C'tan's Chosen

Late at night.

In the underground caverns of the fortress, Qin Mo continued his research.

After tireless, sleepless research, a prototype Dimensional Teleportation Device had been built. All that remained was testing and improvement.

As Qin Mo prepared for the experiment, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Grot pushed open the door and led a man into the room. "Legion Commander, this is the man you wanted to see."

Qin Mo immediately stopped what he was doing and looked at the man.

He knew this man was named Yao En.

Not long ago, an officer had reported that he had received a tip from a civilian claiming that a man named Yao En was a Rebel hiding within the city.

The reason was... Yao En made everyone who saw him feel disgusted. People believed someone was guiding them from beyond, helping them find heretics hidden among the crowd.

After hearing about Yao En from the officer, Qin Mo had immediately ordered him brought here.

Now, Yao En had arrived.

"I remember you." Qin Mo suddenly recalled something. "During the defense of Kato City, were you among those who fought beside me on the main road?"

"Yes!" Yao En was so excited he nearly went mad. He had never expected a god to remember someone as insignificant as him.

And just as before, there was no disgust on the god's face.

Qin Mo brought over a chair and gestured for Yao En to sit down, then waved at Grot. "You go out first."

Grot glared at Yao En as he walked out. "If he does anything strange, call me. I'll rush in and smash him to pieces."

"Don't worry. He's safe." Qin Mo was not concerned in the slightest.

After Grot went out and closed the door, Qin Mo asked Yao En, "Does everyone find you repulsive?"

"Yes, except you." Yao En nodded.

"Hahahaha." Qin Mo suddenly burst into laughter, leaving Yao En confused.

Qin Mo felt as though he had found money lying in the street, because Yao En was an Untouchable.

Untouchables had no souls and were completely insulated from the Warp. Even if they called the Chaos Gods by name, they could not be corrupted. Psykers who were not exceptionally powerful could not even use Psychic Power in front of an Untouchable, and might even panic or lose bladder control.

Yet Untouchables were generally hated by everyone. Even the Imperium's High Lords had once considered executing every Untouchable.

"I really didn't expect you to be an Untouchable." Qin Mo was both delighted and surprised. "I didn't notice it during the battle. I thought you had done something unforgivable, which was why everyone stayed away from you."

Thinking back on the defense of Kato, Qin Mo realized that he had felt nothing unusual around Yao En, just as he did now.

"God, what is wrong with me?" Yao En could not help asking the question that had long troubled him.

"You simply have a special constitution." Qin Mo answered first, then looked puzzled. "What did you call me? God?"

Yao En then explained why he called Qin Mo a god, along with everything about the Servants.

After hearing Yao En's explanation, Qin Mo did not know whether to laugh or cry. Although he had anticipated that people might worship him, he was still shocked to learn that such a group actually existed.

The C'tan were not gods of the Warp. Whether or not they received mortal faith, they would always exist, and faith would not make them stronger.

"There is no point in worshipping me. I do not need your faith. Stop immediately." Qin Mo warned Yao En first, then picked up his communicator and ordered Grey, "Take some men to the tavern in the south of the city. Monitor everyone inside."

"Why?" Yao En asked in confusion.

"Because..." Qin Mo had intended to explain, but decided against it. The reasons were too complicated.

The value of the Servants lay in their efforts to study and imitate the Logistics Machines, making themselves cold and unflappable. But how many of the Servants had truly suppressed their emotions, rather than merely believing they had?

Qin Mo also felt that these people would be better off worshipping the Emperor than him. At least after death, their souls could return to the Golden Throne. He had no way to protect their souls.

"Tell me about yourself." Qin Mo attached great importance to Yao En and intended to learn more about him.

Yao En told his story again.

He had only one family member: his wife.

He and his wife had both been abandoned orphans in the underhive. They had struggled to survive together since childhood, and because neither found the other repulsive, they had become husband and wife.

Clearly, they were both Untouchables.

That was extremely rare.

"Do you know anyone else like you?" Qin Mo asked.

"No." Yao En shook his head.

"Your trait, and your wife's, are both extraordinarily rare. The entire Hive City may only have the two of you." Qin Mo smiled.

"Why does everyone feel disgusted when they see me?"

"It's a long story. It begins with the first form of life born in the universe after the Big Bang... but the story is meaningless. You only need to know that you are special, and important in my eyes."

When he heard Qin Mo say that he was important, Yao En felt that he had reached a turning point in his fate. His entire life would change because of this meeting.

"Go home for now. Tomorrow morning, I'll send someone to find you and bring both you and your wife to the fortress." Qin Mo stood and opened the door for Yao En. "You have been chosen by me."

"Can I become your messenger?" Yao En stood and asked.

"Far more than my messenger. The role you can play exceeds anything you can imagine." Qin Mo smiled and nodded.

Though he had not yet considered how to make use of Yao En's talent, Qin Mo already had a preliminary idea.

Yao En could not become a commander, because no matter how powerful he was, he could never make soldiers listen to him.

He could only become a warrior, a powerful warrior. From his body to his weapons and equipment, everything would be of the highest grade. He could slaughter enemies across the battlefield, spreading destruction and terror among them.

Even if he enjoyed battle like Grot did, there would be no risk, because he was an Untouchable. Even if he called the Four Gods by name, he could not be corrupted.

"I... I..." Yao En trembled all over, his eyes filled with delight and worship. "I don't know whether this is a dream or reality... I am willing to offer you everything I possess... If you wanted my heart right now, I could carve it out for you!"

Qin Mo gently patted Yao En's shoulder to calm him, led him out of the room, and ordered Grot outside the door, "Use a transport aircraft to send him home. Bring his entire family here tomorrow morning."

Although he found Yao En deeply repulsive, Grot still led him away. "Your command will be obeyed."