Emperor's Bane

Chapter 31 Small talk
"Captivity is a good idea."

"Even the emperor sometimes chooses this more compromise solution. Do you remember that when the Holy Terra was conducting a unification war, there were always some losers who would be imprisoned somewhere by the emperor's order instead of being Those who were directly executed, after all, not everyone deserved to die like Bishop Tang or the bloody priest king of Mosenlan."

"Even if it's a guy like [Tyrant of the Pacific Empire] Nathan Doom, the Emperor is willing to let him go."

"I think I should remind you that Bishop Tang, who ruled the Indonesian Federation, was also imprisoned by the Emperor, but he was quickly killed by the prisoners in the same cell."

"Indeed, but this kind of spontaneous execution shows that he really committed a heinous crime, doesn't it? It has nothing to do with the law, and it has nothing to do with mercy. It's the death penalty issued through the hatred and hatred in people's hearts. This is the most just."

"It's also the most blind. Mortals are always blind, and what kills him may not be justice. Maybe it's just the most primitive and impulsive personal grievance."

Ahriman and Forsyth are sharing a spacious public place, which is one of the many libraries on the [Voice of Light], where the sons of Magnus will read classics, work together, or hold some Not so intimate private talks.

And when the work of the Thousand Sons Warriors came to an end, their topic naturally shifted to knowledge and history, which seemed to be a matter of course.

Maybe in the War Dogs Legion, the Emperor's Children Legion or any other legion, the leisure time that does not break out in the war will be taken for granted in the arena, but at least in the Thousand Sons Legion, this kind of blind sweat and blood Behavior is considered a form of folly.

The No.12 Legion is especially famous at this point. This Astartes Legion, which has not yet returned to its own Primarch, was named by the Emperor himself as his [War Dogs]. Assaults, bloody killings, and oppressive "brotherhood" are famous among the Legions, and the notorious deathmatch arena on the mothership of the War Dogs Legion is a living and material symbol of this Legion culture.

The Sons of Magnus generally despise the extreme brutality of the Dogs of War, just as they despise the so-called brotherhood of the Dogs of War: in the eyes of the Thousand Sons, the so-called brotherhood of the No. The extremely strict internal regulations are just beautification, and the cruel military laws in the War Dogs Legion are just to suppress their barbarism from the bottom of their hearts.

After all, it is well known that the new blood of the No.12 Legion is the most wild and aggressive, and their battles often have only two results: glorious victory and massacre, or pure massacre.

It is also because of this that the evaluation of the War Dogs Legion in the Thousand Sons Legion is not high, and it is only better than the group of lunatics in the Sixth Legion who need the Gendarmerie. In the fighting arena, the sons of Magnus naturally have only one attitude.

"barbarian."

Phocis-Taka perched arrogantly on his stone seat, a fortress made of books and notes was built by his hand, its height even surpassed the Astartes, everyone here There are traces of Forsyth's flipping and annotations on the pages.

"They are not even as good as those technological barbarians and wasteland tyrants who were defeated by the emperor. At least those who once ruled one side on the holy Terra know how to collect and use knowledge, so they are warlords and leaders. A guy to beat, not an ignorant beast like a beast."

"But having said that, it's sad that we should have to fight with such a group of people who have no idea of ​​the value of knowledge, and that every land conquered by wolves and dogs will only be dust and ruins, even if there were once. The wisdom of ten thousand years will also be burned away."

Fussy's voice was filled with annoyance, echoing in the room full of books, while Ahriman sitting opposite him just quietly sipped the wine, reviewed the documents, and at the same time recognized this in his heart. discourse.

The commander of the Thousand Sons even recalled a long time ago: that was when the Great Crusade had just begun. In order to suppress the rebellion that took place in the Mororian world, Ahriman had served as the main force of the Sixth Army with his troops. At that time, the so-called [Wolf King] Leman Russ had not yet been found by the empire, and it was the time when the Sixth Legion was at its worst and insane.

Ahriman witnessed with his own eyes how the soldiers of the Sixth Legion carried out an indiscriminate massacre in the hive capital. Their blades pointed at everyone around them, whether it was rebel soldiers with live ammunition or enemy prisoners of war who had laid down their weapons. Even the unarmed old, weak, women and children became the souls of these out-of-control angels of death amidst howling and screaming. Ahriman and his team tried to stop all this, but it was only a drop in the bucket. Not even the Legion Master of the Sixth Legion himself could prevent all the atrocities from happening.

