Warhammer 40: Doom

Chapter 215 The Feast of Undercurrents
Solas sensed a sense of unease, stemming from the distance between blood brothers.

The feeling of being isolated was very clear, without any attempt to hide it, and the brothers were wary of him.

He was neither angry nor saddened by his brother's estrangement.

It's perfectly normal for someone who doesn't fit in to be ostracized; it's just their own fault.

With their own thoughts, the three Primarchs entered the garden banquet, where everyone present, except for the Royal Guard and the Doomsday Warrior, knelt down.

To behold the glory of the three imperial sons and to share fine wine with them at a banquet is a proud moment to remember.

"Get up." Doom's voice echoed throughout the arena, urging the warriors to rise.

A huge chair was added to the main table, placed alongside the original one to demonstrate the original's rightful status.

Doom sat in the middle, with Solas and Ruth on either side of him, their line of sight allowing them to see everyone.

“Brother,” Doom called out, picking up an exquisite wine bottle and personally pouring wine for his brother. “Please taste the wine from my hometown.”

The wine brewed by Nur is made with a recipe from the Golden Age, specially blended for the discerning palates of the Jurchens.

Its color is as vibrant as pigeon blood, and its taste is mellow and sweet, lingering on the tip of the tongue and leaving a lasting impression.

In terms of taste alone, of all the fine wines Doom has tasted, only the Dead Man's Treasure of the Endless One Talassin and the Secret Wine brewed by the Ancient Saints can truly surpass it.

The fear of death goes without saying; they were a dominant race in ancient times, and the treasured flavors of the dynasties and nobles could conquer the taste buds of all creatures.

The wine brewed by the ancient sages uses ingredients that embody the essence of the universe, and each drop of the wine contains countless variations.

That's not wine to be drunk, but nectar to be savored and experienced as truth.

As for Fenris mead, its flavor is too harsh, strong for the sake of being strong, and it is hardly suitable for refined occasions.

Solas did not refuse his brother's kindness. He picked up his glass, swirled the crimson wine, and gently sniffed its rich aroma.

"Excellent wine." His eyes lit up, and he exclaimed sincerely, "This is the best wine I have tasted since returning to the Empire."

“It is certainly good wine.” Ruth then recounted his experience: “Otherwise, the traveling merchant would not have dared to exchange a case of wine for a transport ship of mine.”

"Is that so?" Solas was slightly surprised. He looked down at the wine glass in his hand and said in a humorous tone, "Then wouldn't I be lifting up a part of a spaceship?"

"Hahaha." Doom and his brother burst into laughter upon hearing this, amused by the humor hidden beneath the brother's seriousness.

“You’re right, it’s quite valuable.” Ruth laughed heartily, grabbed the bottle, and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

"Ah, that feels good~" he groaned contentedly, shaking the empty bottle at his two brothers: "Look, the spaceship's engine has been swallowed by the Great Wolf."

Ruth's boisterous manner livened up the atmosphere, instantly enlivening the atmosphere at the table.

At a cocktail party, you need someone like him to steer the conversation and build rapport.

Doom and Solas exchanged a smile, clinked glasses, and unlike Russ, Doom tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass.

The three Primarchs got along very well and were very close to each other; their blood brotherhood was an unbreakable bond.

Next to the core circle, at the Second Legion's original guard seating area, Legion soldiers clinked glasses and chatted warmly with their fellow Legion members.

Alpharis hid behind the flowerbed, seemingly focused on his drink, but he was actually listening intently to the conversation among his brothers.

He currently has an ordinary appearance and is the Primarch's most trusted warrior, a member of the Primarch Guard.

Taking a small sip of his drink, Alpharis suppressed a smile and coldly observed the performance of his blood brothers.

The three brothers at the giant round table appear to be very close, but in reality, they are testing each other.

Their conversation contained no key information; it was all trivial matters.

Doom spoke flawlessly, and the King Brothers' conversational skills were impeccable, showcasing their kingly demeanor as they skillfully avoided the main issues and steered the conversation back and forth.

Solas doesn't talk much and doesn't reveal much, but he has a very subtle grasp of the nuances of the topic, and he is incredibly skilled at dodging and avoiding questions.

As for Ruth...

Alpharis glanced at the Fenris brothers out of the corner of his eye; he was eating and drinking well, oblivious to the eloquent but veiled attacks from next door.

