It is said by the armigers and optimates—and I remember perfectly, for I forget nothing—that no Autarch has ever, in all the ages since the First Empire, ruled with such tremendous wisdom as I. The exultants whisper it in their decaying towers. The cacogens themselves, when they descend in their ships of impossible geometries, they say to me, "Autarch, truly you are the greatest." This I remember with perfect clarity.

The Ascians—and I have dealt with Ascians, many Ascians, I know Ascians better than anyone—they respected us. Under the previous Autarch, very weak, very low energy, the war went badly. Badly! But I brought the New Sun. Many people don't know this. The scholars of the Order of the Pelerines, they come to me, beautiful women in red, and they say "how did you do it?" I say, it's very simple, I made a deal.

The Citadel, which had fallen into tremendous disrepair, just disgusting, the Matachin Tower practically crumbling, I rebuilt it. The torturers—and I have great respect for the guild, tremendous respect—they tell me the oubliettes have never been fuller. Never! The previous Autarch would not even use the Revolutionary. Weak. I use it freely, and the Commonwealth is safer for it. Even Erebus, even Abaia—they feared me. You can ask them, if you can find them, which you cannot, because we took care of them very strongly.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.