40k: Midnight Blade

Chapter 44 44. Aftermath (two in one)

Eighth Army

In front of the spacious and gorgeous desk, Khalil flipped through the paper materials in front of him with a solemn expression. He was sitting on a chair that looked extremely comfortable, but his back was naturally straight.

After the conversation with Neos, the king named Emperor used his authority to give Khalil a high degree of freedom in this palace.

From this, he could freely enter every secret room and read every forbidden parchment. This freedom was something that even his sons did not enjoy.

But Khalil was unmoved by it and did nothing with it.

He just retrieved some information he needed from the emperor's study while facing the cold gazes of the warriors in golden armor, that's all.

For now, he was grateful that the information was on paper and not ancient parchment scrolls. The touch of the latter will remind him of some unpleasant things.

"The prisoner's offspring"

Khalil narrowed his eyes, a hint of complexity flashed across his gloomy and pale face.

"Are you dissatisfied with them?" a voice asked.

"No." Khalil shook his head. "The sins of the fathers should not be extended to future generations unless they follow the same path as their fathers."

"But you're frowning, Khalil," Conrad Coates said.

He was still wearing the black robe, but his hair was down again. At this moment, he was standing behind Khalil, reading these documents with him.

He doesn't need to be literate, he understands innately.

"Yes."

Khalil acknowledged his emotions and didn't hide them. He has never lied to the ghost, not before, not now, and probably never in the future.

"So, why?"

"Because they come from the prisons beneath Terra."

Khalil said briefly. "Based on these descriptions, that prison should probably be called an underground city."

Terra

Earth.

Something complicated flashed across his face. The room was bright, leaving no room for dark shadows on his face. But it still happened.

Conrad Coates nodded: "Quintus?"

"No."

Khalil leaned back slightly, looking a little more relaxed for the first time. "Better than Quintus' situation."

The pale giant thought for a while and whispered: "Then, this is a good thing."

"Yes, Conrad. That's a good thing - why don't you decide these things?"

Khalil turned sideways and smiled slowly: "This is your army."

".I don't think I have the ability to do this." Conrad Coates said after a moment of hesitant silence.

He has obviously matured a lot, and in just a day and a half, he has transformed to this point.

Really inhuman. Khalil thought sadly, then felt sad for him. But he didn't stop the process, and he won't.

Some things are necessary.

"Why?" Khalil asked, staring into the giant's eyes. This is a conversational skill and a form of politeness.

Then he waited patiently.

Half a minute later, Konrad Kurtz looked away and replied in a low voice: "Because I have no clue about this matter, Khalil. An hour ago, I didn't know that I had a legion. And it was A legion with my genes."

His expression finally changed into the blank look familiar to Khalil.

".This means that they are my sons?"

Khalil couldn't help laughing: "Yes, in terms of blood relationship, yes. But considering that you are only one and a half years old."

He smiled and shook his head, saying nothing more.

Curze lowered his head in frustration and muttered something, his voice hissing, clearly in Nostramo again. Khalil sighed helplessly.

"Based on the time, they will arrive in about two weeks, so you still have two weeks to complete the mental construction and preparation, Conrad."

"Can't you call me Ghost now?" the pale giant hissed.

"We're down to business, Conrad," Khalil said calmly. "And, in High Gothic."

"I have an accent," hissed.

"What accent would allow you to say these four words in High Gothic exactly like Nostramo?"

"Nostramo accent." Standard Gothic, no accent, extremely noble.

Khalil raised an eyebrow.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Do you not like it?"

"This is the time to get down to business. Conrad, let's get back to the topic. You can learn a lot on this ship in two weeks."

"What about you?" Conrad Coates asked perceptively. "What are you going to do again?"

"You have nothing to do with me, Lord of the Eighth Legion."

Khalil burst out laughing. "I have a lot of things to do, but they have nothing to do with you."

".Is this a joke?"

"Don't you like it?" Khalil winked at him. "I hate humor after all."

"."

The pale giant shook his head in annoyance. "He's in pain, Khalil."

It jumped in suddenly without any warning, but it didn't surprise Khalil. He would have been surprised for a while if Conrad Coates didn't talk to him about it.

"Why do you think so?" he asked.

