Emperor's Bane

Chapter 679 New Rome!
"grown ups?"

【What's wrong, Bernard?】

"I'm not sure if this is a mistake caused by subjective consciousness, or if I don't know enough about the behavioral codes and physiological laws of the Primarchs, but I just want to remind you that since you met with Lord Perturabo yesterday, you seem to be much more tired."

"Is there any additional reason?"

[I guess so: after all, there is suddenly a large amount of... inheritance on my shoulders. ]

"real estate?"

【Not yet. 】

"Immediately?"

[It depends on when I plan to send my legal representatives over.]

"So, tax-free?"

[Maybe I will have to pay a large amount of unexpected income tax decades later: but it depends on my ability as a legal representative. ]

"Perhaps we can ask the Ultramarines for help: I ​​heard that their Primarch has recently been studying the issue of reasonable tax avoidance."

[What stage has it reached? Leather case company? ]

“No: it’s said to be a proxy war.”

【…】

"What about the willmaker? Is there any risk of him waking up?"

[This point…]

#The primarch's light laughter#
【Don’t worry: His estate is more worried about this than I, the beneficiary, am.】

"?"

This answer finally made Bernard, who was always writing, stunned for a moment, and then he lowered his head and continued to make the rustling sound: After ensuring that the last sentence was recorded clearly and accurately, the chief clerical attendant appointed by the Spider Queen twelve years ago tilted his head and maintained his formal smile.

His voice was soft, but unmistakable.

"Then, sir, do you need to reserve a few more companies for your legacy during the next legion expansion? This involves the transfer of documents from the Personnel Department, Logistics Department, Propaganda Department, and Military Food Procurement Department, and it will take at least four months to discuss."

【Food purchasing department? 】

"The food expenses of the inner ring have always been paid through the public accounts of the four companies: the quota is there anyway."

Morgan was silent for a moment.

[Tell me the truth, Bernard: How many new companies do you think I should create to accommodate those people in Salamas?]

"My suggestion is that you'd better create a new legion."

Bernard smiled and spread out his hands.

"Of course, you can also transfer them to your new inheritance."

What if the other party does not accept? 】

"Well... wait until they become real estate first?"

【Great advice, Bernard.】

The Spider Queen chuckled and waved to her children.

[From today on, please help me pay more attention to the Ultramarines. Maybe my brother Guilliman needs some experimental subjects to complete his graduation thesis: he chose the subject of proxy warfare, right? ]

"At least for now, yes: as long as Master Malcador hasn't fired him."

Bernard bowed slightly to show that he remembered the Primarch's order, and then carefully described every word: This high-ranking chief clerical attendant has always maintained every good habit he learned when he was a student to this day, because he is very satisfied with his current position and does not intend to let any possible small flaws interfere with his future.

After all, for an Astartes warrior, especially for a Dawnbreaker under Morgan's command, Bernard's current position is already at the top of the mountain: [Chief Clerical Attendant of the Primarch] is an unheard-of existence in other legions. The same was true in the Dawnbreaker Legion twelve years ago at most, because this was a position specially created by the Primarch of the Dawnbreakers, Morgan, to promote Bernard.

Fortunately, he has always taken the initiative to maintain good relationships with seniors such as Bayar.

Although in the eyes of the outside world and most people in the legion, Morgan's chief attendant is still Lana, whom she trusts the most, but as long as the word "clerk" is added, Bernard and Lana are equal: he is just a clerical attendant, and Lana is an armed attendant. The responsibilities of the two have been clear from the beginning, and they cooperate with each other tacitly.

But despite this, Bernard still had to owe Rana a favor and try his best to respect the Chief Guard, simply because most of the duties and powers of this chief clerical attendant were taken from Rana: and if the scope is expanded a little bit, then the power of most of the senior officials of the Dawnbreaker Legion today actually contained the shadow of Rana in the past.

As the only person who could follow the Primarch around the world during the decades when Morgan and the Dawnbreakers just met again, Lana used to hold too much power. He gave up most of it in exchange for his invisible influence today: Phoenix, who was once famous but inconspicuous in the entire Second Legion, has now become the number one person under the Primarch in the true sense.

This is a good thing.

Bernard had heard Morgan say this.

[The Legion must have a second core besides me as a backup.]

Bernard did not agree with this, and even he found it difficult to understand when the Legion would need a second core: Is there really something in the galaxy that can separate all the Dawnbreakers from the Primarch? Wouldn't their descendants be wiped out to protect the Primarch before such a tragedy happened?

Bernard was confused a lot, but as always he did not ask any questions and just did his job well: he was sure that this was why the Primarch trusted him so much, their mother might need a new suggestion occasionally, but most of the time, all she wanted from Bernard was rustling.

That's what Bernard is doing.

They walked on the land of Ullanor, which was made of red and gray sand and dust but was now cultivated into a magnificent golden land. They took specially opened paths to the final steel platform. The lush green plants and marble tiles that were incompatible with this world stood like giants on their left and right sides, ensuring that the Primarch's ears would not be disturbed by anything.

Because less than a kilometer away, millions of iron warriors and war machines were arriving at their own formations in an orderly manner. According to the order of rehearsal in the past ten days, the first team would be inspected by the Emperor and the Primarchs in front of the iron platform in an hour. For this moment, the machine slaves, robots and prisoners who fell in the previous construction process were enough to support an apocalyptic level war.

[But there are still people who lament that their sacrifice did not bring perfection. ]

Morgan sighed softly.

