Chapter 312 313: The Pride of the Tau Empire Shattered

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Under the sunlight—

The Savior's envoy ship slowly descended onto the landing platform.

This ship, crafted like a work of art, caused a ripple of surprise among Shadowstream and the others responsible for reception.

Such majestic, flowing, yet sacred artistic design was quite different from the often exaggerated, skull-laden ships of the Imperium of Man they had seen before.

In fact, the aesthetics seemed even slightly superior to that of the Tau Empire's own vessels.

This first impression made Shadowstream and her group a little uncomfortable, especially the human assistant Leswin.

His expression grew even darker.

How could human civilization and art possibly surpass that of the Tau Empire?

Clearly, the Savior's envoy had dispatched their finest and most precious ship, but it was surely just hollow glamour!

In truth—

This ship was the result of the Moon Forge World's response to the Savior's call for a comprehensive cultural renaissance.

New designs were introduced, where while skulls and saintly icons were still present, they had been optimized—no longer so exaggerated, grim, or oppressive.

The sacredness remained but was enhanced with elegance.

Already, many ships following this new style had been launched.

Once the aesthetic principles were finalized, mass production would begin.

Not just for ships—

The same was happening in other fields too.

Especially on Urth.

After decades of development and immense resource inflows, Urth had been completely revitalized.

Bzzzz—

The Savior's envoy ship's ramp slowly unfolded.

Gentle beams of light poured down the boarding steps.

The soft, solemn hymns of the Savior faintly echoed.

Boom, boom, boom—

A squad of War Angels clad in Terminator armor, carrying the Savior's banners, stepped down heavily, forming two lines for security.

Their power armor was customized ceremonial models, adorned with numerous seals, badges, and litanies.

Their towering figures and thick, imposing pauldrons radiated overwhelming deterrence.

These warriors were the ceremonial honor guard representing the Savior.

It was well known—

Only the most elite of the Adeptus Astartes could carry banners.

Each one was an extraordinary champion.

And these War Angels, carrying the Savior's banners, had even received a second blessing.

Every single one was a monster in battle.

If conflict erupted—

The destruction they could cause inside a city would be unimaginable.

After all, they were traveling to a xenos world.

They could not allow the Savior's name to be tarnished.

The proper grandeur had to be displayed.

The aura radiating from these warriors caused Shadowstream and her companions' hearts to clench.

The Tau Empire rarely had soldiers of such terrifying stature and presence.

And yet—

These figures were merely the Savior's escort guards.

From this first encounter alone, the Tau diplomatic team already felt a surge of crisis.

Then—

The main members of the Savior's envoy disembarked.

Clad in formal robes, their steps steady, their silhouettes noble under the light.

The envoy's leader was a diplomat named Alayman.

She had once served under the Internal Affairs Department's cultural tourism branch and, after a decade of excellent service, was promoted into the diplomatic corps.

Specializing in contact with xenos civilizations.

This mission held risks, but Alayman firmly believed she could accomplish her task.

She maintained impeccable etiquette, turned toward Shadowstream, and smiled warmly:

"Honored Shadowstream,

I am Diplomat Alayman.

It is an immense honor to represent our Savior in visiting T'au.

I hope our exchanges will be harmonious and joyful, seeking peaceful coexistence between our peoples."

Shadowstream collected herself and offered a polite smile:

"Welcome.

We believe the wisdom of the Greater Good will help us discover new paths toward harmony..."

At this moment—

Both sides were cautiously probing.

The Savior's envoy and the Tau reception team maintained a generally cordial atmosphere.

After some simple greetings—

Shadowstream led the Savior's envoy deeper into the city.

Aboard the hovering vehicles—

Alayman observed this exotic metropolis.

A highly civilized city, filled with towering, modern structures clad in gleaming alloys.

The streets were spotless and orderly.

The transit systems operated smoothly, and people bustled about, smiles on every face.

It was all very impressive.

