Emperor's Bane

Chapter 594 Interlude: The Emperor and His Dog

Chapter 594 Interlude: The Emperor and His Dog
"I request an audience with the All-Father."

"Now, immediately, immediately."

The Wolf King used only one sentence to knock open the heavy shell of the Emperor's Dream.

Only at this time would Leman Russ feel that being deeply trusted by the Emperor actually had its benefits: not just benefits like the Spear of Dionysus at hand, but benefits like the Fang Fortress on Fenris that could really help him and his Legion.

The Primarch's request was granted within five minutes, but with the exception of the shuttle carrying the Wolf King and several of his guards, the entire massive fleet of the VI Legion was confined to half a system: any unsolicited movement would provoke a counterattack by the Custodians.

The Space Wolves responded to this arrogant attitude with restlessness and noise, but Rus himself was no longer surprised. He suppressed the dissatisfaction of his wolf lords and only brought two guards with him. Moreover, when heading to his destination, he laughed at the cannons and secret sentries on the Emperor's Vision that were always aimed at the shuttle he was on.

The Primarch felt ridiculous: these stupid corn cobs actually thought that they could protect the All-Father's life by relying on flashy vigilance and tension? Their super brains imprisoned in gold had never thought about it. As the first person to charge into battle, the real danger to the Emperor was on the battlefield and in the fighting. At that time, what ability and what qualifications did the Custodians have to protect the Emperor from danger?
These fools didn't really think they could keep up with the All-Father's battle pace, did they? Russ also had his own Primarch Guards, and he knew that those guards in Terminators would be of no help in the battle. They were too slow, too clumsy, and relatively speaking - too weak.

The situation of Quanfu must be similar.

Thinking of this, the guardsman of the Wolf Dynasty who was leading the way in front of him showed a vulgar smile, which he did not cover up, so soon, this unfortunate guy (I think his name was Diocletian or something?) gave the Primarch a look full of anger and disdain.

What a fool.

The two men, one in front and one behind, simultaneously swung contempt at each other in their hearts, and then parted ways without any courtesy: Leman Russ pushed open the heavy door in front of him, and the All-Father was inside at this time, and the majestic light on his body could be felt from ten miles away.

The Wolf King closed the door, walked up to him, took a deep breath, saluted solemnly, and then began to wait: The All-Father was processing a new batch of documents behind his own desk, which seemed to be the next march plan of the Great Expedition, or some other important matter.

It was several minutes later that the Emperor actually looked up at his hound.

＋Ruth? ＋

The Wolf King nodded.

+You came back earlier than I thought. +
The Emperor pushed the document aside. He certainly knew what the Wolf King's purpose was: after all, it was he who sent Russ out.

+Have you made up your mind about Magnus? +

"Yes, Allfather."

Russ gritted his teeth, and he suddenly felt a great sense of absurdity: his arrogant wizard brother Prospero would never have thought that his fate would depend on the next words of his most hated brother.

How wonderful fate is.

+My time is limited, Ruth, just get to the point. +
"clear."

The Wolf King nodded.

"Personally speaking, I hope you can grant me two or three legions, preferably including the Dawnbreakers and the Dark Angels, and then allow me to issue an extermination order against Prospero, and use the final measure against the Thousand Sons and Magnus, forcibly imprisoning them, and the sooner the better: I think this is a way to maximize the benefits for the Empire."

"If we delay any further, we risk shedding more blood."

The Emperor did not respond immediately, he simply glanced meaningfully at his clover.

Then, laughed.

+This is really rare. You have always avoided such things before. Russ: Even when you dealt with the lost, you only followed my orders very reluctantly and fulfilled your obligations. You even wanted to throw away the Spear of Dionysus several times during the process. +
"It used to be before."

Ruth licked his lips, realizing that the corners of his lips were too dry and cracked.

