Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 738 The Ninja, About to Break Free
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"The empire did not collapse in a day." — Ancient Terra History Book
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The simultaneous appearance of two godlike beings beside the crowd is an honor rarely bestowed upon mortals.

The invited mortals in the room were so excited by this honor that various scenes of them losing their composure occurred.

Only after the excitement subsided did the guests hear the Lord of Steel reveal the true purpose of their invitation.

What he said caused the guests to lose their composure once again.

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"so--"

After an unbelievable shock and silence, it was Hindman who spoke first.

The chief preacher, whose achievements in his preaching career were so great and whose erudition and reputation were so high that even emperors had heard of him, solemnly or rather with difficulty reaffirmed.

Do you mean what I understand it to be?

“Yes.” Ramizam nodded with a smile.

He had just changed out of his armor in the inner room before Peturabo arrived, and was now dressed in civilian clothes like Peturabo, with a white short-sleeved robe covered by a yellow and black striped toga. He used a Fourth Legion skull insignia with a built-in force field as a pin on his shoulder. The most eye-catching thing was the metal cable connectors of varying thicknesses on his scalp, which were gathered back like hair and then hung down on the Primarch's broad shoulders.

"I mean exactly what you think."

Kyrell Sindeman turned his wrinkled face toward the warlord who had come specifically to witness the event.

This highly respected preacher was a close friend of the Warmaster and enjoyed considerable prestige among the other top commanders of the expedition, but now he was as desperate as a drowning man grasping at a straw.

Then he saw Horus, who had been standing there with his arms crossed since the beginning, nod with an expression that was clearly unwilling but "I have no choice."

“That’s it, old friend, Kerriel. That’s it. The new technologies that the Cult of Mechanics discovered on 63-19 are sufficient to support this operation, thanks to the modifications made by my brilliant (emphasis) brother, and we also intend to use them as equipment for testing.”

"If that's the case, the three of them coming is enough. Why did you call me here? What does this have to do with me?"

The old man asked in despair, his voice melodious but still revealing his strong desire to have nothing to do with such matters.

“I am just an old preacher who enjoys education, literature and archival reading! If Your Highnesses have any thoughts or opinions on the new system, they should raise them directly with the Terra Council or the Supreme Emperor, instead of making fun of us lowly mortals. I beg you, Your Highness, let me leave here now. I will never reveal a single word of what I have seen and heard here today.”

Qile and Oriton exchanged glances discreetly, while Carl Casey seemed to have just realized how risky it was for a powerless, penniless mortal to get involved in a scheme that the two Primarchs didn't want others to know about.

"Then you really underestimate yourself, dear Caryl."

The Iron Lord's cheerful, laughing voice sounded like a demon from an old Earth legend tempting people to commit crimes. Not only were the mortals captivated once again, but even another Primarch shifted his weight uncomfortably.

"This matter must be kept strictly confidential, and we need to find a knowledgeable person among ordinary people to act as a public guarantor. This person must be prestigious enough, know enough people, be able to reasonably assign tasks, and be able to contact or meet with the Astartes officers and my brother at any time. On this ship, you are the most suitable candidate. Please think about it, isn't that right?"

The four mortals stared blankly, but only for a brief moment, and none of them noticed anything amiss.

The stars outside the floor-to-ceiling windows shimmered slowly amidst the glowing interstellar dust. "Perhaps...that's it," the chief speaker hesitantly agreed, "Perhaps due to considerations of safety and insurance..."

“Exactly!” Ramizan clapped his hands happily. “Other auxiliary officers have more work and military affairs… Please forgive me, I’m not saying you’re bored, Kerriel, but I remember that when you didn’t need to go down to the ground to preach or answer questions for other preachers, you still had enough time each week to teach the Astartes.”

“That’s right, Your Highness.” Sindman bowed slightly toward the War Marshal. “This is at the behest of Lord Horus. Apart from me, many high-ranking staff members will take turns preparing lessons. The War Marshal believes that the war will end one day, and his descendants should seize the time and opportunity to learn more skills beyond combat, so as not to fall behind the times when peace arrives.”

Ramizan raised one of his thick black eyebrows and glanced in the direction of Peturabo, whose lips were taut and straight.

—It seems that he knew it, but for some reason was awkwardly unwilling to admit that it was Horus who said it.

However, Peturabo finally nodded slightly with Horus's face, "After they retire, the Astartes will certainly have work to do besides fighting, and our legions must plan ahead."

“Indeed.” Ramizan turned to Sindman with enthusiasm. “For example, we… I’m currently conducting a pilot project in Olympia. Once things settle down here, perhaps I can invite you there to gather material and write some inspiring reports that will help dispel many of the negative impressions people have of the Iron Warriors in the past.”

“That sounds very good, my lord.” Euphrates Kira blinked, her posture as graceful as an alabaster statue of a lady. “However, I’m afraid the many epic stories we are about to write here in Expeditionary Fleet 63 have only just begun, and you may have to wait a very, very long time.”

This is terrifying! This young lady isn't entirely convinced by the old man yet, but his words are practically a prophecy!

Ramizam muttered to himself, then looked at Messati Oriton.

The dark-skinned narrator nodded with just the right amount of enthusiasm and elegance. "I would be delighted, Your Highness. I will certainly apply to your legion when the opportunity arises. However, for now, I am still trying to break through the defenses of a company commander under Lord Horus."

Seemingly because neither of the Primarchs was as serious and cold as rumored, and given the task they were about to undertake, the renowned interviewer also loosened his guard slightly in his speech, trying to make the atmosphere more harmonious.

"Oh? Which of my brother's sons?" Ramizam asked knowingly.

“Gavial Locken, the company commander of the 10th Company,” Messadi’s dark face showed no change in skin color, but his tone carried a hint of deliberate annoyance, “He’s just too unapproachable. I can’t understand what he’s thinking.”

“Now you have a good opportunity, your interviewee’s boss is right here,” Ramizam said with a smile. “Why don’t you ask him for permission to grant you higher authority?”

“My interviews never stem from power or coercion, sir,” Oriton said seriously. “If they are not based on open and honest conversations, then my biographies and historical interviews lose their purpose of recording the truth.”

“Excellent, Ms. Oriton. This makes me feel once again that choosing to work with you was the right decision.”

Ramizan clapped his hands, then picked up a composite device from the side and pretended to fiddle with it for a while.

Amidst the astonished and awe-inspiring gazes of the mortals, the Primarch's towering, godlike body continued to shrink until a strong, dark-haired, blue-eyed man dressed in simple yet sophisticated mortal clothing, resembling an engineer, stood in the spot.

“We should exit through another doorway.” The Lord of Steel seemed to turn his neck to adjust to the lowered gaze. “Come, friends, take me to your quarters… You should now call me ‘Recorder Ramizan’.”

Horus—or rather, Peturab, who was left here to continue working—had a mouth that was almost drawn down into a downward curve.

(End of this chapter)