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

Page 574

“…Thank you for your hard work, King,” Hades said. “Then you can retire with peace of mind. At least I can hold on for a while.”

“You can lead the revival of humanity,” King said, glancing at the commotion in the hall. “Countless talented people have come for you. I have no talent, unlike Kirkland who led the development of the mass-produced bullet bow. I just happened to arrive early.”

“So, Hades drawled, his voice rising at the end, “the son of Hades you raised is going to get you, King.”

"It's just that the research and development started early,"

Jin nodded in acknowledgment, then patted Belinda, who had shrunk back behind him again, with his limb.

"And she helped me a lot. You know, I am a natural person and was initially deemed genetically unqualified by Kirkland."

Hades looked at Belinda; now, the way to respect King was to take his chosen successor seriously. He bypassed King's modesty.

"I remember her, but... it's been ten thousand years?"

“She had a genetic problem,” Kim said, “so she spent most of her time in cryogenic hibernation. She was only recently cured. You may know the sage who cured her, Belisarius Caul.”

I also recommend him to you.

Hades blinked. “Caull… I might not be able to mobilize him directly right now. His loyalty to Guilliman is beyond imagination,” Hades paused for a moment, “and Guilliman might need to come in person.”

Hades had subtly inquired about Caul's original forged warriors, and Caul's reply was simple: he built his army for only one person and awaited only that one person's return.

Robert Killieman.

The Regent may have had more backup plans than Hades imagined.

“He does have some real talent,” King said. “His long-held ambition is perhaps the reason for Caul’s success.”

“You’ve got some real skills too,” Hades chuckled. “King, if you keep being modest, it just makes us look like fools.”

“Please forgive me,” Kim said, bowing his head and drinking again. Hades also drank a glass, swirling his glass thoughtfully. “So what are you planning to do after you retire, Kim? Tell me, let me fantasize about what life will be like after retirement.”

“I plan to travel and visit my students from the past few thousand years,” Kim said, “to visit their graves or to see them in person.”

Hades's swirling wine glass got stuck.

“…So,” Hades said in a low voice, “I’ve also wronged quite a few old friends.” He smiled awkwardly and apologetically, “but I can only see them after I’m done with my work.”

“They will understand you,” King said. “The living are always more important than the dead. You may be the King of the Underworld, but you do not have any attachment to the dead.”

Hades waved his hand and sighed, "Drink, drink up, I'll give you a few drinks before you leave."

Jin raised his glass, the crisp clinking of glasses rang out, and the Barbarossa wine emitted a sonic boom that sounded like a curse.

After three cups, Jin spoke again, slowly and methodically.

"Actually, Pluto, I also wish to make a small request,"

“Go ahead and bring it up,” Hades said.

"I've heard some news that you're planning to form an archaeological team. I met with Sage Alina (α3) privately because of this, and I found that her tentative schedule overlaps with mine in many ways. So, would you be willing to give me a ride with this archaeological team?"

Hades smiled broadly. Although King said that, he still hoped to follow the procession and was not really unwilling to work for the Empire.

“Sure, of course,” Hades said with a smile. “It seems I can give you a ride. Alina Alina α3 plans to select a world for simulation first, and I will participate in it personally.”

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

Hades swirled his glass, staring at Jin's departing figure, filled with mixed emotions, yet also feeling that it was the truth; he couldn't expect someone to remain unchanged for ten thousand years.

For example, Makado… Hades’ thoughts drifted. Ever since he temporarily agreed to Makado’s plan, Makado immediately applied for a transfer and, with the approval of Hades and the Emperor, transferred a portion of the army away. According to the old man, he was going to teach the Eldar a lesson.

There have been no major wars recently, so the Emperor and Hades gave their permission. It was more like a tacit understanding of some kind of exchange. No sooner had Macardo left than the proposal to expand the Nirvana System was put forward.

"...It's quite poignant," Magnus, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Negative psychic Oglin, are all your former friends and subordinates like this?"

Hades was silent for a moment, then sighed.

“I don’t know,” he said, “but at least King has helped me a lot… I… I’m not as cruel as the Lord of Man.”

The consequence of excessive hard labor might be turning one into a figure like Makado today.

Before Hades could finish speaking, a mournful voice echoed from the farthest corner of the side hall.

Calas Typhon sat there, his back to Hades, holding documents in his hand, reviewing them against the wall, his resentment greater than that of someone who had been dead for seven years.

“I completely understand him,” Karas said. “I’m resigning too, Motalian.”

Silence fell, then a calm but weary voice suddenly rang out from the coffin to Hades' left.

