Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 768 If I don't work hard, I'll have to go back to being a company commander.
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*Transition Chapter
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While Horus was gradually and strangely developing into a personal little world of animal companions in the dark room, the universe outside the laurel wreath was not idle either.

The signals emitted by the thirty man-made objects orbiting the galaxy were first presented as a puzzle with a public reward for its solution, and were announced to the fleets led by Units 140, 69, and Sanguis.

So everyone knew about this, and many people started to crack it for the reward, to gain the favor of the war commander, or simply to pass the time.

Then, a chronicler named Ramizam Carlosini claimed that he had deciphered its meaning.

After verifying the information, the War Commander praised the interpretation highly, but many in the fleet began to regard him as a thorn in their side because of it.

There's no other reason than that the message deciphered from this musically rhythmic signal was simply a sentence.

Or to put it another way, it's a fact that many people find unacceptable.

"Warning! Stay away! This is the Urisakor Reserve, home to the deadly Megaachnids! Warning! Stay away! Danger! Do not land!"

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However, the knowledgeable members of the fleet—especially the Mechanicus and some scholars proficient in mathematics and physics—had to admit that the mathematical proof written by the narrator to interpret this signal composed of exquisite formulas was flawless, even to the point of being beautiful enough to bring tears to one's eyes.

It is said that Regulus, the representative of the Mechanicus in Fleet 69, has visited the Warmaster several times and requested that this mathematical genius among mortals be handed over to them, "He would be more suited to serve the glory of Om Messiah than to be a chronicler."

Of course, the warlord continued to deal with him and others who protested against him in a suitable manner.

They even seemed quite happy.

"My dear brother."

At a breakfast meeting (a custom strangely initiated by the Lord of Steel, which Saint Gilles immediately adopted and joined), the archangel put down his cutlery, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and pondered what to say.

"What are we still waiting for here? It's been more than five months since you and Peturabo established a landing site on the murder planet. Do you know that discontent within the fleet is growing louder every day?"

“Of course I know.” Horus tossed his napkin across the table and picked up his Reka coffee cup. “They don’t like my method of carefully clearing the spider monsters around the landing site with light spears, orbital bombardment, and demarcated grid areas. Instead, they insist on going down and fighting head-on with those monsters that can’t communicate and only know how to eat, reproduce, and kill.”

“You can’t just dismiss the warriors’ desire for battle so easily,” Saint Gilles frowned. “The thirst for victory, the pride in their combat skills, and the honor of being warriors are all crucial parts of our expedition. The Empire needs these, just as we need them.”

"Hmm, maybe, but I think that the exaggerated, showy eagerness to fight that Edoron puts on every day by running around the hall to practice his swordplay is definitely overdone. Forgrim is too indulgent with his son."

"You used to have a very good relationship with Fulgrim, no less than I did with you. What makes you so dissatisfied with his offspring and with him now?"

"They've become too arrogant. They've engaged in blind competition with each other. They have a serious tendency to make judgments that don't start from battlefield rationality. They'll cause discord, so I'm dissatisfied."

Such undisguised and straightforward criticism worried Saint Gilles, while the third Primarch, who was eating fruit nearby, simply smiled, seemingly quite encouraging it, which made the Archangel glance at the Lord of Steel again.

"Is it Forgrim that makes you unhappy, or is it just Edoron's words and actions that you find inappropriate?"

“Both. Don’t forget, my brother, Edoron was the first commander that Forgrim promoted and publicly favored. I don’t recall ever promoting such a guy as commander when the Third and Sixteenth Legions were fighting together.”

The Warmaster's face showed little anger, as if he were merely commenting on a settled fact: "Edoron will be a good actor, a powerful warrior, and even a decent catfish, but he must never be allowed to touch any power. Remember that, Saint Gilles, that's my assessment of Edoron."

"You intend to say the same to Forgrim? But you are a Warmaster now, brother. You must gain the unanimous support of all of us, to bridge differences rather than cause disagreements, just as the beloved Emperor is respected."

“Forgrim isn’t here, how could he hear my assessment and get angry? What?” Seapine’s green eyes glanced at the angel. “Would you tell him, Saint Gilles?” “Are you insulting me, Horus?” Saint Gilles picked up a piece of fruit from the fruit bowl and threw it at the warlord, who caught it and let out a slightly strange sigh of relief.

“I had no such intention. And what about you, Peturabo?”

When asked, the Iron Lord even smiled. Saint Gilles always felt that although the scene of brothers being harmonious was exactly what he hoped for, it always made the part of him with a premonition tremble with fear.

“Of course not,” the Steel King said gently. “I will be your eternal supporter, I will protect you…” He paused, “…and then…my wish.”

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The members of the Council of Four Kings had differing opinions on the Warlord's battle plan.

Abaddon had repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction and desire for war, both publicly and privately, and had even attempted to land his First Company alone.

The incident ended with the entire Gastalin crew being taken to the infirmary after the Iron Lord arrived and caught them red-handed in the hangar.

It is said that the Lord of Steel was not too offended, and even praised the Chief Company Commander and the Terminators of the First Company to others, saying that they were "very spirited".

The idle reporters immediately flocked to the scene, witnessing this exciting yet unfair fight where no one died, and seized the opportunity to create numerous related short works.

This incident has made Abaddon, whose face is still recovering from a wound, somewhat less confident in his rant—the Warmaster has strictly forbidden anyone from lending aircraft, drop pods, or other forms of vehicles to Shadowmoon Wolves without permission.

Saint Gilles would naturally not make things difficult for his brother, and the sons of the emperor were practically powerless here. While Tavitz proved to others in the gladiatorial arena that the sons of the emperor deserved respect with his swordsmanship and abilities, Edoron was also tirelessly trying to regain his voice and return to the left of the Warmaster.

As the organized and planned orbital bombardment was nearing its sixth month, and the number of spider monsters was clearly under control, more fleets and ships arrived in orbit above the murder planet with all sorts of greetings and petitions.

Four Primarchs sent messages to Horus for the first time since the Warmaster took office, expressing their intention to meet with him. This included Leon Eljonsson, who took the initiative to speak out for the first time.

Expeditionary Fleet 88 arrived three weeks ago, led by Bonifes of the Alpha Legion, claiming to be responding to the plea for help from Expeditionary Fleet 140. However, after an argument in the strategy room, the Iron Lord announced to everyone that these Alphas were actually there to coax them into fighting the Orks, and in a war that was currently impossible to win.

"Who knows what kind of grand future plan that place is part of your master's scheme! He's demanding that the entire Empire's army fight the Greenskins for him! I'm telling you! Either let Alpha come and explain himself to us, or shut up!"

The Iron Lord's outburst in the Strategy Room truly shocked Saint Gilles, but what shocked him and the others even more was that the Warmaster, taking advantage of his brother's unreasonable behavior, ultimately rejected another brother's rare request to him.

"I have a feeling that someone far more noble is now handling the affairs of the Council of Four Kings. Do you think we might lose our jobs?"

"I can't help but sigh," Togarden said to Locke after the meeting.

"Losing your job in the Council of the Four Kings is simply returning to your original position, Taric."

"Then we'd better try to find something to do, otherwise we'll have to go back to being company commanders."

Of course, this wish was soon fulfilled in an unexpected way.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

And the spider-like monster's ground form looks something like this...

(End of this chapter)