"Rather, it was the judgment and punishment of that man that made me realize where the bottom line of our actions is: if Magnus continues, he will definitely cross this bottom line. In fact, what he is doing now is already very dangerous."

At this point, Leman Russ took another deep breath, recalling the crazy scenes he had witnessed not long ago, and explained Magnus's behavior to the All-Father in the most vivid tone possible: This was not an easy task, he had to make the All-Father realize that Magnus must be dealt with as soon as possible, but the punishment could not be so severe that it would endanger his brothers' lives.

This requires the art of language.

And Ruth wasn't good at this.

But the emperor still listened very carefully.

＋Ah, I see. ＋
He nodded.

+ I understand your concerns, but now is not the time, Russ. The incident in Perfect City made me realize one thing, that is, before I leave the Great Crusade, I can no longer deal with other legions in a tough manner unless I can come up with reasons that are convincing enough to everyone: your current reasons are not enough. +
"But Magnus..."

+I'll take care of him. +
The Emperor waved his hand and handed the documents in his hand to the Wolf King. Russ flipped through them at a glance and found that the contents of these documents were similar: the Lord of Mankind was using the highest authority to order the leaders of various factions in the Empire and the local giants to gather towards a wild galaxy in the north of the Milky Way.

+ As you know, I will call a meeting before I leave for the Great Crusade, and the issue of psychic powers will be one of the topics to be discussed: at that meeting, I will formally issue a restraining order against Magnus and the Thousand Sons Legion, prohibiting him from further involvement in the Deep Waters by public judgment. +
"Will such a large-scale mobilization have an impact on other psychics?"

+Are you worried about Morgan? +

"She is... very safe and cautious..."

＋Also very popular. ＋
The Emperor added with a smile as he took out another set of questions.

+With my help: Morgan's psychic policy is popular. +
Leman Russ took the document in doubt, but the content on it shocked him: this document was a plan and record of a big plan, which could be traced back to sixty or seventy years ago, when Morgan had just published the first edition of her Psionic Codex.

Facts have proved that the Emperor not only began to pay attention to this book at that time, but also had been secretly promoting its development: the popularity of the Psionic Codex in many legions was inseparable from the promotion of the Emperor and the Sigillite, and Terra also contributed to Morgan's good reputation.

The same goes for a weak reputation.

These secret efforts have been extremely effective, as clearly stated in the reports. Now, every legion except the Thousand Sons has accepted the Codex Psionics and the more rigorous Dawnbreaker-style think tank system: even legions such as the Emperor's Children and the Death Guard, which do not have think tanks, can have their psykers tolerated to a certain extent, and all adopt the Far Eastern Frontier system internally.

The person who interested Leman Russ the most was Mortarion: although the Lord of Death had not publicly declared that he tolerated the existence of psychics in the legion, he turned a blind eye to the small circle of think tanks led by his first captain Typhons. The 14th Legion had also been secretly importing the necessities needed by those think tanks, such as the Psionics Codex, which was basically updated every four to five years.

This inadvertently created a very interesting result: the Death Guard had a think tank team with the highest degree of internal unity among all the legions. Although they were small in number, they had extremely rich combat experience and an unshakable brotherhood among them. This independent kingdom was parasitic on Typhons' warships and roamed outside the main fleet of the Fourteenth Legion, with extremely high autonomy and independence.

＋So, you don't have to worry about whether Magnus's failure will have any important impact on the Imperial psykers: because there is no relationship between them at all. What we should worry about is his success. ＋
“And there’s no way he could succeed.”

Leman Russ felt a chill down his spine.

"How long ago did you start planning this, Allfather?"

＋Not long. ＋
The Emperor did not lie.

＋Although I have been pushing for the Psionic Codex from the beginning, I only decided on this plan not long ago: In fact, until the moment before you opened your mouth, I was hesitant about Magnus's final judgment, and the Psionic Codex was just one of my countless alternative plans. ＋
＋Compared to this, what really makes me curious is something else. ＋
The Emperor looked at his son.