Yet—

For some reason, a faint discomfort gnawed at Alayman's heart.

Something she couldn't quite explain.

After some time—

They arrived at a grand banquet hall.

Sampling local T'au cuisine.

As the feast began, drone-servitors brought plates upon plates of dishes—vegetables, fruits, rice, and hard-baked butter pastries.

And small portions of some kind of roast beast.

Additionally, everyone was served a cup of steaming fish-broth tea, a Tau favorite.

Alayman sampled the food—

It wasn't as good as the Savior's domain's produce, but it was acceptable.

It seemed the Tau's biological systems were fairly compatible with humanity's.

She sipped the fish broth and fell into thought.

"It's... decent," she said with perfect manners, even if her heart disagreed.

Shadowstream smoothly shifted the conversation toward food culture.

She knew full well—

Most Imperial human worlds the Tau had contacted lived in horrific scarcity, where even corpses were processed into "corpse starch" rations.

The conversation was guided primarily by Leswin.

He enthusiastically praised the material wealth and culinary culture of the Tau Empire.

Leswin munched exaggeratedly on food, taking a loud sip of fish broth, and said theatrically:

"What a rare delicacy!

You Imperials could never hope to taste something like this!"

He oozed superiority—

Forgetting that without this banquet, he, a human assistant, wouldn't even qualify to eat such luxuries.

The Tau Empire's strict collectivism allowed no personal property.

Leswin's clothes, his food—all rationed.

Mostly rice and dry bread.

Meat? Almost never.

But compared to the famine his homeworld had suffered under Imperial neglect—

Even this was paradise.

This was why he felt so superior.

And why Shadowstream valued him.

Using him to show the humans how much better life under the Tau could be.

Leswin looked arrogantly at Alayman:

"Can you imagine?

Even the lowest workers in the Tau Empire eat hard bread and beans—two full meals a day!"

Alayman's expression barely changed.

She nodded politely:

"The Tau Empire's material conditions are impressive indeed, surpassing many civilizations..."

Leswin pressed further:

"You're not shocked?"

Normally, when he made this claim—

Other human diplomats reacted with disbelief.

This time—

No such reaction.

It unsettled him.

Leswin, pausing, leaned in dramatically:

"What about in the Savior's domain?

Surely your workers eat corpse starch, yes?"

Hearing this—

The Tau reception team looked toward the Savior's envoy with a trace of pity.

Shadowstream sighed:

"We have studied it.

Corpse starch contains toxins harmful to biological systems..."

She looked at Alayman earnestly:

"If your domain joins the Tau Empire, we will not interfere with your faith.

We will provide sufficient food.

We will protect and rebuild your world."

Alayman frowned slightly.

Then—

She pulled out some delicately packaged pastries bearing the Savior's crest.

She handed them to Leswin:

"Perhaps, you should try some of our food first..."

Leswin unwrapped the packet.

Instantly—

A rich, mouthwatering aroma filled the air.

Everyone could smell it.

Leswin swallowed hard, took a bite—

And his eyes widened.

He stuffed the rest into his mouth greedily.

It was leagues better than anything on T'au!

Shadowstream and the others, seeing this, grew uneasy.

Could it be—

That human food was actually better?

Curious—

They sampled it themselves.

And had to admit—

The Savior's food was purer, richer, far more delicious.

Shadowstream analyzed calmly.

The difference lay in ingredients.

The Savior's domain had cleaner, purer grain stocks.

High-quality rice and wheat.

All produced by agricultural systems modeled on the ancient Dark Age of Technology.

The Savior's domain was using golden age seeds.

Pollution-free, nutrient-rich.

And absurdly high-yielding.

So much so—

They had surplus food they were literally giving away.

Even donating tons of it to the Imperial Regent's supply worlds.

Improving the rations of front-line soldiers.

Thus—

Even if Eden had wanted to cut corners—

There was no bad food available to serve.

Not without building an entirely new substandard food industry.

