Chapter 77: Horus Losing His Exclusive Favor

Bucephalus, the flagship of the Emperor during the early Great Crusade.

The magnificent golden warship stood tall in the air; it was a giant made of gold and marble, with a flapping eagle standing on the prow, and the hull covered in a massive city composed of statues and war temples.

The hull and flanks gradually tapered, forming a spear-like tip, while the engine banks emitted a cold blue light.

Imperial officials and officers welcomed their master—the Emperor—as he boarded the ship.

There was another person being welcomed; he was the second Primarch to return—Ninglu.

The battery arrays lined along the keel fired dazzling light, and eleven rounds of artillery fire illuminated the entire Vostonia system.

Sent by the Chancellor Malcador, the chroniclers, not yet officially recognized by the Imperium, held cameras, or used Data Slates, or used paper to record this glorious moment.

"811. M30, the Emperor recovered the eleventh Primarch on Vostonia..."

The Scribes were more rigorous; they recorded it earnestly.

"9133811. M30, the Emperor recovered the eleventh Primarch on Vostonia; he is the second Primarch to return to the Imperium."

The first digit of the Imperial Calendar serves to quantify the accuracy of time, with 0 representing Terra, the standard reference point.

9 is the final level, applicable to those regions that had not previously used the Imperial Calendar.

The second to fourth digits divide a Planet's orbital period, that is, one stellar year, into 1000 equal parts, 001-000, to mark the time an event occurred.

The official return time of the eleventh Primarch is: the 811th year of the 30th millennium, the 133rd stellar millesimal, with the greatest deviation from Terra time.

Ninglu followed behind Huang Laohan, and behind him were Howard Ward, Bukayo Arshavin, Thierry Vieira, Szczesny, Luoersiliefu, and others.

Considering that the Emperor did not like psykers, he did not let Malena and Arsena accompany them.

The Emperor said to the spear-wielding Alpharius: "Take Ninglu and the others to the dining hall first."

He then said to Ninglu: "I will have a talk with your brother, and you will see him later."

"As you wish."

Ninglu replied with a smile; he had already sensed a powerful presence approaching rapidly by spaceship.

He had already guessed the identity of the newcomer, Horus, the first son to return as recorded officially by the Imperium.

Ninglu knew that when the originally second publicly returned Primarch, Leman Russ, was recovered, Horus was unhappy because he was no longer the only Primarch, and he found many reasons to try to convince Huang Laohan that that savage brother was not worth trusting.

Huang Laohan comforted and persuaded Horus to accept his brother, and thereafter always played the role of a good big brother, helping many brothers adapt.

Clearly, Huang Laohan was now going to wait for Horus and have a talk with him.

Ninglu followed behind Alpharius and walked toward the dining hall.

Sixteen stellar minutes later, in the circular viewing gallery surrounding the Dome of the dining hall.

The Master of Mankind and Horus looked through the curved tempered glass at the dining table sixty meters below.

The bald Horus, his golden armor reflecting light like the morning glow under the illumination of the lamps, the surface of the armor covered with numerous runes, and a bright red cloak hanging behind him.

Horus scrutinized the Vostonians with the most critical eye, and it was not until sixteen seconds had passed that he spoke.

"I understand the Reapers; I have always commanded them; they are cruel Hunters, acting on the instinct to kill."

"The Vostonians are different from them; they lack that sharpness; they are bound by reason."

He revealed his white teeth and said with certainty.

"These two groups of people will not become battle-brothers."

"The Vostonians are not suited to serve you."

The Emperor was amused by Horus's lame excuse; he laughed at his offspring's jealousy.

"Horus, the Vostonians understand war using guns and artillery; they conquered this system under the leadership of your brother."

"They also conquered the worlds of another system; the stars are not a mystery to them."

Horus was lost in thought.

He was no longer alone.

He shouldn't have cared about this, but he just did.

He was restless and extremely embarrassed.

Sensing his son's inner conflict, the Emperor placed a hand on Horus's shoulder.

This touch made Horus's soul tremble, and love welled up in his heart; he resisted with all his might, but he could not refuse it.

"I understand your disappointment," the Emperor gazed into his eyes, "You and I have fought side by side for many years. It is very natural for you to have this feeling..."

The Emperor's well-timed humor continued to increase.

Horus was intoxicated by it, just as if under the shining of the sun, even though the light emitted by the Master of Mankind would scorch him.

"... This is sibling rivalry."

"But I need him. We also need him."

"Competition between brothers is encouraged because it will drive you to work twice as hard."

The Emperor's voice suddenly became powerful; he was still smiling, but his tone was mixed with majesty.

"However, I will not tolerate discord between you."

"You must cooperate. You must learn to fight together."

Horus's will buckled under the pressure of the Emperor's attention, and worry clouded him; this newly appeared brother would also be able to do the same thing, and he was no longer unique.

"Are you going to give him a Legion?"

Horus asked the Emperor.

"Father, forgive me, but is this wise?"

"I also gave the gang lord of Kosonia a Legion; that is your birthright, and his as well."

The aura of wisdom exuded by the Emperor made Horus feel ashamed for questioning him.

"If I cannot trust you to learn how to work in concert with others and lead them as my firstborn son, then I overestimated you before."

He said these words kindly, but the thought of disappointing his father filled Horus with extreme terror.

"I will not let you down, Father," he swore. "I will become friends with him. I will help you teach him."

Horus walked toward the dining hall, and at the same moment, Ninglu, who had been listening to their conversation, also stood up.

A moment later, the two Primarchs met inside a luxurious suite.

"I am Horus, Primarch of the Sixteenth Legion, the Luna Wolves."

Just as Horus was wondering if the brother standing before him, who was even taller than himself, would speak High Gothic, Ninglu spoke.

"Ninglu, Primarch of the Eleventh Legion; I know they were previously known as the Reapers."

Ninglu's voice was standard, and the fastidious Horus could not find a single fault in his pronunciation.

"You want to change them," Horus raised an eyebrow, and he began to try to cast aside narrow emotions, speaking in a calm tone, "that is not an easy thing."

"You will see."

Ninglu said as a matter of course.

"You do not have much time."

"I know."

"I wish you success," Horus turned around, and as he reached the doorway, he said, "Saisake and Sanchez, I can already smell the scent of blood on them; they are coming."

(End of this chapter)