40k: Midnight Blade

Chapter 142 4. The Emperor and His Sons (3)

When Angron and Konrad Curze met Robert Guilliman again, the latter had already replaced his ceremonial armor.

It disappeared completely, as if it had never existed.

Robert Guilliman now wears Macragge's Praetorian uniform. Blue, white, and gold, without a laurel wreath, the emblem symbolizing Macragge sparkled on his collar, and the emblem representing the Ultramarines flashed calmly on his left chest.

He looked formal, serious, and finally no longer looked out of place with his brothers.

Angron was here for the first time, as was Robert Guilliman. His encounter with the Emperor was in the orbit of Macragge, not on the ship belonging to their father, a place only Konrad Curze was familiar with.

In fact, it's much more than just familiarity - he's revealing a few things.

"You have a room here?" Guilliman asked in surprise.

"Yes."

But I don't really want it.

"But I don't like its decorative style very much." Conrad Coates said calmly. "Everything is golden and full of intricate details that make me feel like I'm living in an exhibition hall."

Guilliman smiled: "It is indeed my father's style."

Angron said nothing, and the gladiator walked thoughtfully with his brothers through the palace-like corridors of the Emperor's Dream, paying attention to every detail.

He took in everything without making any comments, but wrote down all the names that appeared in the smallest details.

The builders were allowed by the Emperor to leave their own names on this immortal masterpiece. No one could refuse such an honor, but they did not want to spoil their own efforts, so these names were often cleverly integrated into the Some places that cannot be noticed without looking closely.

Angron observed them so intently that the nails vibrated loudly in his skull. The three Primarchs' walk continued for a while, and then, more than ten minutes after boarding the ship, they finally met their guide.

Constantine Valdo, Marshal of the Custodes.

He stared at the three demigods expressionlessly, without any respect in his eyes.

"Follow me," he said. "My Lord is waiting."

Angron's expression changed slightly at this moment - Konrad Curze and Robert Guilliman still didn't know their brother well enough after all. If one of those gladiators could stand here, they would definitely Will discern Angron's true emotions at this moment.

"No." The Nucerian shook his head. "I won't follow you until you tell us who you really are."

"He is Constantin Valdor, brother." Guilliman spoke quickly, trying to smooth things over. "He is the Marshal of the Forbidden Army, my father's personal guard."

"I don't care who he is, I only know that a person should have the most basic respect for others." Angron said expressionlessly. “Isn’t this appeal correct?”

Konrad Curze didn't speak. Guilliman was begging him for help with his eyes, but he didn't want to help - of course he knew Constantin Valdor, and he would firmly side with Angron. .

The Marshal of the Forbidden Army smiled, and everyone could see the fleeting smile on his face. What followed was a smile that could be called contemptuous.

"Naive child."

Constantine Waldo raised his head and spoke with a seemingly brisk tone. "You are wasting his kindness, and you have no idea how precious this light is."

"Can you speak human language?" Angron replied coldly.

His talent was taking effect, the nails began to move again, and the gladiator grinned. The muscles on his rough face brought out his leathery skin, making the smile seem unrelated to any positive emotions.

His malice towards the Marshal of the Imperial Guard was not groundless. In his perception, Constantine Waldo's mind was as unintelligible as a fortress, but here was the problem.

The master of the fortress revealed its inner splendor to him, and he hurled out sentences that were insulting to both Angron's brothers.

This is what makes the gladiator angry.

"Don't be too conceited, Primarch."

The Admiral of the Imperial Guard spoke slowly in what could be described as his softest tone.

"You have no idea how tired he is, and you have no idea what price he paid to get here. You know nothing about him, and you are just squandering what little gentleness he has left."

Robert Guilliman finally frowned. He didn't understand why Constantin Valdor showed such obvious hostility towards them as soon as they met.

If this hostility was only directed at him alone, the Lord of Macragge could of course use his statesmanlike consciousness to put this matter behind him, but this hostility was directed at all of them.

Therefore he could no longer remain silent.

