The Bizarre Adventures of the Oil Man, but Starting with Warhammer 32K

Strangely, although Kurland was busier than ever - having to negotiate with other chapter masters to build the prototype of the Death Watch, coordinate the Astartes coalition, deal with the Ministry of Military Affairs, and handle countless tedious tactical deployments - he felt strangely relaxed.

It was like some heavy burden had finally been lifted.

"Leon, no matter what happens next, your name will be engraved in the Hall of Honor on the Phalanx."

Kurland said: "The sons of Dorne will always remember your kindness to the Imperial Fists. We... owe you a favor that can never be repaid."

Li Ang waved his hand: "Don't say that. I didn't do this to ask for favors."

"I know. That's what makes this friendship so precious."

The corners of Kurland's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a rare, sincere smile. This smile contained no hatred or anger, only a sense of relief and anticipation.

He walked out.

He truly emerged from the shadow of Diamond Star, from the bitter aspirations of the Imperial Fists, from the shell of a warrior driven by rage, to embrace a future that belonged to the Imperial Fists and to himself.

"Take care, my brother."

Kurland held out his hand.

Li Ang shook his hand and said, "You too, don't let those bureaucrats wear you out."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Kurland was about to leave, but Fearless stopped him.

"I still need to speak privately with Sage Leon."

Kurland was surprised by Wuwei's insistence on following him from the beginning, but he still showed the venerable respect. He took the initiative to step outside and wait, leaving Wuwei and Li Ang some private space.

Of course, Leon knew who the person in this Dauntless was: "Lord Dorne is also reluctant to let me leave?"

"I came to say thank you."

Dawn answered simply, not responding to Leon's teasing.

"The gratitude of a Primarch is a great virtue."

"Identity is of no importance. Although I was the Primarch, I could not save my Legion. Instead, you saved my children when I was powerless and gave them a new life."

Leon did not respond, but just stared quietly at the dreadnought mecha carrying the father of the Imperial Fist.

"what's next?"

He asked, "Still remain anonymous?"

"It was a last resort. But this is another thing I want to thank you for—that Gundam. At least it gave me another chance to fight.

If things really come to a point of no return, at least it allows me to risk everything."

"For the Empire?"

"Do not."

Dorn's answer was firm, "For humanity, and for the promise I made to my father."

His thoughts drifted back to the past, to the moment he had lifted the Emperor from the Vengeful Spirit.

His father was in his arms, yet he was not there.

The true Emperor faces the Dark Lord alone in the abyss of the Warp, and he... is powerless.

Leon noticed Dorn's sadness. He didn't know what Dorn was thinking, but he still comforted him: "Maybe one day you can be free again."

"that's not important."

Dorn interrupted Leon: "It's important that you look forward. During this time together, I have seen your potential. I may not trust you completely, but you have a better chance of bringing about change than the High Lord."

Li Ang shrugged and did not answer.

This Primarch was as honest as the rumors said, even in his sarcophagus. He wasn't sure if Dorn would still think the same if he knew he was planning to create five hundred worlds like Guilliman.

Just then, Neos walked in.

This daring mortal, as always, didn't care about the presence of a fearless venerable. He approached Leon and whispered:

"Sage, Imperial Commander Hayes is waiting for you on the bridge and would like to meet with you privately."

Leon nodded and prepared to take his leave from Dorn.

But when he turned around, he found that Wuwei was frozen in place.

"Lord Dorne?"

Leon asked doubtfully.

"……nothing."

Dorn's voice showed a rare wavering tone. "All goes well, Leon."

"You too, Lord Dorne."

Li Ang treated this as an insignificant episode and turned back to the transport fleet.

Dorn did not leave, his eyes were fixed on Neos who was following Leon closely.

Neos seemed to notice his gaze. At the moment before the hatch closed, he suddenly turned around and gave Fearless a faint smile.

Dorn stood there, with a thousand thoughts in his mind.

Was it his father's reincarnation? A fragment of his father's humanity? Or just an elusive phantom?

he does not know.

But he knew that his father could not be God.

It never will be.

-

Under Neos' guidance, Leon met Hayes on the bridge of the forge ship.

Li Ang was the first to approach him: "You seem to be free? How can you spare time to come to me at this time?"

"Actually, I'm really free. All the empire's affairs, big and small, are handled by Wangerlich and Veritus. Wangerlich's control is really strong, but luckily, at least there's Veritus to argue with him. Nowadays, all decisions in the empire are made amidst their arguments."

Li Ang was satisfied with this, as it at least showed that the patch he had applied was effective. "What about you?"

"Read the newspaper, drink some tea, and sign the documents they submit."

Hayes spread his hands and said, "Politics isn't my forte. I feel like they could sideline me at any moment."

"Then you have to work hard and not let them sideline you before the Beast War is over."

“Then I really have to work hard.”

