Emperor's Bane

Chapter 719

【You are late, Ruth.】

"I'm sorry, Mortarion was a little more troublesome than I thought. It took me a lot of persuasion to get him to see the reality."

[With your mouth? I thought you two would start fighting right there: after all, I could hear your quarrel from thousands of meters away.]

"Using psychic energy?"

[Of course, I know that the entire hall is made of inert materials, but for a psyker of my level, this resistance is of no concern: I can even sit here and hear the sound of Horus dripping essential oils on the feathers of Sanguinius.]

"Then you must have heard Mortarion's complaints after I left?"

[You can hear it now: You really pissed him off. ]

"He is... just like that."

The curse that was about to burst out of the Wolf King's rough throat was forcibly suppressed by the few courtesies, making Leman Russ look very uncomfortable, and his already bad mood became even more irritable.

Although the reckless and foul-mouthed Wolf King is just an ingenious external disguise of the Fenrisians: however, after more than a century of disguise, no one can be sure whether this wolf skin is just a disguise or has been quietly sewn into the flesh and blood of the primarch.

Even Leman Russ himself couldn't figure this out, and he was even more afraid that he would really come up with something: so, he simply gave up thinking. In most cases, he just needed to play the role of the savage wolf king.

There is the Emperor in front of him and Morgan behind him, not to mention Malcador, who has risked his life and property and can't escape even if he wants to: there will always be no shortage of people who need to use their brains, so why should he bother himself with trouble?
As long as he could figure out who he was baring his teeth at, whether he was really biting, and whether he was biting to make people bleed or die, it would be enough for his duty: there was one thing that Leman Russ had figured out since the first day he left Fenris.

That is: in this galaxy, the smarter people are, the more they think, the more tiring their lives will be, and the miserable their ending will be.

What a coincidence: there was one right in front of him.

Leman Russ smiled, which at least made him feel a little relieved. He turned around and closed the door behind him to block out the noise of thousands of mortals talking loudly in the dark corridors of Nikaea.

According to Malcador, the Custodians were about to clear out the Imperial nobility one by one, leaving only those who could be trusted: this might be the best news Leman Russ had heard in the past twenty hours.

Those mortals are here to cause trouble. Even if they unite and support one of Mortarion or Magnus, it will not have the slightest impact on the Emperor's final judgment. The Wolf King actually can't understand why the All-Father brought these people here specially. Is it to perfunctorily satisfy the Empire's superficial fairness and democracy?

Can’t figure it out: Maybe Morgan and Machado can figure it out?
But he? After all, he is not cut out for this.

The Wolf King sighed: He discovered that he seemed to sigh more often recently.

【Is there anything bothering you? 】

"There are many."

Morgan's question came from behind, and Russ responded without even thinking: He was not surprised at all that the Spider Queen could see through his deepest thoughts, and he had no urge to deliberately hide anything in front of Morgan.

He knew that Morgan was a smart man, and a smart man who knew how to judge the situation: although the two siblings had not spent much time together, Russ could at least believe that the Spider Queen would not plot against him while he and Morgan were in the same trench.

Reputation is Morgan's most valued asset for a long time: although she has never had the opportunity to cash it out on a large scale, reputation is like a well-preserved red wine in a cellar, and the long wait will only make its value increase day by day.

So, at least now, he didn't need to think at all when talking in front of Morgan. He could say whatever he wanted. Morgan would just go along with him anyway, and he didn't have to worry that she would take the opportunity to ask him something: Allfather, this is what Leman Russ needs most right now!

"Sometimes, Morgan, I really envy you and Malcador: it seems that nothing is a big deal for you. Even if a new Eye of Terror collapses in the center of the galaxy, I think you two can still finish afternoon tea."

[You've got the wrong guy: Machado never drinks afternoon tea.]

"Who knows: maybe he has a private golden tea room or something."

Ruth smiled. This illogical nonsense made him feel that his mood was getting better little by little, but the long-lost pain in his mind was still tormenting his nerves: He didn't know why, but recently he always felt that something was wrong with his body.

Maybe it’s because he has been staying with the Emperor for the past few months?

It doesn't make sense.

Leman Russ muttered all the way, dragging his still heavy footsteps, leaving a clattering sound on the blue floor, until he finally stood at the bottom of the crystal chandelier and could see the other brothers in the room clearly.

