Emperor's Bane

Chapter 556: Eastern Expedition! Start!
"So, if Luo Jia admits that he is guilty, then he is guilty."

"of course."

"And if he doesn't admit it, it's like he's a believer who refutes the Emperor he believes in. Then he's still guilty: or even more guilty?"

"That's the truth."

"Doesn't that mean that no matter whether Lorgar is guilty or not, as long as the Emperor speaks, he is guilty. Even if he is not guilty, he cannot defend himself: Malcador, isn't this arrogant and unreasonable?"

"Why else do you think the Emperor gave up on religion?"

The Sigillite turned his head and smiled at the Macragge beside him, watching the Primarch's frozen expression: The Sigillite was in a pretty good mood at the moment. Although he was very far away from the Emperor, Lorgar and the others, with his powerful psychic power, he was still able to grasp every inch of detail at the core of the stage.

So far, everything is going according to their script.

The Emperor remained silent, Morgan was able to find the right moment, Lorgar and his Word Bearers Legion had been initially appeased, and other participants in the incident, such as Leman Russ, Guilliman and Malcador himself, were able to clear themselves of all blame afterwards.

Now, if we just unify everyone's words a little bit, modify them, and then spread the news about the Perfect City, we can bring this matter to a successful conclusion without affecting the overall unity of the empire.

Thinking of this, the curve of the seal holder's mouth became more obvious. When he saw Guilliman beside him still in a state of shock, he even had some leisure time to give his nephew some advice.

"Is there anything you don't understand?"

"No... I just..."

Guilliman took a deep breath.

"I just find it hard to imagine that faith is such a domineering force: it only needs a set of illusory logic to imprison a Primarch and his legion, even if this logic itself is so crude and primitive."

“Nothing…”

"Irrational?"

Makado added the last part of the sentence.

"Yes."

Guilliman nodded: everything before his eyes had obviously impacted the spiritual world of this Macragge man who advocated rationality and logic. Especially when the deceived person was a Primarch with the same blood as him, this kind of sympathy undoubtedly brought a great sense of crisis to Guilliman's heart.

Will he become like that?

What if he believed in the so-called faith?
While asking this question, Guilliman had quietly made up his mind: after he returned to the Five Hundred Worlds, he would make laws to eradicate the existence of all faiths as much as possible while respecting the wishes of his people.

He didn't want such a scene to happen to the Extreme Warriors.

Luo Jia might be willing to kneel down to others because that's just the kind of person he is.

But he, Guilliman, would never do that!

The Primarch swore in his heart and clenched his fists unconsciously, but at the same time, he did not forget: whether it was the so-called faith or the so-called coming of the God-Emperor, it was just a script written by the people in front of him.

"So, Luo Jia's current confession is also within your expectations?"

The Primarch's voice was a little rough. Although his relationship with Lorgar was not friendly, he still hated the feeling of witnessing his blood brother being played around by others. What's more, Malcador, who was standing next to him, was watching all this with a relaxed attitude.

At this moment, he finally understood where the bad reputation of the Seal Bearer came from.

“This is our purpose.”

Malcador didn't hide anything.

"Everything you've seen so far was something we had planned long ago."

"Including Morgan?"

Guilliman asked subconsciously, with some expectation in his heart: Although he had witnessed the more [special] side of his Avalon blood several times, in Guilliman's heart, he still believed that Morgan was one of the most amiable among all the brothers.

"Her words, half and half."

The seal holder thought about it for a while, but ultimately did not completely uncover Morgan's fig leaf.

After all, no matter what they said, if Morgan and Guilliman could really maintain a friendly personal relationship, it would always be beneficial to Terra: this meant that as long as they convinced one of them, it would be equivalent to convincing both of them at the same time.

As for provoking the relationship between the two Primarchs, letting them fight among themselves, so that Holy Terra can mediate and sit back and relax?

No kidding: aren't there enough Primarchs who consider each other their enemies? There's no need to create another pair.

If only the Emperor's beloved sons could live less and more in harmony, Malcador felt he could live a few more years.

"So, her being forced to stay by the Emperor was also part of the script?"

