Arthur is critically ill and dying?!
These few words, like a bolt from the blue, made Emrys' pupils constrict.
He had only been gone for four days, what exactly happened on Roselle?
Was it a cult? The Warp? Chaos? Necrons?
In an instant, many guesses popped into Emrys' mind, and a vivid red seemed to ignite deep within his pupils, burning quietly like fire.
Inside the vast, magnificent hall, the temperature suddenly dropped, and layers of frost condensed.
"Lord Emrys," Elsa naturally knew that the anomaly in the hall all came from this esteemed lord.
However, from the situation Arthur informed her of, the lord's psychic power seemed to be more than just 'Eta-level'!
Chilling and sinister, as if containing malice from the highest heavens, mixed with a palpable killing intent, it emanated from Emrys' mouth, forming two heavy, resounding syllables that vibrated the air in the hall: "Who is it?"
"You are too agitated. This is not like him."
Carol held her gear staff, pacing back and forth in the hall, her mechanical eyes, flowing with data, fixed on Emrys: "Your psychic power has grown stronger again. Compared to the last data, it should have increased by at least two ranks. I guess... it should be 'Epsilon-level' now, right?"
Emrys didn't answer her question, instead looking at Elsa: "Tell me, who exactly assassinated Grandpa?"
"Lord Emrys, you can completely trust 'Archmagos Carol'." Elsa did not directly give the answer, but knelt on one knee, lowering her head.
"Don't overthink it, kid." Carol stopped, standing directly in front of him, and said in a hoarse voice: "The wounds on Arthur are not recent. This matter is related to a battle from over ten years ago. You will only be qualified to know once you inherit the Emrys family."
Over ten years ago? Emrys frowned slightly, but still detected a clue from Carol's words.
He was seventeen this year, and if nothing unexpected happened, could it be related to his cheap father's disappearance?
Connecting this to the fact that the vast Merlin Rogue Trader Dynasty had only him left as a direct bloodline, and the answer to the assassination in the banquet hall last time, the truth was already obvious.
"Alright, I won't ask." Emrys took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging anger: "But you must tell me why my is critically ill, right?"
Carol's fingers, holding the gear staff, rubbed lightly, as if her thoughts were immersed in that past: "Arthur Merlin once suffered a fatal assassination."
She paused for a moment, observing the heir's expression, then continued: "It was a meticulously planned assassination, and the only one... that happened on the Excalibur while sailing in the Warp. Although the assassin failed to kill Arthur at the time, the weapon they used was coated with a bio-genetic toxin."
"An assassination on the Excalibur?" Emrys was shocked.
One must know, that was the family's flagship, with a 'Machine Spirit' present. Who could possibly allow an assassin to infiltrate a Rogue Trader's family flagship?
"What happened that day has been sealed by Arthur; no one knows besides him." Carol's tone was complex, she said: "I think, perhaps only when you inherit the position of Emrys family head will you truly know the truth of that assassination."
"Are you saying that the toxin left in my Grandpa's body from that time is incurable?" Emrys keenly grasped the key point.
A 'toxin' that even an Archmagos Biologis could not cure—could it be some trick of Chaos again?
"Over the years, I have traveled to many places with Arthur." Carol sighed deeply, shaking her head: "But the bio-genetic toxin in his body was specially formulated, and it is only effective against the direct bloodline of 'Merlin'. Once infected... from the nerves to the soul, it will gradually weaken until death."
Although he could barely see the human form, Emrys could still clearly sense a feeling of despair from her 'expression'.
"I have done my best to sustain Arthur's life." Carol said softly: "But, it has reached its limit. Perhaps he achieved his wish, or perhaps he is too tired, and the toxin is spreading too quickly. Unless there is a large stasis field device, or a powerful life-extension surgery, Arthur can live for three more months at most." A large stasis field is essentially like Guilliman, whose time was permanently frozen a second before death.
However, such devices are often extremely precious, and even the Merlin Rogue Trader Dynasty could not obtain one, unless they went to Macragge to borrow from the Thirteenth Lord.
Otherwise, they would have to rob the Martian Mechanicum, the Yellow Springs Eight Mechanicum, and so on, but the success rate would be minimal, as the 'grease monkeys' are not to be trifled with.
It seemed the only remaining viable option was advanced 'life-extension surgery'.
So the question arose: where could one find advanced life-extension surgery in just three short months?
Coincidentally, the neighboring world, the Agamemnus family, just happened to possess a renowned life-extension surgery within the Imperium's territory!
But that also meant he would have to actively step into that battlefield known as Purgatory!
Just then, Emrys suddenly saw Carol, still holding her gear staff, slowly bend down and kneel on one knee, and he was immediately surprised: "What are you doing?!"
