[Star Ring above Barbarus, Space Marine Medical Area]
Death Guard pharmacist Io was standing in front of the laboratory table, preparing a new batch of drugs for the implant surgery.
Under the orders of Legion Commander Mortarion, the entire Barbarus star field entered a state of combat readiness and immediately began large-scale conscription.
At this moment, countless planets that had signed contracts with the Death Guard were transporting ships full of new recruits to Barbarus.
Other planets offered countless reserve resources to the Death Guard.
In the Mint Foundry World, the factory was roaring loudly, and weapons and ammunition as far as the eye could see were flowing out of the assembly line.
Under the leadership of the Death Guard, the productivity of the Barbarus star field has now reached its limit.
What's more, after the Conference of Nikea, the Lord of Death Mortarion personally returned to Barbarus to guard it. Contrary to his usual practice, he was responsible for many affairs of star field construction on a daily basis.
Even from a distance, it seemed that the leaders under Mortarion had even more resentment.
But this is not something that pharmacist Io can get involved in. As one of the first conscripts in Barbarus, he has now become a qualified pharmacist and is responsible for matters such as surgery for new recruits.
Previously, he had also participated in the emergency rescue and postoperative recovery of Commander Hades.
It's a pity that the easy-going commander is no longer in the Death Guard.
Io thought about it, and then his hand that was preparing the reagent paused.
As if sensing something, Io put down the test tube, tilted his head, and let his hand naturally drop to the position of the grenade launcher at his waist.
"Io!"
A familiar voice sounded, and Yio let out a breath that was barely perceptible. He spoke, his eyes full of contempt for "get out of the way",
"Lerna, you shouldn't be here now. Lord Mortarion is making emergency dispatches. You should report to the Endurance."
Lerna came over with a smile, staring at Io's lab table, something flashing in his eyes.
"You're not leaving?"
He spoke suddenly. Yio sighed and picked up the test tube again, but it was not the same one he had used before.
"I have to take charge of the surgery for the new recruits behind Barbarus, so I can't leave."
Io said seriously,
"If you still want to have fun with those kids, you should go, Lerna."
It must be said that after Mortarion banned the Death Guard joke game, Lerna, who had won nine consecutive championships, was disappointed for a while, but later, he continued to harass the new recruits.
Lena sighed, and Io heard a faint sound.
Then-
Io's pupils suddenly dilated, as if foreshadowing something. At the last moment, he turned around and saw the blade rushing towards his neck.
Without hesitation, Io smashed the test tube in his hand at Lena, causing it to burst and the liquid inside to hiss.
A sharp scream broke out, and Yio covered his bleeding neck. He turned on the communication channel and shouted loudly for reinforcements.
At the same time, Io took up the machete at his waist and pointed the blade at Lena.
"What are you doing, Lerna?"
Io asked, panting. All he got in response was a blank response from the communication channel and Lena's loud laughter.
Lena laughed, and Io's face was reflected in his eyes.
He thought of the time they had fought side by side, the friendship they had built up through countless battles, and his brain trembled painfully.
But at this moment - they are just obstacles to his loyalty to the Empire.
The Death Guard would betray, and he was the one to stop them from falling into the abyss!
"Long live Hydra!!!"
————
[Gene seed room attacked? ]
Under his hood, Mortarion frowned tightly. The Lord of Death suddenly stood up from the desk that was already piled with documents. He strode towards the medical room, and his scythe dragged on the ground, making a crackling sound.
Vox trotted along beside his father.
"Lerna of the First Company attacked Io, the pharmacist in charge of the surgery for the new recruits, and before that, cut off all communications in the medical area."
Vox said,
"Lerna killed thirteen Death Guards guarding the medical area, and was killed by Io when he was about to kill him to obtain his gene fragments to open the gene seed bank."
The dark cloud surrounding Mortarion was almost materializing.
[… I remember them.]
That batch of recruits had long since become battle-hardened veterans, including the forging master Pasteur and the fifth company captain An Tai.
and the famous pharmacist Io.
Mortarion raised his hand, signaling Vorcus to stop reporting. The Primarch lowered his head slightly and stepped into the door of the emergency room. The strong smell of blood exploded in his nose.
He saw Io lying on the operating table, dying, with blood splattered on the table as if a bomb had exploded from the inside.
With just one glance, Mortarion determined that this heir no longer had any hope, and he would sleep peacefully, sleeping with the night of Barbarus.
Yio breathed with difficulty. Under the stimulation of a high dose of psychotropic drugs, a hazy light circle appeared in his pupils.
Mortarion shook his head, and the pharmacist, who was about to explain something to him, stopped.
Mortarion knew better than anyone that these nerve-stimulating, life-slowing potions could cause confusion and even hallucinations.
Mortarion half-knelt, took Io's hand,
[Say what you want to say,]
Mortarion said softly, Io's panting breath struggling,
"grown ups… "
Io struggled.
"Forgive... forgive them, they..."
“… trust him… only… only…”
The Death Guards lying in a pool of blood flashed before Io's eyes. He struggled. Because of his relationship with Lena, Lena often came to him, and with his personality, he quickly became familiar with the guards in the medical area.
Mortarion held Io's hand tightly, the warmth was fading quickly.
[They are all my descendants. I want to believe that they are not negligent in their duties.]
He looked at Io silently and smiled bitterly.
"… He… is… Hydra."
Yio said strugglingly, he wondered when the comrade who fought alongside him was replaced
"The enemy... is inside..."
Mortarion lowered his eyes, feeling the coldness between his hands, and his life finally slipped away.
After seven seconds, he released his hand, and Mortarion stood up, ready to leave.
Mortarion recalled, he recalled the memory of the Hydra -
Finally, he remembered that Hades had mentioned this.
"Sir, do we need to stop the current subspace jump urgently?"
Vorx asked, and a hissing sound came from under Mortarion's breathing mask.
[We need seven days. Let me try... to find those termites.]
Mortarion said that he needed a little blood of the Hydra, a little guidance from numerology, a little... the bond between the Primarch and his offspring.
Especially at such moments, the more you cannot be angry or anxious.
Beneath the hood, Mortarion's gloomy eyes seemed to be burning.
An hour later, the first group of Death Guard was called to face the Primarch.
In the dim room, Mortarion held the sickle in his hand, as quiet as a statue.
The purge within the Death Guard began quietly.
Yay!
(End of this chapter)