Emperor's Bane

Chapter 549: Good Wife, Daughter, and Ex-wife
"You mean to say that your daughter gave you a script and asked you to memorize everything in the script and then recite it when the time comes: you don't need to use your brain to think at all?"

+That's right, my friend, don't you also think this behavior is excessive... +
"Why didn't I think of such a brilliant idea before!"

＋……? +

The excitement in the seal holder's mouth did not sound fake at all, and his shaking head and sighing revealed a lot of irony: at this moment, even the Lord of Humanity, who had his back to his best friend and was watching the hundreds of thousands of lives on the [Emperor's Fantasy] alone, could not help but become stiff in the face of this instinctive sigh.

After a few long seconds, the Emperor slowly turned around, with a hint of disbelief still in his pupils, and looked at his most trusted partner in astonishment. He rubbed two fingers together, and his trembling lips seemed to want to utter some questions, but in the end, he said nothing.

all in all……

#Wronged#
+Why do you think so, my friend Malcador? +

"Why wouldn't I think so?"

The Sigillite laughed contemptuously, leaning back in the creaking old chair, his aged words revealing both happiness and disdain for this world: As one of only two lucky people in the galaxy who could step into the private balcony of the Lord of Mankind, Malcador had always felt that the ancient yet not quaint decoration of this place fully demonstrated the Emperor's abysmal taste.

It is quite interesting to think about it: the countless people who pay homage to this [Supreme Palace] and try their best to get in, only get rejection. However, the confidants in the eyes of the two emperors who can step into this balcony, on the contrary, despise this place.

"Otherwise, let's call your daughter back now. I remember Morgan is waiting outside the room now. Let's discuss the pros and cons of this plan in front of you. I think I can also praise this girl from Avalon."

＋What are you praising? ＋

"Praise her for being a good child. Even though she's not very well-behaved, she's still a good child. Of all your children, this Lord of Avalon is the most reassuring one. She even gives me little surprises from time to time."

"Sometimes it's a surprise, sometimes it's a joy."

Malcador shook his head.

"It's a pity. If she was more proactive in paying taxes, it would be perfect."

+Are you saying that you still can't collect taxes from the Far Eastern Frontier? +
The Emperor turned around completely, leaning against the balcony, and randomly picked up a notebook with withered pages from the bookshelf that was within easy reach, to make himself appear less embarrassed, and asked questions about Terra's political affairs: During the years of the Great Crusade, the Lord of Mankind did not care much about these "trivial matters", and the unilateral demands also made him always lack confidence in front of Malcador.

“It’s not just the Far Eastern Frontier.”

The seal holder felt somewhat helpless.

"If it's just the Far Eastern Frontier, I wouldn't have any complaints. After all, the rise of Avalon was not within the Terran government's expectations from the beginning. If it pays taxes, it will be a pleasant surprise for us, and if it doesn't pay taxes, it won't have any huge impact. What's more, Morgan's main expansion direction is the outer ring of the galaxy, and I don't expect to make any profit from it."

"The real problem is that the Overseas Countries, including Avalon, are now avoiding paying taxes to the Terra government for various reasons. I can't bypass any of them to collect taxes from the rest. That doesn't make sense from a legal point of view."

＋Overseas countries? ＋

The Lord of Mankind whispered the word: he had never heard it before.

"The new popular name on Terra."

The Sigillite was a little absent-minded. He could certainly see that the Emperor was only interested in the tax issue in order to avoid continuing the awkward topic, but Malcador was happy to see it and took the opportunity to reflect the current predicament of the Terran government to the Emperor.

Otherwise, he really thought his precious daughter was so well-behaved.

"In the Terran government, there is a saying that bureaucrats and dignitaries have become accustomed to limiting Terra's ruling borders to the west of the Great Vortex, that is, the star field other than the Far East Star Field. As for the Far East Star Field, which occupies half of the Milky Way, it is regarded by your people as an [overseas] region, a province of the empire on a distant frontier, a geographical concept that cannot be associated with Terra."

