27 Interlude: The Crime of Heresy

Looking at the object in his hand, Karyl once again confirmed one thing—people were truly capable of anything when they had too much free time.

If no one told them, who would believe that the chilled dessert in his hand, fragrant and sweet from scent alone, had actually come from Belisarius Cawl?

This great contributor to the Battle of Chemos had spent two uninterrupted years working after the war. When he had finally received a brief respite, he had personally designed an automated dessert machine.

Karyl gently inhaled its scent, taking in that milkiness which should not have existed, and could not help recalling how impassioned Belisarius Cawl had looked as he stood before him half an hour ago.

The current Dominus, the future Fabricator-General, had patted his metal chest with immense pride and assured him that this would be a very delicious dessert.

Karyl did not doubt Cawl's abilities, but he was puzzled, so he had asked Cawl—how had he designed a machine capable of making delicious food without a sense of taste?

The archmagos smiled faintly and pointed at Alpha Primus beside him. The latter covered his forehead and silently finished the dessert in his hand.

Karyl shook his head and took a small taste. First, his tongue felt the cold, then the rich flavor—not that of the cheap artificial sweeteners found at the very bottom of the Imperium's industrial hierarchy.

He paused slightly, then took another bite and savored it carefully. This time, the flavor was even richer, enough to leave him almost dazed.

Well, perhaps it was simply because I really haven't eaten much good food. He swallowed the cold mouthful and thought silently.

"Is that so?" Konrad Curze smiled maliciously from within his shadow. "Someone who has attended feasts aboard The Emperor's Dream and in