Chapter 11: Future Planning
After showing off his power sword, Luka did not immediately return to the Warhammer world.
Rostov II's situation was stable, requiring no urgent attention. The chess piece could operate independently per Luka's preset instructions, not needing constant oversight.
According to the servo skull, Luka's proper use of 3k-era authority was to control chess pieces through the box. Possessing a piece was for micromanagement. As authority grows, managing thousands of points' worth of pieces would test his ability. Sandbox-style remote command via the box was far simpler.
For now, Luka focused on whether he could bring 3k-era items to the 40k era. "Can I take things from this world to that one?" he asked the servo skull.
"Per the Emperor's regulations, you may carry items within personal limits to the 40k era and back," it answered clearly.
Luka found this reasonable. Though he didn't grasp how the Emperor enabled cross-world travel and trade, carrying personal items was a boon.
He'd prepared for no cross-world movement. Now, with this ability, many tasks became easier. For one, sourcing crop seeds from 3k for Rostov II was simpler than in 40k.
Despite 40k's advanced tech, its logistics paled compared to 3k-era Seres. In 3k, Luka could order hundreds of crop seeds online for mere dozens of yuan, delivered swiftly. In 40k, finding seed sources was a chore.
The Mechanicus held high-quality seeds, but not every Forge World had a full range. Buying from them was a hassle. Oil men sold seeds for a price, but Luka couldn't afford their rates. A 3k-era trifle could cost a planet in 40k.
"Don't expect the Mechanicus to be generous unless the Emperor leaves the Golden Throne," Luka thought. Sage Ovilia's aid came from her outcast status. Persecuted, stripped of resources, she was cooperative—unlike typical Magi with Skitarii escorts.
Ovilia, with only her knowledge left, was desperate. A standard sage would demand Rostov II's worth for less help.
The Necron tomb on Rostov II could fetch a fortune if sold to the Mechanicus, but their greed might yield nothing. Excavation could spark war, destroying the planet or enslaving its people as servitors for centuries.
The Mechanicus coveted alien tech secretly. Some Magi might erase a planet's population to hide it. Ovilia, knowing the tomb, wouldn't leak it. As a frontier world, Rostov II could stay overlooked for centuries.
"With no immediate threats, development is the priority. We must mobilize the planetary defense force to handle a potential Necron tomb eruption," Luka decided, listing issues and solutions on paper, prioritizing by importance.
Developing Rostov II's economy was paramount. Money wasn't everything, but it was vital.
"I have over 200 points left. Should I invest in more units?" Luka mused, rubbing his chin. "Rostov II has a state religion. Adding combat nuns could build a sisterhood with the Ecclesiarchy, training locals. That's more efficient than seeding with just 500 points."