Guilliman's words echoed through the strategy chamber.
"I will give my all to accomplish this mission," Calgar said.
Guilliman nodded, gesturing for Calgar and the others to stand up.
He turned and walked to the strategy table made of smooth, silver-white metal.
Scattered data crystals and books were placed on the tabletop. There were also some printed blueprints.
In addition to this, a large number of information windows were suspended above the table. These information windows were all about the battle situations across the Imperium.
After being processed by professionals, this information had been greatly simplified.
However, the sheer volume of intelligence and information generated daily by the vast empire was unimaginable, and even after simplification, it was still an extremely large amount. The mechanical hum was very faint, mixed with the sound of armor shutdown servos.
Calgar and the others gathered around the strategy table, waiting for Guilliman to continue speaking.
Guilliman reached out and pointed to a data window.
Immediately, complex images appeared within, surging like a tide. They were all of dilapidated grand castles, endless giant buildings, and various ruined sculptures.
Even though they were just photos, the sense of decay was palpable. These photos were all from Universe 04. They were taken by the exploration team that had gone there.
It was a universe that had gone into decline after a period of glory.
"Cawl's report has pointed out the weakness of that universe. That universe was once prevalent with supernatural civilizations. Those races built magnificent holy places and once had glorious and splendid cities. However, those civilizations have been destroyed by time. The Imperium needs that universe, Calgar," Guilliman said in a deep voice. "Your mission is extremely important and concerns the future of the Imperium."
"The relevant preparatory work has been arranged by Mars. A large-scale army will be transported through the inter-universe tunnel and the Webway."
Calgar nodded and opened his personal database, entering the relevant information into it. The strategy meeting regarding Universe 04 lasted for a considerable amount of time.
As it involved the activation of the fifth-phase database, Guilliman had to pay close attention.
Only after confirming all the relevant work did the meeting conclude.
After turning off the holographic projection, Guilliman called out to Calgar, who was preparing to leave.
"There's still some time before departure. Come for a walk with me first."
Guilliman's words were undoubtedly a great honor. There was no way Calgar could refuse.
Even as the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, Calgar rarely had the opportunity to spend time alone with his genetic father. The duties of the Holy Emperor were busy and heavy.
On one hand, he needed to handle the Imperium's political affairs and supervise the operation of the bureaucracy.
On the other hand, he also needed to control the direction of the Imperium's scientific research and protect the souls of the Imperium's citizens, ensuring they were not seized by those evil entities. The place Guilliman and Calgar went to was not far.
It was an indoor garden located not far from the laboratory. The garden was well-planned. Tall trees and flower beds complemented each other, illuminated by lighting devices on the ceiling.
Programmed servitors meticulously maintained every plant.
Automatic irrigation machines were running normally, watering the rare flowers and plants collected from across the galaxy and even other universes.
Occasionally, crackling sounds came from the insect extermination devices placed throughout.
When several staff members saw the Holy Emperor and the Lord of Ultramar walk in, they all bowed and then tacitly left.
"The variety here has increased again," Guilliman said. "I told them to just do it casually, but they always don't listen."
"You deserve the best, Your Majesty, no matter what it is," Calgar said sincerely. "You have made such great contributions to humanity. These things are nothing."
"Never flatter me like that. The achievements of today are the result of the efforts of everyone in the Imperium," Guilliman said. "You always like to attribute credit to a single person. That's not a good practice."
"The Imperium has struggled in darkness for so long, not only failing to progress but constantly regressing. When you awoke, you achieved so much. Is that not your credit?"
"Enough, let's not debate such things," Guilliman changed the subject, no longer discussing matters of credit and contribution. No matter how long they debated, it wouldn't change the fact that these guys saw him as a god.
"I will have the Imperium increase its investment in Universe 04. You must accelerate the conquest of that universe."
"I will do my best," Calgar said.
"Not do your best, but must," Guilliman said with a serious expression. "Cawl once asked me why I was so concerned about conquering a universe. I told him it was because I didn't tell him everything, only that Universe 04 was a strategic necessity for the Imperium. Because I was worried that if the real reason leaked, it would cause some crises within the Imperium. But you are different; you need to know the reason."
Hearing this, Calgar showed a hint of being flattered.
"The Firewall has absorbed all human emotions, ensuring that the human race will no longer nourish the Chaos Gods. However, doing so is like building a dam to block a raging flood. Used skillfully, it can not only prevent floods but also store water, but if something goes wrong, the dam will not only break, but it will also cause flooding.
Universe 04 is not only related to the Imperium's fallback route but also to the next step of the Firewall's plan, which is to establish a circulatory system, that is, to create a cycle of life and death belonging to the Imperium."
"No one can bear the faith of a civilized race alone, not even I. The flood must find an outlet, and so must those beliefs and emotions."
The outlet for emotions and beliefs was the Heroic Spirit Project.
Guilliman had been secretly using human emotions and the faith of the Imperial cult to create a legion of Heroic Spirits according to the methods of the Cursed host, in order to contend with the Four Gods.
Actually, Universe 04 was not needed.
But he couldn't say that he sent troops to seize Universe 04 to meet the conditions of the database!
He could only use this reason to motivate Calgar to work hard.
A smile appeared on Calgar's face. He could feel the trust of the Holy Emperor.
A strong sense of pride burned within him.
"I will never let you down, Your Majesty."
"I have always believed that, Calgar. I await your good news, I await you offering me the entire universe," Guilliman smiled and placed a hand on Calgar's shoulder.
*****
Webway, Hidden City. This place was completely isolated from the real universe, existing between reality and illusion. This city was designed by Dorn, Ferrus, Vulkan, and the Holy Emperor together, a truly hidden city.
Only the naked eye could perceive the existence of this city.
Beyond that, any other means would be interfered with. Tracing back in time, searching through the dreams of the Warp, one could not find this city.
Even peering from the perspective of fate, one could not detect the existence of this city. This was a truly hidden city, and even the gods could not know what was happening within this magnificent giant city through their great power.
Only from the few daemons who had managed to escape from the Imperium's hands could a little information about the Hidden City be learned. The captured Vashtorr was escorted here by the Custodes.
When the bumping stopped, he was driven out of the sealed cage by the Custodes with their halberds.
As soon as he walked out, a piercing scream made him tremble.
"Cherubael, you bastard, I will kill you!"
Looking in the direction of the sound, a daemon tied to a giant stone pillar was cursing hysterically.
Sacred chains that Vashtorr found repulsive bound the daemon, making it unable to move.
An Imperial cult follower, naked from the waist up and with a fanatical expression, was shouting the name of the Holy Emperor and whipping the daemon. The whip clearly possessed some kind of power.
Each lash caused the daemon to scream repeatedly and suffer intensely. The punisher whipped and cursed at the same time.
"Dare to escape! Do you really think my whip is for show!"