Chapter 203: Black Library
Any civilization that obtains the Black Library can quickly ascend to become a top-tier power in the universe.
When Raven followed the team of Mechanicus Sages and Eldar Prophets into the Black Library, he recalled a story from his previous life.
God descended to Earth and selected a human lord, offering him the chance to ask questions.
Some hoped he would ask about nuclear fusion.
Others wanted him to inquire how humanity could colonize the stars.
Still more wished he would ask how to achieve immortality.
That man, despite the objections of others, asked God two questions: What is the meaning of the universe's existence? And what is the meaning of humanity's existence?
God did not answer directly. Instead, he told the man to enter his library to find the answers.
That library was vast beyond comprehension, storing an endless collection of books that recorded all the universe's secrets.
With knowledge from the library, humanity made rapid progress. They broke through the limits of lifespan, ventured into the cosmos, and established countless colonies.
Human civilization reached an unparalleled height of glory, with science, technology, and culture touching the very limits allowed by the universe.
But they never found the ultimate secret.
Later, humans grew weary of eternal life. One after another, they returned to Earth and ended their lives. In the end, human civilization vanished.
Throughout it all, that man continued to read. He kept reading until the universe was extinguished and all things withered.
Finally, God asked him if he had found the answer.
The man nodded.
God asked what the answer was.
The man did not answer directly. He merely looked at the void and said, "This world should have light."
The story never revealed the answer. Perhaps even the author didn't know what it was.
Now, Raven stood inside a library like the one described in that tale, a repository hiding all the secrets of the universe.
As long as he was patient enough, he could find answers to any question here. If he took the Black Library to other universes, he could become the God in that story.
Thinking about it, Raven almost wanted to laugh. His mind conjured an image of himself descending upon an industrial-era world and becoming the deity of those native creatures.
A black bird being sent into a church to become the omniscient God would certainly be a hilarious image.
"Perhaps I should visit those worlds to reveal myself and enjoy the shocked expressions of those natives," Raven thought.
"The Black Library is still recording everything in the universe," Cegorach said, walking to a high platform.
On the table lay an open book. An unmanned crystal pen danced between the pages, writing ancient characters one by one. Raven did not recognize the script, but he could understand its meaning.
The book was describing the opening of the Black Library.
"So this is a historical archive," Malcador observed, standing beside Cegorach as he examined the book being written.
"Whatever it is, this library should be managed by the Adeptus Mechanicus," the mechanical skulls floating behind Fabricator-General Kalbor spoke in unison.
"The Eldar should manage the Black Library," Eldrad Ulthran, the Eldar Farseer, objected. "For a long time in the past, it was under our care."
"You yourself said 'in the past,'" Kalbor retorted. "You lost it, and now we've found it, so it should rightfully be under our control."
"You are too crude, you will destroy the library," Efrene, another Farseer, supported Eldrad Ulthran.
"If you had any reverence or respect for knowledge, you wouldn't have lost the Black Library," Kalbor shot back. "Those who lose knowledge are the crude ones."
An unnamed Eldar Prophet spoke up. "You revere knowledge? Why don't you explain how the technology of the Dark Age was lost?"
As the argument continued, both sides grew increasingly hostile. Several Tech-Priests quietly reached for high-energy weapons. If they couldn't win with words, they intended to eliminate the other party through physical means.
Though the Adeptus Mechanicus were scholars, they were also warriors.
In the predetermined timeline, for STC templates, they had even dared to strike against the Astartes and Custodes.
"Enough," Cegorach said, halting the Eldar. "The Human Lord and I have already signed an alliance to share the knowledge of the Black Library. This place will be co-managed by both races."
Cegorach looked at Raven, knowing full well that in the Emperor's absence, neither Malcador nor anyone else could make the final decision.
Only Raven could decide this matter.
"You are quite right. The Black Library will be co-managed by both races," Raven nodded, making Cegorach breathe a sigh of relief.
After a brief tour, Raven handed over the matters of the Black Library to Malcador and the others to handle.
