Yarrick fell silent.
Faced with such a grand question, he had no idea how to begin.
What exactly was this mysterious big shot trying to achieve?
Yarrick's mind began analyzing it involuntarily.
What did he actually want to hear?
Did he want to hear the Departmento Munitorum's routinely exaggerated and inflated battle reports? The Hive City nobles' whitewashed platitudes? Or the Imperium's criticism from people with ideals?
What would the consequences be if he spoke?
Would the Adeptus Custodes behind him chop him into mincemeat on the spot?
Seeming to see Yarrick's conflict, Rowan shook his head and spoke directly, trying to dispel his doubts.
"It's all right. You don't have to answer me immediately. But you must give this question careful thought before answering it. I merely want to know your personal opinion. That's all."
"All right, then I'll..."
After hearing this, Yarrick hesitated before reluctantly beginning to form his words.
"No, think more."
Rowan seemed to notice his concerns again. His brow furrowed slightly as he cut him off once more, bluntly and decisively. "What I mean is, speak your mind completely. This is no exaggeration, Commissar Yarrick—you rank among the top three Commissars in the entire Imperium in my eyes. You have the right to speak your true thoughts."
Isn't that a bit too exaggerated?
The blunt praise startled the Commissar.
But Rowan showed no intention of stopping.
"Don't worry. No matter how freely you speak, I won't do anything to you."
"Even if you say something like, 'Terra's nobles should be ground beneath its feet, its treasury burned to ashes of brocade,' or 'Destroy the False Emperor's tyranny—the universe belongs to Chaos,' or even, 'The High Lords of Terra? They aren't even worth one of the T'au Ethereals' hairs,' it'll be fine. As long as it's