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

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Killieman certainly hoped that Deathguard could also participate in and witness this ceremony.

Lord Macragge was meticulously calculating in his mind. At the same time, he was also talking with Hades, the representative of the Death Guard. The image of the Death Guard commander was quickly built up in the Primarch's mind.

Compared to Mortarian, this commander clearly understands and is more familiar with the rules of social interaction, possesses an amazing command of the art of language, is logical, and is very tactful.

Conversing with Hades was clearly a gratifying and enjoyable experience for Guilliman. Both were well-versed in the rules of interpersonal relationships, and a certain tacit understanding developed between them. In the back-and-forth of language, both silently probed each other while maintaining rational restraint.

Guilliman even hallucinated for a moment about this Death Guard named Hades. Or perhaps not, he quickly suppressed his slightly absurd and morbid speculation.

Across from Guilliman, Hades, who was inwardly praising Hades, was quite cautious.

The two were still in the long greeting phase, introducing each other to the local customs and traditions of their respective legions, some information, some not, but very little, and mostly irrelevant.

Hades would call it the "Markula greeting," which is like the first thing old folks say when they're chatting: "Have you eaten?"

Hades was more concerned about the current situation of Abus and the Ultramarines than what they ate.

Although he reflexively kept dodging Guilliman's questions.

Finally, Killieman finished his long greeting and got down to business.

"Queen Abustu warmly welcomed the Ultramarines, who pledged allegiance to the Empire and pledged to strictly adhere to Imperial truths."

Killieman said with considerable pride,

"This is a very rare act, a willingness to abandon most of one's own civilization in order to comply with the empire's doctrines. It is something that should be encouraged and publicized."

This civilization has made a remarkable concession, which deserves encouragement, and the witnessing of the two legions is clearly appropriate.

Guilliman continued his impassioned speech, the olive wreath atop his head gleaming under the lights from different angles as the Primarch moved.

“Hades, I know my brother’s aversion to psykers, but the psykers of this planet are willing to abandon their psyker traditions and instead follow the truths of the Empire. I think he would be more pleased to see this. Psykers are not entirely beyond redemption; they also radiate the light of human reason.”

Guilliman spoke with great passion, his political oratory skills fully displayed in the Primarch.

The other Ultramarines and Death Guardians who were watching were already engrossed in the Lord of Macragge's speech. Their trust in humanity and their beautiful hope that humanity could eventually understand each other filled their hearts like balloons.

Of course, except for Hades.

The more Guilliman talked, the more flustered Hades became. His smile was almost twitching, but he still had to maintain an image of being inspired by Guilliman's speech.

To be honest, Hades is panicking right now.

In the original story, Abustu did surrender, and Mortarian, who was criticized for his tyranny in Galaspar, reluctantly accepted the surrender of these psykers, telling them to abide by the Imperial truth.

Just like now, those psionicists chose to grovel and pledged the truth of the Empire before the Lord of Death.

But

Because of Barbaros's childhood experiences, influenced by his adoptive father Nacre, Mortarion has always had a high sensitivity to psionic magic. Coupled with the Primarch's suspicious nature, the Death Guard did not leave immediately after accepting Abustu's surrender.

Instead, Mortarian chose to take a stroll through the streets of Absdu himself.

You won't know until you go, and once you do, you'll be amazed.

In reality, regardless of whether the planet's leadership consists of psionicists, the influence of psionicism has begun to permeate every corner of this civilization. Ominous spells, disguised as lullabies sung by mothers to their babies, creep and crawl across the ground.

After encountering a half-mad old woman with signs of corruption, Mortarion immediately suffered from PTSD. At this moment, the Death Lord's extremely high sensitivity to psychic energy began to kick in, and he keenly realized that the flickering shadow of psychic energy was buried in everything that had previously seemed ordinary.

This planet is beyond saving. This is no ordinary psionic realm; they are on the verge of corruption and teetering on the brink of collapse.

So what else is there to say? The Death Guard has launched the first extinction-inducing whirlwind torpedo.