"Not approved," Mortarian said calmly, lying peacefully in the narrow coffin, the pattern of the blanket pressed against the side of the coffin catching his eye. "I completely understand him, Soulless Oglin. I'm resigning."

"..."

"Aren't you lying down right now?!"

----------

【Expeditionary Glory】

Macardo walked calmly on the deck, holding a scepter. He gradually grew taller, disdainfully removing his hood, revealing a glimmer of gold in his otherwise murky eyes.

Golden flames ignited along the scepter, instantly turning the empty deck into a golden sea. The barrier between the warp and reality distorted as the emperor walked his heroic avenue, with high platforms rising up and countless shadowy figures appearing on them.

The person standing on the nearest high platform was none other than the deceased Commissar Arrek, the old gunslinger marked by the Empire.

The emperor's slender, clean fingers gripped the scepter; the dragon loved jewels; the king was infatuated with beautiful women; he was merely a collector.

He strolled gracefully down Hero's Avenue. Whom should he choose? Breathing sounds rang out, followed by the sound of someone landing on their feet. The emperor turned his head to look at the person kneeling before him, pledging allegiance.

"Marcarius," the Emperor said, his eyes burning with an overwhelming lust for power and fury, "I'll give you one more chance. Are you willing to go to war again? I don't seek to seal the wolf's lair, nor do I seek the name of a divine emperor, but only to satisfy myself, to satisfy your grand ambition of galloping across the battlefield, to fill your insatiable thirst for conquest."

+...I do.

"The former Lord of the Sun said."

That's it! Great!

Chapter 633 A Day in the Life of Hades

Hades' day begins at his desk. He opens his eyes, one half of his mind filled with the desserts from last night's dinner party, already deciding which ones will become the new favorites in his office, while the other half of his mind starts planning today's schedule.

Hades had already decided on his itinerary for the day by the time his hand reached the soft crust of the first plate of breakfast.

In the first round, Hades quickly reviewed the documents that were distributed during his break, and the messages on the command board were always 999+.

Hades handed the plate, which had some pastry crumbs on it, to the servant who came to clean it up, and then, with the help of the Nirvana System, began to notify the various agencies he was to visit that day.

On the second plate, steam rose from the thin skin of the steamed buns. The first visitor of the day walked in, bathed in the light of the early morning. It was Blake, who had come to give his routine report on the situation of the Son of Hades.

This task was originally supposed to be given to Booz, but Booz was captured by the Ultramarines to do work, so Black took over.

After the report was finished, Hades gave Blake, who hadn't eaten breakfast (or hadn't gone to bed yet), two steamed buns. Blake took the buns and left, leaving behind the son of Hades for the handover.

In the fourth round, Kirkland, reeking of engine oil, hurriedly walked in. Hades quickly stopped Kirkland from saluting; this Kirkland clone had just returned from the shipyard on Jupiter.

First came the usual flattery. After several unsuccessful attempts to persuade Kirkland, Hades gave up on correcting Kirkland's behavior. After the praise, Kirkland reported to Hades on the Empire's ship assembly line upgrade, modeled after Jupiter.

The process went smoothly, and Hades chatted with Kirkland for a few more minutes about King. Kirkland seemed to be feeling victorious about King's departure.

Before Kirkland left, he gave Hades the snacks he had collected from Jupiter. Hades tried them and they were alright.

Hades felt a little thirsty, and he skillfully took out a bottle of wine from the third drawer under his desk—Old Barbarossa.

With that aroma in mind, Hades quickly finished reviewing the current documents and devouring the remaining snacks. At this time, the sun was still on the other side of Terra, and the night was deep. Hades got up and prepared to get back to work.

Hades first went to check on Mortarion's coffin in the palace. The coffin was quiet. Hades knocked three times and then soaked the outside of the coffin with the Dark Domain again.

The Primarch ignored him; perhaps he was still resting, or perhaps he had already left. Hades was used to this and simply left.

Normally, he would meet Makado at this time, but Makado went out to unleash a powerful attack on the Eldar, so Hades did not encounter Makado.

So Hades went to the Terran dungeon. He glanced at the old man with yellow hair. The Lord of Mankind was still on the high steps. When he saw Hades arrive, he only slightly opened his eyes.

"Hey! Old Huang!"

Hades greeted them, and then demonstrated just how agile he was, "It's alright, I'm off!"

After leaving the palace, the shuttle was already waiting on the platform near the palace. Hades would usually go to find Alina Alina at this time. The guys usually had irregular schedules and didn't care about sleep, so Hades liked to go to the guys late at night or in the early morning to discuss work.

