Guilliman, who had just emerged from the top-secret laboratory, was handling some important government affairs while waiting for the Chief Archmagos, Belisarius Cawl, to meet him.
"Taxation issues still need to be discussed in more detail. Some inter-universe colonies don't have enough sense of belonging to the Imperium.
Some worlds haven't recovered from war, reconstruction, and transformation, and the burden is too great. I suggest using softer, indirect tax methods."
"We must strengthen supervision everywhere to prevent anyone from using power and wealth to undermine local democratic elections.
Anyone caught doing so will be sent to a penal camp, and if they have family, their family will be sent with them. Also, officials in all stellar sectors and sub-sectors are required not to always think about perfunctory work, but to strive to do practical work and strictly implement Terra's various standards and requirements."
"Instruct the heads of public opinion institutions like the Imperial Daily and Stellar Reports to come up with effective methods and measures to strengthen the management of their local branches, do a good job in guiding the thoughts of Imperial citizens, and resolutely criticize hedonism and excessive individualism. We must establish and uphold the worldview that humanity is a single, unified civilization."
"The Inquisition should conduct background checks and investigations on bureaucratic systems everywhere, resolutely implementing the principle of meritocracy. All backdoor dealings and favoritism must be resolutely stamped out and severely punished without mercy.
Do not claim that contributions or connections can casually break the Imperium's bottom line. If one breaks a little here, and another breaks a little there, everything will fall into chaos later on. Sacrifices made for the Imperium are worth remembering and rewarding; on this point, the Imperium must not be stingy.
But such rewards should not be inherited by descendants. Using power for personal gain and trying to consolidate so-called bloodline advantages is extremely short-sighted and will ultimately poison the entire Imperium, the entire civilization."
"Assassin methods should be more covert and their management strengthened, aiming to be as undetectable as possible.
For those who have achievements and great influence but lack sufficient ideological awareness, always feeling that the Imperium owes them an iron rice bowl to be passed down through generations, allowing their descendants to be superior, when normal means are not effective, assassins should be dispatched to eliminate those who do not follow the rules at the lowest cost.
The scope of the Assassinorum's operations should also be expanded. There is no perfect system in this world; there will always be people who try to skirt the law, exploit loopholes, and harm the collective interests of the Imperium to enrich themselves. Such people must be promptly eliminated."
Guilliman's speed in reviewing government affairs was very fast.
Of course, many detailed matters were left to the Terran Council, led by the Imperial Chancellor, to handle.
Guilliman was only responsible for controlling the major outlines.
Guilliman felt no moral burden in using assassins to eliminate those who always skirted the law and exploited loopholes in the rules. That's what assassins are for. The council always had assassins eliminate so-called political activists. Things like advocating for peace!
Using all funds for public welfare!
Demanding absolute democracy and freedom.
Inciting the abolition of the cloning act and a return to the small human family model.
Some also advocated for justice and peace, for the complete abolition of class, and the creation of a true utopia.
Others agitated for the abolition of the high inheritance tax, which left heirs with nothing, and the conflict of interest review act. The Imperial inheritance tax was extremely high.
Even if the parents were extremely wealthy, the heirs often received little.
If other means were used to transfer industries and wealth, once investigated and evidence confirmed the existence of criminal facts, it would be considered tax evasion. Not only would the inheritance tax have to be paid, but also a huge fine, and they would face imprisonment.
Such investigations were not difficult; the Imperium had various means of lie detection and could even examine memories, making it almost impossible to escape the scrutiny of the tax authorities.
Under the conflict of interest review act, if an Imperial official who was promoted was found to have multiple interested parties in the same agency, it would trigger an Inquisitor's inspection.
Such relationships included, but were not limited to, fellow students, teachers and students, family academies, or unofficial small groups, etc.
Collusion and illicit transfers of benefits, and the private establishment of factions, were major taboos in the Imperium.
Violators would end up either in a penal camp or as a servitor.
Many people had been calling for the abolition of this act, claiming that the penalties were too severe and inconsistent with the establishment of a democratic and humane society.
For these troublesome individuals who couldn't be caught committing a crime,
Guilliman directly implemented physical elimination.
It was all about playing dirty.
Actually, Guilliman had no choice; he couldn't keep changing the system. There's only so much cake.
Either you get it, or they get it.
Currently, the Imperium operates on an unfair class system with no inheritance.
Classes are clearly defined.
Scholars who produce scientific achievements and front-line military personnel receive the best treatment. The higher one's rank, the better the resources and benefits they enjoy.
Within the same rules and starting points, everyone competes fairly.
