40k: Midnight Blade.

Chapter 711 4. Meet in the hangar, don't wear armor

Lonathistel, the current Second Captain of the Emperor's Children, was running at full speed.

Considering where he was at the moment, this run could be described as "unusual". After all, the Emperor's Children all had a very special feeling for the fortress of Eagle Wing.

Today, Chemos is no longer as harsh as it was in the past. Huge cities have sprung up, and under the protection of ecological domes, they have things that most worlds in the empire do not have.

This is all thanks to Fulgrim, who made separate layouts and plans for each city in his hometown. The governance that was often ignored or hidden under his handsome face was reborn the moment the design was drawn.

Each city has developed unique industries according to local conditions, but in any case, they can be divided into three independent but interconnected areas, namely the industrial area, the living area and the administrative area. The residents live a superior life, earning income from their work and having no worries about food and clothing.

However, many officials who came to Chemos on official business noticed a detail with their own ability and asked questions: Where is the military station? Why didn't Phoenix set up a protection force for these miraculous cities?

Their questions will be completely answered after they look up at the sky, and the answer is this giant floating fortress called Eagle Wing.

Since its construction, every post-legion Emperor's Children has been trained, grown and given missions in it. Chemos is their home, and Eagle Wing is their true home.

The honor that they have earned bit by bit with their own hands can never be replaced by anything.

Therefore, Lonatistel's mad dash at this moment seemed so surprising. He was stepping on the honor certificate melted from the armor of his predecessors, and hanging on both sides of him were the heroes who died in battle. He would have paid the greatest respect to them in the past.
But it’s not possible now. At this moment, he only has one thought.

Two minutes later, he rushed into a wide-open door and made it happen.

"Primarch!"

Fulgrim turned slowly.

The rare leisure that he had previously displayed on the terrace of his private residence had completely disappeared, replaced by a calm gloom, emanating from his eyes that were once bright and now deep.

If someone with great savvy could obtain a portrait of the Third Primarch from ten thousand years ago and compare it with the current man, he would surely be surprised and then angry, and the person who sold the painting would be in great trouble.
Because the current Primarch of the Third Legion bears almost no resemblance to the radiant and handsome demigod in the portrait. The deepness between his brows no longer makes people feel pity and heartache, but only imposing majesty; the cheeks under the cheekbones are no longer full, and the sharp curve makes people look frightened.

In the past, it was an endless blue ocean, and anyone could easily recognize its beauty and fall in love with it. But now, the ocean has changed, storms are gathering, waves are crashing, and thunder is about to strike.
He was still beautiful, but only those who were truly brave could ignore their fear and admire him instead.

"How much longer?" Fulgrim asked flatly.

"Ten minutes at most," Lonatistel answered quickly. "As early as seventeen minutes ago, Kius notified us through the orbital space station that he, Balaster, and Ramitz would take the Inquisitor's shuttle directly to Eagle Wing."

"Very good." Phoenix said. "Where's Saul Tarvitz?"

"The Chapter Master said he felt nothing."

Lonatistel answered truthfully, his tone sounding rather cautious, and he was met with silence, and a cold smile suddenly appeared on Phoenix's face.

"Okay, then there's no need to notify him to teleport up - as for now, call your company and have them come to Hangar No. 5 as soon as possible, fully armed and with their guns loaded."

Lonathistle was startled.

"Do as I say," Fulgrim said calmly. "There are things you do not understand, but since Tarvitz feels nothing, that proves it. Ha, whatever."

He lowered his shoulders, his left hand was on the ceremonial sword at his waist, his fingers gently stroking the handle. A real killing intent boiled up, deeply hurting Lonatistel's eyes.

"Primarch?"

The Second Captain called out quietly, but Fulgrim ignored him and just whispered.

"I had hoped it would be him, Lonathistel. But your Chapter Master felt nothing. Do you understand what that means?"

Phoenix tilted his head slightly, the brutality in his eyes was not concealed at all, veins on his forehead bulged, his jaw muscles were tense, but the corners of his mouth forced a smile.

