Emperor's Bane

Chapter 663: Conspiracy to usurp power
[Three heroes of the Great Crusade? ]

[This is the second time in my life that I have heard such a hateful title. The last time was when some old man proclaimed himself the Lord of Mankind: So who came up with this? ]

"I am not sure as well."

Facing the Spider Queen's inquiry, her most trusted psychic advisor had to give a disappointing answer: Ahriman scratched his head in shame, attracting Morgan's gaze to linger on his dry head, while muttering to himself.

Why do these kids all like to shave their heads so much?

Morgan couldn't figure it out. She could only be thankful that she not only did not pass on any baldness genes to the heirs of the Dawnbreaker Legion, but also gave them a head of attractive silver hair: although the Spider Queen's warriors did not like to play tricks on their heads like the Emperor's Children, the slightly dark silver-white hair would become very attractive even with a little care.

At the very least, it fits with the Spider Queen's unique aesthetic: Morgan's aesthetic is different from that of most of her brothers. She does not like the straightforward violent aesthetics of the Luna Wolves or the World Eaters, nor does she hate the excessive embellishments of the Emperor's Children and the Blood Angels. She likes a simple style with a sense of comfort, which is convenient but also makes people happy.

This can also be seen from the way the Primarch handles things around her: Although Morgan is accustomed to recording hundreds of to-do items in her own mind or the minds of the Star Maids, she is by no means the kind of armchair strategist who only records and then forgets. As long as the conditions are met, the Spider Queen's ability to act is enough to make Chagatai Khan ashamed.

This was not her boasting, but the Lord of the White Scars' personal admission.

What made the Lord of the Ice Blue Sky willing to bow down was naturally the ironclad facts, which was the result of the Lord of Avalon's spider-web-like tenacious organizational ability and his spider-web-like extensive brotherly network.

When many elite troops of the Human Empire were still in the low-Earth orbit of Ullanor, waiting for their turn to enter the surface and walk into the camp for the military parade; when the Primarchs had just returned to their tents and were planning how to spend the rest of the time; when less than ten hours had passed since the not-so-successful family reunion at the starport; when the Emperor was still selecting his children one by one to have heart-to-heart talks.

Before nightfall, the Spider Queen had completed a private brotherly connection without the knowledge of the Lord of Mankind: several Primarchs, including Jaghatai Khan and Sanguinius, were secretly invited to the Dawnbreakers' camp to discuss the possibility of all of them working together at the upcoming Nikea Conference.

A total of nine Primarchs and representatives of ten Astartes Legions attended this secret coordination meeting: all participants present expressed their understanding of the proposal that [Morgan's chief psychic advisor, Lord Ahriman from the Thousand Sons Legion, would represent the Thousand Sons Legion in the meeting, so that there was no need to notify Magnus to attend the meeting] and passed it unanimously.

Chagatai Khan was the first to raise his hand in agreement.

Needless to say, the process of the following meeting was that those who were invited by Morgan were not fools. Even if they could not help, they knew to shut up. There were only four or five participants who could really express their opinions on those key issues, while the others just sat down and listened quietly, or passively accepted their own tasks.

Ahriman was not surprised by this, because the purpose of the meeting had been made very clear by Morgan at the very beginning: they must first work together to preserve the think tank system, which is a piece of cake shared by all. As for the internal conflicts of interest or disagreements, they would have to wait until the end of the Nikea Conference and they had preserved their existing interests.

After hearing this, the Thousand Sons understood why their genetic father was excluded: it might not be impossible to expect Magnus to give up his "Truth" for temporary cooperation, but it would take a long time to convince him, and now, what they lacked most was time and energy.

In addition, letting the Prosperos do whatever they want is not entirely a bad thing. With Magnus's example, when they put forward more moderate views, they can gain the approval of most of the neutrals present. Ahriman was surprised that he could agree with this method without any psychological burden.

So, he remained silent: for fear that he would agree directly.

In his silence, the negotiations lasted for three hours, most of which were monotonous but efficient voting and unanimous synchronization: after the entire plan was initially implemented, the Dawnbreakers outside the tent just lit the giant bonfire to be used in the party, and all the Primarchs present were invited to the party.

At least they didn't reject it right away.

The participants left in twos and threes, washing off their thoughtful faces and replacing them with smiles that were indistinguishable from real, to ensure that the brothers who were about to come to the bonfire party would not be aware of the meeting. When the last Primarch pushed the door and left, only Ahriman remained beside the Spider Queen.

He had many questions waiting for Morgan to answer.

First of all...

"How did you decide that this was a good idea to hold a meeting at this time?"

Ahriman stood nearby, watching the Spider Queen put the scattered meeting materials back together: Virgo had been sent out to organize the bonfire party outside, which was also a social occasion that must be taken seriously. More than a dozen Primarchs and celebrities would attend the event, such as champion swordsmen from different legions.

