The Emperor’s Angel of Death

"Reference opinion?"

Facing the somewhat puzzled Sorzhayan, Ibanks mysteriously took out a personal data slate, opened it and handed it to Sorzhayan. Sorzhayan took it and immediately showed a surprised expression, but did not immediately comment, but continued to read.

More than ten minutes later, he finished reading the entire content, then handed the data slate to Talos and said to Ibanks:

"The Markbane Proctors model? Isn't this the Astra Militarum?"

The other party shook his head with a smile.

"You misunderstood. It has always been the Markbane Militia. It's just that these devout soldiers are more brave and good at fighting than those mixed, loosely believing so-called Astra Militarum, so they have to perform duties other than their own defense tasks, that is, fighting for the light of the throne throughout the galaxy and protecting those devout believers and pilgrims."

The so-called Markbane Proctors are a force from Marcus-Quintus, a dry religious world in the Calixis Sector.

As a pilgrimage site for a large number of believers in the Calixis Sector, this religious world has a strong military tradition. It is said that the legendary expedition General Drusus was assassinated here by enemy assassins, but he recovered with the light of the Emperor after ten days and ten nights. In the next few years, Drusus knew no defeat, and one enemy after another was defeated by him. Finally, in the ashes of his conquest, the Calixis Sector was born.

In the centuries after the expedition, Drusus was also named a saint by the Ecclesiarchy. Due to his miraculous resurrection and subsequent great victory, the place where the miracle once occurred was also changed to a religious world, which is now Marcus-Quintus, and then gathered a large number of pilgrims. These pilgrims also constitute the core of the Markbane Militia, and the most outstanding of them form the Markbane Proctors.

"Oh? I am indeed ignorant of this. I always thought the Markbane Regiment was the Astra Militarum."

Sorzhayan nodded thoughtfully.

"Building an informal armed force in the name of planetary defense forces can indeed bypass the Edicts of Subjugation in principle."

He originally thought that the Ecclesiarchy would not interfere in military affairs, but he still thought it was simple. How could the Ecclesiarchy really ignore its own territory?

This is obviously an act of using someone else's resources to achieve one's own goal, establishing a military force similar to the Markbane Proctors in the Archdiocese under the banner of the Suffering Alliance, which can avoid the criticism of other Imperial institutions and increase the armed forces of the Ecclesiarchy. The countless struggles of the High Lords of Terra over the past ten thousand years have proved one thing: force is always the most effective bargaining chip in political games.

But does Sorzhayan need to refuse?

Of course not, how could he refuse such a good thing that was delivered to his door?

The equipment of the Markbane Proctors is very good, belonging to the first-class standard of the Astra Militarum, and it takes a lot of resources to build such a high-quality force. Sorzhayan himself can't afford so much, but since the Ecclesiarchy is willing to be the sucker, he naturally doesn't care.

Anyway, in the end, this force will be used by him.

"I have long heard of the Markbane Proctors' reputation for being good at fighting, but... if you want to build a huge army like them, equipment, logistics, training, etc. are all an astonishing expense."

Seeing that Sorzhayan had agreed to the plan, the smile on Ibanks's face became more obvious. He originally thought that this matter would take a lot of persuasion, but he didn't expect the other party to agree so readily. Then, when he returned to Terra to report, these great achievements would be enough for him to have the opportunity to peek at the high position of Cardinal Deacon.

"You don't have to worry about this. The Ecclesiarchy will give the Suffering Alliance enough support. We have already brought a batch of equipment, and more are being assembled in Ophelia, and will soon be transported here. In addition, we have also brought 21 regiments of Markbane Proctors. They are all veterans who have experienced many battles, and their faith is extremely firm and devout, which can solve the training problems and become the officers and pillars of the new army."

Sorzhayan was amiable on the surface, but sneered in his heart, trying to control the Faith Watch in this naive way of "mixing sand." This Deacon Leader is indeed a shrewd and sophisticated person, but he still lacks understanding of military affairs. As long as the supreme commander can firmly grasp the command, this kind of behavior is just a joke. No matter how devout those Markbane veterans are, he has countless ways to "transform" them.

"Then I can rest assured."

After that, the two sides talked about some other things. It was not until 2 hours later that Ibanks left with his men to carry out the next series of tasks.

Only Sorzhayan and Talos were left in the hall.

"People from the Ecclesiarchy of Terra are here. Will the Holy Flame Cult that you created be discovered?"

Hearing Talos's question, Sorzhayan pondered for a moment, then said with great confidence:

"The Holy Flame Cult is still relatively secretive. I have already communicated with that Patriarch, using a local small faith cult as a cover. There are thousands of factions in the Ecclesiarchy. A small cult will not attract these people's attention. Do you know what that Patriarch complained to me about? That Deacon Leader is clearly lower in rank than him, but he looks down on him very much, regards him as a bumpkin from a remote area, speaks very rudely, and has given him many orders."

Talos grinned when he heard this.

"People from Terra are mostly like this. They are shrewd, but they are also arrogant. However, this has successfully forced that rubber stamp Patriarch to your side."

"Friend, what do you think those Silent Knights are?"

"Um... I guess they are some kind of modified people. It's hard to say what technology they use. Maybe Vandire scavenged it from other places, or maybe he found it in some dark corner of the Imperial Palace of Terra, or maybe it was something created jointly with the then Fabricator General, but the Ecclesiarchy hides these people very well, so that there is almost no news in the galaxy. It stands to reason that even if large-scale use is not possible, small-scale use should not attract too much attention. After all, the high-level officials of the Ecclesiarchy also have various elite bodyguards, so I guess they are very shady things, so much so that being a bodyguard is very dangerous."

"Then what is the purpose of them sending these things this time? I don't think I am so trustworthy."

"Do you think it is possible..."

Talos made a thinking expression while pointing his finger at the star map.

"Actually, that Pope also suspects the ability of the so-called Silent Knights? Because they are too hidden, they may not have experienced large-scale actual combat, even after thousands of years, so they simply took them out to try?"

"It sounds a bit rash, but it is indeed possible, but what I am thinking is, do these people have other missions?"

"There is this possibility."

The two looked at each other and fell into silence. Several minutes later, Sorzhayan took the lead in breaking the silence.

"I can't think of anything now. I will arrange for people to keep an eye on them and see what actions they will take next. Next, I may be busy with some rear affairs. I can't refuse so many gifts from the Ecclesiarchy. You have to work harder on the front line."

"I also want to see what the so-called Tyranid is."