Fulgrim left in the end, but only because the Emperor's Children had forcibly pressed him back into the Legion Flagship.
If they let their Primarch keep having fits, the Emperor's Children would truly become a laughingstock to everyone.
Watching the Emperor's Pride sail into Mandeville Point, Mordred finally breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled out the Lighter, squatted down, and lit a cigarette.
Come to think of it, the Lighter belonged to the Emperor. Mordred had taken one look and fallen for the unbelievably cool little gadget. Its outer shell was made entirely of Radiant Gold. Letting Old Man Huang use something like that was a criminal waste, so it might as well have gone to him.
But whenever he thought about the Emperor having entered his Hive Laboratory, Mordred felt uncomfortable all over. Who knew whether he had left something behind?
"That won't do. This Hive can't be used anymore. We'll have to open a new branch. Where's my loyal Fourth Company Captain? Get over here, quick!"
As soon as he spoke, a Tin Can Kid who was noticeably sturdier than an ordinary Atlas came running over and stood behind Mordred.
"Father, you called?" His voice suited his appearance. Fourth Company Captain Gawain truly lived up to his reputation as a construction man; the moment he opened his mouth, he sounded exactly like a Black-hearted Foreman.
"Purchase another batch of experimental equipment and send it aboard the Abomination Exemplar. The Hive beneath our Hive City can't be used anymore, so convert it directly to civilian use. Also, go to Catachan and relocate the personnel there. Establish the Hive Second Research Institute."
"But Father, didn't you say we would be joining the Great Crusade next month? We simply don't have enough manpower! How about you call back the Seventh Company and have those fortress groups wait for now?"
Mordred shook his head. The Seventh Company had been building fortresses outside all this time. It was an order he had personally issued, and it absolutely could not be delayed.
It had to be said that Atlas occupied a truly bizarre location. The place was simply too awkwardly situated.
The entire star region was an elliptical sphere, positioned right at the strategic gateway where the Sol Sector extended eastward into the Extreme Sector. To the left was the Emperor's Children's Chemos, and below was the Salamanders' Nightfall Star.
It looked pretty good at first glance, but the other sides were a complete mess.
Above it was the unusually vast Maelstrom, a damned place that would eventually fill up with every kind of monster and demon. Below it was even more troublesome, because Mordred knew that a world called Armageddon would come drifting over in the future. Compared to that, everything else was a minor issue.
At this point, one might ask: Wasn't the Sol Sector, the heart of the Imperium, still behind him? Then Mordred would ask in return: If the Great Heresy broke out in the future, or aliens came marching on Terra, what would happen to Atlas, standing in front of them?
The Emperor had counted on Mordred being unable to let it go. As long as he built here for even one day, any force that wanted to attack Terra in the future would have to step over Mordred's corpse. It was much like King Xiao of Liang's relationship with Emperor Wen of Han.
"Forget it. I'll have the Dog-men bring the Ogryn auxiliary forces to help you. Doesn't Catachan still have colonies? Take them there to do some construction work first. By the way, didn't you spend some time with the Fourth Legion? Rogal Dorn has returned to the Legion, so he's not easy to fool. Can you go over there and fool some people into coming here? Construction is construction wherever you do it. I provide food, lodging, and wages. Isn't that better than digging trenches?"
Fourth Company Captain accepted the order and hurried out with his people to do construction work. For Gawain, Father was absolutely right. Now that he had made it big, it was time to look after the good brothers who had worked alongside him before.
While Gawain issued the Galaxy's Beasts of Burden construction order and gathered his good brothers, Mordred, having nowhere else to go, could only return to the ship and begin modifying his laboratory.
Gawain really did have connections. He even had ties to the Council of Terra, and before long he had summoned the 77th Battalion of the Fourth Legion. The battalion commander at the head was also an old acquaintance of Gawain's.
Mordred certainly wasn't going to let such fine material slip away. He personally received the group of good nephews and even held a grand banquet.
During the banquet, Kyle was intensely envious as he watched his former comrades-in-arms suddenly rise to prominence. He could only turn that envy into an appetite and eat like crazy with his cousins from the Second Legion.
