From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 763 "Long time no see, Your Majesty".

Just as Halsey was teasing Riemann about her appetite, making the Wolf King Primarch laugh heartily, Chagatai, the youngest Primarch who was following beside her, took a step forward.

His eyes, now filled with the respect due to his elder brother and a hint of barely perceptible curiosity, looked in turn at Forgrim, Angron, and finally landed on Riemann, whose voice was the loudest.

He bowed slightly, giving a standard imperial military salute, his voice clear and strong, carrying the unique vigor of youth:

"Chagatai, I extend my greetings to my brothers Fugrim, Angron, and Riemann. It is an honor to meet you all here in person."

His demeanor was proper, displaying both the competence of a soldier and impeccable manners, clearly indicating that he had received excellent upbringing.

"Haha! Great! Another handsome young man has arrived!"

Riemann's reaction was the most direct and enthusiastic. His huge hand immediately slapped Chagatai's back with such force that if Chagatai had not also been a Primarch, he would probably have stumbled.

"Stop with the formalities! Come on, have a drink with me! And this meat, it smells delicious!"

As he spoke, Riemann picked up a wine glass, the size of a small barrel and reserved for Primarchs, and tried to hand it to Chagatai. With his other hand, he pointed to the mountain of specially prepared roasted meat on the table next to him, which was prepared for the Primarchs.

"Riemann! Watch your manners."

Fugrim immediately spoke up, a hint of helplessness on his flawless face, and reached out to push the overly enthusiastic Riemann aside, standing in front of Chagatai.

He turned to Chagatai, a gentle and charming smile on his face that instantly dispelled the slight impetuousness Riemann had brought.

“Ignore this reckless wolf, Chagatai brother.”

Fugrim's voice was as melodious as a well-tuned instrument. "Since we are meeting for the first time, I, as the elder brother, have failed to prepare any decent gift in advance."

As he spoke, Fugrim gracefully and smoothly unfastened the sword hanging at his waist.

The scabbard of this sword has a dark gold sheen and is engraved with extremely intricate and exquisite patterns. It incorporates elements of the Imperial Dragon Emblem as well as Forgrim's personal signature artistic spiral and feather-like carvings. The hilt is inlaid with several pure gemstones. Overall, it looks like both a weapon and a work of art.

Forgrim presented his sword to Chagatai with both hands and smiled:
"This 'Ceremony of Flowing Fire' is one of the accessories I forged in my spare time. Although it is not my main weapon used in battle, its sharpness and toughness are of the highest quality. I hope you will not find it lacking."

!

Chagatai was clearly taken aback, staring at the magnificent sword before him, and did not reach out to take it for a moment.

He then quickly waved his hand, his tone sincere yet tinged with fear:
“Brother Fugrim, this is too precious! I have not yet accomplished anything noteworthy for the Empire, but have only grown up safely under the protection of Father, my brothers and the Empire. How can I accept this gift without merit? I am unworthy of it.”

He knew that honor should match achievements.

Upon hearing this, Forgrim's smile widened, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. He insisted on handing over his sword, explaining:

"No need to refuse, Chagatai. As far as I am concerned, there are countless swords like these in the treasury. They are the products of my honing skills and passing the time."

This sword is a gift from the elder brother to his younger brother, a token of their first meeting and a keepsake.

After a pause, Forgrim's tone became more serious, carrying a hint of expectation:
"If in the future you establish a great reputation among the stars with your bravery and wisdom, and build a true legacy for Chagatai, then I will personally forge a unique weapon for you that is truly worthy of your achievements. And this weapon is just the beginning."

At this moment, Angron, who was standing to the side, also stepped forward.

A gentle smile appeared on that handsome face that always carried a hint of calm and contemplation.

Unlike Riemann's outgoing enthusiasm, and unlike Forgrim's elegant gift-giving, Angron simply patted Chagatai on the shoulder, his voice calm yet powerful:
"Welcome home, Chagatai brothers. There's no need to feel pressured or rush to prove anything."

Everyone has their own path and their own opportunities. Your vigor and humility are admirable qualities. Stay true to yourself, and the vast future will offer you your own arena to conquer.

Angron's words seemed to carry a peculiar calming power. His special aura was not like a strong psionic fluctuation, but rather a calmness and clarity stemming from his inner character. This caused Chagatai, who was facing so many powerful Primarchs for the first time, to quietly dissipate the slight tension and unease in his heart and feel a different kind of tranquility and peace of mind.

