Emperor's Bane

Chapter 646: Fulgrim's Defeat

"Horus and Dorn have arrived."

"The legions they command are currently in low-Earth orbit above our heads, waiting to arrange a temporary shelter for them on the other side of the world. These soldiers have nothing to do and are bored. It will take several days just to transport them all down."

"Maybe they'd like to talk about something?"

"This is indeed a good opportunity for an interview, but there isn't anyone among them who is worthy of our special trip. The real stars are gathering around the Primarch right now, on that parade tower several hundred meters high. The authority required to approach there is terrifyingly high."

"You can't do that either, Ms. Keele?"

Mesati put down the paper and pen in her hand, and took out a small bottle of milky white sunscreen from the lining of her robe. She controlled the strength of her fingertips as if she was caressing a baby, and only squeezed out a small amount before putting it away with a distressed look: God have mercy on her, since she became a narrator, she found that these essences that were everywhere on Terra were so scarce in the Great Crusade.

The cream in her hand was just an ordinary daily supply in the Recorder Academy of Holy Terra. Most students were too lazy to even collect their own portion: but when Mesati came to the Void, she found that the residents of hundreds of worlds had never even understood the concept of skin care products.

The young recorder had visited several agricultural worlds and wild worlds. These planets were famous for providing raw materials for some of the most popular luxury goods in the human empire. However, the atmosphere of extreme poverty and oppression on their lands made Mesati breathless: she gave up the pursuit of many luxury goods out of shame, and even became estranged from the entire recorder's team, and instead joined Ms. Qile's solitary team.

They formed a small team and lived in close contact for several years. Because of this, Mesati learned some little secrets surrounding Qile: this famous beauty disappeared for several months before the Chroniclers' fleet left Terra, and no one knew where she went during this period.

They only knew that Qi Le, who originally had a hot temper, became mysterious and withdrawn after her reappearance. Her thoughts and words began to become weird. At the same time, her authority was inexplicably terrifying: since some time, Qi Le could freely enter and exit places that were far beyond the reach of mortals.

Mesadi knew the truth: in a high-level interview, Mesadi saw with his own eyes Ms. Qile take out a metal silver plate from her chest and casually send away the Lucifer Black Guards under the Imperial Guards: the characters on the silver plate were bright and there was no mistake, it was the name of the seal holder Malcador.

Qi Le did not hide this.

"The tower where the primarchs are located only allows three types of people to enter and exit: the Imperial Guards, their servants, or people who have been allowed by the Sigillite. I do meet the third condition, but our mission today is not to interview someone specifically. I can just wait here. Mesati, today's fun has just begun."

"It'll make you tremble with excitement."

"Hope trembles: it does not melt."

Mesati smiled, spread the skin cream in her hand evenly, and applied it on her cheeks and smooth forehead. Although her dark skin did not seem to need these things, as a chronicler of the empire, maintaining their manners and appearance was a basic skill for all of them.

(In the novel, Mesati is portrayed as a charming woman with black skin, no hair, and hair above her eyebrows that is almost as long as hair below her eyebrows: I can’t imagine how this combination can be combined to create a charming feeling.)

The two of them were currently in a small courtyard on top of a tower, not too far from the starport and the main road, so they could capture every arriving VIP in a timely manner: apart from the fact that the sun in Ulano was quite scorching, Mesati couldn't find any more faults: after all, it was a place that Qi Le had to use his authority to take down.

Although she still felt a little regretful that she could not get the first exclusive interview in her life, Mesati was quite satisfied with other current situations: they enjoyed a corner where no one would disturb them, where they could appreciate the emperor's descendants who were as unattainable as gods, and in their spare time they could gossip about their colleagues, exchange information with each other, and make full preparations for their future work and life.

It is such a treat to spend an afternoon like this.

Unfortunately, there aren't many afternoons like this left.

"Have you really made up your mind, ma'am, to go to Dawnbreaker instead of Luna Wolves?"

While waiting for the waiters to bring them herbal tea and snacks, Mesati lowered her voice: This question has been bothering her heart for a long time. She didn't understand why everyone who originally planned to go to the Shadow Moon Wolf Legion together to record the legendary deeds of the Wolf God had new goals one after another.

"You do, and so does Lady Caroline: she may have chosen Dawnbreaker."

"We are two different people."