"Whoever dares to act in his name -" Fulgrim declared slowly. " - I must seek justice for him first, or I will not be able to sleep peacefully, my son."

Even if the Second Captain had many questions, such as the matter of the Imperial Guards accompanying him, he had nothing to say at this moment and could only bury his head.

"Your will be obeyed."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Fenghuang alone, waiting with his sword in his hand, his eyes grim like the fire swirling in a graveyard.
-
Kius thought that he had been shocked enough in the past few days, but his will could not influence the outside world, or it could not yet.
The moment he stepped onto the shuttle, the impact hit him again, this time it was particularly fierce, almost drowning him. So where did this impact come from? How could a shuttle make him lose his composure? The answer starts with a wine cabinet.

As we all know, the Skyhawk Shuttle, as a model specially used by nobles and officials, is often modified accordingly according to the identity and social status of the user, so it is natural for it to have a wine cabinet.

Kius was once an apprentice winemaker, but he was taken to the Third Legion for selection before he even finished his apprenticeship. However, he did not give up this craft, but continued to improve it according to books without anyone teaching him.

Over the past 19 years, this craft has continued to grow stronger, improve, and become more outstanding, just like himself. Today, the wine he produces has been recognized by many brothers in the legion.

However, when he stood in front of the wine cabinet, he found that he could not recognize their types at all.

It's not that he hasn't drunk good wine before, even Catalin white wine, which is very rare, he has drunk a few glasses by the light of the original body. But these are packed in different, well-designed bottles, shaking with the vibration of the body and blooming with dazzling brilliance. The signature on the seal is also...
Roboute Guilliman? Kius almost wondered if there was something wrong with his eyes.

It was at this time that the judge came over.

"Ah, you like wine, don't you, Corporal?" He laughed. "If we weren't going to get down to business next, we could have a few drinks. Speaking of which, if we really wanted to drink, which bottle would you be most interested in?"

The corporal turned sideways, looked at him numbly, and then raised his hand to point to the third column of the second row of the wine cabinet. He just pointed casually to get the job done, but there was really a beautiful white porcelain bottle there, with neat blue patterns printed on the surface and a seal on the mouth of the bottle.

It says: A Kiss of the Rose, by Master Revioso. I recommend drinking it before or after a meal, so that the palate can appreciate its flavor to the fullest extent - Robert Guilliman.

"Okay, I understand." The Inquisitor nodded. "There will most likely be a dinner party tonight. I assure you, Kius, that this bottle of wine will be at your disposal by then." Upon hearing this, the corporal subconsciously saluted and thanked him - however, when he regained his senses, silence inevitably enveloped him again.

"But, but, sir," young Ramitz tapped his artificial eye and spoke in confusion. "This bottle of wine is really..."

The Inquisitor shrugged. "I don't think anyone in the Empire would dare to impersonate his handwriting. Besides, isn't it a bit foolish to go to such great lengths to build a wooden wine cabinet that can only be used to scare people?"

Listening to his words, Kius' heart suddenly sank. Not for anything else, but because he knew Ramitz's character very well. Although this young upstart lost one eye early, he still had great enthusiasm and was full of curiosity about the world.

He will definitely stand next to me and continue this conversation. The corporal thought helplessly and amusedly.

His hunch was correct.

"So, you not only know our Primarch, but also the Primarch of the Ultramarines, Reverend Robouti Guilliman?"

"Many people in the Empire know him." The Inquisitor smiled. "Don't you know him too, Ramitz? I'm sure you also know the news that he finally returned to the Empire with the Ultramarines not long ago?"

"I'm afraid that what you and I say we know each other means two different things."

"What do I mean? What do you mean?" The Inquisitor blinked and spread his hands. "You have to tell me, young man? It's not a good habit to play charades."

Kius frowned secretly, thinking that the Grand Inquisitor always had a kind tone when talking to them. Logically, this tone should disgust them, but it was very suitable when it came from his mouth.

