Emperor's Bane

Chapter 760: The Realm of the Primarchs

Chapter 760: The Realm of the Primarchs (Part )

[Guilliman admitted defeat? ]

[I see: it’s a little faster than I thought at first.]

[However, having said that, it is already very rare for him to be able to confront Terra openly to this extent. ]

The thirteen-meter-wide round conference table was taken from one of Avalon's oldest forests: in the meadows and hills, there were petrified redwoods originating from Holy Terra. The most honorable of them were selected by the Primarch's servants, and after being transported, processed, and polished along the way, they became spotless in front of the Spider Queen.

Morgan loved this table, and she always sat very close to it, so that when she curled her upper lip and uttered a sneer of contempt between her two rows of pearly teeth, the smooth surface would reflect the details of the Primarch's eyes, just like the chandelier in the reflected vault.

At this time, the Primarch could catch a hint of cunning in her reflection, similar to that of more than a hundred years ago: it belonged to Morgan, who was still ruthless and could abandon anyone like a chess piece, a person who seemed to never come back.

A youthful past that belongs only to her.

Morgan liked to recall this history, just as any mortal who has reached old age likes to recall his past: even if his childhood was still mediocre and boring, as long as he soaked it in the river of memory for a while, he would always imagine some non-existent passion.

She must be old, right?
In her heart, the Queen of Avalon asked and answered her own questions as usual: until a message from another part of the galaxy woke her up.

There is information about Guilliman, which has always been of the highest level here on Avalon.

But in private, he was also the one who was ridiculed the most.

From Morgan to any mortal in the Far Eastern Frontier, in just one generation, they have developed a large number of hellish jokes about Ultramar: and on the other side of the Five Hundred Worlds, the jokes about Avalon are equally inhumane.

[At the critical moment, he is still worthy of the title of the Son of War. 】

[I hope his title as the Son of Vengeance won’t be tested again next time.]

As the Queen of Avalon freely commented on the victory, defeat, honor and disgrace of one of her brothers, her nearly three-meter-tall slender figure filled the throne made of petrified mahogany. Piles of files flew or settled at the fingertips of the Primarch, telling secrets from all over the galaxy.

Surrounding her are the most capable sons of the Primarch and the most prestigious leaders in the Dawnbreaker Legion. They are the Spider Queen's most loyal listeners at this time: they will understand and convey her orders, no matter how ridiculous they sound.

For various reasons, the number of people present today was not that large: Rana occupied his seat as usual, Bernard seemed to have more documents in his hand than Morgan, and Hector, who was much taller than the Primarch himself, was the most innocent one. He was trying his best to understand the current topic.

But before he succeeded, his great gene mother had already changed her tone.

[However: I originally thought that he would tentatively ask for my opinion, but I didn't expect that he would remain silent. ]

[Do you think this is because of Guilliman's trust in us, Lana?]

The Primarch looked towards her most cherished offspring.

“Not only trust, but also reason.”

The Grand Steward took a step forward.

"Master Guilliman knows that any communication he has with you will be heavily flagged until the crisis on Badab is over. Not to mention that Master Guilliman is a man who is used to scaring himself, and he would not dare to do so anyway."

"But on the other hand, Lord Guilliman is also very sure that our inaction this time will not affect the friendly relations between the Five Hundred Worlds and the Far Eastern Frontier for a century: If my speculation is correct, Macragge will soon send a heavyweight delegation."

[It’s already on the way. ]

The Primarch pressed the diplomatic notice in his hand.

[Very good, Rana: You can temporarily take my place.]

"Not even close, sir."

Lana lowered his head and tried his best to hide the smile on his face.

[Still so humble...]

The Primarch seemed to be in a good mood. She leaned back in her seat, crossed her legs, and moved her gaze to the next face.

[So, is there any follow-up development on Badab's side, Bernard? ]

"After verification by multiple departments, the information that can be confirmed at present is: Lord Guilliman is still staying on Badab Prime, and the Master Sigillite has rushed back to Terra. As for the fleet of the Ultramarines Legion, they are carrying out the final handover work in the Maelstrom region."

[Guilliman is still in Badab?]

"It is said that he is holding a consultation with the high-ranking officials of Badab Prime. Although the specific content is still unknown, we have reason to believe that Lord Guilliman hopes to use some means to compensate for Badab's losses and ensure that the relationship between the two sides will not be broken."

[We can't be king and subject anymore, but we can still be friends, right? ]

Morgan was not surprised.

【what else? 】

"Hmm... not sure about the authenticity..."

【Just say it.】

The Primarch waved her hand. She was confident in her understanding of Brother Ki: even if the authenticity of the information could not be confirmed, as long as she associated it with Guilliman's usual personality and style, she could roughly guess whether he did it.

"According to the intelligence from our informants, Lord Guilliman may allocate a special fund from the financial savings of the Five Hundred Worlds to compensate for the loss of Badab Prime. It is not yet clear what the source of this fund is, but it is very likely to be a humanitarian aid bill."

【interesting……】

Morgan stroked his chin.

