The Emperor’s Angel of Death

In theory, an Astartes wouldn't need to concern themselves with the petty squabbles of mortals, as their influence stems from their supreme status and power, not administrative decrees. However, with the rapid expansion of the Legion's auxiliary forces, internal management would only become more complex. Armies are, after all, composed of people, and if human issues aren't handled well, discussing combat effectiveness is laughable. All Soshjan could think of was using the system to ensure that at least the forces wouldn't become "aristocratic." The significance of introducing the Sacred Flame Order lies in this: grasping both the system and the ideology, keeping the power struggles of mortals in a controllable balance—Soshjan wouldn't dream of mortals being without factions and struggles.

As for the Sacred Flame Order, Soshjan personally convened a secret meeting of all the Ecclesiarchy bishops in the Naysan System. In a sense, the local Ecclesiarchy had long been "tamed." The appointments of all senior clergy were based on Soshjan's will. The Ecclesiarchy generally avoided areas under the jurisdiction of the Space Marines. This stemmed from the different views and understandings of the Emperor between the Astartes Chapter and the Ecclesiarchy. Fortunately, both sides had a tacit agreement to avoid each other, keeping out of sight. The Ecclesiarchy continued to praise the Emperor, and the Astartes wouldn't comment on the Ecclesiarchy's doctrines.

As the territory of Soshjan, this Astartes lord, the Naysan System, in other words, he was the "Patriarch" of this region. However, after he announced that he would promote a "more suitable for the people of Naysan" Order belief, although the bishops were very surprised, no one objected. After all, the Ecclesiarchy had more sects than there were bricks in the Imperial Palace on Terra. Not to mention the bishops of the upper hive, even some cat-and-dog underhive preachers could create their own independent sects. Although it was rare for an Astartes lord to propose a sect, it wasn't a problem in the Ecclesiarchy's practice, as long as the Ecclesiarchy didn't object and the Inquisition didn't investigate and slap on a heretical belief label.

Of course, as a relatively developed system, the Naysan System had a more complex religious situation than Bracato. The local church forces were also more powerful. It would still take some time for the Sacred Flame Order to convert and expand, but with the infinite support of powerful authority, it wouldn't take much effort. After all, after this meeting, Mother Viletz would have the power of life and death over any clergy in the system.

In the Imperium, there is little that power cannot accomplish. If there is, then add violence.

After arranging the affairs of the Sacred Flame Order, Soshjan's work in the Naysan System was not yet finished. After Ustard left, the Chapter still had many things that needed his personal attention, such as checking the transformation of the latest batch of recruits. They were recruited six years ago. After six years of transformation surgery, out of a total of 1,000 recruits before the transformation, a maximum of 932 remained after the transformation. The success rate was over 90%, which was ridiculously high. This was due to the very experienced Apothecary Association and various mysterious enhancement drugs, which also increased the Legion's numbers by nearly a Chapter at once.

And among these 932 people, 271 were suitable for the Grey髓, but they were still in the adaptation stage for their power.

Soshjan then conveyed the news of the Legion's restructuring and the merger of the Apothecary Association to the apothecaries who remained in the monastery fortress. This batch of transformed recruits would no longer be divided based on Chapters, but would be collectively referred to as the Reserve Regiment. This regiment was actually a merger of the White Templars and the Astral Knights' recruit companies. This was also part of the Legion's restructuring. The Battle Companies would not include recruit companies. All recruits would serve in the Reserve Regiment for a period of time, and be directly assigned to various Battle Companies based on their personal performance. Corresponding to this was the expansion of the company's numbers. Now the standard composition of each Battle Company was 150 people, of which no less than 30 were recruits. This method of old leading the new was the best way to improve the quality of recruits.

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In the future, the activity and training base of the Reserve Regiment would be the Avesta. Therefore, after meeting with these recruits, Soshjan also explained in detail the content and significance of this Legion reform. What he cared more about was that Rykas, the boy he had specially brought back from the desert of Naysan III, had also survived the transformation surgery and was also suitable for the Grey髓.

Now, he was no longer the thin and weak boy he used to be, but his tenacious character was still deeply imprinted on him.

Soon, they would follow the fleet departing from the Naysan System to the Bracato System, and there they would accept the arrangements of the Executive Council and begin their true Astartes service career.

Of course, Soshjan did not forget to visit Andar and Saltark on Naysan III. At this time, the orbital space station of this planet was already quite large. With the help of the Astral Knights Apothecary Association, the Tiger Claws had also transformed 91 warriors, although it was just enough for a company, it also meant that this former Star Claws successor Chapter had been revived.

Soshjan talked with Andar about the Necrons. As a former Deathwatch, Andar knew more about this alien race than ordinary Space Marines. He had even carried out missions against the Necrons.

In addition, he privately revealed a "top secret information" about the Deathwatch to Soshjan.

"The Codex Delex?"

In the secret room of the space station, Soshjan's eyes flickered slightly when he heard what Andar mentioned.

"What is it?"

Standing opposite him, Andar pondered for a moment, then briefly replied:

"A red-level collection hidden in the highest-level Omega vault of the Euryok Watch Fortress, now in the custody and decryption of the Ordo Xenos' Death Sect. It is impossible to verify when this thing appeared, but it is extremely ancient, said to be related to the era before humans were born. When I was in charge of the Malice Watch Fortress, I once assisted members of the Death Sect in searching for alien relics related to the Codex records, but that Inquisitor died in action, so I transferred his notes and relics to the Death Sect. In the process... I learned something."

Andar said it euphemistically, but it was probably peeking.

"The content of this ancient book seems to be narrated in the form of riddles and allegories, mainly about the arrangement of different galaxies and certain unique stellar phenomena. They have amazing similarities to the key galaxies and locations within the area guarded by the Deathwatch, although not completely similar."

Soshjan thought for a while, and a possibility came to his mind, this thing was probably written by the Eldar.

"The Codex mentions a prophecy, the moment of awakening triggered by the alignment of certain distant stars in a row and the release of a catastrophic force, a disaster without life, this force will cover the harbinger of destruction. It also mentions something called the Flayed King, when it wakes up, a powerful force will be released, and in order to dissipate the release of this force, so as to preserve its secrets, the Flayed King established a huge mysterious node network, its palace will be able to hide, the power released by the awakening will be released from a hundred valves."