The Secluded Gensokyo

A mother once said that the more beautiful a woman is, the more she will deceive you.

Mordred did not understand how the still-charming Mom of Zhang Wuji could say such a thing, but he believed it held truth, even if he had no mother.

Yet, having no mother did not mean having no father. In terms of beauty, Neos, who had left behind numerous legends, certainly did not fall behind anyone, which meant this Golden Giant was even more prone to swindling people.

"Father, your armor is so cool; I want one too." Tom's voice drew a sympathetic echo from the First Company Captain, who also favored this dark, ascetic aesthetic.

"Forget it. This is a gift bestowed upon Father by His Majesty. Just wear your Terminator armor properly!"

The Khan Said Correctly; even though the Second Legion generally possessed larger builds, armor capable of fitting a Primarch was nearly the size of a Dreadnought. With Tom's small frame, it was like a pony trying to pull a heavy cart.

However, Mordred's reply was not what The Khan had expected.

"If you like it, I'll forge one for you too, but you'll have to wait until I go back and dismantle this armor first."

The two did not understand why their father would waste such a precious item. Before they could speak, they saw Mordred signal them to shut up and follow him to the bridge.

"Rambo, help me take these things to the warehouse and hand them over to the Arch-Magos for research."

Rambo nodded his dog head slightly, subconsciously glancing at the collar around his neck. A flash of realization crossed his seemingly dull eyes.

[What do you mean 'praise me for cooking well'? You haven't even taken a bite! You're even lying to a dog, bah!]

As a good brother and disciple cultivated from a young age, Rambo was deeply trusted by Mordred. He had dragged his Boss into a tactical retreat more than once, and now, as the head of police for the Serene World, he was a war dog possessing true, world-shaking wisdom.

There are no two suns in the sky, and a dog has no two masters. Rambo never accepted handouts from others; if the Boss was sending him away now, it must mean there was a problem with himself.

"Understood, Boss! Task guaranteed to be completed!"

As Rambo sprinted toward the warehouse, the three turned and headed toward the bridge. When the doors opened, several legion leaders were already seated, and even the Arch-Magos Kragg had run over from his laboratory.

"Arch-Magos, weren't you in the warehouse..."

"Shut up. If you speak again, I'll throw you into the bar as a Bunny Girl. This is all your fault. Damn it, I tracked them for ten hours and couldn't tell it was a Primarch. Go get me a glass of orange juice, then everyone gather around. I have things to say."

Without giving Tom a chance to speak, Mordred's expression plummeted. The group had never seen their father so furious; his face was so dark it seemed ready to drip. He gulped down a large bucket of orange juice before he finally calmed down.

"Damn it, this Bastard actually wanted to spy on me. You dog, you deserve to be abandoned by everyone!

Even if you wanted to spy on me, couldn't you have done a less sloppy job? Do you really take me for an Ogryn? Is that hole in your mouth just for show? Would it kill you to say something!"

"Tom, where was I? Right, Tom, go get lost to the bar and work as a Bunny Girl for a while. Don't come back until you've finished three months."

Hearing such a punishment from his father, the Eighth Company Captain felt a shiver run through his entire body. This was worse than killing him. At the thought of being mocked by everyone in the future, the large man felt so ashamed he was on the verge of tears.

The other captains were also terrified into silence, losing their usual playfulness and adopting a "better you than me" attitude, which only Angered Mordred further.

"Yes, Father."

"Speak up, I didn't hear you!"

"Yes, Father! I guarantee I will be a qualified Bunny Girl!"

The Eighth Company Captain's roar echoed throughout the bridge. Everyone looked at Tom with sympathy, but they wouldn't need to pity him for long, as Mordred had already Looked Towards the others.

"This is a lesson. I Know you have all gone to other legions, and some have even reached high-ranking positions. But now, you are my offspring. There can only be one voice in Atlas, and that is mine!

I don't care what bad habits you had before you came here. It's been two and a half years; you should know my preferences by now.

I admit you are all qualified warriors, but I would rather you be my good children!

Tom, throwing people into Catachan to play the Blood Game might quickly filter out qualified soldiers, but is this really good? The Khan, you tell me."

"Ah? Me?"

The First Company Captain, suddenly named, didn't understand this. He had studied in the First Legion, and in his view, this was a completely normal occurrence. Tom's method, at most, just had a higher mortality rate, but all the other legions did the same thing.

"Father, I don't think there is anything wrong with what Tom did. Even in the First Legion, which is the Abomination Exemplar for all legions, this aligns with everyone's understanding. After all, only suffering can forge a tenacious warrior."

Seeing the others, including the Arch-Magos, nodding in agreement, Mordred finally Realized where the problem lay. He was still the out-of-place traveler from a lost land.

The purity of the Serene World had blinded him. No matter how cruel the living conditions were, everything outside of the law of the jungle could be described as simple.

"Sigh~"

A sigh drew concern from the crowd. The captains of Atlas did not understand why their father sighed; it was as if a single sentence from The Khan had created a thick, invisible barrier between the Primarch and them.

"Father, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine. I'm just a little homesick."

"Home? Father, rest assured, we will return to the Serene World soon. Did The Khan make you angry? Why not throw him into the bar to keep Tom company?"

Looking at Goff, who was trying to liven up the atmosphere, Mordred shook his head. Only he knew that perhaps he would never be able to go back.

Through their blood connection, all the Second Legion warriors on the Abomination Exemplar stopped their work and looked up toward the bridge. They felt the Primarch's sorrow.

Atlas began to Gather spontaneously, moving toward the bridge where the Primarch was. Even if they didn't know why their father was so sad, as his offspring, they had to go and share the burden.

The Khan felt he was finished. As the crowd grew larger and larger, countless eyes seemed ready to tear him apart, yet he still didn't know which sentence he had gotten wrong.

He dared to swear to Holy Terra that he truly hadn't meant to make his father sad. Everything he said was the truth, but fortunately, the First Company Captain's mouth wasn't just for show; he knew to ask:

"Father, did I say something wrong?"

"No, you didn't say anything wrong. None of you are wrong. It's my problem. It's that I haven't adjusted yet, still looking at this world from my previous perspective. But I also don't believe I am wrong."

This statement, which felt like his left brain attacking his right, left everyone confused. Yet, their bewildered expressions made Mordred burst into loud laughter, and his laughter grew louder and louder.

"I am not wrong; the world is wrong. It is this cesspit that has alienated you all. This world should not be like this, and neither should you.

Since you have already become an unreachable fantasy, I will force those memories to become reality. To hell with the heavens; no one can change me.

I can no longer deceive myself.

Children, the Second Legion must change. I will lead you onto a path of true glory! We shall be the light of humanity!"

Having finished his self-counseling, Mordred raised his hands high, ready to receive the cheers of his progeny. Yet, he waited and waited, only to hear no one praising him, so he followed their gazes and turned around.

"Hm? A lowly demon."