The Terra Glorious, commanded by Dacri, arrived in the Cenus System and successfully joined up with the main fleet.
News of the return of Number One and Number Six spread through the expeditionary fleet, causing a sensation.
The warriors of the First Legion and Sixth Legion were especially excited.
They had always envied the Sixteenth Legion and Twelfth Legion for welcoming back their Primarchs so early.
Those two Legions even bragged about it whenever they had the chance.
Most hateful of all were those two rookie brats, Kharn and Abaddon.
They went around babbling nonstop about their own Primarch.
They were practically one step away from carving their Primarch's name onto their foreheads and showing it off everywhere.
Now that their own Primarchs had returned,
they naturally wanted nothing more than to beat drums and gongs to welcome them.
They wanted to make a grand spectacle of it and flaunt it before the Legions that had yet to welcome back their Primarchs.
They wanted to strike back hard at the previously arrogant Sixteenth Legion and Twelfth Legion.
With their hands on their hips and their backs straight, they wanted to tell them loudly,
Little brothers, they're just Primarchs. What family doesn't have one?
The two who had been brought back were immediately arranged to meet the Emperor and their other Primarch brothers.
The meeting was held in a lavish dining hall.
Russ hunched over as he sat at the dining table.
He paid no attention to the exquisite tableware laid out before him.
He held meat in one hand and liquor in the other.
He wolfed down the meat and guzzled the liquor without the slightest bit of etiquette.
Every so often, he let out a drunken burp, and sometimes he burst into loud laughter.
Lion El'Jonson, seated beside him, wore a dark expression.
He forcibly suppressed his anger at this Fenrisian Husky.
Sitting upright in his seat, he ate calmly and elegantly like a noble knight.
Angron and Horus arrived at the meeting hall before the Emperor.
"I'm very pleased to meet you, my brothers. I'm Horus, Father's first son to return, and also the son Father favors and trusts most."
Horus entered and was the first to greet the two Primarchs.
"So you're the eldest?"
Russ sized Horus up and down.
His gaze was as aggressive as a wolf's, as though he were inspecting prey.
"The word eldest isn't quite appropriate. You could call me the legitimate son, or your elder brother," Horus said.
"I'm Number One." Lion El'Jonson interrupted Horus.
Horus looked at Lion El'Jonson, his brow furrowing slightly.
A trace of jealousy welled up in his heart.
He had clearly been the first to return to Father's side.
Why was this fellow the one bearing the title of First Primarch?
The First Legion, the First Primarch.
The word first always invited endless speculation.
Even if, in the future, Primarchs like them became legendary heroes and demigods praised by the Empire,
when bards sang their tales, this fellow's name would still be mentioned first.
I was clearly the one who came first.
I am clearly Father's most outstanding and dependable son.
Horus said, "You were merely lucky enough to be placed first. We were created at the same time, with no distinction of before or after."
"I'm the eldest son." Lion El'Jonson repeated, "I'm Number One."
"That's not how it is. I am the first son to return, and Father's most relied-upon son, so I am the eldest son."
Horus explained patiently.
"I'm Number One." Lion El'Jonson repeated the words that shattered Horus's composure once again.
"I have no intention of arguing with you. Let accomplishments and honor speak for themselves." Horus forcibly restrained his inner irritation.
"I will prove that I am the eldest son." Lion El'Jonson refused to yield.
The tension between the two immediately became palpable.
They looked ready to start fighting at the slightest disagreement.
"OH YEAH! My precious Primarchs, your Second Father is here."
A strange voice rang out.
"Waldo, have the attendants bring some fries and ketchup. I want that new invincible devil-spicy flavor with a creamy texture."
The four Primarchs followed the voice and saw the Emperor approaching, surrounded by Guardsmen.
Waldo was among them as well.
A Raven stood on his shoulder.
It was scraping at his golden helmet with its claws.
"Father."
"Father."
Horus and Angron saluted the Emperor.
Lion El'Jonson and Russ also stood up and copied them in saluting the Emperor.
"No need for such formality. Number One, Number Six, I'm very pleased that you have returned," the Emperor said kindly.
