28. The Power of Faith

"He is not a demon." The Grand Master repeated, seemingly very patient, but actually with a furrowed brow.

Guesme Kisnaros looked at him, then turned to the warrior, and fell into a terrible silence.

The setting sun took the opportunity to disappear behind the clouds, and a cold wind swept through, carrying ashes and the smell of blood and mud. Everyone present waited for the lord-judge to speak, but he remained silent, as if he had suddenly lost the ability to speak. It wasn't until several minutes later that he broke the chilling silence with a stiff tone.

"I think there must be some kind of error here... that we cannot understand for the time being, Great Master."

Joros didn't answer the question, only making a simple gesture, which wasn't even meant for the Lord Inquisitor. The deep blue light representing teleportation shone again, and the Grey Knights were bathed in it, disappearing from the spot.

Upon seeing this, Logan couldn't help but reveal a very obvious sneer.

He stepped forward, leaving the pack of wolves, and came up behind Olde. Then he raised his voice, his tone filled with undisguised sarcasm.

"It seems the help you've found isn't very willing to help you, Gaismay."

"Chief Logan..."

"Stop shouting. Let's talk with knives to each other's throats, then no one will lie. I'll set an example for you, you lying maggot: you won't touch a single finger of an Amighidtonian, and I mean it."

Faced with this resounding threat, Guesme Kisnaros's reaction was quite intriguing. He neither immediately agreed nor showed the slightest hesitation. Instead, he blinked as if he had finally come to his senses, and then spoke without thinking.

"I'm sorry, that's impossible. Also, although I don't know what Lord Joros really means, I will definitely bring the truth to light."

As he spoke, he completely concealed his emotions and then put on that smile again.

"In short, farewell, I'm going back—"

"—Go back to what?" Logan grinned, interrupting him dismissively. "Go back to your ship? You don't think we're going to just let you go like that, do you?"

The lord judge shook his head slightly, the smile still on his face, like a mask that wasn't very secure.

"You mean to start a war? The Inquisition and the Space Wolves?"

"You overestimate yourself. This is merely us cleaning house for the Inquisition... A mentally deranged Inquisitor accused a member of the Wolf Pack of being a demon despite the Grey Knight's explicit denial, and announced a purge of the entire Amegiddon. To prevent such a horrific tragedy from befalling innocent people, we had no choice but to kill you—what will the Inquisition think when they hear this? Avenge you? I doubt it."

Gaismee finally stopped laughing completely. He first raised his hand to stop the stormtroopers behind him from aiming their guns, then strode forward to the warrior and Logan. But at this moment, he didn't even glance at the warrior.

Then, he spoke in a low voice, so that only three people could hear him.

"Of course they won't avenge me; they'll only divide up the power and position that will be vacated after my death... I admit, you've hit the nail on the head, Alpha Wolf, but I must point out something else—we cannot fail to investigate the Amighidtonians. On this matter, every judge and I share the same opinion."

Logan nodded indifferently. He utterly acknowledged Kisnaros's correctness in this matter.

"And him... I don't understand what he is, but I trust Grand Master Joros's judgment, even though I don't understand why."

As Gesmee spoke, he glanced at the soldier, showing no fear of this being who could take his life at any moment, while the latter simply returned his gaze calmly.

Logan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you trying to negotiate with me?"

"Yes." Gesmee nodded. "If you agree, I will put this in the file when I get back, so that no matter which of my colleagues tries to investigate you later, he will not be able to bring serious charges... Now listen to my second condition—I will revoke the mobilization order and disband any troops that came because of it."

Upon hearing this, Logan couldn't help but laugh.

"I really don't understand how someone can be so shameless... You act like a rational pacifist, but you've been planning a war for hours."

Guessme stared at him intently, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"That's because, according to the intelligence I received at the time, the wolf pack was traveling with a powerful demon. Do you understand how horrifying that is? Especially since you're a fledgling warband. If this were true, and I hadn't acted immediately, how many lives and worlds would have been destroyed because of my hesitation today?"

"I'll stop here. I believe you can understand me, Alpha Wolf. In essence, we have no conflict... If you are still angry, just think of me as a groveling dog using these excuses to justify itself. Do as you please. As long as we don't break out into a civil war, I can endure any insult."

Logan looked at him calmly for a moment, then reached out and grasped the Mokai Axe.

“I must admit, you’re a capable man, Gassmee,” the alpha wolf said in a low voice. “You’re right, so I’ve tolerated all of this. You can go now, go back to your ship… As for the investigation you mentioned, it can proceed, but it must be under our supervision. The pack will stay for a few more months until you’ve finished everything.”

Guesme Kisnaros bowed his head deeply.

"Thank you, Alpha Wolf," he said hoarsely.

He turned and left.

Watching the retreating figure, Logan stroked the axe handle, gently hoisted it onto his shoulder, and then asked softly, "What do you think of this person?"

"He is a believer," the soldier said.

Logan raised an eyebrow.

-----------------

In silence, Kisnaros returned to his ship and then fulfilled his promise.

After doing all this, he went into his room. Surprisingly, it wasn't a particularly luxurious cabin; in fact, it seemed rather cramped because it was filled with parchment scrolls. The Lord Inquisitor locked the door, let out a long sigh of relief, and sat cross-legged with a sense of liberation. Feeling the cold floor, he slowly closed his eyes.

He didn't believe in human nature, never. He believed that sooner or later, everyone succumbs to desire, even saints. From this perspective, those who died heroically in war were even fortunate, because they would never again fall into depravity...

But the Grey Knight is an exception.