Guilliman then turned his attention to a detail that even Malcador had missed, forcing the Sigillite to recall his thoughts for a few seconds.

"Yes."

"Look: there has to be a good reason for Morgan to stay, right?"

The Primarch curled his lips and remained noncommittal.

"So, you deliberately chose me and my legion to come here as the least important one in this operation, and it is also the credit of this script: Is there any special reason that forces me to stand here, Sigillite?"

Guilliman leaned down, bringing himself closer to Malcador's eyes, and it was obvious that this question was his real purpose: even though the affairs of the Perfect City were almost over, the Macragge people still felt resentful about the fact that he had been forced into this mess.

"Are you still angry, Guilliman?"

"Not really. I just want a logical explanation."

The Primarch had a stern face.

"Just one sentence: After all, you are not my genetic father, the Sigillite. I believe you know how to talk, so I hope to get an answer from you. This request should not be too much, right?"

"..."

Malcador was silent for a moment.

"With my identity, I can only give you one explanation, the Lord of Five Hundred Worlds."

"That's enough."

The primarch nodded.

"All ears."

"Then listen carefully: the reason why you were dragged into this matter is nothing more than..."

------

【You are guilty.】

【Luo Jia.】

[Of course you are guilty.]

When she saw her Colchian brothers prostrating themselves at her feet, Morgan, with golden flames burning in her pupils, did not bend down to help Lorgar up. Instead, she raised her head high, letting her judgment echo in the distant sky.

Under the cover of this perspective, Morgan had time to suppress the corners of her mouth and endure the smugness rising in her heart: she was still just the Emperor's Voice, an Angel controlled by the Emperor, and could not reveal such obvious personal emotions.

But there was no way, the feeling was just too tempting: watching a Primarch kneeling at her feet, crying bitterly, watching an entire legion trembling in front of her, this was clearly just an illusion of the fox relying on the tiger's might, but it still made Morgan's heart tremble.

After delivering the verdict, the Primarch remained silent for three seconds on purpose. He wanted to use this silence and the Emperor's majesty to intimidate the Word Bearers, and also to take the time to adjust his own mindset: because the next words were of paramount importance.

Three seconds later, the Spider Queen slowly lowered her head. Wherever the Primarch's gaze passed, no Word Bearer dared to look her in the eye. When her gaze finally rested on the back of Lorgar's exposed neck, the Great Word Bearer just trembled instinctively.

【All people are guilty.】

Morgan's voice was still hoarse and sounded distant.

[Whether it is you, me, every soldier under your command, or every passerby: they are all sinners, will suffer hardships, and should be paid more labor, because this is the injustice of the world. ]

[Because the Milky Way is suffering, because every world is accompanied by injustice, falsehood and sin, because before our father walked the world, wisdom, righteousness, justice and faith had disappeared in the Milky Way, leaving only rampant evil spirits that want to swallow up the innocent.]

【That is why all living beings pray for faith. 】

【That’s why the battle flag covers the starlight.】

【So, our Father is coming among us. 】

[He holds a sword and will cleanse all sin with blazing fire. Those who disobey and rebel will be devoured by the sword, and terror will come upon them like a whirlwind.]

Until the wicked are cut off, and the evil ones are rooted out, until the upright live in the land, and the blameless remain in its midst, until only those who obey him will have peace and will not be afraid of evil, and will understand the way of righteousness and justice.

[This is his expectation, this is his will, from beginning to end, this has never changed.]

[You, Luo Jia, you turned your back on him, scorned his admonitions, and refused to accept his reproaches.] "No... no..."

When he was made to kneel on the ground, Lorgar was no longer able to defend himself as quickly as he used to. Facing Morgan's questioning, the Primarch could only barely raise his head and whisper the most instinctive rebuttal. His heart was in such chaos as if swept by a storm that he could hardly even spell out a complete sentence.

Morgan looked into the eyes of her own blood relative. Under the cover of the golden flame, the Spider Queen was able to observe the pupils of the Great Spokesman in great detail. She found that Luo Jia was so dazed. His eyes could not cover his spiritual world at all. Morgan could see his heart clearly.