"An... autonomous zone?"

"Anyway, speaking in a narrow sense, the so-called [Overseas Countries] are nothing more than the old three of Avalon, Macragge, and Nostramo. But if we talk about it in a broad sense, then the entire Maelstrom, as well as the Blood Angels, the World Eaters, and even the Luna Wolves can be included."

＋Is that so? ＋

The Emperor frowned.

+This is not something that deserves to be affirmed, my friend. You should suppress this separatist tendency within the Terra government and trace the source of this rumor: I don't want humans' concept of [unity] to stop at the Great Vortex area in the future. +
"You don't need to tell me."

The seal holder is somewhat resentful.

"If you hadn't pushed the Terran government to actually divide those territories outside the galaxy among the various Primarchs and Legions, I would have been able to suppress this rumor. As for who started it? I did send people to investigate, but in the end I didn't find any satisfactory answer."

A sneer appeared on the wrinkled face of the seal bearer, while the Lord of Mankind was thinking about something.

+You mean: Is Morgan involved in this? +
"It's good for her, and she does have friends on Terra."

As he spoke, Malcador frowned with a knot of bitterness and hatred between his brows. He had always regarded Terra as his own private land, and the act of having someone plant a nail in his backyard really made the seal holder feel jealous. He even forgot that he had been persevering in investing resources in the Far East over the years, making Morgan's Border Defense Bureau always busy.

"I wanted to deal with her friends, at least some of them, even as a warning. But your daughter is a cunning opponent. Her friends on Terra are not her own friends: these people often have connections with other Primarchs, such as Jonson, or Konrad and Guilliman, who Morgan personally helped to connect them."

"Even those Dawnbreakers who stayed in the Terra office were not actually her own bloodline: The Lord of Avalon was the Primarch who cared the most about Holy Terra, but she didn't invest much of her own strength here. She was just using someone else's strength to defeat her."

＋Like me? ＋

"Better than you."

The seal bearer is merciless.

"If you ask me, you'd better think of a way to settle the tax issue before returning to Terra. This is my last warning to you, Apocalypse. If you really want to carry out your grand project on the Webway, you must force me to collect the taxes, even if it makes God and people angry. I have no choice but to do so."

+ I understand this: you don't have to worry about this, my friend. +
The Emperor nodded.

+My scientific research department is conducting the final security inspection of the machine. From the day I return to Terra, the webway project will truly begin: and before that, I will guard my last shift. +
+ I know what I have to do: in addition to the perfect city in front of me, I have to hold a meeting on psychics, calm the anger of Mortarion and others, and then stage a grand victory epic to ensure that my wolf god can take over smoothly. +
"Have you chosen your opponent?"

+Of course.

The emperor waved his hand, and a star map jumped in front of the seal bearer.

+ Intelligence shows that a huge Orc Empire is gradually rising in the north of the Draco region: these aliens are constantly expanding their sphere of influence with the Ullanor system as their core. In a few years, they will no longer be opponents that a single legion can deal with. +
"It's appropriate."

The seal holder nodded, and then fell into deep thought while looking at the map.

"But don't you think this place is too remote, Tianqi? Let alone the Ullanor system, even if it is the Draco region, according to the normal progress of the Great Crusade, our fleet will not be able to set foot there for at least several decades. Can such a distant expedition really achieve the effect you expect?"

"Don't forget that Jonson and Jaghatai also often went on such long expeditions, but they were not well-known on the stage of the Great Crusade. If you want your Wolf Shepherd God to ascend to the throne smoothly, then you should let this war take place in the star field close to the Empire's controlled area."

"Only when it concerns the current interests of the empire can we gain the most fame."

＋That’s what I thought. ＋
The Lord of Mankind smiled.

