Chapter 530: That Night, Korvus and Guilliman Got Drunk

Kiriman identified that face in barely a few seconds.

Even though the face had aged and a thick beard obscured most of its cold features, Kiriman still recognized it.

The Lion, the Lion of Caliban, the Primarch of the Dark Angels, Leman Russ.

He was also the Imperial Protector—but as to which empire, Kiriman had no desire to mention.

If Kiriman had awoken to find neither Zhou Yun nor Sanguinius, and instead saw only despair and ruin, he might have been glad to have Leman Russ beside him.

When despair reached its absolute peak, Leman Russ might have been the only Primarch capable of breaking it.

If the black galaxy were a vast, dark forest, Leman Russ would be the lion within it—no matter how harsh the environment, he could not be broken.

But if the situation were not so dire, then Leman Russ was the very source of Kiriman's despair.

The Lion might be a guardian in the forest, but on Macragge he was an outright threat.

Kiriman still remembered the experience of forming the Second Empire with Leman Russ.

Every recollection of that time felt like a punch to Kiriman's face—this was not metaphor; in Kiriman's memory, Leman Russ had genuinely tried to punch him in the face several times.

Thinking of the tedious, vile politics of the Second Empire, of Emperor Sanguinius tortured into a gaunt shadow, of Leman Russ's attempt to orbital-bomb Macragge, of Korvus lurking in the shadows, ready to stir chaos—Kiriman felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

He knew Leman Russ slept in the galaxy, randomly teleported—but according to the original plan agreed upon by Zhou Yun, Sanguinius, and Kiriman, Leman Russ should not return yet, or he might destabilize the Empire; he must wait until the Empire stabilized before returning.

Yet now Zhou Yun had brought Leman Russ right before him. Though Leman Russ still slept, Kiriman knew Zhou Yun had countless ways to awaken him.

Kiriman slightly opened his mouth, looked at Leman Russ, then raised his eyes to Zhou Yun—but his political instinct finally led him to let out a bitter sigh, adding only half-jokingly: "At least this time he came before me without Konrad Curze."

When Leman Russ visited Macragge, Konrad Curze had been hiding aboard his ship, and Leman Russ had not even told Kiriman about it at first.

This was one of Kiriman's greatest grievances against Leman Russ—Konrad Curze had nearly killed Kiriman's adoptive mother, Yuton.

"If you wish to meet Konrad Curze, I could bring him as well," Zhou Yun said after a pause.

He knew Leman Russ's concealment of Konrad Curze's presence was a thorn in Kiriman's heart, so he considered briefly and decided to reveal Konrad Curze's situation.

But the moment Zhou Yun spoke the name "Konrad Curze," Kiriman's expression stiffened.

Then Zhou Yun reached into his fourth-dimensional pocket and pulled out an Astartes clad in blue armor.

The Astartes's paint scheme matched that of the Ultramarines exactly, yet somehow he seemed shrouded in shadow—the blue of his power armor appeared dull and deep, not like the Ultramarines, but more like... a Night Lord?

Titus suddenly found himself pulled from Zhou Yun's fourth-dimensional pocket; he blinked in surprise, then noticed his gene-father standing before him.

He dropped to one knee, bowing his head in reverence: "Father."

Kiriman slightly opened his mouth; even he, as composed as he was, froze at the sight of Titus.

Because Titus—his son, his outstanding son—gave him the exact same feeling as Konrad Curze himself.

Titus felt more Night Lord than any Night Lord.

He looked less like Kiriman's son and more like Konrad Curze had secretly mixed his gene-seed into the Ultramarines' stock and birthed him.

"This is Konrad Curze's Chosen, Titus—your son," Zhou Yun said, pointing at Titus.

Then Zhou Yun briefly explained Konrad Curze's situation and sent Titus back into his fourth-dimensional pocket. Kiriman rubbed his brow slightly, then exhaled a cool breath: "Curze is a madman. I don't believe he can be controlled."

"Be cautious when using him. Don't let him appear in public. He's better suited as a shadow in the dark."

Zhou Yun nodded slightly, then said to Kiriman: "Shall I awaken the Lion? Let you two brothers meet."

"No!" Kiriman shook his head quickly in refusal.

"Actually, the Lion's personality has changed greatly from ten thousand years ago—he's easier to get along with now," Zhou Yun said hesitantly.

The Lion's spirit, tempered by time and the fall of Caliban, was no longer as extreme as it once was.

"Leman Russ is a beast, my friend."

"If the Lion seems gentler now, it's not because he's less dangerous—it's because he's aged. His body has weakened, but his spirit and skill have grown sharper."

"So he has learned to hide his fangs, sheath his claws, linger in darkness, pretending to be less threatening."

"But if you let your guard down even slightly, his fangs and claws will strike—tearing your throat open, whenever he chooses."

Kiriman looked solemnly at Leman Russ on the ground and said:

"If Leman Russ has truly changed, it's only because he's adapted his hunting tactics to reality. Now, he's more lethal and dangerous than ever."

Zhou Yun nodded slightly without seeking Kiriman's approval, agreeing.

If there was any Primarch besides Lorgar who understood Leman Russ best, it was surely Kiriman.

Yet even Kiriman had to admit that Leman Russ's loyalty to the Emperor surpassed all others.

Zhou Yun still had a stack of blank imperial edicts signed by the Emperor—if all else failed, he could simply let the Wild Emperor possess him and deliver the Emperor's command directly to Leman Russ.

Zhou Yun had thought of a way to make a fortune, and to realize it, he needed the power of Leman Russ.

Because of this idea, he had to enter the Eye of Terror, into those star systems swallowed by the Warp.

"I need to see Sanguinius again. I also plan to visit Corvus—I have an idea... yes, Corvus should be visited after the Eye of Terror."

Zhou Yun briefly explained his idea to Kiriman, raising Kiriman's eyebrows slightly.

(End of Chapter)