Stepping on the reddish gravel of the Zaporozhye planet's surface, Alex gazed at the operating mines, with the billowing smoke from the distant refinery dyeing the sky a murky orange.
He reached out to hold down his Inquisitor's coat, which was being blown by the wind, his gaze sweeping over the Imperial citizens toiling in the mines, his eyes filled with an unclear mix of pity and scrutiny.
These new immigrants wore thick dust masks and thin clothing, toiling diligently against the cold wind on this frigid planet, and all of this was solely due to his plan.
Although he had promised them a new life, becoming a miner might not be much better than their previous lives.
Alex touched the respirator on his face and sighed helplessly.
The Adeptus Mechanicus's mining techniques were simple and crude, with large amounts of dust from mining and refining floating in the air; without a respirator, the airborne dust particles could literally choke a person to death.
But Alex had no way to stop any of this; in fact, quite the opposite, he had to continue to promote and expand it, throwing more people into the mines to extract more resources for him.
Because only then could he complete the plan he needed before the Great Rift unfolded.
Just as Alex was thinking these thoughts, the accompanying Tech-Priest reported in binary prayers: "The accident at Mine No. 3 has been dealt with."
The voice squeezed from the metallic throat sounded like rusty gears grinding, and the words spoken were exceptionally cold: "Twelve miners perished; casualties are in accordance with production standards."
A skull-shaped data terminal floated between the two, with numbers flickering in the holographic projection, converting twelve human lives into a percentage of production loss.
Alex's fingertips unconsciously rubbed the rosary knot at his waist, concealing his inner emotional fluctuations.
"Let's go look at the residential area; I want to understand the living conditions of the Imperial citizens here," Alex said, controlling his emotions, his tone merely cold.
The Tech-Priest did not object, simply leading Alex to the residential area.
This area was some distance from the mining zone, and workers needed to take a commuter vehicle daily to get to the mines.
Alex did not take a transport ship; instead, he also boarded the workers' commuter vehicle, wanting to understand their lives and treatment in more detail.
However, overall, the Adeptus Mechanicus was relatively benevolent; after agreeing to Alex's demands, they did indeed significantly improve the workers' treatment.
At the very least, large air filtration devices were installed in the residential area, effectively filtering out airborne dust so that these workers did not have to wear respirators even in their living quarters.
Don't think this is absurd; in a Hive City, they might have to pay for breathing.
The Air Guild would cut off the air circulation for an entire block if you didn't pay, denying you oxygen.
As for food, the Tech-Priests did not provide the common Imperial corpse starch, but rather a nutrient paste rich in nutrition.
Alex asked for a portion to taste; it was… clean and hygienic, but as tasteless as plain water.
"This is Standard Nutrient Paste No. 3; it can provide an adult with the calories needed for a day's labor and the necessary nutrients and water intake to maintain vital signs," the Tech-Priest explained.
Alex did not say much about this, even showing some satisfaction.
Being able to eat this, and not a byproduct of promethium refining, these miners' living conditions were already good enough.
However, besides these, Alex had other topics of concern, but just as he was about to inquire about medical measures, a clear bell echoed throughout the residential area, causing Alex to look over.
"By blood we swear, by pain we pray!" On the streets of the residential area, some Ecclesiarchy Priests suddenly appeared, shouting slogans and wearing red robes; they looked slightly different from regular Ecclesiarchy Priests in their attire, the color seeming a bit redder.
Alex's pupils slightly contracted—among those Ecclesiarchy Priests were some Hospitallers, but their attire was very different from common Hospitallers.
The glass vials at their waists jingled with their steps, the dark red liquid inside shimmering with a crimson glow in the sunlight.
The leading Sister held high a silver chalice inlaid with thorns, and behind her, a tall gene-slave carried a banner with the Imperial Aquila painted in red.
"Blood Oath Society?" Alex held back the Battle Sister bodyguard who wanted to draw her weapon, information the Old Bishop had mentioned surging from the depths of his memory.
This was a branch church of the Ecclesiarchy, mainly active in the Mariupol Sector; although its missionary activities had a slight hint of heresy, overall, it was within the Inquisition's tolerable range.
After all, compared to groups like the Cult of the Slain, the Blood Oath Society was relatively peaceful.
Their primary religious activity was to encourage believers to donate blood, then collect the blood to serve the God-Emperor, and treat patients through unique blood therapy.
The Inquisition had investigated them but found no heretical behavior.
Although the act of collecting blood donations did seem heretical from certain perspectives, the Star Sector Tribunal had to admit that the Blood Oath Sisters of the Blood Oath Society had indeed made significant contributions to the Imperium in the medical field.
These Sisters, with their blood collection bottles, would indeed go deep into the Lower Hive to provide free medical treatment to impoverished Imperial citizens, using unique blood therapy to treat their ailments.
And the only return they asked for was for believers to donate blood.
In Alex's immigration plan this time, because of the Ecclesiarchy's involvement, the Blood Oath Society naturally participated.
However, Alex had not expected that these Priests of the Blood Oath Society would already begin proselytizing so soon after Zaporozhye was established.
But this was a good thing; at least the medical services they provided could effectively supplement what the Adeptus Mechanicus lacked.
It should be known that even if these Tech-Priests listened to Alex's persistence and would try their best to provide medical services to the miners and improve their living conditions, these were not free.
It was very simple for the Adeptus Mechanicus to replace your limbs or body organs, but the premise was that you could afford it.
Otherwise, you would have to be prepared to become a carbon-based component on a factory assembly line.
Alex had no objections to the activities of these clergy members of the Blood Oath Society, but watching their missionary activities, Alex always had a sense of incongruity and felt that something was not quite right.
But the workers rushed towards the red-robed Sisters as if they had seen saviors.
As these red-robed Sisters arrived at the square of this block, where there was a small shrine that seemed to have been recently built, they set up a simple tent there and began to treat the workers.
Alex walked over curiously, wanting to see up close how these members of the Blood Oath Society actually used blood therapy to treat patients.
He saw one Blood Oath Sister take a glass vial from her person, pour the crimson liquid it contained into a small bowl, then take out various herbs from her person, crush them, add them to the bowl, stir thoroughly, and then apply it to the affected area on a worker's body.
Alex didn't know whether it was a psychological effect or if these Sisters truly possessed some ancient medical techniques, but at least from the feedback of the surrounding workers, this treatment seemed to be very effective.
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