Changes in the State Religion

"My lord, are you truly leaving Terra?"

"Those ignorant fools who were incited are not the key. The true masterminds are the ambitious men and vested interests stirring things up behind them."

"If you leave, won't that be exactly what they want?"

Inside the primarch's office, his assistant Tirean was frantic, doing everything he could to persuade Guilliman to stay.

Tirean was not a mortal, but a dedicated Stone Man created by the High Technology Commonwealth according to the primarch's requirements, specifically to handle the Empire's complicated administrative affairs.

Stone Men officials like him had already filled many vacancies in the Departmento Munitorum and the Adeptus Arbites.

Those were exceptionally grueling and difficult positions, requiring frequent personnel replacements to offset natural attrition.

Mortal officials were like biological gears, sustaining the workings of the colossal machine.

The diligence and impartiality of the Stone Men had earned high praise from the senior officials of those departments.

They were the most perfect subordinates. Even the most demanding and picky Terra officials acknowledged that without reservation.

"Yes, I know." Guilliman looked at Tirean before thinking of the mortals around Elfrida, and could not help sighing.

Perhaps the Emperor's boundless trust in mortals had truly been a mistake.

"But even if I remain here, what can I do?"

"They no longer trust me. In their eyes, everything I do carries some element of conspiracy."

"More and more people are stepping forward to oppose me. If I wish to continue presiding over the overall situation, a thorough purge will be unavoidable."

"They reject my reforms because my arrival has made the power in their hands no longer quite so supreme."

Guilliman saw it more clearly than anyone. Elfrida's attempt to force his hand was merely a test by a group of cowards hiding in the shadows.