Red Corsairs

The Red Corsairs' lair was called Tyrant's Gate, a massive fortress that served multiple functions.

According to the Imperium's classification, such a fortress could also be called "a world."

Tyrant's Gate possessed better infrastructure and medical facilities than the flagship, and its armory was larger.

As he walked alongside Huron, Lu Jin's thoughts were that if Aels had already woken up, he would confront Huron.

Lu Jin kept his head down, not looking anywhere else, his face a mask of deep thought.

Observing him, Huron wondered what was going on with this guy. He was loyal and righteous towards the Fierce Angels, but why couldn't he open up to Huron?

Walking along the road, Lu Jin noticed that there were commoners everywhere.

It was different from what Huron had said before. Their commoners weren't just slaves; or rather, even if they were slaves in Huron's eyes, other Space Marines weren't much better in his view.

Logistics organizations, ground forces, and naval units made up of commoners – these were important components of the Red Corsairs, just like the Space Marines.

This was also the reason for the Red Corsairs' growth.

The Red Corsairs didn't care about origin, only about ability.

Even Xenos, if they could contribute to the Red Corsairs, were allowed to stay.

As they passed through a plaza, Lu Jin noticed many statues erected there.

Gods of Xenos, gods of Chaos, the Emperor, and deities from other strange religions.

"I permit others to worship the corpse on the Golden Throne," Huron glanced at the Emperor's statue. "If anyone among your Fierce Angels believes in the Ecclesiarchy, they can come here for prayers and rituals."

"Won't these people fight amongst themselves?" Lu Jin looked at the religious followers.

"Whoever strikes first gets killed first," a hint of ferocity flashed in Huron's eyes. "There's only one requirement to join the Red Corsairs: when enraged, you must know to sit down and talk when facing cannons and bolters, not resort to direct action."

Lu Jin nodded, thinking that Abaddon and Huron followed different paths.

Huron emphasized "more" – more people, more guns, more ships. But this also led to the Red Corsairs being very disorganized. Essentially, the more than twenty thousand Chaos Space Marines were merely vassals of Huron, or vassals of his vassals.

Abaddon, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

Abaddon was the leader of another Warp rift, the Eye of Terror.

He was known as the Warmaster of Chaos, commanding the Black Legion, and regularly launched Black Crusades against the Imperium. However, even after engaging the Imperium multiple times and actively launching crusades, he followed a path of elite forces – fewer people but stronger combat power and higher cohesion.

Thinking of this, Lu Jin suddenly spoke, "Who is stronger, the Red Corsairs or the Black Legion?"

Hearing this, a look of disdain appeared on Huron's face.

"When I was still Chapter Master of the Astral Claws, I lost half my body to a melta gun from my opponent during the Badab War."

"I dragged my mangled body into the Maelstrom, and in less than a century, I built the Red Corsairs into this massive force."

"If I wished, I could easily crush an Imperial sector's navy, army, and chapter!"

"Abaddon is powerful, but he spent several times longer than I did building his armed forces. If given the same time and the title of Horus's Son, the Imperium would have already been destroyed by me!"

Lu Jin listened to this sharp critique with little reaction.

Before entering the medical bay, Lu Jin suddenly remembered the Slayers gang that had lent him their men to save someone. He therefore inquired, "Are there any Slayers left? If so, I hope to give them some form of repayment and return their favor."

"I've already repaid them for you," Huron said. "One Slayer is still alive. He was expelled from the gang. I made him fight in the arena, and if he won, I would help him rebuild the Slayers and make him their leader."

Lu Jin nodded.

Upon entering the medical bay, two Chaos Space Marines who had once belonged to the Botulism gang turned their heads in unison, then cleared a path and saluted Huron, "My Lord."

Their armor had been changed from dark green to the Red Corsairs' crimson.

"Go rest," Huron said with a smile, looking at the two enthusiastically, as if they had no past grievances and were very close friends.

After they left, Lu Jin went to the medical bed and looked down at Aels.

The Star-Claw Veteran, whom he and Onaas had turned into a vegetable, now had his eyes open, looking around somewhat blankly.

Lu Jin was ready to confront him.

But when Aels's eyes met his, they first showed confusion, then bewilderment, and finally, like a startled kitten, he jumped off the medical bed and curled up in the corner of the medical bay.

Lu Jin was about to speak but swallowed his words upon seeing this.

"His memories will only return gradually. He's like a child right now."

Huron said as he walked forward, intending to help Aels up.

But Aels, seeing the monster with half his face burned, showed extreme terror. He pushed Huron away while shrinking further into the corner.

"It's alright, it's alright. Aels, it's me, your Chapter Master."

Huron patiently comforted him. Even when he took a few punches to the face during this process, he showed no anger. He gradually crouched down, hugged Aels, and patted his back.

Aels seemed to have recovered some memories, looking up at Huron. "Captain? Your face..."

"Hahaha!" Huron turned to Lu Jin. "His memory has returned to when I was the Captain of the Star Claws."

Lu Jin thought to himself, There's still time.

He then began to survey the entire medical bay.

This medical bay was equipped with a vast amount of advanced equipment, far superior to the one on Huron's flagship, and various intelligent weapons were deployed on the ceiling.

