"Of course. As a Bio-Sage, my primary research project was how to construct a complete self-sustaining ecosystem on a planet." Ovilia was highly confident when discussing her field of expertise. "In fact, I was attempting to improve this planet's ecology and transform it from a Desert World into a Paradise World.
"Though I did not expect you to understand the greatness of my research, I still hoped you could provide it with sufficient support, as the previous governor stipulated in the contract."
Transforming a Desert World into a Paradise World? Chen Xi's face showed surprise when he heard that this was what Ovilia had been researching.
In the Warhammer universe, this technology was not particularly rare. More precisely, humanity, the Eldar, and even the young T'au all possessed similar technologies; the only difference was their efficiency.
Because the T'au had limited territory and a practical need for it, they had researched this technology extensively. They truly had unique expertise in planetary transformation, and their methods were highly efficient.
As for the Eldar, that was simply the foundation of an old galactic Overlord. Sixty million years of civilization allowed them to transform a Death World into a Paradise World in a short time with just a few people and the proper equipment.
And the Imperium of Man... if one asked whether the Adeptus Mechanicus possessed such technology, then of course they did.
Large-scale planetary terraforming was no challenge for the Adeptus Mechanicus. On Imperial Agri-Worlds, they could even adjust an entire range of parameters, including illumination, planetary axial tilt, and orbital period.
When necessary, the Adeptus Mechanicus could even drag a planet into a different orbit, level every mountain and patch of rugged terrain upon it, then turn the entire world into endless plains for large-scale mechanized farming.
Driving agricultural machinery larger than a Warlord Titan and tilling land thick with the smell of fertilizer—that was an Imperial Agri-World.
In truth, the reason the Imperium did not carry out environmental transformations to improve planetary conditions was more often because the Adeptus Mechanicus considered it too inefficient.
After all, they were religious fanatics who regarded radiation as a blessing from the Omnissiah and believed humanity's flesh should be discarded. Expecting those Tech-priests to understand natural ecosystems was asking rather a lot of them.
"I can understand the greatness of this technology, and I may also understand why you have no Adeptus Ministorum at your side, Magos Ovilia. You must often be called a heretic, am I right?" Chen Xi looked at Ovilia, unable to fully hide the delight on his face.
To think he had actually encountered a heretical Tech-Priest. That was an exceptionally rare find.
"Though I remain skeptical of your words, you are correct. I am indeed a heretic, and that is precisely why I do not receive the treatment a Sage should receive, whether Adeptus Ministorum or a Forge Ark." Ovilia looked somewhat dejected, even resentful. "But as long as I can complete my research, I will rise again! I will show those fools on the Forge World just what value my research possesses!"
"Uh... with all due respect, even if you succeeded, I fear the Adeptus Mechanicus still would not value this technology. Wouldn't it conflict with the doctrines of the Omnissiah?" Chen Xi bluntly pointed out the greatest predicament Ovilia faced.
Chen Xi suddenly felt a deathly glare. It seemed that the gear-shaped Forged Great-Axe would chop into his skull the very next second.
Yet in the end, Ovilia abandoned that impulsive notion and said instead, "You are right. My colleagues, whose minds have been muddled by the doctrines of the Omnissiah, will not understand how important transforming a planet into a Paradise World is to the Imperium, nor will they understand that there are ways to better practice the Omnissiah's teachings beyond turning flesh into metal and machinery.
"My mentor once taught me that we should not call ourselves priests. We should call ourselves scientists. That was what the pioneers of humanity's Golden Age in the field of technology called themselves."
Hearing Ovilia say that, Chen Xi suddenly shuddered and could not help asking, "Forgive my presumptuousness, but Magos Ovilia, could your mentor perhaps be..."
"It seems you have heard my mentor's name?" Surprise appeared in Ovilia's eyes. She had not expected Chen Xi to know her mentor.
"High Sage Belisarius Cawl. I have long admired his name. I never expected to encounter one of his students." Chen Xi spoke the name he had guessed.
"It seems you truly do know my mentor. It is just a pity that I only studied under him for a time. Perhaps he no longer even remembers that he once had a student like me?" Ovilia looked despondent.
Listening to Ovilia, Chen Xi did not know what to say. Based on what he knew of that High Sage, Ovilia was probably telling the truth. She might not even have been Cawl himself's student.
That was because Belisarius Cawl had cloned himself. On his Forge Ark alone, there were at least dozens of Cawl clones, each responsible for different work.
Ovilia quickly composed herself and said to Chen Xi, "If you are willing to support my research, then I can offer you my knowledge. I could even sign an agreement and work for you as a consultant.
"After all, given my current circumstances, knowledge is the only thing I have to trade."
"Do not belittle it, Magos Ovilia. Knowledge is the most precious wealth in this universe." Chen Xi did not consider Ovilia's bargaining chip insignificant. On the contrary, he believed it was exactly what he needed.
Big E had really given him an SSR as a beginner's reward! A student of Belisarius Cawl—even if she had only been taught by one of Cawl's clones—was still a genuine Adeptus Mechanicus Sage!
And she was a marginalized Sage without even an Adeptus Ministorum at her side. She was the ideal target to win over and recruit!
With that thought, Chen Xi suddenly came up with what seemed to him a brilliant idea. "Magos Ovilia, if I could provide you with sufficient resources and assistance, could you build a Forge World of your own?"
"Why would you have such an idea? Building a Forge World is not as simple as you imagine. Rostov II's output is insufficient to support the construction of a Forge World, and this sector already has one. The Adeptus Mechanicus would not approve a new Forge World to compete with it for orders." Ovilia looked at Chen Xi strangely, unable to understand why he had such a notion.
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