Qi Le was neither sad nor happy; ordinary names could no longer evoke any expression on her face.

"Besides, even without us, you won't lack companionship and friends in the Luna Wolf Fleet, Mesati. At least Sinderman chose to stay with the Wolf God. Who else can represent the Chronicler better than him? He is the founder of our team."

"I know."

Mesati shook his head.

"Of course there will be no shortage. The Sigillite has selected at least 4.3 million recorders like us from Terra and evenly distributed them to various expedition fleets. The main fleets that the human empire has deployed in the Great Crusade only total more than 4,600, and there is no need for us to go to the more than 60,000 squadrons that serve as auxiliary or defense missions."

"I'm more curious: why did you finally choose the Far Eastern Frontier?"

"Would your reasons be the same as Lady Caroline's?"

"Will not."

Qile raised her head slightly: two hours after Horus and Dorn arrived, it seemed that several more fleets of the Primarchs were approaching. She witnessed with her own eyes the moment when the Spirit of Vengeance and the Eternal Crusade broke away from low-Earth orbit, like giant beasts in the deep sea breaking through the waves.

It is impossible to ignore these two magnificent warships. The Spirit of Vengeance has even become the symbol of the entire Great Crusade. Although people are also praising the legend of the Emperor's Vision, the number of people who have witnessed it with their own eyes is ultimately small. Instead, the story of Shadow Moon Cang is more widespread.

Next to its sister, the Everlasting Crusade of the VIIth Legion could not help but look a little dim, but it was practical: Dorn had installed additional ship docking facilities and a flight deck on his flagship, squeezing every inch of space out for soldiers' dormitories. The Everlasting Crusade could accommodate twice as many Astartes warriors as ordinary warships. It seemed that it only needed it and the Phalanx to carry the Lord Invert and his entire legion.

"Unforgettable, isn't it?"

Mesati sighed softly.

"They all say that the Vengeful Spirit is the largest of all the Glorious Queens..."

"That's nonsense."

Ms. Qile interrupted Mesati's sigh and worship frivolously.

"The person who said this must have never seen the true legends of the Glorious Queen: the Indomitable Truth, the Glory of Macragge, and the Polaris. Oh, the last one is now called the Aurora. These three warships are the contenders for the greatest title."

"Especially the Indomitable Truth and the Aurora. They were built long before the beginning of the Great Crusade. The Emperor and the Sigillite personally supervised the construction of these two huge ships, using technology from Terra rather than Mars. The Indomitable Truth is so mysterious, but the reputation of the Aurora is known to everyone."

"me too."

Mesati nodded quickly, indicating that he was by no means ignorant.

"Everyone knows that the Dawn Goddess carries a city in the void, a real city. Even the Emperor's Dream of the Lord of Humanity cannot do this because it lacks the most important residents. But if it is regarded as a warship alone, the Dawn Goddess is a bit... not doing its job properly?"

"Like its owner?"

"I didn't say that."

The two ladies chuckled until the waiter left after serving the tea.

"So, is this why you chose the Far Eastern Frontier, Ms. Qile? Just like Caroline rejected the invitation of the Emperor's Children and chose the Dawnbreaker Legion? This incident caused a stir in the Chronicler team, and even the Sigillite heard about it."

"I'm not surprised at all."

Qi Le turned her head, and her eyes caught the magnificent beauty of the sky.

Who would have thought that the Third Legion would arrive in Ullanor so early.

"After all, Lady Caroline is the most famous composer in all of Terra, a genius praised by the Emperor and Malcador. She became the Chronicler not because of the mission, but simply because there is nothing in Terra that can challenge her: her thirst for art requires new inspiration." "I also know that as early as ten years ago, Fulgrim had heard of Lady Caroline's reputation on Terra, and he personally invited the composer to his flagship: Caroline was indeed eager to go to the Pride of the Emperor at first, and she even made a detailed plan in her casual conversation with me on how to use the Sun City area of ​​the Pride of the Emperor to perform her performances."

"But the turning point came from Caroline's conversation with several Avalonians: these artists from the East took a merchant fleet and traveled across the galaxy to Holy Terra to carry out the artistic exchange work they longed for. Caroline was deeply attracted by this courage and journey. She began to collect information about the Far Eastern frontier and changed her destination not long ago."

"Do you remember what she said to decline the invitation to the Emperor's Pride?"

"Of course I remember."

