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

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[Perhaps Makado advised you against being too radical in certain areas, Lord of Mankind?]

"Compromise without restraint will only lead to a catastrophic loss."

The emperor spread his hands.

"But so far, reality has proven me right."

Phenus looked up, suspecting that Mortarion was about to knock out the avatar of the Lord of Man with a single blow of his scythe. Phenus frowned, realizing that this behavior was somewhat inappropriate.

Fernus unusually took the initiative to change the subject.

【Pale Lord, what brings you here? I suspect the storm unleashed by the Lustful Heaven is still raging in the Barbarus star system?】

【…】

[To find out what our father is doing.]

"Motalian said slowly, glancing sharply at Fernus,"

【really. 】

I also think this is somewhat inappropriate.

Phenus nodded; because it was a projection, a golden halo shone around his figure.

[But this is a solution; human officials are too inefficient and corrupt.]

The emperor nodded with satisfaction, indicating his agreement with Fernus's words.

So, how effective was it?

Mortarian asked, frowning.

In this respect, we should all thank Pluto.

Fernus spread his hands, and the projected data appeared densely on his palm.

The Mechanicus has cooperated well with the implementation of the Nirvana System, and combined with the applications of the Academy of Athens, I believe the Empire will soon be able to achieve data-driven management of several star systems.

The pace of system and hardware iteration is also rapid. The hundreds of experimental projects that Pluto has highlighted for key support are progressing quickly. Within the foreseeable three years, computing power iteration will be able to keep up with the accumulation of data. Military and civilian projects are also advancing extremely fast—we are currently in a phase of explosive productivity growth.

I've also instructed the Steel Hand to intensify their cooperation with the Mechanicus—after setting aside their internal strife, the Mechanicus has unleashed astonishing productivity and creativity; I think we underestimated them before.

"how?"

The emperor spoke.

"Don't look at me. I specially designed two of you to be docking mechanical instructors, but things can't keep up with changes."

After a moment of silence, Fernus spoke again.

My suggestion is to put Hades in charge of the management and research and development of the Mechanicus, rather than having him fight against Chaos, engage in combat, communicate with alien races, and approve official documents—although I understand the Empire is currently lacking a pillar of strength.

Finus stated this fairly and objectively.

He wouldn't like spending all his time in the lab.

Mortarian responded slowly, then fell silent for a moment. Fenus was processing data synchronously and therefore didn't mind the silence, and the Emperor? The Pale Lord didn't care about him.

Mortarian circled around the phantom of Fenus once.

How do you feel, Finus?

The Primarch suddenly asked.

Reality is the truth.

Phenus nodded briefly.

[I might feel frustrated by the complete loss of my physical body, but I don't have many emotions right now, and redundant computing power shouldn't be used to simulate emotions.]

【…】

Mortarian was breathing. He closed his eyes and breathed seven times in silence before opening them again.

He was just being cautious.

Do you need to have Hades come and take a look?

[Increase computing power? Sure—if Hades could accept that his creations became hybrid psionic and mechanical beings.]

“I think it’s best not to tell him yet, my friend. He’s busy enough. Although you’ve accused me of dereliction of duty, you’re also running away from the Barbarus territory under your control, Mortarion, aren’t you?”

The Emperor said that he might not have realized what the Pale Lord was worried about, or perhaps he did realize it but thought it was unimportant.

Mortarian took a deep breath, and white mist burst out of his respirator, making him look even more world-weary.

I have another question.

Mortarion turned directly to the Lord of Man.

Why didn't you tell the rest of the Senko the truth? Did you speak with Magnus after his return?

Is it necessary?

The emperor said solemnly,

“Magnus didn’t reach out to me as you have – he is still a broken fragment, and forgetting happens very quickly.”

“I have entrusted the Grey Knight to him and given him the right to view all the Empire’s documents at will, granting him unchecked freedom. This is my reward for him and proof of my trust in him.”

Mortarian realized that those words were sincere.

The Lord of Mankind truly trusted and loved Magnus, and his demonstration of this was by granting the Crimson King power and an army.

【…】

Take a deep breath, then another deep breath, seven breaths in total. You can do it.

In the face of millennia of suffering, language is not a torment.

Finally, Mortarian spoke.

I'm glad I didn't continue to stand in your shadow, Neos—but some people are still suffering.

He managed to squeeze out those words.

No, he just didn't want the tragedy to happen again.

"You mean I should brush him off with empty, unpromising words?"

Nios said, and Mortarion remained silent, only staring at the Lord of Mankind.

You should at least talk to him once.

