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

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"At least this meeting was not a complete waste of time."

The old man looked at Sevita with encouraging eyes, signaling him to continue.

"The Midnight Lord is willing to travel to those star systems that are difficult to conquer, to exchange forgiveness for blood..."

Severus shifted his gaze to Hades, who was also looking at him indifferently, his dark eyes devoid of any light, terrifyingly black.

"The Legion accepts a reduction in logistical resources."

Sevita continued, a smile spreading across his face, a smile like that of a corpse being forcibly pried open.

"At the same time, the Midnight Lords are willing to compensate the Death Guards with adamantite resources from their home planet, thus reaching a long-term agreement."

"...These punishments will continue until the Legion proves our loyalty to the Empire once again through sacrifice, the specific timing of which will be determined by the Empire."

Makado fell silent, and the old man asked Hades seriously,

"You suggested all of these?"

Sending the Midnight Lord to areas of high intensity of war and reducing the supply of resources inevitably results in the legion rapidly shrinking in size within a short period of time.

Makado was unaware of the specifics of the Midnight Lords' Legion's internal affairs, which, in the old man's view, was already a rather severe punishment.

If the first two conditions are met, then all legions will be able to see exactly what price the Midnight Lord paid for Conrad Coz's madness—

Although Makado didn't understand why the Death Guard was so fixated on Nostrlam's adamantite mines, Nostrlam and the Death Guard were far enough apart that they could easily seek resources within their own sector.

Servita looked at Hades; were they facing off?

Severa was unsure how much Hades knew about the Night Lords. These harsh measures, rather than being punishment, seemed more like giving the Night Lords a chance to reshuffle the deck.

What is Hades thinking?

Nostrlam, the planet that served as a source of soldiers for the Night Lords, had long since betrayed the Legion. Corrupt nobles had regained control of the planet, leaving behind only the virtuous for their own families and supplying large numbers of criminals to the Night Lords as a source of soldiers for the Legion.

Once these criminals become Night Lords, they use their status as Space Marines to profit for the families they are attached to on their home planet.

By the time Conrad Coz became aware of this, the Legion was already rife with violence and corruption.

Severa suggested that Conrad Coz eliminate these morally corrupt criminals, but the Primarch, in a state of mental disorder, refused.

And so they watched with growing awareness as the legion crumbled bit by bit...

Now, Hades handed them a knife, a bone scraper to cut away his own flesh and blood.

This is punishment, for it will inevitably bleed. The Midnight Lords will be despised by the Empire for a long time, and they will watch as their legions shrink in size, enduring every night of scarcity.

But this is also... a kind of hope that allows Sevita... no, Conrad Coz to take complete control of the Legion.

If it were only the first two punishments, Sevita would think that Hades might simply want to punish them.

But the third punishment points directly to the Midnight Lords' homeworld, Nostrlam.

If the Legion wants to supply the Death Guard with large quantities of adamantium, it must regain control of its homeworld...

Even... the timeframe for the punishment Hades proposed was roughly the same timeframe that would allow the legion's rotten flesh to be completely removed...

Sevita felt his brain trembling.

What does this Death Guardian, Hades, really know? Why does he know so much about the Night Lords? Or is this just a coincidence that he's overthinking?

If everything is as Sevita thinks, then why would this Death Guard, who was wounded by his father, help them?

Hades, what... what is he thinking?!

Sevita couldn't understand it. The only thing he couldn't comprehend was Hades's stance and position. All he could do was think about how to protect the Lord of the Night when Hades proposed each punishment measure.

He didn't know what Hades was doing; he could only tell that Hades' malice towards him wasn't that obvious.

Perhaps he had been staring at Hades for too long, because Hades smiled at him naturally, a smile that was obviously much more natural than that of Sevita… Sevita rarely saw such a smile in the legion, because most of the experienced veterans were not given to smiling.

Hades smiled, no longer looking at Sevita. He turned to Macado and spoke.

"Does the Empire permit this kind of punishment?"

