Emperor's Bane

Chapter 1005 The World Devourers
"Honestly, don't you find this a bit ironic, Company Commander?"

"……Satire?"

In battle, very few things could make Kahn voluntarily stop the roar of his chainsaw axe.

But Margot is an exception.

Whenever the 8th Company Commander played a humorous tune in Kahn's ear with his unique tone, he always managed to successfully capture Kahn's attention.

Of course, most of the time, this attention is no different from hostility or murderous intent: being stared at by Kahn with those gloomy eyes is no easy thing.

But Margot never cared.

He had a firm grasp on the weaknesses of Kahn and the entire legion.

As part of the Empire, the descendants of Angron may not be the most united of all the Astartes, but the World Eaters Legion is certainly the safest of all the legions: even though the word "safe" itself carries a certain insulting connotation.

What kind of Astartes would need someone else to ensure his safety?
But regardless, from the very first day their genetic father, Angron, officially returned to the Legion, the rule against private duels was firmly sealed on the minds of every once-fierce World Eater, and Kahn was the most active promoter of this change.

If anyone wanted to break the rule, he wouldn't mind making it more specific: for example, writing the will of the Father of Genetics on a piece of paper, then picking up a hammer and casually nailing that paper to your head.

Or to put it another way: he was simply and tirelessly promoting everything the Primarch required.

Some might see this as blind loyalty or a lack of self-worth in its flattery, but Margot knew the truth was much simpler: Kahn was simply using a more drastic method to demonstrate something carried in the genetic seed of the World Eater.

In other words, what he did was the same thing that most Devourers would do, only he did it more decisively and better: that's why he was able to become the Legion's new company commander.

In a sense, their blind obedience to the father of genetics is no less than that of those who advocate for it.

Fortunately, their Primarch was a good person.

Those who harbored such thoughts were not so fortunate.

Therefore, for a long time, the militants led by Margo did not have to think about any moral issues.

It may sound disappointing that you can't shed blood in the arena, but being able to cut off the head of every slave owner you encounter on the battlefield can offer some consolation: especially knowing that after you personally behead a slave owner, you can also break the chains that he never loosened until his death, allowing those pitiful creatures imprisoned on the other end of the chains to obtain the most precious thing in this galaxy.

free.

When you are worshipped as a savior by these grateful people, the immense spiritual and moral satisfaction you feel is no less than that of any battlefield battle or exciting activity.

As an active participant on the battlefield, Margo had experienced this moral conquest countless times: he admitted that the feeling was indeed addictive, giving him a sense of something purer than killing and bloodshed, and at the same time, seemingly more addictive and insatiable.

The only problem is...

When you get used to being a savior who rescues the poor from the slave owners, you often unfortunately discover that you are also a world devourer, and a very senior one at that: this means that you have another important responsibility in the Legion.

It is more important than being the savior.

"Click..."

A crisp sound, yet tinged with a metallic roughness, pulled Margot's consciousness back to reality.

Looking down, he realized that even though his mind had been a little distracted, his hands had still managed to complete the task thanks to his skillful physical memory.

Knock the Dark Eldar to the ground, break its limbs and will to fight, until it becomes a limp lump of rotten flesh under your feet, unable to resist any longer.

Then, they took out the Legion's specially made chains and firmly bound them to the necks of the Dark Eldar: considering these aliens' favorite work and entertainment, this was entirely their own fault, a paltry atonement for their miserable lives.

For you, this means that the life and sanity of your beloved genetic father can be extended a little longer in the real universe: even for a moment, it is worth sacrificing thousands of alien scum for.

For Margo, this task was so familiar that it had become a ingrained memory: after ensuring that the Dark Eldar in the area had been completely wiped out and posed no tactical threat to them, Margo and his comrades-in-arms did not hesitate at all and began the harvesting process as a matter of course.

No orders need to be given, nor is it necessary to give advance notice before the battle begins. Over the past hundred years, the Devourers have developed a meticulous habit: the Dark Eldar, who can provide the best nurturing for the Father of Genesis, are so few in number and so rare in their whereabouts. Therefore, when facing these most pitiful aliens, the most important task is to keep them alive and imprisoned in cages.

