That night, Alex met the leader of the Blood Oath Society, a Hospitaller named Yelena, or as she was called by the Blood Oath Society—a Blood Oath Sister, in his temporary office on the top floor of the refinery.
When Yelena removed her hood, Alex noticed several dark red scars crisscrossing her pale neck, each scar precisely corresponding to the location of a major blood vessel.
The scars were like meticulously carved artworks, with neat edges and consistent depth, resembling some kind of ritualistic mark.
Her skin was morbidly pale under the dim light, as if she had not seen sunlight for years, and only the scars glowed with a dark red luster in the faint illumination.
All of this deepened Alex's suspicions, but given the premise that the Imperium had everything, Alex did not voice his concerns.
He merely gazed at the Sister before him and asked, "I have heard the name Blood Oath Society, but about you… could you introduce yourselves in more detail?"
"Of course, Governor." Yelena bowed to Alex, then looked at him with an expectant and fanatical gaze, saying, "The Blood Oath Society has always longed to communicate with you, and we hope to use your plan to spread faith in the God-Emperor to every corner of this star system!
The Blood Oath Society is willing to provide medical service support for your immigration plan. We hope that more people can practice the Way of Blood."
Her voice was low and hoarse, a murmur squeezed from deep within her throat, carrying an indescribable piety and fanaticism.
After speaking, Yelena pushed a box she had brought towards Alex: "These are the Blood Potions we use, all made from the blood offered by devout believers, and they have excellent therapeutic effects."
Alex reached out and opened the lid. Inside the box were twelve cryogenically preserved test tubes, still containing red liquid.
"Did Old Bishop Sergei not tell you that proselytizing on the new immigrant planet requires my permission?" Alex did not look at the contents of the box, but merely asked Yelena, "Moreover, your proselytizing activities carry the suspicion of heresy. I imagine you wouldn't be unaware of what blood symbolizes, would you?"
However, Yelena shook her head and smiled, "Governor, have you been an Inquisitor for too long, so long that it has dulled your faith in the Emperor?
Every one of us holds firm and devout faith in the God-Emperor, practicing the Way of Blood pioneered by the Blood Saintess!
Every word and action of ours fulfills the oath we made to the God-Emperor, so how can there be talk of heresy?"
Facing Yelena's words, Alex said no more. He simply closed the box before him and told her, "Watch your words, Sister Yelena. The Inquisition is watching you."
—
The next day, Old John woke up especially early and went to the district plaza, waiting for the Blood Oath Society to arrive.
Other workers were also waiting with him.
Because of Alex's requirements, the Adeptus Mechanicus did not exploit these workers to death; they could work in shifts, and overall, while the work was tiring, it was not to the point of exhaustion.
So, in the residential area, quite a few workers on rotation could still be seen.
However, Old John had taken leave yesterday to care for his daughter, and the Tech-Priest in charge of management had quite a few complaints about it.
In their view, anything that delayed production was unacceptable.
But regardless, Old John still appeared in the plaza today as requested by the Sister yesterday, waiting with others for the Blood Oath Society to arrive.
They did not wait long. Still accompanied by the sound of bells, the people of the Blood Oath Society appeared in the plaza.
Just like the day before, they first performed various blood-related treatments for those who needed healing, and then proceeded to draw blood from those waiting in line to donate.
Alex stood on the top floor of a building in the residential area, his gaze fixed on the plaza and the people of the Blood Oath Society below. His doubts had not dissipated; instead, they were intensifying.
What did the Blood Oath Society need this blood for? To make their Blood Potions? That seemed like utter nonsense.
Blood could indeed be used as a medical resource, and an important one at that.
But the Adeptus Mechanicus had artificial plasma, and they also had clean, pure natural plasma. Why would they insist on using the blood of Lower Hive residents, whose genes were contaminated, and who might even carry slight mutations?
What did they want from them? Did they want the radiation in their blood?
However, despite his inner doubts, Alex still did not interfere with the matter. He merely reminded the Adeptus Mechanicus to strengthen their monitoring of the Blood Oath Society.
He always felt that something was amiss, but he couldn't pinpoint it.
These people were not Gene-stealers; Alex was certain.
After all, the behavioral logic of Genestealers cults was completely different from that of the Blood Oath Society, and Alex had also ordered genetic testing, which showed that these people had not undergone genetic mutation.
Alex toyed with his Inquisition Rosette, pondering the pros and cons of this matter.
The Blood Oath Society was undoubtedly beneficial to Alex's immigration plan. Their existence greatly supplemented the lack of grassroots medical resources, which was undoubtedly a blessing for the Hive City populace.
But precisely because of this, if they were allowed to proselytize, once they truly had an issue, it would contaminate the residents of the entire planet. If something went wrong, it could very well attract Chaos.
"Remind the Adeptus Mechanicus to strengthen their monitoring of them and restrict their activities so that no trouble arises." Alex ultimately did not stop the Blood Oath Society's activities, but merely had the Adeptus Mechanicus supervise them.
Although there was no conflict of faith between the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Ecclesiarchy, they were not exactly in harmonious co-existence either.
After all, both were religions, and the more followers, the better.
Alex having the Adeptus Mechanicus supervise the Blood Oath Society was also a matter of professional alignment.
After making his decision, Alex did not linger and planned to return to Rostov.
As the shuttle ascended, Alex used some small Inquisition methods to observe the workers who were receiving treatment.
Their faces held an indescribable sense of satisfaction and hope, as if all their suffering had vanished under the Blood Oath Society's treatment.
If Alex were just an ordinary Governor, he would have no reason to stop the Blood Oath Society in this matter; in fact, he should have strongly supported them.
After all, these were legitimate medical resources that could effectively address the lack of grassroots medical care in the Imperium and improve access to medical resources for the Imperium's lower-class citizens.
But as an Inquisitor, Alex had every reason to suspect everything, even if his suspicion was unprovoked.
"Return to Rostov." Alex gave the command to return.
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