Late at night.
In the subterranean caverns beneath the fortress, Qin Mo continued his relentless research. Through tireless effort, a prototype of the dimensional transport device had been constructed. Now came the time for testing and refinement.
As he prepared for the experiment, a sudden knock echoed at the door.
"Enter," he commanded.
Grott stepped in, bringing a man into the room. "Commander, this is the one you wished to see."
At his words, Qin Mo immediately halted his work and looked at the man, recognizing him as Yaon. A report had recently come in from an officer, claiming a civilian had accused Yaon of being a hidden rebel. The reason? Everyone who saw him was filled with an inexplicable revulsion, as if some unseen force was guiding them toward identifying him as an outcast.
Intrigued, Qin Mo had ordered the man be brought before him. And now, Yaon stood before him.
"I remember you," Qin Mo said suddenly. "During the Kato City Defense, were you not one of the soldiers who fought alongside me on the main road?"
"Yes!" Yaon replied, nearly delirious with excitement. He hadn't imagined that the god would remember someone as insignificant as him. And, just like before, the god did not seem repulsed by him.
Qin Mo gestured for him to sit, pulling up a chair. Then, he waved Grott away. "You can leave."
Grott shot Yaon a dark glance, muttering as he left, "If he does anything strange, call me. I'll crush him."
"Don't worry, he's harmless," Qin Mo said, without the slightest concern.
When Grott had gone, Qin Mo turned to Yaon and asked, "Do people generally find you repulsive?"
"Yes, except for you," Yaon nodded.
Qin Mo let out a booming laugh, confusing Yaon. To him, it felt as if he had stumbled upon a treasure on the street. Yaon was an Untouchable.
Untouchables were soulless beings, completely disconnected from the Warp. Even if they called upon the names of the Four Chaos Gods, they could not be corrupted. In fact, weaker psykers would find their abilities neutralized in their presence, often to the point of panic and helplessness. But Untouchables were universally loathed, so much so that the Empire's high lords had once considered executing them all.
"I never imagined you were an Untouchable," Qin Mo said with both surprise and delight. "I didn't notice during the battle—I thought people kept their distance from you because you had done something unspeakable."
As he recalled the defense of Kato, Qin Mo realized he had felt nothing unusual in Yaon's presence, even now.
"God, what am I?" Yaon couldn't hold back his question any longer.
"You're simply... unique," Qin Mo replied, then paused. "What did you just call me? God?"
Yaon quickly explained why he referred to Qin Mo as a god, telling him about the Servitors. As Qin Mo listened, he couldn't help but laugh bitterly. Though he had anticipated that some might come to worship him, hearing it confirmed still left him stunned.
Star Gods were not like the gods of the Warp. They existed beyond the reach of mortal faith, immune to the ebb and flow of belief. Whether or not they were worshipped, they persisted, unchanging.
"Faith in me is meaningless. I do not require it, nor will it strengthen me. You should stop at once," Qin Mo warned. Then, picking up a communicator, he ordered Grott, "Take a team to the tavern in the southern district. Monitor everyone inside."
"Why?" Yaon asked, bewildered.
Qin Mo considered explaining but decided against it. The situation was too complex. The Servitors modeled themselves after the cold efficiency of logistical machines, striving to suppress all emotion. But how many of them truly managed to extinguish their emotions, and how many merely deluded themselves into thinking they had?
Qin Mo believed it would be better for them to place their faith in the Emperor. At least then, their souls could find a resting place on the Golden Throne. He had no way of sheltering their spirits.
"Tell me about yourself," Qin Mo said, wanting to learn more about Yaon, who was becoming increasingly valuable in his eyes.
Yaon recounted his life. He had only one family member—his wife. Both had been abandoned as orphans in the underhive and had grown up together, surviving by relying on one another. Eventually, they had married because neither found the other repulsive. Clearly, both of them were Untouchables.
It was an exceedingly rare occurrence.
"Do you know of anyone else like you?" Qin Mo asked.
"No," Yaon shook his head.
"You and your wife are exceptionally rare. There may be no others like you in the entire hive," Qin Mo smiled.
"Why do I make others feel such disgust just by looking at me?"
"It's a long story, one that dates back to the first life forms born after the Big Bang... but the story is irrelevant. What matters is that you are special. And in my eyes, very important."
Hearing Qin Mo refer to him as "important," Yaon felt as though he stood at the turning point of his destiny. His entire life would change because of this encounter.
"Go home for now," Qin Mo said, rising to open the door. "Tomorrow morning, I'll send someone to bring both you and your wife to the fortress. You have been chosen."
"Can I become one of your messengers?" Yaon asked eagerly as he stood.
"You will be far more than just a messenger. Your potential exceeds anything you can imagine," Qin Mo replied with a smile. Though he hadn't yet fully considered how to harness Yaon's unique talents, he had already begun to formulate ideas.
Yaon could never be a general; no matter how powerful he became, others would always find it hard to follow him. But he could become a warrior—a powerful one, equipped with the finest weapons and armor, capable of sowing fear and destruction among the enemy ranks. Like Grott, he could relish the chaos of battle without the risk of corruption, for even if he called upon the Four Gods of Chaos, they could not touch him.
"I... I..." Yaon trembled with excitement, his eyes brimming with devotion. "I don't know if this is a dream or reality... but I'm willing to give you everything I have. If you asked for my heart right now, I would carve it out for you!"
Qin Mo patted his shoulder, calming his fervor. He led Yaon out of the room and instructed Grott, "Take him home in a transport. Tomorrow morning, bring his family to the fortress."
Though Grott found Yaon detestable, he obeyed. "As you command."