Then he waited - patiently, as always.

".A sense of fragmentation."

Frowning, Conrad Coates said. "He is a ruthless monarch and an ambitious general, but... he doesn't seem to be."

"So weird."

He nodded, giving the word its final definition. "Why would someone do this?"

"A person's behavior is determined by his purpose."

Khalil said calmly. "A person's purpose is determined by his character. If you think he is weird and disconnected, you might as well think about his purpose."

He raised his head and stared at the exquisite ceiling in the room.

"Recovering lost territory, unifying the galaxy, and bringing humanity back into a whole. These things require him to become a ruthless monarch and an ambitious general. And the part that makes you feel weird is his attitude when talking to you, right? ?”

Konrad Coates nodded again, with a complicated expression.

He doesn't understand. One day, he will, but not now.

Khalil smiled slightly and suddenly spoke in Nostramo: "Ghost."

"Ah?" Ghost looked back blankly.

"nothing."

Khalil stood up with a smile and switched back to High Gothic. "Get some rest early, Lord of the Eighth Legion. Starting tomorrow, you will study with Fulgrim."

"he?!"

"if not?"

"Why can't it be you?"

"I know nothing about the current situation of this empire created by the Emperor."

Khalil walked to the door, turned around, leaned against the door and answered with a smile. "Therefore, even if I want to teach you, I can't do anything. Besides."

Looking at the expression of Conrad Coates, Khalil stopped talking and did not continue.

He raised his hand and turned off the lights, returning the room to a darkness that was familiar to both Conrad Coates and the Midnight Ghost. Then he opened the door and left.

Is there any real gap between brothers?

He sighed.

It is appropriate to be arrogant.

How could a demigod not be arrogant?

——

Khalil did not stay on the ship, the Emperor's Dream, but left, returning to Nostramo.

But instead of taking those mighty-looking flying vehicles, he chose to use another method.

In the dark blue light, he walked out slowly.

There was frost formed by frozen clouds on the ground, which was slowly breaking as he moved. It had been more than a day and a half since he left, but there hadn't been much change in the shelter, except that the door he made himself had disappeared.

as well as

Khalil turned his head in surprise. He really wasn't expecting this.

"Mr. Roger Dorn?"

"Roger, or Donne—I've noticed that the word 'sir' connotes alienation in the context of you and Conrad. I don't want to be called that."

Khalil chuckled.

Once again, he was delighted by the directness of the giant before him. After some riddle-like exchanges and metaphors, it's always nice to meet someone who's straight to the point.

Rogal Dorn frowned.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked. The tone was calm.

"Because there are not many people like you who can speak clearly and clearly. I'm very surprised by this."

After receiving the explanation, Dorn's brows furrowed even more. "I just don't like inefficiency."

He shook his head honestly.

"Right is right and wrong is wrong. There may be shadows in between, but never more. Rather than using a series of metaphors to hide your true intentions, it is better to make it clear from the beginning."

"Therefore." The gray-haired giant made a serious gesture. "I think your surprise is unnecessary. I always do."

"Well the inefficiency is really disgusting, both in conversation and otherwise."

Khalil nodded thoughtfully, then asked a new question.

"But, Dorne, where is my door?"

“It doesn’t count as a door — in my definition.”

Rogal Dorn frowned again.

"It was rusty and was just a shoddy product made of shabby wood and metal. It could neither protect the house from wind and rain, nor protect the property and the owner. So I took it upon myself to get some metal and plan to strengthen it. The door brings it back to life.”

He paused for a moment and glanced at Khalil's expression before continuing: "If you think this is inappropriate, I can stop."

"There's no need to stop. It's indeed just a product of my desperation. However, you arrived at Nostramo alone again, wouldn't it just be to repair a door, right?"

"I also repaired a chair."

Dawn said calmly. "It had structural issues, so I renovated it using metal pieces removed from an old water purifier. But that's not all I'm here for."

"You want to ask me something, right?"

"Yes. I thought you'd come back."

Rogal Dorn nodded. "I want to know why your psychic power is so strong, why it can make you change your body shape, why it can make us unable to move, and--I'm sorry about Luo Jia."

"Feel sorry?"

