Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 655: Unraveling the Mystery (I)
-
But on the other side of time and space, the people in the basalt hall knew nothing about the unimagined path that would come ten thousand years later.

All they could see was that the Emperor of Mankind seemed to pause for a rare moment.

The supreme light surrounding His face dimmed for a very short moment, just like a supernova contracting in the moment before exploding. It was so short that no one could get a glimpse of the Emperor's true noble face in that moment, but the dimming was obvious enough to make everyone feel that different moment.

In the white clouds and light gathered by mysticism, there seemed to be a tiny shadow flying by like an illusion, and the noble and perfect monarch burst out with a bigger and brighter light the next moment, as if to drive away all shadows that dared to approach His glory.

"...Hmm...what you said does make sense."

Then, they heard the emperor speak slowly, and although what he said seemed a little doubtful and strange, it was indeed spoken from the mouth of the Lord of Mankind, and it was absolutely true.

"Then I will be the first to ask questions in the following summons and confrontation." Ramizarn witnessed everything that just happened and said thoughtfully, "After all, sole - I mean, the sun (sol) is here. Any words that appear next will become new evidence in court, right?"

No one understood why the Fourth Primarch would use such an obviously inappropriate vocabulary to conduct this seemingly inexplicable conversation, but the beam of light on the Emperor's body that moved every viewer, made it impossible for mortals to look directly at it, and in psychic vision could even break through the atmosphere, becoming the unique navigation beacon on this planet, was so strong that Magnus subconsciously narrowed his one eye.

Obviously, although Mortarion was defeated by Perturabo BC because he failed to grasp the hint in Ramezane's first question due to excusable reasons, the Emperor, as an immortal who had lived for tens of thousands of years, knew more metaphors hidden behind this ancient word game - or in other words, the guesswork deduced by a certain librarian who had a broad but not profound knowledge but just enough to know certain elements had accurately hinted at some of the Emperor's hidden little secrets.

"That is true, Perturabo. You will be my eyes and ears and preside over this gathering."

Malcador's white hair looked even more withered like frosted grass. Valdor stared almost coldly at the necks of the Lord of Iron and the King of Winter, the two rebellious and unfilial sons who caused their lords to worry. The archangel's white wings decorated with thin silver chains and pearls were tightly folded. Even though thousands of doubts and emotions adorned Fulgrim's exquisite and perfect face deep in every muscle, he still maintained a decent smile on his lips.

"Oh, it's Junjie. Of course, in order to make the whole thing seem more fair, I will also nominate Ruth to co-host this inquiry with me. What do you think?"

Now that things have come to this and the ground has been laid, there is no need to object, and the nomination is approved by default.

The black and white furry tyrant withdrew his gaze, looked at his body carefully and vigilantly, flapped his tail a few times, and then continued typing.

"Now that everyone's emotions have calmed down ("It's obvious that they haven't recovered from the shock of seeing Russ punching Mortarion for Perturabo." - Pallas, who was watching, couldn't help but comment.), let's bring in the main people involved in my hunting group today from the waiting area. It's time to sort out some things."

Thus, among those who were still alive and present on Nicaea today was Casper Ansback Hauser, who was both lightweight and heavy, and was brought in along with two Space Wolves Rune Priests, a Custodian, and the Wild Bear - before he was sat on the back of the neck by Perturabo BC in the name of Russ, he was the one assigned by Ogwe, the leader of the 3rd Company of the Wild Wolves, to find and eventually rescue Casper, because it was he who was responsible for Casper's initial fall on Fenris.

"So. Finally, it's all here."

Ramizarn sat in his seat, carefully looking at the one Custodian, three Astartes and one mortal in front of him.

"I have reviewed the report you submitted to the Emperor after Magnus's speech and before the final verdict. You have been brought here because I have some doubts about it and want to ask again."

