Russ's Conspiracy, I Have a "Conspirator"

Carium Gate, Shadow of the Throne, Primarch Office.

Nimrod, engrossed in his Data Slate, heard the faint sound of prayers in his ears.

He glanced at the hanging clock; there were still ten minutes until Arsena was to arrive to report.

With a thought, Nimrod arrived at the Fourth Layer Space the "Nation of Disorder".

Spirituality connection spread through him, and he saw Thierry Viera with his hands clasped upside down, and two lotus roots intertwined on the altar.

On a whim, he pulled Thierry and Ou into the "Nation of Disorder".

"My lord," Thierry bowed, then gave a brief report to the Black Emperor on his participation in Ventrilian's coming-of-age ceremony, the bestowal of the suit he had once worn, and how he had won the hearts of the people, before concluding.

"This lotus root grows in the magma of Ventrilian, which is quite unique. I think you might like it."

Nimrod sat high on his the Throne, having already identified the lotus root Thierry had presented to him as the only missing ingredient for the "Pyromaniac" Sequence 6, "The Conspirer"—the Fire Lotus Root.

"I am indeed interested in this. Order the candidates participating in the final assessment to collect them."

"As you wish." Thierry accepted the order and decided to immediately have the Tech Sergeants develop harvesting tools.

After sending Thierry back to the Blade, Nimrod returned to the real world.

Two minutes later, Arsena Dunn, carrying Data Slate, stepped into the Primarch's office.

"My lord," the fleets of "Dark Angels" and "Space Wolves" have arrived at Carium Gate.

Nimrod leaned back on the Throne and asked with great interest.

Who is the commander?

The "Dark Angels" were originally the main force in the "Rangdan Xenocides".

During the Third Rangdan Xenocide, Leman Russ put aside his grudges with Lion El'Jonson and joined forces to cleanse the Rangdan Homeworld.

"The commander of the 'Dark Angels' is Ulian Bendregg, who leads five Chapters, including the 8th Legion. His flagship is the Gloriana-class Battleship Abominable Exemplar."

"The commander of the 'Space Wolves' is the Wolf Lord of the 5th Great Company, Amlodi Skarsen Skarsen."

After the silver-haired Primarch's Attendants reported, he consulted the Black Emperor.

Whom do you wish to see first?

"Bendregg," Nimrod instructed after making the decision.

"Luther asked me to keep it a secret and to keep Bendregg away from any possible contact."

"As you command," Arsena said.

Five sidereal hours later, Nimrod stared at Bendregg as he walked into the office.

He keenly noticed that Lion, the former commander of the First Legion before his return, was shrouded in melancholy.

In the same war against the Mitu, after winning glory, he was in high spirits and quite different.

[Yes, more and more Terran-born are being Exile to Lion by Caliban.]

Bendregg must have also sensed Lion's alienation. As a former legion commander, he was second to none, not even a hundredth.

While Luther is nominally the second-in-command of the "Dark Angels," Lion currently trusts Calth Wayne, the Legion's strongest swordsman, most implicitly, and he has no choice but to return to the 8th Legion.

"Lord Nimrod," Bendregg bowed respectfully, then made his request directly, "Please assign me the most difficult task."

The Primarch sensed a resolute yet bitter tone in Bendregg's voice, which reminded him of the Dark Angels, after the Battle of Karkason, was rebuked by Guilliman and, seeking to prove himself, launched a frenzied attack on all the Xenos Galaxy.

A thought flashed through Nimrod's mind, "[Bendregg is quite pitiful. Should I do a good deed and 'Corrosion' him?]"

Hmm... but the Bendregg I remember died in the Battle of Karkason, and I don't know how loyal he was to Lion.

If keeping him around fails to "Corrosion" him, Luther will be exposed.

"Your legion will be responsible for rescuing Fortress World from the Bastion Fortress."

Nimrod decided against taking the risk for the time being; Luther was far more important than Bendregg.

At the same time, he also believes that Bendregg is not feeling hopeless and is still trying to prove himself to his Primarch.

