Chapter Creed

In the ship lent to the Fierce Angels by Huron.

To celebrate the rescue of the Space Marines, the crew prepared a Blood Feast.

Lu Jin was not late this time. When he returned from Huron's flagship, people were just gathering on the cold but vast hangar deck.

Following tradition, they first sat in a circle.

The Space Marines sat among the mortals, while the Chapter Master would sit in the very center, surrounded by everyone.

The Fierce Angels had not elected a Chapter Master, so Lu Jin was sitting in the center at this time.

He was reluctant, but a Space Marine, skilled in metaphors, quietly said it would boost morale.

"The Chapter's Tutor was sacrificed by heretics," a Space Marine said, sitting down. "Let me, who truly cares about tradition, lead the feast ceremony."

"Begin," he said, extending his hands to the mortals on his left and right.

Everyone extended their hands to the sides, clasping hands with each other and closing their eyes.

"Let us remember the glory of the past."

Two minutes later.

"Let us remember the sacrifices."

Another two minutes passed.

People opened their eyes.

The Space Marines stood up and moved to sit together. Lu Jin also got up from the center and joined the Space Marines to form a circle.

The mortals left and brought back food and crimson wine.

After the Chapter's flagship was lost, the brewing equipment was gone too, so this wine was bought from the Red Corsairs. Mixed with red coloring, it could pass.

After that, it was just like the first time Lu Jin participated in a Blood Feast. The mortals brought food and drink, then sat in the outer ring, eating and drinking along.

Unlike last time, everyone was silent, eating quietly with their heads bowed.

Lu Jin didn't speak either, but when he ate, he didn't nibble. He habitually wolfed down his food.

"Sir," Carly approached from behind and handed Lu Jin a book. "This is the Chapter's scripture."

Lu Jin felt he should get to know the Fierce Angels Chapter better, so he ate while reading the scripture.

The Fierce Angels Chapter was only intimidating in name. Upon closer inspection, Lu Jin found the Chapter to be quite contradictory.

In the Chapter scripture, the first Chapter Master, who established all traditions, customs, and doctrines, believed:

The Chapter's glory did not come from the battle itself or whether it was won, but from the impact of the battle.

For example, if a battle changed the outcome of a world's fall and protected many people, then that battle was glorious. Even if the Chapter lost more than it won, it was still glorious.

Conversely, if a battle was a great victory and exhilarating, but it didn't change the outcome of a world's fall, or if all the people who were supposed to be protected died, then it was a disgrace.

The Chapter's new recruit selection focused more on testing the heart.

If a candidate was poor in all aspects but showed compassion for others or self-sacrifice during the test, they could still become a member of the Fierce Angels.

A candidate who had a history of fighting to defend others could be exempted from testing and become a new recruit.

Conversely, even if they were top-notch in all aspects, they would only be eliminated.

Furthermore, because the Chapter was born on Armageddon, a place where humans and Greenskins clashed, a mandatory part of the new recruit test was fighting Greenskins.

Of course, they didn't need to kill many Greenskins; even running to the finish line without killing any was acceptable.

Space Marines ready to provide support for the selection candidates would observe the candidates' micro-expressions and other details during this process to gauge their psychology and determine if they could become new recruits.

The Chapter also had a tradition of valuing mortals.

When the Fierce Angels were first established, they were hastily thrown into battle. In one war, they suffered heavy losses. The local mortals respected them. The local nobles funded a warship, and the mortals who respected them voluntarily left their homes to become the first crew members.

Since the Chapter had few personnel and scarce resources, and the mortals were often deployed in combat, and subsequent new recruits were mostly recruited from ships, this led to the tradition of valuing mortals.

Lu Jin recalled that servants like Carly had their own private cabins on the warships.

While flipping through the later pages, Lu Jin discovered that several pages were missing from the scripture.

He didn't know how those pages went missing or what was written on them.

"Some of the traditional names, including the Chapter's name, sound deliberately harsh, as if meant to scare people."

Lu Jin put down the scripture and sighed.

The Space Marines nodded one after another.