How much cake you can get is up to your ability.
If you can climb to that position, it means your ability matches that position.
Your enjoyment should then correspond to that position.
Some say such a system cannot inspire people's enthusiasm to defend the Imperium.
If everything they create cannot be left to their descendants, then why fight to the death?!
Guilliman scoffed at such claims.
As if those poor souls who died before had descendants to leave things to.
Weren't they all poor, powerless, ignorant, unmarried, childless fools who went to their deaths to protect those with power, influence, and things to leave to their descendants?!
Guilliman's stance was that anyone who dared to play the game of hereditary privilege and illicit connections in the Imperial system he painstakingly rebuilt,
He would ensure that even the pregnant women of that family would end up in a penal camp.
In the current Imperial system, the most important word is fairness.
Everyone can only rely on themselves.
Collusion for personal gain is absolutely forbidden. That would cause the entire Imperium to collapse.
If you have ability, you live well.
If you don't have much ability, but you dare to fight and join the military to secure a future, you also live well.
If you have no ability and are not willing to fight, then you can only live a basic, waiting-to-die existence.
Guilliman finished processing a few more military deployment orders when he heard a servant announce the arrival of the Chief Archmagos.
"Let him come directly."
Many people moved around Guilliman, carrying out his will and executing his orders. They ensured the Imperium operated according to his wishes.
Countless armies and heroes were waging war outside. They forged the Imperium's immortal glory with courage and sacrifice, seeking humanity's path to the future and to the heavens.
In a sense, the various departments on the Emperor's Supreme faced a war of their own.
Bureaucrats fought with documents and data.
From fragmented reports, they extracted data about the front lines, assessing whether the reported troop reinforcements and material supplies were needed. The Imperium's resources were precious.
And the Holy Emperor's grand vision was so vast.
No arbitrary waste could be tolerated.
Resources had to be used precisely where they were most effective.
Men and women in various uniforms scurried back and forth in several massive strategic halls.
Hovering servo-skulls and information windows followed beside them. They were the lubricant of this vast Imperium, its heart, ensuring its operation.
Without them, the Holy Emperor would be unable to effectively control the Imperium.
Cawl weaved through the civilian personnel.
He had not come alone.
He brought a retinue.
At the forefront, a tech-priest in red robes held a banner, sprinkling holy anointing oil on the path ahead.
Sages of various specializations clustered around Cawl, forming a clear and orderly procession, stratified by rank. The servitors attending them exuded the aroma of oil fumes and the rhythmic hum of data transmissions, while scurrying Canoptek Angels chirped binary blessings.
Imperial bureaucrats along the way saluted the Archmagos.
Cawl's prestige was immense.
He had spent ten millennia bringing the Holy Emperor out of his coma.
Had it not been for him, humanity would likely have rapidly marched towards extinction after Abaddon destroyed Cadia.
His achievements were enough to secure his place in the Imperium's historical records, leaving an indelible mark.
Currently, he was also the Holy Emperor's most trusted aide.
Cawl, however, paid no mind to the numerous saluting staff and bureaucrats.
At his status and position, he no longer needed to engage in the energy-wasting social niceties and political struggles.
He led his retinue directly through an internal corridor without external windows. They walked across exquisite carpets laid over corridors that concealed large machinery.
Priceless golden sculptures were embedded in shrines dense with cable coils.
Murals depicting the eight heroic Primarchs, the Holy Emperor, and numerous Imperial heroes were carved onto the surface of the gleaming metal.
Some mechanical personnel bustled about, maintaining and repairing the machinery's operation.
Cawl and his group arrived at a massive arched antechamber.
Sicarius and Captain-General Valerian stood there.
Above them, crystal chandeliers glittered.
Beneath their feet, the carpet was finely woven and intricately designed.
"Archmagos," Sicarius approached Cawl.
"Where is His Majesty?" Cawl asked.
"He is in his study attending to urgent state affairs. Please follow me."
Valerian wore a tall, conical helmet, concealing his face. Through the helmet's eyepieces, Valerian silently observed the retinue of sages.
Only when Cawl passed did he nod in acknowledgment. The Captain-General of the Custodian Guard's status was no less than that of the Archmagos. Therefore, he did not need to salute like others.
Valerian remained vigilant at all times.
His helmet scanned the sages.
Several sages were highlighted with red outlines, indicating extreme danger.
Data tags flashed scant information about them.
Cawl's retinue of sages included influential figures from many of the Mechanicus' great Archmagos. They had undergone extensive bionic and genetic enhancements.
A Magos' power was not only demonstrated by his knowledge but also by his martial prowess.
