"This was the Primarch's intention," Regulus said, his voice carrying the cold rationality characteristic of the Mechanicus.
"Before the Pharos mission, the Primarch had already considered this issue and issued a gag order to all technical personnel."
"Mechanicus members and technical workers responsible for repairing the Pharos are not allowed to inquire about the defensive system, and the work we perform is not permitted to be revealed to others casually."
Amalrich stared intently at Regulus's face, constructed of adamantium and cables, and it was clear that he was somewhat resistant to this command from the Primarch.
For some time now, he had felt uneasy.
A warrior's intuition told him that there was more to this matter than met the eye.
Amalrich felt as if he was in the middle of a vast vortex.
Something was happening, and he was completely unaware.
"My Lord, you need not worry. Appropriate secrecy is beneficial to the progress of the plan. Not everyone can maintain absolute rationality. Sometimes, the truth will only make the plan a mess."
Regulus's bionic eye buzzed.
He stared intently at Amalrich's broad face.
Capturing the other party's inner thoughts from his expression.
The auxiliary calculation engine within his skull calculated the potential consequences of every word.
"I hold absolute loyalty to the Emperor," Amalrich said. "And yet I cannot earn trust. Is this not ironic?"
"Before the true trial descends, everyone claims absolute loyalty to the Emperor.
Before I was elevated to Fabricator-General, I wandered many planets in the galaxy, searching for technology left behind by the Omnissiah.
During that time, I witnessed countless atrocities committed in the Emperor's name. People used the Emperor's name to vent their twisted desires, yet hypocritically claimed they were doing it for the Emperor, thereby justifying their every action."
A rare hint of sarcasm appeared in Fabricator-General Regulus's voice.
"Are you doubting me?" Amalrich frowned, his tone rising slightly. Clearly, Regulus's words had angered him.
"I am not doubting you, Marshal.
The Emperor has not spoken for ten thousand years. He is upon the Golden Throne, just one step away from death."
Regulus said, "Do you think the current galaxy is what he wanted? Or is it truly his dream?"
"I have a recording of the returning Salamanders Primarch Vulkan's rage during the War of the Beast. He furiously denounced the High Lords of Terra as traitors to the Imperial ideal. If not for being in the midst of the War of the Beast, requiring the entire Imperium to be united, do you think they would have survived in the face of the enraged Primarch?"
"Recall every scene when you met with the Primarch. Whenever the current situation was discussed, there was always suppressed rage in his voice.
He did not go to Terra but chose to start from Macragge. This already indicates the problem."
Amalrich's expression shifted from anger to solemnity. "What problem?"
"He does not trust the High Lords, nor does he trust the current Imperium. He would rather rebuild it than waste time going to Terra to deal with those noble bureaucrats," Regulus said softly.
"You are loyal to the Emperor, but is your loyalty truly the kind of loyalty the Emperor desires? The Primarch ordered you to guard this place; there is naturally a reason for it. Why must you dig so deep?"
Amalrich opened his mouth but ultimately did not refute Fabricator-General Regulus's words.
"I understand. I will not ask any further."
Leaving these words behind, Amalrich turned and departed.
Regulus's ruby-like electronic eyes followed Amalrich's footsteps until his figure disappeared from view.
A servo-skull, connected by neural cables and plated with silver, hovered and flew to Regulus's front.
Following Regulus's thoughts, the servo-skull projected beams from its mouth, forming a holographic display.
Through the projection, Regulus took in the entire structure of the Pharos.
The lighthouse covered a vast area, like a majestic mountain piercing the clouds, sprawling across the plain.
The Pharos played an important role during the Horus Heresy, using its special empathic pulse to guide Imperial ships through warp storms.
Such technology was desperately needed by the Imperium.
If the lighthouse could be replicated, the navigation difficulties in the Imperium Nihilus would be alleviated.
Warp storms would no longer be able to stop humanity.
At that time, relying on its immense size, the Imperium of Man would once again gain an advantage, driving out Chaos and many xenos.
Regulus checked the repair progress. The main functional areas had been repaired, and the secondary areas were also nearing completion.
The Pharos had been damaged in the past, and later the Primarch had filled it with concrete.
Now that it had been excavated, many areas needed to be repaired.
Regarding the Pharos, there is actually a very old story.
Loyalty, and also filled with sadness.
It witnessed humanity's journey from glory to betrayal and decline.
This story is about a loyalist from a traitor legion.
The name of that loyalist was Dantioch, an Iron Warrior.
The Iron Warriors Legion, under the leadership of Perturabo, rebelled against the Imperium and participated in the massacre of loyalists in the Istvaan system.
Dantioch despised his Primarch's actions and led his remaining subordinates, killing the traitors who came to persuade them to surrender, seizing a ship after a battle and escaping.
He had planned to go to Terra, but by some twist of fate, he ended up in the Ultramar system.
At Guilliman's request, Dantioch took charge of repairing the Pharos and activating it.
Later, the Night Lords attacked the Pharos. To repel the enemy, Dantioch sacrificed his life, overloading the Pharos and annihilating the enemies who had invaded it.
And Dantioch also died because of this action, dying in the arms of his comrades.
The Pharos bore witness to a true Iron Warrior who fought for his beliefs.
The time this event occurred was very long ago; Fabricator-General Regulus only knew the general outline.
Too many loyalists died during the Horus Heresy; they all had their own stories.
It is a pity that these stories are neither sung nor remembered.
Fabricator-General Regulus only accidentally learned of this matter while searching for information on the Pharos.
He felt no emotion regarding this story.
Mortals eventually die.
Regardless of loyalty, fate will always erase any trace of anyone.
Everything returns to dust.
The reason Fabricator-General Regulus remembered this Iron Warrior who died ten thousand years ago was simply because the various records left by Dantioch during the repair of the Pharos were important references, allowing him to understand the lighthouse more comprehensively and thus formulate relevant repair work.
In fact, Regulus also had his own doubts.
The relevant data for the lighthouse had been compiled and sent back to Macragge for replication.
There was absolutely no need to repair this old lighthouse.
But Cawl and Guilliman insisted on repairing it and sent a large number of troops, adopting a posture of strict defense.
According to rational logic, this matter was strange from beginning to end.
At the other end of the Pharos Fortress.
Clovis and the members of the Grey Knights Brotherhood gathered together, performing their daily prayers.
Then, Clovis suddenly opened his eyes and stood up.
His action interrupted the prayer ritual.
Many Grey Knight brothers opened their eyes, looking at Clovis with confusion.
"Chaos has invaded this planet," Clovis said to his brothers, his tone solemn.
Every Grey Knight's face became solemn and grave.
"Can you sense the location of those evils?" asked a Grey Knight brother.
The other Grey Knights looked at Clovis, waiting for his answer.