After finalizing the production blueprints, Armenius handed the data to the Techmarine beside him and told him to arrange personnel to establish a production line, producing a few sets first to see the results.
Seeing that Huron was about to leave, he quickly grabbed the Chapter Master. "Chapter Master, there's no one else here now. Tell your brother the truth. Did the Emperor grant you an STC Template?"
Huron was somewhat helpless. "Brother Armenius, the Emperor really didn't give me an STC Template. He gives me that equipment on a schedule."
Recently, Armenius had been pestering Huron to the point of irritation. For some reason, Armenius was firmly convinced that the Emperor had bestowed an STC Template upon him and that he was using it to manufacture that equipment.
He had then begun pestering him day after day, trying to get him to take out the STC for study.
If he really had one, he would have taken it out without Armenius even needing to ask. The problem was, he genuinely did not have one.
Armenius clearly did not believe him. "Chapter Master, stop trying to fool me. The Emperor handles countless affairs every day. How could He possibly have time to tighten screws for you every day? That's too absurd."
Huron shrugged. "What if the Emperor took a liking to me and was trying to please me?"
The Emperor, secretly watching the screen: "?"
What was this guy talking about?!
Armenius froze, then was startled. "Could it be that the Emperor is female? Really?"
He had already completely accepted that Huron was the Emperor's chosen, so naturally he did not doubt Huron's understanding of the Emperor.
And the Empire's suppression of history was reflected here as well.
Even though the Astral Claws Chapter was an outstanding Chapter with a long history, distinguished battle records, and three successor Chapters, it still knew almost nothing about most historical information.
Especially the Emperor's exact appearance and the events of the Great Heresy.
The entire Chapter only knew that some Legions had betrayed the Empire. As for which Legions and which people, they knew absolutely nothing.
They even only knew that there were nine loyal Primarchs, without knowing how many traitor Primarchs there had been.
"Of course it's fake." Taking advantage of Armenius's moment of distraction, Huron swiftly pulled his arm free and darted out of the room.
Only a string of words remained echoing through the room. "Don't worry. If I really get an STC someday, I'll definitely let you study it. For now, figure out how to calibrate the Tactical Dreadnought Armor. The Emperor's blessing upon me has grown stronger."
In the corridor outside, Huron headed toward Odinson's office while opening the System Panel.
After more than half a year of production, combined with the Chapter's existing stockpile, the Chapter now had over 3,500 sets of Power Armour. Most were the highly versatile Aquila-pattern, so they were no longer short on Power Armour.
Therefore, aside from retaining one military factory to continue producing Mk7 Aquila Power Armor, Huron used the remaining nine military factories to produce Terminator Armor.
There was no need to agonize over the model. Since the Astral Claws Chapter only possessed the production blueprints for Cataphractii Terminators, Huron chose that one.
"Cataphractii Terminator output: 0.9/day."
The production capacity for Cataphractii Terminators was only one-tenth that of Power Armour, but it was absolutely worth it. The combat effectiveness of one set of Terminator Armor was not something ten sets of Power Armour could compare with.
The Astral Claws having only one Terminator production blueprint might seem low-tier, but in reality, most Chapters did not even possess a single one.
Since the Horus Heresy, the Empire's production capacity for Terminator Armor had continually declined, while the technology had steadily been lost.
Most Chapters that wanted Terminators either received them when splitting from their Parent Chapter, or relied on captures and cobbling together scattered parts.
There were basically no other options, much less personally possessing production blueprints. Only renowned Chapters could manage that, such as Founding Chapters or the Black Templars.
Lost in thought, Huron soon arrived at Odinson's office. He closed the System Panel and knocked on the office door.
"Come in," Odinson's voice came from inside.
Huron pushed the door open and saw Odinson seated behind a desk piled high with documents.
Odinson looked up, saw that it was Huron, and hurriedly stood. "Chapter Master, what brings you here?"
Huron waved a hand, signaling him to sit. "I came to ask how the Underhive population census is going."
"We have the rough figures, but the specifics haven't been sorted out yet." Odinson thought for a moment. "In the current Underhive districts, we've counted roughly 18 billion people. Including the Ecclesiarchy's areas and some overlooked places, there should be over 20 billion."
He then added, "However, because all kinds of killings occur in the Underhive almost constantly, the exact number will likely fluctuate."
"Over twenty billion..." Huron knew the Underhive population would certainly be greater than expected, but he had not imagined that the Underhive alone would have more people than the official figures.
This gave him a direct understanding of just how terrible the Imperium of Man's administrative capacity was, and strengthened his resolve to tighten administrative control. He could not allow the Underhive to remain as it was.
He therefore looked at Odinson. "How are the plans for the Underhive's surveillance system and networked transformation coming along?"
"The plans are mostly complete." A trace of difficulty flashed across Odinson's face. "But, Chapter Master, our manpower is already overstretched. The three projects have taken up most of our personnel and resources. The Underhive's networked transformation can only be pushed back."
Whether it was the massive Starch Factory or the subsequent water circulation, air circulation, and Plasma Reactor projects, all required enormous resources. The wages and bonuses for the billions of laborers, which seemed immense, were merely the most insignificant part.
The resources confiscated from the rebel nobles, including various engineering equipment and related production machinery, had all already been put to use. The useless luxury goods and artworks were used to exchange favors with the nobles, ensuring the projects proceeded smoothly.
They truly could not spare any more resources for building the Underhive surveillance system and carrying out its networked transformation.
"It's fine. There's no need to rush. Just finish the current projects first." Huron pondered for a moment and looked at the National Policy, which was already more than halfway complete. "The Emperor has revealed to me that our work has been good. He is very satisfied and will soon grant an even more powerful blessing. When that time comes, everything will be resolved."
Odinson breathed a sigh of relief and gave the Aquila. "Praise the Emperor. Praise His kindness and compassion."
Huron gave the Aquila as well. "Praise the Emperor."
The Emperor: "What does that mean?"
What was this guy talking about? How did I not know about this?
Still, this guy had indeed done quite well. If not for that unknown force involved, making Him unable to rest easy, He would have wanted to truly manifest Himself and endorse him.
Better wait and see. In any case, he had not encountered any major problems yet, and he could solve them himself.
If he ran into some major problem he could not resolve, then He could manifest Himself or send word through a Custodian to endorse him.
Before you continue