Perhaps, after suffering setbacks in Bastion Fortress, he will have a chance.

"The Bastion Fortress has been under siege by Xenos for three years. Although the world of Fortress has not yet fallen, the situation is extremely precarious."

Arsena manipulated his Control Staff, highlighting the Bastion Fortress on the Galaxy star map; amidst a sea of red dots, a lone green orb shone brightly.

"Dozens of surrounding Imperial Worlds have all fallen, losing strategic space and all supplies."

"The only unverified intelligence suggests that the Xenos possess an Artificial War Satellite, thousands of warships, and countless Xenos Warriors throughout the subsector."

"Thank you for your trust," Bendregg said gratefully; a powerful enemy was exactly what he needed now.

Bendregg stepped out of the Primarch's office, he was met by two Warriors clad in wolf skins and gray Power Armor.

"Ulian Bendregg." Skarsen's voice was loud and stern, coming from beneath the wolf-skin mask.

The jet-black wolf pelt was secured to the back of Skarsen's neck with bone buckles, while the skull and long, sharp teeth of the dead giant wolf formed his right shoulder armor.

"Wolf Lord, Skarsen." Bendregg raised his head, glancing contemptuously at the giant wolf drooling at his feet.

The two passed each other, and his gaze lingered for a moment on the Rune Priest covered in amulets.

He saw a smile on the Rune Priest's deeply lined face, but Bendregg simply walked past in silence.

Bendregg left the two behind, then heard the Primarch's Honor Guard speak solemnly behind him.

"Wolves are not allowed inside!"

Skarsen's grey Terminator armor enveloped the Honor Guard's body, the black battle axe blade on his back gleaming in the Lumen Lamp lamplight.

"You think you can stop me?"

Members of the 7th Legion's Honor Guard stared fearlessly into the iron-gray eyes beneath the mask studded with shattered stone fragments, eyes the same color as their armor.

"Leave them, or go back."

"Listen, kid, my name is Amlodi Skarsen Skarsen, the Wolf Lord of the 5th Great Company 'Space Wolves'." Skarsen's tone was like that of an assassin, cold as ice.

"I heard you," the Honor Guard said calmly. "Stay, or go back."

The giant wolves arched their backs and glared fiercely at the wolves that were much smaller than themselves.

The green-furred Catachan Wolf, like its master, stared back at them without fear.

"Wolf Lord, don't forget the Wolf King's orders, our mission," Valdemar's voice rang out as he addressed the giant wolves.

You all wait outside.

Skarsen didn't say anything more and walked forward.

Seeing that the giant wolf didn't follow, the Honor Guard members let him go inside.

As Skarsen walked past the Honor Guard member, he noticed the seven red arrows painted on his right shoulder armor, and his iron-gray eyes were as cold as knives.

The Shadow of Order keenly sensed a chill on his shoulder, and instinctively reached for the Catachan Fang at his waist.

Valdemar smiled at the Shadow of Order. "Admirable courage."

When the Shadow of Order saw the smile on the Rune Priest's face, he keenly sensed that the smile was like the venom of Catachan.

He gripped the Catachan Fang tightly in his hand, watching the Rune Priest warily.

With a smile on his face, Valdemar followed his Wolf Lord into the Primarch's office.

"My name is Amlodi Skarsen Skarsen, the 5th Great Company lord of the 'Space Wolves.' I obey the orders of the Wolf Prime and answer your call to war."

"Oshel Valdemar, Rune Priest of the 5th Great Company, greets Lord Nimrod."

"Primarch, I wish to fight alongside the Librarian of the 'Shadow of Order'."

Nimrod glanced at Valdemar, a sense of unease creeping into his heart.

He remembered that at the end of this millennium, Valdemar would feign friendship with Ahriman to gather evidence of the Thousand Sons' crimes.

In order to gain approval, Magnus had Ahriman openly explain the situation of "Thousand Sons" to Valdemar.

It not only became evidence for Valdemar's subsequent accusations against "Thousand Sons" at the "Council of Nikaea," but also became crucial intelligence for the Space Wolves' attack during the "Burning of Prospero."

