The warmth in the observation deck, enough to melt steel, froze into the hardest ice the moment Valeria finished speaking.
"What classified report?"
Leticia's smile remained unchanged, but there was not a shred of warmth left in those bottomless black eyes.
Valeria did not waste words.
She stepped forward with a steady military gait and presented the data pad in her hands to Leticia with both hands.
The entire observation deck was deathly silent.
Fogremia's action of holding her silver-spirit teacup froze in mid-air. Her purple eyes, usually filled with appreciation and playfulness, were now slightly narrowed, revealing a hint of dangerous cold light.
Angronia had already stood up silently. She made no sound, but the knuckles of the hand resting on her short-handled chainaxe were slightly white from the force.
The newly joined Sanguinia also retracted the holy smile on her face. A hint of confusion flashed through her sky-blue eyes, and she immediately turned to the quiet sea of stars outside the window, as if sensing something.
Only Terrania was still obliviously eating a cookie in small bites, but she sensed something wrong with the atmosphere and subconsciously clutched the corner of Leticia's clothing.
Leticia took the data pad.
The cold metallic touch came from her fingertips.
Her gaze swept quickly over the virtual screen. The information on it was transmitted using the highest encryption method of the Inquisition, but for her, who possessed the Authority of [Knowledge], it was as good as nothing.
A few seconds later, she finished reading.
The screen of the data pad displayed only a few lines of concise yet blood-soaked information.
[Classified Report Level: Highest Priority (Cardinal Level)]
[Target Locked: Unknown Faction Genesis Sisterhood]
[Verdict Plan: Ultimate Purification]
[Execution Fleet: Adepta Sororitas Divine Punishment Inquisition Fleet]
[Fleet Commander: Grand Abbot of Saints, Morwen Val]
"Morwen Val..."
Fogremia softly read the name, her voice carrying a trace of cold scrutiny.
"I remember this name. In the Empire's official propaganda, she is the most devout and iron-blooded believer of the Emperor, second only to the Living Saint Celestine, and the most stubborn conservative in the Adepta Sororitas. For her to lead the Inquisition fleet personally..."
Fogremia set down her teacup and looked at Leticia, her tone terrifyingly calm.
"Sister, this means the Empire has listed us as the highest-level heretic threat. They are not here to test us; they are here to launch a crusade that will not end until one side dies."
"A crusade?"
Angronia let out a cold snort full of disdain.
Her explosive body leaned forward slightly, and her amber pupils burned with pure Battle Intent.
"Then let's fight!"
Her voice was not loud, but it was like a red-hot branding iron, full of scorching, unquestionable will.
"The genesis is not yet repaired, and the Sisters of the Legion have just experienced a great battle, their strength not yet fully adapted. It is not a wise move to clash head-on with the Empire's elite main fleet now."
Fogremia immediately retorted. She stood up, walked to Leticia's side, and offered the most rational suggestion.
"Sister, I suggest an immediate strategic transfer. Our goal is the sea of stars; there is no need to waste resources here with a group of deceived mortals."
Sanguinia also walked over, her holy face filled with compassion.
"Sister Fogremia is right. Those Battle Sisters are just blinded by false faith; they are not enemies. We should not harm them."
Three Primarch Sisters, three completely different opinions.
One favored war.
One favored retreat.
One favored peace.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the observation deck became even heavier. Three wills, powerful enough to distort reality, collided gently in the air.
They were all waiting.
Waiting for their only, supreme creator to make the final judgment.
However, Leticia did not speak immediately.
Her fingers swiped gently upward on the screen of the data pad.
At the bottom of the official intelligence, there was a folded section of private analysis from Katerina.
[Private Analysis: The Grand Abbot's behavior is extremely abnormal.]
[One, she did not conduct any pre-war mobilization, and even concealed the true target of this operation from her subordinates. This does not fit any of the Empire's procedures for launching a crusade.]