"I feel the same way, brother. It's like a beast on my homeworld that puffs itself up and expands its belly when it encounters enemies, trying to look like a tough character."

Lu Jin looked at the Space Marine who spoke. "What's your name?"

"Kao," the Space Marine said. "You're finally asking your fellow battle-brothers for their names."

"Names aren't indispensable things," Lu Jin picked up a roasted beast leg. "I remember you like metaphors. You even dragged me around when I first arrived."

Kao nodded. "Truly philosophical. If I didn't know your name, but you saved all of us and were a badass who wiped out Greenskins during the selection, I'd definitely remember you, battle-brother, as the most unique among us."

Lu Jin nodded in agreement.

"I think you'd make a great Chapter Master," Kao said. "You know, like those big shots in movies, who say profound and thought-provoking things with just a few words, then make world-saving decisions in critical moments, while also being a formidable fighter themselves."

When Kao uttered the word "Chapter Master," everyone on deck looked up.

Feeling their gazes, Lu Jin slowly spoke, "Don't try to test me. I won't just up and leave one day. My creed is to see things through to the end."

"So what do we do next?" a Space Marine beside Kao asked.

"We rest for a few days, then we retake the Chapter's strike cruiser, and then find a way to leave the Red Corsairs."

Lu Jin had already planned everything.

"Then we'll find that Inquisitor named Bena. Chapter Master Ninos said you could seek justice through her."

"After clearing our names, we'll stay in the Imperium."

"Honestly, I don't have any good feelings about the Imperium, and I'm not as loyal to the Emperor as you are. But compared to Chaos, compared to the Maelstrom where you can see a kettle slithering on the floor when you go to the bathroom at night, the Imperium is at least a place to stay."

No one objected to Lu Jin's words or questioned his loyalty.

Everyone fell into reflection because of his words.

The Chapter had been lured into a trap by an Inquisitor, and before that, they had been branded as traitors to the Imperium.

This incident forced everyone to consider who they were fighting for, whom they were loyal to. If they were fighting for the Imperium, loyal to the High Lords of Terra behind the Emperor's statue, then they should have died obediently back then.

"We can stay with the Red Corsairs for a while longer, trading combat for equipment and supplies."

The Space Marines agreed when Kao said this.

Because with the Red Corsairs, even if they didn't help heretics kill ordinary people, they could earn everything they needed by participating in heretic civil wars, and Huron rewarded and punished fairly.

But Lu Jin's next words made the Space Marines wish they could leave immediately.

"I almost killed an Astral Claws veteran."

Lu Jin recounted the incident with the Lone Wolf Aels in detail.

"Damn Red Corsairs!" a Space Marine gritted his teeth and stood up, his expression fierce. "They're breaking their contract just because we're in trouble! Chapter Master Ninos's agreement with them was to accept everyone, including mortals, no matter what!"

He then looked down at Lu Jin. "Chapter Master! I suggest we board them directly while Huron is unprepared, kill him, and take what we need, making him pay for breaking the contract!"

Lu Jin didn't answer, shifting his gaze.

Kao pulled the other man back to the floor. "Brother Xenos, you're as fond of giving terrible advice as I am of quoting scriptures. If we do as you say, we'll probably lose our lives tomorrow."

"They broke their contract! Brother Kao, use your brain. These mortals are eating and drinking with us now, but what if they don't survive? What if Huron's little lackey kills them all?"

"..."

Lu Jin remained silent. Objectively speaking, Aels probably acted that way after seeing the state of the Fierce Angels, disobeying Huron's orders. Huron had objectively helped the Fierce Angels, so it wasn't appropriate to suddenly attack him now.

Then he recalled the records of this warrior named Xenos he had seen in the scriptures.

Xenos was skilled in all aspects of combat, including charging into battle in Terminator armor or sniping from afar with a sniper rifle. He could even pilot tanks and aircraft, and there was even a record of him single-handedly operating a Lance in a naval battle during an emergency and successfully hitting an enemy ship.

However, he was not good at strategizing.

Ninos's records on Xenos specifically noted: apart from advice related to war, anyone who listened to Xenos's other advice would die.

