40k: Midnight Blade

Chapter 72 71. The Eighth Legion (7, 5k)

The meeting with the eight company commanders was not as difficult as Conrad thought. He originally thought he would need to go through a war of words. However, in fact there is none.

He stated that he thought this matter was inappropriate, and then explained the reasons in detail to the company commanders.

For example, he had no experience in managing a regiment, and there would be many problems in randomly assigning new officers to take office. He thought they would argue with him, but the company commanders said nothing.

"If this is your wish." After the meeting, Captain Van Cleef, who stayed in the room, said.

No matter how Conrad persuaded him, he was unwilling to remove the honorific. In this regard, he became the only person in the entire legion to call Conrad Coze by the honorific title.

"The meeting is over, aren't you going to refute me, Van Cleef?" Coates asked in surprise.

"What does the rebuttal have to do with the end of the meeting?" The first company commander frowned, with real doubt on his fierce face.

"After all, you informed me of your collective resignation. You told me about it when we first met. No matter how much I try to persuade you, you are not willing to back down."

"In the meeting just now, after I finished my speech, you were also the last person to vote in favor. So I have reason to think that you are actually taking care of your brothers' feelings, which is why I left you alone. ”

Conrad Coates smiled and folded his hands neatly on the table. In this way, he waited for Van Cleef's answer.

"."

His company commander was silent for a long time before speaking.

"Actually, Primarch, I was just thinking about what you said. I am a staid and old-fashioned man, so I will think about anything anyone says for a long time before I answer."

"I have been convinced by you, Primarch. You are right. We should not step down from this position. After all, it is not only a responsibility, but also the trust of many brothers. We should not let these down. "

VanCleef's head was lowered, so that he did not see his primarch's expression. Conrad Coates exhaled slightly, and his heart finally relaxed.

He really hoped that Van Cleef could understand his thoughts, so he was very happy to see this scene. However, although it is somewhat inconsistent to say this, if Van Cleef cannot understand, he will not force it.

Just seeking common ground while reserving differences. he thinks.

"That would be great, Van Cleef," he said heartily. "Also, can I ask you a favor?"

Van Cleef suddenly raised his head, frowning, so fast that even Coz was a little surprised. Then, he saw his company commander put his right hand heavily and swiftly on his chest. Although he was not wearing armor, the force still made his chest groan.

"I will go all out." The company commander of the Eighth Army said solemnly.

"That doesn't have to be the case, Van Cleef." Cozzi said dumbfounded. "I just want you to tell the clerical officers on the ship to send today's documents to the conference room. I want to handle them here today."

"I see."

The first company commander nodded, immediately turned around and walked out of the door without any delay or any intention of staying any longer.

Cozz opened his mouth and lowered his raised hand. He caught the sound of the automatic door closing, and then he raised his hands, covered his face with them, and leaned back on the chair.

A slightly dull sigh came from within the palm of his hand.

exhausted.

This feeling made him not move his palm away for a long time. He opened his eyes, the soft light did not penetrate the gaps between his fingers, and the familiar darkness came again, just as reassuring as the corner he was used to squatting in.

But I can't just be a midnight ghost. he told himself. I have responsibility on my shoulders, the lives of twenty thousand people, and Nostramo. I can no longer lean in the corner and wait for Khalil to come home like before.

He removed his palm, let the light invade, and stood up without saying a word. He came to the edge of the long silver table and looked at the company flags hanging on the walls of the conference room.

They have eight sides in total, with a pitch-black base and gloomy blue outlines that form sharp or dim lines. They are arranged in order and stand quietly on the wall.

Staring at them, Conrad Coates narrowed his eyes without saying a word. A word that Khalil had talked about many times began to slowly bloom in his heart. They were seeds that had been planted for a long time and now finally began to grow.

history.

He thought quietly and began to read silently - history. He read it once in Nostramo and then again in High Gothic. The two sound completely different, but both are equally heavy.

before me

What is their history? What kind of sacrifices did they make? How many years have they stood in order to see me?

Konrad Coates did not allow himself to continue thinking. He still had a lot to do today.

The amount of paperwork a responsible man would face after taking over an organization as large as the Legiones Astartes is staggering.

All the matters that the officials had discussed and concluded with the company commander again and again in the past were now placed on his desk in a logical manner. Konrad Coates had no complaints about this, and even embraced it.

However, he had no experience with any of these things.

Although he got started quickly, his efficiency inevitably slowed down.

He knew exactly how the problem was to be solved—how else?

There is no way other than dealing with them more and gaining experience. These jobs do not require knowledge and extraordinary analytical skills to improve efficiency. They require both, but more importantly, experience.

