Warhammer: I don't want to become a stinky can!

Page 693

The Imperial Guard led them to the hall, with the Pale Lord at the head of the procession, followed by Hades, who was discussing dinner with Angron. After them, Saint Gilles lay peacefully in a mobile healing pod, while Guilliman brought up the rear, pushing the pod forward.

They walked on the red carpet in the empty hall, seeing no one else, only the applause continuing.

The red carpet stretched forward, the last steps leading up to a high platform, where a throne stood—but it was empty.

The contempt in Mortarian's eyes was almost overflowing. A gasp came from behind the mask, but the voice behind him interrupted Mortarian.

Hades placed his hand on Mortarion's shoulder, and the Primarch turned around, the two exchanging a glance.

"I come."

Hades said, releasing his grip, and then raised his voice, shouting into the hall.

"Hey! Old Deng! Come out here!"

These words caused Killieman's expression to freeze for a moment, like a mask shattering, and Angron couldn't suppress the smile on his lips this time either.

But neither Gilliman, Anglon, nor even the comatose Saint Gilles corrected Hades's disrespectful title.

The applause paused for a moment.

Then, no matter how you listened, you could hear heavy, deliberately mysterious footsteps echoing on the carpeted marble floor.

"He can indeed walk."

Hades cursed under his breath, while Mortarian sneered.

"I just wanted to give you a surprise."

A casual voice rang out, and Neos emerged from the shadows of some unknown corner of the hall, standing on the first step of the high platform.

No one noticed him beforehand.

Nyos was not wearing armor; on the contrary, he was only wearing an unbleached wool toga, with a slightly yellowed robe hanging down to his ankles, and no other decorations.

It looks simple, but in Terra, even a single strand of pure natural wool is extremely rare.

"surprise."

Mortarion repeated the word calmly, but the Pale Lord's tone made it sound ironic.

Hades felt Angron pull him backward with his hand.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Angron's resolute gaze—the Lord of Red Sand was telling him with his eyes that this fight was theirs to do.

Even Guilliman pushed Saint Gilles to the scene without hesitation. The treatment pod brushed past Hades, and Guilliman patted Hades on the shoulder.

Hades blinked.

Then he felt the lower half of his cloak being tugged. Hades turned around and looked down, seeing an old man wearing a hood.

Makado gave a forced smile and mouthed a few words.

Let them come.

Before Hades could respond, Makado grabbed a corner of Hades' cloak and pulled him backward, forcing Hades to back up to follow.

He felt that if he didn't move, Makado would probably be pulled off balance.

Behind Hades, Mortarion and his group marched past aggressively. The towering Primarch passed by, while the mortal-sized Neos maintained his enigmatic smile.

He took the next step and walked onto a platform that was level with the Primarchs.

“I think you have many questions—I will answer some of them.”

Neos spoke calmly, completely ignoring the Primarchs who had already surrounded him. The three demigods had bright, piercing eyes, but he simply lowered his gaze, his deep brown eyes fixed on Saint Gilles' face.

"Welcome back, my children."

The Emperor touched the transparent cover of the treatment chamber, and then Angron "invited" his hand down.

I don't think Saint Gilles would want you to do this.

The Lord of Red Sand smiled gently.

Neos finally stopped laughing.

………………

"Sigh! Slow down, slow down, slow down, slow down!"

Hades called out, climbing the stairwell somewhat awkwardly. It was a spiral staircase that Hades had to walk on while bending over.

Macardo burst into laughter.

"Slow-moving old man!"

He shouted cheerfully, and then his aged body leaped up like a monkey.

"Wait a minute?! Who are you calling an old man?!"

Hades shouted—"Which of them is the oldest?!"

But all that answered him was a cacophony of laughter from inside the stairwell. Hades had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow. Damn it, couldn't they have made this stairwell a little bigger?!

His armor clanged against the walls, knocking down three torches. Finally, a light appeared ahead, and Hades lowered his head again before finally making his way into the room.

For Hades, this was a rather small room.

A round table was placed in the center of the room, and two walls were lined with bookshelves, filled with countless tattered books and trinkets. The side facing Hades through the door was a viewing window, with red velvet curtains on either side.

It's clear the homeowner is very particular, but everything here is too small, making Hades feel like he's stumbled into the rabbit kingdom of Alice the Giant.

At that round table, Macardo sat lazily in a large chair that was clearly unsuitable for his size, his legs dangling off the ground, looking disdainfully at the person opposite him.

Opposite Macado was an ordinary person bowing to Hades, dressed simply, with the kind of demeanor that would make him easily overlooked in a crowd.

"Hello, I've heard so much about you."

"I speak with great respect," said Ole Persson, then he looked up.

"Perhaps you have heard of me. My name is Orl Persson—the Emperor's first War Marshal."