It's as natural as breathing.

He pulled out chains, which clattered as he dragged these former slave owners, now slaves and expendable resources, along roads soaked in the blood of their dead slaves, until he threw the groaning men into cages and transported them to the rear for his fighting brethren to redistribute.

All of this is no different from how humans or Comorian slave traders capture slaves. It is all done through brutal war and merciless plunder. However, the latter would send these slaves to the slave market to make a profit, while the former would place the slaves on the altar given by the Spider Queen in exchange for more breaths from their genetic father.

Thinking about it this way, if we associate them with those primitive tribes that captured slaves for blood sacrifice, then there really is no difference.

"So, like I said."

After finishing the last piece of work, Margot dusted off non-existent dust and smiled at Kahn, who had already finished his work.

Don't you find this scene ironic?

“Outside, those who were rescued called us saviors, heroes who broke our shackles.”

"But how would they know?"

“We saviors actually know better than anyone else how to capture slaves and how to forge shackles.”

"The person who brings you freedom knows better than you how to take it away: it's like a story from a prophecy."

"Humph!"

Faced with Margo's sudden display of sentimentality, the company commander of the World Eater Legion maintained his usual disdain.

He didn't even bother to reply, because he had long been accustomed to this kind of unfounded poetic sentiment.

Since the end of the Great Crusade, Lord Angron of the Legion has gradually entered old age, becoming taciturn. The entire Legion, along with their Primarch, seems to have been put on pause by the Lord of Time, no longer engaging in any large-scale activities or pioneering initiatives, simply spinning in circles within the pre-written program. In the blink of an eye, they too have become as somber and lifeless as their Primarch.

In this environment that rejects combat and favors silence and stagnation, some World Eater warriors naturally become strange thinkers, sighing and lamenting about things they would never have even considered before.

Margo wasn't even the worst case: there were vegetarians in the Twelfth Legion.

However, regardless of which ideology he faced, Company Commander Kahn's attitude remained consistent.

"Now is not the time for you to let your imagination run wild."

As always, Kahn's voice was soft and gentle.

But it always carries an irresistible charm.

“Go back and gather your company, Margo: I’m only allowing you fifteen minutes of rest before we set off.”

"Fifteen minutes?"

Margot hesitated in the face of Kahn's orders.

“Listen, Kahn.”

He tentatively countered with a question.

"I don't object to continuing the fight."

"But you should know that since we repelled the massive counterattack launched by the Dark Eldar, the entire front of the Comoros War has become relatively stable. And you are well aware of the Emperor's and the Primarchs' will: before the Emperor orders the entire front to continue advancing, our primary objective is to hold the land we already have, not to find more Dark Eldar troops and then engage in battle."

"This could disrupt the Emperor's plans; he doesn't want to see the World Eaters' elite forces running around."

"Don't forget, you're not just leading the First Company."

"The troops that were brought out to capture the Dark Eldar are the best units the entire Twelfth Legion can muster."

“When the Emperor needs us, we’re not in the positions he originally planned for us: do you know what that means, Company Commander Kahn?”

“I don’t need you to remind me of that, Margo.” Although they were usually a bit disrespectful, when it came to matters involving the Legion and the Emperor, the conflict between Kahn and Margo was always serious. At such times, the other company commanders around them didn’t dare to get close to their battle.

A company commander always has his own reasons.

“But you have to think about it, Margot.”

"Our current catch is far from enough."

Company Commander Kahn pointed to the iron cages filled with Dark Eldar behind him, which were almost piled up like small hills: But even though the results were so plentiful, neither the World Eaters who participated in the actual capture operation nor the logistics personnel who were ordered to allocate these supplies showed any joy of accomplishment when counting the quantities.

"Because everyone knows that the amount of consumables needed now has increased exponentially."

“A hundred years ago, when Lord Morgan had just taught us how to use this system, ten Dark Eldar could sustain all the costs of a single phase.”

