Chapter 10: The confusion of fame and fortune, and long-term arrangements.
"I understand your confusion. You will have a new mission, but not now."
Calvin pulled Markus up from the iron-gray floor and turned to look at the faceless statue.
The face of the Lord of Humanity is hidden behind layers of nothingness, but its divine light and heat are always exuding the holy brilliance that belongs to the collection of human will.
That was the emperor, Calvin knew it, and so did Marduk.
Even though Calvin has not actually met him in the physical universe, this statue that exists in the spiritual world lacks some details;
But He represents the pure divinity of the human race and truly points to the only existence.
"But I am no longer worthy of the name of a saint and continue to walk in the empire."
Marduk responded in a low voice under the emperor's statue. This is also the most confusing question for him now.
The mission entrusted to him by the Emperor has been completed, and he should have returned to the throne in the final battle.
The planetary remains of Colkash should have been called the End of St. Marduk in its original destiny;
And the mother planet of Liberace, which was given to the Revenant Angels Chapter, should also be the sanctuary where his remains are preserved.
What else can he do? Can he continue to preach under the unworthy title of saint?
Hundreds of years of operation are just to spread the emperor’s salvation to this suffering land;
And when all this is successful, it will be the day for him to retire.
"This is not a question you can decide."
Calvin winked at Marduk, and then explained to the confused apostle:
"It's not even my problem, it's His will.
He caused me to be born in the agricultural world called Seul a hundred years ago, and He also asked me to come all the way here to save you and the sentient beings of Orpheus."
Marduk did not refute. From Calvin's memory, he already knew the growth and fate of this primarch.
With a fundamentally different origin and growth than all Primarchs, this special existence has not been able to step onto the highest stage of the empire.
He also has the emperor's favor and favor, but unlike his brothers, he did not have a mission that was fixed in his life and destiny from birth.
"Only the Emperor's insight..." Marduk prayed in a low voice.
"He will lead our way forward." Calvin continued this prayer.
"What's your next step?"
Marduk asked Calvin.
Since it was the Emperor who ordered this man to save him from death again, his future whereabouts will naturally follow Calvin's arrangements.
"Go back. I want to return to Terra, and you also want to go back to your post."
Calvin said decisively.
Things in the Orps sector are on the right track, and it doesn't make much sense for him to stay here.
The Chapter Alliance from the Krieg System is about to be disbanded, and the main force of the Chapter returning from the Extreme Star Field in the distance also needs to be supplemented by these warriors.
And he should return to Terra and see Him in the real universe.
Regarding this universe, Calvin has too many questions that need answers from the Emperor.
Regarding the future path, he also has too much confusion and needs the guidance of those who have gone before him.
The rescue of Marduk was purely accidental. He had no long-term plan for this now canonized state priest.
But the historical accumulation of the nation in his previous life and his brain with powerful computing power all told him instinctively:
Only by uniting all forces that can be united can we achieve our ambitious goals.
In this context, allies are assistance, the more the better; enemies are resistance, the fewer the better.
Marduk understood what Calvin meant.
At this time, Marduk, who has reached the rank of red-coated clergyman in the state church, if he is not dead after being canonized, he will have a place at the highest level of cardinal power in the state church within a hundred years.
And if nothing unexpected happens, his influence will far exceed that of his peers. As long as he maintains his existence, he will naturally be a strong candidate for the next pope.
At this time, Calvin and Marduk did not have such long-term ambitions, but just wanted to continue their previous work.
The latter can accept this arrangement, but he still has his own small demands regarding the name of the saint.
"Stop worrying about these names. Since it has already come, you cannot refuse it."
Calvin comforted the brooding old man with sincere words.
"Think about the people behind you, those who followed you through all the hardships to reach Orps;
Think of those rogue traders and admirals who risked their families' honor and wealth to support you and help you.
Rejecting this honor not only denies your personal dedication, but also denies their efforts."
".........your will."
Marduk accepted the honor with difficulty. He was so obsessed with his own purity that he forgot the existence of these followers.
When Calvin put the hard work and dedication behind it in front of him, he only belatedly realized his selfishness.
"I..."
Faced with his excessive pursuit of fame and purity, Marduk was horrified. Under the temptation of fame and fortune, he actually fell into an obsession that he shouldn't have.
"It should not be your burden, but should be your motivation. You should carry this guilt with you to better serve the emperor."
Calvin drew the final conclusion for this matter, and set the stage for Marduk's higher self-pursuit on the road of faith.
This communication in the soul ends here. After the two of them woke up, there was no more communication in the eyes of others.
In the days that followed, Calvin was caught up in busy official duties, making final arrangements for his return to Terra;
St. Marduk the Great Confessor, who has been named a saint, also appeared at the celebration ceremony and led a huge crowd of pilgrims to the next bishop's world parade.
According to outside intelligence, Orps is not the end point of this holy war tour;
According to the pace of the pilgrim fleet, they will return to the starting point of the Holy War - Bishop World of Ophelia No. 7 - in a hundred years.
Calvin gave great support to the pilgrims.
Under his order, the sector government prepared more merchant ships and supplies for the pilgrims.
Even the sector fleet contributed several small ships for escort.
There is a lot of waste in the sector waiting for improvement, and it is not that no one complains about this;
But Calvin knew that as long as this flag remained, in the next hundreds of years, more people would follow the footsteps of their ancestors and come to this land where they shed their blood.
This is an investment with long-term returns. Whether it is superficial political capital or real demographic dividend, it has long-term significance and value.
The above are all the reasons he put forward on the surface when discussing politics in the star district, but secretly he supported Marduk beyond the norm, and the reasons are not known to outsiders.
The farewell date coincided with the return date of the Krieg Chapter, and Calvin did not appear in person at the farewell ceremony.
As his representative, Allen said his final farewell to the leader of the pilgrim army, St. Marduk the Great Confessor.
Looking at the "colleague" in front of him who still looked old but whose muscles under the red robe were full of vitality, Alan Janus brought the original words of Calvin's advice to:
"Fortresses and swords are not the empire's last line of defense, faith is.
And your mission is to strengthen it endlessly.
The value of this job is unique and irreplaceable. Please cherish your lost life and put it better into the great cause of the Emperor."
First update, I don’t know if it’s too late for second update, please vote.