Many sages would embed world-ending weapons within their own bodies.
Valerian assessed the threat posed by these individuals.
He calculated how long it would take him to eliminate them all. This was the duty of the Custodes. The Ten Thousand must eliminate all threats to the Holy Emperor.
Power struggles were ubiquitous. The Imperium's achievements invigorated countless individuals.
Yet, the greed and selfishness of the wicked could never be satisfied; they cared not for the Imperium's accomplishments, but rather focused their short-sighted gaze on their own interests.
Killing the Holy Emperor and destabilizing the situation would allow them to gain more. There were also those who held high positions but had forgotten their original intentions.
Enslaved by desire and power, they secretly engaged in various illegal activities not permitted by Imperial law. They yearned to restore the old order, to perpetuate their vile genes forever, and to poison the Imperium of Man.
But the Holy Emperor's existence ensured their ambitions would remain unfulfilled.
Only by assassinating the Holy Emperor could they mobilize sufficient power to abolish the current system and restore their former noble status.
Cawl's entourage waited in place. The Archmagos himself, meanwhile, followed Sicarius to Guilliman's private study. The massive gilded doors slowly opened.
Cawl entered with a reverent demeanor.
It was a high-domed room, cold, devoid of warmth or luxury.
Light streamed from the luminators on the ceiling, illuminating the vast study.
"Your Majesty," Cawl saluted Guilliman behind the desk.
"You may leave now, Sicarius," Guilliman said softly. The doors closed after Sicarius exited. The outside clamor was shut out.
Silence enveloped the room.
Only the faint hum of data devices echoed within.
"How are the research projects progressing?" Guilliman set down the data-crystal in his hand and rubbed his forehead, alleviating the fatigue from his work.
"Everything is on track. Several sages exploring outside have brought us many new ideas and technological directions. Magos Sigma has entered a world capable of manifesting as a giant using emotional power, and she is attempting to dissect the principles of how those powers operate. If successful, this technology will soon be at our disposal."
"Your brothers, Primarchs Ferrus and Vulkan, have also achieved outstanding successes. Lord Ferrus' miniaturization project for the micro-universe has achieved theoretical breakthroughs and only lacks the means to translate the theory into practical technology.
Lord Vulkan, meanwhile, has found entirely new applications for weaponry.
The rule-based artifacts collected from the trans-universe tunnels have given him new inspiration, and he plans to create a batch of weapons capable of distorting rules. If successful, the trans-universal expeditionary force could gain a significant advantage with these weapons."
"Preliminary results have been obtained from the background analysis of Universe 04 and Universe 05.
One is a ruined universe left behind by a transcendent civilization, and the other may be a digitized experimental universe created by another civilization."
Guilliman listened to Cawl's report. The sages were currently working to update the various technologies required for the trans-universal expeditionary force and the Imperium's economy and politics. They were developing specialized counter-technologies for the various enemies encountered by the Imperial expeditionary forces.
Guilliman integrated this information, considering which technologies required more resources to ensure they would provide the Imperium with a greater advantage in the upcoming wars. The Imperium needed to conquer a universe to obtain the fifth-stage database. The best choice, naturally, was the home universe.
However, the threat of the Four Gods caused Guilliman some concern.
He had defeated their pawns and the traitors who had sided with them.
But for the Chaos Gods, these were merely game pieces spiraling out of control, far from threatening their own foundations.
Guilliman worried that too much investment in the home universe would allow the Four Gods to exploit a loophole and repeat the Great Heresy, which would be a colossal disaster. Therefore, after careful consideration, he decided to focus the mission of conquering a universe on Universe 04. That was a ruined universe left behind after the collapse of a transcendent civilization.
Compared to other universes, the difficulty was lower.
Universe 01 was a purely corrupted universe; the Imperium would have to conquer and cleanse those worlds before colonizing them.
In Universe 02, the only entities currently appearing and confronting the Imperium were the captive superheroes and the Pantheon members spawned from civilization's beliefs. The true mastermind, the so-called First Cause—the Supreme God's pawns—had yet to appear. To conquer that universe, one would have to directly confront an omniscient and omnipotent being on par with Yog-Sothoth.
From data read from the grand cosmic background and from captured observers, it was known that the Supreme God was the ultimate existence of Universe 02, the creator who had forged that multiverse.
Behind Universe 03 was the creator of the Cycle Game, a terrifying entity that enslaved countless players. To rule that universe, the Imperium would have to confront it.
Guilliman did not intend to abandon the rescue and conquest of these three universes; rather, he prioritized them. The current primary objective was to obtain the fifth-stage database, thereby granting humanity stronger technology.
