Creed, a Man of Great Theatrical Talent

Creed could foresee two possible outcomes.

First, the Vostroyan Rough Riders saw the eight-pointed star necklace on Creed and smiled meaningfully. They invited Creed to join their great cause, and the already-prepared Space Wolves, White Scars, and Raven Guard immediately dropped in to give the rebels a surprise.

Once it was over, the Departmento Munitorum would publish a weekly article titled <Creed Cleverly Exposes Traitor Disguises on Planet 0-B1>. Creed would then become a target for all, and the hidden traitors of the Cadia Sector would all want him dead. Wodhaus and the others could follow Creed's trail to dig up even more traitors.

Second, the Vostroyan Rough Riders were horrified upon seeing the mark of Chaos on Creed. They would tie him up directly and use several of the Imperium's most common torture devices to make Creed reveal how many accomplices he had.

Then the Space Wolves, White Scars, and Raven Guard would have to come clean up Creed's mess, claiming that he had been carrying out a secret mission and that the Vostroyan Rough Riders had passed the Emperor's test and were qualified to garrison the Cadian Gate.

After considering this, Creed suddenly understood Wodhaus's conflicted feelings toward the Vostroyan Rough Riders.

"If you were capable of peering into the labyrinth of fate and returning unharmed, you would understand why I am so cautious. Fate is ever-changing. Perhaps the Vostroyan Rough Riders were traitors preparing to stab the Imperium in the back when we did not suspect them, yet became loyal and dependable comrades when we did suspect them," Wodhaus said slowly. "The activation conditions for some daemonic rituals are especially complex and abstract. Rituals built on blood and corpses are merely the crudest kind of daemonic ritual."

"All right..." Creed reluctantly accepted Wodhaus's explanation. "Then I won't