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

Page 163

Although Hades would love for Rodan to die directly on Barbarossa, reason told him that this was probably unrealistic.

Hades certainly doesn't want a "corrupted" Death Guard running rampant across the galaxy.

Since Karas is too weak to cause any trouble now, we might as well take advantage of the calm before the storm to gather more intelligence.

Hades thought to himself in despair.

The answer was completely unexpected, yet perfectly logical. Karastigphon was taken aback; he had been prepared to endure Hades's insults and mockery, but for once, he paused.

Mortarion glanced back at Hades; the Primarch hadn't expected Hades to ask these questions at this moment.

"My psionic energy became unstable before the Battle of Galaspa."

Karas recalled the chaotic psionic energy, the whispers in his ear, the boiling desires, his resentment towards Hades, his anger towards Mortarion, the inferiority and self-abandonment deep within him, and the inner desire to climb to the top and become stronger.

Hades rolled his eyes inwardly as Karas began his recollection, but still patiently let Karas continue.

Mortarian kept his head down, completely unaware of his friend's change as he was engrossed in the impending liberation of Galaspa.

He said that all of this would perish and decay, and only stagnation and a cycle of death awaited everyone.

"You shouldn't believe these things. We've already moved on from that time."

Mortarian whispered,

"That's you, not me."

"Karas replied."

You clearly could.

Clearly, the two people before Hades were once again engaged in a discussion about fate, just as they had when they first met.

Hades listened patiently to what Karas had to say.

But even after Karas finished speaking, Hades still couldn't glean a single piece of information about the apothecary Radon.

It seems that the apothecary Radon has used Karastifon as a pawn, otherwise he would at least have revealed some of his whereabouts.

Hades thought to himself, then coughed, interrupting the increasingly awkward atmosphere in the room. After a moment of mutual tacit ignoring Hades, Mortarian was able to chat with Karas.

Hades observed that the two were currently in a phase of mutual self-blame.

There's no way around it; those who are untouchable will indeed be overlooked by others, especially now that Hades is operating his Black Domain.

In fact, their way of getting along was like this back in Barbaros. Mortarion would say a lot of strange and wonderful things to Karas, while Hades would concentrate on slacking off on the side and then bring the topic back on track when the two of them were talking about something completely off-topic.

"So the Death Guard is still searching for Rodan."

Hades said,

"And you, who are closest to the pharmacist Radon, have no news of him either."

Karas nodded, and Mortarian turned around, seemingly wanting to speak.

Hades already guessed what Mortarion was going to say—that Rodan had dragged Karathiphon down with him.

Hades knew, he knew, but even if Karastyphon was dragged into it, he could never return to normal legionary life. He was a traitor, a traitor.

But Mortarian ultimately opened his mouth, but said nothing.

"I know what you think of me, Hades."

Calastiffon said calmly that, faced with death, he no longer cared about anything, and he had already lost everything.

"A psychic prone to corruption, a jealous colleague, a schemer who secretly manipulates others?"

No, none of these are it, Hades stared at Karas, and at the same time uttered that word to Karas.

"traitor."

However, the difference is that Calathephon is referring to his previous betrayal, while Hades is seeing the entire picture of the Death Guard's corruption in the original work.

Would Hades dare to gamble? He wouldn't! He had already killed so many lives, and the foreseeable future would involve even more bloodshed. What difference would one more drop of blood make?

Perhaps a trace of pity and regret crossed Hades' mind, but it did not prevent Hades from finally deciding to fire the shot.

Carrastiphon gave a self-deprecating yet provocative laugh, and sure enough.

He really shouldn't be trusted; if it were Karas himself in Hades's position, he probably would have already fired the shot.

Karas longed for death, knowing full well that his current state and force field could no longer allow him to return to the battlefield he craved. Even with Mortarion's attempts to persuade him to stay, Karas knew that this was merely a final hesitation and pity, and that after the passage of time, the Primarch would eventually grow tired of his past choices.

I'd rather have a quick and painless death.

So Calathiphon was also deliberately provoking Hades with his expression.

Karas knew that Hades couldn't stand this seemingly magnanimous expression, because Hades himself was far less magnanimous than he imagined.

Hades was enraged by Karas's defiant smile even as he faced death.

Hades took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said calmly,

"How do you intend to deal with the traitor, Commander?"

Mortarian fell silent.

The word "death," both familiar and strange, slowly stuck on his throat, swirling around on his tongue, but Mortarian could not utter the words.

Does he really want Karas to die? Not to die in a glorious war, but to die in an absurd internal strife, a death promised years ago that is now treated like a child's game. Does he want to personally send his first human friend to his death?

But Calath deserved to die. He was a traitor who had committed unforgivable sins. Mortarion sincerely hoped that he could stop this tragedy, but what's done is done. No amount of evidence could cover up the fact that Calathtyphon had tried to attack him and Hades, or his past depravity.

Mortarian's silence allowed Hades, who had just been successfully provoked by Karas, to regain some of his composure. Hades stared silently at Karastyphon. Perhaps he had gone to extremes just now. What if killing Karas caused Mortarian's emotions to become unstable?

