Taking my things and making a deal with me?

Raven said, "Big guy, those terms sound pretty good, taking over this planet without shedding a drop of blood."

"Good?" The Emperor responded mentally. "Why should I let him trade my own things back to me?"

Raven: "..."

"Big guy, did you say the same thing to those four from the Warp back then?"

"Didn't say anything. I just took it by force."

Raven tilted its head to look at the Big Guy, its eyes widening.

So, back then, the four merchants were eating hot pot and singing songs in the Warp.

You suddenly burst in and robbed them all!!

No wonder the four merchants could pause the Great Crusade and join forces to deal with you.

Not only did you break in and rob them, but you also planned to take down the entire Warp.

So arrogant, how could anyone stand for that?

"Your terms are completely unattractive," Waldo stepped forward, speaking in the Emperor's name.

"I own the entire planet," Citizen 13145209527 said.

Waldo's expression was cold, a hint of disdain showing.

"For Our Master, the only wealth worth pursuing is the citizens of this planet."

"As for the natural resources and technological creations you possess, whether you are willing or not, they will belong to the Imperium."

"Why should Our Master allow you to trade things that already belong to the Imperium with the Imperium?"

Citizen 13145209527's face turned very ugly.

"Everything I own is legal, how can you be so shameless and forcibly claim it as your own?"

Waldo said calmly, "Everything we do is also legal."

"According to the constitution promulgated by the Imperium, we have the right to punish those who intend to prevent humanity's rise."

"Unconditionally surrender everything you own, or the Imperium will take it from you by force."

"Hahaha, this outcome is truly exhilarating," a man beside him laughed heartily.

Citizen 13145209527 trembled with anger.

"You damn bandits, you invaded my home and then called me guilty?"

The man next to him said, "No, no, the Human Empire is not a bandit. We welcome the Imperium's arrival and sincerely hope that human civilization can prosper once more."

Waldo said, "See? Everyone on this planet, except for you, is willing to accept the Imperium's rule."

"I will never surrender to bandits," Citizen 13145209527 clenched his fist, looking at the man beside him.

"They can take my wealth by force, can't they also take yours by force? Empathizing with bandits, you are truly foolish beyond saving."

The man grinned, "This shows they are fair, just like a social machine. We just chose another social machine."

"The Imperium can bring us more benefits, so what's wrong with choosing them? As for the losses you incurred because of this, what does it have to do with us?"

"You couldn't survive in the new era, which only means you weren't trying hard enough, and you can't blame others."

"You taught us all this, how can we have forgotten it now?"

Citizen 13145209527 trembled with anger.

"You are all a bunch of bandits, I will never hand over my wealth. If you insist, then let's go to war."

"The Imperium does not care," Waldo said word by word. "Whatever your choice, the Imperium will obtain this planet."

The communication ended.

Citizen 13145209527 cut off the communication.

A humming sound came from all directions.

Countless law enforcement units flew up from all over the city, rushing towards the Emperor and his group.

The Adeptus Custodes activated the Gene Engines within their bodies and entered combat mode.

A chaotic battle erupted.

The order to engage was transmitted to the fleets in low orbit.

It was passed to the commanders of the already prepared Astartes Legions and auxiliary forces.

Warships opened fire, and dense torpedoes, missiles, and laser beams rained down, striking the planet's orbital defense systems.

In just over ten minutes, the orbital defense systems were declared offline.

Then came the landing operations.

The drop pods of the Astartes Legions plummeted like meteorites, trailing flames and carrying terrifying kinetic energy.

Upon landing, they unleashed terrifying explosions that shook the ground.

Their target was the social machine's control center.

The battle lasted only twenty-three hours, not even a full Terra-day.

Auctis III was declared fully conquered.

Citizen 13145209527 was also captured by Astartes warriors such as Astelan of the First Legion and brought before the Emperor.

This individual looked like a robust middle-aged man.

However, according to the detection results from the instruments, his body showed signs of gene-engineering everywhere.

His biological lifespan reached an astonishing two thousand four hundred years.

"Bandits, you are all bandits," Citizen 13145209527 cursed continuously, his body trembling with rage.

"Who is the bandit?" Waldo stepped in front of the man. "You attempted to steal Imperial property and resist the Imperium."

"Shameless," Citizen 13145209527 shouted. "You are utterly shameless."

"After a vote by all citizens, Auctis III has declared its full submission to the Imperium."

"Imperial law is the supreme law of this world, so you are the one who is shameless."

The man from before still stood beside the Emperor and the others.

He had initiated a vote online.

The number of people supporting surrender to the Imperium reached 99.999%.