【Is this what you care about? 】

Morgan glanced at his friend who exuded the aura of a strong man. Although Ahriman had gradually faded from the public eye over the years, any Primarch with a brain would not ignore the opinions of the Scarlet Duke on issues concerning psionics and think tanks. In the eyes of the think tanks of various legions, Ahriman was the first Astartes brother to embark on the path of a think tank.

They respectfully called him "The Pioneer".

For Morgan, this Thousand Sons friend is equally important. After all, although the Spider Queen is the one who actually founded the Think Tank Academy, the operation of the academy over the years has relied on Ahriman's ability. On certain issues concerning the Think Tank, he even has more experience and say than the Primarch.

But what really gave Morgan a more intuitive feeling was Ahriman's power: the former chief of the Thousand Sons was the most psychically gifted Astartes Morgan had ever seen, without a doubt: he had learned almost every ability that Morgan taught him, while at the same time not neglecting his own sword art.

This is why Morgan was so surprised by the title of the Three Great Crusades. What really surprised her was that Ahriman was not included in this title: even strong men like Sevatar or Bayar could not be sure that they could have a 100% survival rate in front of Ahriman in a life-and-death battle.

For the Astartes, psychic powers were still an excess power: and Ahriman's psychic powers were simply cheating.

The Spider Queen actually wanted to know what Ahriman thought of the Three Great Crusades, which included a little resentment out of friendship: although Ahriman was always reserved, Morgan did regard this Thousand Son as her friend, just as she was cultivating her friendship with Dantioch, although Dantioch was more rigid than Ahriman.

Ahriman would at least joke with Morgan occasionally, and Dantioch still faced the Primarch as a half-subordinate to this day: but he had a good relationship with the other Astartes. Many Iron Warriors who came to the Far East to study or do business, and even warriors of the Imperial Fists, liked to follow behind this big brother.

It is said that even Dorn was curious about this famous fortress builder and invited Dantioch to meet with Grand Duke Salamas and listen to his opinions on building the fortress before returning to Holy Terra to serve as a guard: the prerequisite is to wait until Dorn returns from his conversation with the Emperor.

【It won’t take long.】

Morgan glanced at the timer.

[My Gene-Father will finish his conversation with Dorn before 7:00 Ullanor time. His next target should be Ferrus. The call will last until 10-11pm: that is to say, we still have plenty of time to discuss other things with the Primarchs outside.]

"That's true, but..."

Ahriman opened his mouth, but never asked the question in his mind.

[You want to ask me how I determined the time of the conversation between the Emperor and the Primarch? ]

Before the Thousand Sons made up their minds, the Spider Queen had already sorted out the documents in her hands. She crossed her legs, leaned back in her chair, and leisurely pointed out Ahriman's confusion: the Thousand Sons were accustomed to this, and the Primarch always seemed to be able to see what he was thinking.

"That's right: I'm confused by it."

Ahriman nodded honestly.

"You summoned nine Primarchs, including yourself, to attend the meeting. At the same time, the Emperor kept sending Primarchs to talk to him. The meeting lasted for half an afternoon. How could you be sure that the Emperor would not talk to one of the Primarchs in the middle of the meeting, and the Guards would not notice something unusual?"

Ahriman's tone slightly emphasized the word "abnormal". He had to admit that he had been in a state of mind mixed with excitement and nervousness during the meeting.

Needless to say, he was excited: the main purpose of this meeting was to protect the interests of all psychics in the empire at the Conference of Nikea. In Ahriman's view, no goal could be more noble than what was discussed at the meeting. When he thought about being able to participate in it, he would puff out his chest with pride.

But at the same time, Ahriman could not help but feel worried: After all, the Council of Nikea was a direct order from the Emperor. Would he really tolerate so many Primarchs colluding in private before the meeting? Although in theory, this was a tolerable behavior, but who could tell what the Lord of Mankind was thinking?
What if he discovered that so many Primarchs were secretly colluding behind his back...

Cold sweat soaked Ahriman's neck.

[You...are worried about this? ]

Morgan finally understood what Ahriman was hesitating about. Her expression froze for a moment in her instinctive smile, and in the end she failed to close her teeth in time, allowing her light laughter to pierce Ahriman's eardrums: When Ahriman looked up in surprise, Morgan casually threw a file into his arms.

【Take a look at this and you will understand.】

"This is……"

Ahriman merely glanced.

(*)!!
"This...this is!"

【Yes. 】

Morgan searched for his half-finished chocolate milk in the sea of ​​books before him.

[This is the order and approximate time for the Emperor to meet with the various Primarchs: To be on the safe side, I have scheduled the audiences of the Primarchs attending the meeting in the latter half of the day, which means that the earliest they will be present is tomorrow, so there is no need to worry about them being called away this afternoon.] "You...arranged?"

