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

Page 332

Although he was long gone from the Primarch and could not know his every move, Cyrene, the Blessed Lady, could. Cyrene was intelligent and not as impulsive as Angertai. This wise blind woman decisively and tactfully accepted the new faith after realizing that something was wrong with the Primarch. But in private, Cyrene still prayed to the Emperor and the Silent Ones every day.

It was also Cyrene who brought the Primarch's schedule to Angrtai. The little girl crawled out of the ventilation duct and brought the latest Primarch news to Angrtai, who was on duty.

According to Cyrene, the Primarch would go to the confessional on his own at noon every day, and no one would see him. The priests who had previously gone to see the Primarch were all severely reprimanded, and some of them were even thrown against the wall by the impatient Father of Genetics.

The Primarch's time alone... this is Angorte's last chance.

With the help of the map provided by the blessed lady, he skillfully avoided the patrolling soldiers. Angerte walked silently down the corridor, unconsciously gripping his spear tightly, his hand pressed against the cold black stone.

The confessional was right in front of him, and Angelte felt his breathing begin to become heavy.

Was he right?

Angortai asked himself honestly, he could have chosen not to do this. The fact that the Primarch had exiled him to the ship proved that he still had hope. Angortai could have obediently worked in a remote post on the mothership for a few years, then returned to the Primarch's side and became his most trusted warrior.

But... that's not how it works.

Something's wrong with Lojia, Angertai thought painfully. Even though he was still as glorious as a demigod, things had gone off track ever since Lojia conspired with Peturabo to kill the Imperial Guard. There would always be wise men among the Word Bearers who saw the Primarch's abnormality, but they were either exiled first or kept silent—this was a time of great change in military ranks.

When Angertai's thoughts regained their footing in reality, he found himself standing at the door of the Primarch's private confessional.

The door was closed.

Angertai swallowed hard, slung his spear over his back, and reached out to knock on the door.

His gaze lingered on his hand suspended in the air, and finally—Angertay decided to follow his heart, he turned his hand over and tried to gently push open the door.

Angelte's eyes widened; the door wasn't locked.

Flickering flames danced through the cracks in the door, the flames crackling quietly, accompanied by heavy, drowning-like breathing.

Luo Jia stood there, his back to Angertai, facing the black stone scepter displayed in the corner. Fires blazed around the Primarch. Angertai saw the corpse of the book, and the Primarch set his books ablaze.

Angertai recognized the text; among the book fragments were legion tomes from before the City of Perfection, as well as newer editions and versions of the original text currently being compiled.

As if unaware of Angorte's arrival, the Primarch stood silently, rooted to the spot, his breathing erratic, as if engaged in a fierce battle.

Angeltai pursed his lips and cautiously took a step into the room—

【roll. 】

Luo Jia's voice rang out, but the Primarch remained motionless.

Angertai felt as if the Primarch had his throat choked, but he chose to take his second step with determination.

The Luojia he knew would not tell his offspring to "get out".

Luo Jia's breathing became more erratic; he breathed short and shallowly, but remained motionless.

Angeltai took his third step, and the pressure suddenly came. He saw blood seeping from between his helmet boots, and his throat tasted metallic.

Luo Jia let out a gasp that sounded like she was dying.

"……Father?"

Angeltai opened his mouth, and a red line slid down from the corner of his lips.

【……Don't】

A fragmented sound rang out.

【look……】

With a tick, amidst the flickering, dim yellow light, Angertai saw a drop of blood appear at the Primarch's feet.

But the Primarch's silhouette remained as silent as an old house abandoned for millions of years.

The sound of clashing metal rang out, armor clashing against each other, and Luo Jia slowly raised a hand, pointing to the dim golden scepter.

【Walk……】

Blood tears streamed down Angortai's face. He knew, he knew. He began to walk toward the scepter. As he passed the Primarch, a great wail was heard, and the Primarch turned away, continuing to face away from Angortai.

Angerte successfully grasped the scepter.

【Walk……】

The Primarch was panting.

Go...go...to find God.

Angeltai felt as if tears of blood had covered his entire face.

"How can I help you, Father?"

He asked sadly, broken and fragmented.

[Go...faster...]

Angertai clenched his teeth tightly. No… he thought, no… he couldn’t help the Primarch. The moment he saw Luo Jia’s back, Angertai realized that the Primarch was far worse off than he had imagined.

But all he can do now is obey Luo Jia's orders.

Angertai felt as if a mountain was weighing on his shoulders, but the Primarch's voice urging him to go grew weaker and weaker; he was running out of time...

Luo Jia listened to Angeltai's disordered footsteps fading into the distance, and after an unknown amount of time, the fire around him gradually died out.

Now, Luojia is facing utter darkness.

Waaaaaah, it's all over!

Chapter 398 Good News, The Word Bearer

A blinding white light flashed across the armor, and Fenus's hand rested lightly on the command platform as he turned his gaze toward Hades.

Hades lowered his head slightly, listening to the sounds coming from the eavesdropping channel.

It's a very common greeting between two armies when they meet, and the wording is quite formal.

The voice of the Word Bearer echoed politely in the channel, while the Lord of Medusa responded with occasional stiff "hmm."

He stared at Hades, awaiting Hades' judgment.

...No...Hades thought that although the Silent Order's time was slightly disordered when traveling alone in the warp, their time was normal when traveling with the Iron Hand.

According to the map, even if the Word Bearer were to move at top speed, it would be impossible for him to be here now.