These people were obviously a little uneasy about Ramizarn's omitted honorifics, but because of Perturabo's seat, they did not show it so obviously. After Ramizarn finally explained the purpose of summoning them, at least the mortal bard's muscle signals showed that he was relieved as if he had finally guessed it. The wolves did not react much, just a little unhappy - but "Russ" was also in the interrogation position next to the Lord of Steel, which made them basically quiet. Although the Royal Guards did not have any expression, they were obviously not happy.

But no matter whether he was happy or not, Ramizarn was the first to turn his face to the imperial guard.

"Amon Tauromachian. I won't mention your middle name, but do you have any objection to me calling you by it?"

"I have no objection, sir." The young guard bowed upwards.

The armor of Amon Tauromachian's guards is as gorgeous as the rest of his peers. In addition to their own technology and power, their surfaces are engraved with various symbols from various historical eras, various different ethnic groups, and various long-lost languages ​​and cultures, which show the meaning of deterrence, warning and propaganda to anyone who can understand them.

——"It's like using some kind of golden self-propelled humanoid warning sign to mark the edge of their ancient territory." Ramizarn heard Perturabo BC snort in the telepathic communication beside him. "This point has never changed no matter how it changes."

But now, the surface of this gorgeous and expensive armor, which embodies one of the highest technological levels of the Human Empire, has become broken and lost its beauty due to severe damage. It looks like this imperial guard was thrown out like a cannonball and then pressed down somewhere to grind off half of the gold plating on his body.

"Then we can start with you. Tell me about the origin of the battle marks on your body. In this place, it is rare to see such fierce battle marks on a member of the Imperial Guard."

Among the Primarchs standing by, only Magnus cast a look of pure curiosity at him.

The guard still looked upward before answering, and saluted again only after receiving a certain signal.

"I was on duty at the command center at the time," he said. "And it was His Highness Russ - he was not what he is now at the time, claiming that he could not stay in the quiet room guarded by the Silent Sisters, and left there without permission. At the time, he was accompanied by Casper Ansback Hauser, and entered the command center. This was a serious violation, but fortunately, Lord Waldo and others -"

"Let's get to the point." Ramizarn glanced at his side, "Start from when you started to be alone with Casper Hauser."

"I'm sorry, sir." The guard nodded and resumed his narration. "...I was ordered to take Hawser out of that magnificent vaulted command center, because Lord Fulgrim suggested that he go out to relax (Magnus looked at the third primarch who turned away with a look of surprise, anger and other emotions), so we started to walk up along the tunnel, which led to an unmanned observation platform at the moment, which was relatively suitable for relaxing."

"Then the incident in your report took place on this viewing platform. This platform is actually an open-air terrace that overlooks the Theater of Nikaea."

"Yes, my lord."

"Then I have a question... Why did you choose to attack on this empty open-air platform facing the theater? If someone happened to see this place, or if someone happened to move over there with a goggles, wouldn't it be easy to be exposed? Why not inside the tunnel? This way, the possibility of you being seen being attacked and calling for help is greatly reduced."

"Because the tunnels outside the command center are manned by Astartes guards, sir. They are not empty. There are no guards posted on the viewing platform."

"Oh? Which Legion of Astartes?"

Before answering, the Admiral looked at the Admiral again, who still had no expression on his face, so Amon Tauromachian answered the Lord of Steel's question anyway.

"It is the Astartes Guards of the 9th and 14th Legions who are on duty, my lord."

"Why is there no VI Legion? They have come in great numbers." "...The Space Wolves are all on standby in the lower areas, my lord."

"So who else is in the lower area?"

"…Sisters of Silence, my Lord."

"This is simply... This is simply!!!" Magnus could no longer bear it after hearing this. He clenched his fists and shouted, "What do you want to do? I have been traveling with my sons for a whole year. We have come from a long distance. I did not bring my weapons, nor did I wear my armor. I thought this was a discussion, a debate! Is this how you plan to welcome me?! Sanguinius!" The red giant screamed, "You obviously participated in the proposal to set up a think tank! Why!"

The archangel turned his face away sadly, the grey tears on his cheeks seeming to explain his mood at the moment.

"Fulgrim! You originally supported our use of the Think Tank!"