"I think the best course of action now is to leave quickly," a Space Marine said. "But our equipment, our supplies, were all taken by the Cunning Hounds and destroyed along with their ships... Without weapons and equipment, we can't clear the Greenskins from the Ragefang. Without Huron... how can we get weapons, equipment, and supplies?"

"We can buy them."

Onaas suddenly stood up.

"When I became a Navigator aboard the Ragefang after coming of age, my family gave me many, many treasures. I brought some of the lighter ones with me and my servants."

"Like Defensive Fields and such."

"It's not much, but it should be enough to trade for some weapons and supplies!"

The Navigator's words made the Space Marines' eyes light up.

With weapons, equipment, and necessary supplies, they could go and reclaim the Ragefang, and then leave the Maelstrom directly, regardless of Aels or Huron.

Lu Jin considered it and thought it was feasible. "Thank you, Navigator."

Then Lu Jin scanned the Space Marines, his gaze finally settling on Kao. "You'll be in charge of this."

"Brother Kao isn't good at fighting," Xenos blurted out. "The Maelstrom is full of savages, they might kill and rob. Let me be Brother Kao's escort."

"Only as an escort, not involved in other matters. Then, yes," Lu Jin commanded clearly.

Xenos and Kao stood up and saluted simultaneously. "Yes."

That evening.

As Huron's flagship and the warship lent to Lu Jin returned from where Lu Jin was salvaged, and entered the Red Corsairs' lair, Kao and Xenos left the ship carrying a Defensive Field.

Since Lu Jin's armor was reduced to just a codpiece after fighting Daemons, the two had to wear oversized mortal-made clothes when they disembarked, as they couldn't put on armor.

Lu Jin had intended to go himself, but Huron sent him a communication.

When they couldn't travel together, Lu Jin figured that even if he ran into bandits, having Xenos as a bodyguard would be more than enough to keep him safe.

This was also why, when Xenos offered his services, Lu Jin agreed after adding a couple of commands.

After the two left the ship, Lu Jin contacted Huron on the command deck.

"I'm very sorry about Ninos' death due to an unknown ritual..."

Huron, on the communication panel, lowered his head to mourn his old friend for three seconds.

He looked up after three seconds and said, "It's not your fault that the gang I lent you was wiped out. Just return the warship I lent you now, and let your people disembark."

"Alright," Lu Jin nodded. "I'll have someone notify everyone to leave the warship."

After speaking, he looked at Carly.

Carly saluted and quickly went to deliver the message.

But as soon as she left the command deck, Carly switched from a brisk jog to leaning against the wall.

Huron had more to say and was about to speak when a veteran ran up and whispered a few words to him. He then whispered a few words back to the veteran.

After the veteran left, Huron continued, "Aels is about to wake up. You and I will go see him together in a moment."

Lu Jin recalled that the doctor from the Botulism Gang had pretended to treat Aels while actually intending to kill him, completely ruining Huron's deal with the Cunning Hounds.

There must have been a personal grudge between Botulism and the Cunning Hounds.

"Is the new doctor more reliable than those two from Botulism?" Lu Jin asked.

"It's still those two," Huron said with a sly smile. "They aren't from Botulism anymore; they're with my Red Corsairs. They're talented, and I couldn't bring myself to kill them, so I had to bring them under my wing."

"A clever move," Lu Jin said with genuine admiration.

"Stay with the Red Corsairs from now on," Huron extended an olive branch. "I guarantee the Fierce Angels can be rebuilt to their Chapter's former scale. You can do whatever you want with them, but on the condition that you're conscripted for combat during wartime."

Lu Jin thought about how many people were in the Red Corsairs, with a significant portion being subordinates rather than loyal followers of Huron. Huron also had enemies and opponents within the Red Corsairs.

Thinking about these matters, Lu Jin said, "Otherwise, where else could we go?"

Huron suddenly chuckled. "I'll be waiting for you at the port."

The communication ended.

Lu Jin sat aside and waited.

An hour later, Carly ran over to report, "Kao and Lord Xenos have returned!"

A moment later, the deck hatch opened.

