Warhammer: In the Name of Ashes

After following Jane Harrington's steps and walking forward for more than ten minutes, he and the accompanying Honor Guard and Guards of the Imperial Guards had arrived in a quiet hall.

The furnishings here were obviously modified, specially used to receive large targets such as Astartes warriors that exceeded the specifications of mortals.

Calvin chose a backrest chair without armrests and sat down quietly, while his Honor Guard stood outside the door of the hall. Only the Guards of the Imperial Guards and the leader of the guards, Gavins, followed him into the hall and stood on his left and right.

The two captains of the founding regiments of the Astartes were supposed to accompany and talk here, but after experiencing the previous "small setbacks", they also hurried back to their own residences.

Cardinal Jane Harrington looked at the quiet hall and tried to break the embarrassing silence several times, but fortunately her brain was still clear. After sorting out her position, she decided to keep silent and wait quietly for the return of the Holy See.

Calvin did not wait too long, and in fact no one dared to let him wait too long.

The footsteps of the Supreme Administrator Saratan sounded outside the hall door a quarter of an hour later.

The honor guards lined up at the hall door and the corridor silently watched him and the entourage behind him.

After Saratan and his personal attendant were let in, the paladin outside the hall door crossed two silver halberds, and stopped the entourage who wanted to follow up with silent but resolute body language under the condescending scrutiny.

Saratan was not surprised, but just silently waved his hand to signal the entourage to step back and wait.

This was a matter of course in his eyes. After all, according to normal diplomatic etiquette, the host and guest identities between them had been changed.

When Calvin walked into this hall, it was assumed that this was Calvin's residence.

When Saratan returned from outside, the nature of his behavior had changed from reception to visit.

This is the dignity that all the high-ranking officials of the empire should have. Even if Calvin's mysterious identity as the Primarch is put aside, even the open Terra Lord should have such majesty.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting..." After entering the hall, Saratan spoke in a friendly and homely tone. After handing over the heavy and gorgeous platinum crown on his head and the scepter in his hand to his followers, the old man took off the cloak behind him with one hand and hung it on the hanger at the door. "Please take a seat." Calvin glanced at his side, and the gold behind Nicholas walked out of the queue. Saratan was flattered to thank the guard of the imperial guards, and then sat on the velvet armchair opposite Calvin. After watching the old man sit down, Calvin did not waste time on meaningless greetings, and directly led the topic to what he cared about most. "Tell me about the specific situation. I believe that with your caution, you should not make such a mistake. There must be something unexpected that happened. Let's work together to solve this problem." Saratan's face also became visibly serious. At this point, he had no position to hide his problems and doubts. Especially Calvin did not have any accusations or excuses, which made the old man grateful and fortunate for Calvin's appearance. So after a brief time to sort out his thoughts, he told Calvin the problems he encountered truthfully.

"So, your internal review process has been initiated, but there is still no valuable gain?"

Calvin stroked his chin and made a simple conclusion after listening to Saratan's statement.

"I'm afraid it is true..."

Saratan smiled bitterly and looked in Calvin's direction. The fact that such an omission could occur was already a stain on his clerical career.

And the incompetence shown by his lack of clues in the subsequent handling will inevitably be written into his daily notes after his death.

"The internal investigation team led by thirteen cardinals reviewed the French Emperor's Hall three times, but did not find any abnormalities, nor could they see any weapons of the Heavenly Punishment Stand."

Saratan was in a very bad mood. He looked at the murals on the wall behind the two of them, and was already imagining that his deeds would be depicted in the confessional hall as a counterexample a hundred years later.

"Have you checked the upper and lower purity seals?" Calvin asked.

"Inspected." Saratan replied.

"Hmm... I understand."

Calvin quickly summarized the information from Saratan in his mind, and did not rush to give his opinion. His eyes also unconsciously wandered around Saratan and the hall behind him, until a mural in a corner caught his attention.

It was a mural depicting the offering of holy relics:

The glorious sunlight shone down from the dome of the church. The Supreme Administrator of the Emperor's Faith sat on the golden throne with a compassionate expression. The light above his head, which meant that the divine power was granted by the Emperor, shone, and he stretched out his right hand downward;

In the background of the mural below, there was a triple 13 representing the Emperor's holy number, a total of 38 cardinals in red robes, surrounding the last cardinal and the holy relic in his hand, giving it a holy blessing.

The cardinal looked solemn and solemn, kneeling on one knee, handing the holy relic on the tray in his hand to the saint on the throne.

This mural did not attract Calvin's attention at first, but after scanning it several times, he still found some puzzling details in it.

"Holy See." Calvin's expression also became serious at some point. He half-straightened up from the armchair and waved his hand to isolate the hall from reality with his psychic power.

With everyone behind him on alert, he looked seriously at the old man in front of him.

"I'm here, please call me by my name Saratan. What did you think of?" Saratan looked at Calvin's expression and became nervous.

"As you said, all actions of your religion must be in accordance with the Holy Word, and all rituals should respect the emperor's edict. Is this true?" Calvin's tone became as dark as his eyes, as if He was thinking about something that surprised him.

"Seriously!" When it comes to the belief in the Empire's national religion, Saratan's attitude is extremely firm, and his response is also slightly eager.

"What did you think of?" he asked Calvin.

"Then if everything is as you said, and witnessed by the emperor, should the regulations of your religion's holy prayer book also be based on the emperor's sacred number?"

"That's right! But..."

Saratan's tone was equally firm, but then he thought of something under Calvin's prompting. His face instantly twisted towards fear. While his whole body became stiff, his neck was still making a clicking sound, and he slowly moved toward Looking behind me...

This hall was used for diplomatic receptions after he ascended the throne. The decoration of the hall and the selection of murals were all done by him personally.

The posthumous "Ode to the Relics" was a gift presented to him by several painters who had served the Holy See for generations after he succeeded to the throne. His familiarity with this mural can be said to be clear in his mind every stroke. .

But how could he ignore this mural?

When did it start?

As Calvin said, since any sacred ceremony should be based on holy numbers, the number of cardinals who entered the King's Hall to pray should be 39!

Then why are there 32 people coming out!

What about the remaining 7 people? Where have you gone?

Why has no one ever realized this problem?

Why didn't he notice it and instead took it for granted that this was the correct number?

Who twisted their consciousness and made them subconsciously ignore this obvious problem?

who is he?

where is he?

How many people in the Holy See have their consciousness distorted by him?

This is blasphemy!

Desecration at the heart of the Emperor's faith!

Sarata's heart was roaring violently, and the warning sign was like an isolated voice, roaring violently in her conscious consciousness after losing the barrier!

Thinking of the news that the Holy Bell was ringing for no reason before, and thinking about the strangeness he encountered now, Saratan's mind suffered a powerful blow. He didn't even know whether he was dreaming or awake at this time. Calvin in front of him True or false again...

At this moment, Calvin's voice came from behind again, causing his mind, which was already on the verge of collapse, to suffer another heavy blow:

"You, do you really think that the 32 people who walked out of the King's Hall are the original 32 people? Or, are you really Saratan?"

"No...God the Emperor is above...I..."

The horrified Saratan turned back and glanced at Calvin. The cold and inquiring expression on the other person's face was the last thing he saw before he fainted.

Second update, please vote.