+A few years ago, I had already dispatched a mobile fleet to secretly go to the vicinity of the Ullanor system. Their mission was to divert the attention of the Orc Empire to the territory of the Human Empire, and in the process, make this alien force a controllable force that can also be taken seriously. +
+ I will work with the Luna Wolves to stop the advance of this Ork Empire near the planet Rong Ge in the Draco region, and then completely defeat it on the empire's borders: such a feat will be enough to make Horus's title of Warmaster unquestionable. After that, I can safely leave the frontiers of the Great Expedition and return to Terra. +
"As long as you have an idea."

The Sigillite sighed, as if expressing his feelings: the choice of Warmaster, which had been the concern of several Primarchs and the subject of heated discussion throughout the Great Crusade, and which seemed to never be decided until the last moment, was nothing more than a slightly complicated drama in the Emperor's mind.

"But don't forget what I said."

＋I remember that. ＋
The human cause is fading.

+After the Warmaster is elected, I will formally confirm the establishment of the Historians' Guild. The first batch of historians will be selected from Terra and added to the various expeditionary fleets, especially the various Astartes Legions, to record the unification of mankind in a more formal and grand manner.

+Then, I will wait for about a month, and then set up a tax bureau specifically for the Great Crusade, and send the first batch of tax collectors to each legion: whether it is the imperial world of the Solar Sector or those overseas countries you mentioned, their taxes will be uniformly managed by these executives. +
"This is good."

Malcador frowned.

"But why do you want to do these two things separately?"

＋A little trick. ＋
The Emperor took back the star map.

+Whether it is the news that I will leave the Great Crusade or the establishment of the Terran Council, it is bound to make many legions dissatisfied, and this dissatisfaction will definitely be vented on the historians assigned to various legions: in order to protect these weak elites, I will send out the executive officers of the Tax Bureau a little later. +
+When the Primarchs and Astartes face these tax collectors, they will in turn realize the advantages of the historians: correspondingly, the working environment of these cultural workers will become more friendly. +
(Don't laugh, this is a true story. It is directly stated in Horus Rising that when a group of historians, led by Qile and Mesati, first arrived at the Luna Wolves, they were all looked down upon. It was not until the tax collectors from Terra arrived at the fleet that their living conditions were greatly improved.)
"It's a good idea."

The seal bearer nodded.

"But why do you take such good care of these historians? Are there any of them you care about?"

+That's right. +
The Emperor did not deny it. He pinched a round mirror out of the void, and in the shimmering light, the figure of a mortal woman appeared: she was tall and slender, with slender limbs, blonde hair and blue eyes, a pale and thin complexion, and dressed in masculine clothes, but that could not conceal her extraordinary charm.

＋Let me introduce you to: Euphrates-Qile, you should know her. ＋
"Impressed."

The seal holder thought for a second.

"A rather famous narrator. Do you have any plans for her?"

+ I plan to send her to Avalon, to the Dawnbreaker's expeditionary fleet. Some of my plans require her assistance, and Morgan's fleet is the most suitable, or the safest, option. +
"Don't mind telling me what the plan is: I'll go back and make a plan."

＋It is still about religion. ＋
The Emperor crushed the round mirror.

＋The conversation with Morgan made me realize one thing: the failure of my religious investment in Luo Jia does not mean that I have to give up every religious plan. ＋
+The most fascinating thing about religion is that in the field of faith, mortals are no worse than the original body, and may even do better, because they are more humble and can better understand the fundamental laws of the world. +
＋Maybe it was wrong for me to let Luo Jia, a demigod, promote religion, so I decided to look forward to these mortals. ＋
"So, this Ms. Qile is the new [Saint] you chose?"

＋If necessary, yes. ＋
The Emperor did not deny it.

+So, I specially transferred her to Morgan's country. Although my daughter has many shortcomings, her greatest advantage is her intelligence. I don't need to mention many things to her. When she figures it out, she will naturally cooperate with the future saint of the state religion. +
"Aren't you afraid that your daughter will take on the role of Pope?" + She wouldn't be so blatant. This is not Morgan's style. From what I know about Morgan, she would most likely find a group of people who would obey her orders, form a pretentious meeting of cardinals, and then recommend the most loyal one to become the Pope of the state religion. +
＋That's how she is, her low-key behavior doesn't even look like a Primarch, right? ＋
The Emperor smiled.

