Although the Senate has various concerns about the Tribunal, due to the special structure of the Tribunal - there is no subordinate relationship between the judges, they feel a little more at ease, and everyone can live in peace until now.
Similarly, the days in the Terra Palace have become boring, except for those things day after day.
For example, all members of the Senate sought blessings or prayed before taking their seats, so that the will of the God-Emperor could guide their thinking and wisdom.
Some, like Admiral Mereda Perez, would put on full formal uniform and perform with great fanfare, usually in the chapel of a warship in orbit.
The same was true for the state pope, Eos Litra, who was leading a large group of priests in robes and golden helmets into the circular church under the hemispherical wall.
Cleopatra was wearing a drab black uniform, opting for a less showy look.
The chapel he was going to was used by the palace servants for daily prayers. It was not a very public place, just a drab room with simple facilities.
The Grand Inquisitor knew that using it made him appear dutiful, temperate and humble, making him appear to have more admirable spiritual beliefs than the lords who used their prayers for show - representing simplicity and not Arrogant attitude.
Again, it makes him seem believable and noble, making him seem kind.
He liked the feeling of having his rival spies see this.
He knew that by appearing so impeccably consistent, he would make them feel less bothered.
The fact is that Cleopatra was probably more aware of what she looked like than anyone else at any given time, and what his image revealed about him, because his actions were publicly displayed to gain public support. of.
In the past, his actions had been carried out in secrecy, but on Holy Terra, he must expose his actions to the light of day - as much as possible.
Because this is a more complex battlefield, not only enemies, but also allies and neutrals.
He performed for his opponents and he performed for his allies, showing what he wanted to show them.
What would they see of him heading to the meeting?
A middle-aged man of medium height and build, wearing black clothes and with greasy black hair in a clerk-like style?
His skin looked pale because he had been in the palace without seeing the sun for many years, and he rarely had any noticeable physical signs, except for his dark eyes with high interpupillary distance and the spot on the left side of his face that stretched from his mouth to his chin. A scar like a valley.
Cleopatra never wanted to talk about this scar. The only thing she wanted to say was that it happened when he was a young man, when he was a trainee inquisitor.
And he regretted it very much, not only for this scar, but also for the only failure in his life.
"Good day, sir."
As he walked out of the chapel and continued towards the main hall, he greeted a tall being next to him.
Then the Emperor's Fist, wearing shining and perfect armor, slowly turned around and nodded slightly to the Grand Inquisitor.
"Good day, Inquisitor."
The voice of the Space Marine surged out of the helmet speakers like the low roar of a volcano as he towered over the mortal heads, an ornamented spear in his left fist and a prayer-engraved shield in his right.
Cleopatra often felt pity for the wall brothers of the Seventh Legion.
They are renowned for being the most exceptional, the best and most capable of their Chapter, but for ceremony, ceremony and honor they are destined to remain here to serve for life.
They were the best of the best, each guarding the palace walls that the Imperial Fists had always defended, squandering their vast potential in a place in the galaxy that was rarely visited by war.
They don't even have names, just the names of the walls they patrol, day after day and night after night, in perfectly lacquered armor.
"Maybe I'm late?"
The Grand Inquisitor said with a smile.
"You have four minutes and thirteen seconds, sir."
The Space Marine replied calmly.
"But I suggest you go through the Gilded Walk and go through Gate Six."
"Because they won't hold meetings in the hall?"
The Space Marine nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"They always do."
Cleopatra couldn't help complaining:
"I don't think it's appropriate. The hall is good enough and it was built to house our parliament."
The Main Palace has been the seat of Terra's power since the palace's inception.
It was an awe-inspiring place, a veritable arena. In the center of the hall was the central podium, the seat of the high lord, followed by multiple tiers of seats for lower-level officials, lords and lower-level public officials.
If every seat was filled, it could accommodate 500,000 people.
It was damaged during the Siege of Terra, but was later restored, and a tall statue of Rogal Dorn was erected at the east end to commemorate the primarch of the Imperial Fists for his heroic role in the defense of Terra. His extraordinary efforts and the extraordinary battle he had fought in the corridor outside.
But it was not Dorn's decision to erect the statue; it was his brother Guilliman who ordered it built.
"In our darkest hour, my brother guarded the Palace, and he should always guard the Parliament."
But after the age of apostasy ended, the empire's elders changed their meeting places, except for holding plenary meetings.
They thought the main hall was too big, and many said it was too noisy and too formal.
Private meetings are more popular. They are held in smaller conference rooms and appear more intimate and direct.
The most popular is where Cleopatra is going now, a rather small wood-panelled room near the top of the counterclockwise tower. It is said that the emperor preferred to use rooms in this tower for meditation and mindfulness.
Cleopatra knew exactly why they did this.
Suddenly, the Inquisitor stopped and looked up at the cold and elusive eyepiece of the Space Marine. The light reflected behind the optical lens was like burning coal.
"Perhaps you have heard? The topic of this discussion is your close blood relatives, a sub-group that separated thousands of years ago, the Astral Knights."
"Yes, sir."
The Emperor's Fist still answered in an unhurried tone.
"They did a really good job. They defeated the pirate king with so few warriors. I simply can't imagine what a miraculous battle it was."
"I am proud of our brothers."
"But some people think that they have formed an alliance privately, a... Brotherhood of Astartes that should not exist. This is already an act of violation. What do you think?"
"I will only stick to the responsibilities I have been given and will do it wholeheartedly."
Cleopatra's words were certainly not chatting, and in fact the other party was not chatting with her.
Their meeting was no accident, and few things on Terra were accidental.
He was testing the Imperial Fist's attitude towards this, and so was the other party, and what he said today should be spread to the mountain formation soon.
Obviously, the Imperial Fists hope to hold up a protective umbrella for this sub-group this time, and judging from the previous battle records of the Astral Knights, as a nearly destroyed chapter, they actually used a suicide attack to defeat a The empire's great enemy, this kind of war example can easily win the support of the empire's military circles.
At least the new Commander-in-Chief of the Astra Militarum, Maul A. Sariel, has publicly stated that such victories should be rewarded rather than dwell on side issues.
Thinking of this, Cleopatra nodded, turned around, and walked into the dark corridor.
