Language as a Sharp Blade

For Qin Mo, immersing himself in research and creation was the best form of entertainment.

He used both hands to write the knowledge he had gained through research onto the data panel, then stared at it as he considered how to apply it.

Every day after Qin Mo decided to begin researching Dimensional Channel technology was spent like this.

The only exception during those repetitive yet happy days was that Qin Mo learned from Mimic how the C'tan communicated with one another.

Information was transmitted through stellar magnetic fields. No matter where either party was, as long as both were willing to communicate, they could do so anytime, anywhere.

"How was your power recovering? Could you come save me?"

"You didn't think I told you all the theories behind dimensional technology, did you? I'm only a fragment myself, and I don't remember much. Even if I were whole, I wouldn't be a C'tan like you."

"I remember you were on good terms with a C'tan skilled in technology, but I forgot who it was. Otherwise, I could tell you its name and you could go straight to it, instead of researching and learning at the same time... You're starting completely from scratch right now."

"By the way, when do you plan to leave the Underhive?"

"..."

Mimic was extremely talkative. Perhaps it had always been that way, or perhaps it was because it had finally found someone it could talk to.

If Mimic had not occasionally told him things about dimensional technology, Qin Mo would have cut off communications long ago.

"Why do you still need to verify the knowledge I gave you before you'll use it? Are you guarding against me?"

"Shut up." Qin Mo snapped impatiently, and Mimic's voice immediately vanished.

He continued his research in the quiet environment. After an unknown amount of time passed without hearing Mimic again, Qin Mo realized that he had unconsciously shut off communications earlier.

Then, when he felt like speaking again, Mimic's voice rang out once more.

"What do you plan to do after researching dimensional technology? Go to Earth, find that Psychic upright ape, and promote the Dimension Engine?"

Hearing that question, Qin Mo stopped his research and suddenly realized he had never considered it.

If this were during the Great Crusade, or before the Emperor had taken his seat upon the Golden Throne, then of course he would have needed to find him and give him the Dimension Engine.

Qin Mo's human consciousness made it difficult for him not to want to help his own kind escape the influence of the Warp. That would be a good thing for both the species and the material universe.

But the problem was that the Emperor was already half-dead. He could not go anywhere, and the Adeptus Custodes and the guards of Terra's Imperial Palace would not allow anyone else near him.

That made promoting the Dimension Engine difficult. Was he supposed to ask the High Lords to promote it? What a joke.

"Humanity has never lacked creativity. For the current Imperium, the hardest part isn't developing new technology, but promoting and using it," Qin Mo said to Mimic.

"I don't understand. Assuming you could use dimensional technology to replace Warp travel, why wouldn't humans immediately use this technology? By the same logic, would the Necrophage reject immortality?" Mimic asked.

"Of course you don't understand. When the C'tan met the Necrophage, the Warp wasn't nearly as deep and full of monsters as it is now," Qin Mo said. "Suppose you weren't a C'tan but a mortal. If you knew the Chaos Gods' power could seep in everywhere, and you even had to suspect whether your own inspiration was a trap laid by the Chaos Gods, would you still use technology of unknown origin?"

"That's truly miserable. What meaning is there in humanity existing like that? They might as well have the sense to wipe themselves out."

"You're already a fragment, yet I don't see you seeking death. Aren't you trying every possible way to curry favor with me, hoping that one day I'll go to the Necrophage and fish you out?"

"..."

Qin Mo's words brought the conversation to an immediate halt.

Mimic remained silent for a long time before speaking again. "If The Forger's consciousness had not been replaced by yours, but had instead coexisted with you, the two of you would definitely get along well. You both know how to use words as knives."

"Heh." Qin Mo chuckled and said nothing more, focusing on his current research.

Time seemed not to exist in the Hive City Underhive.

When Grey woke up as usual and walked before the mirror, he noticed that his beard had grown very long. Only then did he realize that nearly a hundred days and nights had passed since Qin Mo began his research and shut himself away.

During those nearly hundred days and nights, Grey did the same thing over and over: he and Anreda went everywhere, relentlessly accelerating the rebels' deaths. They rested only when they were too exhausted to fight, then continued doing the same thing after waking.

"Anreda, are you awake?" Grey asked, picking up his communicator.

"I'm awake," Anreda's voice replied. "Ready to depart at any time."

"Grot still can't take part in combat operations?" Grey asked as he carried the communicator into the living room. After asking, he sat on the sofa and drank a glass of water.

"Still can't. Before the Legion Commander began his research, he gave the order that Grot must remain at the fortress to protect him."

"The Legion Commander doesn't need protection. I'm guessing Grot was punished for some reason."

"Who knows? I'm going to put on my Power Armor. Communication over."

After Anreda cut off the communication, Grey walked to the window and looked down at the city outside.

As the Legion Commander's guard, he had been assigned a residence in New Kato. It was on the twentieth floor of an apartment building near the city center.

The Logistics Machines' construction capabilities were astonishing. More than half of the entire city had already been built, and all facilities except those on the outskirts were ready for normal use.

Far away, Logistics Machines gathered together to print new buildings. On nearby streets, people first sent their children to school before heading to armories and barracks.

A video of the Planetary Defense Force battling alien rebels played across the outer wall of a building in the city center.

Countless drones flashing red and blue lights circled every corner of the city, ensuring that nowhere here could become a lawless zone.

Watching all this was Grey's daily entertainment. He enjoyed seeing the city develop and become more and more different from the "shithole" he had smashed apart during the war.

After Grey watched for a while, a transport aircraft and Anreda standing atop it entered his field of view.

Anreda stood by the hatch with his helmet tucked under his arm, looking at Grey helplessly.

"I'll be right there." Grey immediately turned to put on his Terminator Power Armor. Once suited up, he opened the window and jumped directly onto the transport aircraft outside.

The two began their day's work as they had before.

"Where are we going today?" Grey asked Anreda while checking his Power Armor's self-diagnostic results.

"Seven hundred kilometers due north of the city. Five minutes ago, we received a request for support from the barracks. A woman said her husband disappeared while investigating ancient ruins. The army has an exercise today, so we're the only ones who can handle it."

"Alright. Let's go."