Kao and Xenos walked in slowly, both carrying a heavy, meter-tall box on their backs. Xenos, who was even taller than Lu Jin, also carried a box in his hand.

Lu Jin's gaze fixed on Xenos. He noticed that Xenos had been wearing clothes when he left, but upon returning, he was only wearing a pair of briefs.

"You..."

As Lu Jin began to ask, Xenos lowered his head, and Kao started to explain.

"After we went down, we ran into Huron's men. That person called me to see Huron, and Xenos, wanting to finish things quickly and leave, went to conduct the transaction by himself."

"When I returned, Xenos was only wearing briefs, with three boxes beside him."

"The boxes contain three bolters and weapons for mortals. What a huge loss..."

Listening to Kao's explanation, Lu Jin looked at Xenos, who had apparently traded himself down to just a pair of briefs.

"Hahaha!"

Lu Jin was so amused he laughed.

A Space Marine walked up behind Lu Jin and, with all his might, kicked Xenos hard.

Xenos, being tall, didn't budge after the battle-brother's kick. After a moment's thought, he felt that not moving might indicate a lack of proper attitude, so he deliberately fell backward.

He then got up and explained, "These are advance payments... I was tricked by those people. Someone among them even took a liking to my clothes, saying they could exchange them for more food..."

Lu Jin took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to kick Xenos flying, and said, "You were tricked by Huron. So was I."

Carly ran over to report, "Red Corsair ships around us have targeted us. Huron's people are urging us to disembark on the communication channel."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jin said to Xenos, "From now on, don't offer any suggestions outside of combat. Not a single one."

He now had a new understanding of Ninos's annotation for Xenos.

"You came down quite quickly."

As Lu Jin stepped off the transport, Huron, accompanied by veterans in Terminator armor, personally welcomed him and sneered upon seeing Lu Jin.

Huron turned around.

After the Space Marines behind him cleared a path, Lu Jin saw several shipping containers piled up behind them.

The contents were written on the surface of the containers, ranging from weapons for mortals and body armor to power armor and bolters for Space Marines, as well as promethium fuel, food... everything imaginable.

And behind Huron, rows of large transport vehicles were arriving, also loaded with supplies and weaponry.

"Why bother doing business with those people who devour others without spitting out the bones?" Huron chuckled. "It's my fault. I prepared all this but thought it wasn't worth mentioning, and I didn't tell you during our communication just now. My apologies."

"This ship is mine, you borrowed it," Lu Jin glanced at the ship behind him, which hadn't even had its Imperial Fists paint scheme changed. "So where do I send all this stuff?"

Huron smiled and remained silent.

A few seconds later, a ship sailed into the port of the Red Corsairs' nest.

Lu Jin looked back and saw it was the Ragefang.

"I tricked you regarding Ninos' name before, and I messed with you after you asked for help. I figure this has created a rift between us. If this rift isn't resolved, we can never be close friends."

"Consider this an apology."

Huron stared at the Ragefang as he spoke.

"My people found your Chapter's Relic, and they used it to seal the Xenos back into their quarantine zone."

"Then, the areas ravaged by the Xenos were also cleaned up by my people."

"Before we entered the Maelstrom, the Astral Claws were specifically responsible for dealing with those green Xenos. We're professionals when it comes to clearing spores."

As he finished speaking, a squadron of transport craft flew into the port and began transferring the supplies onto the Ragefang.

The Ragefang docked, and the Red Corsairs began disembarking.

"Can we reconcile?"

Huron extended his hand to Lu Jin.

Around the Ragefang, the Red Corsairs' warships had adjusted their various ship-mounted weapons to angles that wouldn't directly target the Ragefang but could quickly do so.

The Star-Claw Veterans around them had unconsciously formed a semi-circle, staring at Lu Jin.

"Yes," Lu Jin clasped Huron's hand.

"Then we are battle-brothers!" Huron smiled warmly. "The Red Corsairs and the Fierce Angels are brother Chapters."

As Huron pulled Lu Jin away from the port, the Star-Claw Veterans who had formed the semi-circle naturally followed on their left and right flanks, as if their positioning had been intended to allow them to follow him easily as he left.