"So, would you like to explain something to us?"

Robert Guilliman stepped forward and spoke sharply.

"You look like you are talking to us, but you are actually just talking to yourself. Constantin Waldo, my brother's request is completely legitimate. You should indeed show some basic respect to us."

"Oh, Lord Robert Guilliman."

The Custodian Marshal glanced at the Lord of Macragge with his dark eyes, and the emotion in his eyes made the latter feel extremely angry. "I will, but not until you realize who you really are."

A deep wrinkle appeared between Guilliman's brows. He planned to speak again, but Konrad Curze had found this power before him.

The pale man with a gloomy face shook his head, and the words he spoke next were like detonating a bomb in the air, and this bomb exploded directly in the face of the Forbidden Army Marshal.

"Are you jealous, Constantin Waldo? For the dinner party last night that you were not allowed to attend?"

The Admiral of the Imperial Guard laughed again, and it was not a gentle smile.

He spoke softly: "Conrad Coates, I thought you would be different from them."

"for example?"

"Like, you deserve to know some truth. So you shouldn't say that stupid thing."

"I don't like playing riddles with others, so you can either tell me what the so-called truth is that you have been deliberately vague about, or I will go back to our respective ships with my brothers."

After these words, Constantine Waldo suddenly revealed a hidden anger. Konrad Curze smiled, feeling a moment of satisfaction at what he had done to the Custodes Marshal.

He looked at the Forbidden Army with his dark eyes and made a silent invitation - Come on, I know you want to continue, so come on, let's see who of us can hurt the other party more. I don’t like you anyway, just like you don’t like us.

Constantin Waldo refused.

"I lost my temper." He said calmly. "I apologize to you for not making me as childish as you."

Angron narrowed his eyes, Robert Guilliman shook his head slowly, and Konrad Curze raised the corners of his mouth without a smile - the next second, a bolt of lightning fell in the corridor.

"enough."

The owner of Lightning walked slowly from the far end of the corridor. He was tall and majestic, wearing a gray robe. The muscles on his arms were bulging. Calluses stubbornly remained on his knuckles and palms. The two golden wrist guards were still there. On his wrist, it was shining.

A divine craftsman.

Guilliman couldn't help but feel ridiculous for his own thoughts - how could I think so?

He asked himself, but he didn't get an answer, and his thinking was stopped in the next second.

"My guard." The Lord of Humanity slowly shook his head towards the Imperial Guard who was kneeling on one knee. "I'm just asking you to bring them here, not trying to cause conflict with them."

"I betrayed your trust." Marshal of the Forbidden Army replied in a low voice, seeming to be trembling.

Angron stared at his completely bent back, and the anger in his heart dissipated. He had realized the true face of Constantine Valdor. Like them, he was also a weapon held by the Emperor, but here was the difference.

They - the Primarchs - retained their humanity, but Constantin Valdor did not. He is a broken machine, with humanity being crushed back and forth in the sharp gears.

He is already broken, and it will only get worse.

These words echoed endlessly in the Nukerian's heart, causing him to shake his head silently.

"You didn't," the Emperor replied calmly. "Stand up and go do your job - I want to be alone with my sons."

"As you command, my lord."

Constantine Valdor left quickly, without any hesitation, without even looking back at the Primarchs. The Lord of Humanity nodded gently to them: "I'm sorry for what just happened."

He has changed again. Guilliman thought. It was completely different from the appearance at yesterday's banquet.

The Lord of Macragge thought, trying to find a kind of neutrality, a possible pattern and trace - he would not admit it, but he did want to be closer to his father.

"I hope you will not take Constantine's words to heart," said the laurel-crowned giant. "After all, he meant nothing, and remembering them won't help us in what we do next."

"What are we to do, father?" Robert Guilliman asked. His other two brothers remained silent.

"A meeting - as I said yesterday. But if you want to know more details."

The Lord of Mankind turned around and began to guide them, his voice still reaching their ears clearly: "I would call it an advance warning."

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