"Oh my god," Or thought, silently shifting his gaze elsewhere. He felt a cold sweat breaking out. From the perspective of the immortal, he saw a chaotic black mass, like the screen of a broken television set from an old era, or a monster created by human civilization in the past.

He felt slightly unwell, weak, and nauseous; his soul was screaming for him to leave this place as soon as possible.

Orl almost instinctively realized that he shouldn't be here; to that kind of creature, the soul of an immortal would be far more radiant and delicious.

But across from him, Macado sat calmly, continuing to show disdain for the entity whose true form was impossible to discern.

Obviously, he can't scream and run away right now.

Cold sweat trickled down Orl's forehead, and the being responded to him, but he only heard rough noises. If he focused his attention, he could barely understand Hades' words.

That being said,

"...Hades...Pluto...hello."

“I think you don’t want to miss a good show, Oglin.”

Macado said that this distracted the being, and Orl breathed a sigh of relief. He nodded apologetically, then jumped back and sat in the chair that was too big for him.

"Wait, don't you have a bigger chair?"

Hades sat hunched over on a small chair—all the chairs in the room were the same size. Makado smiled but didn't answer. Instead, he poured Hades a cup of tea from a large teapot, and the teacup looked to Hades like a doll.

"That's it."

Macado said with a forced smile.

"The purpose of this room is to make us all feel uncomfortable."

He then picked up the large teacup with both hands and gestured towards the viewing window. They were now in a small booth on the upper level of the hall, much like a private room on the upper level of a theater.

"They started arguing."

Macado said calmly,

"Would you rather hear the Primarchs criticize Neos first, or would you rather question me first?"

Hades remained silent for a moment, then pretended to take a sip of tea, but before he could taste it, the tea was gone.

Macardo poured him another drink.

"Let's have some fun first."

Hades said firmly, and Makado chuckled. The old man seemed quite satisfied with the answer, and then the three of them craned their necks together.

It is human nature to watch the fun.

…………

Did you do that on purpose?

"Killiman asked incredulously, kneeling before the Lord of Mankind, his short golden hair like burning gold, his sapphire blue eyes looking at Neos, one hand resting on the side of Saint Gilles' healing chamber.

Neos simply smiled faintly.

"No matter how I answer, the real answer will only be in your heart, my child."

【you……】

Killieman's lips trembled.

Did you truly grant angelic illusions?

The Lord of Mankind remained silent. Mortarion, who stood to the side with his arms crossed and the air conditioning on, sneered. The Pale Lord raised his voice.

[I think you're still hiding something from us—I ask you, Neos, where is Leon? Where are Khan and Rus? Where is Vulcan?]

The Pale Lord leaned down, narrowing his eyes, casting a shadow over the Human Lord.

You know where they are... but you won't tell, Neos.

"I was just about to tell you this news,"

The Lord of Mankind remained expressionless.

“Aren’t you going to Nurgle’s Garden, Mortarion? Vulcan will appear before then.”

The poison gas was sprayed onto Neos's face.

You only answered one question.

"When did you become so concerned about your brother's life or death, Mortarian?"

【Don't!】

Angron suddenly appeared beside Mortarion and Neos, the Lord of the Red Sand gripping Mortarion's fist tightly.

【calm. 】

The Lord of Red Sand said that a special power flowed from his hand. After a few breaths, Mortarion seemed to calm down, so the Primarch lowered his arm.

Angron raised a hand to signal Mortarion to calm down, then frowned and looked at Neos. The Lord of the Red Sand took a deep breath and then said in a gruff voice,

[Though it may be offensive, I hope you'll speak like a human being—or do something like a human being, Neos.]

Anglong emphasized the word "father".

"Every word and action I take is for the benefit of humanity, and everything I do is right."

The emperor spoke calmly, while Hades, observing from the high platform, couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"He's a real scoundrel."

Hades exclaimed, and the two people beside him also expressed their approval.

Are you saying you'll neglect your offspring, treat them as tools, and refuse to remove the butcher's nails from their heads?

This time, Angron took the lead in initiating the team fight, and the anti-imperial vanguard Mortarian immediately followed up, dealing full damage.

[You mean you were out of contact for ten thousand years, during which time you allowed your colleagues to commit evil deeds?]

In the end, it was Guilliman, who had maintained the necessary courtesy towards Neos, who delivered the real blow.

Why did you treat Saint Gillespie like that?!

"I ask, full of disappointment," Killieman asked.

Although he had lost his smile, Neos remained calm.

“Inhumanity, injustice, disloyalty, filial impiety, and impoliteness are not contrary to true success. Indeed, by your standards, I am ashamed of you, but I never feel sorry for it—because I have done nothing wrong.”

So you mean we can be disloyal and unfilial as long as it's right?

Death asked coldly, as if only those two words had been heard, but the Emperor answered fluently.