"What the hell are you guys doing here? Are you guys pretending to be some kind of reconstituted family?"

[Ah, you actually figured it out? ]

Morgan's giggle drew Leman Russ's attention: then the Wolf King frowned.

"Why are you lying on the table, Morgan?"

【Keep your mind clear: I will fall asleep easily if I lie on the sofa. 】

The Primarch's voice was clear, but Russ could not see her face clearly: he only saw the Spider Queen lying completely flat on the marble table, with her eyes closed as if she was resting. Her silver-white hair flowed from the top of the mountain in all directions like tributaries of hundreds of rivers. Some of her hair looked like a lazy sleeping dragon, coiled in the narrow gap under her blue-black bra.

Looking closer, the hem of the skirt that was about to drag on the ground was disturbed by a pair of knee-high boots that swayed back and forth, making an almost consistent pendulum motion at a height of half a meter: and at one end of the pendulum, Leman Russ saw a familiar pair of long black hair.

"Conrad? Why are you sitting on the ground?"

"It's an old problem."

The Midnight Ghost was concentrating on a small object in his hands. The Wolf King couldn't tell its name, but he always felt that the scene before him had a strange sense of déjà vu.

Morgan taking a lazy rest? Conrad sitting cross-legged on the ground? Who's next?
Moving his sight to the right, a notorious golden head floated into the Wolf King's field of vision: the Macragge man was still wearing his classic ceremonial armor, sitting on one side of the sofa surrounding Morgan and Conrad, his whole body leaning forward, his head lowered, staring at the steaming tea in his hand, wondering what he was thinking about.

But Russ saw clearly: Guilliman was just dozing with his eyes closed.

His gaze continued to move, and he soon spotted two figures in the corner. The Lion of Caliban was sitting upright on an independent sofa facing Morgan, with a serious look on his face. In his hand was a piece of paper as large as a newspaper. The emblem of the Emperor's Children was on the drooping corner of the paper. It should be a quick report on the battle situation in the Maelstrom.

From the look on Jonson's face, it was clear that he was not very happy with the above content: Corax also held the same view. He had combed his long hair into a simple ponytail and was leaning against the back of the sofa where Jonson was sitting, with his arms just touching the back of the lion's head.

There were murmurs of conversation coming from their direction. The Lion King and the Raven King seemed to hold different views, and their discussion was heated but not serious: Jonson thought Corax was being whimsical, while the Raven King seemed to be accusing his brother of being rigid.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

After watching this scene, the Wolf King sat directly opposite Guilliman.

"I think what I said is right, Morgan: you guys are like a blended family."

"What? You're not satisfied with building a new empire in the Far East, and now you want to build a new imperial family?"

"That's very rude of you, brother."

Morgan did not speak, but Guilliman spoke with his eyes closed.

"You're welcome?"

Leman Russ laughed strangely.

"You should really listen to what those Terrans out there are saying about your performance at the Council of Nicaea, Guilliman. Ambitious is a very mild adjective. If anyone thinks you simply want independence, then he must have been paid by Macragge."

"Seriously, bro."

The wolf king leaned forward.

"Aren't you worried that those guys on Terra will do something to you again?" "Worried?"

Guilliman smiled.

"Rus, I just realized that those people on Holy Terra, no matter what they say or do, have no impact on my affairs. I can't count on them to help me, and they can't shake me even if they want to use some tricks, so I became what I am today."

The Macragge sipped his tea, while Leman Russ shook his head.

"Malcador will have to worry more."

"Quite the opposite: my relationship with him has never been better."

"Don't you think so, Morgan?"

Guilliman looked up, and his shout startled the Spider Queen: Morgan opened his eyes, first opened his arms, stretched as if waking up from a dream, then crossed his legs, leaving a graceful S curve on the table.

【It will eventually come to this.】

Morgan waved his hand and focused his attention on Ruth: She smiled.

[You know what? Mortarion stopped complaining when I stood up: You really pissed him off, Russ.]

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"If I hadn't pissed him off, he would still think he could have wiped out all of you on Nikaea. Mortarion is like that. He knows exactly what he can do, but he's also stubborn and greedy."

