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

Page 661

[Guilliman and I both...became psionic at different times, so we know the negative effects of psionic backlash.]

Corax was eager to ask about those positions; Mortarion seemed to know far more than they did. How had the Pale Lord escaped the backlash? Was it solely through Hades?

But it seems Mortalian isn't keen on discussing these things right now—or perhaps Koz messed up the conversation.

I discovered my true nature before you did.

Mortalian said calmly, raising an eyebrow. He didn't understand what Corax was focusing on; the oppressive aura of death permeated his every breath.

【? 】

Corax's eyes widened in surprise, then he seemed to realize something and laughed.

I'm just worried about you, Mortarian, nothing more.

I was just worried about you.

Kurz seized the opportunity.

[Is there a concern that you can't continue suffering?!]

Corax turned around abruptly and saw Koz writhing on the ground in agony, with steam billowing from his mouth and nose.

Thank you for your concern, Corax.

Motalian said calmly,

[If there's nothing else, you may leave now—Conrad may stay.]

Corax slowly turned his head, seemingly struggling internally, but in the end, the Primarch proved that his conscience outweighed his evil.

Thank you for your kindness, but I am currently Koz's temporary supervisor...

Then keep a close eye on him.

Motalian said he used his psionic powers to throw Coz out of the ward.

Just then, Robert bumped into Gilliman, who was about to arrive at the ward. Robert watched in surprise as a dark figure rushed out of the ward.

Please return.

Then came Corax, who walked out somewhat helplessly.

Corax and Killieman exchanged a glance, and Killieman could roughly guess what had just happened—then he knocked on the door to enter, but the door to the ward was opened by the mist before he could, and a malevolent spirit was staring at him menacingly from the mist.

Killieman paused for a moment, then walked in resolutely and gently closed the ward door.

Corax looked back at the ward with concern.

………………

Did you ever imagine this day would come, Guilliman?

Mortalian spoke sarcastically, and the fog enveloped the ward, causing the shimmering crown on Guilliman's head to become fogged up, with dewdrops condensing heavily.

[Thinking about what you look like now?]

Guilliman sighed, his previous strength instantly turning into weariness. He dragged over a chair and sat down beside Mortalian's bed.

I never imagined it before that happened.

Killieman spoke truthfully, his eyes earnest.

I don't ask for your forgiveness; I only wanted to visit you today—it's been so long, Mortarian. Thank you for the potion back then.

Mortarian muttered something under his breath, then raised his voice.

[A simple act of kindness—but what about the departed souls?]

Guilliman knew the ghost referred to Hades, but he couldn't bring himself to call Hades by name; he hadn't yet overcome that instinctive aversion and desire to distance himself.

Fernus had something to discuss with him.

Guilliman raised his hand.

[Furthermore... it seems the undead harbor some anger and resentment towards his Nirvana System.]

【Um,】

Mortarian was just looking for trouble; he was simply annoyed by Guilliman's relieved expression.

[While I was unconscious, you simply let him come and go as you pleased without the Death Guard's approval?]

Now it was Killieman's turn to be astonished.

[I had the approval process done through the Underworld Cult system—is he still affiliated with the Death Guard's administrative system?]

Mortarian fell silent.

Mortarian took a deep breath.

Mortalian recalled, understood, and learned, and activated the Human Lord's passive ability: Auto-Ignore and Skip!

Are you going to Baltimore next?

He stared at Guilliman, who looked even more exhausted. The Primarch sighed and buried his hands in his face.

A few seconds later, Killieman looked up again.

I am deeply sorry for what happened back then, Mortarian. I am so sorry for what happened, so very, so sorry.

I don't need your apology.

Mortarian said truthfully that he was not a vengeful person—no, he was.

But Killieman and his associates had already reaped the consequences of their own actions.

What you should be thinking about is what to do next.

Go to Baltimore.

Killieman said firmly,

I was worried about whether he could handle the massive amount of psionic faith—now it seems my worries were completely unnecessary, Hardy… the spirits can bring them back.

Mortalian stared at Guilliman. The tragedy of that year was still an insurmountable chasm in Guilliman's heart, but Mortalian was no longer saddened by it.

He felt only a chill.

In the brief moment he sat in that chair, Mortarian saw too much—

What happened back then was inevitable and could not have been forcibly prevented by a few Primarchs.

The Emperor did not intend to let Hades directly corrupt him, as doing so would greatly increase the risk of things getting out of control—he could only let others take over his seat time and time again.

Was Neos doing this on purpose, or was it just a tragic coincidence?

