However, just as they were about to begin their discussion, they keenly noticed that the representative of House Yaeger to the High Lords Council seemed to have left Terra.
As representatives of a high lord family, they were well aware of what House Yaeger signified.
Many houses within the Imperium of Man mistakenly believed House Yaeger was merely a small knight house.
They thought it was just a rural magnate, but only a few old-line high lord truly understood.
Their own houses were nothing more than ants before House Yaeger, and the Adeptus Mechanicus had almost eternally stood with House Yaeger.
This alone was enough to make the other high lord keep their distance from House Yaeger, or rather, maintain sufficient respect for them.
After all, the Adeptus Mechanicus was considered a formidable entity by any High Lord.
Of course, the Fabricator-General of Mars did not intend to always stand with House Yaeger; he simply had no choice.
What does the Adeptus Mechanicus value most?
Knowledge, naturally.
And in the entire Imperium of Man, who possesses the most knowledge? House Yaeger, naturally.
Standing with House Yaeger and assisting them in various regions meant gaining more qualifications for advanced studies with House Yaeger.
Such qualifications were extremely rare. Due to a vassalage agreement signed with House Yaeger ten millennia ago, the Adeptus Mechanicus was granted 5 fixed slots every 10 years.
These slots allowed them to send 5 Archmagos to study with House Yaeger for one year.
In addition to these 5 slots, if the Adeptus Mechanicus performed well in between, House Yaeger would also award a few more slots.
It was precisely because of the existence of these slots that the Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus almost unanimously declared their intention to stand with House Yaeger.
Now, House Yaeger's lord representative has left Terra. What does this mean?
It means House Yaeger has absolutely received some information in advance.
They have once again adopted their family's consistent style of hiding.
And whenever House Yaeger takes such a measure, it signifies that they have made a certain judgment within their own family.
Does this judgment then mean that the high lord will fail before Guilliman?
Does this mean the high lord are doomed to defeat when facing Guilliman? Otherwise, why would House Yaeger leave directly?
House Yaeger would not leave without unrest; their departure implies impending unrest, and House Yaeger is unwilling to participate in any political struggle within the Imperium of Man.
The last Ecclesiarchy unrest was the same; House Yaeger left Terra in advance.
The high lord were all dumbfounded. The main reason they wanted to contend with Guilliman, and even felt they had a chance of winning, was primarily because of House Yaeger's presence.
Now that House Yaeger has directly absconded, the blow to the high lord cannot be underestimated.
The high lords of the Imperium are collectively comprised of the following:
The Ecclesiarch (Decius XXIII): Expanded the Ecclesiarchy's power through forceful means, leading to intense conflict with the Inquisition over "the right to purify faith."
The Fabricator-General of Mars (Oud Oudia Raskian): His excessive bionic modifications made him as massive as a titan, requiring heavy vehicles for movement. He represents the conservative faction of the Adeptus Mechanicus and is resistant to Guilliman's technological revival plans.
The Inquisitorial Representative (Kleopatra Arx): A High Inquisitor who advocates extreme measures to purge heretics and once led the investigation into the Ecclesiarchy's influence.
The Grand Master of Assassins (Fadix): Oversees the six great Assassin Temples (such as Callidus, Vindicare, etc.) and is responsible for executing assassination missions against high-value targets.
The Master of the Astronomican (Leops Franck): Head of the Astronomican, who secretly contacted the Dark eldar in an attempt to repair the golden throne after a malfunction (unsuccessful), causing a severe political crisis.
The Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica (Zlatad Aph Kerapliades): One of Terra's most powerful Psykers, gaunt and aged but with immense psychic power, responsible for Psyker recruitment and the Astronomican's fuel supply.
The Master of the Administratum: This seat represents the administrative core of the Imperium, managing the taxation, conscription, and resource allocation of a trillion worlds.
The Lord High Chancellor of the Adeptus Arbites: Commands the Imperial Arbites, responsible for suppressing planetary revolts and maintaining basic legal order.
The Paternova of the Navis Nobilite: Represents the Navigator noble houses, whose third eye ability is crucial for Imperial Warp travel.
Besides these 9, there are also three rotating seats: one for the Custodian Guard, one for the Astra Militarum, and one for the Imperial Navy.
Publicly, the High Lords Council of the Imperium is advertised as having 12 members. In reality, there is also a special fixed seat in the High Lords Council: House Yaeger.
This seat was specially created, but it also signifies House Yaeger's status and identity; they are the 13th High Lord.
According to the Imperium of Man's usual practice, House Yaeger should have been publicized.
However, once House Yaeger became high lord, the contemporary family head stopped the Imperium from doing so; they refused to be publicized.
Once publicized, it would mean responsibility, and House Yaeger did not want to become a target, which did not align with their strategy of concealment.
In summary, before Guilliman's return, the fixed seats of the Imperium's High Lords Council, apart from House Yaeger, were entirely concentrated among the Ecclesiarchy, the Inquisition, and the Adeptus Mechanicus.
House Yaeger does not participate in the political struggles of the Imperium; they belong to the category of cold observers, much like the Custodian Guard.
Unless the Imperium of Man faces an existential crisis, this family's armies will never take any action.
However, in many cases, House Yaeger almost represents the stance of the Custodian Guard, the Imperial Navy, and the Astra Militarum combined.
Now that House Yaeger has directly left the High Lords Council, everything this represents becomes highly intriguing.
Whether House Yaeger intends for Guilliman to take over power or something else, it doesn't matter.
Regardless of which it is, for the current high lord, it is certainly not good news.
At the same time, even though the Fabricator-General of Mars from the Adeptus Mechanicus is still present within the High Lords Council, House Yaeger's departure also means that the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars may not participate in this matter.
After a quick count, the high lord suddenly realized that Guilliman, even before arriving, had already secured the support of 5 high lord.
After all, in a political struggle, once one remains neutral, it is essentially equivalent to supporting Guilliman.
Considering the worst-case scenario, this means that nearly half of the 13 members of the High Lords Council are already supporting Guilliman.
But how could they simply give up their power like this?
Even though the situation already looked extremely unfavorable to them.
However, the High Lord representative of the Adeptus Arbites, Avrilisa Dralagma, the Grand Marshal of the Adeptus Arbites, still stepped forward after the council meeting.