In the end, Ahriman witnessed the funniest scene in his military life: the remaining rational officers of the Sixth Army formed a gendarmerie, and executed a large number of thugs in the army in the name of "corruption of military discipline". The situation is completely under control.

The Astartes...discipline...

From that moment on, Ahriman despised the Sixth Army from the bottom of his heart.

Even the return of [Wolf King] Leman Russ did not change this: in Ahriman's view, this Primarch from Fenris just turned the Sixth Legion from a gathering place of madmen into a group of barbarians dirty lair.

Along with the progress of the Great Crusade and the ongoing coordinated operations with various legions, Ahriman's contemptuous attitude has also extended from the sixth legion alone to the eighth legion, the No.12 legion and the No.19 legion. , their merits and habits may vary, but they are all barbarians who have abandoned wisdom and reason.

"The empire has too many reckless warriors..."

Ahriman took a sip of wine.

"In contrast, scholars and intellectuals became rare, because all eyes were on the so-called military victory and glory, and those mortals from Terra also used their so-called art and narrative. Because of those fools, now even a guy like Abaddon can enjoy cheers and huge memorial statues in hundreds of worlds... This is a reality, and it is also a helpless thing."

Forsyth snorted softly, not knowing whether he was mocking the status quo of the empire or agreeing with Ahriman's point of view, the master of stance art stretched out his hand lazily, and picked out a beautifully packaged ancient book from his collection .

"So I am passionate about history, Ahriman, I am passionate about the stories that happened when the empire was just beginning, or even some time ago, because history is objective, respectable, impartial, and someone will always erase it The dust and sand of ordinary things, restore its true appearance."

"Like the conflict in Boeotia, I'm sure you won't forget it, right?"

Facing this question, Ahriman laughed outright.

"Forget the first honor of the Legion? You can doubt my memory in another way, Forsythe."

"Yes, Ahriman, this is the first battle of honor for the Legion. We completed the debut of the entire Legion in the Balkan Peninsula. It is the last battle of the unification war of Terra and the first battle of the Great Expedition. In one battle, we slew the Mad King Cadmus, and at the same time ended the decades-long rebellion of the Yeseldi House against the Emperor... This has always been recorded in the history books of our Legion, because That's the truth."

"But guess what, some time ago I got in touch with a reporter who just returned from the Eighth Legion, and he told me a big joke: The executioners of the Eighth Legion actually claimed that their destruction of the Scarlet Enclave was the pacification The last battle of Terra, ha, the suppression of a mere hive city, they dare to use it to make a big fuss."

"It's just a group of failed characters who didn't even participate in the Great Expedition for the first time. They were sent to clean up some small thieves whose spines had been broken. That is to say, the Eighth Legion would regard this kind of thing as a great achievement."

Ahriman lowered his head, smiled, and then continued with his homework: holding the wine glass with one hand, and reviewing the documents with the other.

His work speed is very fast, and the computing power and analysis ability of Astartes Superman are fully demonstrated in Ahriman. It's the last one.

He picked it up with a rare look of sadness.

"What's wrong? Ahriman."

The company commander of Qianzi was silent for a while, and then slowly opened his mouth.

"When was the last time you saw your father, Forsyth."

"Eleven tera standard hours ago, if you were looking for him, he should be on the [Steel Blood], with Atava and Morgan, and the Primarch Perturabo of the Fourth Legion. Negotiate."

"Okay...then, Forsyth, may I ask you for some official business as a friend?"

"...Speak straight."

Ahriman sighed.

"Father wants me to serve as the representative of the dispatched detachment and rush to the front line of Randan as the strength of the Thousand Sons Legion. I hope you can go with me."

"……why me."

"Because... your stance technique will play a very important role in the void battle."

"Ariman...do you want to think again about what you just said?"

"Uh……"

"..."

"..."

"... Ahriman."

"what happened?"

"If you are really so unpopular that you can't even find a guy who is willing to die with you, you can actually say it directly. I won't laugh at you...I will try my best."

Ahriman was silent for a while, his already dull complexion seemed to be a little darker.

"……roll."

(End of this chapter)