The Inquisitor's ship plunged into the Warp.
Ragefang.
Lu Jin watched from the command deck as the ship departed, then turned his gaze to Foe Butcher, visible through the porthole on his left.
After finishing his conversation with Bena and returning to Ragefang, Lu Jin had made public what he and Bena had discussed.
The Space Marines didn't have much to say about it. Their attitude was basically, "Oh, the Chapter Master didn't agree to travel with the Inquisitor. Got it."
Only Kao ever voiced his opinion at times like this.
"If that bitch was telling the truth, I think it'd be a good idea to accept her offer and work with her."
"We could use the Inquisitor's authority to get supplies... When the Lamenters delivered our armor, my sister said we were almost out of food."
"We could also meet warriors like us, who don't want to submit to the Imperium or throw in their lot with Chaos."
Lu Jin listened quietly. He didn't interrupt Kao when he spoke his mind, because Kao was the only person in the Chapter he could discuss these matters with.
As he listened, Lu Jin looked at the Rose Festival of the Imperial Inquisition hanging from his belt.
He recalled Bena saying, "My mentor is Karamazov."
"The problem is, Bena's mentor—and the powerful figure she thinks she can rely on—is Karamazov."
Only after Kao fell silent did Lu Jin speak about what he knew.
"Karamazov is an extremely radical Inquisitor."
"Even if a living saint who'd displayed a miracle of the Emperor appeared before Karamazov, he'd torture her to death. Not because Karamazov disregards the Emperor's authority, but because he believes that someone chosen by the Emperor wouldn't die from his torture."
As he spoke, Lu Jin turned to Kao and weighed the