She saw Luo Jia's ecstasy, and this ecstasy existed from beginning to end, because the Emperor really came before him in a sacred manner: so, no matter what the Emperor said, whether he was scolding Luo Jia's guilt or sighing at his incompetence, Luo Jia was happy. Although he was afraid, he was really happy.

It can even be said that this fear is also part of Luo Jia's inner joy.

The emperor was admonishing him. The emperor was admonishing him in the manner of a divine emperor.

God, this is actually true?
This scene is actually real!
The Primarch was not the only one who felt ecstatic about this sacred humiliation. When the Spider Queen quietly spread her mental web, she found that except for Lorgar, most of the Word Bearers behind the Primarch actually held the same idea as their Gene-Father.

Awe in the Emperor's teachings.

But at the same time as being in awe, I couldn't suppress my ecstasy.

【…】

Anyway, Morgan found it difficult to understand why the scolding from others actually made him feel warm inside: In the language of mortals, they seemed to like to call this phenomenon "masochism"?
The Primarch felt goose bumps gradually forming on his back.

Subconsciously, Morgan let the flames in her pupils burn a little more vigorously: there was no need to make physical contact at all, she only needed to scratch him a little in the spiritual world, and the Emperor would understand what the Primarch wanted at this moment.

With this help, Morgan continued to inquire about her blood relatives.

【What do you want to say, Luo Jia? 】

"me……"

His former eloquent skills were now completely lost. When Luo Jia was touched on the shoulder by his own blood relative, raised his head and looked directly at Morgan and the Emperor, he could only start a conversation at a loss, but did not know what to say specifically.

Defend yourself?
Apologize for yourself?
Or ask for guidance from the Emperor of God?
For a moment, the Great Speaker fell into confusion. He found that although he had been a devout believer in the God-Emperor for so many years, he had never thought about how he should communicate with the god he believed in when he really faced the God-Emperor. This was truly an unforgivable sin.

In his heart, the Primarch denounced his past carelessness, but on the other hand, his Avalon kin had ruthlessly taken control of the question and answer. After seeing Lorgar's confusion, Morgan decided to reduce the intensity at the right time. It was time to give the Great Spokesman some sweet treats.

【But you are lucky, Luo Jia. 】

When Morgan grinned and began to smile, she saw with satisfaction that the Great Bearer was staring at her blankly.

Then, she straightened her back and loudly declared to all the Word Bearers.

【You are all very lucky. 】

[You are lucky because you are pious, you are pious because you are right, you are right because you have chosen the true righteousness, because you have not abandoned the right path, although it may be crooked occasionally, but He is tolerant. ]

[Confess your sins; he is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He will remember your sins and your faults no more. Who is like him? He does not retain anger forever, but loves to show kindness and is willing to have mercy on you! ]

While preaching loudly, Morgan raised her arms and gently brushed her fingertips across the chest of the Lord of Mankind, where the double-headed eagle was carved. The Emperor received the signal, and then, when all the Word Bearers were attracted by Morgan's words and looked at her and the Emperor, the Lord of Mankind showed his light at the right time.

Only this time, it was no longer the cold sun of the past, but a kind of warmth that was harmonious enough to melt the ice and snow, and it was the purest and gentlest statue of God in the world: this scene was deeply engraved in the hearts of every Word Bearer.

The Emperor looked at them.

The God-Emperor loves them.

The God-Emperor...forgave them.

"..."

silence.

After the silence, there was emotion.

Morgan didn't even need to lower his head to observe Lorgar's actions, because wherever the Primarch could see, the vast majority of the Word Bearers, who were in awe because of the previous conviction, were now prostrating themselves devoutly like their genetic father, with the sounds of tears, sobs and gratitude rising one after another.

The Word Bearers' worship of the God-Emperor has undoubtedly reached a peak.

This made the Emperor frown, but he ultimately said nothing.

This effect satisfied Morgan, but it had not yet reached the Primarch's best expectations: so, when Morgan's fingers slid down and pressed lightly on the Emperor's chest again, the Lord of Mankind frowned impatiently.

But he hesitated for a moment, and the primarch's hanging hand inadvertently patted his waist.

