A Warp Astropathic Message Twenty Years Too Late!

This was the first time in Alvin's life that he had been so flustered, and cold sweat poured down his back uncontrollably.

It's no exaggeration to say that if he had actually let Aldrich board the ship, the Vought would have been knocking on the door the very next day. And the leader might very well be Grey Eisenhorn, the infamous "Fallen Angel Inquisitor"!

If it were this guy, he'd better burn incense and pray as soon as possible, hoping the Yellow Skin will appear and save his life; otherwise, all those fleets are just nonsense!

"You look rather flustered." Aldrich glanced at the sweating Alvin and asked meaningfully, "Is there some contraband on your ship?"

Well, that's hard to say.

To be precise, contraband doesn't exist, but other things like Xenos, Iron Man, AI, or C'tan are another story.

Any one of these would be enough to make any seasoned Inquisitor let out a sharp crack and issue Extermination Order without hesitation.

In some ways, what the Fernando Family did was not as significant as what Alvin did.

After all, anyone who dares to hide C'tan, Necron, Eldar, Iron Man, or an AI—if even one of these were to be exposed, the Vought would execute him hundreds of times without question!

"How about we talk about something else?" Alvin offered an awkward but polite smile.

"Don't be so tense, I was just asking casually, I'm not investigating you." Aldrich waved his hand and continued, "Although you're among the top three suspects in the Vought, that doesn't match my demands..."

They have absolutely no relation.

Very well, what makes him so special that he's ranked among the top three suspects in the Vought? Alvin smiled awkwardly, deciding it was best to remain silent.

"This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision," Aldrich said, pausing between each sentence. "Originally, I had two tasks: first, to investigate whether the Fernando Family was colluding with other races to overthrow the Imperium; second, to find a suitable caravan or expedition to the Black Zone to find someone."

Upon hearing this, a guess suddenly popped into Alvin's mind, and he stared at Aldrich with disbelief. "You don't mean to say..."

"That's right, just as you thought."

Aldrich nodded slightly, and said meaningfully, "The goals of the Vought are the same as those of Valshius."

They are in agreement on this matter.

"Were there any Inquisitor among those who accompanied my father to the Black Zone back then?" Alvin took a deep breath and asked in shock.

Under Alvin's shocked gaze, Aldrich spoke slowly and solemnly, "Only a very few Inquisitor are qualified to know about this matter. Tar Sokonus, the most extreme Inquisitor in the Vought, is given the title 'Ash Apostle'."

"That sounds a bit dangerous?" Alvin shrank back, a strange fear he now felt towards the Inquisitor.

It's like a mouse seeing a cat; it's its own fault for not being entirely clean.

Aldrich gave him a warning look and said calmly, "Thar Sokonus, who served as Corinn Vantos's deputy, participated in the Tyranid Quarantine Zone Plan, but believed its methods were too weak and that every soul should be transformed into burning thorns to sacrifice their lives for the Emperor."

Alvin does know about the Tyranid Quarantine Zone Plan.

They used extinction to create a scorched earth zone around the Segmentum Solar, effectively isolating the Tyran from invasion.

If even this plan can be considered "weak," it just goes to show how "talented" the Vought is!

"Of course, he did more than that," Aldrich continued. "Thar Sokonus witnessed Eisenhorn wielding Daemon Weapon and attempted to assassinate the legendary Inquisitor. He also slaughtered three of his followers, forging their skulls into the Holy Grail, and proclaimed, 'Whoever dares to touch the darkness, even breathing is a betrayal.'"

Goodness gracious... This guy dared to assassinate even Eisenhorn, he's got some nerve!

Alvin couldn't help but swallow hard, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Who is Eisenhorn?

A legendary Inquisitor with an impressive resume, having slaughtered countless Daemons and Chaos beings, he is truly a master of deception!

"But what is most appalling about Tal Sokonus is that, in order to destroy a Daemon, he stole the remains and ashes of a 'saint' and combined them with the Necron Tomb Technician, after which he was listed as a top heretic by the Mechanicus."

Speaking of this "legend," Aldrich also had a headache. "Of course, his response afterward was to burn down a Martian Mechanicus data sanctuary."

"The Mechanicus tolerated it?" Alvin's eyelids twitched wildly; this guy was simply insane!

"No, even with the intervention of the Vought, Forge Master of Mars remained adamant," Aldrich shook his head and said, "That's why he was forced to leave the Vought twenty years ago and join Valshius's exploration fleet."

So that's how it is. But with such a madman joining the fleet, Alvin suddenly felt a little sorry for his cheap old man.

"But, just a year ago... that is, the time when you were certified as a member of the family bloodline."

Suddenly, Aldrich's tone turned serious, his eyes flashing. "The Vought has received Warp Astropathic Message from Tal Sokonus..."

"Wasn't he missing?!" Alvin's pupils contracted slightly, somewhat horrified.

If the members of the Vought who were part of the missing fleet are still alive, does that mean that his adoptive father, and the crew members who explored the Black Zone twenty years ago, are also still alive?

"According to the Adeptus Mechanicus Sage, this Astropathic Message was most likely sent twenty years ago."

Aldrich also had a headache. He wanted to pinch his brow, but found it was wrapped in bandages, so he gave up the idea and continued, "The specific contents of the Astropathic Message are classified as top secret by the Vought, and my mission is..."

Travel by merchant ship or exploration team to the Black Zone to search for his whereabouts.

"Originally, I planned to wait for the Mechanicus's exploration fleet to arrive after resolving the Fernando Family matter before heading there together."

At this point, Aldrich looked up at him, his eyes filled with a strange and mysterious light. "But now,"

I've changed my mind. Since your destination aligns with my mission, I'll join your fleet; after all, we share the same objective.

"This...

?

Alvin remained hesitant; he was genuinely afraid of the Inquisitor.

Seeing that he was still hesitating, Aldrich couldn't help but speak up, "I met you here, and I've survived until now because of you. This must be a hint from the Emperor. What are you still hesitating about?"

"Well..." Alvin smiled awkwardly, but he couldn't tell the truth.

"Don't worry, I'm not a novice Inquisitor, nor am I incapable of distinguishing right from wrong." Aldrich saw his worry and said irritably, "Do you think I don't know what Rogue Trader is like? I won't pursue your little matter, okay?"

"It's not impossible, you swear it?"

Alvin was still worried.

"Fine, in the name of Aldrich von Braun, I swear to the Golden Throne and the Emperor that I will absolutely not pursue your heretical behavior!"

Aldrich was a little out of breath after speaking so much.

"Okay, but you'll regret it."

Alvin patted Aldrich on the shoulder meaningfully. "You said it yourself, you wouldn't pursue my heretical behavior."

Aldrich was nonchalant; he'd seen it all!

So what if they hid a "Fallen Angels" weapon? Could there be anything more blasphemous than that?