Makado paused.

"If both legions agree, then the Empire will recognize the legitimacy of the agreement."

But... why did the Night Lord agree to such a cruel punishment without even a struggle?

Macardo frowned and questioned Hades with his eyes, but Hades maintained his cheerful expression that said, "I know nothing."

"Trust me, Lord Makado."

Hades said lightly, his pupils unfathomable.

Hades smiled. To outsiders unaware of the inner workings of the Midnight Lords Legion, this would appear to be a rather severe punishment imposed by the Empire on the Midnight Lords, as a retribution for Conrad Coz's unauthorized confrontation with his brother.

The legion will rapidly reduce its size until the designated time limit is reached.

For Sevita and Konrad Coz (provided he is conscious), this is an opportunity for them to cleanse the Legion once again, but this process will be accompanied by a great deal of bloodshed and pain.

As if afraid they might misunderstand, Hades put forward a vague third point.

The Midnight Lords can use war and resource depletion as pretexts to wear down those scum warriors, while also conquering more territory for the Empire.

Once the designated time limit arrives, the Midnight Lords can gradually restore their legion size, and in the future when their home planet is regained control, the legions will obviously become healthy again.

But if that's all there is to Hades, then he's being far too merciful—

Hades wouldn't be that kind of person. Given the obvious conflict between the Death Guard and the Night Lord, his first priority would be to ensure that the future Night Lord wouldn't threaten the Death Guard.

Hades' game of chess is not yet finished.

His final step is hidden within the duration of the punishment; just as these wounded bats are about to complete their atonement and be reborn, they will discover—

A great rebellion has begun.

Of course, this assumes that the Great Rebellion began around that time, but even if it had been delayed, the Midnight Lords wouldn't have been able to rebuild their legions so quickly.

At that time, the Midnight Lords will become the weakest of the great rebellion forces, and even if they rebel, they will not pose a threat.

Hades did leave them a way out; if the Night Lords truly repented, they could retreat back to their home planet Nostrlam, since Nostrlam was located in a remote location.

Hades smiled, revealing his kind smile.

“I’m glad my conversation with Sevita went well and my cousin understood my good intentions.”

Great!

3.2k words today

There might be more, but don't wait, your hand will hurt.

The group chat exploded. I'll create another group with 500 follower points tomorrow. I won't edit it today.

Currently, one ordinary book club member who has subscribed to all books still exists.

Regarding why the main group exploded... I hope everyone will be careful with their words and actions. Also, why are there so many people who haven't read my book posting their own fantasies? They should go to other dedicated Warhammer groups.

Chapter 300 The Hunting of People in Progress

On the Endurance, the Lord of Death and Hades were heading towards the opposite port. After chatting with Horus for a while, Macado was about to head to the Death Guard.

He will talk to Hades and Mortarian for a while.

Have you finished your discussion with the Midnight Lord?

Hades nodded.

“Nothing particularly important. I mainly tried to win over Sevita and, incidentally, finalized the redemption agreement with him.”

Mortarian blinked.

He could perhaps understand how Hades used rhetoric to get the other side to accept those unacceptable terms, but he couldn't understand how, under these circumstances, one could still try to win over the bat cubs.

[…Hades, how did you persuade him?]

Hades then explained his analysis from Severta's perspective to Mortarian.

Mortarian frowned deeply.

When did you become so kind? Conrad pierced your chest, yet you're still thinking of his legion?

The thought of Hades trying to pull the Midnight Lord while he himself was rebuking Conrad Coz... Mortalian didn't feel good.

Why would you trust a legion like this? They seem to be...

Hades smiled.

"They won't live to see the day they are truly reborn."

Given the current situation, the possibility of Conrad Coz and the Midnight Lords falling into corruption remains very high. If they do not purge the scum from their own legions, then most of the Midnight Lords will inevitably betray them—even if Conrad himself may not have such intentions.

To gain their loyalty, they need a purge, but after the purge... Hades has faith in Sevita's management abilities.