Of course, all of this is based on one premise: that Mortarian saw through the civilization's outward facade of docility and deception. For a think tank, this is not something that can be done easily.

but now.

Hades gazed at Guilliman, who was still giving his speech, and he had already begun to envision future expeditions and how to deal with the subjugated human civilizations.

Hades felt a chill run down his spine for the first time.

Guilliman is fine. He's the best Hades has ever met. He's compassionate, merciful, avoids war as much as possible, has a very high regard for human civilization and a strong moral compass, and does everything he can to avoid extermination weapons, radiation weapons, and phosphide weapons.

From the perspective of human civilization, peace negotiations are the right thing to do; humans should not kill each other. To some extent, Hades agrees with Guilliman's view.

But the problem is—it can't be this planet. Guilliman is good, but it can't be good here. It can't be Abbas!

Hades absurdly realized that all the admirable qualities he had previously praised about Guilliman would now become high walls blocking the Death Guard.

Damn, why?

Hades thought with great anguish that even Peturabo, even Leon Johnson, on Abusdu, would allow, or even disregard, the Death Guard to issue an Extinction Order.

Why, of all people, are NMD extreme warriors?

How was he supposed to explain psionic powers to Guilliman, or break through Guilliman's thicker defenses than the Fist of the Empire's fortress, to make Guilliman understand the necessity of war?

Hades felt as if fate was playing a cruel joke on him, meeting the right person at the wrong time and in the wrong place.

He should perhaps be more cautious.

This one has 4.4k words, haha.

Don't wait after 10:30, just get up early and check if there's anything left.

The references to Guilliman and the Ultramarines come from "Lord of Macragge," which is interesting because the author of this book is also the author of Mortalian's "Pale King." David was responsible for the 30k stories of Mortalian and Guilliman.

Chapter 275 Testing

For the first time, Hades experienced the kindness of Makado.

When faced with someone who didn't understand psychic powers but believed in the Empire, the title of "Lord of the Order of Silence" that Macardo had given him came in handy for the first time.

Makado, you're not a bad person either!

Hades blinked and spoke, indicating that he wanted to speak with Guilliman alone.

Guilliman naturally agreed to the request; among the Lord of Macragge's countless backup plans, this was naturally one of them.

Soon, the Ultramarines led the Death Guards who had come with Hades to a side room to wait.

Hades watched the people file away, pondering his next words.

First, he can't say the keyword. Hades doesn't want to repeat the mistake of dragging the Death Guard down with a single word, even though that might have allowed him to successfully retain the Ultramarines.

Secondly, he couldn't force him to believe him; without absolute evidence, he couldn't convince Guilliman completely.

He could indeed leave, but Hades feared that the wound would continue to contaminate the Ultramarines, which was not what Hades wanted to see.

Hades planned to warn Guilliman first, and then go to Abusto to see what was going on. If the planet was really that strange, he would show Guilliman some of the warp's special products.

Now that everyone had left, Guilliman sat opposite Hades, his earlier fervor gone, replaced by a curious smile as he tried to understand why the Fourteenth Army representative had suddenly requested a private conversation.

Hades spoke slowly and methodically.

"Sir, do you know why I'm here?"

Guilliman was silent for a brief moment; Hades knew that the supercomputer's computing power was already at its maximum.

"According to the Empire's reconnaissance, this planet is highly advanced in civilization, and a single legion cannot easily subdue it."

Killieman smiled, as if to ease the awkwardness that was about to follow.

"But if you mean why you're here, I think it's because my brother still doesn't want to meet with me."

In a way, that's not wrong, Hades thought.

But Hades wasn't going to let him think that way! Hades spoke with a serious expression.

"Lord Guilliman, your speculation is correct, but it goes far beyond that—the Empire has appointed me as the Lord of the Order of Silence, and this is precisely the function I will assume in the cooperation between the two legions."

Killieman appeared slightly surprised.

"Will the Silent Sisters also participate in this recapture?"

During the Great Crusade, if they encounter certain special psionic species, the Silent Sisters will fight alongside the Legion.

But Hades was wondering why Guilliman would equate him with the Silent Sisters!

