A Living Ocean of Organisms

Upon entering the Black Zone, the fleet encountered Warp Storm and deviated from its planned course, which was undoubtedly a heavy blow to morale.

Keep in mind, this is the radiant light of the Astronomican, an uncharted Black Zone beyond our reach. Moreover, we've been caught in Warp Storm and deviated from our course. Nobody knows what will happen next.

More importantly, in this Black Zone even the "Emperor" could not provide protection, no one could guarantee that the fleet would be able to find the predetermined route.

However, the riots only lasted a short time before Alvin suppressed them using his personal prestige.

The crew believed in him, believed in Alvin.

The real reason is that Alvin repeatedly achieved glory in the war against Chaos and the Xenos through his personal performance.

"It's actually an undiscovered planet." Edras suddenly appeared from the star map projection, gazing at the beautiful planet not far from the fleet, standing out conspicuously in the darkness of space like a pink glass bead, and couldn't help but say, "You're lucky; you encountered it on your first voyage."

"... Encountering Warp Storm, deviating from the planned voyage, and being thrown into a completely unfamiliar star system, and you call that 'good luck'?!" Alvin sneered, glaring at him with annoyance.

From a normal person's perspective, this situation could never be defined as "good luck"; it's a miracle they didn't curse!

But considering that this cheap "father" seemed to have some serious mental illness, to the point of being insane, he couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore.

"At least your fleet wasn't torn apart by the Warp Storm, was it?" Edras said calmly. "Every year, countless people dream of getting rich overnight in the Black Zone, but how many actually return? Or is it—"

"Do you think of Rogue Trader as simply following a star map to explore planets that have already been discovered and are meaningless?"

"As a Rogue Trader, you must get used to living with death and accidents at all times. It could be the next Warp voyage, or the next planet, but---"

A fervent light seemed to surge within those irregularly shaped hexagonal Cybernetic eye, and even his voice rose a few decibels. "Isn't this the greatest and most captivating aspect of the Rogue Trader? We're exploring the unknown territories of humankind! No one has ever set foot here before; everything is so enchanting. The unknown is the most exciting thing!"

It must be admitted that Edras is an excellent speaker. Even Alvin felt inferior to him. His excited tone made even Alvin's heart surge with emotion!

"That's why I said you're lucky!" Edras gazed at him and said slowly, "Every Rogue Trader should have their own 'path.' That star map is my path. You can follow it, but—it's just an area I've already explored. Your fleet will be safe, but you'll also lose the joy of exploring the unknown."

"But if we deviate from the course, how am I supposed to get to that place you mentioned?" Alvin took a deep breath and then asked him.

After asking that question, Edras looked at him strangely, as if he were a fool. After a long silence, he said in a complicated tone, "In Terra, there's a saying: 'All roads lead to Rome.' You wouldn't think..."

Only by following my route can we reach "there," right?

"Then what use would I have for this star chart?!"

Alvin was dumbfounded. If he had known it would be like this, why would he have risked his life to go to Nomad Port to find the Fernando Family? He should have just barged in!

"It's not entirely useless," Edras stroked his mustache and said calmly, "The purpose of a star map is to help you determine the direction of your route and your ultimate goal. As for whether you're willing to follow my route, whether you choose a safer route or forge your own new one, conquering life-bearing and resource-rich planets along the way, those are all questions you need to consider."

I understand what you mean.

Alvin rubbed his temples, gazing at the pink planet in the tranquil starry sky, and took a deep breath. "Since you've put it that way, wouldn't you laugh at me if I didn't go explore it?"

Edras is right about one thing.

He's Rogue Trader; he needs the courage and boldness to explore the unknown. Otherwise, why would he be in the Black Zone?!

"Notify Carroll to prepare an exploration ship, carrying Tech-Priest, to head to that pink planet." Having made the decision, Alvin didn't hesitate and immediately mobilized the fleet.

This is an absolutely necessary action.

In the past, many Rogue Trader, upon discovering a new world, hastily landed there, only to encounter unimaginable disasters and ultimately perish.

Soon, the exploration team reached the orbit of the pink planet and, after being examined by several Tech-Priest, sent back a hazard assessment report on the planet.

"This planet is strange."

This was the first thing Grand Sage Carroll said after reading the entire assessment report.

"How so?" Alvin was very curious as to why a Grand Sage of biology would utter such a question.

"According to the report from the reconnaissance team's Tech-Priest, this is a star system with two stars."

Carroll read in a hoarse voice, "But the strange thing is, that pink planet orbiting the binary star system..."

It operates quite stably and seems unaffected by the gravitational pull of the two stars.

"Could you please use language I can understand?" Alvin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Although we don't have a deep understanding of it yet, I think it's highly likely related to 'Warp.'" Carroll paused for a few seconds, a heavy look in her eyes. "Such a situation is almost impossible unless something helps this planet offset the immense gravitational influence of the two stars."

In a normal universe, such a situation would be very difficult to occur, or rather, almost impossible!

The immense gravity of the two stars would cause the pink planet to orbit in an irregular trajectory, but this is the Warhammer Universe, and there is a third type of opposite: the pink planet's orbit is quite stable, which is absolutely impossible in the analysis of the Tech-Priest.

"If that were all, it wouldn't be enough to make you, Grand Sage of biology, so cautious, would it?" Alvin keenly noticed the hint of gloom in his eyes.

"You're right."

Carroll frowned and said in a strange tone, "The Tech-Priest detected signs of life on this planet—in that pink ocean. Space tests showed it contains a lot of organic matter, and its mass is enormous!"

"So—" Alvin paused for a moment, then understood what he meant. "It's this pink, organic ocean that helps this planet stabilize the gravitational influence of the binary star system? And this ocean that covers the entire planet is alive?!"

"That's right."

Carroll nodded seriously. "From a biological perspective, this ocean is alive!"