As for hiring Tech-Priests, Chen Xi had naturally considered it.
Since its founding, the Empire had been shaped by the Olympia Accord signed between the Emperor and Mars, and technological research had been heavily restricted.
During the Great Crusade Era, there might still have been all manner of technical talent left behind by humanity's past, capable of independently developing technologies and recreating lost technology from the Dark Age of Technology.
But amid the Empire's various upheavals after the Great Heresy, especially its overall decline following the War of the Beast, the Adeptus Mechanicus had completely monopolized the Empire's industry and technology.
In a sense, the other head of the Empire's Double-Headed Eagle had become the greatest monopoly within the Empire.
The Adeptus Mechanicus monopolized not only technology, but also nearly all technical talent.
Throughout the Empire, from safety maintenance on the most basic Corpse Starch production equipment to the construction of massive warships, every task connected to technology and machinery was handled by the Adeptus Mechanicus, and all technical personnel were trained by them as well.
Why did Imperial soldiers kowtow to a Lasgun and pray for its Machine Spirit to be pleased? Because the Adeptus Mechanicus had turned the Lasgun maintenance manual into a religious ritual.
Although that made it easier for barely literate grunts to understand how to maintain and properly use the weapons in their hands, it still showed just how complete the Adeptus Mechanicus's monopoly over technology was.
At the same time, because of this technological monopoly, anyone in the Empire who wanted to do anything related to technology had to obtain the Adeptus Mechanicus's approval and hire their personnel.
There were naturally low-ranking Adeptus Mechanicus priests on Rostov II, mainly responsible for maintaining various mechanical equipment and Imperial Guard gear.
Chen Xi had initially thought