Before leaving, Raven asked with mock seriousness, "Do you know what the primary goal here is?"
"Of course, to find those precious pieces of knowledge and explore the ultimate mysteries of the universe," Kalbor said.
Raven frowned, clearly dissatisfied with that statement.
Malcador laughed. "Of course, it's to find the recipe for the most delicious French fries."
Raven smiled. "As expected, Malcador still knows what's important."
Kalbor: "...!!!"
These damned degenerates!
Has that wretched French fries recipe really surpassed the developmental prospects of human civilization?
Eldrad Ulthran, Efrene, and the other Eldar Prophets were equally speechless. This was the Black Library—a sacred repository containing all knowledge of the universe—and their first thought was to find a way to make delicious French fries.
Raven ignored their expressions.
After giving instructions on what to pay attention to, he left the Black Library with Cegorach and returned to the Emperor's side.
The entrance to the Black Library was moved to a specialized pocket dimension.
As for the Harmonious Engine, it was disassembled by the sages of the Unification Council, who planned to analyze and replicate it fully.
Lion El'Jonson, having completed his mission, did not rest for long before the Emperor gave him a new task: "Take the First Legion to the Transformers Universe to support the Blood Angels and the Ultramarines."
"Lion El'Jonson, the Thirteenth Legion, plus the Angels? Good heavens, the Second Empire is going to rise in the Transformers Universe, isn't it?" Raven muttered to himself upon learning of the Emperor's arrangements.
This lineup made it hard not to let his imagination run wild.
But he did not stop Lion El'Jonson from assisting the Thirteenth Legion and the Angels.
After the last incident, Unicron had become enraged and dispatched more of his minions, intending to uproot the Empire's strongholds. The Ninth Legion and Thirteenth Legion suddenly faced overwhelming pressure.
If the First Legion joined them, they might reverse the defensive posture and even push back the enemy. If they could defeat Unicron's army, they would have more leverage when negotiating with Primus.
Whether the Second Empire would appear was something Raven didn't care much about.
As long as humanity could advance into the myriad multiverses, it didn't matter how humanity developed and grew strong.
As the Empire's territory expanded, Primarchs establishing their own domains was inevitable.
Once humanity occupied several universes and no longer needed his and the Emperor's guidance, Raven would gracefully exit the stage of history.
At that time, he would take the Emperor, along with Valdor and Malcador, to become Travelers of the Infinite Multiverse, wandering and traversing different universes.
He would leave the Empire's troubles to the Primarchs and the bureaucrats, letting humanity decide its own destiny.
After resupplying, Lion El'Jonson set off with the Dark Angels, traveling to the Transformers Universe through the cross-universe passage and plunging into the grand cross-universe war.
After seeing Lion El'Jonson off, Raven intended to continue his idle pursuits, but the Night Watchers brought explosive news: Vashtorr, the Arkifane and Lord of the Forge of Souls, wished to meet the Emperor, preparing to pledge allegiance to the Human Empire.
This momentous news unsettled even Raven.
Vashtorr was the daemon-lord of science, technology, and artifice. Whenever a new technological breakthrough was achieved in the materium, its power increased.
During this time, as the Empire constantly achieved breakthroughs, this creature's power should have amplified considerably.
Perhaps its inflated power had given it the ambition to abandon the Chaos Gods and pledge allegiance to the Human Lord, thereby seeking an opportunity to achieve true godhood.
Vashtorr was not a slave of the Chaos Gods; it had its own territory and followers in the Warp. Its role in the Immaterium was that of an arms dealer.
The daemonic armies under the Chaos Gods, as well as the Chaos Undivided daemons roaming various parts of the Warp, would purchase weapons and equipment from Vashtorr.
It also provided soul loans. Daemons unable to repay their debts would be stuffed into Daemon Engines and sold as commodities.
For years, it had painstakingly cultivated its influence, gathering many daemons and always scheming to achieve full godhood.
It had clearly learned that the Empire had obtained the Black Library, which was why it sought to pledge allegiance now.
[End of Chapter]
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