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

Page 435

His lowered eyes met Tarasin's, staring at the "Sage's" camera.

Are you the temporary head of the Silent Order?

Tarachin, the undead overlord of space, swore he hadn't felt this close to death in a long time.

"...Yes...yes."

Upon hearing his reply, Mortarion casually glanced him up and down. The Primarch's gaze lingered for a moment on the cloak that Talathim had tucked into the little Death Guard. If Talathim were still breathing, he would have already fainted from breathing too rapidly.

His mechanical body was almost trembling. He should have known better than to be greedy for the scene of Macardo arguing with the Primarch! Besides, it was agreed that Mortalian wouldn't be at this meeting!

Both are Primarchs, but Korax's thought process is much more approachable, but Mortarion—what kind of madman is he?!

He could simply abandon this body—even though it granted him some power—but he didn't have to!

Just as Tarasin was contemplating whether to simply send back his consciousness data and get lost, Mortarian finally turned his gaze away.

Thank you for your contributions to the Silence Retreat.

Mortarian said, "May I ask you some questions about the Order of Silence? The Death Guard has had connections with the Order of Silence... We need to verify some data."

Can he refuse?

Tarasin knew he had definitely been exposed—but he didn't know exactly how much he had revealed, whether the other side knew he was an alien, or whether they knew he had "borrowed" a small Death Guard.

Or worse, Motari Security finds out!

Tarasin pondered briefly. In the Eye of Fear, he could access a total of thirty-two spare bodies in Kadia within ten hours. If all else failed, he could simply abandon his own body.

Although Taracin was reluctant to part with this body and the bond with Corax, Corax had now gone to the dark side of the Empire, and other spare bodies were heading to Corax's vicinity.

Moreover… Tarasin thought that it wasn’t impossible to talk about it—with the mentality of taking a chance, Mortarion was one of his objectives this time, but he couldn’t resist and captured a minor Death Guard in advance.

Given the original body's magnanimity, it shouldn't be angry about just one person, right?

"Okay, my lord."

As Makado and the Khan watched him go, Tarasin rose tremblingly and followed the escorting servant to the private reception room.

Tarasin saw Makado's gaze. The old man seemed to be hinting at something, staring intently at Tarasin and Mortarian, as if he wanted to say something. In that instant, Tarasin knew that he was not going to make it this time.

He has Makado to protect him.

This is sure.

They were all seasoned veterans, and Tarachin was at least a historian of the dead.

But why didn't Makado himself come forward? Tarasin pondered. Was Paimotarian trying to express their sincerity? Could it be that the Empire had realized his thoughts?

Tarasim pondered, but none of that mattered.

Importantly, Tarasim decided to try catching another small Death Guard.

------------

The servant silently closed the door for them. It was a small room with two single sofas facing each other. Tarasin, who was the first to enter, took the smaller one and sat down.

Then he turned back and stared at Mortarian.

The Primarch seemed taken aback by his actions. Mortarion stood in the doorway, his expression hidden beneath his hood.

[...Giving up the act?]

A hiss echoed through the mist. Tarasin took the tea offered by the servant, a crack appearing on his metallic face. He drank the tea.

"I don't understand what you mean, sir."

Tarasin said calmly, and sure enough, he heard Mortarian's asthmatic breathing.

I hate aliens.

Mortarion's voice, filled with extreme resentment, echoed through the mist, but the Primarch still moved to sit opposite Talathin.

"If you hate it, then I can leave now."

Tarasin believed that Mortarian's physical strength overwhelmed him in this body, but if they engaged in verbal combat, and the other party didn't intend to seek revenge afterward...

It's quite interesting.

As expected, Mortarion stopped, and after a moment of silence, the Primarch spoke.

You are friends with the Lord of the Order of Silence.

This is a declarative sentence, and Taracin nodded.

"Yes, he entrusted me with some things, and I should help him."

Mortarion fell silent again, as if he had just learned to speak. The Primarch's frustration was almost tangible as he paced back and forth in the room like a caged beast.

[Please allow me to ask, what did the Lord of the Order of Silence promise you?]

Now that you've said that, Tarasin is no longer sleepy.

Taracin slowly sipped his tea—which was actually just pouring the liquid into the waste bin.

"Hisself."

At that moment, Tarachin was certain that his alarm had only gone off for a brief instant.

Mortarian sat hunched over the ill-fitting sofa, his gaze fixed on Tarasin, his killing intent and chilling aura almost tangible.

Taracin took another sip of tea slowly and deliberately.

“I think that since we’ve already sat down to talk, you’re not here to seek revenge on Tarasin. If you insist on doing so, perhaps we could send Lord Makado instead.”

Upon hearing this, the chill emanating from Mortarian vanished instantly.

