Warhammer: Empire Reboot

“That’s quite interesting,” he said.

"Chapter Commander Seth, I have heard your statement. As the representative of the Imperial Inquisition under Lord Dante, I must put a few questions on the table."

"Let it go if you fart."

Roderick began counting.

"First, the Inquisition has complete files on all 1,027 existing Astartes Chapters in the Empire. None of them use the white tiger as their emblem. Therefore, this 'White Tiger Chapter' designation is a forgery."

"Secondly, a warband with no known origins possesses a force of 396 power armor units. In the dark side of the Empire after the Great Rift, such a force is extremely unusual. Any legitimate warband maintaining this size must be jointly certified by the Inquisition and the Martian Mechanicus. There is no such certification in the records."

"Third, that 'Chapter Commander' used a living metal scythe that burned with golden flames. Living metal is the exclusive material of the Necromancers of the Space, the material of the Xenomorphs, Chapter Commander Seth. The sensory characteristics of the golden flames are too close to the seductive manifestation of the Alter. An Astartes being able to control a weapon to precisely attack a target from twenty kilometers away exceeds the capability limit of any normal think tank."

"Fourth, they severely injured a great unclean being, or, as you say, killed it."

Roderick's gaze fell on Seth's face.

"Chaptermaster Seth. In the entire ten thousand years of the Imperium's chronicles, there are fewer than ten recorded instances of an Astartes independently slaying a Great Impermanent One. Each time, it required the Primarch to personally intervene, the entire Chapter to assemble, or the Relic Holder to sacrifice themselves. A Chaptermaster of unknown origin, with a golden scythe, accomplished it."

He took a half-step closer: "This isn't right, Seth."

"A rescue that's too perfect is a trap in itself. Nurgle is best at long-term planning, playing the savior, gaining trust, and then stabbing them in the back at the most crucial moment. Have you considered whether this whole thing is a ruse? The Great Unclean faked his death for them so that your Flesh-Tearing Chapter would open a back door for them in the Imperial army?"

Seth didn't speak, but his eyes were already hostile.

Roderick continued solemnly, “Based on the above four points, I must, in the name of the Imperial Inquisition, initiate a purity check on this ‘White Tiger Chapter.’ This includes: genetic seed sampling, psionic purity scanning, analysis of the armor and weapon components, and a complete soul examination of the Chapter Master himself. If they refuse…”

The judge's lips twitched slightly.

"Then they are traitors. Heretics. Or servants of Chaos."

"No matter which one it is, it must be cleaned."

The air freezes.

The warriors of the Holy Blood Angels all took a half step back, their hands on their weapons, while the two Grey Knights beside the Inquisitor simultaneously drew their power swords.

Dante didn't move.

The silence behind the death mask is suffocating.

Seth understands, Seth understands everything.

Despite his volatile temper, he understands everything. Dante is the regent of the dark side, and after the Great Rift, the dark side of the Empire is in complete disarray.

He needs every fighting force, including those of dubious origin.

But a judge was standing next to him.

The court represents the empire's most stubborn logic: better to kill three thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free.

Each of the four points Roderick listed is valid from a purely dogmatic point of view.

Dante is now weighing his options.

This old man is a good person; all the Holy Blood Angels' brethren regard him as their patriarch.

The Flesh-Tearer was his brother, whom the White Tiger Legion had rescued. Emotionally, he couldn't grasp the hand that offered him a lifeline and instead handcuffed himself.

But he couldn't just stand in for a judge on the spot, because that would create a massive political hole in the empire's dark military and political system.

He needs time.

He needs a way out.

Seth couldn't give Dante time.

They may understand, but the word "weighing" has never existed in the dictionary of those who tear apart flesh.

“Lord Roderick,” Seth began.

"I've listened to the whole thing."

Roderick turned his head and smiled slightly: "Is that so? Then you..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Seth's Bloodthirsty Ones activated.

The moment the chainsaw engine roared, Seth had already lifted the two-meter-long giant two-handed chainsaw sword with one hand, the tip of the sword stopping five millimeters in front of the Inquisitor's nose.