Mortarian said through gritted teeth, then suddenly realized that Neos was right. If it were him, the Pale Lord would never be encouraged or discouraged by the Lord of Man's words—he wanted his soldiers, his power, his money, and his work—but he would never want his words.

Listening to his biological father lie is less appealing than listening to Nurgle scream and fart in the garden.

Following this logic, the Lord of Mankind really treated Magnus well.

Mortarian fell silent.

But his brothers were not like Mortarion; clearly, a few words from the Emperor would greatly alleviate their anxieties.

"But... what exactly did Magnus talk to you about?"

[Psionic.]

That's it. Great!

Chapter 664 Neos Didn't Give Up

【Grey Knight's Secret Chamber】

I'm a little nervous.

Magnus said,

[Or we could pause for seven minutes, Ahriman, could you go and call over the negative psionic Oglin?]

“My father, you know that he will greatly reduce the success rate of the ritual. What we need now is an active warp, not a dormant one.”

I know, I know—

Magnus drew out the sound.

[But—I mean—what if it fails? He can forcibly stop the ritual at a crucial point. I can't be sure this fusion will be successful, Ahriman. What if the other fragment is part of the Lord of Changes's conspiracy?]

“My father, Hades and the Pale Lord have both examined him. The other lord is not tainted by the Chaos Qi. The Gray Knight has also examined him with secret techniques.”

[That Pale Lord?]

“My lord… Lord Mortarion’s psychic powers are incompatible with yours, and his presence will reduce the success rate.”

Magnus looked confused. He would stand up and pace around, muttering the spells he was about to use, then suddenly sit back down, flipping through books, his face pale.

What do you think of the other "me," Ahriman?

Magnus asked,

“That’s a different side of your soul,”

Ahriman replied truthfully.

"It will make you more complete and stronger."

Magnus muttered something to himself again, repeating it over and over.

Give me a little more time to prepare.

Magnus coughed.

Let me see him again.

Hades was too efficient. Magnus cursed the negative psionic Oglin in his heart. By the Emperor, from the time he found Hades to the time Hades brought back another fragment, it hadn't even been three standard Terra days.

He was clearly not ready.

Once the two fragments meet, they immediately begin to merge, like two powerful magnets. He cannot directly greet the other side or sit down to discuss the differences in their views.

Magnus means—

He himself was not the complete Primarch, and it was clear that everyone except him expected him to become the "complete self," but to be honest, was the original Magnus really good?

This fragment doesn't think its former self was any better. The former self was an arrogant bastard. Magnus indiscriminately killed innocent people, experimented on weak psionicists, and often displayed the arrogance of a superior.

The Grey Knights, who inherited Magnus's blood, acted like arrogant Crimson Kings. Magnus repeatedly advised them to kill less, but to little avail.

Magnus began to hesitate, or perhaps he was too kind and naive to adapt to these things.

If his past teaching of the Greenskins were exposed, the Primarch believed that his now subservient offspring would immediately turn on him and hunt him down with their fanaticism for slaughtering psykers.

Primarch felt a pang of sympathy for those polite greenskins. That period was truly enjoyable, except for the occasional lapses in Hades's condition and the mischievous underlings who were deliberately sarcastic towards him.

Magnus disguised it all very well, staying as far away from the negative psychic madman as possible and maintaining a respectable image in front of his offspring.

Perhaps Mortalian, who had spoken with him earlier, had for a moment sensed the truth. The reason was simply that Magnus was a little anxious; he was about to meet another "Magnus."

Magnus focused his questioning on Mortalian's memories and personality changes after he liberated the nature of the warp—the Pale Lord's answer was not optimistic.

This Magnus did not believe that he would play a major role in the fusion of personalities. The fragment also carried his own personality, a facet of the Primarch's character, and might be closer to the real Magnus than he was.

Magnus paused for a moment in his mind.

I'm ready, bring him here.

He spoke with feigned authority, but inwardly he was having second thoughts.

But once the arrow is released, there's no turning back.

..............................

I have a headache...

Bloodstains covered the room, forming runes that stretched densely from the ceiling down the walls to the floor, all the way to the circle in the center of the room—where Magnus was kneeling, breathing heavily.

A faint, calming psychic fragrance wafted from the incense burner. Apart from Magnus, no one in the room spoke. The Grey Knight Grandmasters guarding the altar plate were all exhausted and stood silently in place.

If the ritual fails and the Primarch riots, these Grey Knight Grandmasters are responsible for banishing him directly.

Everyone watched the Crimson Primarchs intently. The instant the two Primarchs met, the warp rippled violently, followed by a blinding flash of light.

No one could explain in detail what had just happened, but within the warp, the light from the Primarch's soul fragment was as dazzling as the explosion emitted when two stars collided.

【I……】