Chapter 124
"Where is Katarina Greyfax?"
Isis suddenly spoke, bringing up a name out of nowhere.
Most listeners would have been confused, but if Isis was asking, then it was because Godzilla cared.
"Greyfax? She left with Cawl," someone replied.
Katarina Greyfax—an Inquisitor, one of Trazyn's past 'collections.' She had fought alongside the Cadian regiments and even an Ultramarines squad. Strong enough to be considered a heroic unit in her own right.
"Nothing, I just remembered she despises psykers."
A faint smile tugged at Isis's lips. Celestine, standing nearby, could not read what was going through her mind.
"Yes. Not only does she hate psykers, she even doubts my loyalty to the Emperor."
Celestine blinked. "How could that be…?"
After all, Celestine was blessed directly by the Emperor. Her faith was so absolute that His power flowed through her. Who could doubt her?
Greyfax could.
A zealous Inquisitor, utterly devoted to the Emperor—yet unwilling to trust a Living Saint chosen by Him. The irony alone was enough to make Isis want to laugh.
Only Greyfax would dare such a thing. Small wonder why people made them into a 'pair' in fanart and fiction.
Of course, both women had sharp, stern features, with the hardened bodies of warriors and equally unyielding personalities. Hardly the type to end up in anyone's harem. Isis had no interest in them anyway.
Godzilla's current focus lay elsewhere.
''Who could refuse a golden warrior over two and a half meters tall?''
Isis turned back to Celestine. "Tell me, what attitude will your Imperium take in asking for my god's aid? I cannot decide for Him, but I will relay His will."
"Everything," Celestine said firmly. "Everything the Imperium can give."
This time, it was Isis's turn to be surprised. She raised a brow, then smirked. "Everything? That's quite bold. But I wonder… can you truly offer such a promise?"
It was sincere, yes. But sincerity meant little in politics. Words alone could not seal a bargain. "Everything" was just a blank check until one knew what would actually be paid.
"The Imperium will do all it can to uphold this pact," Celestine admitted, "but you must understand—our grip on the galaxy is weak. Many worlds already stand as their own kingdoms. Only Holy Terra, Macragge, Baal… perhaps a few others. Those, we can still claim to rule. The rest… depend on whether the Ruinous Powers allow it."
"…Fine. For now, I'll trust your words. But the final order lies with my god."
At that moment, Godzilla stirred.
[You now have an optional path.]
''Eh? What path?''
Godzilla cracked one eye open. Even half-asleep, his gaze bore crushing weight, as though the beast could see through all living things.
[Justice… or evil.]
''…Ha? You're telling me this in Warhammer 40K? Good and evil?''
Godzilla almost laughed.
In Warhammer 40K, there was no such thing. No pure justice, no pure evil. Even the Four Chaos Gods could be both—kind and cruel, generous and monstrous.
[Well, that makes this simpler. The Emperor wants your help.]
''No.''
[Eh? That fast? You just refuse?]
''Of course. Why wouldn't I?''
Godzilla rolled over lazily.
''If I work for the system, it rewards me. Fair trade. But the Emperor? What would he give me? Why should I help him at all?''
Then, something stirred in his memory.
''Wait… someone offered me information once, in exchange for help… didn't they?''
Isis's eyes widened. She remembered too.
"Yes… the Harlequin." She nodded slowly. "They told us of a rogue spawn—an out-of-control Godzilla derivative, somewhere in the galaxy. One that must be dealt with."
This was not rare. The universe was vast. Somewhere, a fragment of Godzilla's cells could always slip free, drift across the stars, and by chance gather enough energy to stabilize into a new lifeform. A derivative.
Isis herself could not know all of them. Some never even took the shape of Godzilla. But the ones that did… were always dangerous.
"My god has important matters to handle," Isis said coldly, turning back to Celestine. "Forgive us, Lateran furball."
"…Lateran?" Celestine tilted her head. The name meant nothing to her. Isis herself seemed not to notice what she had just said. The words simply slipped out, perhaps drawn from Godzilla's obsession with another Terra altogether.
"Ah, ignore that. Sometimes strange words just pass through me, when my god's will presses close. Anyway, if you've no further business, you may leave. If you wish, you may wait here."
"You'll be going to Macragge, won't you?" Celestine pressed.
Isis nodded. "Of course. It'll be fun. My god wishes to see it."
For any Warhammer player, what was the point of living in the setting if you never visited the capital of the Second Empire?
"Besides," Isis smirked, "I met an assassin of the Death Cult before. I rather liked her."
"Then she is yours," Celestine said at once. "And if, in the future, you desire another—be it even a High Lord—speak. I will give them to you."
"Hah. A High Lord?"
Isis laughed, as if the very idea was a joke.
The High Lords might be the highest officials of the Imperium, but they were hardly leaders. Guilliman himself could barely stomach them. If he had his way, he'd have shot most of them on sight.
"There's nothing I want right now. The wrecks of Cadia will do fine."
"That is your choice. Hulks are ownerless by definition," Celestine replied, unbothered.
Her openness made Isis pause. Perhaps she should not have pressed so far—but she hardly believed those drifting wrecks were property of the Imperium anyway.
"And those survivors from the Imperium?" she asked finally.
"Do as you will," Celestine answered without hesitation.
Isis shrugged and grinned. "Then I've no complaints. Oh—and when you see Greyfax, give her my regards~~~"
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