Yuki did not attend Griffith's ascension ceremony.
He needed to clean up the aftermath; the "March to the Spire" operation had resulted in a significant number of casualties. Fortunately, the losses were within an acceptable range, and even the corpse-disposal teams, forced into frantic overtime, were quite pleased with the abundance of work.
Yuki needed to coordinate the interests of all parties. Fortunately, Gake had become quite adept at handling these troublesome matters. The boy, rescued from that most tragic "Theater," had grown into a capable leader. However, he still looked up to Yuki with immense admiration.
Among those closest to Yuki, Gake shared the strongest bond with Ilya. Ilya was a malformed growth on his sister Elia's body, possessing only half a torso and relying entirely on her for survival. He envied Gake, and Gake, in turn, showed a rare tenderness toward him.
"It's okay. There will be a way to free you and your sister from this state in the future. Have faith in Mr. Yuki," Gake reassured him.
As Gake concluded his report on the Underhive's status, the Fallen, Hermit, set down his documents. He felt as though his Gene-seed was transitioning from a Dark Angel to an Ultramarine from all the administrative work.
"Hmm. We ran into some trouble, but the result is good. At least we achieved our objective."
Through his psychic senses, Yuki felt the vibrations of the great bells from the cathedral where Griffith had once baptized him. Griffith had finally achieved his greatest ambition. Arch-Cardinal—the highest political and religious leader of Planet Ender.
"Heh. Griffith, don't you dare disappoint me."
...
Griffith felt as though he were living in a dream. He looked in disbelief at the magnificent ornaments adorning his robes, each one representing the blood and sweat of countless people. And now, he was wearing them. He had dismissed everyone, and in the empty hall, he let out a loud, unrestrained laugh.
"Heeheeheeheehee! This is it!"
He finally regained his composure. He didn't have much time to vent his emotions; he had his first urgent matter to attend to.
"Yuki, I didn't expect you to be waiting here so early."
The Underhive gang leader gave a slight smirk. "How could I dare be late when summoned by the Arch-Cardinal?"
Griffith didn't bother to analyze whether Yuki's expression was mocking or sincere. As an Arch-Cardinal, magnanimity was expected.
"Yuki, let us discuss your reward. But you must know, your unauthorized actions were merely the icing on the cake, far from being the decisive factor in my success. Still, you remain useful to me. Speak—what do you want?"
"I only want the Underhive."
"You certainly have a high opinion of yourself," Griffith remarked, his eyes narrowing.
Yuki's lips curled up. "Then let us proceed according to our previous agreement."
Griffith knew Yuki was plotting something. If they stuck to the previously discussed terms, Yuki would seemingly gain nothing. No one was a fool here; both knew what the other needed. Yuki had clearly secured benefits from somewhere else, though Griffith wasn't yet sure how he had played his hand. This man had many secrets, and the control he now exerted over the Underhive surpassed that of most high-ranking officials.
Griffith stared at Yuki. As the new Arch-Cardinal, he felt he should shoulder more important responsibilities.
"Don't worry, Griffith. After all we've been through, we can at least be considered friends, right?"
Griffith would never believe in something as fleeting as friendship.
The audience ended. Yuki waited until he had returned to the Underhive through the transit tunnels before he truly let himself go. He wanted to laugh. His gamble had been correct. Griffith hadn't detected his relationship with the "Cult of the Emperor"; in fact, Griffith likely hoped to use the Cult to keep Yuki in check.
The request from the Genestealer community was for the Arch-Cardinal to recognize the legitimacy of the "Cult of the Emperor" and its right to proselytize in the Underhive. In doing so, the strength of the Genestealers would continue to grow, which effectively translated to an increase in Yuki's own power. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he truly held the entire Underhive in his palm.
"Come then, come... let us begin."
Yuki was already starting to look forward to the arrival of the Hive Fleet.
...
One year later.
Yuki walked hand-in-hand with Yuno along a street in the Spire. A rare moment of leisure.
The architecture of the Spire was exceptionally grand, filled with massive Gothic-style cathedrals and castles, though they were tinged with sci-fi elements.
"Is this a date?"
"In a sense, yes, it is."
Yuno wore a somewhat regretful expression. "So your idea of a date is taking me to look at these big houses and then finding a random cathedral to watch humans worship a skeleton?"
Yuki understood that everything he had experienced and witnessed so far was, in Yuno's eyes, merely trivial matters.
"If you're truly interested in the Emperor, once the fleet arrives and your soul is under my full protection, how about I take you into the Warp to find the Astronomican?"
"Why do you make the Astronomican sound like a public restroom?"
Then again, given that the Emperor sat on the Golden Throne, there wasn't much difference between the Astronomican and a cosmic latrine.
"Do you sometimes think I'm too boring?" Yuno suddenly asked. She tugged at her clothes and looked into Yuki's eyes.
"Hmm? Why do you say that?"
"I just feel that when we're together, I'm always such a killjoy when it comes to things about Warhammer." Yuno's mood seemed to dip slightly. "Like before—you have so much curiosity about this world, but I just tell you everything directly. Isn't that boring?"
"It can't be helped. You know so much; should I ask you to forget it all?" Yuki thought for a moment before continuing. "But it has its own charm. Think about it—these things that are supposed to be terrifyingly dangerous sound so insignificant when they come from your mouth. It feels like dating a god."
"But in a sense, I am a god."
Yuki considered this. True, the Great Devourer was essentially a god walking in the physical world.
"Besides, after watching Evangelion, I realized I'm actually performing a 'Human Instrumentality Project' of my own. Eating all life in the galaxy and returning them to the singular great life that is me—isn't that quite nice?"
"Could you please watch fewer things with such warped values?"
"Don't you love watching them too? Every time we finish a 'session,' don't you like scrolling through your data slate looking at 2D characters?"
"Whose idea was it to let the Great Devourer access the internet?"
The two laughed and joked. Finally, they decided that tonight, they would go back and watch Evangelion together in bed.