He shook his head almost imperceptibly, unsure whether his brother was truly foolish or feigning it.

Alpharex knows very little about the current situation of Space Wolves.

Since Ruth's return, it has become increasingly difficult for the agents planted within the Brotherhood to remain infiltrated.

Soldiers recruited from Fenris have an exceptionally keen sense of smell due to the unique local genetic code "Wolf Spiral," enabling them to distinguish outsiders by their scent.

Left with no other choice, Alphareth had his offspring fake their deaths and evacuate the Space Wolves Legion.

Now he sits atop the Royal Majesty, watching his brothers engage in verbal games. Alpharis is quite pleased with their performance at the banquet.

As an explorer, he was perceptive and had already noticed the undercurrents hidden in the banquet through subtle clues.

The First Legion may seem ordinary, but their code words are far too simple for the Primarchs who specialize in this area.

The same applies to space wolves; they communicate secret information through savage actions such as baring their teeth and glaring.

The Custodians' secret language is complex, yet still traceable; they are observing the Primarchs.

As for the Doom Warrior, Alpharis glanced at him quickly. The black-armored warrior was as silent and intimidating as ever.

During the banquet, he repeatedly immersed himself in the secret itself, and every cell in his body was filled with pleasure.

Enjoying the thrill of uncovering secrets, Alpharis was more pleased with Doom's caution and vigilance, which surpassed even Horus's.

Horus Lupecal, the Primarch of the Sixteenth Legion, was overly enthusiastic about the return of his brothers.

His tolerance of all his brothers made him subconsciously overlook the fact that his original brothers were also different.

Mauribas Solas, Primarch of the Second Legion, the second son of the Emperor.

He was surrounded by mist, and a dark secret was hidden beneath his calm face.

AlphaRies was created for this reason.

The most secretive seeker, the genetic prototype of the 20th Legion, infiltrated the 2nd Legion.

The Primarch, skilled in disguise, killed a Legion warrior, seized his armor and name, and quickly integrated himself into the Second Legion.

Using her unique talent for disguise, the Primarch disguised herself as an ordinary Space Marine and gradually rose to prominence within the Legion.

After several years of progress, Alpharis became a member of the Primarch Guard, allowing him to better explore the secrets of his blood brothers.

He noticed that his brother was behaving strangely.

Most of the time, Solas would not show himself, locking himself in his room on the warship and not allowing anyone to enter.

He never interfered in the affairs of the legion, big or small, leaving the actual operation to the original high command without any changes.

During his time fighting alongside Horus, he was always able to offer constructive strategic advice, but rarely participated in tactical planning.

Solas has a unique strategic vision, a point Alpharis agrees with Horus on; he truly possesses the talent of a "warrior."

But it is precisely for this reason that Alpharis feels Solas is dangerous.

A brilliant strategic genius, if he does not truly believe in the empire, can cause terrifying destruction.

He infiltrated the Second Legion in order to find out what his blood brothers were thinking.

Several months ago, Solas suddenly ordered the Legion to change course, deviating from its original planned route, and head to the Morse system.

This unusual behavior made Alpharis sense something was amiss.

Was it his brother's strategic thinking that made him realize the enormous threat posed by Ran Dan? Or were there other unknown reasons that drove him here?

Or neither?

So Alpharis pricked up his ears and used the Primarch's extraordinary hearing to listen to his brothers' conversation.

He hoped to glean clues from the three men's conversation and uncover the truth behind the fog.

Unfortunately, the three were very wary.

They talked about romance, the interesting things they experienced and the magnificent scenery they encountered while traversing the universe.

But Alpharez wasn't in a hurry; he had plenty of time to delve deeper into the secrets.

"My lord, let me pour you some wine." A soft voice came from behind him, and a maid came over with a wine pot to refill his cup.

Such scenes are common, with thousands of mobile attendants on a vast garden deck, ready to serve interstellar tactics at any time.

Alpharis remained calm, turned to the maid, and offered her a glass of wine: "Thank you, beautiful lady."

The perceptive Primarch sensed something amiss; he clearly noticed the maid's heartbeat quicken for a moment.

"It's my pleasure to serve you." The lady filled the glass and left without any apparent reason.

Alpharis spun the glass, and a string of tiny characters appeared in the glass before disappearing in an instant.

His pupils contracted sharply, realizing he had been exposed.

(End of this chapter)