A True Saint in the Mire

Radical meeting room.

Inside the door, it was a complete mess of noise.

A dozen or so Inquisitor were banging their fists on a long table.

The method humans use to control the Tyranids is terrifying.

People are easily swayed by self-interest.

The benefits are simply too great.

A Inquisitor stood up and slammed his fist on the table, causing the teacup to bounce and spill tea.

"Research! We must research this!"

"Yes!" Several Inquisitor nearby echoed, slamming their fists on the table.

"This is a new path! If the Imperium masters the method to control the Tyranids, those Xenos will be nothing to fear! We can even... we can even command the Xenos to attack Chaos!"

"The Tyranid Fleet is almost gone! But the Tyranids reproduce very quickly! As long as we can control the Tyranids, we can soon form a huge and endless surprise force!"

"The Tyranids can easily crush those pointy-eared creatures, and their endurance is even on par with that of the Greenskins and Necrons!"

"The Tyranids have caused the Imperium so much trouble; once we control Tyranids, we can multiply that trouble for our enemies!"

"Research! Send people to Bolomite! Research Lin En! Research his methods! Research his psionic powers! Research his Emperor Barrier!"

"Isn't he the Emperor's Living Saint?! If he is Living Saint, then he must be willing to sacrifice himself for the Imperium!"

A Inquisitor stood up from the corner.

His behavior seemed very abrupt in this situation; the Inquisitor who were slamming their fists on the table paused and turned to look at him.

"What's wrong?"

The Inquisitor had stood up, said calmly, "Excuse me, everyone, I feel it's time for me to step down."

The Inquisitor their fists on the table. "?"

"What?"

"You guys aren't very calm. I feel like hanging out with you any longer will get me killed, so I have to take my leave."

The Inquisitor who stood up first slammed his fist on the table. "What do you mean?!"

"It means exactly what it says." The Inquisitor, who had stood up later, had already reached the door and opened it.

He turned back and said, "I think that Emperor's Envoy has already made it very clear: shielding the Hive Consciousness is a spiritual battle, requiring the Emperor's barrier. Even if you dissect that Living Saint and understand the principles, do you have the Emperor's barrier? Can you get the Emperor to give you a barrier? Go to the Golden Throne and ask the Emperor for one?"

"... Am I really going to give up?!"

"Go away, if you're looking for death, don't drag me down with you." The judge stood up and said coldly, then walked out and closed the door.

"..." The Inquisitor had just slammed his fist on the table opened his mouth.

He was well aware of Lin En's special status, but the potential profits from controlling the Tyranids were simply too great, far too great...

If they can find a way to universally turn the Tyranids into allies, or even tools, of the Imperium...

The Imperium might just pull itself out of this predicament.

The Imperium has been stuck in this predicament for far too long, and it is going downhill every single day.

If they could thoroughly study Warp, and thoroughly study Living Saint...

The Inquisitor was the first to stand up slumped back down.

However, Lin En now holds a transcendent position and is no longer someone they can touch.

Furthermore, a large portion of the Inquisition has already shifted to conservatives, and they know perfectly well that their continued insistence will not make any difference.

The Inquisitor slammed his fist on the table.

He lowered his head and reluctantly looked away.

Then another Inquisitor stood up. "Perhaps we can change our approach. Instead of studying him personally, let's try to learn his methods. He articulated the methods: finding the control channels, severing the Hive Consciousness, and seizing control. This is a path anyone can try. Let's follow this path and let our Librarian experiment."

"Which Librarian should we send to test it?" another person asked from the corner. "The Lord Inquisitor of the Inquisition? The Grand Master of the Grey Knights? Their psionic abilities are strong enough, but that Emperor's Envoy said that we can't try it without the Emperor's barrier, as we might be countered by the Great Devourer. What will Psyker become if countered by the Hive Consciousness? Do I need to tell you how important the Lord Inquisitor and the Grand Master of the Grey Knights are? If they're countered and turned into human-shaped Chicken Thief after the test, are you going to take responsibility?"

The Inquisitor stood up opened his mouth.

"Lin En has the Emperor's protection, which is his greatest asset right now, and it's why we've been insisting on having Lin En himself. He's irreplaceable; he can do what others can't. Without Lin En, if we follow this path and end up halfway there, what are we researching?"

The meeting room fell silent again.

A young Inquisitor stood up, his face flushed. "Then we'll investigate Lin En himself! But not arrest him. If he goes to Bolomite, we'll go to Bolomite! We can go there, right? If he raises the Purple Carapace Chapter, we'll watch! If he goes to war, we'll go to the battlefield with him! His old friends are in Baal, so we'll go to Baal with them!"

But the one in the corner looked at him and calmly said, "But you are not Inquisitor Valens."

Even Inquisitor Valens, who had some connections with Lin En and some influence with Lin En, couldn't say for sure that he could follow Lin En around without incurring her annoyance.

Who do you think you are?

They've been following you around. Does your Inquisition have a very positive image with Lin En? Does it have a lot of influence?

If it weren't for Inquisitor Valens, the Inquisition's ship probably wouldn't have even been able to enter the orbit of Bolomite's planet.

"..." The young Inquisitor sat down.

The radical meeting room fell silent.

The Inquisitor who had slammed their fists on the table sat back down in their chairs.

The first person to stand up also sat down.

The young Inquisitor looked down at the table.

The person in the corner loosened their fingers and placed them on their knees.

Sometimes they also hate their own weakness.

If we could study that Emperor's Envoy, discover his psionic characteristics, and uncover his unique abilities, perhaps the Imperium could truly sever the enemy's hand and turn it into its own weapon.

This is a new road they want to take, but they can't.

If only that Emperor's Envoy hadn't been so powerful.

They will definitely be able to...

*******

On another floor of the Inquisition headquarters, in the conservative meeting room.

There were still a dozen or so people sitting around a long table, but the atmosphere here was much more harmonious.

The old Inquisitor sat in the main seat, his hands crossed on the table, looking at the dozen or so people around him.

He spoke slowly, "You've read Valens's report."

A dozen or so people nodded.

The old Inquisitor said, "You've all seen the method for controlling the Tyranids that sir brought."

A dozen or so people nodded in agreement.

The old Inquisitor said, "The radicals are banging on the table over there, saying they want to investigate that gentleman. What do you think?"

One of the Inquisitor spoke up, "They're insane."

The old Inquisitor smiled.

The young Inquisitor, who spoke first, was quite indignant. "That's right. They've made it so clear that they need the Emperor's shield. It's practically a direct request for the Emperor's power. What's the point of their research if they can't use it? Are they planning to try and take over the Throne Room?"

The old Inquisitor smiled again.

After laughing, he didn't say anything inflammatory, only saying, "They just went astray for a moment. Actually, their intentions were good; they were all doing it for the Imperium."

"..." The young Inquisitor fell silent, angrily shifting his gaze away.

"Alright," the old Inquisitor said gently, "Don't keep getting angry and creating resentment with your colleagues. The future of the Inquisition still needs you to support it."

Another, slightly older Inquisitor had sat down, noticed something amiss in his tone. "Sir, what are you doing...?"

The old Inquisitor looked at them kindly. "I and several other Grand Inquisitor have already discussed it. When the Imperium officially begins its attempt to control the Tyranids, I and several other Grand Inquisitor will be among the first to participate in the experiment."