【For example, the person in front of me. 】

Bernard looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the Primarch of the Third Legion was standing at the end of the path, greeting his Gene-Mother from afar. Beside the Phoenix Lord stood a middle-aged man, but his face was still elegant and handsome, a slightly bald Emperor's Children warrior. Bernard blinked and realized who this man was.

This is very simple, just like the reason why Bernard can stand behind Morgan now is because the Dawnbreaker team led by Rana, who is more famous for his martial arts, is waiting for inspection. Similarly, the champion swordsmen under the command of each primarch are now with their inspection team, so the people standing beside them now are destined not to be people who are famous for their martial arts.

And with this face...

"Sir Fabius."

As the Primarchs exchanged pleasantries, Bernard extended his hand warmly.

"Brother Bernard."

Inexplicably, Fabius' smile sent a chill down Bernard's spine. Although the Emperor's son's eyes hadn't moved, Morgan's son felt that Fabius was looking him over from head to toe. Perhaps it was just his instinct as a pharmacist? "Have you heard of me?"

Facing Bernard's question, Fabius was more curious.

"Of course: is that strange?"

"No, just a little rusty."

Bernard's pupils dilated slightly.

"After all, I am not a well-known champion warrior in the Second Legion."

The Emperor's Child laughed.

"Trust me, Brother Bernard: the men you will see on this iron platform are not known for their martial prowess. There is more to the galaxy than war, and the Emperor did not come to the galaxy for the sake of conquest. He came for some greater cause, some dream that is ignored by mortals."

"What is it?"

"Imperial Truth."

Fabius' voice was serious, and so was his face: but, to be honest, he was really not very good at telling jokes.

Bernard muttered to himself.

Or does this Emperor's son really believe in the so-called Imperial Truth?

This conjecture was wiped out the moment it appeared in Bernard's mind.

Bernard's eyes paused for a moment, and he realized that Fabius had not actually answered his question directly. However, some instinct, perhaps from Morgan, told him that there was definitely something valuable in it, so he decided to continue asking.

"Yes, the Imperial Truth."

Dawnbreaker smiled.

"But I don't think I'm an expert in this area, and I'm not a famous legion pharmacist. So, what is my specialty that made you know my name? Please tell me. When we step onto the steel platform later, I'll have the capital to brag to others."

"There is no need to be modest: your name was even told to us by the Primarch himself."

"Lord Fulgrim?"

"exactly."

Bernard noticed that Fabius' eyes were filled with a rather strange reverence when he looked at the Phoenix Lord. He did not think that this emotion was much like loyalty, but rather seemed more twisted, and very strange for any legionnaire.

The Emperor's Children were an exception: most of them viewed Fulgrim in this way.

After all, these Emperor's sons are all weird.

He made his own evaluation without losing sight of Fabius's voice.

"Not long ago, when we had just arrived in Ullanor, our Primarch announced to us a plan he had decided on: in order to build the fiefdom given to us by the Emperor more quickly, after the Legion returns to Chemos, the Primarch will evenly distribute all the territories of the Phoenix Court to the captains and lord commanders personally selected by him. We will manage them in a more detailed manner to ensure that the execution of the orders can be practical and reliable."

"..."

Bernard was silent, his mind quickly went over this sentence, and he quickly realized what Fabius wanted to say.

"Let me guess: then the Primarch used the Dawnbreakers and me as examples?"

"And Guilliman's Ultramarines."

Fabius nodded, clearly appreciating Bernard's sharp thinking.

It would have been better if he hadn't looked into Bernard's head when he smiled.

"Flattered."

Bernard covered his heart: Although he didn't know why he did this, his gene mother once warned him that whenever he was compared with the Extreme Warriors, he should always pretend to look harmless. He just had to do it anyway.

"So, I take it that you will soon become Lord Fulgrim's governor as well?"

"currently."

Fabius nodded.

"But our Primarch doesn't like the name of the Governor's District. He prefers to call this new system he came up with the name [Pronia Military District]. I am the first batch of Pronia generals he has chosen. He has decided to assign thirteen civilized worlds and more resource worlds to me."

"Congratulations."

Bernard nodded, and he keenly noticed that when Fabius mentioned the world and power bestowed on him by the Primarch, even the smile on his face became a little more sincere: this Emperor's son was obviously not averse to power that involved mortals, which was quite rare for the Astartes, most of whom did not like to deal with this kind of management work.

Including that one.

Bernard thought of the Emperor's child who had the best reputation among the Dawnbreakers.

"Please don't get me wrong: the following is purely out of my personal interest and curiosity."

The son of Morgan took a step closer.

"Can you tell me: will Mr. Akudona also be General Pronia?"

“Maybe in the future.”

"Not now?"

Bernard was a little surprised.

"He has a more honorable place."

A flash of bitterness on Fabius' face proved the truth of the words.

"Only a few of us know that Lord Fulgrim has decided that after the Legion returns to Chemos, Lord Akudona will not immediately become General Pronia. The Primarch will give him several main companies and a large expeditionary force. His mission is to launch a revenge expedition until all the invaders who interfere with the Phoenix Court and their birthplace are completely wiped out."

"Akudona...command?"

"That's about right: at least Solomon and Tarvitz followed him."

"As far as I know, Akudona has accepted this order, and the Primarch has even created a new title for him."

"Marshal Caesar: Chief Military Officer, Commander of the Second Legion of the Sons of the Empire."

(End of this chapter)