Thirty Years of Service

The Forge Master's arrival had undoubtedly made Ovilia feel threatened.

She took the initiative to seek out Chen Xi and told him that she could now set out to discuss cooperation with her sister.

"Previously, there was no voidship to take you to the Forge World. Now that your own vessel has arrived, you can naturally go to the Forge World to seek cooperation." Ovilia handed Chen Xi a cogwheel emblem of the Adeptus Mechanicus and urged him, "This emblem bears the symbol of the Industrial World where I was born. As long as you take it to my sister, she will know that you are connected to me. There will be no need to explain anything.

"She has now attached herself to the Forge Master. You can try to contact him through her. If he takes an interest in the xenos ruins on this world, he should provide you with a certain amount of investment to excavate them."

Chen Xi neither agreed nor disagreed as he listened to Ovilia. He merely asked, "If that Forge Master learns of these xenos ruins, he may not leave you even a sip of the soup. Have you thought this through?"

Tech-priests were all alike. They could not walk away when they saw xenos ruins, and whenever they encountered ancient technology, they wanted to claim it for themselves.

More often than not, these people were like a band of bandits. They were terribly shortsighted too, hoarding vast amounts of advanced technology and ancient creations like misers guarding their treasure, worshipping them as precious relics instead of considering how to use those technologies and artifacts to improve the Imperium's current state.

Chen Xi had already experienced Ovilia's character firsthand. By extension, he could well imagine what kind of person a Forge Master would be.

Although there were some relatively human Tech-priests among them, more of them were merely humanoid.

Ovilia fell silent for a moment in the face of Chen Xi's question, but she still explained, "A Forge Master would not care about the trifles you have brought out. His sights are set on matters of a higher order. These things might draw his interest, but more likely, he would assign them as a project to one of the sages under his command.

"After all, a Forge Master has many responsibilities. It is unlikely that he would handle such matters personally. Instead, he would leave them to his trusted subordinates.

"My sister, as the one in contact with you and a subordinate of the Forge Master, would naturally become the first choice to liaise with you.

"So while we would need to surrender some benefits, cooperating with them would not cost me much overall. I might even use this opportunity to pledge myself to the Forge Master and return to the Forge World.

"And you, Governor..."

Ovilia looked at Chen Xi with an indescribably complicated expression in her eyes. There was dissatisfaction and disdain, but more than that, there was melancholy and helplessness.

Her tone did not fluctuate, but Chen Xi could hear her feelings clearly. "You can obtain everything you need from this. I believe that Forge Master would not begrudge the resources needed to build a single planet.

"Whether you wish to develop this planet into an agricultural world, an industrial world, or even turn it into a Garden World, I believe that Forge Master would not mind footing the bill."

"But that is only if he can gain enough from this planet." Chen Xi was not swayed by Ovilia's rather unimpressive promises.

What Ovilia said was indeed true, but cooperating with the Adeptus Mechanicus had never been a good choice.

The Adeptus Mechanicus was indeed wealthy—so wealthy that it could be described as swimming in money.

But the stinginess of those Tech-priests was just as famously renowned across the galaxy. Expect to get any benefits out of their hands?

Just look at their Adeptus Ministorum, everyone! The Tech-priests could equip the Adeptus Ministorum with the most advanced weapons and augmetics in the entire Imperium, yet they were stingy enough to use nothing more than a leather sack for their stomachs.

That was how Tech-priests were. When they needed something, they could spend money without restraint. But where they saw no need, they were as miserly as the Merchant of Venice, unwilling to part with even a pound of flesh.

"As long as the ruins are fully excavated, wouldn't the gains from that tomb be enough to satisfy all of our needs?" Ovilia tried to persuade Chen Xi further.

Chen Xi did not deny it.

But he still asked Ovilia, "Why should I not rely on the Inquisition and the Deathwatch instead? I have a good relationship with Master Guteres. I imagine the Deathwatch would not object to building a new Watch Fortress on this planet, would they?

"At the very least, cooperating with a Forge World through Master Guteres should secure me more benefits, shouldn't it?"

A Watch Fortress was a fortified stronghold built by the Deathwatch on various Imperial Worlds. It was usually garrisoned by at least one Kill Team of Space Marines and was responsible for protecting the surrounding Imperial Worlds.

This special Chapter, jointly created by the Inquisition and the Adeptus Astartes, differed greatly from ordinary Chapters in terms of numbers. Its recruits were not enlisted like those of regular Chapters, but selected from among the various Chapters.

As a result, the Deathwatch contained Space Marines from every Chapter. A squad of ten Astartes might even come from ten different Chapters.

In theory, should the need arise, the Deathwatch could bring in a great many Chapters.

The Inquisition itself was especially interested in xenos ruins like these.

Ovilia fell silent.

Chen Xi's identity as an Inquisitor set him apart from ordinary Planetary Governors, and that identity also gave him far more initiative in his cooperation with Ovilia.

"I can put you in contact with my mentor, and I can work for you personally for ten years." Ovilia raised her offer.

There were simply too few bargaining chips she could offer. Working for Chen Xi was already the most valuable one she had.

Yet even that was nothing special. It was not uncommon for a Tech-Priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus to work for an Inquisitor and become the Inquisitor's acolyte.

Many Tech-Priests who had yet to earn the title of sage chose to do so in exchange for an Inquisitor's aid and support.

Normally, however, a sage's status was no lower than that of an Inquisitor. The two sides usually cooperated rather than having one work for the other.

"Ten years is too little. Thirty years." Chen Xi named his price and cut off Ovilia's attempt to haggle. "Work for me for thirty years and complete this planet's ecological transformation. I will help you return to the Forge World and reclaim your teacher's furnace."

"Thirty years... Fine. It's a deal." After considering it, Ovilia agreed without much hesitation.

Thirty years was not especially long for Ovilia. If it could buy Chen Xi's help and support, it was a worthwhile bargain.