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

Page 261

Hades made a decision: if he discovered in the ensuing conversation that this emperor was... Hades might as well expose him today, or he could first flatter him and then quickly slip back to the Death Guard to persuade Mortalian to form a Primarch alliance.

Seeing that Hades did not respond to his plan, the Emperor stared at Hades with some doubt, but he continued speaking.

"Step two."

The emperor casually spread his arms, lowered his eyes, and then looked back into Hades' eyes.

"Hades, do you want to go left or right? Although it doesn't matter, you can choose whichever you prefer."

Hades felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. He didn't understand... he couldn't understand... The first step was for the emperor to become a god, and the second step was for him to choose left or right? Left or right what?

The emperor's voice continued to ring out casually as he muttered some religious-sounding words... something about how the right side is usually associated with "honesty and justice," while the left side is associated with "indirectness and cunning," but those were all superstitious pronouncements.

Hades' mind went blank. He spoke slowly and cautiously, still in the same tone he used when he spoke to the Emperor, even though deep down he was already screaming and saying goodbye to the Death Guard.

“I would like you to explain the meaning of this option in detail, Neos. I do have decision-making phobia.”

The emperor remained silent for a moment.

“It was my oversight. You mentioned earlier that you didn’t want to make a choice—so, go with the right hand.”

Don't skip Hades' questions and just give him the answer! At least he could put up a fight!

Completely oblivious to Hades's inner turmoil, the Emperor continued his unhurried actions, golden light gathering around him. The next moment, Hades's eyes widened—

The emperor raised his right hand, using his left index finger as a knife to gently make a cut on the first joint of his right little finger. Crimson blood seeped out, accompanied by a soft "snap".

Now, on the main conference table in the first reception room of the 19th Ultramarines, lies the Emperor's severed little finger joint, the white bone clearly visible amidst the bloody flesh.

Hades' brain has completely stopped functioning.

He remained silent, completely still, witnessing the emperor's actions with absolute astonishment.

As if feeling no pain, the Emperor calmly stared at his right hand. Radiant golden flames licked the severed wound, and flesh rapidly regenerated. In the blink of an eye, the Emperor's right hand was completely intact.

Then the emperor lowered his eyes, gazing intently at the flesh and bone he had just severed—

In an instant, dazzling golden light exploded in this space! The entire room was instantly engulfed in pure white flames.

A fierce force of faith roared in the light, carrying an undeniable and overwhelming brutality and prejudice. Cold and merciless psychic light burst forth, tightly gripping this brutal force, wrestling, tearing, and merging together.

The whispers of countless beings seemed to flicker in the fire, a yearning, a lament, a belief, a following... In a blinding white light that blurred the lines between heaven and earth, they brushed against the emperor's cheek, a gentle kiss, yet also a slash.

The emperor remained expressionless, ignoring the chants of billions of people. He continued to stare at the severed finger joint. Now, the flesh and blood had melted into the flames, leaving only the white bones shimmering in the light.

...The flames slowly died down.

The emperor picked up the bone, which resembled a warm, white jade shimmering with golden light, yet also possessed a chilling spiritual power... Success! The emperor was satisfied.

Then he slowly raised his head and looked at Hades, who was standing in the corner of the room, raising his scythe in a gesture toward him.

Hades stared at him, gripping the sickle obituary even tighter.

……

"I don't understand."

The emperor held up that bone segment and slowly said,

"I don't understand either."

Hades said he was trying his best to control himself; the psionic flames just now were too intense, and for Hades and his Dark Domain, this was a situation of irreconcilable conflict.

...He didn't, he didn't run away immediately. The damn door was locked, and it was the reinforced kind. Hades suddenly remembered that Macado had locked the door before he left.

Hades screamed inwardly. He shouldn't have forgotten that Macardo was in league with the Emperor, but at least Macardo was still within the realm of human understanding. What, then, was the Emperor doing?!

Hades swallowed hard. He needed to make some things clear, otherwise Hades didn't think the Emperor would understand why he was in his current state.

“…Nyos, your current actions are very much in line with my impression of…some stereotypical villains. I’m worried that you’re not the person I understand…”

"Instead... it's closer to some kind of subspace."

The emperor remained silent, while continuing to hold up the bone segment.

“You have misunderstood me, Hades, but I do not believe I have used misleading words.”

Hades stared intently at the Emperor, convinced that this meeting with the Emperor might be his last... his Death Guard...

“I truly hope that my perception of you is a misunderstanding, Neos.”

"But first,"

Hades said,

"Let me state my position first to avoid causing unnecessary trouble. I hope that, in the end, humanity can live freely, autonomously, and independently, rather than becoming believers in some kind of existence. Humanity can rely on its own development to overcome crises."

"And I, Hades, act in accordance with the above principles, and without violating them, seek the benefit of myself and those I know."

Hades quickly stated his position, and the doubt on the Emperor's face gradually turned into a smile.

She still had that bright smile.

But he was holding up a bone segment, and given the Emperor's words and actions just now, Hades felt that the whole scene carried an indescribable eeriness.

Hades didn't understand; all he wanted to do right now was curse.

The emperor spoke, his tone quite relaxed.

“That’s why I chose you, Hades,”

The emperor chuckled.

"I haven't met someone like you in a long time. I've seen too many empty people, and too many narrow people... and those who are caught in the middle and driven crazy by the torment."

The emperor smiled and shook his head.