The Raven on Waldo's shoulder flapped its wings and flew onto the Emperor's shoulder.
"Husky, Cat King, it's good to meet you. I'm your Second Father."
"If you don't mind, we can enjoy some delicious fries and ketchup together."
Angron and Horus looked completely unfazed upon seeing the Raven.
The moment they saw it, memories concerning the Raven silently appeared in their minds.
They instinctively felt that the Raven being here was an entirely normal thing.
Russ and Lion El'Jonson widened their eyes in surprise.
They had seen plenty of strange and unusual things.
But this was their first time seeing a talking Raven.
The Emperor introduced the Raven's identity to the two newly returned Primarchs.
"This is Mr. Raven, another supreme leader of the Empire. One head of the Empire's Double-headed Eagle represents Mr. Raven."
"I heard you discussing the eldest son just now," Raven said. "You needn't trouble yourselves over such matters. Whoever can obtain the most delicious ketchup and fries in the universe—"
"—will be Big Guy's eldest son, and even the future Imperial Warmaster, Grand Marshal of All Forces, and Regent."
Waldo: "..."
Horus: "..."
Angron: "..."
Russ's eyes widened as well.
Was the Human Empire really any kind of serious organization?!
What family chose its Warmaster, Grand Marshal of All Forces, and Regent by first considering who could gather the tastiest fries and ketchup?!
The Emperor smiled, not at all bothered by Raven's usual chuunibyou antics.
Anyone who had experienced struggles for power would understand just how wonderful and worry-free an ally like Raven was.
He wanted neither power, money, nor fame. He merely wanted delicious ketchup and fries.
Raven said, "If a Primarch is unwilling even to search for the delicious fries and ketchup beloved by the people, how can he bring happiness to the citizens of the Empire?"
"The citizens of the Empire are those we have sworn to protect, not tools for achieving great deeds. If the citizens cannot obtain happiness, then what use are even the greatest accomplishments we could build?"
"Letting a Primarch who cannot empathize with ordinary people hold an important Imperial office would be a terrible thing. Not only would he fail to bring happiness to the people, he would bring about a dreadful disaster."
Raven's words left the four Primarchs deep in thought.
"You're fooling people again," the Emperor said through telepathy.
"I'm doing ideological work for the Primarchs, guiding them to establish healthy moral values. How is that fooling people, Big Guy?" Raven shouted telepathically. "That's slander, naked slander."
"Big Guy, in light of your slander, if you don't order the cultivation of several new varieties of potatoes and tomatoes, Raven will break off our friendship. In that case, you will completely lose me as a friend."
Emperor: "..."
The Emperor and the four Primarchs sat down for a long talk, discussing the future of the Human Empire and the great power they possessed.
Afterward, he repeated to Lion El'Jonson and Russ what he had previously told Horus and Angron.
He gave them two choices: to live in the Empire as ordinary people, or to accept the trials.
Only by passing the trials would they be qualified to enter their respective Legions.
Lion El'Jonson and Russ made the same choice: they would accept the trials.
They too yearned to journey into the stars and leave behind their own stories in this magnificent age.
Considering that they were about to undertake a long journey through the Warp,
the Emperor and Raven discussed it and decided to visit another universe during that time.
"We should go back and take a look at the Super God Universe."
The Emperor recalled the first universe they had traveled to.
Before he had left, many civilizations in that universe had already set their sights on Earth.
Although he had left behind an adapted version of the Gene Engine,
considering the strength of those civilizations, he was still somewhat worried.
Since they had time now, they could travel over and take a look.
If everything was well, he would remain in the shadows, pushing civilization forward and making some arrangements.
Once the Human Empire possessed technology capable of crossing universes and established interdimensional passages, they would absorb them into the Empire.
If the situation was not right, he would step into the open and turn the tide.
PS: Daily loyalty. The First Legion has no secrets.
Let's see who's trying to steal the Warmaster position from our Primarch.
Damn it, I went out last night and forgot to upload the second chapter.
Fuck.
Sorry!!
Sorry!!
Two chapters every day. If the second chapter hasn't been updated by 11:30 p.m., you can
Before you continue