This was a Archmagos Mechanicus who served the Omnissiah. Even if she was hired by the Emrys family, how could she kneel to him?
But Carol remained still, looking up at him: "When I was young, I met Arthur. He said he would take me to see the wider Milky Way Galaxy, and he did. He showed me so, so many sights that even the Imperium of Man, and even the Mechanicum, had never seen."
Listening to these words, Emrys could imagine what dangers the two had braved together, and how many secrets unknown to humanity they had witnessed in the dark regions beyond the Milky Way Galaxy.
"Arthur, to me, is both family Head and the best friend."
Carol slowly lowered her head, her voice deep and hoarse, saying: "Before he fell into a coma, he instructed me... no matter what, I must train you to become a qualified Rogue Trader and inherit the honor of Merlin! Now, I, Carol Solaris, swear allegiance to you, witnessed by the Omnissiah!"
"I, Elsa Emrys!"
Elsa maintained her kneeling posture, striking her heart with her right fist, and said powerfully: "I will dedicate everything to you, my Master Merlin Emrys, including my life. May the Emperor be my witness, until death, I remain steadfast!"
It turned out that Arthur had already made preparations before being completely consumed by the toxin and falling into a coma.
Whether his body could still last until the day his grandson grew into a qualified Rogue Trader, he had already paved the way for Emrys' future.
"No, we still have one more way."
Emrys took a deep breath, finally making up his mind.
Looking at their somewhat surprised eyes, he felt exhausted in his heart and said softly: "The Agamemnus possesses high-level life-extension surgery, and there is definitely a large stasis field at the Yellow Springs Eight Mechanicum stationed on Vigilus."
Since there was no escaping, he might as well not escape!
This was how Emrys was; although many times he was unwilling to put himself in danger.
However, when there was no escape, he would instead be spurred to courage. In the astonished gazes of Carol and Elsa, he was filled with heroic spirit, looking out at the starry sky: "I, in my capacity as the heir of the Emrys Rogue Trader Dynasty, command: next stop... Vigilus!"
Carol was surprised by the plan Emrys proposed.
But he quickly shook his head, seemingly with some regret, and sighed softly: "I'm glad you value Lord Arthur so much, but I must tell you, this plan won't work."
With that, before Emrys could speak, he continued: "In the original plan, Lord Arthur intended to go to Vigilus, partly to repair the Void Shield of the Excalibur and partly to try and contact Agamemnus, but unfortunately, this plan has been shelved."
Clearly, Arthur, as a Rogue Trader, and Carol, as a Magos Biologis, had already considered this point.
It was just that, for various reasons, they ultimately gave up.
"Shelved? Why?" Emrys didn't understand.
"Because Vigilus reported a large-scale Ork invasion several years ago."
On Carol's somewhat terrifying mechanical head, data flickered with dangerous warnings: "Furthermore, the Mechanicus Forge world Stygies VIII and the Agamemnus family do not have a good relationship. Even if we use the name 'Emrys,' they won't take us seriously, and besides—"
The latter half of the sentence, out of politeness, the Magos Biologis did not state directly.
But Emrys understood his unspoken meaning and chuckled: "You mean they wouldn't care even less about the heir of a Rogue Trader Dynasty, right?"
"At least, not as much as you imagine."
After speaking, Carol didn't forget to add: "Don't forget, this isn't the Segmentum Solar; it's the Segmentum Obscurus."
Emrys felt a headache coming on and pinched the bridge of his nose, falling into contemplation.
If one were to speak of revered and noble status, the Agamemnus family naturally couldn't compare to the Rogue Trader Dynasty with 'Imperial blood.'
But the problem was, the great Emrys direct bloodline had only one remaining, and it had been in decline for hundreds of years. The heavy losses a decade ago had caused the entire family to fall completely, with only Arthur struggling to maintain it, far from its glorious and dazzling peak.
The Agamemnus family has controlled Vigilus for a thousand years.
And because the Mechanicus Forge world Stygies VIII excavated an ancient, fortress-grade energy shield device STC template on Vigilus, it became famous within Imperial territory.
Therefore, Vigilus' most famous output was providing fortress-grade large energy shield devices to various Imperial factions.
Its vast mineral resources, weapon production, and population also made it an important world for the Imperial tithe.
And advanced life-extension surgery was also one of the important means by which the Agamemnus family sought to win over various Imperial political forces.
Although the Mechanicus Forge world Stygies VIII and the Ecclesiarchy constantly vied for power with Agamemnus on Vigilus, it was undeniable that Agamemnus, which had existed on this world for a thousand years, was still a force to be reckoned with.
Whether it was the Agamemnus family or the Mechanicus Forge world Stygies VIII, both were 'local tyrants' on Vigilus.