Which was insane.

Moreover—

Improving living standards was a core policy of the Savior's rule.

Inside the banquet hall—

Leswin sat stunned.

His world shattered.

Still—

He refused to believe it.

He stubbornly thought it must be a trick.

Alayman didn't bother arguing.

She simply said:

"The Tau Empire's envoy is visiting our domain.

When they return, you can ask them yourself whether it's true."

—

Meanwhile.

The Tau Empire's envoy ship descended into Urth's atmosphere.

This was their final stop.

They would visit a newly-rebuilt human world—and if lucky—

Meet the Savior himself.

Inside the ship—

Tau Envoy Creekwhisper was in turmoil.

When she had accepted this mission—

She had looked down upon humanity, expecting to showcase Tau superiority.

Yet—

After arriving at Charalton—

The reality crushed her.

Their ship had been swallowed by a transport vessel.

And within half a day—

They arrived at a remote system.

So far—

Their own navigators couldn't even find home anymore.

It was terrifying.

It meant—

The Savior's forces possessed warp travel beyond anything the Tau Empire had ever dreamed of.

Before even fighting—

The Tau had already been strategically outmatched.

Still—

Creekwhisper clung to hope.

She believed in the Greater Good.

Believed in the Fire Caste's warriors.

Believed they would prevail.

Yet—

Upon arriving—

She despaired further.

Massive fleets.

Bustling commercial hubs.

Endless lines of terrifying Titans—

Looming like mountains.

War Titans greater and more numerous than any the Imperium had ever unleashed against them.

Even their civilian worlds—

Like Urth—

Had been turned into paradise.

Clean, fertile, overflowing with life.

An entire sea had been manufactured on a once-dead world!

The cities were reconstructed.

Civilization flourished.

Material prosperity beyond imagining.

And worst—

Ordinary humans lived far better than most Tau citizens!

Multiple levels of superiority—

Military.

Material.

Social.

...

Inside the ship—

Creekwhisper trembled.

Her faith in the Greater Good—

Wavered.

Was the Greater Good truly the path to ultimate triumph?

Her heart raced.

"No," she muttered.

She must not doubt.

The Tau would prevail.

They always had.

Perhaps—

She needed reeducation.

To purify herself.

The envoy ship landed.

And Creekwhisper and her team disembarked.

Receiving astonishing news:

The Savior would grant them an audience.

...

Eden—

Curious to see what Tau looked like.

Thus—

Creekwhisper saw the legendary Savior.

And her heart skipped.

For the first time—

She felt something like admiration.

Even attraction.

Of course—

The Tau had no concept of romantic love.

Pairings were assigned by the Earth Caste for optimal genetics.

Still—

She marveled at her own racing heartbeat.

Eden greeted her warmly:

"Honored Creekwhisper, Welcome to our lands."

Seeing the Tau up close—

He found them neither hideous nor especially beautiful.

But within acceptable human aesthetics.

Some niche preferences might even find them quite appealing.

BOOM—

The building trembled.

Creekwhisper panicked:

"What is happening?!"

Eden apologized:

"Construction work nearby. It can get noisy..."

Creekwhisper rushed to the balcony—

And screamed.

Titan war engines were marching past!

The ground-shaking tremors were caused by engineering Titans—

Repurposed to assist with reconstruction.

Eden reassured her:

"Don't worry.

They're construction units now.

Very safe."

The engineering corps had repurposed Titans and Knights for heavy construction, vastly boosting efficiency.

Seeing this—

Creekwhisper nearly collapsed.

War Titans—

Just casually used as cranes!

This proved the Savior's forces had terrifying excess reserves.

Desperate—

She bowed, barely holding back tears:

"Forgive me... I must return to T'au immediately."

She fled.

Heart pounding.

One thought burned in her mind:

The Tau Empire must never, ever go to war with the Savior.

Or they would be utterly destroyed.

(End of Chapter)

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