The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Realizing that Yriel was indeed difficult to handle, Sol sighed and rubbed his chin, asking:

"Tsk, what about the other two?"

"The Star Killers are a pirate group that deeply hates the Necrons. They are not large in scale, only about a hundred ships, but they are easy to win over. With your recent achievements, it is enough to convince them to join. The Steel Eyes Raiders are a large pirate group with over a thousand ships, established about five thousand years ago, and currently led by the Pirate Queen Kelis Kaneli."

As she spoke, Veronica looked at Sol, a meaningful expression on her face.

"I heard she is a rare beauty, not only beautiful in appearance, but her skin is like translucent alabaster. Her beauty is comparable to that of Iyanna Arienal, the so-called Angel of Iyanden. She always wears gorgeous clothes in public and is said to have severe cleanliness issues. Every time she comes into contact with lower races, she has her maids carefully scrub her body, and she always brings five Wraithguard with her wherever she goes. Some speculate that she is also an extremely powerful Spiritseer, and any possible betrayal by her subordinates is eliminated in advance, hence the nickname Ghost Princess."

Seeing Veronica's meaningful gaze, Sol coughed lightly and rubbed his nose.

"Oh, is that so? That's quite... impressive."

Then he grinned.

"But even if she is beautiful, she is definitely not as beautiful as you, my lady."

Veronica snorted softly, but her expression finally became more satisfied, and she said softly:

"Have Alvarid Corsen contact these forces. No matter what their attitude is, we must at least know."

"Alright."

"Ah, I almost forgot what I wanted to ask earlier with all that talk. What was the result of your meeting with the emissary from Alaitoc?"

Sol shook his head.

"Still the same, slippery, wanting the High Lords' military guarantee, but unwilling to pay anything. These large craftworlds are all cunning, wanting to be fence-sitters. But Starscryer is right, after all, it is the pressure of survival that forces them to do so. Forcing them into the High Lords' system is not good for either side. Dorar and I played good cop and bad cop, and we reached a quasi-military alliance. Alaitoc will regularly pay tribute to the High Lords, and if Alaitoc is attacked, the High Lords will send troops to help immediately. And when the High Lords are attacked or need to carry out military operations, Alaitoc will also send a force of no less than five thousand people, but the prerequisite is that the operation cannot be an attack on other craftworlds, the Harlequin Troupe, or Commorragh."

Veronica frowned.

"What are they thinking? Still planning to play a balancing act between the High Lords and Commorragh?"

"Probably just don't want to cause trouble. It doesn't matter, they may not have a choice when the time comes. It's okay for now."

"The emissary from Mymeara has also arrived, right?"

"Yes, it's Lord Eris. However, he said he had something to discuss with Morganna alone first. If Jain Zar hadn't left recently, he might have wanted to see him too. It's strange, the Phoenix Lords seem very indifferent to each other. Don't they ever actively contact each other?"

"They don't get along, that's the Matriarch's explanation, but I guess it's not that simple. Didn't you suspect that something happened at the Shrine of Asuryan back then?"

"I've asked many times, but Morganna is tight-lipped, not saying a word."

"For them to be so afraid to talk about it, it must be very serious, but there is no other way to find out except from them. This is really an unsolvable dead end."

→

Just then, a maid walked in with her head lowered. She was Princess Shari of the Linnae Kingdom. Dressed in an emerald gown, she bowed slightly and said softly:

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Lord Morganna and Lord Eris have finished their conversation and are waiting for an audience."

"Alright, I know. Then let's move to the Phoenix Palace."

Soon, within the solemn Phoenix Palace, under the gaze of the statue-like and majestic Phoenix Guard, the Phoenix Lord of the Shadow Spectres strode into the palace. He was taller than the average Aeldari, wearing heavy cyan armor, with scarlet translucent ribbons fluttering between the gaps in his back and armor. His helmet was carved into a shape similar to the enraged face of Khaine, and his chest and shoulders were adorned with mysteriously glowing gems.

Behind him followed six people, all representatives of the Mymeara Craftworld.

At the end of the red carpet were nineteen steps. On the steps stood the High Lords' important officials, including Starscryer. At the end of the steps was the huge crystal Phoenix Throne. Sol, wearing armor and a faceplate, sat upon it. Behind him, slightly higher, hung an amber curtain, through which Veronica, sitting on a vine throne, could be vaguely seen – Sol thought it best to keep her pregnancy a secret for now, so he could only use this "ruling from behind a screen" method when meeting outsiders.

"People of Mymeara, Eris, greet the incarnation of the Loving Mother, the immortal Messenger of Life, and the eternally burning Fire of Asuryan."

Wearing a helmet did not interfere with Eris's voice, but it sounded somewhat ethereal and gentle. His etiquette was also very cautious, at least bowing and lowering his head, while the representatives behind him knelt on one knee.

"No need to be so polite, Lord Twilight Shadow. I am also very pleased that you have returned to the world."

Veronica's gentle words floated from behind the curtain.

"Every Path of the Seer is the most precious treasure of our race. The lost Path of the Shadow Spectres will surely soon usher in a revival."

"After I awoke, I heard of the rebirth of the Daughter of Isha and the Phoenix King, and I had planned to come and pay my respects as soon as possible, but unfortunately, after my revival, I fell into a long period of soul-stasis and was unable to move, hence my late arrival."

As he spoke, he looked at Duran, who was standing on Sol's right-hand side, wearing dazzling and gorgeous silver-white phoenix-shaped armor, and nodded slightly.

"The Phoenix Guard, lost since the Fall, has also reappeared. This is a sign of our race's prosperity, but..."

The Phoenix Lord turned his gaze to Sol.

"...I do not understand, why do you still yearn for that backward, ignorant, and barbaric race?"

Upon hearing this, Sol slowly replied:

"Lord Eris, then I will ask a few questions. Compared to the history of the Aeldari, what is the history of humanity?"

"As short as a fleeting moment."

"Compared to the Aeldari, what about human technology, culture, and even the spiritual world?"

"Simply not worth mentioning, still in a primitive stage."

"Then why is it that humanity, and not the Aeldari, dominates the galaxy now?"

Eris was stunned for a moment, then reluctantly replied:

"Because... because the Great Enemy destroyed all of our past power, wealth, and home."

"Did humanity only rise after the Fall?"

Eris was speechless, while Sol shook his head and chuckled.