+ I'm not surprised that you asked me to choose the Dark Angels among the brother legions that you wanted to punish Magnus, but why was the Dawnbreaker another option? I thought you would choose the Death Guard, or a larger force like the Ultramarines? +
"Ultramarines?"

+The number of Librarians under Guilliman has long exceeded the total number of Thousand Sons. +
"what……"

Upon hearing the news, Leman Russ was surprised that he was not surprised at all.

"I remember that the number of think tanks in the Ultramarines Legion has exceeded 20,000, right?"

+25,000: the latest figure. +
"So, it has reached one-tenth of their legion's strength?"

The Wolf King frowned: he remembered that Guilliman had 250,000 men under his command, and that number had remained at that level for a long time.

“Is this ratio too high?”

＋Guilliman thinks so too.＋
"So, my brother, do you think we should hold off on recruiting the psyker troops?"

+ No. +
+ He decided to expand the army: to 350,000 in the next 20 years, and to keep 150,000 to 200,000 reserve forces at all times. He planned to use the extra troops to help defend the Far East border and even the border of the Ghoul Stars in the future. +
"What are you doing..."

+ Guilliman has learned that Terra and I intend to seal off the Primarchs. Morgan told him. He thinks this number of people is the lowest cost for him to control and manage the entire 500 worlds of Ultramar in the future: not only to garrison as soldiers, but also to go deep into the grassroots as managers of each world. +
"Would you like me to plan a final solution for Guilliman, Allfather? Just like the dozens of backup plans I prepared for Magnus, Morgan, Jaghatai, Konrad, Lorgar, and Angron?"

＋No, Russ, I asked you to plan the final solution for these Primarchs in order to prevent those powerful and restless factors among the Primarchs: and in essence, they are just ideas. ＋
"And Guilliman...?"

+He is too powerful. +
+If necessary, I must come in person with several legions. +
"Morgan, too?"

＋That’s my problem.＋
The Emperor looked at Russ.

+Why do you include Morgan as an option for this action? +

"Powerful and reliable: the extermination of the lost was enough to prove both of these."

＋Reliable? ＋

"She is more reliable than Zhuang Sen. Morgan will choose the appropriate way to deal with the situation according to the actual situation at the scene. Her personality and greed determine that she will not take the most extreme measures unless she has to. In comparison, Zhuang Sen is too [monotonous]." + But you should remember that Morgan is also on your prevention list, right? +

"Of course I remember: there were more programs against her than against all the others combined."

Having said that, Leman Russ seemed to suddenly remember something.

"However, I think these plans need to be improved now: especially regarding Jonson."

+ Do you think Jonson will be soft-hearted? +

The Lord of Mankind's expression was as if he was telling the funniest joke in the world.

"Do not."

Ruth shook his head.

"Jonson may hesitate for a while, but he will eventually choose to carry out your orders."

＋It’s surprising enough that he hesitated. ＋
"I felt the same way: but the real problem lies with the Dark Angels."

"Morgan knows them too well. I am not sure whether the Dark Angels at full strength can guarantee a devastating blow to Morgan and his Dawnbreaker Legion, even with my Space Wolves: unless our two legions can adopt an attitude of mutual destruction."

+The final victory? +
"That won't be a problem: if we can somehow neutralize Morgan himself."

Leman Russ added the second half of the sentence with lingering fear. He had witnessed Morgan's power in the war, and he was not sure whether he and Jonson could fight against the weak little sister in the rumors: after all, she was a leader no less powerful than Magnus, and possessed the strongest thing that Magnus lacked.

brain.

A top-level psyker with brains: Russ felt he couldn't handle it anyway.

+What about the Dawnbreakers? +
"Their problem is not serious. Although their elite strength is shocking, they are just a legion after all. Moreover, their blood replenishment ability is really poor. Only one big victory can make the entire Dawnbreaker Legion fall into an irreparable situation. After all, their total number is only..."