Focusing energy and resources on the abandoned Universe 04 was a good thing. The civilizations in Universe 04 were all transcendent civilizations established primarily through warp-space techniques, and they had now collapsed. The cause of the collapse was currently unknown.
Most of the detected worlds had a technological level only comparable to the agricultural feudal era. The local natives preserved some ancient techniques, mastering psyker abilities through cultivation. They referred to it as cultivation.
More importantly, the scale of Universe 04 was not as large as other universes.
It was possible that those civilizations had waged some war at their peak, causing the universe to shrink in size.
According to the Mechanicus' calculations, it might only be around three hundred trillion light-years in diameter. The Imperium could quickly gain control of Universe 04, fulfilling the requirements of the fifth-stage mission.
It also allowed them to stay away from the Four Gods, leaving a future base for humanity, making it currently the optimal solution.
Only when Cawl finished speaking did Guilliman state his purpose.
"My reason for summoning you is to propose a research project for Universe 04. The Imperium's conquest efforts will be focused on this universe."
"With all due respect, Universe 04 is not a very worthwhile choice. It is a ruined universe left by a transcendent civilization; while its strength is certainly the weakest, its resources are also the poorest."
The Imperium has already launched military incursions into multiple universes, establishing outposts to ensure they don't put all their eggs in one basket. This way, even if the Imperium's struggle fails, there's still a way out.
Never underestimate your enemy.
Even a pig has its tusks, capable of goring a hunter attempting to kill it.
Much less the gods. They are currently blocked in the Warp. That doesn't mean they are harmless.
Distributing the Imperium's presence across various universes is the best method Guilliman could conceive.
When the situation becomes untenable, at least they can still leave.
"The resources in Universe 04 are indeed the worst, but I've assessed that if the Imperium were to rule the entire universe, the resources extracted from the ruins would be sufficient to sustain its operations, and the Imperium would also develop that place to make it more suitable for human habitation," Guilliman said.
"We need to control a universe that belongs entirely to the Imperium. Our home system is too harsh, and information from many extragalactic exploration teams indicates that the outside is also a mess. Besides the tyranids, who knows how many destructive creations ancient civilizations have left in this universe. If we choose this as our first target to control, we would have to bear immense risks."
"The Dark Angels, with the help of the Watchers, are gradually clearing out some ancient civilization relics on the outskirts of the galaxy. Those guys have hidden many things inside, powerful and threatening. If they fall into the wrong hands, they could very likely shake the foundations of the Imperium."
As Guilliman spoke of this, he recalled the weapon in Abaddon's hand.
First, it injured him, then it severely wounded Calgar, who still hasn't recovered.
Calgar is still lying in a hospital bed.
If he hadn't personally intervened to save him, he might not have woken up by now.
And that weapon was created by an ancient civilization. Then there are the tyranids; Guilliman also has reason to suspect they are not a naturally evolved species.
It's highly probable they were used as biological weapons by some civilization, similar to the orks.
After losing control, they became what they are now.
For Guilliman to unify this universe, the difficulty is immense; the various destructive creations left behind by ancient civilizations alone would be enough to give him a headache.
And then there are the Four Gods, those meddlers.
Ruling this universe can truly be said to have small gains and great costs.
It's a venture that could easily result in a loss.
It would be better to shift the target to the ruins of Universe 04. The civilization there has declined, and there are no overly powerful Chaos Gods present.
Eliminating the natives and seizing key nodal areas would allow control of the entire universe. This would provide the Imperium with a massive inter-universal colony, serving as a backup for the Imperium.
It would also kill multiple birds with one stone.
"If you are determined to do so, I will strive to accomplish it," Cawl said respectfully.
"Then help me accomplish it. I need a deconstruction report for Universe 04. The full conquest will be launched once the evaluation report is out. We need to seize a universe as quickly as possible," Guilliman said.
No one knows how long it will take to conquer a universe.
Even if Universe 04 has significantly shrunk.
It is still over 30 billion light-years across. That is an unimaginable distance, a vast expanse far exceeding the control of any past human regime.
Whether it will take a century or a millennium, it's impossible to estimate. This will be a long campaign.
Countless soldiers of the Imperium will be committed to this battle.
Some soldiers will spend their entire lives consumed by it.
If they succeed in obtaining a universe, the Imperium will also enter a new phase.
After conversing for a while longer, discussing some of the current shortcomings of the Imperium, Cawl rose to take his leave.
Cawl exited the study, returning to his retinue under the gaze of the tall warriors. Those techna-priests received the Holy Emperor's directives from Cawl.