"Things are different now, brother." The Third Primarch said solemnly, "because we have seen clearer evidence and accusations."

"Malcador! You told me to calm down before I spoke because you said I would be given my right to speak and make my statement! Nothing would be decided before I finished my statement! That's what you promised?! I knew you were a toothless old dog..."

A dangerous gaze fell on Magnus. He followed the feeling and found that the pair of dog eyes of "Leman Russ" were staring at him sternly. At the same time, a line of words appeared on the display screen in front of the black and white Border Collie, "Psychic power is a double-edged sword, Magnus. It is not a tool that is only useful to us. Even tools without blades may hurt craftsmen due to negligence or accidents during use. You have gone too far in the field of psychic power. This is why others have begun to guard against you. You are really unconscious and are still deceiving yourself!"

"What?!" Magnus shouted, "What do you know, you barbarian? I told you that your current body is a product of psychic energy and doesn't even have a human form. Why are you sitting there?"

"...I've had enough." Ramizarn said, "Please someone shut him up. It's too hard to lead the team to a negative situation, let alone win. Magnus, you should pay me for my mental damages and overtime."

"Varied……"

"As the host of this questioning session, I mean that if you fail to keep your mouth shut or dare to interrupt the questioning again, I will have you kicked out."

"You can't do this!"

"I can."

After staring at each other for a long time, the Red Monarch finally sat back in his seat and closed his mouth.

--------

"This Magnus..." Leman Russ finally put down the crystal wine glass in his hand. His eyes, which seemed clear but covered with a layer of Fenris sea mist, seemed to be thinking about something. "I always feel that although his unique characteristics have not changed, the uncomfortable feeling his psychic power brings to me seems to have... become a little weaker? Is this possible?"

"It's possible." A line of words floated on the display screen behind Magna Dorn's head. "For reasons that I cannot disclose at the moment, the calculation feedback from the Iron Blood's main thinker shows that the direction and speed of the space-time flow on both sides are developing in the direction of two-way entanglement due to multiple minor diversions and stone-throwing disturbances. Due to the interference of the dam level, the situation is now developing in the direction of becoming two-way entangled."

"Oh..." The Primarch of the Sixth Legion nodded, "This may be a good thing for him, but if it continues like this, will it cause changes in Fenris that I don't want to see?"

"The relevant calculation results have not yet been obtained. It is determined that the disturbance that is occurring is too large to calculate accurate past values ​​based on the model."

"Then let's continue watching." Ruth smiled, revealing his snow-white canine teeth under his lips.

Fulgrim Pallas quietly looked around, trying to move to the door to find a weapon more handy than a screwdriver. The power armor only worked for the first assault, and it was useless now - the Gorgon Forge Database of the Iron Hands and the blueprint collection in the Mimir Vault did not tell him how to fight Leman Russ in the same room with bare hands and defeat him...

--------

"Well, let's find a way to move forward with this - Amon Tauromachian, tell me, what happened after you left the command center, went through the tunnel, and arrived at the platform?"

"I cannot be sure, my Lord."

"What do you mean by 'you can't be sure'? I remember that every Guardsman has an extraordinary memory and a photographic memory."

"From the moment I walked onto the terrace with Gasper Hauser and began to look towards the centre of the theatre, my words and actions were completely controlled by the spell."

"Can't move? Can't speak? Can't turn around?"

"That's right, sir. I could sense that something was wrong, but I was completely unable to move or raise the alarm."

"So, when were you able to start moving?"

"After the wild bear came to help, the wizard who imprisoned me was distracted and could not concentrate on maintaining his imprisonment spell, so I immediately tried to fight back."

"A wizard, huh? Did the wizard say his name?"

Amon Tauromachian looked deeply at Magnus, who was becoming uneasy.

"He was an Astartes. Later, I learned from the two people who were attacked and fought with him at the time that this man who fought with us, used sorcery to immobilize me, and wore the red armor of the Fifteenth Legion was named Amon."

Magnus stood up suddenly.

(End of this chapter)