Ahriman managed to speak out.

"What do you mean by arrange?"

[It means literally.]

Morgan found her drink and hummed happily. The fatigue after the long meeting accumulated in the corners of her eyes was quickly dissipated by the happy mood. The Spider Queen also did not forget to find another cup and poured a drink for her Thousand Sons friend.

[You wouldn't mind drinking something I've drunk, would you, Ahriman?]

Unfortunately, a certain Thousand Son who was still in shock did not notice these words.

"You said you..."

[I said it literally.]

The Primarch waved his hand indifferently.

[The idea of ​​the Emperor meeting with the Primarchs one by one was originally proposed by me. The meeting process and approximate time must be arranged by me first, and then made into a script, and then let him follow the script himself: his precious brain computing power will not be used for such humanistic care, and letting him decide how long to talk with each son is already the limit. ]

Having said that, the Spider Queen touched her chin with pride.

[Of course, this job is not as easy as you think: some of the topics between the original bodies are coherent, so you have to think with the previous person before you can decide what to talk about with the next person. It is not easy to put the nine of us in the back.]

【It’s not easy. 】

[However, if this point is met, it will be much easier to arrange work for the Emperor. ]

"..."

Ahriman was silent.

Obviously the sentence was not that long, and he knew the meaning of every word and every letter in it, but why was it that when they were put together, he, the knowledgeable chief captain of the Thousand Sons, could not understand what Morgan said at all?
What does it mean: to assign work to the emperor?

If this statement gets out, will it really not cause riots throughout Ullanor?

"Uh... Sir..."

Ahriman was silent for a while, then took several deep breaths, and then he did not forget to cheer himself up in his heart for a while, and then he found the courage to speak. He stammered to the Primarch, completely lacking the demeanor of a professor who used to stand in front of dozens or hundreds of elites from various legions and talk eloquently.

"What you have done..."

【Emperor knows all.】

"Then...then this meeting."

[Of course I know that.]

The Primarch rolled his eyes at Ahriman.

[Please, it's just some small things like collusion, conspiracy, usurpation of power, and undermining. Why are you so nervous? If I tell you that this meeting was instructed by the Emperor, will you faint on the spot? ]

"This meeting?"

Ahriman pointed to the desk.

"Did the Emperor ask you to gather the eight Primarchs for a private meeting?"

【What do you think? 】

The primarch smiled.

"He... isn't he afraid that you two can really come up with a common plan?"

[He wished it were so, otherwise he would have to interview eight people one by one, which would be more painful than killing him: Guilliman and Jonson were becoming increasingly difficult to fool, and Sanguinius and Jaghatai Khan were even more important. Talking to them for half an hour would be enough to shorten the life of our beloved Emperor by 10,000 years.]

[So, if we can come up with a greatest common divisor among the several Primarchs, my gene father will definitely be happy to see it. He is very lazy: one plan is much easier than eight plans. At least it saves him the trouble of shopping around. ]

Morgan's brisk words were still flowing in the room, but Ahriman's mind was no longer on them: the Spider Queen's previous treasonous remarks were like a sledgehammer, easily smashing the spiritual bottom line that the Thousand Sons had been upholding all these years. Those sacred and inviolable things seemed to be shattered, and then revealed to him a ridiculous corner of the world.

The Emperor himself... permitted this?

Ahriman took a deep breath, and suddenly felt a little sad for no reason: In his and Magnus' eyes, the sacred Council of Nicaea was actually a toy that the Emperor could easily give to others? Was it something that had already been decided on the table?

If the Emperor had already decided what his ruling would be at the Council of Nicaea, why did he invite them all here with such fanfare: to use their reverence for him to justify it?

Or... or...

【There is nothing to say.】

The Spider Queen drank her drink slowly, she glanced at Ahriman who was still in shock, clapped her hands, and called back the souls of the Thousand Sons: Although this world now has the Emperor in charge, Morgan did not dare to let Ahriman's soul wander around in the Warp for too long.

The Primarch sighed: the sounds of a party could be heard faintly outside the window.

[If you really still don't understand, follow me tonight and listen to what I discuss with certain people: I will help you dispel my mystique and broaden your horizons, so that you can understand what this empire is like, and you will be able to shoulder your own responsibilities in the future.]

"responsibility?"

Ahriman looked up blankly.

"What responsibility?"

【how to say……】

The Spider Queen smiled, but the cold light in her pupils made Ahriman tremble.

[We can't really watch the 19 legions turn into 18, right? ]

[Some legions, although they seem hopeless now, we must find a way to pass them on and find someone who can carry the banner.]

"You mean..."

Ahriman didn't dare to think, but Morgan just nodded casually.

【Be prepared, Ahriman: I can assure you of this.】

[Your shoulders are about to carry something extraordinary]

(End of this chapter)