Press-Ganged by the Lion King!

Ten thousand years have passed.

After the Lion King awoke, he finally sat down calmly with his "son" Zabriel and asked him about the inside story of what happened back then.

The Primarch was not stupid.

Although the Lion King is often seen as a domineering figure by outsiders, he is actually extremely thoughtful.

Especially after sleeping for ten thousand years, the Lion King has become much more composed and learned to empathize and be considerate of others through the trials and tribulations of time.

However, one thing is extremely awkward.

Facing the Gene-Father, Zabriel was momentarily at a loss for words. The guilt, sins, self-blame, and resentment accumulated over millennia made his gaze toward the Lion King more complex.

And what about the Lion King?

He was also embarrassed. He had just beaten up Zabriel, even though it was because Zaporiel had shot him first. But after calming down and recalling the incident, he felt there were many suspicious points.

"Tell me, Zabriel."

Finally, the Lion King spoke first, "At that time, I heard that he was going to rebel, so I led my fleet back to Caliban, but we were attacked by ground artillery fire. What exactly happened?"

Zabriel remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, under the Lion King's uncertain gaze. "Back then, under Luther's orders, we mobilized a large number of Dark Angels. Some obeyed his orders, but some thought he should have applied to you. Ultimately, however, because of Luther's personal prestige, we approved his order."

"Continue."

When the name "Luther" was mentioned, Alvin keenly noticed that for a fleeting moment, the Lion King's eyes and expression underwent a subtle change.

It seemed to be sorrow, and it also seemed to be hatred.

"What happened next was quite different from what you described." Zabriel took a deep breath, straightened his spine, and stared at the Lion King: "My company was stationed at the Caliban's armory, but we were bombed by the Space Fleet without warning, and the identification signal for the attack came from your private warship."

The Lion King frowned, his eyes darkening, but he didn't say anything more, "Continue."

Seeing that the Primarch did not refute, Zabriel continued, his memory seemingly dragged back Ten Thousand Years Ago to the midst of a brutal war. "My brothers and I were attacked by airborne troops without cause. They were all brothers from the same Legion—the same people you took away."

"They shouted for the Emperor, while we became, in their eyes, 'traitors'—"

At this point, Zabriel's expression turned extremely pained, his eyes bloodshot. "I don't know what happened. Luther said—you launched a rebellion to seize control of Caliban, and we were forced to fight back."

"It's too chaotic—we were forced into this civil war without even knowing why. We're all clearly part of the Dark Angels Legion, yet we're killing each other on our own homeland. I tried to explain it all, but—they didn't give us a chance."

Zabriel clenched his fists, his jaw snapping as if he were chewing up millennia of hatred. "Then, Caliban was attacked, an unprecedented explosion that tore the entire planet apart."

My surviving brothers and I were also swept into the Warp and scattered throughout the universe.

A trace of sorrow flickered in the Lion King's eyes, and his voice seemed somewhat low. "And then?"

"And then?" Zabriel's face was bitter as he lowered his head. "You disappeared, Caliban was destroyed, and we were branded as part of the rebellion, stigmatized as 'Fallen Angel,' forced to hide and eke out a living while being hunted down by our former comrades."

"As you can see, we are Fallen Angel, the culprits behind the destruction of Caliban, the root cause of the Dark Angels' civil war, and—a disgrace to the First Legion!"

Every time Zabriel mentions it, he feels a sharp pain in his heart.

"Lion King!"

His eyes were bloodshot and menacing, veins bulging on his forehead. Staring at the Lion King, their Gene-Father, seated before him, he roared, "I want to ask you, aside from those who follow Luther, are all of us—in your eyes— Fallen Angel, traitors?!"

Under Zabriel's questioning, the Lion King fell into a long silence, as if he did not know how to answer.

Yes, there are too many mysteries surrounding what happened back then. But apart from those who were truly loyal to Luther, were the other Dark Angels really traitors?

From Zabriel's description, it is not difficult for the Lion King to deduce that a considerable number of the Dark Angels were simply forced into the civil war.

They had absolutely no idea why their beloved Primarch would wage war against Luther, or why he regarded them as traitors.

"Ahem, may I say something?"

Looking at the silent Lion King and the angry, wronged Zabriel, Alvin knew he had to step forward.

We need to ease the tension.

"You?"

The Lion King frowned slightly. "What does this have to do with you?"

"Well—" Alvin scratched his head, "Actually, there is a connection, because before I met you, I happened to encounter a Fallen Angel Chapter."

Whether it was a misperception or not, the Lion King's eye seemed to twitch a few times. "You—you've got some nerve."

"The leader of this Fallen Angel's Chapter Master Ollsen." Alvin felt a little guilty, deliberately avoiding the Lion King's gaze, and turned to look at Zabriel: "He was also a Fallen Angel from Ten Thousand Years Ago, you should know him, right?"

"Ollsen? He's still alive?!"

Zabriel was somewhat shocked, but then became even more curious. "You dare to take in Fallen Angel? How did he agree to it?"

"Listen-

Alvin suddenly didn't know what to say.

But the Lion King, seeing through his thoughts, sneered, "You wouldn't be—promising them that you can absolve them of their sins, would you?"

"Listen, this matter is rather complicated. What I mainly want to say is that the root of the Caliban rebellion was actually due to the unequal distribution of power and the lack of clarity regarding priorities between you and Luther, which ultimately led to the civil war. Many Dark Angels were unaware of this; they were innocent victims caught up in it." Alvin's explanations were so numerous that his lips were almost dry.

The Lion King listened quietly, then asked, "Ollsen, I know him. He's very stubborn, but he doesn't easily believe promises. So—on what grounds did you get them to work for you?"

"Woolen cloth-.-"

This is a matter of life and death!

Alvin broke out in a cold sweat, wondering whether he should answer truthfully or use Grandpa Lan's name.

"Let me remind you," the Lion King said, "If we're talking about Guilliman, his name alone won't convince the Fallen Angel." He then added with a half-smile, "As for the other one, they're even less likely to believe him."

Well, our escape routes are all blocked.

Alvin was speechless, and finally could only hang his head in dejection, giving up entirely. "It was you who told them you would return, forgive their sins, and regain control of the First Legion, Dark Angels."

"They believed it?"

The Lion King's eyes seemed to pierce through people's hearts.

"Well, of course not." Alvin hesitated for a moment, then said, "I used another method to convince them that my prophecy would come true, and I provided them with a safe place that they would never be found."

That makes sense.

The Lion King nodded slightly, showing no displeasure. Instead, he gazed at him meaningfully, and after a moment's thought, a look of sudden realization dawned on him. He sighed softly, "So—it's you."

What's the meaning?!

This seemingly unprovoked remark left Alvin somewhat puzzled.

"From now on, you will stay by my side."

The Lion King slowly rose, his majestic body, illuminated by the firelight, truly resembling a lion.

The voice was filled with an undeniable sternness. "Didn't you use my name to win over the Fallen Angel?"

Since that's the case, then this task is entrusted to you. In my name, gather the scattered Fallen Angel!

Oh no, I've been drafted!

Alvin broke out in a cold sweat and felt completely terrified.