"indeed."

Machado was still horrified.

"Pride and honor have always been the concerns of your descendants. I originally thought that beings like the Primarch would not care about those false names in the world, but unfortunately, not only was I wrong, I was terribly wrong."

“And when I figured this out…”

Suddenly Malcador leaned forward and, for the first time in their conversation, looked the Emperor in the eye: there was something strangely aroused in his old eyes, a kind of gossip that only young men have.

"I have always been curious: Are your daughter and your sons really created from the same batch?"

+...+
The emperor, who had been looking down at his hands, wondering what he was thinking, blinked in confusion when he encountered this question. Then, he slowly raised his head, but he did not dare to look at his most trusted partner. His voice was obviously evasive.

+Do you...care about this issue? +

“It does make me curious.”

Machado did not give up.

"After all, Morgan's ways are indeed different from those of other Primarchs, even those who are most similar to her, such as Guilliman or Konrad. He reminds me of the guy who has been erased. Although they seem to be two completely opposite people, they have some of the same core. They are both outliers among the Primarchs."

"And you did tell me a long time ago that No. 2 and No. 11 are the two special ones among your twenty works: compared with their brothers, they both add something and lack something. I can understand that they have added more subspace existence in their connotations, but can you tell me what they lack?"

+…Is this important to you? +

"It depends."

+...+
The Emperor fell silent. The Sigillite had never seen him hesitate so long, and after the Lord of Mankind sighed, he only gave his best friend half of the answer.

+ I cannot tell you everything, my friend Malcador, but I can tell you a little: a little that you can understand. +
+That is, if you really want to know what Morgan and the Lost are missing: they are missing the part of Erda. +
+When all the original bodies were created, only the carriers of No. 2 and No. 11 completely resisted the energy brought by Erda. No. 11 was because of his own body rejection, while No. 2's situation was more special. +
"How to say?"

+ There is actually no conflict between No. 2's carrier and Erda's energy, but when it found that it could not completely control Erda's energy and could only passively merge with it, it directly rejected this power: this instinctive rejection can reflect its essence. +
"……how to say……"

The seal bearer shook his head and sighed.

"I'm not surprised at all. If getting rid of Elda made Morgan smarter, it's only natural. But your words remind me: Are you still in some kind of contact with that Elda guy?"

+ I am not so soft-hearted that I will forgive her for betraying me. +
The Emperor's voice was unmistakable.

+ My ability to allow her to live in a corner of Terra has already exhausted the last bit of friendship we have accumulated over the tens of thousands of years we have been together: the moment she destroyed my plan, we have parted ways, because we are fundamentally unable to understand each other. +
+ Don't worry, my friend, she won't appear in any of my plans. +
"That's not what I'm worried about."

The seal holder pursed his lips.

"I am worried about whether Erda's existence can still conceal your descendants, especially your daughter who has great power and eyes. I am not worried about other primarchs, but if it is Morgan, she will never let Erda live. She will definitely hate Er, just like Erda hates Morgan the most."

"…She'll kill her."

＋Who, killed whom? ＋
"Your daughter will definitely kill your old acquaintance. You don't think the situation will be the other way around, do you? Tianqi: We are all familiar with Erda. She does have some abilities, but she is just a slightly bigger problem in front of your offspring."

"In other words, do you think that among all the forces you have, even with me, who can definitely defeat Morgan: Jonson? Russ? Or Jonson and Russ? Or, your beloved Wolf God and Dorn?"

＋They can’t do it. ＋
The Emperor did not hesitate at all.

+ If Morgan and I really get into some bad situation, I will capture her myself, and I will not send anyone else: although the loyalty of Jonson and Russ is beyond doubt, their ability is insufficient, and even with you, it is not reassuring. +
+ Morgan may not be determined to kill Jonson, but her tolerance for Leman Russ is not that high, and not killing him does not mean that she will deal with Jonson: she can throw Jonson and the entire First Legion directly into the turbulence of the warp, and when the Dark Angels come out, it may be the Milky Way ten thousand years later. +
"Well, ten thousand years later..."

