"… "
Buz remained silent, watching everything with his eyes and nose. Hades in front of him was holding the list, frowning and looking down.
Hades looked down, and down again, and down again...
"You want to kill so many?"
Hades suddenly asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Those hereditary nobles are too fertile," Buzz said calmly, "causing Terra's bureaucracy to become bloated."
Hardy paused. "Then the vacant position... let the Ultramarines take it?"
"That's exactly what I mean," said Buzz. "I think our cousins will love this job. They are naturally fond of politics, especially meetings."
Buzz raised his hand and sent the paper "Why the Ultramarines are suitable for working on Terra" to Hades.
Hades raised his eyes, and the two looked at each other tacitly, understanding each other tacitly.
“… If only Guilliman were still here.”
Hades said slowly,
"Since he is not dead... we can try to find Robert Guilliman in a high-profile manner after asking the Ultramarines - and recruit other administrative talents, such as those Ultramarines stationed outside."
Hades was speaking when he suddenly felt as if he was being stared at. He looked normal and expanded the black area, but found nothing.
… or it could be an illusion.
At least in Hades' impression, Guilliman is not the Primarch who would voluntarily abandon his duties and leave... At least as long as there is a glimmer of hope, Guilliman will not give up.
After all, he is one of the few Primarchs who has hope.
Hades hesitated for a moment.
"Kirkland just informed me that Mars has sent an academic discussion request to the Faos Fleet. It's not targeting me, but they hope to compete with Kirkland and others for the academic holy land."
Simply put, it's a fight to see who is chosen by Hades.
"I don't really want to agree. After all, Faosgraia has helped me so much. But I see that Kirkland and the others are eager to try."
Hades continued, remembering Kirkran uploading his data to a Titan-like war machine in jubilation.
He is not good at pouring cold water on others.
Hades put down the information in his hand.
"So I agreed, but on the premise that the noise should be kept small and the war should be controlled within the scale of continental plates. The Martians also agreed."
"Those oil guys really need a chance to vent their energy," Buzz said, "otherwise we'll see countless sages trying to intervene in the next Terran coup in their personal capacity."
As for Terra...
Hades was silent.
"There is no news from Terra. Two days ago, all contact between Terra and the outside world was cut off," he said briefly. "I received a letter of surrender from a merchant fleet outside the Solar Star Region, but it was not from the current main representative of the merchant fleet - it was a deputy representative."
"They are just fence-sitters," Buzz commented. "If the Sage can sell them some more benefits... they will back down quickly."
"I'm not worried about that," the bell rang, and this short slingshot launch was about to end. I hope the landing error will be smaller this time.
Hades stood up, "The merchant fleet is undermanned, we are here to meet the emperor with force... I am more concerned about the movements of the Imperial Navy and the Astra Militarum... and the psykers."
"But think on the bright side," Hades' tone became more relaxed. The light inside the ship turned scarlet, and the final login began.
"Since the Emperor has sent the Imperial Guards to protect Nirvana, he will probably ask them to stop those crazy psykers."
With the Emperor in charge of Terra, things won't be too chaotic.
Hades thought as he strode out of the office. Because of the slingshot, they didn't have to go through the subspace channel of Pluto or Uranus, so they didn't need to get approval from the navigators.
But as a warning, they have sent a landing notification towards the Solar Segmentum - they will land at a random point in the Solar Segmentum.
Hades walked into the command room. The starlight behind the porthole dotted the ground. He was looking forward to the feeling of the sunlight shining on him.
Seven minutes later, a fleet suddenly appeared in the sky above Terra.
Just, appropriately, and fittingly, it landed among the fleeing ships.
"Wait," Hades said. He glanced down at Buzz's rectification list, and the radio frequency band of nearby ships rang wildly in his mind. "Something's going on - it looks like we have to clear out the deserters first?"
"No," Hades added, "Capture them first and find out the situation. It won't be too late to kill them later. Contact the Imperial Navy immediately. The Astra Militarum and the Imperial Fists."
Unfortunately, he still thought it was simple.
——————
"Archbishop, is that gentleman coming?"
In the dim chapel, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs forced a smile. He put down his praying hands and looked at Samuel, the Archbishop of the Hades Cult.
