New Recruit Trials

Because Chen Xi sped up the flow of time, after the four returned to the 3K era for two days of rest, a year had passed on Rostov II.

A lot happened in that year, but overall, things didn't change too much.

The battle in area A7-012 had evolved into a kind of proving ground. General Gregory discovered that directly deploying combat squads was tantamount to suicide, so he changed his strategy, using fresh meat to lure out the Flayed Ones and then focusing heavy fire on them.

However, as the Sisters of Battle completed their training, this proving ground quickly became a place where the Sisters fought the lured-out Flayed Ones head-on, with the Astra Militarum soldiers providing support.

Furthermore, General Gregory coldly selected the elite among the Astra Militarum soldiers who passed the first trial to form combat squads and cooperate with the Sisters of Battle to enter the sewers for clearing operations, preventing the Flayed Ones from breeding too much.

Although only five out of ten Astra Militarum squads returned, after such trials, the Astra Militarum soldiers, who originally looked like a bunch of rookies, clearly gained a bit of elite and valiant aura, looking like a group of battle-hardened veterans.

This didn't surprise Chen Xi. After all, those were Flayed Ones. He and Gutierrez had personally dealt with these things and knew how difficult these things with their own fear aura and dimensional space were to deal with.

Even Gutierrez, using Astartes, would have a moment of distraction and daze when facing the Flayed Ones. Mortals who could withstand the fear aura and fight the Flayed Ones were already considered the elite of the elite.

If the Department of Military Affairs wanted to recruit soldiers, the Astra Militarum on Rostov II would now be qualified to become the Astra Militarum, and still the elite Astra Militarum with special attacks against Necrons.

Chen Xi was also very satisfied with the performance of the first batch of Sisters of Battle who completed their training. Although they still had a long way to go to become qualified Sisters of Battle, at least they were qualified as a combat force.

Although they were still just novices, they received their Power Armor and Bolters, Meltagun weapons, and other equipment in advance because they had to face the Flayed Ones.

Despite the support of equipment far superior to the PDF, the Sisters of Battle also suffered considerable casualties. A casualty rate of over 10% was a significant burden for this newly established Sisterhood.

However, overall, both the Sisters of Battle and the Planetary Defense Force (PDF) received ample training in the battle against the Flayed Ones and realized what kind of monsters and demons they would have to face in this hellish galaxy.

Those who died were naturally given proper burials. The Astra Militarum soldiers were buried in the cemetery near the monastery, while the Sisters of Battle were buried in the crypt under the monastery, which was also used as a wine cellar.

The injured Sisters were not abandoned. They received mechanical limb implants. Although they could no longer assume the responsibilities of a Sister of Battle, they could at least manage the vineyard.

A year was enough for the first batch of grapes to mature and be made into wine. Ovilia's abilities as a Bio-Sage allowed these grapevines to bear fruit in the first year they were planted. This technology would have epoch-making significance if it were placed in the 3K era.

However, the various knowledge involved in this was probably not something that scientists in the 3K era could understand, unless they could come to this world and receive the full set of Adeptus Mechanicus education, becoming a qualified Genetor before they could understand how Ovilia did it.

This was not simply ripening; it was modifying and adjusting these grape seedlings from the gene level, so that they would grow quickly as soon as they were planted and reach the point where they could bear fruit in the first year.

Originally, Ovilia also planned to modify the taste of these grapes to make them sweeter, but Chen Xi stopped her from doing so and asked her to maintain the original sweetness of the Cabernet Sauvignon, only increasing the flavor substances.

When Chen Xi and Gutierrez returned to this world, they happened to taste the first batch of newly brewed wine.

"How does it taste?" Chen Xi asked Gutierrez.

Although everyone else in the Planetary Governor's (Planetary Governor) court praised the new wine, Chen Xi still wanted to hear Gutierrez's evaluation.

After all, compared to the people of the Warhammer world, Gutierrez could better taste the quality of this wine.

This was not only because he had tasted many red wines in the 3K era and could better appreciate the advantages and disadvantages than people in the 40K era, but also because he was a Space Marine, and his superhuman senses allowed him to taste the wine more delicately.

"Very good, the aroma of fruit is very strong, it is a very typical Cabernet Sauvignon flavor, the tannins are firm and delicate, the aftertaste is long and rich in layers, if it can be aged, the taste will be more attractive." Gutierrez gave a very high evaluation.

"Do you think it can be sold at a good price?" Chen Xi was more concerned about whether this wine could bring enough income to the planet.

As for the taste? Chen Xi's best evaluation of red wine was that it was smooth and not intoxicating. Apart from that, his most common evaluation was that it was not as good as mixing it with Sprite.

"It should be able to, although it may not reach the exaggerated price of Catarina White, it should be no problem to sell it for one or two thousand Throne Gelt a bottle." Gutierrez gave a satisfactory price based on his own judgment: "After all, this is new wine and has no reputation. If you are willing to promote it to a certain extent through the Adeptus Ministorum, it is estimated that it can be sold even more expensively."

"It would be great if it had some special attributes. It seems that the Sisters treading grapes doesn't have any special bonus!" Chen Xi sighed with a bit of helplessness.

If the Sisters brewing wine could add one or two special effects to this wine, then it would not be expensive even if it was sold for 10,000 Throne Gelt a bottle.

After all, the most expensive Catarina White in the empire only costs 10,000 Throne Gelt a bottle, and that is just to satisfy the appetite.

"Regarding this point, I think we may need to draw a conclusion after aging. What we are drinking now is still new wine, lacking the changes brought about by aging." Gutierrez didn't seem to care too much about this.

After all, even if it was just like this, it could be sold at a high price, just not that high.

"Perhaps, I think..." Chen Xi was about to say something more to Gutierrez, but suddenly noticed that in the corner of the banquet hall, a noble's performance seemed a little strange.

He was burning up, literally burning up. Golden flames spewed out of his mouth and eyes, and in just a moment, he burned his entire body to a crisp.