As a secret intelligence agent directly under the Governor's Office of Rostov II, Paul continued to diligently carry out his superior's surveillance mission, monitoring the activities of the Blood Oath Society as a volunteer.
After the Governor restricted all activities of this sect, its behavior became much more subdued.
Ever since Governor Chen Xi, in his dual capacity as an Inquisitor and Planetary Governor, issued a preaching ban against the Blood Oath Society, the sect's activities had indeed become much more restrained.
They could no longer openly preach in the streets as before, nor could they infiltrate communities to gain followers under the guise of medical aid.
Now, they were confined to the sect's altars, passively waiting for desperate commoners to seek their help.
This passive method of proselytizing significantly slowed the Blood Oath Society's expansion and diminished its influence.
Although there were many complaints within the Blood Oath Society, they could only swallow their grievances in the face of a Planetary Governor who also held the title of Imperial Inquisitor.
Of course, after the Necrons attacked the planet a second time and Alex launched an Expeditionary Force, the Blood Oath Society on the planet did receive some lifting of restrictions; they were permitted to participate in the treatment of the wounded.
After all, the medical resources of the entire Rostov Sub-Sector were very limited, and to ensure the Expeditionary Force received adequate medical care, Alex had no choice but to utilize this medical force, which he clearly had reservations about.
Although Alex was full of doubts about this sect, facing stretched medical resources, he had to compromise.
Under strict supervision, he allowed the Blood Oath Society to participate in the treatment of the wounded.
It was precisely for this reason that Paul, as a volunteer for the Blood Oath Society, joined the Blood Oath Sister and other members of the sect in wartime medical care.
Ostensibly, he was busy like other volunteers, caring for the wounded and transporting medicine; secretly, he vigilantly observed every word and action of the sect members, memorizing all details to report back.
For Paul, who had served in the Planetary Defense Force on Rostov II, returning to the familiar military camp environment was an exhilarating experience.
Although his current status was merely that of an ordinary volunteer in a field hospital, the familiar bugle calls, the rhythmic marching of formations, and the scent of oil mixed with disinfectant that permeated the air in the camp all rekindled the passion and sense of mission he felt when serving in the Defense Force.
As for his other previous task—organizing and training militia reservists—it had to be temporarily suspended with the Governor's Office launching the Expeditionary Force.
The reason was simple: almost all able-bodied young people on Rostov II had been conscripted into the regular army, leaving only minors or the elderly, meaning there were no longer any suitable individuals to train for the militia.
Indeed, with the Expeditionary Force underway, virtually all able-bodied young people on Rostov II had been conscripted, so training for the militia reserves naturally couldn't proceed without personnel.
However, this situation allowed Paul to focus more on his true duty: monitoring every move of the Blood Oath Society and investigating whether they were engaged in heretical activities.
Of course, Paul himself had no standard for judging 'heresy'; he was neither an Ecclesiarchy priest nor an expert from the Inquisition.
His task was merely to meticulously record the Blood Oath Society's daily activities, ritual procedures, personnel interactions, and even the medical methods they used to treat the wounded, strictly according to the Governor's Office's requirements.
Then, he would compile this intelligence into reports and submit them through encrypted channels to the Governor's Office, where the truly knowledgeable dignitaries would judge whether the Blood Oath Society was a devout faith group or a hidden heretical cult.
Paul understood clearly that his role was merely a pair of eyes and ears, not a judge.
He didn't need to understand complex theological debates or decide which actions crossed the Emperor's line.
He only needed to faithfully observe, record, and report; the rest was for the Governor's Office to decide.
Initially, Paul thought things would continue this way, and he even began to develop a certain respect for the Blood Oath Society.
In his recent assignments, he personally witnessed how the Blood Oath Sisters, clad in crimson robes, worked tirelessly day and night in the rudimentary field hospital to treat the wounded.
The concoctions they prepared rapidly healed wounds, and their mysterious rituals seemed to genuinely alleviate the suffering of the injured, saving the lives of many soldiers who would have otherwise surely died.
Paul noted that these Blood Oath Sisters never proselytized during treatment; they simply performed their duties of healing and saving lives in silence.
Such scenes caused Paul's resolve to waver.
As a veteran of the Defense Force who had faced life and death on the battlefield, he understood better than anyone the importance of battlefield medicine.
If the Blood Oath Society was truly as they appeared—just a group of healers dedicated to saving lives—then perhaps the Governor's Office's caution towards them was unnecessary?
Paul even began to secretly ponder that if they had not fallen, perhaps they were truly a group of respectable people.
However, just as Paul's thoughts began to shift, a prohibition order bearing the seal of the Inquisition suddenly arrived.
This order, personally signed by Governor Chen Xi, was severely worded, demanding the immediate isolation of all Blood Oath Society members, the confiscation of their medicines and medical supplies, and a complete ban on all activities of the sect.
Paul watched as fully armed guards stormed into the sect's medical tents, roughly interrupting ongoing treatments, and escorting the Blood Oath Sisters who had been saving lives onto prisoner transports.
The mysterious medicines, scriptures, and medical equipment were sealed and neatly piled in the plaza, awaiting scrutiny.
The entire Blood Oath Society was uprooted overnight, as if it had never existed.
Paul, as a volunteer brought in by the Blood Oath Society, was also arrested and similarly detained and isolated.
Paul did not know what evidence the Governor's Office had obtained, but after being confined, he was able to interact more deeply with the Blood Oath Sisters and priests, gathering more information from them.
It was only then that Paul finally learned that there were different factions within the Blood Oath Society.
One faction had a subtle difference in their interpretation of the sect's blood worship tradition; they believed that blood was immensely sacred, and that while believers offered their blood, they should also sacrifice a portion of it to the God-Emperor.
This was not actually a major issue; blood sacrifice to the God-Emperor was actually a relatively common religious ritual in the Imperium, especially prevalent in the Cult of the Dead.
Even the Ecclesiarchy and the Inquisition would turn a blind eye to it, generally not interfering unless it became excessive.
But undoubtedly, when someone pursued the matter, such behavior would undoubtedly become evidence for a heresy accusation.
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