Radical Doctrine

"Yes, Your Excellency Bishop. I just became a Psyker."

Ron answered Bishop Dony's question directly.

He had noticed that when Bishop Dony asked the question, Bayev's expression had remained unchanged, and he had made no move.

That meant Ron was safe and had no need to hide anything.

Besides, he no longer needed to fear the Ecclesiarchy. The Imperium's reach could no longer extend to Earth Planet.

Upon hearing Ron's affirmative answer, Bishop Dony showed little reaction and merely nodded.

He continued smiling. "It seems the Psyker Screening was not mistaken. Do you often feel the call of The Void? That is not a good thing."

He then explained some precautions concerning Psykers.

Ron listened carefully, but he could not help asking, "Your Excellency Bishop, I am a Psyker. You do not mind?"

After all, under the Ecclesiarchy's doctrines, Psykers, like Mutants, were dangerous beings who had to be controlled and dealt with.

Hearing this, Bishop Dony froze for a moment. He looked at Ron with utter solemnity. "Do you acknowledge the God-Emperor as the one true god in this world?"

"Of course. I am the most loyal servant of The Great God-Emperor."

Ron answered without hesitation, his voice thunderous. He was only one step away from raising his arm and shouting an oath.

Whether he believed it or not, he had to give that answer.

Within the Imperium, believing in the God-Emperor was the greatest political correctness, the sole and proper thing.

Did you not believe?

Then you were a heretic and deserved to be judged!

"Praised be the God-Emperor!"

Bishop Dony nodded in satisfaction. "Believing in the God-Emperor is the sole and proper thing.

"Every lamb who believes in the God-Emperor should be treated equally. Moreover, neither your body nor soul has been corrupted. You are safe.

"Psykers can likewise receive the God-Emperor's recognition. Astropaths, for example—their contributions cannot be denied.

"They, like us, have given everything for His Great Majesty, the God-Emperor!"

As he spoke, Bishop Dony's expression grew ever more fervent. "In my view, regardless of who they are or what race they belong to, even if they are The Unclean, as long as they believe in the God-Emperor...

"Then they are lambs of the God-Emperor, loyal believers of the Ecclesiarchy!

"The God-Emperor's love is equal, and His radiance shines eternally upon all things!"

Watching the impassioned Bishop Dony, Ron suddenly understood.

Another fanatic of the God-Emperor—and his beliefs were even more radical.

The Ecclesiarchy contained many doctrinal factions and disagreements, but the overwhelming majority of Chaplains maintained that Mutants and Demi-human races were unclean Pariahs.

Bishop Dony had once been kept in check, so he had not exposed such radical doctrines.

But now, with only one Bishop-level Chaplain left on Earth Planet, he no longer had to suppress himself. He could say whatever he wanted!

He held the final authority to interpret doctrine!

"Governor, what do you think?" After finishing, Bishop Dony panted slightly, seemingly waiting for Ron's response.

The atmosphere immediately stiffened, but Ron's excited voice soon shattered the silence.

"By the God-Emperor, I understand now!"

Ron knew how to play along. Looking as though he had received divine revelation, he said, "Just as you said, the merciful God-Emperor equally protects every life willing to offer its Loyalty!"

No matter how absurd this Bishop's doctrine was, Ron would express his support.

After all, he would need the man to back him in the future and pile religious support onto his position.

Within the Imperium, without the recognition of the God-Emperor—in other words, the Ecclesiarchy—one could barely take a single step.

"Praised be the God-Emperor. Your understanding greatly honors me."

Bishop Dony was delighted to see someone supporting his views.

In the past, those who heard this view either dared not respond or denounced it as heretical thinking.

Some had even threatened to send him to the stake.

Fortunately, Dony Moore was the Archbishop's disciple. Otherwise, he would have been burned to death long ago.

Though his life had not been in danger, he had still been expelled from the Holy Land as punishment and exiled to the remote Earth Planet.

And now, as the only Bishop on Earth Planet, he could finally preach his doctrine openly and boldly!

He even fantasized about turning Greater Daemons of Chaos or powerful alien races into loyal believers of the God-Emperor someday.

Then he would show those old fossils in the Holy Land who truly was the God-Emperor's most loyal servant!

"All right, Governor. Let us continue discussing your problem. Resisting the corruption of The Void is no simple matter..."

Bishop Dony took Ron's hand again, his face kindly and his smile so warm that it was difficult to refuse.

He went on at length about several meditation techniques. These methods could calm the mind and resist the Warp's corruption.

Afterward, he had a Cherub bring several sacred relics blessed by the Ecclesiarchy.

Those relics were made from special bones, coated with Holy Oil, and faintly glimmered.

According to Bishop Dony, the relics had been blessed by the God-Emperor and were quite effective against Warp corruption.

The Ecclesiarchy's relics were exceedingly precious. Chaplains regarded them as dearly as their own lives, preserving and worshipping them day and night within Shrines. They almost never left those places.

Ron found this deeply baffling. If you had something good, you had to put it to use.

What was the point of hiding relics away in Shrines rather than using them? Was that not simply letting pearls gather dust?

In fact, before Ron's former self was corrupted by Slaanesh, he had repeatedly asked the Ecclesiarchy to grant him sacred relics, only to be refused each time.

If he had possessed relics back then, he would not have been dragged into the Palace of Slaanesh so easily.

But now, things had become somewhat different.

"These relics... are for me?"

Ron stared at the obviously high-grade relics before him, unable to believe it.

They were simply giving him relics?

"Governor, please accept these gifts. There is no need to be polite!" Bishop Dony warmly stuffed the relics into Ron's arms, looking as though he feared Ron might refuse them.

For a moment, Ron felt as if he had returned home during the holiday season, when relatives would stuff red envelopes into his pockets.

"Oh, how could I possibly accept this..."

Ron said he felt embarrassed, but his hands did not stop moving as he gathered all the relics into his arms.

The instant he took them, his body sank under their weight, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

They were so heavy!

His body was somewhat weak, but these relics were far too heavy!

It was difficult to imagine how the elderly Bishop before him had lifted them so effortlessly.

Bishop Dony reacted swiftly. He immediately supported Ron, deeply worried. "What is wrong?"

Bayev, standing nearby, saw the problem and hurriedly had Carter come forward to take the relics away.

After Ron recovered, he finally realized just how formidable the physiques of the natives in Warhammer 40,000 were.

Even an old man possessed such immense strength!

That little incident made Bishop Dony rather nervous. Holding Ron's hand, he apologized over and over.

Gritting his teeth, he gave Ron another high-grade relic.

It was an exquisite dagger with tremendous killing power against Chaos Monsters.

Ron accepted the dagger with satisfaction, then suddenly realized that Bishop Dony was being a little too enthusiastic.

No favors without ulterior motives!

He was utterly puzzled.

What could possibly make Dony, a Bishop, spend so lavishly?