Perhaps Mordred had seen what this construction worker was thinking, because he spoke up and asked:
"Kyle, as an Imperial Primarch, I'm also your good uncle. Tell me what's troubling you. Your uncle guarantees he'll solve it for you."
Hearing Mordred's consolation was too much for Kyle. He immediately began pouring out his grievances, saying that Horus had a grudge against them and treated the Fourth Legion like mules, throwing every tough, thankless mission their way.
To complete their missions, the Fourth Legion suffered heavy casualties every time, even though they had priority access to Mars-produced supplies. And after all that, the First Returned Son still wasn't satisfied.
Ferrus of the Third Expeditionary Fleet was no good either. Every order he issued forced them into desperate situations, no more and no less than what was needed to complete the mission.
It was only thanks to their large numbers. The 11th Legion and 19th Legion, with their limited manpower, had no autonomy at all and had become auxiliary forces of the Moon Wolves—cannon fodder regiments.
"Your Highness, I really wish our Primarch would return to the Legion. If we had a Primarch too, they wouldn't dare use us like this.
"Just look at Gawain. He used to come out of the same trench as me. The moment you returned, everything changed for him. Once our Primarch returns, the Fourth Legion will definitely get better."
"Uh..."
Mordred really wanted to say, You're thinking too much. If Kyle met Mortarion in the future, he might very well strangle his present self to death. Who would willingly jump into a pit of fire?
"Alas, I've heard about this. Don't worry. Your uncle isn't like them. You won't suffer if you come to me."
That was no lie. Ever since Serenity became a cargo hub, fleets resting there had never lacked supplies. Even when supplies temporarily couldn't be moved around, Mordred would explain the situation to the Council of Terra in his capacity as a Primarch and extend their rest period.
The Legions with Primarchs might not know it, but among those without one, the Second Highness had an excellent reputation. He was not only witty and humorous, but also considerate toward his subordinates.
"Your Highness, I heard you're preparing to join the Crusade too. Why not command us? Wherever we fight, we fight. At least under you, we'd be able to rest after every battle."
This was where having a good reputation showed its value. Facing other Primarchs, Kyle wouldn't dare speak his mind. Only a Primarch like Mordred, who had no airs at all, could make others lower their guard.
"That wouldn't be appropriate, would it? After all, Horus is the First Returned Son. Though he lacks the title of Warmaster, he already possesses the authority of one, and he is called one of the Triumvirate of the Expedition alongside Ferrus. As his brother, I can't poach his people!
"Still, forget it. Since you call me uncle, I can't just watch you suffer. Here's what we'll do: go and bring back more people. Don't worry about who they are. Bring over anyone you can. We happen to have few people and plenty of supplies, while you have plenty of people but no Primarch to lead you. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we joined forces?"
Kyle had only expected to vent a little, but His Highness Mordred had actually agreed. Not only that, he was even thinking about his other comrades in battle. This was what a true good uncle was!
"Uncle, I, Kyle, have drifted for half my life without meeting a wise lord. Now that I've met you, I'll follow you to the end!"
Watching the construction worker, who had been thoroughly charmed, Mordred swept out a grand gesture and sent a Psychic Power transmission directly to Holy Terra. He asked Malcador to arrange troops for him and hurry up and hand over his good nephews. He was going to build an army of one hundred thousand and march eastward.
Before long, a Psychic Power communication was relayed from Serenity to Holy Terra, eventually becoming a piece of parchment delivered into the hands of the Arch-Magos.
After reading it quickly, Malcador had only one thought: What absolute nonsense. The front line was so tense—where was he supposed to find one hundred thousand troops for Mordred? He didn't even have ten thousand. Was Mordred dreaming?
But when it came to being inhuman, Malcador was hardly inferior to the Emperor. He soon came up with a new idea.
"Perfect. The Fourth Legion's main force is fighting alone at Inkarati. You want troops, don't you? Go there yourself."
"Alpharius, take a trip to Serenity. You said you wanted to go to the front line, didn't you? This will be the perfect chance to test your results."
As soon as he finished speaking, a Baldy less than three meters tall suddenly leaped out and replied to his teacher:
"Don't worry. My most capable progeny is on Atlas. Going to the Second Legion will be just like going home. Arch-Magos, wait for my good news!"
Before you continue