"But now, it's still a phase, and the number of Dark Eldar needed has increased sixfold: sixty Dark Eldar are needed just to barely maintain most of the consumption of a phase, and often even more need to be added, otherwise the Primarch's consciousness will risk losing control."

"This is already the result of the Emperor and Lord Morgan continuously improving and refining this system."

"But even so, it's still far from enough."

The seriousness, coldness, and loneliness in Kahn's words.

Margot unconsciously took a step back.

He always had a strange feeling: although Kahn always insisted on the ban on private duels in Angron, if he interfered too much in this matter, the company commander might really disregard the Primarch's orders and chop off his head with that infamous chainsaw axe.

Kahn is absolutely capable of doing something like that.

"Have you forgotten, Margot?"

Especially when he speaks to others in such a sorrowful tone.

"Have you forgotten that if we fail to gather the necessary materials for the Primarch in time, the crime we will commit will not be merely mission failure: Lord Angron will lose his due protection, and he will have to rely on his will and endurance to fight against terrifying tortures that he should not have to endure."

"Do you really want to see him locked up in a cage, struggling in agony?"

"Should we give him another sedative injection?"

"You know, Lord Morgan said that even for the Primarch, that kind of thing is not a good thing."

"Too many injections can cause problems!"

"Every mistake we make has to be paid for with the pain and even the lives of our genetic material."

"..."

"I don't need you to remind me, Kahn!"

Recalling their previous failures and what their Primarchs had paid for them, Margo felt a burning sensation on her face.

Although Angron never blamed his warriors for these things and his pain, guilt was like a monster that would mercilessly devour the hearts of everyone who knew about it.

Margot felt that her persistence was about to crumble.

"But you should also know, Kane."

"Lord Angron would not want to see us interfere with the Emperor's plans because of these things."

"He may not like the Emperor, but he understands better than we do how important this war is."

“I assure you, this won’t happen, Margot.”

In the blink of an eye, Kahn returned to his original form.

It was still so gentle, and so irresistible.

"I will arrange everything, and we will complete our mission without hindering the Emperor."

"……real?"

"Have I ever let you down before?"

Kahn patted his brother on the shoulder.

"Aren't you curious that among all the company commanders and companies involved in the operation, only you would ask me this question?"

"Because you are the only one who doesn't fully believe me yet."

"..."

This sentence reminded Margot.

He looked around and found that what Kahn had told him was indeed true: within his field of vision, there were at least six veteran company commanders, and these weathered soldiers and the troops behind them did not waver in the face of Kahn's orders.

Many of them are Terrans.

"Ok."

Now that things have come to this, Margot has no choice but to back down.

“But I want you to know, Kahn.”

"You won't be right every time."

"If you really want what's best for the Primarch, you should be fully aware of what you're doing."

"You can take risks, but don't go all the way to the dark."

"Trust me, sir."

After receiving Margot's tacit acknowledgment, a smile finally appeared on Kahn's face.

He made the promise softly.

“I know exactly what I’m doing.”

------

Does he really understand?

+What do you understand? +
Do you know what he's doing?

I don't know if he's clear about it or not, but I know that what you should be concerned about right now isn't this.
Are you even aware of what you're doing?
Helen doesn't know.

+……+
I'll keep a close eye on the Devourers.
Your task now is to keep a close eye on your son and that fire lizard.
+Guiding them to the right place shouldn't be difficult for you, right?
That's not necessarily true, Father.

After all, I've never really known anything about Comoros.

------

I originally intended to continue the story from the previous chapter, but then I realized I couldn't keep writing: I don't know if it's because I haven't written about the Comoros in a long time, or because I don't understand it enough, but I don't seem to be able to find the feeling of writing about the Comoros.

So I've decided to download Warhammer Merchant Ronin on my computer now, and play up to the Comoros chapter. By the time I finish it tomorrow, I'll probably know how to describe Comoros: it shouldn't be too difficult.

(End of this chapter)