"I didn't expect that he would actually regard those terrible conjectures and speculations as the truth. In my opinion, he is usually a passionate and intelligent person."

"On weekdays?"

Donne was silent for a moment, and then continued to answer: ".He will indeed become unreasonable at certain moments because of his faith."

Khalil couldn't help but laugh. "Indeed, I agree with you."

"So, can you answer my questions? If it involves some privacy, just ask and I won't ask again."

"I cannot answer your question, Rogal Dorn."

Khalil said in a relatively gentle tone. "But it's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't. Even I am still searching for the answer to this question. I even know a little about it, so how can I answer it for you?"

Dawn thought for a while.

The fetid cold wind blew in my face, and chaotic roars came from the streets below.

In terms of environment alone, Nostramo can't even compare to the most inconspicuous corner of the Emperor's Dream, but Rogal Dorn stood here calmly, with a noble demigod body, and a A rare heart.

It's really ironic compared to Khalil thought.

A person who is good at using language as a weapon and is proficient in the art of using it, even to the level of instinct, is so weak in his heart that he can be refuted by just a few words full of loopholes.

A person who abandons all useless rhetoric, speaks and acts directly to the essence, and is mentally tough enough to remain calm even in the face of unbelievable things.

It’s so valuable.

"I see."

Rogal Dorn spoke slowly. "In this case, I will not ask any more questions, and it is indeed difficult to investigate the truth. But my father believes in you, so I will believe in you, Khalil Lohars."

"What if he doesn't believe it?"

"Then, I will find the truth myself to judge whether you are worthy of belief."

Dawn replied calmly. "Only if my father won't stop me, or if he doesn't give an order to make us your enemies."

Khalil nodded appreciatively.

Have the ability to make self-judgments, but will not follow the rules or stick to the rules.

It's really strange.

"It was nice talking to you." Khalil smiled. "But since you asked me so many questions."

He gestured inquiringly.

"Of course." Dorn nodded calmly. "I can answer you anything I can answer."

"So, what do you think of Nostramo?"

"A hopeless place." Dorn immediately frowned.

He didn't hide his true thoughts, not even a little bit.

"Conrad once took us to wander around this hive, and if we take it as a sample, I don't think there is any room for Nostramo to be modified at all."

He shook his head in disgust.

"Led the cannibalism, murder, and anti-humanity. The crime rate is extremely high, and the environment is extremely poor - the only valuable thing is the fine gold, and fine gold does not require the existence of Nostramo people to be mined."

"Indeed. Is there anything else?" Khalil asked calmly.

He didn't deny Rogal Dorn's opinion—why would he?

Although the latter's words don't sound good, they are true.

Loyalty often offends the ears.

"Why do you ask this question?" Dawn frowned.

"Because I want to know what you think."

"My opinion is of no value to you."

The giant shook his head. His clothes were more like a uniform at this moment, and his expression made him look like a consul - or, a serious king.

"You're determined to save it, I can see that."

"And the same goes for our brother Conrad Coates, and I have a hard time convincing myself that he wasn't influenced by you."

"However, in the long run, the impact is always good. A compassionate hero who is willing to save is better than a destroyer who uses violence to destroy all darkness."

"Besides, even if he really intends to destroy everything, what's the use of my opinion?"

"You can share this opinion with him."

"He does not have the complete ability to distinguish right from wrong." Dorn said seriously.

His short hair was blown by the cold wind. They were irregular and his face was extremely cold. "So if I said my opinion, the way I do, it would bother him."

"You think it bothers him?"

"Why can't he?"

Don asked rhetorically. "A one-and-a-half-year-old child's attitude towards the world changes every day, but the foundation was laid by you. I'm glad that he met you, otherwise, he would have been completely immersed in the darkness of this dirty world."

"Don't you think it's shameful for me to impregnate his will with my own opinions?"

Dawn shook his head calmly.

"I know who you are, Khalil Lohars."

Rogal Dorn, the descendant of the Emperor of the Human Empire, the demigod, the noble Primarch - spoke like this in the fetid cold wind and darkness, his voice was low, but it was like a declaration.

"A truly shameless person will not be troubled by instilling his views into others, and a truly shameless person will not teach our brothers what compassion is and what salvation is."