As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot overpower a local snake. Moreover, the current Emrys family was completely 'strong on the outside but weak on the inside.' If Arthur went personally, perhaps various factions would still show some respect.
But Emrys, as the heir of Emrys, would not be taken seriously by them at all.
This was also why Carol, despite knowing that Vigilus had the technology to extend Arthur's life, did not proactively mention it.
Arthur had secretly discussed it with him, but the conclusion was: it was negligible.
Unless he was willing to surrender the 'Warrant of Trade' to petition the High Lords of Terra for a large stasis field.
The High Lords would surely not refuse to exchange a large stasis field for that ancient 'Warrant of Trade' personally granted by the Emperor with his blood from long ago.
It was just a pity that Arthur would rather die than surrender the 'honor' personally bestowed by the Emperor!
"No matter what, we have to try." Emrys absolutely could not stand by and watch Arthur be tortured to death by the poison.
Not to mention, Arthur was his only relative in the Warhammer Universe.
Just Arthur's rich experience alone was irreplaceable by anyone else. As the saying goes, an old person in the family is like a treasure, let alone a 'Rogue Trader'?
Carol also found himself in a dilemma, unable to make a choice for a moment.
On one side was Arthur's entrustment, and on the other was Emrys' command. He neither wanted to put this heir in danger, nor did he want to watch his old friend be tortured to death by that poison.
"Lord Emrys, have you truly thought this through?"
The Magos Biologis' tone became a little heavier: "Once you step onto Vigilus, with your current status, you will inevitably be drawn into the already chaotic political struggle, and there are also large Ork forces outside. This is an extremely dangerous act, and I do not advise you to go against his decision."
"A friend once told me," Emrys grinned, his eyes bright with spirit, and youthful vigor radiating from him: "Before learning to walk, you have to learn to run. Don't forget, I'm not a child who grew up in a greenhouse. Before I met grandpa, I fought my way up from the Underhive!"
At this moment, looking at the unrestrained and heroic Emrys, Carol suddenly seemed to see the shadow of Arthur in his youth on him.
The same fearlessness, the same proud abandon!
After a long silence, the Magos Biologis gripped his cog-axe and said in a deep voice: "Alright, if that's the case, I believe you!"
Arthur trusted Carol greatly and, correspondingly, granted him immense power. So Emrys' first step was to gain the support of this elder!
With Carol's support, the other minor troubles were naturally nothing to fear.
"Elsa, notify everyone to immediately return to the family flagship." Emrys turned to her, a slight smile on his lips, his eyes gleaming with a faint light: "Next stop, we're going to Vigilus!"
The Excalibur-class cruiser was practically like a small island.
Under Elsa's introduction, Emrys roughly understood some parts. The entire cruiser was divided into several decks.
The lowest deck, because it encountered a huge storm during the last Warp jump, resulted in all slaves being purged, so new ones had to be conscripted from Roselle.
Next was the middle deck, usually for experienced void-marines, boarding parties, etc., used for combat personnel's living and training areas.
The upper deck housed many scientific research personnel from various fields, involved in logistics and other aspects.
Finally, there was the top deck, where only those bearing the name 'Emrys' or personally permitted by Arthur could walk.
In the magnificent shrine, nearly a hundred meters high, stood a holy effigy of the Emperor.
It seemed to be a hall used for 'prayer' on a daily basis, with family banners hanging from the left and right pillars, along with scriptures chronicling glorious history.
At the very end of the prayer hall was the core area of Emrys!
Elsa and Carol tacitly stopped in the prayer hall.
"Now, you need to go in alone, lord Emrys."
Elsa said softly, guiding him with a gesture.
Emrys descended the spiral staircase, arriving at a grand, ancient hall.
Suddenly, lights on both sides bloomed, illuminating in sequence like lit fire, burning from the left and right pillars to the end, and a giant mechanical throne prominently entered his sight.
At the same time, a mechanical voice echoed throughout the ancient hall.
"Please, Heir, take your 'throne'."
Emrys took a deep breath, treading on the soft red carpet, and ascended the steps one by one.
Looking at the throne that seemed to have been passed down from ancient times, he subconsciously gently stroked the seat with his index finger, as if he could feel the grand history of Emrys from it!
The next moment, he sat down, and the entire throne seemed to be activated, complex patterns along the throne lit up.
"Welcome, Mr. Merlin Emrys."
"Bloodline detected. Qualified!"
"Iris verification. Passed!"
"Voiceprint verification. Passed!"
"Genetic sequence detected. Qualified!"
"Congratulations, Mr. Merlin Emrys, I am the Machine Spirit of the Excalibur."
"The Excalibur-class cruiser has been formally authorized to you by Arthur Emrys. From this moment on, you will have the highest authority over the entire ship!"