The Old Man in Yellow, I am very satisfied with your order this time
Nimrod, along with Guilliman's Psionic Energy projection, arrived at the Golden Palace.
As he sat down, he glanced around and realized that the annoying Russ hadn't arrived yet.
A moment later, Nimrod leaned back in his chair and spoke to Russ, who had rushed over.
"Russ, have you had enough of wearing your cloak?"
"I can tell Sanchez that you can borrow these for a few more days."
"I won't renege on my bet," Russ roared. "Once the battle with the Fashi is over, I will honor my wager."
Nimrod nodded with a smile, thinking to himself.
No, I plan to collect the debt in person.
As Nimrod pondered, the Mars Fabricator-General entered the Golden Palace. He nodded to Ferrus, glanced at Nimrod, and then turned his gaze to the expressionless Perturabo and the amiable Vulkan.
A burst of golden light appeared, and the Emperor and Constantin Valdor Flash Step.
After the Emperor took his seat, he turned his gaze to Nimrod.
"Nimrod, you've won a glorious victory in Thramas."
"Now, I want to hear your report in person."
Nimrod's gaze swept over the crowd, over the somber-faced Perturabo, and over the high-cheeked Hannibal.
"My lord, this victory is not my achievement alone. The ironclad defenses established by Perturabo in the Vicious Sector and the Forge World of Xana have repelled the Xenos invasion."
"El'Jonson, Guilliman, Omega, and the special forces of each legion fought a bloody battle at Thramas to achieve victory."
I want to thank them for their timely support.
After Nimrod expressed his gratitude, he introduced the situation of the war, and the Old Man in Yellow asked questions from time to time with a smile.
Finally, he revealed his next plan.
"I have issued orders to completely eliminate the remaining Xenos that have invaded the Imperium."
Nimrod did not mention his full plan, the plan for the Rangdan Xenocide.
He recalled that the last battle of the "Second Rangdan War" took place in 882, ending in an unexpected encounter between the Imperium and the Rangdan Fleet.
The Third Rangdan Xenocide began in 887 when a hunting company with White Scars accidentally discovered the Rangdan Homeworld.
In 890, Lion and Russ spearheaded a campaign to avenge the defilement of Omnissiah's sacred territory, Forge World Xana forged the Mechanicum Custodians.
Although the Third Rangdan Xenocide was not as large-scale as the Second Rangdan War, the Imperium's northwestern border remained precarious, with over 80,000 Astartes killed in action.
Among them, 50,000 are "Dark Angels".
It was after this battle, along with the 90,000 casualties in the Second Rangdan War, that the Dark Angels relinquished their position as the largest legion to the Ultramarines.
The remaining 30,000 casualties were mostly Space Wolves.
Nimrod naturally wouldn't give the Xenos nearly ten years to develop. With the Dice of Prophecy, he could naturally find the Homeworld of Rangdan and launch Rangdan Xenocide before they could grow stronger again.
"Very well," The Emperor nodded with a smile, "My Pegasus will not disappoint me; all enemies of humanity will ultimately be defeated."
He glanced at Russ and continued.
"The Fashi people are blinded, and the wolf pack is making slow progress."
"My Pegasus, you must win victory for me."
Russ clenched his fist tightly. "Father, I can bring you victory. The Fashi people will be punished."
"Your progress does not satisfy me," The Emperor said sternly, his smile fading.
Russ suppressed his anger and looked at Nimrod.
Having just survived a major battle, Nimrod and his wizard offspring will likely decline.
"As you wish," Nimrod replied readily and sincerely.
He was planning to find incriminating evidence against the Space Wolves and obtain the unique technology of the Fashi people, the Old Man in Yellow entrusted him with the task.
Nimrod glanced at Lion almost imperceptibly. In his memory, the Old Man in Yellow had sent Lion because he was dissatisfied with the progress of the Space Wolves, but now he had entrusted him with the task.
[The Old Man in Yellow, I'm very satisfied with your orders this time.]
The war council had just ended, Russ was furious and wanted to leave.
"Russ, you don't need to deliver it to me, I'll go get it myself."
Russ glared at Nimrod, "I will not break the bet."
"The Space Wolves doesn't need the wizard boy's help."
Guilliman frowned as he saw two of the Dreadnoughts Brothers clashing.
After fighting alongside Nimrod, he became even more convinced of his judgment that Nimrod was the key among the five Dreadnoughts, and that Russ's provocation would suffer a crushing defeat.
Nimrod smiled as he watched Russ's Psionic Energy projection disappear, then returned to the Shadow of the Thrones with Guilliman.
After much deliberation and consideration, Guilliman could not find a suitable explanation and finally spoke out with resignation.
"Nimrod, I enjoyed our conversation very much. I look forward to seeing you again."
After seeing Guilliman off, Nimrod said to Arsena Dunn.
"Tell Sanchez it's time to collect the debt."
His gaze was icy, and his tone was as cold as a knife.
At the same moment, the "Space Wolves" Gloriana-class Battleship Hrafnkel.
A cloak made of the Great Wolf of Death's fur hung naturally as Russ strode forward along the curved outer edge of the observation room.
He addressed his most trusted confidant, Jorin, the Wolf Lord of the 13th Great Company, with the simple and swift Fenris War-speak.
"Tell me the truth, what is the real situation?"
"It's tough," Jorin said slowly, walking beside Russ. "They all fought to their last drop of blood, because they knew there was no way out."
"Jorin," Russ nodded, "I believe you. I've never doubted you."
"But the bastards in Terra won't see things from our perspective; all they see is that we haven't finished this sooner or later."
"Every time the battle reached a stalemate, they assumed we were just indulging in slaughter and failing to organize a proper offensive."
"Allfather..." he said wearily, "Deceived, he decided to send Nimrod to end it all."
[Nimrod, Sanchez.] Jorin chewed on the two names in his mind, the painful memories of Fenris's defeat stinging him.
"We really don't have any friends on Terra, the other legions are a completely different story."
Russ clenched her fist. "We have received our orders, and we must carry them out."
"To survive, just like in Fenris."
"The Imperium is being built, and the planets my brothers have conquered are meticulously recorded on Golden Scrolls."
"But that's not our style. Wherever the wolves go, they leave only ruins. We plunder everything, leaving nothing but desolation."
Jorin saw a dark cloud descend upon the Wolf King's smiling face, and he roared.
"Jorin, I have sworn to Malcador that I will kill Lord of Duran."
"If we fail, those who have been attacking us from the shadows will step into the limelight and hurl accusations at us."
"I will not allow Nimrod to kill the Tyrant of Duran before me; I hate to see him win with such a calm expression."
"He..." Russ paused, then changed the subject, "I must find Duran, the evil capital of the Fashi, before Nimrod."
"I'm going to set Duran ablaze and burn it to the ground."
"Old buddy, can you help me?"
"Of course, my Wolf Prime." Jorin's weathered face was full of determination as he answered without hesitation.
[For you, and for myself.]
"You need to hurry and find Duran." Russ's large hand landed on Jorin's shoulder, warm and strong.
"Don't lose to those wizard brats Nimrod."