As soon as Lu Jin entered the medical bay, he saw over twenty Space Marines rushing towards it, all clad in heavy Terminator Tactical Dreadnought armor.

"Stay here," Huron gently stroked Aels' hair. "A lot has happened, everything has changed, but once your memories return to nearly a century ago, you'll understand everything."

Aels still looked bewildered and glanced at Lu Jin.

For some reason, this person made Aels' skin crawl.

"Let's go," Huron left the medical bay.

The person in charge of treating Aels remained outside the door. Seeing Huron emerge, they briefly reported, "The ritual will slowly return his memories to him. It's estimated to take another solar cycle."

Huron nodded and continued walking with Lu Jin.

"Aren't you afraid the Botulism people will turn Aels into a monster covered in festering boils?" Lu Jin asked.

"Of course, I am. That's why I've considered it. The Botulism warband sounds like Nurgle's followers, but they aren't entirely so, at least not all of them."

Speaking of Nurgle's followers, Huron immediately thought of the Four Gods, including Nurgle, and their influence.

Coupled with Lu Jin's peculiar abilities, Huron offered a piece of advice: "Never make deals with the Gods. They take something from you, give you something in return, let you taste the sweetness, and you'll keep making deals until you're completely lost. At that point, your personal will and desires will become nothing more than a whim of the Gods."

"I will not bow to any God," Lu Jin said. "But I heard you've made deals with the Gods."

"Of course," Huron looked down at his half-mechanical body. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have survived... But I remain vigilant against them."

The two continued forward.

Lu Jin memorized every route here, preparing for future dealings with Aels.

Meanwhile, Huron, as they walked, made arrangements in a conversational tone: "A warband has betrayed me. I'm considering how to deal with them... What do you think about killing them all?"

Lu Jin did not reply.

"From your perspective, this warband has committed heinous crimes, utterly devoid of conscience. Whether it's from your principles or the rewards you'll receive for clearing them out, it's a good job. What do you want to do?" Huron asked.

"Which warband?" Lu Jin countered.

"The Botulism warband," Huron said.

Without waiting for Lu Jin's response, Huron continued his arrangements: "Your Fierce Angels are too few. I'll assign some people to go with you. You leave now, and I'll go prepare the reward you've earned."

Lu Jin returned to the Ragefang.

As he stepped onto the command deck, he noticed that in addition to the Fierce Angels in their power armor, another group of Space Marines was present.

These Space Marines had various color schemes, numbering over twenty.

Among them was a dark-skinned, large-bodied Space Marine.

Lu Jin sensed a tense atmosphere.

"Sir," Carly entered the command deck a step behind him and quickly approached Lu Jin, whispering, "When we took over the Fierce Angels, these people were waiting on the ship. They might be here to supervise us. The tallest one is Vengar."

Vengar.

A traitor from the Crimson Angels.

A rising newcomer within the Red Corsairs.

No matter how quietly Carly spoke, Vengar could hear.

He bowed to Lu Jin, saying, "The Black Heart King sent me to assist you. My warship and my thousand-strong warband are ready to carry out your will and strategy!"

Only Vengar, the leader of the Red Corsairs subordinate warband, bowed. The twenty or so high-ranking officers he brought with him held their heads high, looking down at everyone, including Lu Jin, with contempt.

A Space Marine in purple armor, with a human face inlaid on his shoulder pauldron, approached. He looked down at Carly for a moment before turning to Lu Jin and asking, "How much for this female?"

"We don't sell people!" Xenos stepped forward, looking down at the purple-armored Space Marine.

He had a fiery temper, and merely having these former heretics on the Fierce Angels' command deck was unbearable. Now, the demand to buy someone was completely unacceptable.

The Space Marine ignored Xenos. "Your Chapter is left with so few people, and you still cling to those damn beliefs? I'm willing to make a purchase because I'm giving Vengar face. Otherwise, I'll make her disappear on your ship, and you'll never find any evidence pointing to me..."

Anger surged within Lu Jin. His expression turned ferocious as he kicked the Space Marine's right leg, breaking it.

He wore only a thin garment, yet he shattered the enemy's leg armor and the bone within.

Then, Lu Jin ripped off the helmet and, raising it high with his right hand, smashed it down fiercely.

The skull shattered, and the body toppled over.

Lu Jin turned his head and saw that Vengar had remained bowed, looking up at him. The Space Marines who had previously looked down on him were now looking at him levelly, in a defensive posture.

"If anyone on my ship disappears, like he said."

"I don't give a damn who does it. If someone disappears, you will all die on my ship!"

Lu Jin dropped the blood-stained helmet and spat out a warning through gritted teeth.

Vengar asked, "Then... then if someone gets lost, does that count against us too?"

"You find them. If you can't find them, it counts against you," Lu Jin said.

Vengar fell silent.

Two Fierce Angels stepped forward, one to Lu Jin's left and one to his right, handing him their war hammers and battle axes.

Lu Jin took the two weapons and spun them around as if they were daggers. Then, he walked to the command deck's star chart and looked down at the target location transmitted by Huron.

On the holographic display, a Red Corsair warship was positioned on each side of the Ragefang.

"Let's move."