If the Midnight Lords awaken the Light of Humanity and decide to be loyal, then we can let them fight guerrilla warfare. They can also deal damage by coordinating with the legions that are mainly attacking the front lines (such as the Death Guard).

Hades makes decisions from the Legion's perspective, as for the Primarch... who is he? I don't really know him.

Hades's hint to Sevita was to weaken Primarch Conrad Coz's control and influence over the Legion.

Instead of gambling on Conrad Koz changing his mind, it would be better to focus on developing the Death Guard, or give Guilliman some advice in advance, encouraging him to increase his unit production.

This is far more efficient than improving the Midnight Lord.

Even in Hades's decision-making, if he hadn't started with Barbaros, and he were now in Deathguard, putting aside personal factors, the most efficient strategy would have been to start with Macragge to prevent Guilliman from corrupting him, then advise Guilliman to pre-plan and mass produce units, kill Magnus at the start, and then immediately return to defend Terra.

When the Ultramarines deploy 500,000 Smurfs to garrison Terra, not even the Warlords, let alone anyone else, will be helpless. Even Khorne would have to slap him twice.

Just focus on massing units, and leave the rest to F2a.jpg

Instead of painstakingly persuading the Primarchs, it's better to let them experience the vast ocean of people. No matter how strong the Primarchs are, apart from specific Primarchs like the Angels or Magnus, the rest can be overwhelmed by Titans. And the Ultramarines have several Legions that are loyal to the Forging Worlds...

...Therefore, Macurag has always been a source of pain for Hades.

Hades glanced silently at Mortalian, who was still pondering Hades' words and the agreement... Oh well, Death Guard is fine too.

As long as the legion does not betray, these hardcore frontline divisions on the main battlefield will play an unimaginable role on large-scale battlefields.

Hades' current concern is whether the Death Guard will relapse into their old ways if he is transferred by the Empire, and whether the Death Guard will develop its logistics and mass-produce troops after he leaves.

However… Hades quietly shifted his gaze. If Mortarion had fallen into darkness, it was estimated that only the Barbalus descendants would follow the Primarch this time, and not even all of them.

The reason is simple: on other recruitment planets, Hades' educational system focuses on loyalty to the Empire and the Emperor, with very little information about specific Primarchs and Legions.

At least aside from tax evasion and tax avoidance, Deathguard's education system is geared towards war, military affairs, and production.

If Barbaross weren't the homeworld of the Death Guard, thus requiring an emphasis on loyalty to the Primarch... otherwise...

Hades has also been intentionally maintaining an administrative team led by Garotra descendants, so that even if the legion is split up, it can quickly adapt to the battlefield.

Mortarian may have known what Hades was doing, or he may not have known, but in any case, he acquiesced to Hades' actions.

Meanwhile, Mortarion was still pondering Hades' words... Couldn't wait?

Mortarian noted down the timeline of the agreement in his mind. If Hades did not attempt to further weaken the Midnight Lord in subsequent actions, then something must have happened during that time period.

"It doesn't matter," the Lord of Death thought slowly.

The Death Guard had long foreseen the dark future.

The Midnight Lords will pay for their recklessness, though the blood of his offspring will cause this negligent father little pain.

Hades laughed.

“Motalian, your punishment has already caused him enough pain.”

Anyway, when Hades saw that bloody, convulsing face, he realized that Mortarian's creativity in inflicting pain was quite astonishing.

The reason it wasn't revealed before was because the Lord of Death thought it all didn't matter... or perhaps he was too lazy to bother with all this fancy stuff?

Mortarian laughed proudly.

He would be trapped in a nightmare of shattered values, and every time he saw that bat cub, he would be reminded of that nightmare.

"besides……"

Hades spoke slowly,

“I reckon Makado will have to take me away this time. What do you think, Mortarian?”

Motari paused for a moment, then a muffled voice came from behind the mask.

I thought we had already discussed this topic.