[Two, according to the fleet configuration map sent back by our infiltrated personnel, although the Divine Punishment fleet is nominally an Inquisition fleet, the supplies and ammunition it carries are more like an honor guard than a force prepared for a high-intensity annihilation battle.]
[Three, Conclusion: The true purpose of Grand Abbot Morwen Val may not be battle.]
Leticia's pupils lit up slightly.
She raised her head and tapped her index finger lightly on the tablecloth woven from cloud silk.
Thump.
Thump.
The crisp tapping sound instantly attracted everyone's attention.
"Katerina is right."
Leticia's voice was very soft, yet it carried a penetrating power that saw through everything.
"This is not a crusade."
She looked at the confused Angronia and Fogremia and smiled, explaining.
"If the Empire really wanted to judge us, wanted to purify us highest-level heretics, then what should have come are the Inquisition's Grey Knights, the Mechanicus' Titan Legion, or even the Space Marines led by Guilliman himself."
"And not a fleet... composed of Battle Sisters with almost no heavy firepower."
A flash of realization crossed the eyes of Fogremia and Sanguinia simultaneously.
Angronia frowned, seemingly still digesting the logic.
Leticia stood up and walked slowly to the huge curved porthole, overlooking the Saintess Star below that was praying fervently.
Her voice carried a hint of playfulness and an absolute confidence in controlling the overall situation.
"This Grand Abbot, she is not here to judge heretics."
"She is here to verify."
"She wants to see with her own eyes what kind of existence can make her Battle Sisters collectively defect, and make them fanatically believe in a new god."
"She wants to see with her own eyes who exactly we, and the Living Saint beside us, are."
Leticia turned around, her deep black eyes sweeping across the faces of the three Primarch Sisters one by one.
Finally, her gaze fell on Fogremia.
"So, Mia, you were wrong about one point just now."
"This is not a crisis."
The corners of Leticia's mouth curled into a smile full of confidence and courage, enough to make the stars pale.
"This is an opportunity."
"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to completely incorporate the entire Adepta Sororitas organization into our system!"
Boom!
This sentence, like a thunderclap from the beginning of creation, exploded in the minds of the three Primarch Sisters!
Fogremia's purple eyes instantly lit up with unprecedented brilliance!
She understood.
She completely understood!
Crisis?
No!
In front of her creator sister, there has never been a crisis!
There are only stepping stones, one after another, that can be used, transformed, and lead to a more perfect future!
This is the true way of thinking belonging to a deity!
This is the true, ultimate perfection that makes her intoxicated and fanatical!
"I understand, Sister!"
A radiant smile bloomed on Fogremia's face. She bowed deeply to Leticia, her voice filled with fanatical worship.
"I will go arrange the welcoming ceremony immediately; we must welcome this... lost guest with the most perfect posture."
Angronia also understood.
Although she still felt that a direct fight would be simpler, since Sister said this was another form of battle, she would absolutely obey.
She sat back down, placed the chainaxe horizontally on her knees, and carefully wiped it with a silk cloth, as if preparing for the next performance.
Sanguinia looked at Leticia, her sky-blue eyes filled with awe and peace of mind.
She finally knew why Fogremia and Angronia held such absolute trust in this goddess.
Because she can always see the future that mortals cannot.
Because she can always turn despair into Hope.
The heavy atmosphere in the observation deck dissipated.
Replacing it was a more high-spirited Battle Intent, full of expectation.
The goal of the Genesis Sisterhood had quietly shifted at this moment.
From one victory to another, greater victory.
However, just at the moment Leticia made her decision.
Terrania, who had been standing quietly beside her, suddenly trembled violently.
"Hmm..."
Her little face instantly turned ghastly pale, without a trace of blood.
The little girl covered her head, her pure golden eyes filled with pain and confusion, as if countless pieces of information that did not belong to her were forcibly flooding into her mind.
She groaned in pain.
Unconsciously and intermittently, she spat out a few words.
"She..."
"She is... searching for..."
"The answer..."
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