The old man in the solemn black robe gave a forced smile, and Samuel's bald head gleamed in the darkness. He stomped his feet, one step after another, deliberately stepping beside the anxiously waiting high lord.
Compared to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the commander of the Astra Militarum in the dark room was much calmer. The middle-aged man sat on the bench with his eyes closed, silently chanting prayers.
Admiral Lord Zhigao of the Imperial Navy is not here. He has taken refuge in the Ecclesiarchy Cathedral.
Samuel raised his head and glanced at the statue of Pluto in front of him—he didn't believe that Pluto would come, but since he was here, there was no harm in that.
As for whether Pluto wants to kill or reward him, Samuel doesn't care. It's none of his business.
As long as the Cathedral of the Underworld is not captured by the crazy psychics, and these confused High Lords can be fooled at the same time, Hades has already ordered that he must meet with the High Lord.
"Wait," Samuel said, "Who are you and I? Hades has to go see the Emperor first, listen..."
He was quiet for a moment.
"Is the sound of the artillery outside quieter? Those idiots from the state religion must have gone back."
"You're not..." The chief steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs paused, "You're not going to greet Hades?"
"The Hades has not issued such an order. As believers, we naturally follow the gods - no."
He can be killed, but the Cathedral of the Underworld must be defended and cannot be occupied by these psychic insects. Otherwise, what will happen
At least it is clearly written in the doctrine that the Underworld Cathedral is sacred and inviolable.
Pluto was not evaluated in this way.
——————
Psionics... This is... Tzeentch's... no... Slaanesh
Not like...
…yet still familiar.
Bright red blood flowed from the black helmet boots, which made clanging sounds on the refugees' deck. Hades walked out of the dark cabin and looked up at the dim Terra in front of him.
Ten thousand years have passed... Terra still looks like this.
Compared to Macragge, whom we just visited, it is far inferior.
Hades has received the message from Terra, and the Imperial Fists warriors told Hades that the airspace has been opened.
There are some "small" disturbances on Terra right now. According to the Imperial Fists, different factions have started fighting, and some of them are suspected to be caused by Chaos and the Eldar - but because the situation is too chaotic, the Imperial Fists have not yet figured out the current situation, and can only work with the Terran garrison to stabilize Terra's defenses.
…as expected.
Go to the palace first and meet the imperial guards and the emperor and empress before proceeding to the next step.
Hades thought that as Pluto was slowly devouring the remaining spiritual energy on the ship, he could also disinfect a few of them when he landed.
——————
Looking into the towering hall of the Ministry of the Interior, the wind blew through the hall, flames flew, and the pieces of paper that had accumulated for thousands of years turned to ashes.
As the flames raged, the skinny clerks attacked the imperial guards who had broken into the Ministry of the Interior to put out the fire and rescue documents, waving their paper cutters.
The guard's spear swept through the flesh and blood of mortals, and the golden figure rushed straight into the depths of the flames, but in the space distorted by the heat, the figures of Lan Yu and the elves were looming.
The flames rolled up the contemplation and fatigue that had accumulated among the papers for thousands of years, igniting a carnival.
Above Terra, the rest of the forces have already withdrawn from this strange area and gathered elsewhere.
On the Himalayan ridge, dark Gothic buildings towered into the clouds. The distant bells of the Hades Cathedral rang out, crying and sobbing, and each sound caused a subspace shock.
With each sound, someone from the psychic group gathered around the Hades Cathedral fell down, bleeding from all seven orifices, and collapsed in the snow, exploding like a white flower on the bright snow. (*)
Explosive arrows tore through the wind as the Soulless and the Hades Guards took cover and silently poured ammunition at these angry guys.
The psychics who attacked them had gone completely crazy - they had been deceived by stories that had lasted for thousands of years, and they knew that they had committed blasphemy and could never obtain forgiveness from Hades, so they chose to fight directly.
However, the real astropathic representatives hid themselves, and the regular troops of the three psychic departments did not show up directly. Some fled, while others mixed into the mob psychic forces and attacked the Cult of the Underworld.
The high lords, on the contrary, are timid.
Below the mountain ridge, smoke of gunpowder was also burning in countless hives. Gangs and entities hidden in the dark were aroused by such noise, including Genestealers, Thunder Warriors, Dark Eldar... But compared to the war ignited in the Ministry of the Interior, it was still just a small fight.