In fact, Chagatai has been living in the universe numbered "20" since his "birth," which is the Dead Space universe.

He grew up there, learning vast amounts of knowledge about the empire, including history, science and technology, from Jiharsi. At the same time, he also received strict instruction from his elder brother Sui Meng in combat skills, legion management, and imperial military regulations.

Their father, Emperor Sui Yang, despite his busy schedule, would often take time to visit him in the 20th Universe, offering him care and guidance as a father.

Therefore, Chagatai's childhood was not spent in loneliness or harsh training, but was filled with love, systematic education, and guidance in the right values, which shaped his good character of being confident but not arrogant, humble but not timid.

"Alright, alright! The gift has been given, and the words of encouragement have been said!"

After being left standing aside for a moment, Riemann finally couldn't hold back any longer. His thick arm once again wrapped around Chagatai's shoulder, and he shoved the huge wine glass into Chagatai's hand without saying a word. He then raised another equally huge wine glass, which contained amber-colored wine that exuded a mellow aroma.

"Come on! If we're brothers, let's drink this first!"

Riemann's voice was like a war drum, full of undeniable passion.

"."

Chagatai held the wine glass, which looked like a small bucket to an ordinary person, and subconsciously turned his gaze to Halsey standing to the side.

His eyes held a questioning look, even a hint of childishness, as if seeking "approval".

In his heart, Halsey's position was like that of Athena to Sui Meng, Alexia to Guilliman, and others—a crucial person who endowed him with knowledge, cared for his growth, and played the role of a "mother" in his life.

Halsey observed all of this with an understanding yet gentle smile on his face.

She looked at Chagatai's expression, which was somewhere between a mature warrior and a young man who still needed guidance, and nodded slightly, conveying permission with her eyes.

With Halsey's approval, Chagatai seemed to have instantly shed an invisible constraint.

He first imitated Riemann, tentatively clinking glasses with Riemann's forcefully, making a dull sound, and then echoed him by taking a big gulp.

The strong liquor burned his throat, making his blood seem to boil.

Under Riemann's highly infectious boldness and with the tacit approval of his "mother," Chagatai quickly became less reserved.

He began to truly let loose, just like Riemann, taking big gulps of the strong liquor that could knock out a giant elephant, while picking up large, crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside specialty steaks from the table next to him and tearing into them with gusto.

Her meticulously styled black ponytail swayed slightly with the large movement, and her face beamed with a carefree smile, as if she had been allowed to "let loose."

At this moment, he was no longer merely the young Primarch receiving instruction; he had become one with this group of brothers, each with distinct personalities yet bound by blood, experiencing the unique and passionate kinship that exists between Primarchs.

Seeing that Chagatai, under Riemann's bold leadership, quickly integrated into the warm atmosphere among the brothers and began to drink and laugh heartily, Halsey couldn't help but show a look of satisfaction.

She didn't disturb the brothers' precious time together. Instead, she quietly turned around, like an observer, leaving the noise behind, and walked alone towards the building on the other side of the square.

It was a hall exuding a rich Chinese cultural charm, with flying eaves, bracket sets, carved beams and painted rafters, forming a striking contrast with the surrounding futuristic buildings, yet coexisting in a strange harmony.

Walking along the edge of the still bustling crowd, Halsey's gaze swept over the faces that showed genuine joy.

She knew full well that this grand banquet, ostensibly to celebrate the emperor's "birthday," was far more complex than that.

This was more like an address from Emperor Sui Yang to all the people of the empire—

From the generosity of infants to the emotional bonds of the elderly.

On this day, the empire observes a statutory holiday, and the whole country celebrates.

Of course, key positions that maintain the empire's operation still need to be held by personnel, but the Emperor does not just give empty praise to these employees who sacrifice their holidays. Instead, he personally pays them up to six times the overtime pay to show his consideration and recognition.

What delighted the people, especially the children, even more was the emperor's "red envelopes".

Every citizen registered in the Imperial Citizenship System, regardless of age, including newborns born today, will receive an electronic gift from the Emperor.

The red envelopes for newborns will be directly deposited into their parents' guardianship account and kept by the parents until the child reaches adulthood.

Among the crowd, the happiest were the children who were still studying.

Many families have strict control over pocket money, but the Emperor's gift had its usage rights personally designated by the Emperor, meaning it was entirely controlled by the person receiving the red envelope.