Moreover, the corporal narrowed his eyes slightly when he addressed the 'young man', thinking, is this a disguised admission of guilt?
"I mean..." Ramitz sighed belatedly after finishing the sentence. "Are you kidding me, Lord Khalil?"

"Just Khalil, there's no need to act like an adult. As for whether this is a joke or not, I think it's up to you."

The judge put down his hands and began to talk.

He showed amazing erudition, from the concept of "yourself" to philosophy, and then expanded to astronomy and anatomy. The short flight time gradually ended with his soft and gentle voice, and Ramitz was already listening attentively, forgetting what he asked at the beginning, and his whole heart was immersed in the "border between torture and torture" described by the Inquisitor.
It was not until the Skyhawk shuttle landed heavily on the ground that he realized what had just happened. He immediately went to find his team leader, quite panicked.

Kius glanced at him calmly, said nothing, and just shook his head slightly.

The hatch fell, and metal collided with metal, causing a distant echo in the fifth hangar.

Kius raised his hand to put on his helmet, nodded slightly to the Inquisitor, and then strode down the shuttle with his team. The fact that he was back at Eagle Wing finally calmed his mind and he was no longer troubled by anxiety.

He raised his eyes, looked at his Primarch, took a deep breath, and strode towards him.

The latter had a smile on his face, as if he was welcoming their return - if there was nothing else, Fulgrim would usually wait in the hangar in advance, just to meet the Emperor's Children as soon as they finished their patrol, and this time was no exception.
The corporal's heart was firmly attached to the Primarch's smile, but a terrible pain suddenly surged in his mind. This pain quickly cleared his mind and allowed him to see clearly the hundred silent figures in the deep darkness behind his Primarch.

Kius Solani had never been so frightened in his life.

When he was still five steps away from the Primarch, he suddenly stopped, and his steel boots rubbed against the armor plates, producing sparks and an extremely sharp sound.

"Gius?" Fulgrim looked over with a smile. "What's wrong?"

The corporal looked at him in bewilderment and panic, unable to utter a word.

He didn't understand what had happened to make his Primarch place a hundred fully armed brothers here. He also didn't understand why his Primarch's smile looked so cold and strange at this moment.
He subconsciously raised his hand and pressed it against his chest. Tao Gang blocked the possibility of him touching the sky eagle, but it also made him remember his oath in an instant.

Loyalty to the Emperor.
Gritting his teeth, Kius Solani put his fear behind him and spoke tremblingly: "Primarch, please explain, what is going on?"

"I'll explain it to you later, but for now—"

Fulgrim slowly drew out the long sword from his waist. It was only a ceremonial sword, but it made Kius' eyes hurt. He still had a smile on his face, but it was filled with coldness.

"—where is that Caryl Rohals you saw? Ask him to come out."

Kius opened his mouth, but only a series of breaths came out. He subconsciously took a step forward and raised his left hand slightly, trying to put the sword back into the scabbard.
However, a hand stopped him from doing so.

The owner of the hand appeared silently before him, and before Fulgrim, not as if he had moved, but as if he had existed from eternity, long before the first colonists of Chemos had arrived.

"Night be upon you, Fulgrim"

Caryl Rohals turned to face Phoenix, took off his wide-brimmed hat, and shook his head slowly.

"Have you ever had any problems with the Inquisition?" he asked politely. "Not that serious?"

Fulgrim did not answer, and behind him there was the sound of gunfire. A golden figure rushed over from the other end of the shuttle, with a sword drawn, and stood coldly in front of the Inquisitor.

"Put down your guns," he declared. "Do not fire, Emperor's Children, or you will bring ruin to your Legions and your worlds."

He said it so calmly and so nonchalantly that even the princes fell into angry contemplation about what was implied in these words. They expected to get orders from the Primarch, but their Primarch only did three things.

One was to let go, so that the ceremonial sword fell to the ground. The other was to move forward, around the guards and into the presence of the Inquisitor.

Third, hug.

After a few seconds, the Grand Inquisitor, with his feet off the ground, spoke softly: "Fugen? Can we communicate down to earth?"

He got no answer.

(End of this chapter)