Shaking his head, the leader of the Eighth Legion came to the door of the conference room.

The door slid open, and he stretched out his hand without warning and took away a large stack of documents and additional materials from the servitor's hand.

These are just the first batch. Conrad Coates knew very well that he would have to deal with at least six batches of documents. When the logistics supply fleet comes, these things will go back to where they should go with them.

As for now

"Thank you," he said to the servitor.

The creature of flesh and machine looked at him, not understanding what the word meant.

If it had any basic intelligence at all, it would be confused at this moment. But it didn't, so it just stood there and spat out a cold sentence.

"Order?" it asked.

"No orders," Konrad Curze replied calmly.

The servitor turned and left.

The leader of the Eighth Legion lowered his head, and an inexplicable emotion began to surge in his heart. But he didn't let it affect him, and just like before, he threw them into the box in his heart.

——

"Why not?"

Siani of Terra asked his company commander angrily. The latter glanced at him emotionlessly with the eyes on his high cheekbones and shook his head slightly.

"It just doesn't work," he said coldly.

"What's wrong?!" Siani yelled. "Don't you want Master Khalil to stay?!"

"Of course I do, especially after witnessing the circumstances of Nostramo. There is nothing morally wrong with Khalil Lohars. But I must point it out to you. Siani, it is not up to us to decide whether Master Khalil will stay or go."

Slowly, little by little, deep wrinkles appeared between Captain Van Cleef's eyebrows.

He glared at Siani.

"What do you think?" he asked coldly. "Ask the Primarch if he can help bring Lord Khalil back? Are you of sound mind, Siani?"

"Don't tell me you don't want to, Captain!"

"I want to, but I won't do it. Your behavior is simply ignoring the rules and regulations. We are judges, Siani. If we don't abide by our own rules, how will we face those who have crossed the line? Boundary sinner?”

Siani's hands began to tremble. He took a deep breath and put his hands on his company commander's desk.

"Are you going to agree?" Siani of Terra said in the most serious tone of his life. "Let me remind you, Captain, Lord Khalil is the adoptive father of the Primarch."

"Enforce the law impartially!"

After a brief silence, the first company commander understood what Siani meant, and then roared out these four words in a rage. "Go and copy the Terra Codex three times for me!"

He stood up angrily and walked away. Siani wiped the cold sweat from his forehead as if he was relieved - he almost thought Van Cleef was about to punch him.

Everyone in the Eighth Legion knew what kind of character the First Company Commander was. He may be easy to get along with in private, but when it comes to codes and rules, he is too terrifying to accept.

This is what we must do as the Emperor's punishers and judges. Van Cleef often said this.

but

Siani suddenly sighed guiltily.

"I'm sorry, Captain," he muttered.

On the other hand, Van Cleef, who walked out of the company station, did not go directly to the conference room to find their original body, Konrad Coates, as Siani thought. In fact, quite the opposite, he went the other way.

He walked through the gloomy long corridor, turned around the maze-like hall with thirteen doors, went up, down, and even used a short elevator on the way - after a short but long seventeen minutes, a company of the Eighth Army The captain finally arrived at their new training ground.

It didn't go beyond his expectations. He looked down and saw Khalil Lohars in the center of the ring.

The giant among giants was fighting a young man from the fourth company with his bare hands in the middle of the ring. The latter was holding a bladed training sword in his hand, and he was fighting extremely fiercely.

However, this was not enough for his opponents.

Van Cleef saw that in the next five seconds, Khalil Lohars dodged all the sword attacks with an understatement, and finally even snatched the weapon from the young man's hand with one hand. .

The voices in the audience suddenly stopped at this moment.

"Well done," said the giant gently. "Compared to last time, you have made great progress, Harald."

The young man straightened his back suddenly and said in a loud voice: "Really, really, really, my lord?"

"Don't call me sir, or I will take back this comment."

The giant chuckled and handed the sword back to Harad, with the blade facing towards him, his posture was surprisingly calm and calm.

"."

After a moment of silence, Van Cleef quickly walked down the long stairs.

He squeezed into the crowd and began to take off his shirt quickly.

It was the only piece of clothing he owned that could be called a dress. It had lain quietly in Van Cleef's wardrobe for seven years, and would have lain there even longer had it not been for the return of the Primarch.

Van Cleef had always cherished it, but at this moment, he stuffed the clothes into the hands of all the Astartes present.

"Keep an eye on it for me," he said simply. "who is the next?"

"it's me!"

"From the second company? I have an impression of you."

"Yes, First Company Commander!"

"Can you give it to me? Please."

