Before convening Thraxol's staff for a meeting, Li Qinwu first met Catwoman Nova aboard the Inquisitor's flagship.
By now, the woman was visibly pregnant, her lower abdomen slightly swollen. Inside her was the only bloodline Inquisitor Thraxol had left in this world.
Li Qinwu told Nova that Inquisitor Thraxol had ascended in a spiral. Nova wept for a while, then quickly regained her strength.
"I understand. From the first day I swore loyalty to him, I knew this might happen.
So, Living Saint, what do you intend to do next? Say the word. I will cooperate with you."
The speed with which she recovered left Li Qinwu somewhat astonished.
But on second thought, it made sense. Before becoming Inquisitor Thraxol's lover, Nova had been his bodyguard.
Anyone qualified to serve as an Inquisitor's bodyguard was no ordinary person.
Nova quickly recovered from the confusion of losing her pillar of support, figured out what Li Qinwu intended to do, and expressed her willingness to cooperate.
Li Qinwu cleared his throat and said:
"Inquisitor Thraxol asked me to take care of you and his last bloodline. Next, I hope you will cooperate with me and inherit as much of Inquisitor Thraxol's legacy as possible."
The legacy in question referred to the warships and personnel Inquisitor Thraxol had left behind.
First came the things that could not be inherited, such as Inquisitor Thraxol's three main warships: one Unyielding-class Cruiser and two escort-class frigates.
The three warships belonged to the Inquisition. With Inquisitor Thraxol dead, they had to be returned.
This included the Inquisition's civilian and military officials under the Inquisitor, the Adeptus Mechanicus technicians, bridge maintenance personnel, and the Imperial Navy. These people belonged to the state and had to be returned as well.
That left very little that could actually be inherited,