Flames erupted from the psionic gate laden with tentacles, searing those forced into physical form by the activation of the obelisk. Qin Mo saw what the *Glory Road* had done, feeling a pang of sorrow and anger.
As the first ship of the Talon Navy, the *Glory Road* was far more than just a cruiser. Knowing that some things held symbolic significance within the Warhammer universe and that their loss could bring troubles, Qin Mo had specifically reinforced the ship's hull and ensured that its bridge would remain indestructible at all times. A ship was not truly sunk if the bridge was intact; however, with the bridge now pulled into the warp, it might as well be destroyed.
Moreover, the *Glory Road's* captain, Sain, was one of the crew who had once followed Adam aboard the first cruiser. The thought of him, even if he survived, suffering torment in the warp, weighed heavily on Qin Mo's heart.
Was the exchange of the *Glory Road* for the *Soul of Vengeance* worthwhile? Certainly. Yet, some things transcend simple worthiness…
In the cold expanse of space, the battle continued. The Chaos fleet, with several of its key vessels drawn into the warp, was in shambles. Those remaining either stayed in place, meeting destruction, or became prey to the tendrils as they dismantled *Apocalypse*, the gate-forming ship, dragging vital parts into the warp until the gate collapsed in an instant, transforming into chunks of flesh adrift in the void. Due to the suppression of psionic energy, these remnants appeared less menacing than usual, subject to physical laws, freezing and shrinking in the depths of space.
"Is the war over?" Creed lifted his head to ask Qin Mo.
"It's over," Qin Mo replied, withdrawing his powers.
The Thirteenth Black Crusade had ended, for both Chaos and the Empire. Chaos, for its part, didn't label each incursion by numbers; to them, it was one endless, eternal war destined to last countless years. Yet, even for Chaos, this war had to end here.
"Good," Creed sighed in relief, retrieving a document from a drawer and handing it to Qin Mo.
Qin Mo examined it carefully, finding it was a summary from the Imperial Navy prepared for Creed. As the Talon Navy had held the defense of the Cadian Gate, the Imperial Navy had been able to deploy forces to protect other embattled worlds in the Obscure Sector, ensuring the safety of many that were on the brink of falling.
Additionally, the document indicated that Admiral Kallon of the Imperial Navy hoped Creed would act as an intermediary to arrange a meeting with Qin Mo to discuss the purchase of particle lances.
"If Kallon is willing to fit his ships with dimensional engines, I'll give him particle lances free of charge," Qin Mo returned the document to Creed.
Creed accepted it, silently shaking his head, taking a drag of his cigar. He didn't believe the dimensional engines would catch on.
After a pause, Creed exhaled a plume of smoke, frowning. "Your dimensional engines would render Navigators and Astropaths obsolete. Any force with ties to them will do everything they can to prevent your engines from spreading."
"I'm no naval strategist, but I can tell just by smoking a cigar that even a clumsy workaround—like fitting a fast, small ship with the dimensional engine to carry messages across systems—would be more reliable than relying on Astropaths. And Navigators? Who needs them if you're not using warp engines?"
"For over ten thousand years, interstellar travel and communication across the Empire have relied heavily on Navigators and Astropaths. Imagine how vast their influence has grown," Creed stated plainly, hinting at the dangers Qin Mo would face if he attempted to advance the dimensional engines.
But Qin Mo understood these complexities far better than Creed.
Seeing Qin Mo's unflinching expression, Creed refrained from speaking further, and after taking another drag, he laughed suddenly.
"You know, I can hardly believe it," Creed chuckled, shaking his head. "A White Shield recruit wanders into the Talon System, meets a legion commander, and strikes a deal, a promise to aid him when Cadia stands on the brink… Fate, isn't it?"
"To be honest, I think it was more than just a storm that led you to Talon back then," Qin Mo mused.
Creed nodded thoughtfully, feeling the same.
In fact, during the Voskani uprising, Creed hadn't believed he'd ever become Castellan, nor understood why Qin Mo had sent Klyne to him. Only later did he realize what his destiny was.
"Cadia stands," Qin Mo said. "That makes you the greatest Castellan in history. But if you refuse life extension treatments, the next time I see you, you'll likely be in a box."
"That's true. Last time you saw me, I was a young man. Now I'm just middle-aged."
"When I leave Cadia, I'll bring you a gift."
"What kind of gift?"
"A machine that can conjure endless cigars out of thin air. And these cigars will contain nanobots to keep you healthy, ensuring you live as long as possible."
"Then have the Lord of Talon throw in an iron lung too," Creed joked.
The two laughed together.
Amid their laughter, Creed's face suddenly grew serious. He puffed on his cigar, lost in thought, until finally he spoke.
"I hope that before you leave Cadia, you'll do one thing for me: stay until I've seen Sain become Castellan. And if he isn't, then help him take the position."
"What are you saying?" Qin Mo was puzzled by Creed's sudden leap in thought.
Moreover, Qin Mo knew Sain was Creed's adversary, a subordinate during the Voskani rebellion who had obeyed Creed's orders yet never respected him. Why, then, did he wish for Sain to become Castellan?
"Sain is a poor commander, but he knows how to stabilize Cadia post-war. If I am no longer here, he would be the best choice for Castellan," Creed replied.
"Wait… you're gone? Why… oh…" Qin Mo started to question but stopped, realization dawning.
Some of Creed's actions during the war had been… unconventional. Coupled with other factors, it was likely he'd face scrutiny afterward.
In the Empire, a hero does not always receive applause and praise.
"Castellan," Klyne suddenly entered the office, looking uneasy as he hesitated before approaching Creed.
"What is it?" Creed asked, though he had an inkling.
"The Inquisitors would like to speak with you," Klyne replied, glancing at Qin Mo. "Alone."
"I understand," Creed replied without hesitation, quickly drafting a command ensuring Talon forces could depart Cadia unimpeded.
As long as he held the title of Castellan, the Talon forces would face no obstacles leaving the Cadian Gate.