The Sigillite imagined in his mind the scene of the entire Dark Angels Legion appearing in the Milky Way ten thousand years later. It was so shocking that it was impossible to describe in words: I wonder whether the Terra government and the leaders of the Empire will be happy or worried by then?
"So, your confidence in Morgan is even greater than I thought."

＋Her power is truly extraordinary, as you will see shortly.＋
The Emperor only responded with one sentence. He seemed to be tired of these conversations full of political implications and tragic pasts. He walked to the bookshelf on the side and took the script that Morgan gave him. He then made a gesture to the shadows beside him. A figure whose face could not be seen clearly stood out from the shadows and saluted the Lord of Mankind.

＋What is my daughter doing? ＋

The figure didn't hesitate, and his voice didn't sound human at all.

"She was waiting in the corridor for your next call, and to relieve her boredom, she knocked out a guard named Aquita. She was squatting beside him, carving patterns on the golden armor of the guard captain."

+...+
The silence of the Lord of Mankind made the Seal Bearer laugh.

"Why, from whom do you think Conrad learned his bad behavior?"

+...+
The emperor waved his hand, and after signaling the figure to retreat, he choked back in annoyance.

+Okay, come on, let's take a look at this important matter, quickly finish discussing the script, and then we'll discuss how to deal with Luo Jia. My precious daughter is still waiting for my order so that she can start the action in the Perfect City. +
“This is a bit difficult.”

Malcador smiled.

"After all, we don't seem to have any backup plan for Luo Jia: Apart from religion, what other use is there for your son?"

＋Didn't I tell you that when I was playing chess with you? ＋

"You said one."

The seal bearer curled his lips.

"Luo Jia is not important: that's all."

＋……That’s not right. ＋
The Emperor hesitated for a moment, then shook his head firmly.

+I did say this, but it was not a comment on Luo Jia.

"Who could that be? What other Primarch would be less important than Lorgar?"

＋……I forgot too. ＋
＋Never mind, that's not important. ＋
The Lord of Mankind threw the script in his hand at his best friend.

＋Let’s look at the serious stuff. ＋
"Row."

Malcador unfolded the script and spent a total of ten seconds carefully reading the one-page script: five seconds were spent on reading, five seconds were spent on thinking, and the extra second was used to nod affirmatively to the Lord of Mankind.

"That's it."

＋…You only looked at it for ten seconds. ＋
"I know: because there are not ten sentences in it."

＋Then shouldn't you think about it carefully and then enrich this with me...＋
"Shut up!"

The seal holder looked at him coldly.

"Take a look at this script: you just need to stand there, pretending to be a god with no emotions, and then recite the lines according to the script. The entire process doesn't even have more than ten lines!"

＋There are less than ten sentences. ＋
"Yeah, less than ten sentences!"

Malcador sneered.

"Is there a more perfect script for you?"

＋…You mean, we don't need to modify it at all? ＋
"of course not."

The seal bearer stood up arrogantly.

"On the contrary: Call your precious daughter in right now. We can revise it while we still have some time. We can try to delete a few more sentences. It would be best if you don't have to say a word the entire time."

＋…What do you mean, my friend? ＋
The emperor was a little dazed.

"Literally, let Morgan take care of the things on the scene, and I will take care of the things inside. Let's quickly finish the things in Perfect City. You just need to stand there, and there is nothing else that needs to be entrusted to you."

＋If I don't do anything, then what's the point of me being here? ＋

"..."

The words of the Lord of Mankind made Malcador fall into deep thought.

"Hmm, good question..."

“In fact, I have been thinking about this matter all along.”

"Think about it carefully, Tianqi: don't just stand there and stare blankly when the time comes."

"When you figure it out, remember to write a report and give it to Morgan and me."

+...+
＋As you command, my friend.＋
(End of this chapter)