40k: Midnight Blade.

Chapter 188 13. Molten Steel ([-])

"What does it mean?"

The roar of thunder resounded, and the giant on the throne slowly stood up.

Is he angry?

Maybe, but you can't see his specific emotions.

His face was too stern, and the sharp lines like knives and axes made this face look like there was no so-called gentleness.The bridge of the nose is high, the eye sockets below the brow bone are sunken, and the black pupils behind them have a kind of chill spreading from the heart.He has no hair, and the complicated and regular cables are bundled into one piece at the back of his head, black and heavy, like a butcher's nail.

And Khalil Rohars knew they weren't.

He smiled.

"What do you think?" he asked softly.

The giant didn't answer, his gaze fell behind Khalil.

Two minutes ago, the last Iron Warrior to go out closed the door from the outside.The hall was empty, with no tables and chairs, only a throne made of steel.The long light tubes are skillfully hidden on the iron-gray ceiling, emitting a pale light.

Otherwise, the entire hall is startlingly plain—no decorations, flags, paintings, or anything.There was only Perturabo himself, the Primarch of the Iron Warriors, and the Midnight Blade instructor Khalil Lohars whom he was meeting.

And the atmosphere between them is definitely not good.

Perturabo looked back, but still maintained a masterful gaze.Only those who are extremely rational can observe others in this way. He stared closely at Khalil's eyes, frowning slowly.

"You wish to board the Blood of Steel, and I agree."

He spoke in a low voice.

"You want to have a private conversation with me, and I also agreed. And this is not out of my respect for Conrad Koz. I have never met him. The reason why I agree with you is that these two items are worthless." Lily's request, because I respect you, Khalil Rohars."

"You took 6000 men by surprise from the rear and took out that fortress, but don't think I'm going to thank you for that. Your actions robbed my warriors of a chance to prove themselves, and I put up with you because I respect A certain quality you showed during this raid. And now, I'm losing that respect for you little by little."

"Should I be afraid of this?" Khalil asked.

Perturabo seemed to smile, but didn't seem to.He stepped down from the throne and stood on the red carpet where Khalil was.

"As you please," he said. "But I ask you to explain to me what you just said."

"Which sentence?"

"You know it yourself." Perturabo sneered.

"You didn't come here with good intentions from the very beginning. You've probably been planning this scene since before you boarded Blood of Steel, Khalil Rohars? Specially claiming that you came from my brother You want to give your gift to me alone, and hope to talk to me alone. You just want to say that self-righteous statement."

"Do you think I will be angry at your words? You are wrong, Eltros' death is his own fault. My order is very clear. I will see them advance to 15 meters directly in front of the fort within 600 minutes. , he failed to do that."

"So, that's why you let him be beaten to death by his brothers himself?"

"Shooting by eleven is an ancient punishment." Perturabo replied coldly. "It originated in the ancient history of mankind. It is fair. I even designed a machine for this purpose. Didn't you see the picture of them drawing lots?"

"They did it voluntarily, because they knew they had made a mistake. Moreover, this mistake was made by their incompetence. Moreover, I only let the officers headed by him carry out eleven slaps, which is kind enough .”

Khalil nodded thoughtfully.

"You understand?"

"Do not."

"Ha." Perturabo smiled—for the first time, he visibly smiled to some extent.

"I'm not surprised you don't understand, many people don't understand, but I don't bother to explain anything to you. Now, explain to me what you said, what is 'Sergeant Eltros' my death is to be blamed on me'?"

"As you heard, literally." Khalil replied softly. "No metaphors, no hints, just literal. I think you're going to blame him for his death, that's all."

"He died because of incompetence." Perturabo seemed to be irritated, and his tone was a little bit more serious.

A dangerous hint began to flow between his brows and eyes, but Khalil did not make any move. He just stood there calmly, and the tone he used when speaking even sounded as calm as a teacher teaching students.

"The incompetence of soldiers is usually cast by generals."

"Enough." Perturabo shook his head. "There is no need to continue this conversation—you and the people you brought can all leave my ship."

"Malcador the Handprinter has ordered us to come and help you and your legion."

