Chapter 585: The Infinite and the Astrologer

Tarasin stared at Zhou Yun for a moment, then spoke briefly:

"Fine."

"If you truly can grant my race a soul."

Anarquel looked at Tarasin in surprise—he had not expected Tarasin to agree so readily.

Zhou Yun was not surprised; instead, he smiled faintly and turned to Fugen:

"After the negotiations with the Silent King are done, you can release your Phoenix Guard."

"And Guilliman, Tarasin has a batch of your sons from the Great Crusade, a section of the Crypts of Kaos was stolen by him, and so is one of your pillows."

"Sanguinius, your sons Cassiel and the Terminators Rafilo were temporarily assigned to the Deathwatch; remember to retrieve them."

"Also, a squad of Raven Guard, a squad of the Fourteenth Legion's Dusk Assaulters from before Mortarion's return, several Imperial Guardsmen, several squads of Sisters of Battle, dozens of Astra Militarum units including the Vostroyan Firstborn, the lost Tanis Regiment, Catachan and Cadia—yes, even the Lord of Crieg is among his collection."

"Also, the Eldar's Harlequin Troupe, the artifact known as the Chalice of Entropy forged from a fragment of the Great Cauldron of Nurgle, a Tyranid Hive Tyrant, a fragment of the Void Dragon Star-God, a shard of the Deceiver Star-God, a fragment of the Burner Star-God, and a Plague Champion of the Death Guard."

"Oh, Tarasin also secretly hoarded a batch of pristine Emperor's Children gene-seeds—the ones that vanished from the Moon during the Blight; what he traded to Fabius Bile was not the full collection."

"These are the items we can use now and should rescue—remember to release them after."

Tarasin's metallic body froze in place, silent.

Zhou Yun's knowledge of his collection had completely surpassed Tarasin's expectations; the only thing Tarasin felt relieved about was that Zhou Yun seemed uninterested in anything tied to the Necrontyr's history.

Anarquel signaled for Zhou Yun, Kaul, and the Primarchs to proceed to negotiate with the Silent King,

but Anarquel deliberately lagged behind, falling to the rear of the group, silently approaching Tarasin, who appeared dazed.

"Has your mind finally deteriorated completely?" Anarquel said to Tarasin.

Tarasin glanced at Anarquel: "I have made such sacrifices for the Necrons, and this is how you speak to me?"

"Sacrifices? Those things you gave up were stolen to begin with." Anarquel snorted.

Then Anarquel asked: "So why did you agree? I thought you'd be more stingy."

Tarasin fell silent for a moment, then seemed to make a decision, raising his head: "I was the one who supported the Bio-Conversion."

". hat?" Anarquel's blue light flickered sharply: "Didn't you previously insist you strongly opposed the Bio-Conversion and were forced into it?"

Anarquel's tone shifted instantly from sympathy to accusation.

". forgot! My memory modules malfunctioned!"

Tarasin's voice remained cold, but Anarquel detected his agitation:

"But after being granted a machine-soul by Him, my body's efficiency improved, and some old flaws were repaired."

"I vaguely recalled what happened back then."

"The Silent King once sought counsel from me, as Chief Archivist, and from Orykan, the Royal Astrologer."

"In his words, Orykan and I represented our race's past and future."

"He wished to draw wisdom from both past and future to decide whether to proceed with Bio-Conversion."

"Orykan foresaw the future and judged that Bio-Conversion would bring only disaster and destruction to our race."

"But I, based on Necrontyr history, concluded that all our tragedies stemmed from our short lifespans, and our civilization was already on the brink of collapse; if Bio-Conversion could grant us immortality and eternal power, then we must choose it—because nothing could get worse."

"But everything did get worse." Anarquel stared at Tarasin.

"Yes, but the Silent King ultimately chose me—me, the past—over Orykan, the future—choosing Bio-Conversion."

"I watched as Orykan was dragged from behind the library shelves, bound, and thrown into the Bio-Conversion furnace. My mind, worn down by time, falsely convinced me that I was the one who opposed it, that I was the one forcibly cast into the furnace—what a shameful evasion."

"Perhaps even my pre-sleep self could not bear the guilt of my crimes and deliberately destroyed my own memories, causing the awakened me to hold this delusion."

"Now I realize—my obsession with artifacts and history likely stems from this very reason: because I myself pushed the Necrontyr one step closer to destruction."

Tarasin let out a bitter, cold laugh, then helplessly shook his head:

"He asked me if I would trade the past for the future—what choice did I have? Repeat the same mistake I made before?"

"Anarquel, this time I choose the future."

"So don't pity me—you should despise me. If you wish to judge me for my crimes, come forward. But I beg you, find a way to atone for my mistakes."

Anarquel did not move; he simply gazed at Tarasin with his deep blue eyes:

"You rank too low on the list of crimes committed during Bio-Conversion."

"Also, I truly wish the Silent King carried guilt as heavy as yours."

With that, Anarquel turned and walked toward Zhou Yun, Kaul, and the Primarchs without looking back.

Tarasin stood alone, frozen in the dim exhibition hall, as if he himself were merely another artifact on display.