He reviewed so many documents and records, and the Grey Knights remained steadfast. They fought relentlessly against the great enemy of Chaos, always appearing in the most dangerous places, yet they never underwent even the slightest mutation. Even from the perspective of a fanatical purist, they were flawless.

So I should trust Joros's opinion. He thought.

He tried to convince himself completely, to banish the thought from his mind, but it wouldn't go away... What if? What if Joros was wrong? What if my actions today didn't prevent a civil war, but instead released a demon that could devastate the Empire into the wolf pack?

It can even contend with Angron.

The colors red and gold reappeared before his eyes once again.

As he pondered, a series of terrifying visions came to mind, and then he recalled his career—little known to many that this was actually the first time he had directly commanded such a large-scale operation; for the past few centuries, he had been conducting small-scale purges and expeditions.

He lacked similar experience and the political acumen to navigate such situations, such as the promises he made to Logan Grimner. That essentially damaged his own credibility; would so many people respond if he issued a similar call again today?

I'm afraid not. He's already squandered the respect he'd painstakingly built up...

Guessme sighed.

But that shouldn't be a bad thing; at least I didn't let a civil war break out.

He cleared his mind, intending to rest for a while... but in that half-dreaming, half-awake state, the thought returned. It became a rational observer, whispering quietly in an absolutely trustworthy voice.

What if, Gusme Kisnaros? You may not care about your future career advancement, you may not care about losing the respect you've gained, but you should at least care about the truth. Joros's certainty is utterly unreasonable; he hasn't even explained a single word to you, just thrown out a conclusion... Is that reasonable? What if he's wrong? Or perhaps he's simply deceiving you.

"How could he possibly deceive me?" Kisnaros asked, his mind incoherent.

The rational bystander, in a trustworthy voice, righteously and sternly posed a counter-question.

Why not? The Grey Knights also possess humanity. Take Hyperion, for example; he secretly helped Annika, didn't he? And since they have humanity, they have desires. With desires comes the possibility of corruption. How could they have fought the great enemy of Chaos for so long and yet remained entirely pure?

Think about it carefully, Gusme Kisnaros—don't you feel like you've been fooled? Looking back now, don't you find Joros's behavior highly unusual? He could have easily discussed things with you, instead of simply leaving without offering a single explanation—it's completely contrary to the professionalism he's displayed throughout the journey...

The judge took a deep breath in alarm.

"Yes," the voice said. "Now you understand."

"He's lying to me?" he muttered to himself. "He actually knows that thing is a demon, but he's just deliberately misleading me?"

Yes.

"But, but—" Kisnaros said, trembling. "—This doesn't make sense! I'm a psionicist too, I can sense that it doesn't have the scent of a demon on it, and I've even examined it up close!"

You're not a member of the Holy Hammer Order, so what makes you so certain? Haven't you noticed that even the Space Wolves were fooled by that thing?

"What?" Kisnaros paused, then realized. "Yes, that's right! They were fooled by it too!"

Yes.

The voice smiled.

The Grey Knights are the enemy, the Space Wolves are the enemy, and that thing is the enemy of enemies—they've long been united. Imagine, Kisnaros, if that thing were to completely corrupt the Wolves, leading them closer to several important worlds completely unaware of this… such as the Forging Worlds, what a devastating blow the Imperium would suffer?

Then, they will likely be calling your name while slaughtering innocent civilians, all because of your foolishness today. You let them go, you failed in your duty as a judge, you failed to seek the truth... Whether it's a civil war or not is irrelevant! Because this is not a civil war, but a battle against the great enemy of chaos!

You must stand up, for your God-King, Kisnaros!

—The lord's judge opened his eyes and stood up abruptly.

"God Emperor," he murmured, his hand grasping his rose knot, his voice heavy with difficulty yet unwavering resolve. "Give me strength, and I will fight for you."

He turned and walked out of his room.

-----------------

“He is not a demon,” Joros said. “Therefore, I pardon you for your transgression, Hyperion, but I warn you, do not repeat this mistake. Although we are under the command of the Inquisition, we are of equal rank with them, understand?”

"Understood, Master..."

"Very good." Joros nodded. "Now I have a question for you, Hyperion, and you must answer it honestly."

In the grand hall of the Grey Knight battle barge Dawnfire, the battle brother Hyperion knelt on one knee, listening to the demands of his grandmaster.

"I will tell you everything I know, sir."

"Then tell me..." Joros began slowly. "What do you think of that supernatural entity named Alder?"

"I--"

A sudden beeping interrupted Hyperion's reply. Jolos frowned in displeasure, but still responded to the call. He simply gestured to his young combat comrade, indicating that he could leave, and then rushed to the main bridge of the Dawnfire.

Here, he received a message from Guesme Kisnaros, the Lord Inquisitor, requesting that he come to his ship immediately to discuss the investigation into the Amighidodtonians. Upon seeing this, Joros's expression softened slightly; he had assumed Guesme wanted to question him about another matter...

From this perspective, this person is actually quite pragmatic.

He boarded a shuttle and headed to the Imperial Navy warship, the Hope of Correl. It was a powerful warship, summoned by Gesme using the authority granted to him by his title. Ten minutes later, he boarded the ship, and eight minutes later, he found Gesme Kisnaros on the inexplicably empty mainbridge.

Then he drew his sword.

"Demon!" Joros roared.

Nine minutes later, the Hope of Corellel launched an orbital bombardment of the ground at Armageddon. The Steel Legion suffered heavy casualties, as did the Wolves. Logan Grimner sent a message via the Gilfaheim, denouncing Gesme Kisnaros as a traitor, and broadcast a war signal.

A void naval battle that had been avoided began above Amegidon.