“I admire your magnanimity, and I appreciate you—if you put down the sickle.”

Hades remained unmoved, even though he felt he wouldn't last a single move against the Emperor.

"You need to clear up my misunderstandings about you first, Neos. What are your second step, third step... and what's the plan after that?"

Hades paused for a moment.

"At least I've never seen a plan that requires cutting off a section of your little finger."

The emperor blinked; he seemed to be thinking.

"It could be any other part of my body, as long as it's connected to my skeleton."

Is this the key point?!

"Why are you carrying your skeleton? What is it for?"

The Emperor twisted the knuckles of his hand, reminding Hades of those idly playing with erasers.

“It’s a medium that, from a mystical perspective, connects with my psychic energy. Through this, I can transfer my psychic energy—mostly the part with impure faith—to you to avoid the possibility of ascending to godhood.”

Hades breathed a sigh of relief and slowly put down his scythe. The dramatic ups and downs he had just experienced left him feeling somewhat exhausted.

"You could have explained it in advance, instead of giving me a choice first."

The emperor stopped his joint-twisting movements.

"Perhaps it's a matter of habit. I've always preferred to demonstrate my power to people before giving them orders."

Hades took a deep breath.

"So what's the explanation? After witnessing your power, do people bow down and worship without needing any explanation from you? Am I right?"

Then Hades saw the Emperor slowly and hesitantly nod.

"Explanation always takes time, and in most cases, it does not bring any benefits."

"Oh yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," Hades said, indicating that he was absolutely right, except that he was almost scared to death just now.

If he were Macado, he would have had a heart attack from the Emperor sooner or later. Poor old Macado, he's already so old and still has to be scared.

Hades glanced at the Emperor in silence, put away his scythe, and silently sat back down.

Upon his return, the emperor smiled at him as a gesture of goodwill.

Hades nearly choked on his breath again.

"Transferring psionic energy?"

Hades promptly changed the subject; he didn't want to recall the scene from earlier, but the bone in the Emperor's hand kept reminding him of the previous madness.

"You want me to absorb this portion of psionic energy? But if it's given to me, and I absorb too much..."

Hades' voice gradually faded away—no, that's not right—

"This portion of psionic energy isn't meant for me to completely absorb. You intend to use it to suppress my Dark Domain?!"

The emperor smiled and nodded.

"Yes, that's why I must [become a god]. Your dark domain is still not enough to shake the waves—it's time for us to give it a push."

"As long as the power of faith can suppress your Dark Domain, you can remain active throughout the entire empire's territory and unleash it when necessary."

Hades pondered... The Emperor now tacitly approves of the Hades faith, diverting the faith of the Motorist to expand his Dark Domain, and then using the Word Bearer to become a god, using this part of the faith's power to suppress Hades' Dark Domain.

As long as the faith in the Emperor continues to outpace the expansion of the Dark Domain, Hades' Dark Domain could theoretically grow to an astonishing extent—while maintaining controllability.

Theoretically, it is indeed feasible, but... but it's a bit crazy. If the Emperor allows faith, is it possible that the Dark Lord will accelerate... and... the Four Gods will certainly be aware of the Emperor's actions... this is similar to building a nuclear bomb... will they take any action?

Hades shook his head repeatedly. It was insane, but it was indeed feasible.

He swallowed.

"It seems I have no other choice. I accept it, I accept it."

Hades stared at the emperor in front of him, thinking, "Damn, he's smiling so brightly."

Hades decided to try to salvage some of his dignity.

"But...aren't you afraid that the beings in the warp might...act ahead of time?"

The emperor stopped laughing.

"It has already begun, Hades. After the City of Perfection, you need to go to the Twelfth Legion."

Yes, is there?

Chapter 312 You're Going to Extremes

The bright lights of the reception room looked down on Hades, making his white hair almost glow with a hazy light.

Hades swallowed hard.

Finally, as if resigned to his fate, or as if in resignation, Hades reached out his hand.

The emperor opposite him smiled with satisfaction. The emperor reached out and released the small piece of white bone that he had been holding between his fingers.

"clatter"

The crisp sound of bones colliding with armor was clearly audible. Hades' expression hardened, and faint golden flames seemed to burn along his arm, accompanied by small crackling sounds, scorching everything.

Hades blinked, and the next moment, the illusory flames vanished.

Aside from the flame that lingered on his retina for a moment, Hades himself felt nothing else.

The Emperor extended his hand, crossed his arms, and rested his chin on them, watching Hades with great interest. For some reason, Hades felt that the Emperor had become more energetic.

"Is this... all you need?"

The emperor nodded.

"You can eat it, or simply keep it safe."

Hadesto's hand, which was holding the finger bone, trembled slightly, and he silently withdrew his hand.

"I think I'll keep it."

He felt the white bone in his hand; it was very light, with a texture like slightly rough jade. Apart from that, it was just an ordinary finger bone that shimmered with a ceramic-like quality.

It turns out that the emperor's little finger bone is similar to that of others.

Hades thought for a moment, then took a wire of suitable length and thickness from the wires he carried with him, tied it to the slightly concave part in the middle of the finger bone, and then put it around his neck.

Tying the necklace on himself took Hades a bit of effort. The Emperor waited silently for him, and when Hades finished, he tucked the simple necklace back under his clothes—so that others would only see that Hades was wearing a B7 type wire.

When Hades turned his gaze back to the Emperor, the Emperor spoke.

“I have a rope.”