"Of course!" the young man shouted. "Come on, First Company Commander! Let Master Khalil see your strength!"

Van Cleef nodded expressionlessly, but smiled bitterly in his heart.

strength? What strength?

He enters the cage.

Khalil Lohars, the giant among giants, stood calmly, staring at him silently. Immediately afterwards, Van Cleef spoke first.

"Good day, Lord Khalil."

"Good day, Van Cleef, when will you get rid of your honorific?"

"Not as long as I'm alive, my lord."

Khalil smiled helplessly. "But I don't think I can teach you anything - and besides, I can tell you seem to have something on your mind."

"Indeed." The company commander whispered. "But I have no intention of telling it now, my lord."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

Van Cleef took a deep breath, carefully positioned himself on the spot, and then slowly walked forward.

Khalil was much bigger than him, which meant that if he wanted to win - or not get beaten so badly - he would have to try a different approach.

But, is this easier said than done?

He leaped closer and started throwing punches.

Jabs, swing punches, and uppercuts. Van Cleef threw out more than ten sets of solid punch combinations at a dazzling speed. His target was the giant's ribs, where there are many pain-sensing nerves. Moreover, he was only about 10 meters tall. Support him in attacking here.

However, the result did not exceed his expectations. None of these fists could land on Khalil.

To be fair, his evasion speed was not very fast, but every time he was just a little bit close.

Moreover, he did not dodge before Van Cleef punched.

In other words, this little distance was a gap specially set aside by Khalil Lohars. This gap was specially set aside by him for Van Cleef to breathe, so that he would not suffocate to death.

Van Cleef took a deep breath and took a step back.

In just three minutes, he was already sweating profusely.

"Amazing skills, Captain Van Cleef." He heard the giant among giants say in surprise. "Your skills are terrifyingly solid, and you can use them perfectly."

"But I still can't touch you."

"It's just a little bit different," Khalil replied noncommittally. "I'm not that strong."

"Excessive modesty makes you sound bad, Master Khalil."

"."

The giant frowned, and after a brief thought, he immediately apologized, extremely sincerely. "Sorry, First Company Commander."

"this is nothing."

Van Cleef calmly adjusted his breathing, and then he slowly spoke.

"You don't need to apologize to me. In fact, I need to say thank you. You have shown so much care in these details. If I feel angry because of a small problem, then I am too ignorant. Anyway."

His words made Khalil frown more and more.

"I don't deserve your kind of comment."

"I'm not praising your character, I'm just stating a fact, sir. In addition."

VanCleef - VanCleef of Terra, the upright VanCleef who never crosses the line - spoke in an almost abject tone.

"Can you please not leave?"

"."

Khalil frowned slowly, and after a moment, he whispered: "Let's go out and talk."

——

"That's the way it is." Van Cleef sat upright and said calmly. "Although Siani is a reckless young man, he has a characteristic that is extremely rare among us, so I trust his judgment, sir."

"...I'm not a soldier," Khalil said slowly. "And you are a legion, Captain Van Cleef, what self-deceiving excuse should I use to stay here?"

"You can be a soldier."

"Becoming a member of the Eighth Legion requires nineteen transformation surgeries and the gene seed needs to be implanted - and I have already passed this age."

"You don't need them, they are powerful enough."

"powerful?"

Khalil laughed. he repeated. "Strong? This is not the criterion for judging whether I can enter the Eighth Legion, Van Cleef. You are all brothers to each other, but I am not. There is no blood relationship between you and me, and Konrad Curze. There was no blood relationship before. , there is none now, and there won’t be one in the future, so how do I enter the Eighth Legion?”

"."

Van Cleef was silent.

He was so convinced that he had lost the ability to argue. There was no way to refute every word of Khalil Lohars. Even the change of tone at the end of a sentence seemed like a heavy echo of the final word - this sound made his heart feel as if it was bleeding.

He had broken his own rule - he had broken it out of love for his Primarch. And now.

He was almost ashamed.

"Sorry." The company commander lowered his head and stood up slowly. "I was abrupt. I'm sorry, Master Khalil. I will—"

"——Sit down." The giant among giants rubbed his brows in pain. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, but sit down, Captain Van Cleef."

He sighed.

"I see what you mean." He said lowly. "I have told Conrad before that we should return double the kindness to those who have been kind to us."

Van Cleef's eyes widened.

"So, I will not let you down."

"you?"

Khalil stood up slowly. "I will discuss this matter with the Lord of the Eighth Legion."

It took me two hours to write this chapter. It was very difficult to find it, but after writing it, what do you think?

There is still 6k, I will go as soon as possible, don’t have to wait, rest early.