You Won't Believe This, but I'm the Emperor's Chosen!
Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?
Winnie's first reaction was that Alvin was talking nonsense.
The probability of a "Daemon Engine" popping up in this godforsaken place is equivalent to digging gold out of a cesspool.
The world of Nest City has a population of only around 100 billion. How could something as high-end as the Daemon Engine possibly appear there?
Besides, what is there in this wretched place that would make the Chaos Gods go to such lengths to acquire a Daemon Engine?
But then, Winnie saw Alvin say with a serious expression, "Your Excellency, Inquisitor, I swear to His Majesty the Great Emperor, I have not misread it!"
Upon hearing the oath sworn by the "Emperor," Winnie was speechless for half a second.
"Can you please stop referring to him as 'Your Emperor' all the time?" Winnie glared at him fiercely.
As a loyal Inquisitor, she simply couldn't stand Alvin's habit of swearing oaths to the Emperor at the drop of a hat.
What do you take the great "Emperor" for?
A guarantor?!
If it weren't for Aruman's sake, she would have shot him dead!
Alvin awkwardly rubbed his nose. "I was just trying to convince you, or... why don't you come with me and take a look? That thing is inside."
"Wait, I have another question."
Winnie's already somewhat cold gaze suddenly turned extremely serious, her tone low and imposing. "Explain to me first, how did you know... 'Daemon Engine,' such advanced Chaos knowledge?!"
It's important to know that within the Imperium, only a very small number of people have access to knowledge about Daemon and Chaos.
They could be officers of the Astra Militarum, Astartes, Inquisitor, Knight Family, Adeptus Mechanicus, Sisters of Battle, nobles, and so on.
But... this absolutely does not include the Underhive people or ordinary citizens!
Oh no, this is terrible!
Alvin was stunned and broke out in a cold sweat.
Damn cult, damn Daemon Engine, that stuff is all I can think about, I've completely forgotten what's most important!
"What? You don't know how to explain this?"
Winnie's eyes grew increasingly cold, and she even drew her Bolter, a chilling killing intent brewing within her. "Alvin Valshius, I now suspect... that you are connected to Chaos!"
Yes.
How could an ordinary Underhive possibly know advanced knowledge about Daemon?
Unless he has been imbued with knowledge by Chaos and has fallen into the embrace of the Chaos Gods, how can one explain that the Underhive actually knows about the "Daemon Engine"?
If it were a more experienced Inquisitor, they wouldn't listen to Alvin's explanation at all.
A single explosive bomb is the best course of action!
Fortunately, Winnie Winslet was recommended by her mentor to become Inquisitor shortly after graduating.
Their cognition hasn't turned into that of those madmen; their behavior is relatively gentle, and they are even willing to abide by order and rules, which makes them quite unique among the many mad Inquisitor.
Therefore, Winnie did not fire immediately.
Despite the strong suspicion surrounding Alvin, she remained steadfast in her principles, refusing to indiscriminately kill innocent people, and would never become Inquisitor like her mentor!
It is said that when people face a life-or-death crisis, their minds work at a speed no less than a high-powered motor.
As it turns out, what he said was true.
In just a few seconds, a bold idea flashed into Alvin's mind!
Then, looking at Winnie who was casting a doubtful glance at him, he said, slowly and deliberately, in a questioning tone, "Winnie Winslet, do you believe... that the great Emperor's will still traverses the Imperium's borders, protecting the great Imperium of Man?"
What the hell?!
Winnie even thought she had misheard; the serious expression on her face turned into anger. "Are you playing me? Alvin Valshius!"
As everyone knows, it has been ten thousand years since the Emperor ascended the Golden Throne for the sake of humanity.
No, I'm just stating a fact for you.
Alvin crossed his arms, like the most devout believer. "Because all the knowledge I possess comes from the great 'Emperor' His Majesty."
"Blasphemy! You are blaspheming! You damned heretic!"
Winnie's hand, gripping the Bolter, trembled with rage. Her pupils shrank to pinpoints, and veins bulged on her smooth forehead, as if she were about to pull the trigger and execute this heretic who had blasphemed His Majesty!
But... deep within her heart, a vague voice stopped her from doing so.
What if?
Winnie had heard her mentor recount the heroic deeds of a man hailed as a "Living Saint," and how, in the distant Macragge star system, there was an agent of the Emperor's will who prophesied and changed the course of the entire war!
In a sense, the Emperor... seems to have an agent, but it would be difficult for Winnie to believe that the person in front of her is the agent of "His Emperor".
"What... what evidence do you have?!"
Suppressing her chaotic thoughts, Winnie's voice suddenly rose several octaves as she said in a deep voice, "
"When I was facing death, I saw a cold sun... It was so dark and profound."
Alvin gazed at Winnie and slowly said, "When I awoke again, I suddenly possessed a great deal of knowledge. If you need proof... then I can tell you that the great Emperor foresaw the return of His offspring, didn't he?"
Winnie was utterly shaken. She was almost certain that the "offspring" the other party spoke of returning must be the King of Macragge, a great figure in history, and now... the Regent!
"You... you actually knew?!"
While this matter might not seem like a matter of fate to the current high command of the Imperium, it's absolutely impossible for someone on a remote planet like Losel to know about it!
"If you still can't believe me..."
Seeing Winnie's shocked expression, Alvin knew the time was right. He needed to know when to stop showing off, or what if Old Man Huang really set his sights on him and tried to recruit him into the Chains Legion?
So, he calmly removed the visor of his armor, took Winnie's slightly cold hand in his own, and pressed the muzzle of the gun against his forehead. "I am willing to give my life to prove my loyalty to His Emperor. You may fire..."
Psychic Power surged silently, blocking the gun muzzle.
Playing around is fine, but I would never risk my life!
What if you really run into a complete idiot?
The necessary safety measures should still be in place!
Alvin looked grief-stricken and indignant, much like a loyal minister who had been wronged, and appeared ready to risk his life.
"You!"
Winnie was furious and glared at him fiercely.
You've put it this way, if she were to actually fire the gun, wouldn't she be a heretic who blasphemes against the Emperor?
Winnie struggled a few times, but found that Alvin was holding her too tightly and she couldn't pull away, so she glared at him angrily. "Let go!"
"OK."
Alvin quickly withdrew his hand.
Don't think this is over.
Winnie took a few deep breaths to calm her agitated heart, then put on her icy expression again. "When we get back, I'll conduct a test on you. If there are any traces of Chaos invasion... you'll definitely regret it!"
"No problem, Your Inquisitor."
Alvin readily agreed, saying they'd deal with it after getting through the immediate crisis. Besides, the Inquisitor's test was nothing more than the Cogitator Array, that old-fashioned stuff.
An upright person has nothing to fear; he's loyal to the Emperor, so why would he be afraid of being investigated by Chaos?