Qile nodded.

“No one will forget her words.”

Qile cleared her throat and repeated it solemnly.

"What I am about to embrace is a brand new country, not a pile of ships."

"You should have seen the expressions on the faces of those Emperor's Children."

"It is said that Phoenix is ​​sad about this?"

"Right: especially when Caroline compares him to his sisters."

"Besides: he hasn't won yet."

"Did you know? Just a few days after Caroline rejected the Pride of the Emperor, Fulgrim remained as the governor of his home planet Chemos and united dozens of worlds around it, inviting more areas in the Maelstrom to join their Phoenix Court. The Primarch responded to this matter personally, declaring that he would create a perfect country with his home planet Chemos as the center and a name that would shake the galaxy."

"Do you think it was Caroline's incident that provoked Fulgrim?"

"Not much: but he certainly lost to Morgan in a respect of which he was always proud."

"And the loss was justified."

Qi Le shook her head slowly: What she said was exactly the fact that all recorders knew tacitly.

"As an artist, Caroline's final choice is impeccable: the Dawnbreaker's Primarch established a brand new country in the originally barren Far Eastern frontier. It is a new world that is completely different from Terra. Which creator can refuse such a source of inspiration? Even if we exclude the entire Avalon, the Aurora owned by Morgan alone is a great city with its own soul. Creative inspiration is everywhere there."

"In comparison, although the Emperor's Pride is more gorgeous and magnificent, it still practices the same old routine on Terra, imitating the clichés that Caroline and we have long been tired of: whether it is piling up works or cultivating geniuses, for people like us, there is nothing new to say, let alone inspiration."

"So, Caroline chose a completely unknown path and gave up the opportunity to board the Pride of the Emperor: Anyway, I can completely understand her choice, and the Emperor's Children are not angry about it, right?"

"I am the same: I just wonder if Lord Fulgrim can understand it."

"I find it difficult."

Ms. Keeler narrowed her eyes.

"If it were something else, the Phoenix Lord might still maintain his composure."

"But in this matter, he was surpassed by Morgan in the aspect that he was most proud of, and was surpassed by another blood relative of his. This is the most uncomfortable thing for Fulgrim. Although he will not feel resentful about it, the phrase "Perfect American Nation" sounds a bit like knowing shame and then being brave."

“And it’s too much.”

"It's a bold idea for him to create a perfect country in a poor place like the Maelstrom, which is full of banditry. God knows what kind of effect this great social experiment will create. However, the remaining three Primarch Kingdoms in the Maelstrom area seem to be conducting the same experiment."

"Perhaps this is the Primarch."

The disdain in Ms. Qile's words made Mesati's scalp tingle. Fortunately, the unrest in the direction of the star port saved her. She saw four huge shadows coming one after another, and countless people running back and forth on both sides of the main road: all this meant that a new batch of distinguished guests would arrive.

"Four at once?"

Qile raised the telescope and saw four flags rising at the starport. This group of visitors was obviously not as good-tempered as Horus and Dorn before: several Astartes warriors painted in dark green drove away the crowd without any explanation and cleared a new path.

"Who are those people?"

"I know him: he should be Typhon, the captain of the Fourteenth Legion."

"Are those the Death Guard?"

"Yes: Death Guard, Word Bearers, White Scars, and Emperor's Children."

"Oh my god: can these four get together?"

"More than that: it looks like their Primarchs are communicating with each other."

"By the way, Mesati."

Qile put down the telescope and frowned at a flag in the distance.

"Have some bad rumors been circulating about the Word Bearers recently?"

"It's more than just [not so good]: many of our fellow chroniclers are reluctant to join the Word Bearers Legion, especially those who are most informed. They say that the current Seventeenth Legion is a bit... uh..."

"Not normal?"

"How to say?"

"Do you know what the new battle cry that has become popular among the Word Bearers is?"

"What is it?"

"In the name of the Divine Emperor."

Mesati took a breath.

“Towards Absolute Purity.”

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Supplement: I have been busy these two days, running around outside every day, and coming back after ten o'clock, so there are not many updates these days. I will be able to update more when I have nothing to do tomorrow.

But then again, I seem to be in poor health recently. The last time I went to the hospital for a checkup, the doctor mentioned a lot of problems. This time, the Chinese doctor also gave me the same answer...

Hmm...sadness...

(End of this chapter)