Inside the bedroom of the spire residence.
Eden was sound asleep, wrapped in warm blankets.
"My lord, it's time to wake up..."
In a daze, he heard a gentle voice whispering in his ear.
A sweet fragrance accompanied the voice, tickling his ear.
What was this annoying disturbance? Couldn't he just sleep?
Irritated, Eden reached out to push the person away, only to grab something soft, and without thinking, he gave it a squeeze.
"Ah!"
Linda let out a soft yelp, backing away in surprise from the sudden touch.
"Linda?"
"Why are you waking me up so early?"
Realizing what had just happened, Eden quickly withdrew his hand.
"My lord, it's already noon."
Seeing that the governor was awake, Linda skillfully signaled the maids to enter, assisting him with washing up and dressing.
She gently wiped Eden's face and added, "Bishop Doni has been waiting to see you for quite some time..."
Bishop Doni came to see me?
Eden was overjoyed—seems like the "divine dream" from last night worked!
Using the "Emperor's card" was extremely effective, as everyone in the Empire revered and was loyal to the God-Emperor.
It seemed he would have to make good use of this illusion-creating ability in the future.
But he had to keep it secret.
Fully dressed, Eden didn't even bother with breakfast and hurried to the reception hall to meet Bishop Doni.
He needed to know the results quickly to move forward with the next stage of the ceremony preparations.
In the reception hall.
Bishop Doni sat with his eyes closed in deep thought, but the way he tightly gripped his staff betrayed his emotions.
Last night, the God-Emperor had bestowed a holy oracle!
He had spent the entire morning reflecting on the images in the oracle.
Doni believed he had fully understood the God-Emperor's will.
The God-Emperor had chosen a young ruler—Eden Grant—as the savior.
Eden would lead the people of Urth through the darkness and back to the Empire, returning to the embrace of the God-Emperor.
As for Doni Moul, he would serve as the mentor, guiding the young ruler along the right path.
There was no doubt about it.
Thinking of this, Bishop Doni felt an enormous weight of responsibility on his shoulders.
He could not betray the trust of the God-Emperor. He had to give his all, sacrificing everything for this mission!
"Praise the God-Emperor!" Bishop Doni whispered in reverence.
The God-Emperor valued even his aging, brittle bones, and he now felt renewed with vigor.
"Your Excellency, sorry to keep you waiting."
Eden hurried over, wearing a warm smile. "What brings you to see me?"
Last night, Eden had implanted an illusion into Bishop Doni's consciousness, which was the limit of what he could do.
Whether the bishop believed it or how he interpreted it was out of Eden's control.
Bishop Doni scrutinized Eden carefully. Previously, he had thought of this Imperial governor as mediocre—someone indulged in wine and pleasures, decayed and worthless.
But now, the more he looked, the more he saw a regal aura in Eden. No wonder the God-Emperor had chosen him.
I must have misjudged him!
Bishop Doni smiled. "Governor, did you have any strange dreams last night?"
"Dreams? I didn't dream at all last night," Eden replied with an innocent look.
Bishop Doni nodded, his suspicions confirmed.
That was how it should be!
He thought to himself, only the most devout believers receive holy oracles.
Before, Eden Grant hadn't even cared to repair the God-Emperor's statue. How could he possibly be worthy of receiving a holy oracle?
Yet the great God-Emperor had still chosen him.
No, the God-Emperor had chosen me, His most loyal servant.
Doni needed to guide this young ruler on the right path, to save the people of Urth from the darkness!
With a solemn expression, Bishop Doni looked Eden in the eye. "I have decided to accept your earlier request. Under the guidance of the God-Emperor's will, I will fully support your actions..."
Eden let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed the illusion had worked.
However, the bishop paused and added, "But you must make a promise!"
"What kind of promise?" Eden's heart raced again.
Bishop Doni, as if speaking of a holy duty, declared, "Fulfill your responsibility and, under the guidance of the great God-Emperor, save the people of Urth!"