"You're challenging my patience." Perturabo frowned again, and this time there was a subtle difference from the attitude shown before.

He was silent for a moment and spoke again.

"I never liked Malcador. He's too old and stubborn. I don't understand why my father thinks so much of him, but I don't care. He's just an old dying mortal."

"I followed his orders on my father's behalf, and that's why I accepted your so-called 'support', even though it seemed to me that I didn't need your meager 6000 men at all."

"Let me make it clear to you, Khalil Rohars, so you know I'm not a tyrant or a self-righteous fool. I know you don't understand the strict discipline of my regiment, and I never expected Any of you can understand. But this is my Legion."

He paused for a moment, emphasizing his tone.

"This is my legion, do you understand? And I will not allow any outsider to tell me what to do here—and besides, what is your identity to say these things to me?"

He endured, endured, and his patience was finally exhausted in this loud and cold discourse, and Khalil didn't even express any opinion at all, he was just silent.Perturabo smiled again, this time, a mocking sneer.

He spread his palms, his white teeth were exposed behind his open lips, and his anger was clearly flowing: "Are you trying to cause a diplomatic incident? You came to my ship, my flagship, and then accused me of disregarding human life? Don't forget Your own position, Khalil Lohars!”

"Yes, I know that you have a special status, so special that my young brother who has never met is even willing to let you come instead of him. I also know how powerful you are. Luo Jia told me everything, and he Smiling bitterly at his own stupidity, he even said he was sorry to you at the banquet but I didn’t care.”

"Listen to me, I don't care about the support you bring, I don't care about your strength, and I don't care about Malcador and his mission written on the decayed parchment!"

"You came to my ship, yelled at me, questioned my plan for my army, and even claimed that I failed my son. Why do you say these inexplicable things to me? Don't you think all this is a little too ridiculous? ?”

Khalil sighed slowly.

Yes, it is indeed ridiculous.He himself didn't even think that things would take such a turn for the worse.

They came to this remote planet with Malcador's orders.Perturabo and his legions were waging a brutal war on it against the natives, who resisted fiercely and hated the Iron Warriors extremely fiercely.

This kind of hatred feeds back their will to fight. Coupled with the ubiquitous and dangerous fortresses, the Iron Warriors' offensive has stalled, and this is not only because the locals are not willing to surrender, but also Because Perturabo stretched the battle line very long.

He is planning to attack all the fortresses on the planet at the same time, but the number of his legion at the moment does not support him to do it.

After a brief exchange with Perturabo on the Nightfall, Khalil decided to take the 6000 people of the Midnight Blade directly to the west of the front line, and helped a group of 700 people led by Sergeant Eltros. The warrior team took down a fortress.

This fortress is a transportation hub, and it occupies a very important position on the tactical strike map planned by Perturabo.Then, after the victory.
Sergeant Eltros died.

Orders come from heaven, from orbit.Speaking from the giant who was standing in front of him at this moment, his words seemed particularly impatient amidst the hoarse background noise of the communication channel.

This is what he said then: "Eltelos, you have betrayed my trust, and you have betrayed your own oath."

At that time, the nightblades were still mopping up the fort for possible enemies, so they didn't realize what was happening on the other side of the position.Until they leave and join the Iron Warriors.

Sergeant Eltroth's team was victorious, but without any air of triumph.There was no joy on their faces, just a heavy sadness and numbness from trying to hide it.

Khalil asked what happened to them and where the sergeant who was planning the battle with them on the comm channel went
He got his answer half a minute later, he got a twisted corpse.

Eleven smashes.

Do not use weapons, do not attack vital points, do not show mercy.Nine attacked their commander with their bare hands.

Beat, beat, beat.The bones were broken and the flesh was bloody.How tenacious is the vitality of the Astartes?According to the Iron Warriors, Eltros never said anything until the last moment of his life, he just suffered in silence, just like the nine brothers who attacked him.

"Yeah." Khalil said softly. "Yes, it's ridiculous."

He stretched out his right hand.

　There are two more chapters, which will be updated today.

　　Silly criticizing ruffian boss, you are really difficult to write.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)