He needed a position that would allow Callas to live, but at the same time be condemned to death.

"perhaps."

"Motalian, if you insist on keeping Karas alive."

Hades stared at Karas, whose green eyes also met his. In fact, compared to Mortarian, the two, who had both worked in political paperwork, were more similar in their thinking in some respects.

Karas instantly understood what Hades wanted. He smiled bitterly for a moment. He still couldn't get a clean death. Death's mercy was sometimes like a rusty, dull scythe, far less tempting than the deadly screams of the dead.

Oh well, maybe this is how I was supposed to be.

In a mere second, the judge and the criminal, the supervisor and the one seeking redemption,

They reached a consensus and looked at Mortarian.

“Send him/me into the Fearless, Mortarian.”

Mortarian's eyes widened in astonishment.

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Chapter 186 After the Rain

A week later.

"I never imagined that the sun in Barbarossa would be purple."

Mortarian stood thoughtfully on a barren piece of land, gazing upwards where the sun, which had previously been nothing more than a blurry white disc in Barbarossa, was now so clear for the first time.

Perhaps due to atmospheric refraction, the edges of this clear white circle are pale purple, mixed with some magenta.

Strange, Mortarian thought.

Compared to the desolate Barbalus, the sun in Barbalus is so magnificent, or perhaps it is filled with an unrealistic romanticism.

Unfortunately, Callas could not see any of this.

Mortarian slowly savored this fact, as if the emperor who descended from the sky had torn apart Barbarus's closed-off world, completely changing the course of the story, and burying the cold and fearless Karas also shattered the original story.

Mortarion stared at the sun, the Primarch completely unaware that he was like a scarecrow watching over a barren field, continuing to stare at the sun.

He can't do anything else, it's always the same, Mortarian knows.

But he can grant death, which is Mortarion's only skill.

Mortarian knew he couldn't let his old friend die in a ridiculous trial; he couldn't bring himself to wield his scythe, which was pointed at the tyrant, not at his old friend.

Karas will die in a war grand enough, in a war of liberation, in a war to overthrow tyranny, Mortarian assured Karas.

This is the only thing he can guarantee.

When the Primarch encounters a war powerful enough to tear an entire Legion apart, he will awaken Karas.

but not now.

Hades ignored the Primarch and, as a technical sergeant, personally oversaw the entire process of Karas being loaded into the Dreadnought, along with the apothecary Leo. He also installed more than one monitoring system and suicide program on the Dreadnought.

Carrastiphon witnessed all of this in silence.

Hades patted the Defiant Dreadnought beside him. It was the standard model from the Great Crusade, with the Death Guard's distinctive white and green paint scheme.

“I meant well, after all, we were old friends.”

Hades said,

"This Fearless machine has a suicide program, so you can choose to die at any time while you are conscious."

Karas glanced at Hades, his voice hoarse.

"Thank you."

Hades rolled his eyes.

"However, I don't recommend that you die now, otherwise I can't just use the failed implantation surgery as an excuse to get past Mortalian."

"You can choose when you wake up next time."

Karastiphon gave a wry smile. How did things end up like this?

If his greed hadn't been so great, he still ended up in this situation.

Karas pursed his lips. Before falling into that long slumber, he finally chose to speak, which was completely unnecessary, but perhaps Karas mischievously wanted to see Hades's inner turmoil.

Hades, do you hate me?

Hades remained silent for a long time before the spirit spoke.

"No hate."

"Why then?"

Calathiphon swore that this was the first time he had ever seen Hades so gloomy, like a skeleton that had just crawled out of its grave, staring monotonously at the world, cursing and swearing at it.

"."

"I can't afford to gamble."

What can't we afford to gamble on?

Karas was confused, but the injected drug gradually took effect, and the increasingly heavy drowsiness prevented his thoughts from going any deeper.

"But if I still have the time and opportunity after everything is over, I will come to see you again."

Hades was unaware that his voice had gone hoarse.

Hades knew it was a complete lie; how could they possibly survive after it all was over?

In the end, it's highly likely that only the original will survive, continuing to live with his brother whom he considers utterly worthless.

But what if? That's how lies called hope come about.

Karas looked at Hades, his vision beginning to blur. The apothecary, like his drugs, had never shown mercy.

This is the second guarantee Karas has received; the first was from Mortarion.

Hades gave Karas one last look.

"If you still believe, then live on."

But what Karas didn't know was that it was actually a curse, a curse from the dead.

He handed him the key, but did not point out the exit.

Hades closed the Gate of Dauntlessness, and all was plunged into darkness.

On Barbarossa, aside from Mortarion standing there in a daze, Hades was now squatting on the ground in a typical farmer's half-squat position, holding up a clump of dirt to examine the results of the Mechanicus's modifications—

Measurements show that this land is quite fertile.

Hades clapped his hands in satisfaction, shaking the soil off the ground. Then he stood up and looked at the sky over Barbalus. After atmospheric transformation, the sky over Barbalus was a pale blue mixed with green.