She was roasted to an alluring golden-brown, her body covered in Ecclesiarchy scriptures written in spices.
These scriptures, densely packed, stretched from her neck to her ankles, each letter meticulously crafted, clearly the result of immense effort and time.
What horrified Huron even more was that his superhuman vision revealed the spices weren’t merely on the surface; they had seeped into her skin.
This meant the spices on the Sister’s body had been repeatedly applied over a long period, gradually permeating her very being.
Her limbs had been severed, leaving only her torso and head.
The head was placed separately, the severed neck sprinkled with gold leaf and flowers, an artistic touch.
The head hadn’t been cooked; Huron could even smell the fresh blood within.
This meant she had just been murdered.
With a smile, Valen continued, “Chapter Master, this Sister is the most precious treasure of our Watt family.
Her mutation rate is extremely low, undoubtedly a gift from the God-Emperor, which is why we raised her to be a pure and immaculate Sister.
She has dedicated her life to serving the God-Emperor, remaining untouched by worldly defilement.”
He picked up a small silver knife, cut a slice, and placed it on Huron’s plate.
“Please enjoy.
Her body has been nurtured by us for over a decade.
The spices on it are also a secret family recipe, specially used to prepare such devout offerings.”
Huron stared blankly at the plate, making no move.
Valen continued to boast: “And we deliberately preserved her head.
Chapter Master, I’ve heard that the Astartes can gain memories through tasting.
I think you can feel the pure, unadulterated faith within.”
He paused, then added, “Of course, even so, she was merely a lamb of our family, much like the relationship between the Badab Ecclesiarchy and you.
A lamb attempting to rebel against the shepherd of the God-Emperor is truly a sin.”
Huron finally moved.
He looked up into Valen’s eyes.
Those eyes were full of flattery and pride, without a trace of guilt or remorse.
To him, this was simply a gift, a carefully prepared token of affection.
Huron stood up and walked to the head.
It was a young woman.
Her face showed no pain, only a devout smile.
Her lips were slightly parted, as if she were murmuring something.
Perhaps a prayer, perhaps chanting.
Huron extended a finger and touched a bit of the exposed tissue.
He closed his eyes.
Memories flooded back.
He saw a girl’s childhood.
She grew up in a pristine white room, surrounded by soft beds, warm sunlight, and gentle maids.
Every morning when she awoke, the first thing she did was kneel before the Emperor’s statue and pray.
“My Emperor, thank you for granting me a new day.
Please allow me to serve you today, please allow me to be closer to you today.”
The maids taught her to read and write, to recite scriptures, and how to pray to the Emperor.
She learned quickly because she genuinely loved it all.
She truly believed the Emperor was humanity’s savior, and that serving him was the highest honour.
As she grew older, her piety became increasingly unwavering.
She donned a Sister’s robe, began attending Ecclesiarchy ceremonies, and started helping those less fortunate than herself.
She shared her food with the poor, gave her clothes to orphans, and devoted her time to comforting the sick.
All of this was arranged by the Watt family, solely to cultivate a devout believer.
Until one day, a man in a magnificent robe found her.
“Child, the Emperor has chosen you,” the man said, his voice solemn and sacred.
“The Emperor’s Angels need your service.
Are you willing?”
Her eyes instantly filled with tears of overwhelming emotion.
“I am willing,” she knelt down.
“I am willing!
This is the greatest honour of my life!”
Then came the final ritual.
She lay on a platform adorned with intricate patterns, imbued with religious significance.
A chef, clad in a long robe and with a devout face, stood beside her.
“Congratulations,” the cook said.
“Your body will be offered as a sacrifice to the Angels, and your soul will return to the embrace of the God-Emperor.”
She nodded, closed her eyes, and began to pray.
“God-Emperor above, please accept my sacrifice.
Please let my flesh nourish your Angels, please let my soul return to your side.”
She gritted her teeth, not uttering a single scream.
“God-Emperor above…
please accept my sacrifice…”
“God-Emperor above…
please let my flesh nourish your Angels…”
“God-Emperor above…
please let my soul return to your side…”
She prayed on and on, never ceasing.
Even in her deepest pain, there was no fear on her face, for she firmly believed she was doing something great and right.
She died without knowing the truth.
She didn’t know that the man who said, “The Emperor has chosen her,” was a retainer of the Watt family.
She didn’t know that the news that “the Angels needed her to serve” was a lie fabricated by Valen to curry favour with Huron.
She didn’t know that her entire life — her education, her faith, her piety — was merely an “offering” carefully cultivated by the Watt family.
She only knew that she was to serve the Angels.
She only knew that she was doing something great.
She died, a smile on her face.
…
“Exterminate the heretics!
Kill without mercy!”
Huron’s roar was hysterical, like a madman whose faith had been trampled.
He lunged at Valen, and in his bewildered gaze, smashed his head in.
Corian, standing nearby, immediately raised his heavy bolter, turning the surrounding, bewildered guards into a bloody mist.
The remaining four Terminator veterans began advancing into the other rooms, crushing everything in their path.
Corian glanced at Huron, who was rampaging through the hall and had almost lost control, and gave the company outside the mansion battle orders: “Immediately eliminate the Watt family guards, block off the surrounding routes, and do not let a single person escape.”
The brothers, upon receiving orders, immediately filed out of the Rhino carriers and opened fire on the unsuspecting guards around them.
Some automated turrets attempted to retaliate, but were directly destroyed by the anti-tank launchers mounted on the Rhinos.
In just over ten minutes, the entire Watt family was completely under their control, with even the central control AI of the family mansion falling into the hands of the Astral Claws.