53: Even gods have to read the terms of a contract before signing it.

[Mars - Olympus Mons - Fabricator-General's Throne Hall]

This was an abyss constructed from brass, cables, and data servers.

Thousands of Servo-Skulls circled above the dome, their buzzing coalescing into an ceaseless hymn of praise.

The air was thick with the sickly sweet smell of evaporated high-grade machine oil, mixed with the ancient, bitter tang of ionizing radiation.

C-19 stood in the center of the hall. Directly in front of him was a “Throne” tens of meters high.

Or rather, it was a massive central computing array connected to the entire temple.

“Sizzle—Buzz...”

In the center of the array, countless mechanical arms slowly parted, revealing the core within—Fabricator-General Kelbor-Hal.

He could no longer be called a “man.” His body was three times larger than an Astartes, resembling a bloated metal spider.

Human limbs had long been replaced by hydraulic claws and data probes; only a patch of dried skin and three optical sensors emitting a faint green glow remained on his face.

“The Agent.”

Kelpo's voice did not travel through the air but exploded directly in C-19's helmet via a data link.

It was pure binary code, forcibly translated into Low Gothic of Terra.

“You have displayed... the Key.”

“But logical circuits indicate that possessing the Key does not equate to owning the property.”

A gigantic mechanical claw lowered from the Throne, hovering above C-19's head like a Sword of Damocles ready to fall.

In the surrounding shadows, dozens of elite Skitarii aimed the muzzles of their Arc Rifles.

“Hand over the complete data.”

Kelpo's optical sensors flashed with greedy red light.

“Mars shall grant you... clemency.”

This wasn't a negotiation at all.

It was clearly the prelude to a robbery.

The Adeptus Mechanicus, upon confirming the authenticity of the item in the other party's hands, always reacted first by asking, “Can we just seize it?”... [Holographic Operations Cabin]

Li Cang watched the scene, his gaze stern.

“It's useless to reason with these priests who believe 'Knowledge is Power'.”

He felt no anger, only calm calculation.

“System, activate the [Dead Hand Protocol].”

“C-19.”

Li Cang's voice was as steady as stagnant water.

“Tell that big lump of iron. The data is not on you.”

“The data is in the void.”

... [Mars Throne Hall]

C-19 raised his head, facing the Fabricator-General who could easily crush him, without the slightest sign of retreat.

“The data is encrypted.”

C-19's voice echoed through the hall via an amplifier.

“The key is fragmented and stored across thousands of derelict orbital satellite husks. Only a specific bio-impulse signal can activate its reconstruction.”

He paused, pointing toward the invisible void above his head.

“If our vital signs disappear.”

“Or, if we fail to send the 'Survival Confirmation Signal' on time.”

“The underlying protocol will self-destruct.”

“The coordinates of Noctis Labyrinth will vanish forever into the Warp storms.”

“All you will receive is a pile of garbled code.”

Sizzle—!!!

Cooling vents on Kelbor-Hal's body suddenly ejected a plume of white smoke, indicating the violent fluctuation of his logical core.

He was calculating.

Calculating the possibility of a forced decryption, calculating the success rate of killing them to silence them.

Ultimately, the calculation result was a dazzling red display: [Data Loss Risk: 99.9%].

For the Adeptus Mechanicus, even a 0.1% risk of loss was unacceptable blasphemy.

Because that was STC.

That was a Relic of the God.

After a few seconds of deadly silence.

The gun muzzles pointed at C-19 slowly lowered.

The mechanical claw hovering above his head also retracted into the Throne.

“Logic... reconstructed.”

Kelpo's voice changed.

It shifted from a threat to an extremely awkward, commercially flavored “friendliness.”

“Matter is renewable; knowledge is eternal.”

“The logical balance has tipped.”

“State your demands, The Agent.”

Li Cang smiled.

He knew the deal was struck.

Now it was his turn to name his price.

A light screen unfolded before him, and a pre-drafted [Olympus Treaty (Draft)] was sent over.

“Article One: Mars and Terra shall form a 'Sacred Alliance'.”

C-19 read out Li Cang's will.

“The Double-Headed Eagle shall be our shared emblem. One head looks toward Terra (Imperial Authority), and one looks toward Mars (Mechanicum).”

This article granted the Adeptus Mechanicus extremely high political status.

It was cooperation, not subjugation.

This greatly satisfied Kelpo's arrogant self-esteem.

“Article Two: Mars shall possess 'Priority Research Rights' over all newly discovered STCs.”

From the current perspective of the Imperium, this was clearly a blank check, but for the Tech-Acolytes of Mars, it was an irresistible temptation.

“Article Three: In exchange...”

C-19's voice became resonant and powerful.

“Mars must provide armament for the Imperium.”

“I demand warships. I demand weapons. I demand... vehicles.”

Holographic blueprints unfolded between the two parties.

These were none other than the standard vehicles of the Astartes Legion that Li Cang had long coveted—

[Rhino Transport]

[Land Raider - Early Model]

[Predator Tank]

These were classic designs based on STC templates, and for Mars, which possessed a complete industrial system, manufacturing them was as simple as making toys.

Kelbor-Hal's three optical sensors spun rapidly.

“Protocol... amendment.”

Kelpo's voice interjected.

“We can provide armament. But to ensure the recovery of the holy relic...”

“We must dispatch Tech-Priests to accompany the forces. We shall possess 'First Recovery Rights' over battlefield remnants.”

This was the greed of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

They not only wanted your data but also sought to infiltrate your army.

“Deal.”

Li Cang's voice came through.

“Protocol... accepted.”

The Fabricator-General extended a massive mechanical claw.

C-19 extended his hand, covered in black Ceramite.

Clang.

The collision of metal against metal.

The handshake between Mars and Terra.

This moment not only signified that Li Cang had finally secured the strongest industrial support in this hellish instance.

It also marked the end of the primitive era of "foot combat" for his army... [Holographic Operations Cabin - Settlement Interface]

Diplomatic Event Complete: Signed the Olympus Treaty

Technology Tree Branch Unlocked: [Astartes Vehicle Technology] / [Void Shield Technology]

Resource Gained: Mars Industrial Capacity Access (+2000 Material Output per hour)

Blueprints Gained:

Rhino Transport (Rhino): Basic Vehicle

Stormbird: Heavy Landing Craft / Gunship

Li Cang looked at the illuminated icons on the screen, his eyes reflecting the future war and destruction.

With these, his First Legion would no longer be an infantry regiment only capable of defensive trench warfare.

They would become a true mechanized legion capable of full-spectrum mobile strikes.

“Terra...”

Li Cang shifted his gaze away from Mars, refocusing on the blue mother planet.

The humiliation of being driven from his home could finally be repaid.

“C-19.”

“Tell the brothers to prepare.”

“Mars's delivery ship will arrive shortly.”

“We are... going home.”

“To deliver some 'gifts' to the guests still lingering outside our doorstep.”

His finger hovered over the newly unlocked [Stormbird].

This time, he would descend from the heavens.