The existence of Blessed Wine capable of identifying heretics had not only drawn the attention of the Ecclesiarchy. The Inquisition had also shown immense interest as soon as it received the news.
Within a grand palace atop the main Hive City of Mariupol's capital world, several Inquisitors had gathered to discuss the matter.
"If it were only Blessed Wine, we would merely need to verify its authenticity and determine whether it involved heresy to resolve the matter." An Inquisitor with one eye replaced by an augmetic spoke first. His face bore a trace of distress. "But the governor of Rostov II is an Inquisitor—an Inquisitor of The Inquisition."
(Tech-priest Inquisitors were rare, but they did exist.)
As he spoke, the Inquisitor looked toward another Inquisitor seated at the table.
This Inquisitor wore blood-red Power Armor, and a huge scarlet Inquisition sigil on the back of his neck was particularly conspicuous.
(An Inquisitor wearing Terminator armor.)
"Inquisitor Chen Xi's loyalty is beyond doubt. Though he has broken convention by serving as the Planetary Governor of a colonial world, he is loyal. There is no question of that." He was a Lord Inquisitor, as well as an Inquisitor of The Inquisition. "Until there is clear evidence of his disloyalty, there is no need for us to question his loyalty.
"After all, his appointment as governor came from the Forbidden Palace of Holy Terra. You and I both understand what that means."
At that moment, the third Inquisitor at the table spoke. In a highly curious tone, he asked, "So the rumor is true?"
The Inquisitor of The Inquisition answered with silence. He neither confirmed nor denied it.
"If that is the case, then the matter of the Blessed Wine runs far deeper than we imagined!" The Inquisitor who had spoken first reached up and touched the implants on his face, unable to hide his frustration.
He was an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus. From the name alone, one could roughly understand what he did.
The Ordo Hereticus suspected everyone and monitored all possible Traitors within the Imperium.
For that reason, everyone fell under their suspicion, even the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes and the Primarchs.
Thus, when people ordinarily spoke of the Inquisition, they largely meant these Inquisitors of the Ordo Hereticus. They were also the Inquisitors Imperial citizens were most likely to encounter.
"If the Blessed Wine truly can identify heretics, then the Ordo Malleus will spare no expense to ensure its production—and acquire it!" The fourth Inquisitor at the table spoke. She was a female Inquisitor, her slender-looking body wrapped in tailored noble attire, while a highly conspicuous Inquisition sigil had been branded onto her forehead.
Female Inquisitors were not uncommon within the Inquisition, but the others were somewhat wary of this one.
She was an Inquisitor of the Ordo Malleus. Normally, they dealt with daemons and heretics, and knowledge of Chaos carried the risk of falling to corruption. Therefore, Ordo Malleus Inquisitors generally adopted an absolutely safe method of dealing with any trouble such matters might cause.
That choice was usually accompanied by large-scale silencing of witnesses, perhaps even Exterminatus.
And because they dealt with Chaos heretics year-round, there was no way the Ordo Malleus would pass up such a powerful tool for identifying heretics.
"If the matter of the Blessed Wine is true, then the Ordo Hereticus also hopes to receive its share." After some hesitation, the Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor still demanded that his faction's interests be secured.
Though the Ordo Hereticus primarily targeted Traitors, the traits of traitor and heretic often overlapped.
Therefore, to the Ordo Hereticus, a cup of wine that could easily identify who was a heretic was undoubtedly a precious tool that could save them a great deal of time.
"While we all desire this Blessed Wine that Inquisitor Chen Xi has named 'Loyalty,' the prerequisite is that it truly works." The final Inquisitor spoke. He was also the organizer of this meeting, the Inquisitor Grand Master of the Mariupol Sector and the Inquisition's highest representative within the sector. "More importantly, if it truly works, how do we ensure it can be produced smoothly and serve the Imperium?"
"Verifying whether this is true will not be difficult. The Ecclesiarchy will certainly confirm its authenticity at once, since this concerns whether the Emperor has truly manifested His divine presence." It was still the Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor speaking. He seemed especially interested in the matter. "We need only send a spy to infiltrate the Ecclesiarchy's delegation, then use their resources to verify the truth of the matter, though we all know it is most likely genuine.
"As for after it is verified, perhaps I should petition the Black Templars Chapter to station a combat squad on Rostov II? He already has assistance from the Order of the Sacred Rose. He likely does not need the Sisters of Battle all that much."
Although the Inquisition possessed many Orders of differing classifications, the three primary Orders were the Ordo Hereticus, The Inquisition, and the Ordo Malleus. Each of the three had a Space Marine Chapter as an ally.
The ally of The Inquisition was the Deathwatch, and the two usually cooperated in fighting xenos.
The Ordo Hereticus, meanwhile, had close ties with the Black Templars and the Order of the Sisters of Battle. Inquisitors accompanied by Black Templars Space Marines and Sisters of Battle generally belonged to the Ordo Hereticus.
As for the Ordo Malleus, the existence of the Chapter that cooperated with them was an absolute Imperial secret. Even other Inquisitors knew only its designation: "666."
"If it is Adeptus Astartes support, Inquisitor Chen Xi already has a Deathwatch Forge Master assisting him. I believe a Kill Team and a Watch Fortress would suit him better. After all, xenos activity on Rostov II is severe, and Inquisitor Chen Xi is currently sending the Rogue Traders in his service to seek aid from various factions." The Inquisitor of The Inquisition favored his own people somewhat. What he offered could not be called generous, but it was certainly practical. "Perhaps his flagship should also be upgraded? I believe a Strike Cruiser would allow him to serve the Imperium better than the Sword-class Frigate he currently uses.
"Furthermore, after fighting the xenos, Rostov II's Planetary Defense Force has accumulated considerable combat experience. Perhaps the Imperium can begin recruiting Astra Militarum from that world."
However, compared to the terms offered by the Ordo Hereticus and The Inquisition, the Ordo Malleus's proposal was somewhat strange. "The 666th Chapter will dispatch a Librarian to assist Inquisitor Chen Xi and protect him from the threat of Chaos Corruption."
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