A Star He Couldn't Avoid

Horn is critically ill and about to die?!

That short sentence was like a bolt from the blue, causing Alvin's pupils to shrink sharply.

He's only been gone four days, what exactly happened on Losel?

Is it a cult? Warp? Chaos? Necron?

In an instant, a multitude of guesses flashed through Alvin's mind, and a crimson glint seemed to ignite deep within his pupils, burning quietly like a flame.

Inside the vast, magnificent hall, the temperature suddenly dropped, and layers of frost formed.

Alvin Elsa, of course, knew very well that the unusual situation in the hall was all due to this distinguished young master.

However, judging from what Horn told her, the young master's Psychic Power seem to be more than just "A-class"!

A chilling, sinister aura, seemingly imbued with malice from the High Heavens, mixed with a palpable killing intent, emanated from Alvin's mouth, transforming into two heavy, resounding words that shook the air in the hall. "Who is it?"

"You're being too impulsive. That's unlike him."

Carroll, gripping the gear-shaped scepter, paced back and forth in the hall, her mechanical eyes, brimming with data, landing on Alvin: "Your Psychic Power have improved again. Compared to the last data, you should have advanced at least two ranks. I guess you should now be considered 'I-class,' right?"

Alvin didn't answer his question, but instead looked at Elsa: "Tell me, who exactly assassinated the old man?"

"Young Master Alvin, you can completely trust 'Grand Sage Carroll'." Elsa did not give a direct answer, but instead knelt on one knee and bowed her head.

"Don't overthink it, kid." Carroll stopped and stood right in front of him, her voice hoarse. "Horn's injuries didn't happen recently. It's related to a major conflict over a decade ago. You'll only be qualified to know once you inherit the Valshius Family."

More than a decade ago, Alvin frowned slightly, but still managed to glean a clue from Carroll's words.

He's seventeen this year. If nothing unexpected happens, could it be related to his adoptive father's disappearance?

Considering that he was the only direct descendant of the vast Valshius Merchant Dynasty, and the answer to the assassination attempt at the banquet hall, the answer was now obvious.

"Fine, I won't ask." Alvin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger. "But you have to tell me, why is my grandfather critically ill?"

Carroll's fingers, gripping the gear-shaped scepter, rubbed together slightly, as if lost in thought, "Horn Valshius, once survived a fatal assassination attempt."

He paused briefly, observing the heir's expression, before continuing, "It was a meticulously planned assassination, and the only one. It took place on the 'Sword of Sword of Redemption,' sailing in Warp. Although the assassin failed to kill Horn, the weapon he used was coated with biological genetic toxins."

"An assassination on the Sword of Redemption?" Alvin was immediately shocked.

Keep in mind, that's the family's flagship, with "Machine Spirit" inside. Who could possibly allow an assassin to infiltrate the family flagship of a Rogue Trader?

"What happened that day has been sealed away by Horn; no one knows about it except him." Carroll said in a complicated tone, "I think you'll probably only find out the truth about that assassination attempt after you inherit the position of Valshius Patriarch."

"You mean the toxins left in my grandfather's body are incurable?" Alvin astutely grasped the key point.

Even a Grand Sage of biology couldn't cure this "toxin"—could it be some kind of Chaos at work?

"Over the years, I've traveled to many places with Horn." Carroll sighed deeply and shook her head. "But the biological gene toxin in his body was specially formulated and is only effective on the direct descendants of 'Valshius.' Once poisoned, one will gradually weaken and die, from the nerves to the soul."

Even though it was almost impossible to see any human features, Alvin could still clearly sense a sense of despair in the other person's "expression".

"I've done everything I can to keep Horn alive," Carroll said softly. "But I've reached my limit. Perhaps he's achieved his wish, or perhaps he's just too tired, and the toxins are spreading too fast. Unless there's a large-scale Stasis Field Device or a powerful Life Extension Surgery, Horn can only live for a maximum of three more months." A large-scale Stasis Field is essentially equivalent to Thirteenth Lord, Guilliman time is permanently frozen one second before death.

However, such devices are often extremely rare, and even the Valshius Merchant Dynasty could not obtain them unless they went to Macragge to borrow them from the Thirteenth Lord.

Otherwise, they could try robbing the Martian Mechanicus, the Mechanicus of the Eighth Underworld, etc., but the success rate is extremely low, after all, the Tech-priest is not someone to be trifled with.

It seems that the only feasible option left is advanced "Life Extension Surgery".

So the question is, where can one find advanced Life Extension Surgery in just three months?

Coincidentally, the Agamemnon Family on the neighboring Alert Star happens to possess the most renowned Life Extension Surgery within the Imperium's territory!

But that also meant that he had to take the initiative to step into that battlefield called Purgatory!

Just then, Alvin suddenly saw Carroll holding the gear scepter, slowly bending down and kneeling on one knee. He was immediately surprised. "What are you doing?!"

This is a Grand Sage who serves Omnissiah; even if he's employed by the Valshius Family, how could he possibly kneel before him?

But Carroll remained unmoved, looking up at him. "When I was young, I met Horn, and he said he would take me to see a wider galaxy, and he did. He showed me so much, so much scenery that the Imperium of Man, and even the Adeptus Mechanicus, had never seen."

Alvin listened to these words, he could imagine the dangers the two of them had overcome together, and how many unknown secrets they had witnessed in the Black Zone beyond the Milky Way.

"To me, Horn is not only the head of the family, but also my best friend."

Carroll slowly lowered his head, his voice low and hoarse as he said, "Before he fell unconscious, he instructed me to train you, no matter what, to become a qualified Rogue Trader, to inherit Valshius's honor! Now, I, Carroll Solaris, swear allegiance to you in the presence of Omnissiah!"

"I am Elsa Valshius!"

Elsa remained kneeling, pounding her right fist against her heart, and declared in a powerful voice, "I will give everything for you, my master Alvin Valshius, including my life. I pledge my life to the Emperor as my witness, until death do us part!"

It turns out that Horn had made preparations before he was completely overwhelmed by the toxins and fell into a coma.

Whether or not his body could sustain him until his grandson grew into a qualified Rogue Trader, he had paved the way for Alvin's future.

"No, we have another way."

Alvin took a deep breath and finally made up his mind.

Seeing the two people's somewhat surprised expressions, he felt utterly exhausted and said softly, "The Agamemnon Family on Alert Star possesses advanced Life Extension Surgery, and the Mechanicus of the Eighth Underworld stationed on Alert Star definitely has a large -Stasis Field."

Since we can't escape, we might as well not try!

That's just how Alvin is; although he's often unwilling to put himself in danger.

But when escape is impossible, his courage is spurred on. Under the astonished gazes of Carroll and Elsa, he soars into the starry sky, declaring, "I, Valshius, heir to the Merchant Dynasty, command: Next stop... Alert Star!"