Kenmei Isayama looked at the vial in his hand. Through the glass, the bright red liquid inside bubbled with vitality. On the white bottle, there was a drop of pure, amber-like blood, flanked by spreading white angelic wings.
The bottle was exquisite, like a work of art. However, this was a buff-type potion he had exchanged for in the Ordo Hereticus Merit Store.
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[Vial of Sanguine Honor]
Origin: Warhammer 40k - Blood Angels Chapter
Quality: Radiant Gold (Will degrade to Pale Gold in two hundred years)
Type: Permanent Buff Potion (Dilutable)
Effect 1: [Blood of Sanguinius]
Upon consumption, all Attributes increase by 30 points (Permanent). Health Regeneration increases by 500 points per second (Permanent).
Warning: There is a 70% probability of inflicting the terrifying "Red Thirst" and "Black Rage" status effects.
(Note: Diluting the potion into batches and suppressing it with psychic energy can mitigate these two negative statuses.)
Effect 2: [Black Rage]
Upon intravenous injection, Maximum HP increases by 55% (Permanent). Reflexes increase by 90% for 50 seconds. Physical Defense increases by 50 points (Max damage mitigation 25%) for 50 seconds.
Score: 1600++
(Note: Radiant Gold items are scored between 1000 and 1600. The higher the score, the more precious the item.)
Description: Do not fail the Blood of Sanguinius. Even across the river of time, this hot blood does not cool.
Price: ~~Original Price: 9,800 Honor Points~~ Current Price: 3,000 Honor Points (Sold Out)
(Note: This potion is sold at a discount due to quality degradation from long-term storage.)
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It seemed the old fossils in the Inquisition had forgotten there was a bottle of "vintage wine" sitting in their safe for ages.
Records of how exactly it was acquired had been lost to time. It was likely that the Inquisition and the Blood Angels Chapter had made some dirty backroom deal back in the day, resulting in the Inquisition obtaining this ancient version of the [Blood of Sanguinius].
That was the only reason Kenmei could pick it up for such a steal. They never could have imagined that a terrifying existence would turn the Inquisition's internal collection into a shopping list for Kenmei, with every effect and price clearly labeled for his selection.
The potion's effects were incredibly potent, specifically designed to strengthen the physical body.
A single injection would provide permanent attribute gains equivalent to what Kenmei would earn from completing three S-Rank clears of a D-Rank simulation.
After all, this substance was originally intended for recruiting neophytes into the Blood Angels Chapter. It enhanced their constitution so they could survive the grueling surgeries required to become Space Marines.
Specifically, it gave them a chance to survive the implantation of the gene-seed of the Blood Angels' Primarch, Sanguinius.
This ritual was known as the "Sanguinary Priests' Communion" or the Blood Chalice ritual.
The reason it had sat unused in the Inquisition for so long was likely because the side effects were too severe—basically making the user no different from a heretic.
Especially the [Red Thirst]. Once it triggered, the user would turn into a vampire—no, at its worst, they would become a ghoul.
The craving for blood would stem from the very soul. If suppressed, the thirst would grow more severe by the day, eventually leaping from a need for blood to a need for flesh.
At that point, drinking the blood of their own kind wouldn't satisfy them. The Astartes of the Blood Angels would eat people—preferably steaming hot and raw.
To a Blood Angel in the throes of the Thirst, EATING a whole criminal was more satisfying than drinking the blood of a hundred men.
In the eyes of an Inquisitor, to whom everyone already looked like a suspect, this was the absolute hallmark of falling to Chaos.
Sure, you could argue, "That's just the Chapter's tradition," and under the Emperor's amnesty, the Inquisition couldn't touch the Blood Angels.
But if an Inquisitor contracted the [Red Thirst]? Wouldn't that be handing a loaded gun to their colleagues to use for impeachment?
Laughable. They wouldn't last long; they'd be burned at the stake in no time.
That was why this thing had gathered dust for untold ages, likely sitting there since the founding of the Ordo Hereticus.
But could Kenmei let an opportunity for a 30-point boost to all attributes slip through his fingers?
Kenmei's physical frailty was a fact—an absolute weakness. Without preparation, a single shot from a heavy sniper rifle could end his life. He had zero sense of security. Once his physical strength increased, he would be much safer in every aspect.
As for the 70% chance of side effects? It didn't matter. The [Warhammer Simulator] would handle it.
Kenmei's emotions of rage and hatred had been completely harvested by the [Warhammer Simulator]. There wasn't a drop left!
That extremism would be heavily suppressed!
The [Black Rage]... Warriors of the Blood Angels consumed by extreme fury would enter a state of total madness.