Each of them held a high position within the Imperium.
Yet, an audience with the Emperor remained a very difficult matter. The Imperium was too vast, and the sheer volume of its affairs was unimaginable.
For Guilliman, every second was precious.
It was impossible to summon every techna-priest and official.
Only when they achieved significant breakthroughs or accomplishments would Guilliman personally summon them and bestow honors as a reward.
After Cawl left, Guilliman also stepped out of his study.
"How is Calgar?" Guilliman inquired.
"He's out of danger now, currently recuperating," Sicarius said. "The medics said that blow nearly took his life."
Guilliman remained silent.
He had personally witnessed the power of that weapon.
During the Battle of Cadia, he almost lost everything.
If it hadn't been for Lord Cypher, who was lurking beside Abaddon, the Imperium would likely be welcoming its third Emperor by now.
Yog-Sothoth, who had caused him great trouble, was ultimately dealt with by the weapon in Abaddon's hand.
A projected avatar of an omniscient and omnipotent being, just like that, fell.
"Let him rest well. Once his condition has fully improved, we'll make the next plans," Guilliman said.
"I understand," Sicarius nodded.
Guilliman turned to Valerian and asked about Abaddon and the others.
Numerous traitors had been imprisoned at the Phalanx, guarded by upgraded Custodes.
"Vashtorr is willing to serve you, Your Majesty," Valerian spoke of the Warp entity sealed until now. The entity was an out-and-out opportunist.
Realizing Abaddon had no future, he decisively chose to join the Imperium's ranks. The Holy Emperor's reputation in the Warp was no less than that of the Four Gods.
Some desperate daemons would choose to pledge allegiance to the Imperium, solely to prolong their existence.
Competition in the Warp was equally fierce and brutal.
While daemons possessed immortal lifespans, many of their days were not easy. They would be tormented by endless hunger. They could easily become slaves and puppets of more powerful daemons, or even be devoured. The Warp is a mirror of reality.
All emotions and dreams manifest in the Warp.
Every rising civilization and nation has its own myths, terrifying legends, and even history. These elements are the foundation for the birth of Warp entities.
All human fantasies and dreams resonate within the Warp. These echoes formed those immortal beings. The pantheons of every race and every world also originated from this.
However, everything has its day of decay; even the most glorious civilizations will eventually perish, and the Warp gods dependent on those civilizations naturally become pathetic daemons.
When a god's name is forgotten, it too will descend into madness through eternal hunger and torment, eventually either becoming a slave to Chaos Gods or a wandering unliving entity of the Warp, driven by hunger, using all means to trick flesh and souls to satisfy its insatiable hunger.
"What value does he have?" Guilliman asked.
"He says he is willing to provide technological knowledge of ancient civilizations and the locations of hidden ruins," Valerian said.
"An Imperial version of the old man in the ring!"
Guilliman found this plot somewhat familiar.
A protagonist, suppressed and downtrodden, unexpectedly receives help from a residual soul, eventually rising against all odds, dominating enemies, reaching the pinnacle of life, and marrying his childhood sweetheart, a rich beauty, and the girl next door.
Abaddon was undoubtedly the man who got the old man, but unfortunately, he was unlucky and was crippled by the Imperium before he could rise.
"Hand him over to Corax," Guilliman said. "See how much valuable information he can reveal."
"I will give the order immediately."
Guilliman nodded. This time, he had been out of the laboratory long enough; it was a good way to relax.
He still had to go back and continue preparing for the hero's resurrection plan. This matter would be his most important task for the foreseeable future.
********
Tavern.
"I am Kyriel Sindermann, Chief Remembrancer of the Great Crusade's 63rd Expeditionary Fleet. I was there when Horus was appointed Warmaster on Ullanor; I was there when Horus was deceived by the lies of Chaos and abandoned the Emperor's love; I was there when the Luna Wolves began to fall from within;
I was there when brother fought brother on Isstvan III; I was there when the Emperor slew Horus. I witnessed glorious rise, I witnessed shameful betrayal. I beheld the Imperium's glory, and I beheld the shattering of humanity's dream."
This passage is recorded in the Inquisitorial archives, the last words left by Inquisitor Veritus, poisoned by Grand Master Vangorich of the Officio Assassinorum.
Sindermann was once a chronicler of knowledge, reason, and tolerance, striving to preserve the history of the Great Crusade for humanity and collect lost knowledge.
Ultimately, he became the founder of the Inquisition, an institution that sealed knowledge and hindered progress.
Fate is like a sarcastic play, trapping everyone within it, unable to escape or break free.