman nodded, "I know."
Olus was stunned.
"When did you know?"
"Just now."
Guilliman's tone remained calm.
Olus's reaction when he stopped Julius had already given him the answer.
That was also why he hadn't come forward.
Olus asked, "Then why didn't you arrest him too?"
As soon as he said it, Olus regretted it.
Julius was not only Guilliman's friend but also the son of a Consul.
Even if Guilliman disregarded their personal friendship, he had to consider the political implications.
Forcibly arresting the son of one Consul in public by the son of the other would be extremely damaging.
Even if Guilliman made an excuse to detain Julius, Gallan would likely show up demanding answers, leaving little time for questioning.
So, it was better to let him leave for now.
But then, did this count as him finding Julius?
Olus's heart was uneasy; he was caught in a dilemma.
Caelan said, "You can sense that Julius is a transmigrator. Could you be exposed the same way?"
"Nehemiah, can I?" Olus asked nervously.
Olus looked helplessly at his guardian spirit.
The little creature was trying to approach Caelan affectionately, only to be blocked by an invisible psychic barrier.
It blinked its watery eyes pitifully.
Olus couldn't help but sigh.
'Whose guardian spirit are you, anyway?'
Nehemiah raised its chin proudly.
"It's nowhere near as powerful as me. It will never find me!"
Olus breathed a silent sigh of relief.
He had found Julius, yet he himself remained hidden.
As long as he wasn't exposed, he could eventually find other transmigrators.
Guilliman said, "I will handle this. Go rest next door for now. I'll call you when you're needed."
Olus's taut nerves finally relaxed.
He no longer dared to hope for more; a brief respite was good enough.
Julius delivering himself was a bonus in itself.
Although Guilliman had given no promises, confirming Julius was also a transmigrator would at least give him more leeway regarding the deadline.
"Julius, why does it have to be you?"
Guilliman gazed at the deepening dusk outside the window, his voice laced with complex emotion.
A moment later, Guilliman chuckled softly.
He had let it go.
The fact that it was Julius made it seem normal.
He had long since drawn a detailed blueprint for Macragge's future.
The power structure of the Consul and Senate would be preserved, even expanded under his rule, no longer limited to Macragge.
And those warriors who had followed him through life and death also had a place in his plan.
They would be transformed into Space Marines, continuing to fight for humanity.
Yet fate was full of irony.
It just had to be Julius.
The possibility of Olus deceiving him was almost zero; the cost of seeing through such a clumsy lie was low.
Guilliman was inclined to believe Olus.
Olus and Julius were both noble scions, but three years apart in age, not of the same generation.
Their social circles were different.
Olus was a young, accomplished senator; Julius was merely the son of an official.
They rarely crossed paths.
Olus's instant identification of Julius was no random accusation.
Julius had already stated his identity; framing him would do Olus no good whatsoever.
From any perspective, Olus had no reason to lie to him.
But even with Olus's identification, Guilliman couldn't just arrest Julius outright.
The impact would be too great.
He could set aside personal feelings, even though Julius was his most trusted companion.
But the current political landscape of Macragge was in a delicate balance.
Two Consuls stood as dual pillars, with four major factions in the Senate.
The relationship between Konnor and Gallan had just eased.
He couldn't destroy unity at this critical juncture; it would only undermine Konnor's efforts.
Unless he explained to Gallan and others what transmigrators were, what the Warp was, and what dangers transmigrators posed.
But even if he explained, they might not believe him.
Guilliman couldn't explain either.
Everyone desires the truth, but not everyone can accept it.
Proclaiming the existence of transmigrators would only alert them.
Julius might not be the only transmigrator.
Besides him and Olus, there might be others.
Bound by these many concerns, Guilliman had to let Julius leave for now.
Caelan asked, "What do you plan to do with him?"
Guilliman pondered for a moment, then turned to Lilith.
"We can't just let him be. Sister Lilith, do you have any more psychic locks?"
Lilith nodded slightly.
"Plenty in stock."
Guilliman nodded, "Good. After dark, we'll go find Julius."
This couldn't be done publicly; it had to be done secretly.
If Julius was not corrupted by Chaos, Guilliman didn't want to eliminate him either.
Guilliman could co-opt Olus, so naturally, he could also co-opt Julius.
At least he would give Julius a chance.
…....
"I have transmigrated."
Julius sat at his desk, reviewing official documents his father had given him for practice.
The feather pen scratched signatures on the parchment, but his thoughts gradually drifted away.
He was from the year 9999 AD, crossing twenty thousand years of time to be born on this land called Macragge.
Unknowingly, he had been in this world for over six local years, equivalent to about eighteen standard Terran years.
From crying as an infant to his current youthful vigor, his memories of this life were as clear as yesterday.
Fate had favored him exceptionally.
Not only had he retained memories of his past life, but he was also blessed with a prominent family.
