Request

Ron looked at Bishop Dony cautiously. "Bishop, if there's something you need, just say it."

Bishop Dony grew even more enthusiastic. "Governor, the God-Emperor Statue needs to be repaired. The Ecclesiarchy lacks the manpower and supplies to complete the work. We need your help..."

The God-Emperor Statue had been damaged by Heresy, yet the Ecclesiarchy was incapable of repairing it.

He felt deeply ashamed of this. What terrible blasphemy!

Repairing the hundred-meter-tall God-Emperor Statue would require vast amounts of manpower and resources.

But the entire Upper Hive was currently in an extremely dire state. Even supplies and food reserves were running dangerously low.

At a time like this, no one in power had the mind to concern themselves with such a thankless task.

The Ecclesiarchy had previously requested assistance from the Palatine District several times, but every request had been rejected.

The Ecclesiarchy could do nothing about it.

Under the effects of the Warp Storm, the Astronomican in the Goli Sector had already gone dark.

The God-Emperor's radiance could no longer reach Earth Planet, and the Ecclesiarchy's authority had vanished completely.

Now, whoever had the bigger fist had the final say.

"Repair the Holy Icon?"

Ron frowned. He was not a fanatic and could not understand Bishop Dony's persistence.

Besides, the Palatine District was in terrible condition. He could not waste massive amounts of manpower and resources on a cosmetic project like this.

He opened his mouth to refuse. "Sorry, the Palatine District cannot..."

"Governor!"

Bishop Dony seized Ron's hand, his words earnest, afraid that Ron would reject him again.

"I know this is a difficult task, but in darker times, believers need the God-Emperor's guidance more than ever!"

Hearing this, Ron seemed to grasp a flash of inspiration. A way to dispel the people's despair was right before him!

"What did you say?"

Ron gripped Bishop Dony's hand. "Please repeat what you just said..."

"Faith protects all people, and all living beings long for salvation!"

Bishop Dony's expression was resolute. "Only the God-Emperor's radiance can dispel the darkness before us!"

Those words were like lightning, instantly cutting through the fog in Ron's mind!

He had found a solution!

He would use the power of faith to dispel despair!

As a modern man who had never endured hardship as his forebears had, Ron had always overlooked the power of faith.

In Warhammer 40K, faith was an existence that could never be ignored.

It could be said that worship and faith in the God-Emperor were the true foundation of the Imperium.

The more desperate the times, the more people needed the support of faith.

Otherwise, the people would soon fall into despair and throw themselves into the embrace of the Dark Gods.

"Governor?"

Seeing Ron stand there without responding, Bishop Dony anxiously reminded him.

Ron came back to his senses. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he nodded and agreed to the request.

"The Palatine District will fully support the restoration of the Holy Icon. Once it is complete, Sacred Plaza will be fully opened so that everyone may behold the great God-Emperor!"

The God-Emperor Statue would not merely be repaired—it would be thoroughly rebuilt!

He would gather all the manpower and resources of the Palatine District to create a "miracle."

Then, he would appear before his people as the one chosen by the God-Emperor, the Savior of Earth Planet, and reignite the hope in their hearts!

This was only a broad direction. Exactly how to carry it out would require meticulous planning.

"Governor, the God-Emperor will protect you!"

Bishop Dony was overjoyed when Ron agreed to restore the Holy Icon.

He grabbed Ron again and gave him several sets of blessing prayers to the Great God-Emperor. Some of them were said to improve that sort of function.

The Ecclesiarchy really knew how to have fun!

All that could be said was that when it came to winning over believers, they were professionals.

Ron needed such abilities as well. His future plans would require this Bishop's cooperation.

The question was how to draw him into Ron's camp.

That would not be easy.

Ecclesiarchy Priests were independent, and in terms of legitimacy and sanctity, they ranked above local ruling authorities.

Under normal circumstances, Chaplains were only interested in spreading faith in the God-Emperor and building enormous churches to worship the omniscient and omnipotent Great God-Emperor.

They would not interfere with local rulers unless those rulers were insufficiently Loyal and hindered the spread of faith.

Loyalty that was not absolute was absolute disloyalty!

Disloyal?

That meant Heresy. At that point, the Chaplains would judge them directly in the name of the God-Emperor!

Of course, that was only when the Ecclesiarchy possessed powerful military force.

If the ruler truly was a Heretic who believed in the Dark Gods and had received Blessing enough to resist the Ecclesiarchy,

Then the Ecclesiarchy's Chaplains would be made into inverted crosses and hanged beneath the shattered God-Emperor Statue.

It was done to blaspheme the God-Emperor.

In short, these Chaplains were rather fanatical and difficult to win over.

Winning Bishop Dony over would require long-term planning.

In any case, Ron had already agreed to repair the Holy Icon. There would be plenty of opportunities to interact in the future, so he could take his time.

Ron wore a smile. This visit to the Ecclesiarchy had yielded quite a lot. Not only had it dispelled Bayev and the others' doubts and confirmed his identity,

It had also allowed him to find a way to dispel the people's despair and rekindle their hope.

With the matter settled, Ron bid Bishop Dony farewell.

Bishop Dony personally escorted Ron and his group to the church entrance. Before they left, he stuffed several bottles of costly high-grade Holy Water into Ron's hands as gifts.

"Bishop, once the restoration plan for the Holy Icon has been finalized, I will come discuss it with you again."

Ron could barely withstand Bishop Dony's enthusiasm and fled into the hover car.

"The Ecclesiarchy awaits your arrival," Bishop Dony said sincerely.

He watched Ron's hover car start up and head toward the Spire of the Palatine District until it became a black dot.

Bishop Dony stood there motionlessly, his smile gradually fading.

He looked over the empty church square, exhausted. "God-Emperor, your Loyal servant begs for your revelation. What should I do?"

Ever since that terrifying Warp Storm occurred, the Ecclesiarchy of Earth Planet had completely lost contact with the Holy Land.

Even the symbol of the Great God-Emperor's radiance had gone dark!

Then came the Heretics. They dared to desecrate the Holy Icon and caused devastating casualties among the Ecclesiarchy's Chaplains, nearly wiping them out.

He could vaguely sense that darkness had already enveloped this world.

Something indescribably terrifying was brewing, slowly devouring the life of Earth Planet and seeking to take away its last hope!

In recent days, he had prayed countless times, yet received not the slightest response.

Do I still have a chance to rebuild the Ecclesiarchy?

Do the believers of Earth Planet still have a future?

Has the God-Emperor truly abandoned them?

Such thoughts sometimes surfaced in Bishop Dony's heart, but those terrifying notions were quickly crushed.

What blasphemous thoughts those were!

Doubt was betrayal. Only the God-Emperor was the sole shelter and protector of all living beings!

He would never abandon his Loyal servants!

After letting out a long breath, Bishop Dony strengthened his resolve. His hawk-like eyes became sharp once more, gleaming with unyielding determination.

He would fight the darkness to the end and offer everything to the God-Emperor!

Bishop Dony turned and ascended the high steps, the Cherub floating behind him as it sang hymns praising the God-Emperor...