Chapter 557

The swordsman's fingers lightly rested on his waist, his figure moving with swift yet elegant grace.

His steps were so light that not a sound echoed on the steel floor, utterly incongruous with his towering frame.

He moved through the cabin like an exquisitely graceful assassin, strolling as if on a leisurely walk.

Tarasyn watched this scene with interest, his voice cold and nearly devoid of emotion: "I thought stealth and infiltration were your brothers' specialties."

"When my father shaped me and my brothers, he intended for us to reach perfection—to be flawless, possessing talents beyond mortal limits in every regard."

The swordsman's voice was clear and bright, like the finest singer speaking.

"Theoretically, we are capable of mastering all knowledge and skills in this world; we merely differ in our favored and skilled domains."

"And you? What are you skilled in?" Tarasyn seemed genuinely intrigued, his tone faintly warmed with emotion.

"I am skilled in bringing all things to perfection," the swordsman replied as if stating the obvious. "I simply have no taste for thievery—that is Corax's domain."

"I'm merely reclaiming what is mine," Tarasyn growled, a sharp, metallic sound of displeasure escaping him.

"We could use other means. We could first visit my beautiful brother—I'm certain I can persuade him to order his offspring to return your belongings." The swordsman shook his head, clearly disapproving of Tarasyn's request to infiltrate the All-Knowing Mystery.

"More likely, your brother would kill you outright," Tarasyn sneered. "You're only a clone, but your original is so repulsive I doubt your brothers would mind taking out their fury on you first."

"I am not like him," the swordsman lowered his voice slightly. "He was imperfect—that is why he fell. I will not. I will be more perfect than he ever was. Saint Guilliman will understand this."

"Even if he understands you, these thieves—the Blood Ravens—may not obey his orders."

Tarasyn grunted.

"I know galactic history better than you. These Blood Ravens are not Saint Guilliman's offspring."

"I humbly accept your teaching," the swordsman replied, showing genuine interest in history and knowledge; he even bowed slightly to Tarasyn, as if preparing to listen.

Tarasyn and the swordsman's relationship was actually quite amicable, partly because Tarasyn possessed vast knowledge and delighted in sharing it, while the swordsman thirsted for knowledge to perfect himself and eagerly learned from Tarasyn.

"This tale begins after the Great Heresy, with a secret military reorganization—" Tarasyn, deeply pleased by the swordsman's respect, adopted the posture of a lecturer, entirely forgetting he was inside an enemy vessel.

"Both of you, be silent!" The Traveler Anlakel could no longer endure them and roared, cutting Tarasyn off.

Anlakel had endured too many of Tarasyn's history lectures—he did not wish to endure another.

Their sluggish progress was largely due to Tarasyn's pathological need to teach and the swordsman's excessive thirst for knowledge.

"We are currently on someone else's territory. I expect both of you to take this seriously," Anlakel snapped, pointing his war-scythe at them.

"If arrogance is the measure, you surpass me a hundredfold—and yet you dare rebuke me?"

Tarasyn sneered coldly.

"Are you worried we'll be discovered, Anlakel?"

"Relax. In theft—no, cultural relic recovery and protection—I am the true expert."

"The Blood Ravens—these shameless thieves—are nothing before me."

"The shielding field I deployed is Eldar Jester technology. Before we reach their relic vault, these fools will never detect our presence."

Tarasyn was confident.

In his long career, he had infiltrated countless Necron tomb-worlds, Eldar craftworlds, Adeptus Astartes fortress-monasteries, Mechanicus forge-worlds, and demon realms—could he possibly fail on a mere fleet-based warband's flagship?

Ridiculous. If he failed, he would bestow the title of Guardian of All Galactic History, Relics, and Events upon the Blood Ravens' Chapter Master!

Indeed, as Tarasyn claimed, they encountered no resistance along the way, gliding almost effortlessly to the threshold of the Blood Ravens' relic vault.

Only two Blood Raven Astartes guarded the vault—this level of defense was surprisingly weak.

Yet this was precisely what Tarasyn had anticipated.

He chose this moment to infiltrate because the Blood Ravens' high command had departed for the Red Tear, leaving the All-Knowing Mystery lightly guarded; even if they were discovered, the elite forces aboard could not return in time—they could steal and flee without delay.

"Ha! Such crude security—I can already hear the precious relics weeping. No, I must protect them—"