(Thanks to Son of the Round Clam, Pete Griffin, for the donation bonus chapter 38/50)
The old man said:
"Young man, your idea of using merit to exchange for privileges is wrong. If everyone thought like you, how could the Imperium continue to endure?"
Li Qinwu retorted.
"Merit should be rewarded, and wrongdoing should be punished. Why shouldn't the merits I've earned be rewarded?"
The old man frowned.
"What you said is wrong. The hymn of sacrifice is the hymn of humanity!
If so many heroes had not sacrificed themselves for the human race, we would not have our current situation. We would have been devoured completely by those cruel Xenos and Daemons!"
Li Qinwu took a drag on his cigarette and shook his head.
"Old man, there's no use telling me that. Privilege has existed since humanity first existed.
Even at this very moment, the Imperium's nobles are enjoying privileges. Leaving everything else aside, isn't that arrogant Little Sun one of them?
If vermin like that can enjoy the Imperium's privileges, why can't a meritorious subject like me?
Besides, if the privileges those vermin enjoy were given to me, then leaving everything else aside, I'd definitely kill even more enemies of the Imperium than I do now!"
The old man turned directly toward him and looked squarely at Li Qinwu.
"Young man, I'll say it again. Your way of thinking is wrong.
Did the Imperium's many heroes make their sacrifices for the sake of privilege?"
Li Qinwu shrugged.
"I don't know what others think, but in my logic of action, effort must bring returns.
I've saved so many planets and so many Imperial citizens. The High Lords ought to reward me.
Give me people, power armor, weapons of war, warships—that's what they should do!"
The old man pointed at