Hayes and Leon exchanged a smile. The opening banter ended, and Hayes shifted the topic to another topic.

"Actually, I'm not just here to see you off. I've sorted out the equipment you supplied the Astra Militarum with aboard Maximus, including CMC power armor and some Leman Russ siege engines. You can take them with you whenever you want. You're about to expand your territory, and I imagine you'll need this equipment more than we do."

Leon didn't expect Hayes to be so meticulous, but after careful consideration, he shook his head.

"You should keep it. Consider it a promotion for my product. The Astra Militarum might place an order from me someday."

"Those devices consume too much energy. But if you can gain market share on Mars, you could purchase a small batch."

The Imperial Guard's equipment procurement has never been selective; which equipment they use is largely determined by which Forge World is closest, and how much influence the Forge World itself has.

A Forge World had previously developed equipment superior to that of Martian technology and deployed it to a limited number of Imperial Guard units. Upon discovering this, the Martians demanded that the Forge World surrender the technology. When the Forge World refused, they declared the equipment "potentially contaminated" and ordered it banned.

Although this is also because the forging world is too weak, the darkness of the market competition can be seen from this.

"Looks like I need to find some sales channels other than Deathwatch..."

Li Ang sighed.

"I believe you have the ability. But before that, I have brought you two gifts."

"Two gifts?"

Leon was curious.

Hayes clapped his hands, and a team of people walked onto the bridge.

The team walked into the bridge in neat steps. Although they were in casual clothes and carried no weapons, Leon could tell from their clean and neat movements that they were no less elite than the Storm Loyalists.

Led by their leader, the group stood in front of Hayes and Leon.

"Hail to the Imperial Commander!"

The leading man and his men gave Hayes a standard military salute.

Hayes waved his hand. "No need to salute me, Mercado. From this day forward, your allegiance changes."

The man called Mercado said nothing more, but turned to Leon and gave him an impeccable military salute.

Li Ang looked at this group of disciplined soldiers and felt that they looked familiar.

“Who are these people?”

"Have you forgotten that? We even confronted them under the city wall."

Li Ang suddenly realized: "Lucifer's Black Guard?"

"Yes, it was."

"Was?"

"Vangolich disbanded them, citing their failure to defend the palace during the beast invasion."

Li Ang was choked: "Seriously? Isn't the palace us..."

He looked at the Lucifer Black Guard in front of him, who looked relaxed, and finally decided to put it in a milder way: "That sounds a bit like taking off your pants and farting."

"Actually, Wangorichi wasn't targeting the Lucifer Black Guards. He was targeting the guards of the High Lords and the powerful on Terra. He announced that from now on, these guard duties would be taken over by the Assassin's Court, which happened to be the original responsibility of the Lucifer Black Guards."

"Isn't he a bit too controlling?"

"Who says not? He said he was forced by Veritus, and I can't argue with him."

Hayes pointed at the Lucifer Black Guards and said, "But I don't think these warriors should be disbanded in obscurity, so I sent you some of them who are willing to leave Terra."

Leon looked at the soldiers again. Mercado said nothing, but saluted Leon again.

The former company commander who was leading the team remained expressionless, as if Hayes was not talking about his own fate.

This was an abandoned elite force, a group of homeless beasts. And now, Hayes had handed them over to him.

“This is indeed a good gift…”

Li Ang pinched his chin thoughtfully, "What about the second one?"

"Trust me, you're more familiar with the second one."

Hayes waved again, and a naval commander familiar to Leon walked in.

"Matt Horner?"

"It's me, Lord Leon."

Horner bowed his head respectfully.

"Matt Horner. Although the Empire was preparing to promote him to rear admiral, he resigned from the Imperial Navy and returned to civilian status."

Hayes explained, "But he's a civilian with special skills. I imagine you're in need of a qualified naval commander."

Leon was pleasantly surprised to see the urgently needed outstanding talent in front of him, but he still had to confirm Horner's wishes.

"Horner, have you thought it through? I don't even have a decent warship right now. If you follow me, you might only be able to command transport ships for a long time."

"Lord Leon, I didn't join the navy for the warships."

Li Ang raised his eyebrows and motioned him to continue.

"I seek a higher ideal, a simpler justice. During my time under your command, I have witnessed firsthand how many civilians and even Space Marines you have saved. A mere promotion in rank could never give me that."

His words were concise but powerful, without any flowery rhetoric, but revealing the pragmatism and sincerity unique to soldiers.

Li Ang could see from his eyes that this was a man who put beliefs above interests.

"Very good. Then, Commander Horner, I appoint you as the immediate commander of the transport fleet, responsible for all navigation operations for this expedition."

Horner showed no surprise or hesitation, simply saluted. "Yes, sir."

After Horner left, Leon looked at Hayes again with emotion: "You really helped me a lot."

"I'm just repaying someone who helped me, and this empire needs more people like you."