For the first time, Hades felt the kindness of Malcador.
When facing a person who did not understand psychic powers but believed in the Empire, the title of "Lord of the Order of Silence" given to him by Malcador was put to good use for the first time.
Malcador, you are not a bad person!
Hades blinked and spoke, saying that he hoped to communicate with Guilliman alone.
Of course Guilliman agreed to this request. This was naturally one of the Lord of Macragge's countless backup plans.
Soon, the Ultramarines led the Death Guards who followed Hades to the side room to wait.
Hades watched the people file away, pondering his next words.
First of all, he couldn't say the key words. Hades didn't want to repeat the action of pulling the Death Guard into the ditch with just one word, although this might allow him to successfully stay with the Ultramarines.
Secondly, he couldn't force his advice. Without absolute evidence, he couldn't make Guilliman completely convinced.
He could indeed just leave, but Hades was afraid that the wound would continue to contaminate the Extreme Marines, and that was not what Hades wanted to see.
Hades planned to warn Guilliman first, and then go to Abstuo to see what the situation was. If this planet was really that evil, then he would show Guilliman the specialties of the Warp.
Now that everyone had left, Guilliman sat opposite Hades. His previous enthusiasm was gone, and he smiled with some curiosity, hoping to know what the representative of the Fourteenth Legion meant by his sudden request for a private conversation.
Hades said slowly and methodically,
"Sir, do you know why I am here?"
Guilliman was silent for a moment. Hades knew that the computing power of this supercomputer had been fully utilized.
"According to the Empire's detection, this planet has a high level of civilization. One legion cannot easily retake it."
Guilliman smiled, as if to ease the awkwardness that was about to come.
"But if you mean why you are here, I think it's my brother who still doesn't want to meet me."
To some extent, that's true, Hades thought.
But Hades didn't let him think that way! Hades looked serious and spoke.
"Lord Guilliman, your speculation is correct, but there is more to it than that - the Empire has appointed me as the Lord of the Order of Silence, and this is exactly the function I will assume in the cooperation between the two Legions."
Guilliman looked slightly surprised.
"Will the Sisters of Silence also participate in this recovery?"
During the Great Crusade, if certain special psychic species are encountered, the Sisters of Silence will fight alongside the Legion.
But what Hades was thinking was, why would Guilliman equate him with the Sister of Silence!
Hades continued to be serious on the surface.
"If necessary, they will naturally join in the recovery. Abst still needs to be evaluated. The Empire will never relax its vigilance against psychics at any time."
Guilliman paused, thinking, and then he asked his question carefully.
"The people here do use psionics, but they have sworn not to use them anymore. After I read out the Imperial Truth, the Queen of Abstul personally destroyed the largest altar in the kingdom and took her people to take the oath."
"The army was disbanded, pamphlets promoting the Imperial Truth were distributed, and they were indeed actively trying to integrate into the Empire."
Hades looked at Guilliman.
"Lord Guilliman, with all due respect, 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 that can cover the entire capital."
"So."
Hades said slowly,
"Does the Empire need to send two legions for such an army?"
Guilliman's eyes suddenly became sharp. He had indeed thought about this problem, but after repeated reconnaissance by the Ultramarines, they did not find any other hidden troops. Queen Abstuo's explanation for this was -
They are a rebuilt civilization. The previous civilization was lost in the civil strife, but that civilization brought them a relatively stable star field, and Absdu was able to continue.
After seeing enough evidence, Guilliman accepted this explanation.
Guilliman opened his mouth, ready to explain to Hades, but Hades spoke first.
"You may not be familiar with psykers. They are good at sweet talk, deception and concealment. I'm afraid that's not their real army at all."
"But we did not find any other troops," Guilliman said solemnly. "The Ultramarines carefully checked every corner and found no other suspicious presence."
"Wizards don't need equipment that can be detected. With just a book and a piece of sacrificial bone, they can unleash their greatest combat power."
Hades said slowly,
"Perhaps you should let me try to check it out. The Death Guards and I are good at dealing with psykers."
Guilliman nodded. Faced with Hades's well-reasoned request, he naturally could not refuse. After all, Hades's warning was reasonable, and the words of the Lord of the Order of Silence did arouse some concerns in Robert Guilliman.
But Guilliman changed his tone again.
"Okay, but I also have my demands."
"Now is the critical period of peace talks. If there is no absolute evidence, you must not take actions that disrupt the lives of civilians, and you must not kill innocent people indiscriminately. This is a civilization with a good attitude. Even if a small number of rebels appear among them, that is an expected variable."
Guilliman had his own considerations. The Lord of Macragge was clearly aware that his brothers were not ordinary people, and some prejudices would make them do terrible things. He had witnessed the atrocities of the Night Lords.
He would not allow his brother to bring unbearable disaster to a civilization because of some vague prejudices and clues.
He accepts and supports reasonable, just behavior, but he also does not tolerate brutality.
Hades stood up calmly and saluted.
"Okay, Lord Guilliman, please allow me to discuss further with our legion commander, but before that, please let your army maintain the necessary vigilance."
"When facing a psychic, you can never be too vigilant."
Then he left, striding out of the magnificent reception room.
The dim command room of the Endurance.
Hades silently issued orders and checked the maps sent by the Ultramarines, while Mortarion paced around and cursed from time to time.
"This is a country ruled by psykers! Doesn't Guilliman know what this means?!"
"Calm down, Mortarion. We also need to do more reconnaissance before we can come to a conclusion."
Hades spoke slowly.
"See what is wrong with this civilization so that the Death Guard can bestow death upon them."
"After their cunning peace talks, I knew this planet was worth an extermination order!"
"Well, you are a little too extreme, but we will find out later whether this civilization is worth this extreme."
Hades suddenly spoke,
"By the way, Mortarion, if Guilliman comes to negotiate with you later, don't be so extreme, otherwise it will be difficult for the Death Guard to act."
"He didn't really understand the horrors of the psykers, words couldn't describe them, and he still hoped to treat humans the same."
Hades muttered quietly, although this is not bad.
Mortarion gave a mocking laugh.
"I will! If lies can get me to chop off wizards' heads, then I will be a better manipulator of words than any wizard!"
Hades clapped his hands and looked at the transfer list. Okay,
"Guilliman asked us not to alert the people there too much, and there is no need for the Zero Company to be fully exposed in a reconnaissance mission. For this operation, it is enough to bring part of the Seventh Company, part of the Soulless, and me."
"I'm going too."
Hades looked at Mortarion helplessly.
"Then we'll have to trouble Garo and Vox to temporarily take over the legion."
"That's part of their job."
Two updates, the second update at 7:08
(End of this chapter)