"He mentioned that you are devastated by the suffering in this world, and I admire people who do that. I have lived a long life and I have met many people, and there are very few people who can do that. They Everyone can be called a hero."

"You think I'm a hero?"

Khalil burst into laughter. "Rogal Dorn. Is this a joke?"

"I never joke."

Dawn replied calmly. "Long enough chatting, if you don't have any more questions, I'm going to go fix that door."

He raised his hand and pointed behind the shelter.

Khalil couldn't help but burst out laughing.

How interesting, how interesting.

"Thank you, then," he said softly.

Donne didn't answer.

The reason was actually simple - he didn't know if Khalil was thanking him for repairing the door, or thanking him for calling him a hero.

However, no matter which way, he felt that this was not worthy of being thanked.

——

Fulgrim clenched his right hand and felt a stinging pain.

He pursed his lips.

Then, he opened his palm, and a pendant was revealed in it. Staring at him, the Chemos expression was somewhat melancholy. And this melancholy is actually the result of his efforts to conceal it.

After all, Ferrus Manus was not far away from him, tapping something with his right hand.

Closing his eyes, Fulgrim clenched his right hand again. The pain hit him, but he exhaled as if he was relaxed.

"If I were you, I would choose to rest as soon as possible."

Ferrus said without looking up. "You're draining yourself emotionally, and that's not good for what you're going to do tomorrow."

".But how can I sleep, Gorgon?"

"You can figure it out yourself."

Ferrus Manus answered without mercy. "Watching me forge weapons here is not an option."

Fulgrim couldn't help but reveal a sad smile: "But I want to see it."

"Then just watch."

The giant known as Gorgon raised his head and glanced at his brother in his busy schedule. "You won't stop until you suffer. I know you too well."

"Oh - what does this mean?"

"It means you have to hit something with your handsome forehead before you know the pain."

"What's so handsome about my forehead? It's just a part of my handsomeness!"

"Um"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You're not sleepy now."

Ferus shook his head. "But I still have to advise you to rest early, otherwise you will stand haggard in front of Conrad Coates tomorrow, completely losing your bearing."

"I have long since lost all manners to him."

The Chemos man turned over melancholy, lying on the sofa and sighed: "He must hate me very much now."

"Um."

"What are you talking about?!"

"I don't know how to answer you, but it doesn't seem good to leave you alone. After all, you are not normal now."

The blacksmith with a pair of metal arms stopped his work, turned around, and began to rummage on the workbench behind him. At the same time, he did not forget to answer and continued to answer Fulgrim.

"But since you mentioned hate - do you want to hear my understanding of hate?"

"Of course." Fulgrim said cheerfully. "Gorgon's hatred is the strongest."

"Conrad Coates doesn't hate you at all."

Ferrus Manus stopped his movements seriously, turned around and glanced at him. "If he hates you, he will spurn you and despise you. But today when he walked out of that door, he felt a sense of disappointment, not those two emotions."

"How do you see so clearly?"

"I am a bystander." Ferus replied calmly. "So of course I can see clearly."

"But--"

"——No more, Fulgrim. If you don't want me to call you Fulgrim, just get out of here, go back to your room, rest, and face tomorrow's lesson with our brothers with a new mindset. "

"But."

Ferus glared at him dangerously. "If you say one more word, I will say it right away."

"Is this a threat?"

"This is a statement of facts." Ferus said seriously. "Get out, hurry up."

The Chemos reluctantly walked to the door of his brother's room and slowly left. Gorgon, who had a cold appearance, sighed after the door closed.

It's just a simple question that requires a simple response to get the correct answer - Why can't you see clearly, Fulgrim?

Conrad Coates doesn't hate you at all. If he did, he wouldn't be so disappointed in you.

He sighed and returned to work, forging the weapon to be given away.

sneak attack.

The Night Lords are like this.

(Okay, the real situation is that something happened during the day, so I coded it and updated it in advance.)

Also, what do you think of the pacing? Procrastination? Or is it normal? I also thought about fast forwarding directly to Kill Kill Kill, but after thinking about it, I decided to write it more delicately.

After all, these people are too stubborn to write more delicately and make their transformation seem reasonable.