[He really regarded Badab's ordeal as his own responsibility. ]

【It is something that Guilliman can do. 】

[But if that's the case, then we as an ally can't just sit there and do nothing. ]

The Primarch thought for a moment, a vast amount of data and records surging in his mind.

[Bernard, go find the mortal officials of the Finance Department and ask them to draft a humanitarian aid bill for Badab Prime as soon as possible: just focus on the civilian field and don't involve arms.]

"clear."

Bernard quickly wrote it down, asking questions as he wrote it down.

"So, may I ask, what is the estimated level of this humanitarian aid..."

[As long as it's acceptable in terms of appearance, it's fine. ]

The Primarch muttered nonchalantly.

[The prosperity of Badab Prime is based on the exploitation of hundreds of vassal worlds and colonies. After the collapse of hegemony, they are destined to fall into decline. Some assistance cannot save this: my brother is just seeking peace of mind. ]

"Is it just that?"

Bernard looked up.

"Lord Guilliman probably wants to part ways with Badab in peace, and leave behind this favor of paying taxes on their behalf. If there are any new changes in the future, it will be easier to pick up the covenant again, right?"

【I think it’s difficult.】

Morgan snorted softly, not trying to hide his mockery.

[Mortals are fickle, and mortals who can climb to the pinnacle of power are even more so. Don't expect Badab to be grateful to Guilliman for his post-processing work: they will only remember Guilliman's abandonment of them.]

[I just hope my brother didn't make even more ridiculous promises to Badab.]

"You seem concerned about this?"

【…】

Morgan didn't reply.

Her face was gloomy as she thought of the document that the chief of intelligence handed to her when the Badab crisis broke out: it recorded in detail the power beasts on Badab. What kind of people were they?

[There are indeed noble people among mortals.]

[But unfortunately, these noble people do not live in Badab. ]

"I understand."

Bernard nodded.

"I will ask them to continue to monitor Lord Guilliman's conversation with Badab."

【very good. 】

【And then there is you, Hector.】

The Primarch turned to the other side.

[After the meeting, remember to go to Reza's ambassador to Avalon and ask them for a favor in my personal name: Reza is in the Maelstrom area. After Badab's hegemony is doomed to collapse, they are qualified to expand on a small scale within a certain range.]

【Tell them that I support their claim to more sovereignty over the Maelstrom region.】

[But don't make the same mistake as Badab.]

Having said that, the Queen of Avalon thought for a moment.

[Tell them to just keep an eye on Fulgrim next to them: as long as they can convince outsiders that Riza's size is always smaller than Fulgrim's Primarch's kingdom, they should not encounter the same troubles as Badab.]

[In addition: The Ultramarines Legion had many ancient allies in the Maelstrom region, not just Badab Prime, but this time they lost them all at once and could no longer guarantee the safety of their other friends.]

[Not all planetary governors are as arrogant as Badab. Some of the Maelstrom worlds are closely connected to Ultramar and are even considered traditional spheres of influence. The inability to continue to protect them will definitely become a concern for my brother Macragge at this time.]

[In that case, tell Riza to give me a favor. When they expand into the Maelstrom region, they should take over those worlds where the Ultramarines can no longer fulfill their allies as soon as possible, so as to prevent my brother's allies from being involved in unnecessary disasters. His fragile heart will not be able to sleep well because of this.]

[In addition, please do not collect any heavy taxes from these worlds. Just follow the rules and at least keep the living standards of these people normal. Tell Riza that the Dawnbreaker Primarch will not forget their contributions, and Riza will get corresponding compensation.]

“They definitely don’t doubt it.”

Hector straightened his chest.

【I guess so.】

Morgan nodded, seemingly having lost interest in Badab.

[That's it, Hector. Do this right after the meeting: I will have Lana give you the list of these worlds, and you must watch with your own eyes as Reza's ambassador reports all the names to their home planets.]

"clear."

Dawnbreaker spoke with finality, while the Primarch simply looked at the third person present.

[You have a mission too, Lana.]

The Grand Steward took a step forward.

[After the meeting, I will give you a warrant signed by me personally: You must notify the fleets stationed at the westernmost end of the Far East Frontier to set sail immediately and patrol the edge of the Great Whirlpool area.]

[Since Guilliman has admitted defeat, the next step will definitely be for the fleet of Holy Terra to expand eastwards: alert the borders, and if the Terrans dare to offend the Far Eastern Frontier or the territory of the Five Hundred Worlds, expel them with the most resolute attitude. ] [If necessary, you can open fire, but don't kill them all: Terra will not want to make things worse during this sensitive period. ]

[Also, pay more attention to the situation in Macragge. There may be unrest in the western border of the Five Hundred Worlds. Be prepared to support them at any time. If you are short of manpower, contact the fleet of the Night Lords active in the Maelstrom.]

"Understood, my lord."

Lana paused.

"But: do we need to contact the Iron Warriors and World Eaters again?"

【No need: They should be able to see what's going on with Badab. 】

【But you reminded me. 】

[Notify the Hell Rock Naval Base located in the northernmost part of the Far East Star Region and ask them to maintain a level one combat readiness during this period: After the incident in Badab, Horus will definitely double his efforts to eliminate all hostile forces within his Wolf Kingdom. Those roaming losers may invade Avalon from the north.]