However, since Hades had met with Alina and Jin yesterday to discuss the matter, he didn't need to go see the Sage again today.

Hades went first to the Cathedral of the Underworld.

The shuttle stopped at the airport in the distance from the cathedral. Hades stepped out and entered the cathedral with practiced ease. It was still early morning, and the clock showed two o'clock.

Hades entered through a side door. People were lying haphazardly on the pews of the cathedral, fast asleep. In the corners, some people were still awake, solemnly praying to the sculptures in the cathedral, while others gathered in twos and threes, talking quietly.

During the month of the Church of the Underworld's gathering, in addition to those who are invited, other believers or members of the Church of the Underworld can also voluntarily go to Terra for pilgrimage. In theory, the Church of the Underworld will provide food and lodging for these people—in fact, the archbishop happily bought hundreds of thousands of blankets wholesale and then began stuffing blankets into every corner he could manage.

Hades had originally intended to ask the archbishop if preparations needed to be made in advance... rather than having people scattered and sleeping in churches, wilderness, and believers' homes.

But Samuel firmly shook his head, stating that this was a unique feature of the Hades religion, and had been so for thousands of years; they should not disrupt this custom.

Hades was deeply shocked, but after weighing the costs and safety, he ultimately chose to respect the Hades religion.

He entered discreetly, and Hades considered himself somewhat skilled in stealth.

Even so, some conscious people still saw Hades. Hades made a shushing gesture, and they all fell silent in astonishment.

The darkness probably prevented them from distinguishing whether it was Hades or some other large creature, so they just whispered among themselves from a distance and didn't come any closer.

The cathedral was enormous, with halls layered upon each other, one after another. Hades walked along when a large man approached him hesitantly.

Hades raised his hand behind him, indicating that the son of Hades who was following him did not need to be concerned.

"Lord Hades," the missing soul stammered, "I need to pee."

"..."

Hades turned his head and saw that the priest sent by the Church of the Underworld to watch over the soulless Oglin was already asleep on the bench, with dark circles under his eyes.

Ok……

Hades blinked. "Come with me, big guy."

The toilets are on the same route as the archbishop's bedroom.

Oglin nodded obediently and followed Hades.

They walked past the rows of sculptures inside the church. Those dark sculptures, like rows of strange houses in the dead of night, existed silently, as if they knew that they had embarrassed Hades at the opening ceremony. Oglin remained silent.

"arrive."

Hades looked up, and Oglin mumbled a thank you softly. Then, as if remembering something, he grabbed the corner of Hades' cloak and hesitated before speaking.

"Lord Hades, you won't abandon me, will you?"

Hades raised an eyebrow. What did those followers teach this Eugen?

“Why wouldn’t I want you?” Hades said patiently. “As long as you’re a good Eugen, serious about killing enemies, and beating up Chaos, I need you. Not just me, everyone needs you.”

Oglin paused for a few seconds, then nodded seriously.

"Yes, I can do it."

Oglin loosened his cloak, lowered his head, and went into the toilet, muttering to himself. He seemed to be seriously considering what he had just said, and his mind clearly didn't have the capacity to continue the conversation.

Hades glanced at the seven underworld children following behind him and gestured for one of them to take Oglin back later.

The underworld children first used a palm-and-back hand method to divide the group into three teams of four, and the remaining three played rock-paper-scissors to decide who the unlucky one would be.

So the unlucky one stayed behind, while the rest followed Hades to visit the archbishop.

Since its establishment, perhaps due to the tragedy of the state church, the position of pope of the Church of the Underworld has been vacant. The position has been passed down to the archbishop. The Church of the Underworld provides accommodation, and the archbishop's room is on the first basement floor of the cathedral.

After passing through numerous security gates, Hades arrived at the heavy black stone gate and knocked.

"Boom boom boom!"

There was no response. Hades checked his watch. It was 2:40. The archbishop had already slept for four hours. He should get him up and get to work.

"roll!!!"

A painful scream came from the crack in the door. Hades remained silent, patiently and forgivingly probing his dark domain inside. A second later—

"Ahhhh!"

Hades took a small step back. The archbishop, disheveled and with a forced smile, peeked out from the crack in the door. He was wearing pajamas with a cartoon Cerberus pattern, which Hades ignored.

"Lord Hades, please forgive me, please wait a minute."

“No rush,” Hades said. “I’m being merciful. You have one minute and seven seconds.”

The door slammed shut, but Hades wasn't annoyed. He skillfully took out his command board and began to review documents. The Academy of Athens was a good thing, and with the addition of Faos's ship templates, the Empire's ship system had received a major upgrade.