Although imperial laws and the Emperor himself would never interfere in the internal affairs and parenting methods of ordinary families, given the Emperor's almost divine prestige among the people, his words were tantamount to the highest guiding principle in many families.

This undoubtedly gives children an unprecedented "little treasury" that they can freely spend.

Furthermore, the Emperor has issued a decree that, starting this year, this will be observed every year on May 30th.

This has instilled continuous motivation and wonderful anticipation in countless children who harbor dreams and want to save money to buy their favorite items, whether it's the latest learning tools, limited edition models, or a special trip.

The source of an emperor's wealth is equally clear.

The entire empire belongs to the emperor both legally and in fact; without him, the empire would not exist.

However, the Emperor's private account was still kept separate within the Imperial Bank system.

The vast majority of its revenue comes from the profits of its massive state-owned enterprises, the most important part of which is the huge profits generated by the Atlas Group and its numerous subsidiaries.

All the welfare expenditures that the emperor used to reward the people, provide extra subsidies to employees, and reward soldiers and officials all came from this private account, which is known as "paying out of his own pocket".

This habit did not begin after the establishment of the Empire, but was already deeply rooted nearly three hundred years ago, when the Emperor was still a "businessman" leading the Atlas Corporation in its struggle on the old Earth.

In that distant era, the employees of Atlas may not have fully understood their boss's ultimate grand vision, but they were willing to fight for it, even at the cost of their lives.

The reason is simple: this boss has never mistreated any of his hardworking employees.

Salaries far exceeding industry standards, comprehensive welfare benefits, care for employees' families, and unwavering protection in times of crisis.
All of this has fostered a sense of belonging and loyalty to the company among Atlas's core employees, almost like that of a family.

A deep understanding of Atlas's "people-oriented" and "wealth-sharing" corporate culture led to a situation in the mid-to-late 20th century when, as Atlas began to emerge, employees of many other large companies felt incredibly envious and jealous in comparison.

At that time, Atlas did not have a smooth journey. It encountered a joint encirclement and suppression by traditional capital and a technological blockade. However, its background as a military-industrial complex enabled Atlas to dare to take the most direct and even tough "physical business warfare" measures when dealing with certain vicious competition.

Driven by deep camaraderie and shared interests, its core employees were indeed "ready to die for their cause," demonstrating remarkable cohesion.

Let's get back to the present.

Halsey's thoughts drifted away from the dust of history, and his gaze became more profound.

She believes that the Emperor's grand birthday celebrations have a deeper purpose that goes far beyond simple celebration and reward.

This is an even more special initiative:
Firstly, this opportunity will greatly enhance the sense of belonging and collective honor of all imperial subjects.

This will enable every individual, no matter where they are, to feel a close connection between their own destiny and that of the empire through tangible benefits and shared joy, thus strengthening their identity as "citizens of the empire."

Secondly, and more importantly, it allows all the Primarchs of the Empire to temporarily escape their busy duties and gather together.

At present, the Empire's territory is relatively stable, and the main external threats, especially the forces of the Warp and Chaos, are in a relatively calm period of suppression and monitoring.

The importance of utilizing this precious strategic gap to allow all Primarchs to engage in direct, face-to-face communication is immeasurable.

Apart from the youngest Chagatai, every other Primarch commands a vast Astartes army and governs a wide universe or galaxy.

Their on-site exchanges not only allow them to share their governance experiences and insights into dealing with different cosmic challenges, but also directly facilitate military cooperation, technological sharing, and trade between various legions, different universes, and galaxies.

Beyond all these official duties lies the vital familial bond that sustains the stability of the empire.

The harmonious coexistence, mutual understanding, and support among Primarchs are the cornerstone of unity within the Empire's high command, and their significance cannot be overstated.

While he was pondering, Halsey had already strolled to the entrance of the Chinese-style hall.

Before the gate, several Imperial Guards, clad in black and gold power armor and resembling immortal sculptures, stood solemnly.

Their cold visors turned towards Halsey, and after recognizing the person who came out, they did not ask any further questions or conduct any further inquiries. They simply stepped back in unison to the sides, clearing the way for the passage into the hall.

Halsey was already used to this. She stepped calmly across the threshold and into the dimly lit hall, which was filled with a faint sandalwood scent and the aroma of ancient books.

Immediately afterwards, her gaze locked onto the figure deep within the hall.

She stopped, a peculiar, teasing smile appearing on her face—a smile she only showed to a select few. She spoke clearly, her voice slightly drawn out:
"It's been a long time, Your Majesty."

(End of this chapter)