Tarasin waited quietly, only to hear Mortarion take seven wheezing breaths, then the Primarch wiped his face with both hands, followed by a soft, weary voice.

【……Feel sorry.】

"I accept your apology, sir."

Tarasin replied smoothly that it was only because he meant well; if it were another overlord, they would probably have already started fighting.

Realizing this couldn't continue, Mortarion straightened up, removed his hood, and the Primarch reached out his hand.

[The Imperium of Man, the Death Guard Primarch, Mortarion.]

"The former feared dead, the overlord of the Nihirak dynasty, Tarasin."

Tarasin extended his mechanical prosthetic arm and shook hands with Mortarian, but this time, Mortarian remained as still as if he were dead.

The Primarch released his hand.

Thank you for accepting the commission from the Lord of the Order of Silence.

Motalian spoke without any emotional fluctuation.

I believe that the being whom the Lord of the Order of Silence is willing to entrust with is one he is willing to trust.

“Of course,” Tarasin waved his hand, “that kid took a lot from me.”

He stared at Motalian for a moment, then froze, but Motalian continued speaking.

"In the name of his comrade-in-arms, and in the name of Mortarion," Mortarion said, his face as white as a corpse, "Tarachin, I wish to amend the contents of this commission—in the years to come, I hope you will protect the Lord of the Order of Silence, leading him away from the galaxy until he can control himself."

Tarasin remained silent, as if deep in thought. Mortarian stared at the other man, feeling utterly insane.

But if Macardo's information is correct—then it can only be the space superpower.

It can only be Taraxin.

Until the deceased truly awakens and is truly able to take control of himself, there is no place for him in the empire.

No one could even get close to him.

The technology of the space necromancers can help him, and their soulless nature makes them completely fearless of the Dark Realm.

And the space necromancers who can facilitate the transaction...

Why should I accept it?

Tarachin countered,

In fact, his purpose in coming here was to take in and protect Hades, but whether he would release him after taking him in... that would depend on Hades' mood at that time.

Mortarian stared at Tarasin, his eyes flashing white like a cold-blooded animal.

【what do you want? 】

Tarachin laughed, the electronic voice particularly jarring, and the alien waved its hand.

"I just feel a connection with Hades and want to be friends with him—I'm only talking to you because of our friendship."

Mortarian remained silent in the face of Tarasin's deliberate mockery. The Pale Lord sat there, saying nothing.

"This is absolutely possible," Makado told Motarian personally.

When both sides have mutually satisfactory interests, their positions are never an issue.

The Emperor and Macado speculated that perhaps Mortarion could offer the Necromancers a grand promise of "restoring their souls/giving their race a new lease on life."

Mortarion has already successfully taken [Death], and it's not impossible for him to obtain other powers as well.

And the behavior of that space necromancer also seems to have this intention.

Mortarian wanted Macardo to come, but the old man insisted that Mortarian negotiate. Macardo looked at Mortarian and told him that from now on, it was his own path.

"You don't have to leave," Macado said. "Keep swinging your scythes at the aliens. I'll send Guilliman."

Mortarian took a deep breath.

I have come to negotiate with you, also for the sake of the life of the Lord of the Order of Silence.

Motarian was furious; he couldn't say those words, he simply couldn't.

It was something that all Tarasin needed to do was to state his conditions, but he deliberately avoided talking about benefits—it was obvious that he was toying with Mortarian.

How did the deceased become friends with such an alien?

Mortarian closed his eyes, then opened them again, his tone becoming even more casual.

I know you must feel resentful that the deceased took too much from you.

Mortarian chuckled softly.

I apologize for this, and Death Guard can make it up to you—even if you don't like Death Guard's stuff now, in the future...

You can ask.

Mortarian said, staring at Tarasin, his eyes momentarily turning white as he looked at the soulless shell. "Perhaps... I know what you want?"

Even if I can't do it now, it doesn't mean—

"Thirteen small death guards."

Mortarian's words, one card,

[What?] The Primarch's hard-won decision was thrown into disarray.

"Thirteen small death guards."

Tarasin said firmly,

You don't want... anything else... like subspace projection?

Tarasin laughed.

"You mean the soul?"

Motarian nodded. Tarasin's electronic camera looked at Motarian, but his expression was unreadable.

"We do have that plan."

“However—” Tarachin’s tone changed, and the alien waved its hand, “It was just a simple favor, helping a friend.”

“If you’re worried…” Taracin said, “your emperor will definitely put restrictions on me anyway, and I also have technology to prevent breach of contract.”

"I'm also very curious to see how far Hades can go."

Seeing that Mortarian's face darkened again,

Did you plan to do this from the beginning?

Taracin nodded and leisurely picked up his teacup.

"I was the first human to arrive in Cardia."