The only dissenter was perhaps Citizen 13145209527 standing before them.

No matter how bad the situation was after joining the Imperium, it wouldn't be worse than it was now.

At least he could achieve freedom of breath.

After a trial, Citizen 13145209527 was sentenced to death.

Auctis III abolished its previous laws.

It declared that ownership of natural resources would forever belong to the public, and no one was allowed to privatize them.

"Rationality is important, but human society is complex, and rationality alone is far from enough."

"If everything were done according to rationality, people would not find happiness."

Raven looked at Citizen 13145209527, who was being hanged, and spoke with emotion.

"I feel offended," Waldo said in a low voice.

"You don't need to feel it, I am offending you. Of course, you don't need to be angry. Because I am not only offending you, but also offending the big guy."

Waldo: "."

Emperor: "."

Nukeria.

The gladiatorial arena announced a temporary closure.

The reason was a gladiator riot.

Inside the arena, the corpses of dozens of high-ranking knights lay in a dimly lit corridor.

Their bodies, clad in high-tech silver battle armor, were torn open, and scarlet blood flowed on the ground.

Nukeria's technological level was very high, inheriting many creations and knowledge from the Golden Age.

The personal guards of the great families had undergone high-end prosthetic implants and gene modifications. Combined with their unique weapons, their combat power was terrifying.

However, in the face of the enraged Angron, they were still torn apart like rags.

"You shouldn't have been so impulsive, child."

Onomamastos looked at the heavily wounded Angron, showing worry and affection.

"I had no choice, Father!"

Angron clenched the battle axe in his hand.

"They took too much away, and I will never allow them to take you too."

"Child." Tears welled up in Onomamastos's eyes.

This man, who had survived in the gladiatorial arena until now, had experienced countless life-and-death battles, and his heart had long been as cold and hard as iron and stone.

And at this moment, he was shedding tears for Angron.

He had watched Angron grow up and knew how kind this child was.

He comforted the dead, allowing them to rest in peace.

He communicated with the living through his mind, bringing them peace.

Every day, he would also use his unique ability to absorb the pain of his companions, just to let them sleep peacefully.

"If only you hadn't been born into this world."

Onomamastos hated the cruelty of fate.

If Angron had been born in a peaceful world, he would surely have become a very good and kind person.

He would protect the weak, he would empathize with sorrow, he would pity the world.

However, fate had cast him upon Nukeria, a hellscape of despair.

"House dog, you will regret what you have done today."

An enraged voice echoed through the arena via loudspeakers.

Immediately after, anesthetic gas, thick as mist, flooded the arena.

The strong gladiators imprisoned in cages simply inhaled it once before falling unconscious.

The high-tier knights, clad in full protective gear, entered the arena filled with anesthetic gas.

They had expected to easily subdue Angron.

However, Angron was not brought down by the anesthetic gas and maintained his formidable combat strength.

In the subsequent battle, Angron killed at least a hundred high-tier knights.

He only lost consciousness after his bodily functions reached their limit.

Finally, he was dragged out by the high-tier knights like a dying stray dog.

One of the planet's rulers, the lord of House Tarka, ordered Onomamastos to be awakened after the battle concluded.

He looked down at the gladiator who had been taking care of Angron.

"This is all your fault, you fool, but soon, Angron himself will correct this mistake."

"When nails are driven into his brain and his hands are stained with the blood of your father, he will have no chance of redemption."

"Once you die, he will fall into hell forever, becoming the strongest and most bloodthirsty gladiator in history."

Onomamastos was filled with extreme rage.

He let out a low growl, attempting to break free from the high-tier knights' control, to lunge forward and tear them apart.

But he could not, and could only watch as the lord of House Tarka left with a laugh.

"Angron..."

Onomamastos's heart sank into despair, his voice filled with utmost pain.

He had seen gladiators controlled by nails; they were all driven mad by endless torment.

He dared not imagine what those things entering Angron's brain would do to torment that poor child.

Oh gods, please, do not be so cruel.

The dark and cold Void, real space was constantly distorting.

A vortex slowly formed, devouring all light.

Strange sorcerous flames rose from nowhere, scorching the outer shell of real space.

Rifts appeared due to the distortion, and brilliant spiritual energy light gushed out.

A magnificent warship with a golden double-headed eagle at its prow emerged from the Warp along with the brilliant light.

[Destination reached, locking onto target planet]

A cold mechanical voice echoed within the warship.

Several Custodes clad in golden armor stood before the observation window.

Their gazes were sharp as they looked into the Void, intently watching the distant planet.

They would arrive at the planet where the Primarch had fallen in three hours.