Hades blinked, looked at Phenus, and silently uttered a few words with his mouth open.

The Queen of Medusa nodded, and spoke after a moment of silence among the Word Bearers.

I hope to meet Luojia.

The response from the other side was swift; the decision wasn't in their squad's hands, but they had already notified the Primarch.

Finuston paused, his tone softening slightly.

I recall the Fourth Army was stationed here. Are they here too, or have they already gone to other territories?

"My lord, the Whisperers and the Fourth Legion are stationed together in this star system. If you go three more districts, you will see the Legion of Iron Warriors."

Hades and Phenus exchanged a glance, and Phenus continued speaking.

Are two legions already stationed here? Then the Iron Hand will cease its expedition.

The reply from the other side was still a polite blessing, wishing the great expedition a victory.

Phenus hung up the communication, turned around, and stared at Hades, who remained deep in thought.

What can you tell from this?

Hades shook his head slightly.

“The Word Bearers shouldn’t be here. There are three possibilities: they’re really alright, just like the Iron Hand, they haven’t received any notification from Terra; the Word Bearers have a problem, but the wound hasn’t spread yet, and this squad we encountered is just a group of survivors; or the Word Bearers are the problem, and this scout is deliberately giving us that answer.”

Hades' eyes flickered. The Silent Order's ships had been completely dispersed and hidden within the Iron Hand's fleet. Unless they activated their Subspace Eye, this small team would not know that Hades was here.

Just as Hades was pondering, the communication request from the Word Bearer rang again, the communication light flashing urgently. Without hesitation, Fenus opened the channel.

"Lord of the Iron Hand of the Tenth Legion,"

The person opposite them who was speaking had changed; their tone was slightly anxious.

“Although two legions are already stationed in the Cygnus sector, I, Thor Targron, swear on my life that I implore you to speak with our Primarch.”

Hades subtly raised an eyebrow; it seemed they had encountered a special situation.

Phenus then continued, following the words of the Word-Bearer.

【Why. 】

"Finus asked calmly, as a commotion came through the channel; it seemed the Word Bearers were arguing."

Fernus gave them a moment to react, then his stern voice rang out.

[Answer my question directly, Thor Targron. Your words were already disrespectful, but if you choose not to answer me and continue to defy the Primarch—]

Fernus's voice trailed off as he waited for the other side.

Saul's slightly out-of-breath voice rang out again, sounding anxious. He seemed to have just defeated some of his brothers who opposed him; he spoke rapidly.

"I'm so sorry, sir, but I can't explain the situation slowly. Our father hasn't been behaving well lately. After his meeting with the Primarch of the Fourth Legion, he became—"

"I'm sorry, my lord."

The voice on the other channel changed.

"Sol Tagron was recently dismissed from his position as company commander of the 34th Company by his father and then assigned to our unit. The change in his position has made him a bit erratic."

Phenus and Hades exchanged a glance, and Hades made a few hand gestures.

Phenus remained silent; only the faint crackling of electric arcs could be heard in the Primarch's channel. Hades imagined the pressure exerted on the other side because of the Primarch's silence.

[How does the Wordhold intend to deal with someone who has contradicted a Primarch?]

Fernus's voice, tinged with impatience and anger, rang out.

Don't tell me you were planning to use waiting for orders from higher-ups as an excuse to cover this up.

Hades turned his head, and while Fernus was talking to the person opposite him, he gestured towards Santo, the Iron Hand, who was standing guard at the entrance to the command room.

"Come here, come here quickly."

Hades said in a low voice,

Santo glanced at his father with a puzzled look, while Finus gave him a determined look, so Santo stepped forward.

The closer distance allowed him to hear the hesitant explanation coming from the other end of the channel.

You have been quite offensive.

Finus said,

I don't care about anything else, but military discipline is strict, and mistakes must be punished. Let him have a duel with my soldier Santo. If he wins, then this matter will be dropped.

Hades bent down, patted Santo on the shoulder, and tuned him into the channels of Fernus and the Word Bearers. Santo's eyes widened; he could tell the two generals had ulterior motives, but what did they want him to do?

He saw Hades' mouth move, and he got on the ship.

Fernus stopped speaking at the opportune moment. Santo swallowed hard, then spoke, his voice filled with anger.

"I, Gabriel Santo, Company Commander of the Steel Hand, hereby challenge Thor Targron the Word Bearer to a duel, witnessed by the Steel Fist."

--------

The Word Bearers, who were being escorted aboard the Iron Hand mothership on Thor, were immediately cut off from communications and overturned.

Thor turned around in shock to see his fellow warriors being disarmed by steel hands emerging from the shadows. Though confused about what was happening, Thor drew his warhammer, ready to fight alongside the Word Bearers.

Then Santo pinned him down, face down, making intimate contact with the metal floor of the Steel Fist.

A massive shadow was cast before him, and Thor felt his limbs begin to weaken. He swallowed hard, frantically trying to figure out what to do next.

A deep voice rang out, yet its tone was relaxed.

"Don't be nervous, Saul the Word Bearer, I have a few questions for you."

No... it wasn't Finus's voice, nor was it Santo's voice.

Santo, who was holding him down, silently delivered a backstab to Saul with the butt of his rifle.

“To answer this gentleman’s question seriously, Saul, I don’t think you want any further misunderstandings to arise.”

The unfamiliar voice rang out again.

"Don't be so nervous. Actually, I admire your courage very much, Saul."