Then, the Emperor reluctantly lowered his head and looked at his offspring: Luo Jia was looking at his father with some fear. When he found that the Emperor actually spoke to him in person instead of through Morgan, the Great Speaker was stunned for a moment.

Then, he heard the emperor's extremely suppressed voice.

＋Once again, Luo Jia. ＋
+Don't forget it again... +
+...+
The emperor was silent for a moment, an indescribable fatigue surrounding him, a fatigue that even Luo Jia could empathize with: he was old and exhausted, no longer the heroic warlord in his prime, but just a simple father who was tired of his children.

The Emperor almost sighed.

+I'm tired, kid. +
+Be more obedient... +
The Emperor said something else, but Luo Jia could no longer hear clearly. The Great Speaker was like a child who had made a mistake. He huddled on the ground, tears dripping uncontrollably, and his cries merged with the 100,000 equally sad warriors behind him.

They cried like this, perhaps for three to five minutes, until Luo Jia himself managed to calm his mind. He realized that now was not the time to cry in vain. He should do something to repay his God-Emperor, or at least make up for his sins.

"Please tell me, God Emperor."

Luo Jia looked up, and his voice became as hoarse as Morgan's.

"What should I do, how can I atone for my sins?"

"Please tell me and I swear I will give you everything in my life."

【madness.】

The emperor stopped talking, and Morgan next to him gave Luo Jia a blow on the head.

[I've told you the right path over and over again, but you still don't understand? ]

"I……"

Luo Jia lowered his head.

"I'm...stupid."

【Then listen carefully. 】

Morgan raised her hand and shouted loudly to all the Word Bearers present.

【Listen carefully, everyone! 】

【You deserve to atone your sins! 】

【You should wash away your guilt! 】

[Use swords! Use blood! Use the cries of all those who disobey! Use your flags to drive out the ugly and evil, use your names to practice his teachings, and let kindness and wisdom return to the world.]

【We must destroy those sinners, without hesitation, destroy those enemies who are unjust, evil, greedy, and malicious. You should make more efforts than your brothers, because you have been on the wrong path for too long. His mercy shines equally on everyone, but you have failed more. 】

[I encourage you and implore you to drive out those vicious enemies and every non-human civilization from our land and take back his kingdom from the evil race: this is a blessed war! ]

[I warn you not to kill for the sake of blood, because your love for Him is greater than the glory of war. Do not stay too long for the unbelievers, because you are carrying out an eternal cause, and they are destined to be convinced by you in the more distant future, rather than craving for the sword now.]

[Let them not believe it, this is their misfortune and loss. ]

[Put down your prayers, put down your cities, pick up your swords, and head for the far side of the Milky Way. Anyone who sets out, whether on the way or in the war, and loses his life, will be pardoned at that moment, and will have eternal and immortal glory in heaven.]

【Everyone, let’s go far away! 】

【Don't hesitate, don't be confused. 】

[To glorify him, to atone for your sins, and to allow his eternal cause to come: go, dye the legion's emblem red as your emblem, and you will be his proudest legion.]

[He will bless you to be invincible! ]

Before the words fell, they were drowned out by overwhelming cheers. Thousands of Word Bearers warriors, the most glorious group in the Seventeenth Legion, raised their arms, expressing the fanaticism in their hearts with fanatical shouts and sacred prayers, and the slogans of war were in full swing.

God's will!

It was unknown who was the first to shout out this word, perhaps it was Angertai, perhaps it was Korphaen, or perhaps it was a Word Bearer standing in the front row, but a few seconds later, this slogan had spread throughout the entire Seventeenth Legion, until Lorgar himself stood up, raised his right hand high, clenched it into a fist, and cheered with his descendants.

A fanatical sentiment called holy war, which originated from the Crusade era tens of thousands of years ago, was successfully ignited. It burned fiercely in the formation of the Word Bearers, like an invisible torch, rushing straight into the sky of the Perfect City and illuminating the distance.

At this moment, whether it was the fanatical Lorgar, the expressionless Morgan, the Emperor with a gloomy face, Malcador and Guilliman beside him, or any soldier of the Word Bearers Legion present.

They don't know
This torch that holds up the sky.

How long will it burn?

(End of this chapter)