Shortly after his birth, his father was elected Consul.
In his youth, he was full of ambition, dreaming of one day inheriting his father's legacy and leading Macragge to an even brighter future.
Relying on his own excellent abilities, he had successfully gathered a large group of like-minded companions.
Their family backgrounds were as illustrious as his; they were destined to be Macragge's future rulers.
If they united, they could sweep away the accumulated problems of Macragge's past.
However, fate had other plans.
Guilliman arrived.
He still vividly remembered that day.
His father had taken him, only three years old, hunting.
He had even shot a deer himself with a carbine.
That same day, Guilliman's incubation pod landed just outside Macragge.
The two Consuls found the pod together, and Konnor adopted him.
On the day Guilliman was born, he had been right there.
They had known each other back then. But they were both too young. Guilliman probably didn't remember him.
They met again at the School of Rhetoric.
He had intended to befriend his peer, as the son of a Consul, to unite like their fathers before them.
They would bring change to the Macraggians, leading them away from ignorance.
Yet, Julius had not expected that the experience of his two lives would be so fragile before Guilliman.
Within a single day, Guilliman had won him over with his profound knowledge.
He had even had a big fight with his father over it.
Looking back, he had been so naive. But he had no regrets. Without that running away from home, he wouldn't be who he was today.
The Battle of Kashum only strengthened his conviction: Only Guilliman was qualified to lead Macragge!
And he would eliminate anyone who dared stand in Guilliman's way – whoever they were.
Julius never clung to a leadership position; instead, he gladly pledged loyalty to Guilliman.
Gradually, Julius fell asleep, unconscious.
Caelan accessed his shallow thoughts and projected the images onto a crystal ball.
Guilliman remained silent.
He was unwilling to wantonly pry into others' minds, but he had to eliminate potential risks.
Caelan said, "No corruption at the memory or soul level. Safe, for now."
Lilith's psychic energy flowed like water, layer by layer penetrating Julius's soul and peeling it apart like a cabbage.
A small guardian spirit was curled up sleeping on a 'lotus throne'. The guardian spirit woke with a start, like someone having their blanket ripped off while sleeping.
It looked confusedly at the unexpected visitors, not understanding why they had woken it.
Its appearance differed from Nehemiah's; it looked like a small, winged figure made of flame.
"It is not a servant of a Primordial Annihilator," Lilith announced softly.
Warp entities and demons are actually easy to distinguish.
Even if they look equally terrifying, there is an essential difference.
All demons belong to a specific Chaos God.
They must bear that God's unique mark. This mark is hard to see with the naked eye but very clear under psychic perception.
Although demons can conceal their nature and disguise themselves as neutral, harmless Warp entities, Lilith has special techniques to tell them apart.
Unless it is a Changeling, capable of deceiving even the Dark Gods, any demon's disguise will be revealed before her.
Caelan theorized, "Neutral again. It seems He is planning something big!"
Olus remained silent.
He didn't know why he had been brought, but he could understand some of the subtext now.
For instance, 'He'. His transmigration and Nehemiah were part of His plan; the same went for Julius and his guardian spirit.
His power was chilling, and both he and Julius had unwittingly been drawn into a huge scheme carefully woven by Him.
He was a true God, but not a benevolent one.
Guilliman asked, "Sister Lilith, can we eliminate the hidden danger of these neutral Warp entities without harming the host?"
"The only way is to sign a contract with them and become the dominant party of the contract."
"No other choice?"
Lilith shook her head gently.
"In the laws of the Warp, a contract is the only form with absolute binding force."
For the Aeldari, contracts with Warp entities, while dangerous, were not that frightening.
Even today, Aeldari Farseers often delve into the Warp to find neutral Warp entities and form contracts with them to achieve certain goals.
In ancient times, the Aeldari could even actively create Warp entities favorable to them.
Theoretically, an airtight contract could even force a Greater Daemon to submit.
But demons always find ways to exploit loopholes, and mortals rarely draft a perfect contract, nor can they often pay the requisite price.
Even within the Warp, demons often use contracts to bind each other.
For example, Vashtorr used this method to bind many demons to serve him for eternity.
As long as the contract binds them, even the four Gods cannot save them.
Caelan questioned "How can we ensure the contract is rigorous?"
Lilith asnwered, "The number of clauses must be kept to a minimum. Every added clause increases the risk of misinterpretation."
"Wording must be absolutely precise. Any ambiguous expression becomes a loophole."
"For example, the scope of 'obedience' must be clearly defined. 'Forever' must specify start and end times."
"Do not try to exploit any loopholes in the contract. They will always be better at it than we are."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Lilith said "I can provide some reference templates."
Caelan had asked the right person.
The Aeldari had tens of millions of years of practical experience; they had summarized the safest contract templates. While the templates Lilith provided didn't maximize gain, they were safe.
.....
30 Chapters [email protected]/DaoistJinzu