Red dots lit up on the radar array, permission was granted, the missile silo was no longer tracking, and the roar of a flock of Thunderhawks streaked across the sky above Terra.
It was much better than he had imagined.
The air currents over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau caused the shuttle to shake. Hades curled up in the cargo hold and looked out of the cabin—he remembered the first time he came to Terra, when it was Malcador who received him.
Unfortunately... the old friend is no longer here.
He looked at the smoke rising from the densely packed ant nest-like hive. Ten thousand years later, Terra was even more crowded and chaotic. Just by simply exploring with the Black Domain, Hades could already feel the distribution of the four kinds of chaotic beliefs - perhaps this place was a little too hive-like.
The only tricky part might be the Ministry of the Interior. Hades was crowded by the porthole, looking at the fire, but he heard that the Royal Guards had gone to put out the fire - and they did not ask for Hades' help.
Bump! Then the engine died down, and they stopped at a platform in front of an exit of the palace. Hades saw a sparse group of people, obviously a makeshift welcoming procession of the State Religion and the Divine Emperor, and a guard.
It was a simple welcome ceremony, and Hades frowned. Why didn’t he see the team of the Hades
But... maybe this is just as well.
————
[Golden Throne]
The morning light flickered quietly, more brilliant than the diamonds that dripped on the grass at dawn.
"… "
"… "
"You're not leaving?"
Neos silently looked at Malcador who was sipping his tea in front of him.
But at this moment, he was no longer the Emperor. All the jewels were put away, and the gray cloak blocked the brilliance of the jewels. The scepter was put away, the crown fell, and wrinkles appeared on his face.
He looks more like the seal holder of that year.
"No."
Malcador said calmly, "Or you go."
“I couldn’t stand up.”
The Emperor said, "You do not wish to welcome him?"
“I wanted to welcome him,” Malcador said, taking another sip of his tea. “But he didn’t welcome me—or you could feel his warmth up close. He still has a lot of self-control.”
"I don't understand."
The Emperor said,
"I think you can keep it from him, Malcador. Why don't you go?"
Malcador smiled sarcastically.
"Are you out of date, my former friend?"
“I remember,” Malcador said. “I thought… you had no past to passively experience this.”
"Or perhaps..." Malcador drawled, "you do not understand his hunger and his ferocity."
"At least in this regard," Malcador said calmly, "the creatures of the Subspace should unite a little. We are still on the same path in this regard."
"I don't understand."
The Emperor said, but the next moment—
He saw darkness.
Surging, tumbling, leaping... the Kuroshio.
…
He understood Macador.
… Perhaps he had given too much faith to Hades over the past ten thousand years.
No, that was the Warp's problem, not his.
——————
silence…
There was silence, only the sound of the whistling wind and the idling of the engine. Hades squeezed out of the hatch casually, not caring about his posture at all - because no one would record it all.
At least here, everyone sleeps soundly and peacefully.
It was dark in the Himalayas.
Don't worry, the Black Domain is well controlled - they are not dead, they just wake up... maybe vomit a little for a while.
He expressed a slight apology to the people who came to welcome him, as well as to the sons of Hades who brought him here. Hades walked up to the Imperial Guards who were still standing. The black domain swept over the Imperial Guards, forming a cavity, and Hades waved his hand.
"I'm sorry, are you okay?"
The imperial guard was stunned and nodded slowly.
"First, I'll sweep the ground and plow it," Hades smiled apologetically, "I'll avoid the positions of the Astronomican and the Lord of Mankind, is that okay?"
The guard nodded slowly.
"So take me in now? To see the Lord of Humanity?"
Hades asked tentatively, watching the guards move aside to make way for him.
In the distance, Samuel looked out of the observation hole. He looked at the team of psychics lying on the ground and the collapsed Pluto army, and shook his head.
"It looks like the real Hades is here," the archbishop said to himself, "I'd better prepare my suicide note."
————
"… "
Malcador took a sip of tea, raised his eyebrows, and looked at the pale-faced Lord of Humanity.
"You seem to regret it?" Malcador asked casually. "Why, you don't welcome him anymore?"
(End of this chapter)