Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 753 Loken's Choice
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Surprisingly, Loken calmed down at this point.

He pondered carefully, then looked up and asked, "Which one do you think I should choose? Commander, you know I'm willing to go through fire and water for you. Whichever one you ask me to choose, I will do my best to fulfill your wish."

The warrior's face, which had just been displaying a gentle and persuasive demeanor, suddenly tightened, and he remained silent.

The official behind him, seeing this, seemed to feel somewhat better.

"See? I told you that instead of using hypnosis to cram in all those long-winded words of comfort and reassurance, you should just tell him the truth directly. Once you convince him to cooperate with us, his reliability is guaranteed to be top-notch, which will save us from having to go through all that trouble later."

"Sir?" Loken was surprised by the man's relaxed and even condescending tone. He was somewhat indignant about the attitude and treatment the War Marshal received in front of his infamous brother, which made him forget for a moment the terrifying pressure he had just experienced—it had now vanished as if it were just an illusion.

“My son,” his Primarch stopped him in a deep, gentle voice, “You must not be disrespectful to my brother. The reason the Lord of Iron came here this time is just a smokescreen. In reality, he has brought me a lot of… the latest news and technological advancements, which will allow me to know more about the future. This is a secret, and the fewer people who know it, the better.”

Loken nodded, his expression softening. "If that's the case, then I will grant your wish, Commander."

He stood up and walked over, kneeling before the Iron Lord, whose lower body was still shrouded in shadow, and tapped his breastplate with his fist in salute.

"My lord, I apologize for my offense. I only hope that you will not think that my behavior has tarnished the honor of the legion and the warlord."

“Oh. What an honest… look in your eyes.” The Iron Lord uttered a slightly strange sound. “I’m starting to understand why Oriton cares so much about you.”

“Then!” he raised his voice slightly, “shall you tell him, or shall I? Pe—Lupecal?”

“You come here,” Zhan Shuai replied, moving himself to the line connecting Loken and the only exit. “I’ll add more details as needed.”

“OK. Well then, Gavial Loken, while we could certainly force you with orders, I personally hope you can make a choice based on your own will.”

The Lord of Steel stepped out of the shadows and into the candlelight.

Zhan Shuai let out a soft breath.

Loken saw that his muscular body was covered in woolen fabric similar to that of a Warlord, with chainmail that was more ceremonial than practical. A cloak large enough to cover half a tank was pulled back and held in place at the shoulder with a glittering silver skull mask pin.

"Which one do you choose?"

“I will choose the truth, sir.”

"Even knowing the truth and which events will lead to your death, you still resolutely carry it out?"

"The end of life is not something a Shadowmoon Wolf would fear, my lord. Even a great warrior like Abaddon will one day cease wielding his weapon on the battlefield. And on that day, I believe people will call his name in grief. Astartes was born to fight, and to die on the battlefield is a fitting end."

The Iron Lord's expression turned strange. If he were a mortal, Loken would have said that he seemed to be trying hard to keep quiet.

"My only concern is to die silently, meaninglessly, unnoticed, and even in the shame of defeat."

The mountain wind howled past the stone house.

“Then all I can say is…” the Lord of Steel said slowly, “that the situation might be even…worse. Even so, are you still willing to listen to the truth, Gavial Loken?”

Loken pondered, “The only difference between us and the aliens and rebels is the truth. My lord, no matter how bad or ugly the truth may be, I think I must face it so that my heart will not be clouded.”

"Oh my god, look at him! Those damned Highlords of the Quill Terra gave him such a fate!" Terra... Highlord? What kind of position is that?
"Since the commander is here and knows the truth, does that mean my choice will be related to the future great achievements and merits of the War General?"

"...Hmm...That's very important, extremely important."

"So, if I choose the truth, it won't have any negative impact on the Commander, right?"

"Why are you asking again! You curious little Loken!"

The use of the term "curious baby" left the tenth company commander speechless, while Zhan Shuai, who was watching things begin to take a strange turn, seized the opportunity to interject.

"Didn't you repeatedly confirm that with him?"

"I feel uneasy if I'm not sure... You can call it an occupational hazard if you want."

“That settles it,” Warmaster said in an accent from a planet Loken had never heard of. “What difference does it make if he asks you a few more questions like this, or if you just tell him the truth? Just tell him the truth as long as he thinks he can handle it. At worst, it’ll only be… once.”

“Oh, I think you’re right. Pe…Karl, Lupekarl. So let’s see if your nerves are tough enough, ‘The Last Shadowmoon Wolf’ Gavial Loken. It all starts with the monster Jubo has become, what you’re about to discover, the invitation you’ll receive, and the many choices that lie ahead…”

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Then.

This must be what the Lord of Steel said I would find.

As Loken stared at the few personal belongings of Jubo among the few items he had collected while sorting through the belongings of his deceased subordinate, he immediately knew that this was the very thing he had been secretly hoping he would never find.

This thing seemed out of place compared to the rough, uniform canvas bed, the small bundle wrapped with the fulfilled oath of war, and the few changes of clothes.

He examined the exquisite silver coin, its intricate design the work of a skilled craftsman, featuring a wolf's head and a crescent moon, but devoid of any inscription or indication of its purpose.

So far, Lord Peturabo's calculations of future events at Loken, supposedly derived from his latest research, have been completely without error.

That also means that the pressure on him will become even greater in the future. For a mind that has not transcended the mundane, knowing the future is tantamount to receiving a death warrant with a date written on it.

It's hard to imagine how the Lord of Steel could so easily and casually utter those things he "knew".

He then remembered something the Lord of Steel had told him, so he glanced at Naro Vepas, who was helping him tidy up behind him, unaware of what his superior was holding.

So he deliberately made a small noise to attract the other person's attention.

"Look, Naro, do you know what this is?"

As Loken secretly hoped the prophecy would be wrong, Naro Vepas slowly averted his gaze. "It's hard for me to say, Gavil. It's hard for me to say."

Damn.

Loken thought to himself, "He really is."

(End of this chapter)