Mortarian narrowed his eyes dangerously, but he had no intention of finding out the truth.

Whether it is or not is meaningless.

Let's thank him.

Mortalian turned his gaze away, no longer looking at Guilliman's remorseful expression, for some reason, even though it was Guilliman and his group who had tricked Mortalian that time.

But seeing Guilliman's weathered and pained apology, Mortalian felt no relief.

We should all... thank Hades.

An entity that could prevent them from being corrupted by subspace infection.

Hades once saved him; now it's his turn to step forward and save others.

Mortarian had nothing to say about this; he too would become the Grim Reaper who cuts through tragedy.

………………

"Ah!"

Hades sneezed suddenly, and a holographic projection shimmering with golden light looked at him from beside him.

【What's wrong? 】

"Fernus asked, his voice filled with worry."

He invited Hades to help filter out the negative spiritual energy and impurities stored in the Black Stone storage system.

"fine."

Hades wiped his nose and placed his hand back on the massive, unified black stone.

"Someone may have just been cursing me."

That's it! Great!

Chapter 698 The Fear of Death

"incredible."

Hades said, staring unblinkingly at Fernus in front of him, that Fernus sensed something peculiar—his backstage was on high alert.

For a fleeting moment, Phenus Manus even absurdly sensed a murderous intent emanating from Hades, the very instant he saw the consecration center on the ship.

But the killing intent vanished the next moment, as if it had never existed.

"..."

Hades silently circled the thing in front of him, which was piled with holy candles and gold ornaments and could barely be called a computer case, his eyebrows furrowed, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

“...very creative.”

Hades opened his mouth, but ultimately decided to leave Neos with some dignity in front of Phenus. After gaining access, he had just examined the underlying code and brought up the runtime calendar.

Hades knew at a glance—

He can not understand.

Hades would swear he would never call this thing an instruction; it was nothing short of an idealist miracle.

It's like a laptop with the battery removed; you can't assume it will run just because you think it will.

This is even stranger than Neos taking a piece off a chip and then attaching a piece of flesh or a lump of soul. The logic has been distorted, and Hades doesn't even believe that these logic gates are still operating according to their original rules.

But the strangest thing is that Neos's super-modified Nirvana system is indeed still running, with computing power increasing by more than 200%, and it even has a giant human inside.

Hades suspected that only Neos or Manus could understand how this being worked; even a psionic specialist like Mortalian wouldn't be able to figure it out.

Do you dislike your work being altered in this way?

Phenus looked at Hades. As the core of Nirvana, he shut down his emotional deduction and saw no need to occupy unnecessary computing power.

But today, Finus opened up some emotional simulations.

During the calculations and deductions, One and Zero told him that when facing Hades, although being 100% rational would result in an excellent cooperative experience, Hades would put in a little more effort if he showed some genuine emotion, without interfering with other official duties.

Phenus hoped Hades would pay more attention.

If it were merely his own affair, Fernus would never have wasted computing power on such a thing. However, this matter concerned his close friend Fugen, and in the Nirvana Archives, Fernus had already learned about all of Fugen's experiences afterward.

The Medusaman was deeply distressed; his dearest friend should not have suffered such torment. Before a truly colossal wave, even the Primarch was insignificant.

Fugen didn't make too many mistakes.

"I'm just admiring the new skin that the Lord of Mankind has given to Nirvana—I can't understand the source code."

Hades was vague in his words. If it were a weasel, he would have already cursed him out, but Primarchs don't necessarily have the same level of understanding as Lords of Man, especially these serious Primarchs, who might take it seriously.

I can explain it to you, but you'll need some form of psionic ability... perception.

Finus spoke seriously, but halfway through his sentence he realized what he was saying, and an awkward smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

“No business, no use.”

Hades waved his hand.

"I've already checked it, and there's at least no sign of chaotic contamination. As for the rest—as long as they can escape!"

"Damn it," Hades thought, "isn't it just metaphysics?" He accepted it.

Back when he was working like a beast of burden on Earth, the computer room at his workplace hadn't been turned on for thirty years. He never cleaned the dust off the mainframes he built himself; the dust had become intertwined with the machine's spirit.

A good engineer should learn to ignore the dust on the equipment; as long as the program runs, everything is fine.

"Remember to seal this place off, don't clean it unless absolutely necessary, and burn incense regularly."

Hades added, and Phenus nodded, "That's right. Such complex machines are usually sealed up and never opened again. The Faculty of Mechanics has a variety of sealing options for them."