第14章 老约翰:我不明白

After a rudimentary yet systematic study, he understood just how expensive and rare the supplies he used were, and he realized more profoundly how worthless his past life had been.

Even if one sold ten thousand or even a million underhovers completely clean, they could never dream of buying a single dose of gene-seed.

At the same time, he also realized that the big shot in his eyes previously had not been lying; this truly was a plain, ordinary, tiring chore.

On the scale of the galaxy, the big shot in his eyes was merely an ant—no, should be a speck of dust.

Yet this also brought him an extreme, tearing agony. If the big shots in his eyes were mere dust, then what on earth were he, an underhover, and the countless others in the underhover, supposed to be?

Before his studies, he had thought gang members were big shots and gang bosses were the heavens, but now, if he wished, he could crush this bunch with just a few words.

Yet this left him even more confused. Since he could do such a thing, what about the great angels... oh no, should be the Astartes Battle-Brothers? What about the even greater Chapter Master Huron?

Why didn't they clean up these gangs instead of watching the underhovers suffer?

Was it out of pleasure? Then what was the deal with the previous construction projects?

Old John could not figure it out. The instructor had not taught knowledge in this area, and he did not dare take this blasphemous question to discuss with others, having to bottle it up deep inside his heart.

Then he learned that individuals who performed well could not only be retained in the training camp, but also had the chance to be selected as Astartes reserves and the opportunity to become a great Astartes Battle-Brother.

This helped him find a goal.

Perhaps, perhaps by becoming an Astartes, he could go ask other Astartes, or even the Chapter Master, and find the answer to this question?

Supported by this conviction, Old John did not, like most of his peers, collapse and fall asleep every day after finishing training and studying, sleeping a full eight hours.

Instead, he compressed his sleeping time, extra-trained as much as possible, and asked the instructors for more knowledge.

At first, the instructors did not take it seriously, merely dealing with it ordinarily.

However, after this process had lasted for a month and Old John's physical fitness, tactical skills, and test scores all ranked among the top, the instructors' impression of him greatly improved.

They also knew such a ruthless fellow would definitely be retained later and become their colleague, so they put a little more effort into giving him special tutoring.

The massive amount of knowledge the instructors taught actually didn't have much to do with the exam requirements, but to Old John, a solid country bumpkin, some of the instructors' common sense was also new knowledge.

He also only then learned that there were aircraft capable of flying out of the sky, Titan god-machines dozens of meters tall, and all kinds of Astartes Chapters...

Yet this knowledge could not answer his doubts, but he confirmed one thing: that the Astartes were truly observing them and considering selecting new recruit reserves from among them.

This made him work and study even harder, hoping to become an Astartes and answer his own doubts.

His efforts did not go to waste.

His outstanding grades allowed him to successfully remain in the training camp and become an Auxilia Instructor.

At the recruits' graduation ceremony, Old John also stood among the top ten at the very front, accepting commendation from an Astartes.

As the ceremony proceeded to the award segment, Old John and the others took the stage together, looking at the boundless formation formed by two million people off the stage.

Although his doubts had not been answered, this scene still made his heart surge.

This was the peak moment he had never experienced in his life, even though ever since he began conscripting for labor, almost every day had been a peak he had never experienced.

Wearing Ceremonial Power Armor and draped with a large amount of decorations, the Astartes held a medal box, personally bestowing the "Outstanding Auxilia Representative" medal upon these ten outstandingly performing Auxilia one by one.

This was a medal specially designed by Huron. Its gold content could not compare to those medals of the Imperium, but as a representation of Auxilia honor, it was already sufficient.

A sense of ceremony was still very important. Although Huron had weeded out and changed quite a few abstract ceremonies, he had not changed things like the Astartes recruit armoring ceremony. Instead, he arrived at the armoring ceremony whenever possible to give the recruits encouragement.

After the Astartes bestowed a medal upon someone, he would praise them with a couple of sentences.

When it came to Old John, he bestowed the medal while praising, "Outstanding performance, soldier. Keep it up, I look forward to the day you become a Battle-Brother."

These ten individuals were basically slated to become Astartes because their resilient will over two months had won the recognition of everyone in the Chapter.

"Yes, sir!" Old John performed the Aquila, looking at the tall and ornate Astartes, his expression somewhat emotional.

After the medal bestowing was complete, the Astartes looked toward the formation off the stage, encouraging, "Today is the day of your graduation. As the first batch of Chapter Auxilia formed by Chapter Master Huron, I hope that in your subsequent positions, you will be dedicated and responsible, living up to the expectations of the Chapter Master."

He paused slightly, then shouted loudly, "For Chapter Master Huron! For the Astral Claws Chapter! For the Emperor!"

"For Chapter Master Huron! For the Astral Claws Chapter! For the Emperor!" The formation off the stage emitted shouts like roaring mountains and churning seas.

Once the graduation ceremony was completed, the majority of these two million people were arranged to supervise the construction of the starch factory, in order to relieve those Chapter serfs who had been pressed into service.

Then the establishment and noun of "Chapter Serf" were completely abolished, merged into various new organizations. For example, the Army, Air Force, and Space Force instructors of the Chapter Auxilia, and the technicians following Techmarine to research technology...

The pre-selected second batch of four million people also immediately entered the training camp and began training.

Once the previous two million Auxilia entered the infrastructure projects, the overall efficiency improved quite a bit.

These people could read, write, and possessed a broad scope of knowledge. Their personal terminals finally did not need to guide them in minute detail, only needing to provide general steps and reference answers.

At the same time, one person managing several hundred people was no difficult matter for the Auxilia, which also improved the meticulousness of management quite a bit.

During this process, the Auxilia also accumulated management experience in practice, preparing themselves to take on more responsibilities later.

In the training camp, Old John looked at the newly arrived Auxilia recruits with some emotion, not expecting that he would become an instructor so quickly.

As standing personnel, besides teaching recruits, Old John also had to continue advanced studies while learning and training with officers and Astartes as his goal.

Among the first batch of Auxilia, about ten thousand were retained, all of whom were the cream of the crop and exceptional existences in every aspect.

These people, just like Old John, taught recruits while continuing advanced studies.

Gene-seed was administered at one tube per week until physical enhancement reached the limit.

Then they would be shunted, according to their performance in teaching and advanced studies, to become Astartes reserves or Elite Boarding Squads.