This was exactly what Eden wanted to hear.
"I promise to reclaim Urth from the heretics and chaos!"
Eden looked at Bishop Doni earnestly, "I hope the church will stand with the Court District as we strive for Urth's bright future!"
Bishop Doni nodded in satisfaction. "Of course!"
"Especially with you, the God-Emperor's most loyal servant."
Eden enthusiastically shook Bishop Doni's hand. "Without your guidance, we would struggle to accomplish such a monumental task."
This old man, the only surviving bishop on Urth, was not only of high status but also possessed formidable combat abilities.
Bringing him into the fold was definitely the right move.
Eden's words hit the mark.
Bishop Doni couldn't suppress his smile, his face lighting up. "Governor, do not worry. I will support you, and the church will provide you with all the help you need!"
"Praise the God-Emperor! That's excellent news, we really need assistance. Anything at all, right?" Eden's grin widened.
"Of course..." Bishop Doni instinctively nodded, then quickly realized what he had agreed to and tried to shake his head in refusal.
But seeing Eden's eager, expectant face, he gulped and reluctantly nodded. "Yes... for the God-Emperor, everything!"
After an hour of friendly negotiation, Eden enthusiastically and somewhat reluctantly escorted Bishop Doni out of the spire residence.
Bishop Doni felt his head throbbing.
Just now, he had agreed to give away the church's treasury.
The treasury contained various relics that had been blessed by the church over millennia, including weapons, armor, and more.
The thought made his legs feel weak.
Taking a deep breath, Bishop Doni comforted himself.
It was all for the holy oracle. Everything was part of the God-Emperor's plan!
Eden stood at the doorway, watching Bishop Doni's departing figure with a wide grin.
The old man's steps seemed unsteady—was his health failing?
That wouldn't do.
Without a healthy body, how could he serve him properly?
Ahem, I mean, how could he serve the God-Emperor faithfully?
Eden turned to Bayev, who was standing at attention beside him. "Send the bishop some restoration potions later, the best ones."
The original Eden had been weak from years of indulgence and had a good understanding of how to recover health. He even had plenty of potions stored up.
Remembering something, Eden added, "Oh, and take a transport team with you. See what the ceremony needs and bring everything back.
Don't hold back—it's all for the God-Emperor. The bishop won't mind."
"Yes, my lord!"
Bishop Doni, with his keen hearing, overheard this and stumbled slightly, muttering under his breath, "For the God-Emperor!"
Bayev looked as though he would carry out the task without hesitation, but Eden still felt uneasy.
He glanced around as if he were about to commit a crime, then quietly whispered.
"Anything valuable, bring it all back. Got it?"
Bayev whispered back, "Understood, my lord. I'll call for more transport vehicles."
Hearing this, Eden nodded in satisfaction and strolled back inside.
The preparations for the ceremony were proceeding smoothly. Now he had another important task to handle—pacifying the army.
The armed forces of the Court District were divided into three main branches: the Guard, the Law Enforcement, and the Defense Forces.
The Guard was responsible for protecting the governor.
The Law Enforcement maintained internal order.
The Defense Forces were the primary combat unit, mostly composed of refugees from the lower hive.
They were in charge of external operations, such as purging cultist hideouts and large mutant nests.
There wasn't much to worry about with the Guard or Law Enforcement.
But the Defense Forces, who had the largest numbers and heaviest responsibilities, were increasingly strained, and the lack of resources had fueled much discontent.
If this issue wasn't resolved quickly, any unrest that erupted during the ceremony would be a disaster. — In the Upper Hive, Pipe Defense Zone.
Massive metal pipes crisscrossed in a complex web, connecting to the planet's core. The pipes were so wide that some were large enough to fit transport aircraft.
Within one of these pipes, sharp, guttural noises echoed, resembling the growls of beasts.
Mutants, deformed and covered in fleshy growths, roared as they surged out from their nests!
(End of Chapter)