Hades remained outwardly serious.

“If necessary, they will naturally join the recapture. Abus still needs to be evaluated. The Empire will never relax its vigilance against psionic beings.”

Killie paused, he was thinking, and then he cautiously posed his question.

"The people here do use psychic powers, but they have sworn never to use them again. After I read the Imperial Truth, Queen Abustu personally destroyed the largest altar in the kingdom and led her people in swearing an oath."

"The army was disbanded, pamphlets spreading the truth of the Empire were distributed, and they were indeed actively trying to integrate into the Empire."

Hades looked at Killieman,

"Lord Guilliman, forgive my intrusion, but... what kind of army did they have, the army they disbanded?"

"A small number of companies equipped with heavy vehicles, a large number of light infantry, and an air force capable of covering the entire capital."

"So."

Hades said slowly.

"Does such an army require the Empire to send two legions?"

Guilliman's eyes sharpened instantly. He had indeed considered this issue, but after numerous reconnaissance missions by the Ultramarines, they had found no other hidden troops. Queen Abustu's explanation for this was—

They are a rebuilt civilization; the previous civilization was lost in internal strife, but that civilization brought them a relatively stable star field, allowing the Abus to continue.

After seeing enough evidence, Killieman accepted this explanation.

Guilliman opened his mouth, ready to explain to Hades, but Hades spoke first.

"You may not be familiar with psionicists. They are good at sweet talk, deception and concealment. That is probably not their real army at all."

“But we didn’t find any other troops,” Killieman said seriously. “The Ultramarines thoroughly checked every corner and found no other suspicious presences.”

"My lord, do not use the general mindset of legion warfare to think about the tactics of psionicists. The conditions for their victory are different from ours."

“Wizards don’t need equipment that can be detected. A book and a piece of sacrificial bone are all they need to unleash their full combat power.”

Hades said slowly.

"Perhaps you should let me try to examine it. The Death Guards and I are still good at dealing with psionicists."

Guilliman nodded. Faced with Hades's reasonable request, he naturally couldn't refuse. After all, Hades's warning was reasonable, and the words of the Master of the Silent Order had indeed aroused some concern in Robert Guilliman.

But Killieman then changed his tune.

"Okay, but I also have my requirements."

"We are currently at a critical juncture in the peace negotiations. Without absolute evidence, you cannot take any actions that disrupt the lives of civilians, nor can you indiscriminately kill innocent people. This is a civilized society with a good attitude. Even if a small number of rebels emerge among them, that is a predictable variable."

Guilliman had his own considerations. The Lord of Macragge was keenly aware that his brothers were no ordinary men either, and that prejudices could drive them to do terrible things. He had already witnessed the atrocities committed by the Night Lords.

He would not allow his brother to bring unbearable disaster upon a civilization because of some vague prejudice and clues.

He accepts and supports reasonable and just actions, and will not tolerate violence.

Hades calmly stood up and bowed.

“Very well, Lord Guilliman, please allow me to discuss this further with our legion commander, but until then, please keep your troops on the necessary alert.”

"When facing psionicists, you can never be too vigilant."

Then he left, striding out of the magnificent reception room.

The dimly lit command room of the Endurance.

Hades silently issued orders and checked the maps sent by the Ultramarines, while Mortarion paced back and forth, occasionally letting out a curse.

"This is a nation ruled by psionicists! Doesn't Guilliman know what that means?!"

"Calm down, Mortarian. We need to conduct further investigations before we can draw any conclusions."

Hades spoke slowly.

"Let's see exactly where this civilization has gone wrong, so the Death Guard can bestow death upon them."

"From the moment they cunningly made peace, I knew this planet was worth an extermination order!"

"Well, you're being a bit too extreme, but we'll find out soon enough whether this civilization is worth this extreme."

Hades suddenly spoke.

"By the way, Mortalian, if Guilliman talks to you later, don't be so extreme, otherwise the Death Guard will have a hard time taking action."

"He did not truly understand the terror of psionicists; language could not describe it. He still hoped to treat all humans equally."

Hades muttered to himself, "This isn't so bad either."