The Emperor’s Angel of Death

“Everyone, I have come here partly to see how the de Bondelin family is doing, and partly to announce some decisions.”

Facing Aufer's request, Soshjan didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point.

“As you all know, High King Matthias will soon lead the family knights to accompany Chapter Master Arash to the Suffering Alliance to assist the Imperial worlds in need. During the High King's absence, the safety and management of Passargard will be the responsibility of the White Templars' Third Company. At the same time, Captain Balez of the White Templars will also become the 'Family Whip' of the de Bondelin family, existing as the family's guardian, assisting the High King in revising family laws and disciplinary regulations, and ensuring their enforcement. In the future, even if the White Templars' Third Company Commander changes, this position will always be retained. This is to ensure that the de Bondelin family can continue to develop healthily and orderly in the High King's absence.”

After Soshjan finished speaking, everyone was silent, but he nonchalantly had the servants refill the wine.

“The first time I met Baron Orga, he was alone, with a broken mech, and the Astral Knights had less than a company of battle brothers. Perhaps our shared plight is why we became close friends. What's the word? Birds of a feather? And now, the Astral Knights have been restored to their former glory, and the de Bondelin family is full of talent. This is the Emperor's blessing, let us toast the Emperor again!”

Soshjan raised his glass, and everyone followed suit.

“To the Emperor!”

After drinking it all in one gulp, a sharp metallic scraping sound suddenly rang out in the banquet hall. Everyone saw Soshjan crush the ornate golden goblet in his hand into a twisted mess, then lightly toss it, letting it fall in front of Aufer with a clang.

Then he looked at the astonished Aufer, and then scanned everyone, saying a very archaic High Gothic sentence with profound meaning.

“Gold cups we drink together, but the white blade shows no mercy.”

The crowd looked at each other, not knowing its meaning. Soshjan then said slowly:

“This poem was said by the Emperor at the victory banquet held after the unification of Terra, to all the meritorious officials and the surrendered princes and nobles. Soon after, he executed a large number of dignitaries who stole Terra's water resources and a large number of corrupt and decadent officials.”

While everyone was still immersed in the continuous shock, Soshjan announced another decision.

“Captain Mark.”

Hearing Soshjan's summons, Mark walked in from the door, holding a parchment scroll in his hand.

“Read.”

Then Mark opened the parchment scroll and read out the names one by one, all young masters and young ladies from knightly noble families.

“These people, after tonight, will all go to serve in the White Templars' mortal servant units. Depending on the situation, they will need to serve for 5-20 years. I don't think I need to spell out the reason. Your parents should know it well. Since you can't teach them well, then we Astartes will reluctantly act as agents out of friendship. I believe that after the tempering of the Astartes Chapter, they will have the opportunity to become qualified knights in the future. Of course, the life of the Astartes Chapter is very hard and even dangerous. Injuries and even death are unavoidable, and I hope you will not worry too much. After all, rather than dying on the battlefield and dragging others down, perhaps such a death is easier to accept.”

While Soshjan was speaking, some noblewomen were already sobbing with their faces covered, because their children were on the list, while the knights had different expressions, some ashen-faced, and some dumbfounded.

“Chapter Master, it is my fault as High King for failing to govern properly.”

Matthias spoke in a timely manner and knelt down on one knee.

“I am willing to——”

“Your current task is to prepare to face the battlefield, High King Matthias, no need to think about anything else.”

Soshjan interrupted Matthias's political performance. Although he was somewhat dissatisfied with this person, after seeing Barris's appearance, he knew that he had no better choice, at least not in the short term.

Finally, he had to comfort the other party with a few words.

“I have seen all your achievements in governance, but you have only taken over the family for a short time, and I have not given you more support. Get up, High King, the de Bondelin family cannot do without you.”

Then he further explained to everyone:

“The Astartes will not directly interfere in the internal affairs of the de Bondelin family, and the 'Family Whip' is only to assist and supervise.”

Only when he said this did many people's expressions relax slightly.

But after such a scene, the atmosphere of the entire banquet became very strange, as if everyone had just awakened from a dream. But Soshjan didn't care so much, he only needed to achieve his goal.

The day after the banquet, Soshjan visited the new knight's ascension ceremony.

The so-called ascension ceremony is actually the first time the new knights connect with the Throne Mechanicum, and it is also the last test they have to undergo. Once a successful connection is established, then they are qualified to drive the powerful war engines, and once they fail, then their brains will suffer irreversible damage and they will never be able to drive mechs again.

Soshjan entered the most core area of the knightly family, which is deeply hidden in the underground of Courage Palace's main castle. It is necessary to pass through three doors all the way to reach the central Knight's Temple.

This temple has been expanding and decorating since its construction, in order to meet the increasing strength of the knightly family. The walls are decorated with colorful flags, steel-shaped gargoyles and bladed finials. At the top of the cone in the center of the dome, flies an Imperial Eagle banner, bearing the knightly family's coat of arms.

Huge black iron stairs start from both sides of the gate, winding around the building, and then converging at a smaller circular entrance above.

When the crowd arrived, the entrance above opened, and two rows of red-robed relic guardians appeared. They walked down the stairs, leading the new knights to attend their rite of passage.

All the knights were wearing metal armor connected to neural interfaces, some looking a little nervous, some looking very confident.

Originally, there would be no outsiders on this occasion, but Soshjan was an exception. He entered the Ascension Hall with the team. It was very large, and dim light shone in through the pipes above. Flickering electric candlelight burned in iron covers, and huge mechanical thrones stood on high platforms on both sides of the hall.

The Mechanicus priests began to chant the Machine God's prayers. This rite of passage was personally presided over by the Machine Sage. 45 selected noble boys will usher in the transformation of their lives.

After that, under the guidance of the cherubs, they circled a few times in the internal structure of the Ascension Hall. The rite of passage has a very long process and extremely complex etiquette and rituals. The boys must recite lengthy doctrines about responsibility, honor and loyalty before the Emperor's icon, as well as mnemonics that help with the connection process to ensure perfect integration with the knight they will be driving after successful imprinting.

Then they also have to recite the family's precepts and chapters on the virtues of knights in front of the family's founder, Grand Duke Orga, and also pray to the machines they must drive, chanting mechanical hymns, and swearing that their lives will be eternally linked to the knight mech.

In a sense, the knightly families are indeed the most complex group in the Empire. They are loyal to the Throne, and they must also be loyal to the family, and sometimes they must also be loyal to the Omnissiah.