Behind the steel sluice gate were towering, massive mechanisms, tightly complex instruments, and intricate piping connecting to incubation columns fully three mortals high.
The light inside was equally dim; dim, yellow spotlights cast long shadows behind the instruments, and the liquid in some culture dishes and incubation pods emitted a faint fluorescence.
Fu Qinghai noticed that the placement of these huge instruments and pipelines seemed somewhat disorganized, as if they had been hastily moved onto the starship.
Ogedai led Fu Qinghai past the shadows of one huge instrument after another until they reached a spacious metal workbench, over which the glow of a white shadowless lamp shone down, where a short figure stood.
This figure, entirely shrouded in a deep red cloak, appeared very slight compared to the metal workbench before him; even a Space Marine sitting in a wheelchair was a shoulder taller than him, yet as Ogedai approached him, he slightly bowed and spoke respectfully:
"Master Kunto."
The small figure turned his head, revealing an aged face covered in wrinkles and age spots, his cybernetic eye set in his right eye socket flashing a faint green light.
He swept a cold glance over Ogedai and Fu Qinghai, and a dry voice, like the grinding of rusted gears, sounded:
"What is it, Captain Ogedai?"
Fu Qinghai’s face was calm, but internally he was struggling to suppress the turbulent waves rising from the sea of thought belonging to the electronic Iron Man.
From the moment he saw the two tall robots before entering the door, to passing one complex machine after another, the sea of thought had been constantly churning, with inspirations bubbling up one after another. Fu Qinghai himself was a person whose desire for knowledge and curiosity were exceptionally strong, and under the boost of the sea of thought, this urgency was even more pronounced now.
Ogedai said in a low voice, "Master, I hope you can help this child complete the Ascension Surgery."
Hearing this request, the cloaked figure did not seem surprised; he calmly addressed Fu Qinghai:
"Open your mouth."
Fu Qinghai obediently opened his mouth, just as if a doctor were checking his tonsils.
Master Kunto’s faint green cybernetic eye rotated slightly.
He said, "By the dental age of a normal Human, he is about seventeen years old. You know the optimal time for the surgery; he is a bit old."
Fu Qinghai grumbled internally: Why didn't you just ask me? Back on our hometown Earth, only horse traders check dental age...
Ogedai heard this and said, "Of course I know, but I believe none of these are problems for you."
Kunto turned his head back, and two long, slender, delicate mechanical hands emerged from under the cloak. He lowered his head to continue fiddling with his workbench and said, "Indeed, it is not a major problem. Take him for training, and give me one Gene-seed from your Legion. I will cultivate the organs before the Modification Surgery."
Seeing Kunto return to his work, Ogedai paused, but still couldn't help but speak up:
"Master, as you can see, our Legion's forces are dwindling. I believe Locke is a rare good prospect, and I think highly of him. I hope... I hope you can ensure the success rate as much as possible."
Kunto stopped what he was doing, turned to look at Ogedai, and a dry laugh emerged from under his hood, saying:
"What, Ogedai? Do you think I am on the same level as those strong-limbed, clumsy Apothecaries in your Legion?"
Ogedai quickly replied, "I did not mean to question your ability, I just wanted to say... every source of manpower is important to us right now."
Kunto turned back again and said calmly, "Enough, I know what you mean. Take him to undergo your White Scars training; I will handle the rest."
Ogedai bowed again and said, "Thank you, Master."
On the way back, Fu Qinghai couldn't help but ask:
"Who is he?"
"Kunto Anastasio, Gene-smith, high-ranking priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus, Biological Sage, Xenos Specialist."
Ogedai recited a long string of titles.
"Is he related to our special mission this time?" Fu Qinghai keenly realized.
Ogedai looked at Fu Qinghai expressionlessly, "I will tell you once you become one of us, including all your messy, foolish questions."
Fu Qinghai gave a dry laugh; it seemed Ogedai was still holding a grudge about being questioned earlier.
Gene-smith was the general term for Tech-Priests in the Adeptus Mechanicus who studied disciplines like biology and genetics, while Biological Sage indicated his rank and title. A Gene-smith of this rank was a major figure in his Forge World. In terms of strategic value alone, everyone else on this frigate combined wasn't worth as much as Kunto.
The dark red color of his cloak had a very famous name in the Galaxy—Mars Red.
This was the signature color of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
But the Adeptus Mechanicus was the Adeptus Mechanicus, and the Astartes Legion was the Astartes Legion. No matter how powerful Kunto was, he was not Ogedai's direct superior. Ogedai could treat Kunto in a strictly businesslike manner, but the reason he was begging him so humbly now was entirely for Fu Qinghai.
Thinking of this, Fu Qinghai couldn't help but give Ogedai a grateful look. This Afu-headed strongman, with his brutish face and bad temper, was actually quite good to him.
Within the Space Marine Legions, the surgery to convert a normal Human into a Space Marine was called "Ascension." In fact, this term alone revealed much about how the Space Marines viewed Mortals; they considered Space Marines to be a higher form of life than Mortals.
This view was not without reason. Setting aside their powerful and enduring strength, agile speed, superior reaction time, and recovery capabilities, their nearly infinite lifespan alone was enough to look down upon Mortals.
Space Marines did age, but no Space Marine had yet been recorded as dying of old age—only those who fell in battle.
The optimal age for Space Marine modification was 12, but this was not a major issue. Many famous figures underwent Modification Surgery when they were already in their prime, such as the Primaris Bodyguard Captain of the White Scars Legion, the leader of the Golden Khereq, and the right-hand man of Chaghatai Khan, Qin Xia, as well as the Chief Librarian of the White Scars Legion, the leader of the Storm Seers, and the Legion's second-in-command, Tughril Yesugei. They all underwent Space Marine surgical modification as adults or even middle-aged men, but this did not prevent them from becoming exceptionally powerful Space Marines.
There were even more extreme examples. Kor Phaeron, the adoptive father of the Word Bearers Legion Primarch Lorgar, was an old man when he prepared to undergo Space Marine modification surgery, yet he still became a being whose Combat Power rivaled that of a Space Marine through a series of modification surgeries, bionic organs, and special potions.
As long as the Tech-Priests wished it, nothing was impossible.
However, the Ascension of most Space Marines also had to consider a cost factor. The surgeries were usually performed by the Apothecaries within the Legion. Apothecaries were also Space Marines, and they were responsible for harvesting the Gene-seeds of Fallen Space Marines. There was a wastage rate associated with the modification surgeries performed by these Apothecaries; failed subjects either died outright or became permanently disabled.
The latter was better, as bionic prosthetic technology was highly developed, and a failure could still allow one to serve as a regular Crew member in the Legion.
But in most cases, failure meant death.
That is why Ogedai emphasized the success rate to Kunto. There were not many suitable young males available on the starship to be consumed by Modification Surgery; Fu Qinghai was their only hope.
…………