The gears spun at high speed, creating a gust of wind in the judge's face.

Roderick's expression remained unchanged.

He naturally said, "Seth, you'd better know what you're doing."

"Of course I know."

Seth's voice was squeezed out through clenched teeth.

"Lord Roderick, I have a question for you."

"Have you judged the most unclean ones before today?"

Roderick remained silent.

"No."

Seth answered for him: "The gray-white chapter commander conducted the trial. With his 'golden scythe of unknown origin,' he thoroughly examined a top-tier entity within the seventy-two ranks of the warp, from the material universe to the warp."

"You want to put him on trial? Fine."

"But before you judge him, you'll have to get past me first."

Seth took another half step closer.

The serrated edge of the chainsaw sword pressed against the judge's nose, and the hot air it stirred up caused tears to well up in Roderick's eyes.

"These White Tiger power armor warriors bleed red blood. Just like me."

"They fought alongside me. When my brothers in the battle group were about to die, they shielded us from that eighteen-meter-tall mangled flesh."

"They are the saviors of the Flesh-Tearers Chapter."

"They're one of our own."

"My lord, I come from the Flesh-Tearer Clan. Our clan isn't very bright, and we're not very learned. We can't argue with you. I only know one thing..."

"I'll tear apart anyone who touches my savior."

"By the Emperor above, and with the Primarch of Saint Gilles beside me..."

“I, Gabriel Seth, swear an oath here.”

"Today, who dares to touch a single hair on the White Tiger Battle Group..."

"I'll saw his head off his neck first."

“Start with you, Grand Inquisitor.”

P.S.: This is 8 words so far, there's one more to come!

Chapter 145 The Dark Side of Regent: A Tribute to the Emperor's Blade

The remaining hundred or so brothers of the Flesh-Tearer Chapter poured in from all corners of the fortress.

Stand behind Seth.

Rows of scarlet, tattered power armors formed a wall in the shadows of the inner courtyard.

This is the craziest group in the Blood Angels successor group.

When the commander drew his sword, they drew theirs as well.

The warband leader drew his sword at the judge, and they drew their swords at the judge in return.

Judge Roderick did not blink when faced with the massive chainsaw sword.

His two Grey Knight guards had already drawn their power swords, but he pressed the air with his left hand, signaling them not to move.

"Seth, the Chapter Leader."

"You're holding a chainsaw sword to the nose of an Imperial Inquisitor."

“According to the code of conduct of the Odo Marellias Inquisition, the two Grey Knights beside me now have the right to take your head on the spot.”

"Give it a try."

Seth was not afraid at all: "You have two greyhounds, I have a hundred red wolves, it's uncertain who will die."

Roderick's lips twitched slightly: "Seth, are you always this vulgar?"

"My lord, this is the tradition of the Flesh-Tearers. If you are not used to it, you can complain to Balstar and have Lord Dante dismiss me from my position as Chapter Master."

“Barstar is also under my jurisdiction, Seth.”

"Then fire him." Seth didn't care: "Anyway, I can still fight even if I'm not the chapter leader."

Roderick took a deep breath; he didn't want to face this tough nut to crack.

He looked at Dante: "Lord Dante, aren't you going to say something?"

"Your chapter leader is currently holding a chainsword to the nose of a representative of the Imperial Inquisition. As the Dark Regent, what do you intend to do?"

Dante did not answer him, but looked at Seth.

Seth could probably guess what Dante would say.

For the past ten years or so, Dante has been using his golden holy armor as a crutch, single-handedly supporting half of the empire.

The old man no longer gets caught up in questions like "who is right and who is wrong".

He would only ask one question: "How can we ensure that more citizens of the empire can live a little longer tonight?"

Therefore, Dante will most likely persuade Seth to sheathe his sword.

Then he advised Roderick to "show some respect to the people who saved the Flesh Rippers."

Then ask that unknown chapter leader to "cooperate with the inquisition's procedures."

This is the safest approach.

But Old Master Dante was in a dilemma, and Seth and the judge were locked in a fierce confrontation, neither willing to back down.

The warriors of the White Tiger Squad did not participate.