Master Kunto

Behind the steel bulkhead lay a vast expanse of towering machinery, dense and complex instruments, and intricate piping connected to cultivation vats that stood three men tall.

The lighting inside was equally dim, with yellowish spotlights casting long shadows behind the equipment, while the fluids within certain petri dishes and cultivation chambers emitted a faint, eerie glow.

Fu Qinghai noticed that the placement of these massive instruments and conduits seemed somewhat chaotic, as if they had been moved onto the ship in a hurry.

Ogedei led Fu Qinghai through the shadows of one massive machine after another, arriving at a wide metal workbench. A white, shadowless lamp shone down from above, and a short figure stood before the bench.

This figure, draped entirely in deep crimson robes, appeared tiny compared to the metal workbench in front of him; even a seated Astartes would be a head taller than him. Yet, when Ogedei approached, he bowed slightly and spoke respectfully:

"Master Kunto."

The short figure turned his head, revealing an aged face covered in wrinkles and age spots, with a mechanical ocular implant embedded in his right eye socket that flickered with a ghostly green light.

He swept a cold, indifferent gaze over Ogedei and Fu Qinghai, his voice sounding like the dry, raspy friction of rusted gears:

"What is it, Captain Ogedei?"

Fu Qinghai kept his face calm, but inside, he was struggling to suppress the surging waves rising from the sea of consciousness granted by the electronic Iron Man.

From the moment he saw those two tall robots before entering, to passing by one complex machine after another, his sea of consciousness had been churning. Inspiration bubbled up like foam; Fu Qinghai was naturally a person of insatiable curiosity and thirst for knowledge, and with the enhancement of his sea of consciousness, this urge felt even more pressing.

Ogedei said in a low voice, "Master, I hope you can help this child complete the ascension surgery."

The robed figure did not seem surprised by the request. He spoke calmly to Fu Qinghai:

"Open your mouth."

Fu Qinghai obeyed and opened his mouth, just as if he were having his tonsils checked by a doctor.

Master Kunto's ghostly green mechanical eye rotated slightly.

He said, "Based on the dental age of an ordinary human, he is about seventeen. You know the optimal window for the surgery; he is a bit old."

Fu Qinghai muttered to himself: Why don't you just ask me directly? Back home on Earth, only horse traders check teeth like that...

Ogedei replied, "I am well aware, but I believe none of this is a problem for you."

Kunto turned his head back, extended two slender, intricate mechanical manipulators from beneath his robes, and lowered his head to continue tinkering with his workbench. "It is indeed not a major problem. Take him to undergo training, and give me one of your Legion's gene-seeds. I will have the organs cultivated before the modification surgery."

Seeing that Kunto had returned to his work, Ogedei paused, but could not help but speak up:

"Master, as you can see, our Legion's strength is dwindling. I believe Locke is a rare and promising talent, and I have high hopes for him. I hope... I hope you can ensure the success rate as much as possible."

Kunto stopped his work and turned to look at Ogedei, letting out a dry, raspy laugh from beneath his hood:

"What, Ogedei? Do you think I am on the same level as those muscle-bound, clumsy apothecaries in your Legion?"

Ogedei quickly said, "I did not mean to question your ability. I only meant to say... every recruit is vital to us right now."

Kunto turned back and said calmly, "Enough, I know what you mean. Take him to undergo your White Scars training; I will handle the rest."

Ogedei bowed again and said, "Thank you, Master."

On the way back, Fu Qinghai could not help but ask:

"Who is he?"

"Kunto Anastasio. Gene-smith, high-ranking priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus, Magos Biologis, and xenos expert."

Ogedei reeled off a long list of titles.

"Does he have something to do with your special mission this time?" Fu Qinghai realized keenly.

Ogedei looked at Fu Qinghai with an expressionless face: "I will tell you that after you become one of us, along with the answers to those messy, foolish questions of yours."

Fu Qinghai gave a dry laugh; it seemed Ogedei was still holding a grudge about being questioned earlier.

Gene-smith was a collective term for Tech-priests within the Adeptus Mechanicus who studied biology and genetics, while Magos Biologis indicated his rank and title. A Gene-smith of this level was a major figure even on his own Forge World. In terms of strategic value alone, everyone on this frigate combined was not worth as much as Kunto himself.

The dark red of his robes was a color with a famous name in the galaxy—Mars Red.

This was the signature color of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

But the Adeptus Mechanicus was the Adeptus Mechanicus, and the Astartes Legion was the Astartes Legion. No matter how impressive Kunto was, he was not Ogedei's direct superior. Ogedei could have dealt with Kunto in a purely professional manner, but he had humbled himself to beg for help—all for the sake of Fu Qinghai.

Thinking of this, Fu Qinghai couldn't help but cast a grateful look at Ogedei. This burly man with a fierce face and a short temper was actually quite good to him.

Within the Astartes Legions, the surgery to transform an ordinary human into an Astartes was called "ascension." In fact, one could discern the attitude many Astartes held toward mortals from this term; they believed that Astartes were a higher form of life than mortals.

This view was not entirely without merit. Setting aside their immense and enduring strength, agility, speed, superior reflexes, and regenerative capabilities, their near-infinite lifespan alone was enough to look down upon mortals.

Astartes would age, but there had yet to be an Astartes who died of old age; there were only Astartes who died in battle.

The optimal age for Astartes modification was 12, but this was not a major issue. Many famous figures underwent the surgery while in their prime. For example, the Captain of the White Scars Primarch's bodyguard, the leader of the Golden Keshig, and the right-hand man of Jaghatai Khan, Qin Xia; as well as the Chief Librarian of the White Scars, leader of the Stormseers, and second-in-command of the Legion, Targutai Yesugei—they all underwent Astartes surgical modification as adults or even middle-aged men. This did not prevent them from becoming powerful Astartes of the highest caliber.

There were even more extreme examples. Kor Phaeron, the adoptive father of the Word Bearers Primarch Lorgar, was already a frail old man when he prepared to undergo Astartes modification. Yet, through a series of surgical modifications, bionic organs, and special drugs, he still became a combatant whose strength rivaled that of an Astartes.

If the Tech-priests wanted to, there was nothing they could not achieve.

However, the ascension of most Astartes had to consider the issue of cost. The surgeries were generally performed by the apothecaries within the Legion. Apothecaries were also Astartes, and they were also responsible for harvesting the gene-seeds of fallen Astartes. These apothecaries' surgeries carried a risk of attrition; failed subjects either died outright or became permanently disabled.

The latter was better, as bionic limb technology was highly advanced, and it was not impossible for a failure to end up as an ordinary crew member in the Legion.

But in most cases, failure meant death.

That was why Ogedei emphasized the success rate to Kunto. There were not many young men on the ship suitable for the modification surgery to be wasted, and Fu Qinghai was the only candidate left.