"So that's how it is—"
Hearing this, Emrys roughly understood the meaning and reason behind Lloyd's actions.
No wonder he said those words before he died: 'It was Lloyd Fernando who lost, not the Fernando family!'
He used this method to preserve the last shred of hope for the Fernando family!
"As expected of an old fox who has to live for over two hundred years—he even calculated me into his plans." Although he was outmaneuvered, Emrys wasn't angry.
This was essentially an exchange of interests.
Lloyd handed control of the Eternity Furnace to Lillian and exempted her from this rebellion. Coupled with Emrys' and her resistance, even the Inquisition would not punish Lillian.
But as long as the 'Eternity Furnace' still existed, with Lillian's steady and enduring temperament, the Fernando family would not disappear and would eventually rise again!
"You should know where the star chart I want is, right?" Emrys looked at Lillian.
"I know, Lord Emrys."
Lillian was well aware of her position, nodding her head slightly.
"The Emrys family's star chart is in the core of the Eternity Furnace."
That old man, he calculated everything!
Although he benefited, Emrys still felt uncomfortable. By throwing the family star chart into the core of the Eternity Furnace, wasn't that indirectly forcing him to protect Lillian and the last bloodline of the Fernando family?
To get the star chart, he absolutely needed Lillian!
Even if he wanted to abandon Lillian, the Inquisition would keep Lillian, and even have her procreate to continue the bloodline, otherwise the Eternity Furnace could not be used!
Fernando and the Eternity Furnace were bound together; no matter which faction ultimately obtained it, Lillian's survival had to be ensured!
"What a brilliant scheme, he even arranged his path after death—" Emrys couldn't help but sigh. Although they were on opposing sides, Lloyd was still a worthy opponent to admire.
"Yes."
Lillian's eyes were cast down, her heart complex.
In her mind, the scene of her being severely injured by the statue that day reappeared.
"You… you actually conspired with outsiders to destroy Fernando?!"
Lloyd was first shocked, then furious. But after a moment of rage, an incomprehensible complexity appeared on his face. He gazed at her silently, and after a long time, he said.
"Good, good, good—it is the Fernando family's honor, and my honor, to have a descendant like you!"
Lillian, knowing she was exposed, completely abandoned her pretense, tearing off her facade, and glared at him with venomous rage.
"I only feel disgusted by the blood flowing in my body, the Fernando family—what a pity I won't be able to witness its destruction with my own eyes!"
Watching the hysterical Lillian curse the Fernando family, Lloyd merely looked on calmly, then said.
"There is one thing you can never deny—you are a descendant of the Fernando family, our blood flows in your body!"
"So what?!"
Lillian took a breath, glaring at him fiercely.
"You won't succeed, the Fernando family will surely be destroyed!"
"Perhaps so."
Lloyd was expressionless, as if truly seeing his granddaughter for the first time, his eyes filled with complexity.
"It's been over twenty years, ever since I transferred you to the 'shadow Blade' to follow me. For twenty whole years, you haven't made a single mistake. This temperament and endurance are truly rare!"
"Old man, how could you know—what I've sacrificed to get revenge on Fernando!"
Lillian bit her silver teeth, blood flowing from her lips, bitterness mixed with hatred, surging into her mouth, both sour and sweet!
For over twenty years, every day she woke up, she was constantly on edge, meticulous, afraid of revealing her true thoughts!
She even remembered how many steps she needed to take each day when going to see Lloyd, the distance of each step, she kept it all in her heart!
From her gaze and expression to every minute detail, there hadn't been a single error in over twenty years!
She only regretted that she couldn't personally witness the destruction of this sinful family!
"Destruction is fine too—" Lloyd suddenly seemed to age decades, his body hunched, a bitter expression on his face.
"It's time for these days to end, but the Fernando family will never be destroyed. Only we should be destroyed!"
With that, he turned his gaze to Lillian, a hint of relief in his eyes.
"And you will become the cornerstone of the Fernando family's rebirth after its destruction!"
The memory ended, Lillian's heart was very complex. She had clearly wanted to destroy the Fernando family, but in the end, by a strange twist of fate, she became the last Fernando!
Lloyd, in this way, left a seed for Fernando and, in turn, personally destroyed the past, sinful Fernando!
Emrys sighed, looking at the central treatment area, feeling a bit exasperated.
If it weren't for that old man Lloyd, he wouldn't have to shamelessly come here, but for the Eternity Furnace—he had no choice but to come!
He was here to visit an old acquaintance.
Pushing open the door, Aldrich, wrapped up like a zongzi, was lying in a hospital bed, writing something.
Hearing someone enter, he turned his head, and upon seeing Emrys, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Thank the God-Emperor for allowing me to see you again, Mr. Emrys. Thank you for your dedication to the Imperium."
"As an Imperial-sanctioned rogue trader, these are all things I should do, Inquisitor."
After a few humble words, Emrys explained.
"Things happened suddenly then, I hope you can understand our decision to leave you behind."
"Oh, you mean that." Aldrich smiled and shook his head.
"Don't worry, if it were me, I would have made the same decision as you. Abandoning a worthless and high-risk companion is a very correct choice, you don't need to worry."
"How is your body?" Emrys asked with concern.
"Not bad, but because my bones and skin were dissolved, I have to have implants."
Aldrich didn't seem very concerned about his physical condition.
"Thank the God-Emperor for allowing me to continue serving the Imperium. It seems my life… can continue to create more value for His Majesty and the Imperium."
Because he was the first person to be infected with the virus, Aldrich's symptoms were the most severe.
Almost all of his bones and skin were dissolved, including multiple organ damages. to live was already a blessing from the Yellow-skinned Fox.
If this were the 3K era, Aldrich would most likely have to spend the rest of his life in the ICU, on a ventilator.
But this was Warhammer 40K, and putting everything else aside, mechanical implants and bio-modification technology were very advanced.
As he said, a large number of mechanical prosthetics and internal organs had to be implanted to sustain his life.
"Praise the God-Emperor, your loyalty will surely be seen by the Golden Throne."
Emrys praised him, then fell silent.
Aldrich on the hospital bed immediately saw through his thoughts, stopping what he was recording.
He smiled and said.
"You came to see me, it shouldn't be just to check on my condition, should it?"
"Alright, you saw through me."
Emrys sighed, only able to truthfully say.
"I want you to protect someone."
"The last bloodline of Fernando?"
The experienced Inquisitor naturally saw through his intention at a glance, looking at Emrys with a knowing smile.
"Lillian Fernando, the only survivor, right?"
"Yes, Inquisitor, you are truly brilliant."
Since he was exposed, Emrys no longer concealed it.
"She is very important to me. If reported truthfully, according to the Fernando family's crimes, she would also be sent to the Inquisition, so I want to ask you to conceal a little for me in your report."
"This matter is easy to handle, but you also have to agree to one request of mine." Aldrich was unexpectedly agreeable,
which made Emrys stunned for a few seconds.
"What request?"
Emrys asked tentatively.
"It's very simple for you."
Aldrich put down the report, looked at Emrys, and smiled.
"Let me board your exploration fleet and go to Imperium Nihilus with you. That is my request."
Allowing a veteran Inquisitor to board his flagship, Emrys seemed to already see himself tied to a stake, undergoing the white phosphorus execution!