Ricardo said:
"The High Lords Council is about to hold its next election. There are two leading candidates for the Inquisition's seat this term: our superior, Grand Master Sigurd, and Grand Master Pep.
"They're about evenly matched in both achievements and seniority. There's practically nothing to separate them.
"At a time like this, any means necessary must be used to gain an advantage in the election!
"And now Grand Master Pep's disciple, Grand Inquisitor Oluka, has become implicated in a Daemon incident. Heh."
Li Qinwu understood. No wonder they had sent someone as important as Ricardo to take Grand Inquisitor Oluka into custody, along with three warships. So this was all about the Inquisition's internal election!
The High Lords formed the central governing body of the Imperium of Man, and the Inquisition held one seat on the High Lords Council.
Whoever won that seat could speak for the entire Inquisition on the High Lords Council and become the Inquisition's top man!
The Inquisition filled this seat through an internal election held every five years. Both candidates and voters had to be Grand Masters.
Grand Master Sigurd, Li Qinwu's old superior, had already laid the groundwork to secure the seat this term, buying off many Grand Masters to vote for him.
But his rival, Grand Master Pep, was equally determined to win this election!
And so the two Grand Masters of the Inquisition had locked horns, neither giving an inch, and remained evenly matched.
Against this backdrop, the scandal of Grand Master Pep's chief disciple, Grand Inquisitor Oluka, releasing Daemons would have disastrous consequences for Pep's campaign!
As long as they brought Grand Inquisitor Oluka back to Terra before the election began and obtained irrefutable proof that he had released Daemons, Grand Master Pep could forget about running. He might even