Chapter 531: That Night Curze and Guilliman Got Drunk

Guilliman identified that face in almost just a few seconds.

Even though the face had grown old, even though a thick beard covered most of that cold visage, Guilliman still recognized the identity of that face.

The Lion, the Lion of Caliban, the Dark Angels' Primarch Lion El'Jonson.

Also the Lord Protector of the Empire, though which Empire, Guilliman did not wish to mention.

If Guilliman had not seen Zhou Yun when he woke, had not seen Sanguinius, and if looking around revealed only wretchedness and despair, then perhaps Guilliman would have been happy that the Lion was with him.

When everything reached a state of utter despair, the Lion might be the only one among the Primarchs capable of breaking that despair.

If the pitch-black galaxy were a deep, dark forest, then the Lion would be the lion within that forest; no matter how harsh the environment, it could not crush him.

But if the situation were not so desperate, then the Lion would be the source of despair for Guilliman.

The Lion might be a guardian in the forest, but placed on Macragge, he would be a thoroughgoing dangerous element.

Guilliman still remembered the experience of building the Second Imperium with the Lion back then.

Recalling that experience every time felt like a punch hitting Guilliman in the face—this was not a metaphor; in Guilliman's memory, the Lion had indeed tried to punch him in the face several times.

Thinking of the tedious and wretched administration during the Second Imperium period, thinking of Emperor Sanguinius tortured until his face was haggard, thinking of the Lion's attempt to orbital bombard Macragge, thinking of Konrad Curze hiding in the shadows, ready to cause trouble at any moment, made Guilliman's stomach ache.

He knew the Lion slept in the galaxy and teleported randomly, but according to the plan Zhou Yun, Sanguinius, and Guilliman had discussed initially, the Lion was not suitable to return for the time being; otherwise, it might cause turmoil in the Empire. At least they had to wait until the Empire stabilized before letting the Lion return.

But now Zhou Yun had brought the Lion before him. Although the Lion was still asleep, Guilliman knew Zhou Yun had countless methods to wake the Lion.

Guilliman opened his mouth slightly. He looked at the Lion, then raised his head to look at Zhou Yun, but ultimately, the politician's instinct made him let out a bitter sigh, speaking with only a slightly joking tone: "At least this time he came before me, he did not bring Konrad Curze."

When the Lion visited Macragge back then, Konrad Curze was still lurking on his ship, and the Lion had not even told Guilliman about this matter at first.

This was one of the biggest reasons Guilliman held a grudge against the Lion: Konrad Curze had nearly killed Guilliman's adoptive mother, Lady Yvonne.

"If you want to see Konrad Curze, I can actually bring him here." Zhou Yun hesitated slightly before speaking to Guilliman.

He knew that the Lion concealing Konrad Curze's existence was a thorn in Guilliman's heart, so he thought for a moment and decided to explain Konrad Curze's situation.

But as soon as Zhou Yun spoke the name Konrad Curze, Guilliman's expression stiffened slightly.

Then Zhou Yun reached his hand into his four-dimensional pocket and pulled out an Astartes wearing blue armor.

The paint scheme on this Astartes was identical to that of the Ultramarines, but for some reason, he looked as if he were shrouded in shadow; the blue on the power armor appeared somewhat dim and deep, not like an Ultramarine, but rather like a... Night Lord?

Titus was suddenly pulled out of the four-dimensional pocket by Zhou Yun. He paused slightly, then noticed his gene-father standing before him.

He knelt on one knee, lowered his head in salute: "Father."

Guilliman opened his mouth slightly. Even he, who was as steady as a rock, was stunned the moment he saw Titus.

Because Titus, his son, his excellent son, gave him a feeling that was exactly like Konrad Curze himself.

The feeling Titus gave Guilliman was simply more Night Lord than the Night Lords themselves.

He looked nothing like Guilliman's son; rather, it was as if Konrad Curze had secretly mixed his gene-seed into the Ultramarines' gene-vault and sired him.

"This is Titus, the God-Chosen of Konrad Curze, your son." Zhou Yun pointed at Titus and said.

Then Zhou Yun briefly explained Konrad Curze's situation and let Titus return to the four-dimensional pocket. Guilliman rubbed his brow slightly, finally exhaling a breath of cool air and saying: "Konrad is a madman; I do not believe he can be controlled."

"When you use him, you had better be cautious, and do not let him appear in the open; he is more suited to being a shadow in the dark."

Zhou Yun nodded slightly, then said to Guilliman: "Should I wake the Lion so you two brothers can meet?"

"No need!" Guilliman shook his head rapidly in refusal.

"Actually, the Lion's personality is greatly different from ten thousand years ago; he is easier to get along with than before." Zhou Yun hesitated slightly before speaking.

The Lion's spirit, through the passage of time and the tempering of the Fall of Caliban, was no longer as excessively extreme as it once was.

"The Lion is a beast, my friend."

"If the Lion appears to have become gentle, it is not that he is no longer dangerous, but because he is old; his body declines, but his spirit and skills become even stronger."

"Thus, he has begun to learn to hide his fangs, retract his claws, hide in the darkness, and pretend to be less dangerous."

"But as soon as you relax even slightly, the Lion's fangs and claws will emerge, tearing your throat; if he wishes, he can do so at any time."

Guilliman looked seriously at the Lion lying on the ground and said:

"If the Lion has truly changed as you say, then it is merely that, based on the needs of reality, he has instinctively switched to a different hunting technique. At this time, he is even more lethal and dangerous than before."

Zhou Yun did not ask for Guilliman's opinion; he nodded slightly to indicate agreement.

If there was any Primarch besides Leman Russ who understood the Lion best, it was probably Guilliman.

However, even Guilliman had to admit that no one could compare to the Lion's loyalty to the Hua Di Huang.

Zhou Yun still had a pile of blank imperial edicts signed by the Hua Di Huang. If necessary, he could also let the Hua Di Huang possess a body to directly convey the Hua Di Huang's will to the Lion.

Zhou Yun thought of an idea to make a fortune. To realize this idea, he needed the power of Lion El'Jonson.

Because of this idea, Zhou Yun must enter the Eye of Terror once, entering those star systems dragged into the Warp.

"I need to go see Sanguinius again. I also plan to go to Cawl's side. I have an idea... Hmm, I should go to Cawl's side after finishing the Eye of Terror."

Zhou Yun briefly explained his idea to Guilliman, causing Guilliman's eyebrows to rise slightly.

(End of Chapter)