I Am Loyal!

The tension between both sides had reached a breaking point.

Veil, the Chief Steward, stared wide-eyed at the machine gunners clad in unknown combat suits. He had never seen this model of armor before, but he could be certain these were no Space Marines—the design of the combat suits and Power Armour differed far too much.

Power Armour was a precious and scarce combat asset for most Chapters, even treated as a holy relic. To modify it on such a large scale would itself be an act of blasphemy.

"Gao Yi! What's the meaning of these people beside you? I'm sure they weren't on the ship, and your boarding report definitely didn't mention them!"

Veil stared nervously at Gao Yi and his group, his gun still trained on the machine gunners.

"These are my warriors. If you want me to explain, why don't you first explain why these Chaos Cultists attacked me? They even reached the most important place on the entire dynasty—where the Trade Warrant is stored—with ease.

Judging by their attire, they're from the Lower Deck, right? How many checkpoints did they have to pass to get here from below? You must know that. They even have Lasguns. I'm here as a candidate for Rogue Trader—should I take this as someone on this ship deliberately trying to kill me? If I hadn't brought my own guards, I'd be dead for sure! The Trade Warrant might even have been destroyed!

As the Chief Steward, isn't this a dereliction of duty?"

Faced with Gao Yi's accusations, Veil was equally at a loss.

Looking at the corpses strewn across the floor, he knew full well the gravity of the situation. The rioters' weapons had clearly been smuggled to them. An Autogun might still be cobbled together by hand, but a Laspistol? With the crude equipment the laborers below had, even the power cells were beyond their capability.

The defensive systems outside the hall where the Trade Warrant was stored had also failed for unknown reasons. And it wasn't just here—the entire warship had fallen into chaos. Because of the Warrant's importance, he had rushed here first.

Of the three dynasty candidates who boarded the ship, all except Gao Yi were dead. The Acoustic Array Master had been assassinated, the ship's engines damaged, and the Lower Deck crew had rioted, now clashing with the ship's own personnel. But what Veil found most unacceptable was that the current Rogue Trader, Ludwig, had also gone missing—whether dead or alive, no one knew.

Looking at Gao Yi before him, he had to accept a fact: if the worst had happened and Lord Ludwig was dead, then Gao Yi was the only person on the entire ship qualified to inherit the position of Rogue Trader.

Seeing Veil's silence, Gao Yi spoke first: "Tell me, what's happened to this ship? Has Chaos Corruption taken hold? The thugs I killed all showed signs of Warp Corruption!"

"There have indeed been some problems aboard the ship, Lord Gao Yi. Before I explain the situation, you and these warriors of yours—wherever they came from—must submit to an inspection. This is far too abnormal. As Chief Steward, I must take responsibility for everyone. I need to ensure none of you have been affected by the Warp. Please lay down your weapons for now!"

After a moment's thought, Veil said to Gao Yi.

"Sorry, Veil, but laying down weapons is impossible. I can't be sure none of your people are in league with them. If you want to inspect and verify, bring the personnel here, in the presence of the sacred Trade Warrant. The Purity Seals and anti-psyker devices here can ensure everyone's safety."

"Very well. Dris, Boatswain, go fetch the Confessor and the Navigator here!"

"At once, my lord!"

Watching Dris leave again via the elevator, Gao Yi whispered to Damon beside him.

"If anyone fires on us first, retaliate immediately." Having just survived an assassination attempt, Gao Yi was wary of everyone.

"Rest assured, my Creator. You will suffer no harm before we die."

"From now on, just call me Commander. Otherwise, it sounds too awkward."

Both sides remained on guard. About twenty minutes later, Dris returned with a priest in a robe and a woman with her eyes tightly shut.

Veil walked up to the priest.

"Father Kaira, please confirm whether Lord Gao Yi still maintains his faith in the God-Emperor."

Father Kaira approached Gao Yi, holding a silver box.

"This is a Reliquary containing the bones of a Martyr. The remains of a devout believer, combined with the prayers of the Emperor's faithful over many years, grant it the power to identify heretics."

"My loyalty to the God-Emperor can withstand any test!"

"Many say that. I have served on this ship for decades. Many who claimed to be steadfast have, at some unknown point, abandoned their faith in the God-Emperor. My duty is to identify those of weak faith. I hope you too will pass the test."

Kaira murmured prayers to the God-Emperor as he carefully opened the Reliquary. When the ashes inside were revealed, Gao Yi clearly felt a strange power.

Kaira delicately took out some of the ashes and sprinkled them over Gao Yi and the machine gunners.

But nothing unusual happened.

Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Chief Steward Veil, the Martyr's ashes show no reaction. At the very least, Lord Gao Yi is not currently corrupted by Chaos."

Veil nodded and turned to the Navigator.

Besides the Astropath, Navigators were among the few sanctioned Psykers on the ship.

"Eunice, please carefully examine whether Lord Gao Yi and his warriors have been affected by the Warp."

Hearing Veil's words, Eunice opened her tightly shut eyes.

"I thought you couldn't see..."

"Lord Gao Yi may not have encountered Navigators like me before. Closing my eyes allows me to perceive more information. The God-Emperor's light guides us to see in the Warp what others cannot. You need not be afraid."

"I'm not afraid. I know full well the diversity of Navigators. You play a vital role in the Imperium. I thank you for your service."

"Thank you for your praise. Then let us begin!"

Eunice placed her hands over her chest, making the Aquila Gesture. A distinct Warp reaction gathered at her forehead.

Those without psychic talent couldn't see it, but Gao Yi watched as a deep eye appeared on her forehead.

The third eye of a Navigator.

That eye carefully scanned Gao Yi's entire body, scrutinizing him, trying to find any trace of suspicion.

But no matter how hard Eunice tried, she couldn't find a single shred of evidence—not even the faintest Warp reaction. In fact, Gao Yi seemed like a black hole, faintly devouring the surrounding Warp energy.

Humans were, after all, a psychic race. Aside from special beings like the Sisters of Silence, most people had some connection to the Warp. Eunice had never met a legendary Sister of Silence, but Gao Yi's current behavior was strikingly similar.

As her third eye remained open for an extended time, Eunice began to feel the strain.

"Praise the God-Emperor... I detected no trace of warp energy from Lord Gao Yi or his warriors. In fact, they are purer than we are... Perhaps he is a special existence."

Hearing what Eunice and Kaira said, Veil's tension eased. No matter how these soldiers had boarded the ship, at least they weren't pawns of Chaos.

"Since Lord Gao Yi and your warriors have passed the inspection, please accompany me to the bridge. The ship's condition is dire... We need someone of legitimate dynastic blood to take command."

"Dire? How dire?"

"Dire enough that we might be trapped in the warp forever..."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Gao Yi realized the earlier predicament was just a minor setback. The real challenge awaited him there.

What good end could a ship trapped in the warp possibly meet? Most likely, it would be devoured by warp demons and beasts.

Or forcibly corrupted by Chaos—he was no Imperial Navy Five-Star Admiral Spear.

"Alright... Lead the way!"