It was tens of thousands of times worse than just "shaking with anger." Astartes overcome by this rage could not distinguish between the past and reality, nor recognize their former comrades. They would believe they were Sanguinius himself in his final moments, fighting amidst the blood and betrayal of the Arch-Traitor Horus, unable to tell friend from foe.
Under these circumstances, if Kenmei didn't secure this potion, he would be doing himself a disservice.
However, even after buying it, Kenmei couldn't use it right now. His current body was Macarnos Elfman, an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, not Kenmei Isayama's original body.
During the simulation, the System's inventory was inaccessible, but items purchased from the Merit Store could be stored temporarily.
Once the simulation ended, Kenmei could check his inventory directly.
With this [Vial of Sanguine Honor], even if Kenmei had to return immediately, it wouldn't be a total loss. At least he had secured his bottom line!
As for the other items in the [Ordo Hereticus Merit Store], the prices were mostly so high that Kenmei could only stare in despair.
Handwritten Decree establishing the Inquisition by the Emperor: 10,000,000 Honor Points. (Surprisingly found in the vault of the Ordo Hereticus, the latest branch to be founded).
Dreadnought: 1,500,000 Honor Points.
Wreckage of Horus's Armor: 4,000,000 Honor Points.
However, if he could perfectly solve the System's Side Mission and snag that 100,000 Honor Points reward, there was a suit of armor worth exactly 100,000 points that he could buy.
Since the owner wasn't dead yet, the armor could only be used as a decoration. If the owner died, he could build a memorial hall or something to display it.
But for Kenmei, it was an incredible piece of equipment.
It was imbued with the protection of the strongest being in the Imperium, the Emperor. Moreover, this armor had witnessed the rise of the Ordo Hereticus and had been bathed in the blood of countless heretics and Daemons.
It was the Power Armor worn by the current supreme leader of the Ordo Hereticus, the Lord Inquisitor and High Judge, Fyodor Karamazov, during his time as a field Inquisitor.
He was a tenacious and resolute Witch Hunter! A radical opponent of heretical beliefs and biological mutation, he dealt with anyone who touched such filth with an attitude bordering on madness.
The number of heretics he had purged was second to none, even in the 40k history of the Imperium. If this Inquisitor claimed second place, absolutely no one would dare claim first.
This old man had played a significant role in making the Inquisition the most terrifying department in the Imperium.
His contributions were so great that after the Salem Proctor purgation campaigns in 930.M41, Karamazov was gifted the Throne of Judgement by the Imperium. (Servitor note: Strictly speaking, it's a Dreadnought with a chair installed on it). This walking throne became the symbol of his power and prestige.
The Power Armor worn by such a legendary figure in his youth—whether for its symbolic value or practical combat use—was something Kenmei would buy for 100,000 Honor Points, even if it was tattered.
Besides, Power Armor could be repaired with Points. He wouldn't just be dragging a pile of scrap metal back home.
The only reason it was this cheap was that Karamazov was still alive. Otherwise, the exchange price for this armor would be at least ten times higher. Kenmei had lucked out on the timing.
There was one more thing Kenmei wanted just as badly.
It was an Imperial Apothecary guide. In Kenmei's understanding, it was essentially a skill book.
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[Imperial Apothecary - From Beginner to Master]
Origin: Warhammer - (?) Knight Chapter
Quality: Pale Purple
Category: Knowledge / Skill Scroll
Prerequisites:
Psyker Level: Zeta or above (or Epsilon).
Some knowledge of pharmacology.
Research into explosives.
Intelligence Attribute: 40+ points.
Effect: Grants mastery of pharmaceutical knowledge commonly used by Imperial Apothecaries (Capable of crafting permanent buff potions).
Score: 1700 Points (Epic items range from 1600 to 2600).
Description: A Knight who doesn't know how to use explosives or throw armor-piercing frisbees (?) is not a good Apothecary. This is definitely a serious Apothecary encyclopedia.
Price: 10,000 Honor Points.
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The reason Kenmei had his eye on this was simple. The [Rubric of Ahriman] (or Redemption of the Rubric) contained a vast amount of knowledge regarding magical potions. These were collected by his mentor, Ahriman, and many of the recipes were lost arts or unique copies.
But Kenmei suffered from being "illiterate" in this field. Without pharmaceutical knowledge, he couldn't understand a word of the content.
Kenmei had searched the store with a tentative mindset, but he had actually found it.
An introductory primer for Apothecaries.
"Damn it. I need to go execute that traitor Inquisitor first."
With the motivation to earn money now burning within him, Kenmei immediately took action. He picked up the comms device and dialed Elena.
The call connected quickly, though strangely, there was the sound of running water and a slight echo of an enclosed space on the other end. It sounded like she was in the shower.
"Lord Macarnos?"
Elena asked, sounding puzzled.
"Elena, special mission from above."
"We're moving out."