The Primarch thought again of Valdemar's words reminding Skarsen at the office door.

[The mission... the mission Russ gave them, it's probably to use this opportunity to gather intelligence.]

Nimrod knew that beneath the Wolf King's rugged exterior lay a cunning nature.

He sent Valdemar to befriend the Thousand Sons, and he believed that the Remembrancer, Per Ansbach Hauser, was Magnus's servant Amon in disguise, and thus used him.

[Yes, in my legion, there are many Beyonder disguised as Librarian, plus the real Librarian.]

It is indeed quite possible that Russ took preemptive action against me.

Besides the large number of Psyker in our legion, are there other reasons?

The Primarch has deep, penetrating eyes and a rapidly working brain.

[My orders to conceal the conquered territories, and the sudden slowdown in the conquest, aroused Russ's suspicion?]

Or did he discover my little ambition?

...]

A series of thoughts raced through Nimrod's mind: [Russ, since you want to play dirty tricks, then let's play them properly.]

The Primarch released its oppressive aura, its gaze turning icy as it looked at Skarsen.

Take off your mask.

Skarsen felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him; he felt colder than if he were on the Fenris Glacier. His body trembled, and he bit his lips tightly.

A moment later, he reluctantly raised his hands and unfastened the clasp of his mask, his arms trembling as he struggled internally.

Skarsen's weathered face was exposed; he was beardless and had prominent cheekbones.

Valdemar gripped his rune staff tightly, feeling the pressure disappear, and instinctively raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"The Seventh Legion will accompany you in Dalian, and the think tank Okafor will accompany Wardmaker."

Valdemar's eyes lit up, and he said, "As you wish."

After Skarsen and Valdemar left, Nimrod immediately went to the "Nation of Disorder," where he spread his Spirituality and confirmed that no one was around Sanchez.

He immediately ordered the Space Apes to concoct Sequence 6 "Conspirer" potion using a giant Ice Worm that burrowed in the Fenris Glacier fjord and a Fire Lotus Root.

While waiting, he couldn't help but think of it.

The two main ingredients of a "Conspirer" are ice and fire, which are indeed opposites.

Hmm... the "Conspirer" has further enhanced their control over fire, corresponding to the Fire Lotus Root. The burrowing worms might correspond to aspects of intrigue such as deception and manipulation.

A moment later, Nimrod arrived at the Fourth Layer Space with the "Conspirer" potion.

His Spirituality spread, drawing Sanchez into the "Nation of Disorder."

"Drink it."

Sanchez picked up the dark iron-black potion and saw a large amount of reddish rust floating in it.

Sanchez tilted his head back and drank it down. As the liquid entered his stomach, he felt a tingling sensation in his brain, and his thinking became more agile and clear.

Two flames shone in his eyes, gleaming brightly in the black mist.

Nimrod gave the order after the newly appointed "Conspirer" had contained the scattered power of the potion.

"The 5th Great Company of 'Space Wolves' will accompany your Chapter; beware of their schemes."

"Especially that Rune Priest, Valdemar, he's a cunning Space Wolves."

Russ's conspiracy...

I have a "Conspirer".]

Sanchez's eyes flashed; he felt his Superhuman Brain was even more intelligent than before.

As the Black Emperor spoke, a series of misleading, deceptive, and cunning schemes brewed in his mind.

"Follow Your will."

After sending Sanchez back to the Void Hunter, Nimrod went to the Second Layer Space. He used his Spirituality to condense a lava lake environment one meter in diameter and one meter deep, and then inserted the remaining Fire Lotus Root into it.

He then ordered the Space Ape to prepare a "hunter" potion.

Upon returning to the real world, he called out to the Honor Guard members at the door.

"Stevens, come in."

Members of the 7th Legion's Honor Guard strode into the Primarch's office.

"Father."

"This is your reward."

A moment later, the newly recruited "hunter" knelt down.

"Thank you for the strength you have given me, Father. I will certainly do my duty and win glory for you."