[All farmers are like this, and it’s not their fault. Often, it’s this greed that allows them to squeeze out more energy and cultivate a few more acres of land: the life and death of a family often depends on the harvest of these few acres of land.]

[What follows is greed, persistence, or arrogance: you always want to be more greedy for the harvest, you can always withstand the wind and rain, even in the most devastating years, but at the same time, because you are the irreplaceable pillar of the family, you will always develop a character that has the final say under the eaves, even if you know the truth and will be stubborn to the end. ]

[Don't worry, when he finds out that he is no longer the mainstay, he will decline faster than you think.]

"How do you know everything?"

[I rule an empire, trillions of people of all kinds: if you want to rule them, you naturally have to know a little bit about each of them, including a peasant family in a feudal world.]

This sentence made Leman Russ stare at Morgan's face silently for a long time.

"You know what, Morgan: I sometimes feel like you're the Emperor's chosen heir."

What about Horus?

"He's lucky. Most of the Primarchs who were in his position and had his qualifications could at least shoulder the responsibility of Warmaster: He is also very clear about this. Otherwise, why do you think he is always so uncertain and suspicious of everyone?"

"Horus is very clear: in his case, choice is more important than effort."

"At least, you, Morgan: If you were the first of us to return, the one we swore allegiance to on Ullanor would definitely be the Lord of Avalon as the Warmaster. This is a very good plan for me. Although Horus is indeed convincing, he always makes me feel inexplicably regretful."

【No need to feel sorry, brother.】

Morgan shook his head.

[It doesn't matter who is in charge: Even if you put me in a tactical position, the current situation of the Empire will not change much. Don't I have a majority of opponents among the Primarchs? And on some other issues, I don't have the confidence that I can do as well as Horus. ]

"what is the problem?"

The wolf king was a little curious.

"loyalty."

Before Morgan could speak, an inexplicable voice, not sure whether it was a response or pure mumbling, floated over from the direction of the Macragge who had been keeping his head down. Leman Russ clearly saw that at this moment, even Morgan's expression collapsed.

Everyone in the room, including Jonson and Corax who were discussing, raised their heads involuntarily, looking at Guilliman with curiosity or anger: until Guilliman reacted and silently raised his hands with a smile on his face.

"Ah, it's all right, everybody: I'm just minding my own business here."

"Humph."

Jonson snorted at this.

"You have a very ambitious agenda, brother: a Macragge indeed."

Quite rarely, Guilliman simply lowered his head in silence when faced with this statement.

"Isn't this temper well controlled?"

The Wolf King grinned, trying to really treat what he had just said as a slip of the tongue: Allfather, he is already trying to scheme against two of his blood brothers on Nikaea, so don't add a third.

"So according to what you said, Morgan..."

The Wolf King returned to the topic.

"Even if you were the first, would the All-Father not have made you Warmaster?"

[The probability is not very high...]

"Do not."

This time it was Conrad who interrupted.

"It's simply impossible."

The Night Lord smiled rudely.

"Listen, Russ: Even if the Emperor dragged Morgan to the Imperial Palace on Terra and asked her to bear him a new Warmaster, he would not hang something that belonged to Horus on Morgan's head."

"That's not appropriate, you know..."

"boom!"

Before Conrad finished his words, the Spider Queen's boots swung just at the right moment, and in the blink of an eye, she kicked the pale head and its appendages into the air, drawing a beautiful arc.

Leman Russ's eyes widened as he watched the room remain indifferent: Jonson and Corax continued their discussion, and the Raven King only glanced at Konrad once more to make sure he didn't smash their game consoles.

Guilliman was more skilled: he had his head lowered and could not see the interaction between Morgan and Conrad at all, but when Leman Russ did not react, the Macragge man, who was concentrating on sipping his tea, seemed to have predicted the future. He leaned slightly to the right and let the flying Midnight Ghost pass by him, and not even a speck of dust from his hair got on his tea.

Before Conrad landed on the ground, Guilliman resumed his normal sitting posture: he even took another sip of tea to calm his nerves.

"..."

To the Wolf King's shock, Morgan shifted her hips, stretched her legs, pinched one side of her skirt with each hand, and wiped the toes of her boots on the carpet with a look of disgust.

【All right. 】

[Where were we talking about just now, my brother Leman Russ? ]

(End of this chapter)