The Emperor’s Angel of Death

During the team's preparation, Arnie welcomed the members of the Werner family. Although he disliked these hypocritical and rigid missionaries, he had to admit that if he truly wanted to compete for the position of Governor of Badab, he would have to rely on the support of the State Church.

However, it wasn't until they met that he learned the Werner family had another goal: to bring him a squad of Crusaders, and inform Arnie that this was the order of the Supreme Commander.

This almost made Arnie jump for joy, because it meant he had entered the high command's line of sight, and his future prospects were bright.

In this joyful mood, Arnie couldn't help but drink a few more glasses with his guests, after which, slightly tipsy, he was led back to the bedroom by his fiancée.

"Let me pour you a glass of water."

Danica was still wearing a dark brown nun's robe, but Arnie noticed that after not seeing her for a few years, her figure was much fuller than before, and her appearance was even more beautiful. As she put him on the bed and turned to pour water, he suddenly grabbed her hand and gently pulled her back.

The moment the soft, tender body with a faint lavender scent was pulled into his arms, Arnie's blood began to boil.

He lowered his head and stared at her slightly flushed pretty face, reached out and untied her braids, letting her golden hair spread out.

"Arnie, you—"

"My Danica, you are so beautiful today."

Arnie's words made Danica lower her head slightly, her cheeks even redder.

"Thank you."

That mosquito-like voice was like a kitten stretching out its claws and scratching at his heartstrings. Arnie's hand slowly slipped into her nun's habit, and he gently bit her ear, whispering:

"You've been staring at me, have I gotten darker and uglier?"

"No, no, not at all… You're more mature and handsome… Like a true hero… I've seen many great deeds about you… You're creating miracles like a legendary saint…"

Arnie's hands became bolder and bolder, Danica's face was so rosy and bright that it seemed like water could be squeezed out, her voice and her shoulders were trembling together.

"Then how should you reward me, this hero?"

Arnie said as he moved his lips down, first kissing her fair neck, then pressing them tightly against her lips, while flipping over, pinning his fiancée under him, and quickly taking off his clothes and unbuckling his belt.

But after a while, Danica stubbornly pushed him away gently.

"Arnie, it has to be when we're married."

Arnie was in the heat of the moment, how could he give up so easily? This period of abstinence was like a suppressed volcano about to erupt.

But as he lowered his head, her hand pressed against his mouth.

"Darling, please… I swore that I must remain pure before marriage…"

Hearing her pleading voice, Arnie, panting, slid his hand to her chest, gently kneading it, and whispered:

"But I need you so much right now…"

As he spoke, Danica gently pushed Arnie back, and under his questioning gaze, slowly retreated and lowered her head…

"Hayes, I heard you learned the harmonica. Haji is dead, so play a song for us."

Inside the dim cabin of the Termite Drill, everyone was secured in their seats by restraint straps. There was still some time before the machine started, and the Tech-Priests were making final preparations.

Hearing the captain's words, Hayes was stunned for a moment, then took out the harmonica from his pocket.

"I… I don't play well."

Olanio smiled.

"It's okay, no one will mind."

Hayes nodded, then put the harmonica to his mouth, and then a squeaky, intermittent sound echoed in the cabin. The song was a very old classic. Haji once told Hayes that every child who went to school in the hive city knew the song, but Hayes didn't know what it felt like to go to school, but he knew from Haji that it was a very expensive enjoyment where you can learn many unknown things.

Most people listening to the song either frowned or complained softly, as Hayes said, he wasn't very skilled yet.

Only Olanio, listening to the song, actually swayed his head gently and showed a look of reminiscence.

Pike, who was closest to Hayes, suddenly asked:

"Hey Hayes, what's this called? It sounds pretty good."

Olanio answered the question for Hayes.

"It's called 'Little Boy'."

"Little Boy?"

The mysterious captain smiled, then gently sang along with Hayes's rhythm—

Little boy, seldom worries,

Looking around, the sun shines.

Little boy, seldom worries,

I hope it's always this good.

Year after year, time flies,

Little boy is growing taller.

As he grows from small to large,

His worries increase~

Olanio used a very soothing and melodious tone, and even the language he used was High Gothic, which was extremely unfamiliar to everyone present, but this did not prevent the song from deeply attracting everyone, and the soldiers sitting in this cabin were on average just over twenty years old.

Suddenly, the cabin shook violently, and then everyone's seats rotated a circle, which meant that the drill had been erected.

Little boy, seldom worries,

Carefree and happy.

But one day, a storm suddenly rises,

Worries and troubles all arrive.

Year after year, time flies,

Little boy is growing taller.

As he grows from small to large,

His worries increase.

In the singing, they began to tremble. The Termite Drill's huge drill bit began to break through the hard rock, taking them all the way deep underground.

At the same time, Arnie on the surface issued action orders, and soldiers began to enter combat positions one by one along the tunnel, but their numbers were not enough to fill all the battle lines.

But under the encouragement of the Werner family, a large number of fanatics holding various simple weapons and wearing scriptures and gray cloths gathered at the mine entrance.

Standing on high, under the shield of the Crusaders, Arnie paid close attention to the situation underground, and tried not to pay attention to the foul smell of burnt human bones emanating from the cages hanging on the State Church's pilgrim vehicles.

Confessors from the Werner family, dressed in robes full of scriptures and holding torches, stood on the gospel podium of the pilgrim vehicle inlaid with a large number of skulls, preaching the doctrines of redemption and death with all their might.

Confessors are a group of wandering fanatic priests who guide the Imperial citizens who come to seek the Way through their gospel podiums, and with the characteristics of suggestive language and collective unconsciousness, the listeners will come forward to repent of their heretical acts, or reveal terrible physical mutations, or betray those rebellious psykers and unbelievers.

Although they all belong to the Teaching Temple of the State Church, the influence of each Confessor is different, from a single hive city to the entire star sector, but unlike the Cardinals, they do not govern a fixed area, but autonomously flow to bring the gospel to all corners of the galaxy. Some people will attach themselves to a violent organization or other Imperial institution during the preaching process, and the generals of the Astra Militarum will also include some high-level Confessors in their staff as their most trusted confidants, providing spiritual guidance to consolidate their faith in the Emperor.

The Werner family, as a priestly family, is a major producer of Confessors, and this is also an important behavior for them to maintain their influence.