"Uh……"

＋71452 people. ＋
Seeing Russ hesitate, the Emperor quickly added an extremely accurate number.

+This is the number from three days ago: it should still be accurate today, after all, the Dawnbreaker Legion has not conducted any recruitment activities in these three days. +
"...?"

How did you know?
Faced with Russ's confusion, the Emperor simply smiled with a hint of pride.

+I have a dedicated archive for each Astartes Legion. +
The Emperor squeezed his hand, and a psychic filing cabinet appeared in front of Russ, with the numbers of twenty legions neatly arranged inside: Russ only took a glance and found that the information about the Dawnbreaker Legion and the entire Far East Frontier was frighteningly detailed, not only involving all aspects of Morgan's rule, but also updated on a daily basis.

But soon, Leman Russ noticed something even more frightening, that was the Luna Wolves and Horus: their update frequency was measured in hours, and their thickness was greater than that of any three legions combined.

For some marginal legions, such as the Salamanders or the World Eaters, the update frequency is on a monthly basis. The latest record was a month ago, and the information is relatively vague.

Russ was satisfied to find that his information status was equal to Morgan's: the same as theirs were the Imperial Fists and the Ultramarines, as well as the Dark Angels and Alphas.

That's right, only Horus and the Luna Wolves are updated on a daily basis.

"Do you have corresponding intelligence personnel in each legion?"

+That's right. +
The emperor graciously admitted it.

+ I will gather them at the conference after the war in Ullanor. All the information will be gathered in my hands at that moment to help me make some final decisions before leaving: I have already selected a wild world in the Ullanor sector. Although it has no name yet, I will order my son, who is the best at construction, to build a conference room on it as soon as the war ends. +
"You mean Perturabo?"

＋…Yes, it is Perturabo. ＋
The Emperor was strangely silent.

+Where is he now, Ruth? +

"..."

You have a filing cabinet.

"I remember you summoned Perturabo some time ago?"

+Yes, I remember I assigned him to the library of the Emperor's Dream. +
"Ah, so where did he go after he left?"

+...+
"..."

For some reason, the Emperor's expression gave Russ an absurd thought.

"Did he...leave?"

＋Maybe...left? ＋

The Wolf King blinked and set his eyes on the filing cabinet: Anyway, even the worst legion reports information to the Lord of Mankind on a monthly basis. It was such a long time ago that Perturabo was summoned, so the Fourth Legion should have made some statement, right?
Well, let him see: when was the last time the Emperor recorded anything about the Iron Warriors?

Uh… one hundred years ago… Perturabo returned to the Imperium of Man?
"..."

What about the previous one?

Uh... one hundred and forty years ago, the Iron Warriors Legion was established?

"..."

The one before that...ah...that's gone...

There are only two files in the filing cabinet for the entire Iron Warriors Corps.

The wolf king glanced at his father.

"Allfather: Do you really have your own intelligence officers in the Fourth Legion?"

+Before Perturabo knew he could use his mortal auxiliaries, that is. +
"But you have intelligence on the Luna Wolves, which has accumulated nearly a hundred thousand pieces in a hundred years, and intelligence on the Iron Warriors, which has only been two pieces in a hundred years: Isn't this a bit... uneven?"

＋If you refer to the average, it is actually quite even. ＋
How come he didn't know before that All-Father was also a lover of bad jokes?
"So, what about the Perturabo?"

+Should he...go down? +

The Lord of Mankind fell into thought.

+Wouldn't the Fourth Legion report the disappearance of the Primarch? +

"No, maybe they enjoy it..."

"Ah, wait! I have an idea!"

Ruth's pupils lit up.

"Why don't we just look at the recent casualties of the Iron Warriors and find out?"

＋…Good idea! ＋
------

＋Is that all? ＋

"Yes, let me see."

"Hmm: 78%, 62%, 94%, all participating troops were wiped out..."

"Ah, a familiar feeling."