Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 652 06.651: "Honorary Macragge Knight"

As they gradually approached the square, the grand scene of this triumphal rally came clearly into view.

On the wide and flat square, the dense crowd moved like an ant colony, making it impossible to move anything. Hundreds of thousands of people were tightly packed together, with almost no gap between their bodies.

In the center of the square, a huge statue of Roboute Guilliman stood proudly.

He is the Primarch of the Ultramarines Chapter. His tall and majestic figure is the immortal monument of Ultramar, always showing people the long-standing great heritage of the chapter and the lofty ideals for which they have always fought with blood and blood.

The convoy moved slowly forward, and the scene before them was so grand that it was impossible to take in the entirety of it with the human eye alone.

If it weren't for the bird's eye view, it would be difficult to see that the Triumphal Square is designed in an elliptical shape. It integrates a theater, a theatre, a civic square, an altar, a temple, and an Acropolis. Every detail carved and every layout planned demonstrates its exquisite overall design. It is undoubtedly a masterpiece from the hands of a master.

Horatio and his entourage finally reach the base of the statue.

In an instant, the horn sounded, and the passionate voice cut through the sky.

A group of dignitaries dressed in finery quickly stepped forward to greet them. Among them were high-ranking officials from Macragge and high-ranking representatives from the Ministry of the Interior.

Among them was Macragge's Civil Governor, dressed in an extremely gorgeous robe, and his every move revealed his noble temperament.

As a civil official responsible for managing the planet Macragge in order to better serve the Ultramarines Chapter, this man is an outstanding talent handpicked by Calgar himself and is a model of Imperial bureaucracy.

Horatio thought to himself, well... if the bureaucrats of the Empire could be half as dedicated as he was, the Human Empire wouldn't have come to this.

"Your Excellency Horatio Cochrane, please follow me to the stage." Governor Minsheng said politely with a respectful look on his face and a slight bow.

Hearing this, Horatio looked up and saw a tall figure standing on the glorious platform.

It was an old but still strong body, with an upright posture, like a towering iron tower, exuding an aura that could not be ignored.

He was wearing a specially made Terminator power armor, which shone brightly under the strong sunlight.

Its main blue color seems to blend with the azure sky at this moment, and it also reveals the unique cold texture of metal, making it particularly eye-catching.

His face had a serious expression, and his white hair added a bit of majesty to him.

Especially the pair of huge fists, which are extremely shocking. Just by looking at them, no one would want to be hit by the iron fists, because they would undoubtedly be smashed into a meat patty in an instant.

There was no need for anyone to introduce him. Horatio had seen this dignified figure in many movies, TV shows, and graphic materials in the previous world, so he naturally knew who this person was.

In the entire empire, there is no other old man in blue armor who exudes such a powerful aura.

He is the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, Lord of Macragge - Marnius Augustus Calgar.

"You have returned triumphantly, having become a hero of the empire. Your deeds are an inspiration to everyone.

I sincerely welcome you to step onto this land full of vitality and prosperity, and to fully bloom the glory of victory in Macragge." The old man raised his head slightly, his eyes firm, and said in a majestic voice.

Horatio quickly bowed his head respectfully and responded humbly: “I don’t need a reward, because loyalty is the best reward, my lord.

This victory is not my own achievement, but the result of the joint efforts of my brothers and the brave people of Ultramar."

Karga nodded slightly in agreement and said, "I have long heard that you are a humble and pragmatic captain, and now it seems that what you said is true.

Your leadership and courage have been crucial to our current success in this expedition.

Today, we gather here to celebrate your victory."

As he spoke, Calgar carefully took out a special blue badge from the box held by the shield guard of the Ever-Victorious Army.

In the middle of the badge is the iconic logo of the Ultramarines, and on both sides are crossed sword blades and emblems made of an extremely strong golden alloy - this golden alloy is the core material of the Imperial Guards' armor. It is extremely rare and only a very small number will flow out.

The wealthy Ultramarines are using this rare metal to make medals of honor.

After all, complex and solemn rituals have been an integral part of the Ultramarines Chapter culture since the Legion days.