"I assure you, my Lord, that this will never happen."

Lana held his head high.

"The commander currently in charge of the Hell Rock Naval Base is His Excellency Dawu. He leads a total of 5,000 battle brothers, including his own 10th Company, stationed at Hell Rock. Together with the powerful naval fleet, no alien can break through his defense line."

【hope so. 】

Morgan closed his eyes.

[After all, Hell Rock is the largest naval base in the entire Avalon. Its damage would be a loss we cannot afford: Issue an order to the companies in Salamas, asking them to transfer some of their troops to participate in the garrison work of Hell Rock Naval Base.]

These few words silenced the three Dawnbreakers present at the same time.

"You mean... those iron warriors of Lord Dantiok?"

【Yes. 】

The primarch nodded.

【Tell them to mobilize 5,000 people.】

[This amount of troops is more than enough for Dantioch right now. ]

"grown ups……"

After a long silence, it was finally Rana, the bravest one, who spoke with difficulty.

"But according to the treaty you signed with Lord Dantioch, the total number of Iron Warriors stationed in the Salamas star field should not exceed 90,000. Unless the Dawnbreaker Legion expands further, they are not allowed to exceed this number."

【…】

Morgan said nothing.

He just shook his head in frustration.

Make it happen.

"Understood, my lord."

"Do you have any other orders?"

[Let me think about it... oh, that's right...]

------

"Remember to give this letter to Guilliman."

"On... my own behalf."

A hint of timid hesitation appeared in Rogal Dorn's words.

Your Majesty: This is not common.

At least, in the impression of Captain Sigismund, he had never heard a moment's hesitation in the words of the Father of Genes.

Even if it concerns another Primarch.

"Has anything happened, my lord?"

So, naturally, after the servant who had received the letter left, when they were the only two left in the room, Sigismund spoke bluntly, without even considering whether what he said was inappropriate: because Dorne would not consider such a thing either.

He just stood there, more stubborn than the oldest stone on Invert.

Then he narrated the facts calmly.

"Nothing, Sigismund."

"I have just written a letter on my own behalf to my brother Guilliman."

"On a personal basis?"

"Yes, he left directly after signing the treaty on the Bucephalus. I didn't get to meet him, but I did meet Horus who was waiting for me. Out of his responsibility as a brother and Warmaster, Horus suggested that I write a brotherly letter to Guilliman to avoid any more misunderstandings between us."

"I know about this."

Sigismund nodded.

"But that was…many days ago."

"We thought you were not going to accept Lord Horus's proposal."

"No, of course I accept."

Dorn walked over to his weapons rack.

"But after accepting the offer, I did not write the letter immediately."

"Because I am very sure that after the incident in Badab, neither Guilliman nor I are in a calm state. If we write a letter at this time, it is very likely to cause uncertainty in the transmission of information and carry too much personal emotion."

“That caused misunderstanding.”

"So, I chose to let myself calm down for a while, until I was sure that the logic in my mind had returned to normal and would no longer be disturbed by unreasonable emotions, I wrote this letter to my brother with my fully thought-through brain."

"..."

Sigismund silently looked at the worn-out glove of pain next to him.

Hmmm…calm down and think…

"With all due respect, sir: you have always chosen to speak directly when you have something to say."

"True: but it's not a good thing."

Dawn nodded.

“So I corrected that.”

"The correspondence between Guilliman and I could affect the fate of hundreds, if not more, of worlds. If I cannot convey my thoughts to him with calm logic, the resulting misunderstanding would be nothing short of a crime: I am not qualified to put my customs above the good of the Imperium."

"..."

"And what did you tell Guilliman?"

"Two things."

Dorn picked up his weapon: he was going to the training grounds to relax his nerves.

"First, I did not intervene in the Badab incident out of personal opinion. The Imperial Fists sent troops to Badab in order to fulfill their duties as the Terran Guard and monitor any armed conflicts near the Solar Segmentum."

"In addition, the Seventh Legion's fleet is also to ensure that the conflict in Badab does not escalate to a worse state: now that the incident in Badab has been resolved, the Imperial Fists will fully withdraw from the Maelstrom."

"I'm sure he'll understand."

Sigismund seemed confident.

"What about the second point?"

"Second point……"

Dawn hesitated.

"I told him."

"After days of meditation and reflection, I am certain."

"Guilliman has done wrong."

"No matter what, he should not confront the Holy Terra Armed Forces without authorization."

"But if he can deeply reflect on his mistakes, I believe our brotherhood will not change: at the same time, since the new treaty has been signed, they should continue to obey the Emperor's order."

"I told him."

"Whether it's the Ultramarines Legion or the fleet of Holy Terra."

"Which side wants to break the peace and let the incident of Badab happen again."

"My Seventh Legion will punish them without hesitation."

"Even Terra, my Lord?"

"Yes."

Dorn's voice was firm.

Just like his heart.

“No one can shake the new order created with the blood of all mankind for their own selfish interests.”

"Guilliman cannot."

"Tyra, the same goes for that."

"After I return to the palace."