[Honorary Macragge Knight Badge?!]
Horatio recognized the medal instantly and was shocked. He frantically searched for relevant information in his mind.

The reason why he was so shocked was that this Knight's Medal was no ordinary honor. It was originally an honor awarded to Astartes Brothers - the Knight's Medal of Macragge.

Later, in order to reward those mortals who made equally outstanding contributions, the Honorary Macragge Knight Order was born based on the Macragge Knight Order.

"Now, the consecration begins. Please kneel down." Calgar's voice sounded again.

After Calgar finished speaking, Horatio slowly lowered his head and knelt on one knee in front of a hundred thousand people.

In an instant, the jubilant crowd below the stage quieted down, and the entire square became silent, as if even the sound of a pin drop could be heard clearly.

“For your outstanding contribution in the Second Damocles Gulf Expedition to recover lost territory and for inflicting heavy damage on the enemy.

I, Marnius Augustus Calgar, Overlord of Macragge, in the name of the Great Primarch, Founder of the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar, Robouti Guilliman, Lord of the Ultramarines, do hereby appoint you an Honorary Knight of Macragge.

Your Excellency's meritorious service deserves this reward. From today on, you will continue to serve the Emperor as a glorious Knight of Macragge. Your fiefdom will be detailed in the scroll of canonization..."

[This is my reward? A fiefdom in Macragge...?]
Unlike other medals that are merely spiritual awards, the 'Knight of Macragge' represents a real title.

The recipient will become a Glorious Macragge Knight or Honorary Macragge Knight and receive an estate in Macragge and surrounding fiefdoms.

Horatio thought to himself.

Well, this is very Roman, this knight is not a knight in the traditional feudal sense, but has the meaning of 'outstanding citizen', that is, 'citizen knight'.

This is essentially a bit similar to the feeling in the past, where warships named after places would issue "Honorary Citizen Certificates" to their crew members.

But here, fiefdoms and properties are really given as gifts.

He stretched out his hands and solemnly took the medal, a badge that symbolizes bravery and dedication.

He then held the medal high above his head so that everyone in the square could see it clearly.

In an instant, the crowd burst into warm cheers, the sound was deafening.

At the same time, Horatio secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Calgar did not mention asking him to return the gene-seed. Perhaps he did not know yet, or perhaps he had his own political considerations - after all, he was the offspring of the "ambitious" Guilliman.

"Knight Cid! Knight Cid! Knight Cid!" the people's shouts rose one after another.

"Please stand up, Cid.

From this day forward, you are a citizen of Macragge, a glorious knight of Macragge.

You will have your own holdings in Macragge and will be allowed to use the knightly title of 'Cid'.

These properties are far from being enough to fully describe your achievements. From now on, the Ultramarines and the Empire will always remember the credit for regaining the lost territory from the aliens today. What the Knights of Macragge do is what the Ultramarines do! "said Calgar.

"You are so kind, my lord. Horatio Cochrane will defend the Holy Lands of the Emperor until his death and live up to the name of an honorable Knight of Macragge," Horatio responded loudly.

Karga showed a relieved expression on his face and nodded slightly. Then he took a step back, and the whole altar seemed to tremble slightly because of his action.

"Excellent job on the D'Anoi Bay raid, Commander."

Admiral Samuel Hood, the expeditionary commander of the Gothic Fleet, strode over, followed by dozens of servants and clerks from the Ministry of the Interior.

In their hands, these followers held boxes and files that required two people to carry.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Sir Hood." Horatio saw that he had put on a new set of shoulder plates. Apparently, he had accepted the commissioning ceremony for his new rank, which was the pinnacle rank coveted by naval personnel - Admiral.

Although the Imperial Navy also has ranks such as Supreme Admiral, they are essentially still an extension of the Admiral rank, the so-called Admiral of the Admiral.

Sir Samuel Hood nodded slightly and said, "Congratulations on your promotion, Colonel. And... Lord."

"Your Majesty?"

Horatio was once again surprised by the unexpected unfamiliar words.

(End of this chapter)