The Forest Sons' Grand Master, First Watch Knight... Alvin!

Even at this moment, Alvin was still in a daze.

He was clearly Rogue Trader, so how did he suddenly become a conscript captured by the Lion King, and even more so, the disastrous candidate responsible for recruiting the Fallen Angel?!

"Wait, wait a minute—" His expression twisted slightly, "Lion King, shouldn't you be the one to personally handle the task of gathering the Fallen Angel? What's the meaning of handing it over to me? Besides, what makes me, a Rogue Trader, have the ability to gather them?"

Is he capable of doing this?

I can't do it!

Who is the Fallen Angel? He's a madman who dared to draw his sword even when he saw the Lion King. Sending him there would be suicide!

"Don't worry."

The Lion King patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "With me here, what is there to be afraid of?"

It's precisely because you're here that this matter is so difficult to resolve!

If the Lion King were not around, he might still be able to gather a few scattered, but still loyal, Fallen Angel Chapter, thanks to his ability to deceive.

The problem is, the Lion King himself is right here!

Don't assume the Fallen Angel harbor no resentment towards the Lion King. Just look at Zabriel; he's considered one of the most loyal factions among the Fallen Angel!

Throughout those years, they neither sided with Chaos nor caused any trouble, but upheld the glory of the Dark Angels.

But even this loyal Fallen Angel's first reaction upon seeing the Lion King was to draw his gun and shoot, showing just how much resentment he harbored.

If you were to encounter someone like Ollsen, Fallen Angel had one foot in the Chaos, it wouldn't be a simple matter of firing a gun; it would most likely be a knife attack!

Can I refuse?

Although he knew the chances were slim, Alvin still held onto a sliver of hope.

"Alright." The Lion King sneered, clenching his fist and making a cracking sound. "Perfect timing. I've slept for ten thousand years, and my bones feel a bit loose. How about I take this opportunity to train you?"

Staring at the fist the size of an iron pot, Alvin was utterly speechless. How could he possibly survive a blow from that fist?

"No, no!"

Alvin hurriedly waved his hand, his face full of despair. "I'll do it, I'll do it, okay?"

Then, the Lion King turned his gaze to Zabriel, his voice booming like thunder. "Tell me, Zabriel Calth, for whom do you wield your sword?!"

Zabriel gazed into the Lion King's eyes, his heart pounding. After a moment, he too rose, slowly kneeling on one knee and bowing his head. "My blade is for the Emperor, for humanity, and for those brothers forgotten in the rifts of time, branded with disgrace!"

"You have not forgotten the glory and motto of the Caliban, Zabriel."

The Lion King looked down at the kneeling Zabriel, his tone still authoritative, but with a touch of gentleness. "You just used Caliban combat techniques, didn't you?"

Zabriel bowed his head. "It was the Lion King, it was Luther who taught me the Caliban combat techniques. I have never forgotten the glory of the past, nor have I forgotten the oath of the Knights!"

Repeat it once.

The Lion King's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

The surrounding forests swayed in the wind, as if celebrating the return of the king.

"Honour is Chains!"

"Protect the People with the Sword!"

"Loyalty Unto Death!"

"Purge the Unclean!"

With each vow, the dark light in Zabriel's eyes seemed to be ignited, and his dormant heart was rekindled and revived in the flames!

A hint of satisfaction appeared in the Lion King's eyes.

He slowly drew the "Lion King's Sword" that he had always carried and walked toward Zabriel, who was kneeling on one knee.

"I can forgive you for being Fallen Angel, but—to raise your sword against the Primarch, what does that mean?"

You should know the answer in your heart, right?

"This is a rebellion."

"Zabriel replied."

"Very good, it seems you've come to your senses, Zabriel." The Lion King nodded, gripping the Lion King's Sword tightly, his gaze calm.

"Yes, Lion King."

Zabriel's body twitched slightly, but in the end—he chose to close his eyes and quietly await his final fate.

Perhaps, from the moment he left Caliban, it was destined that he would be purged as a traitor today!

Zabriel has no regrets.

He didn't believe that Primarch was a crime; he just wanted to vent his grievances. Fang Nian's escape had left him completely exhausted.

To die here, to die at the hands of the Lion King, is an honor for a Fallen Angel!

Fortunately, before he died, he received the answer he wanted: the Fallen Angel would be pardoned by the Lion King, and he was willing to pay the price for his actions!

However, just as Zabriel was lost in thought, the sword that symbolized the Lion King landed on his right shoulder armor with a crisp sound.

Immediately afterwards, the blade grazed Zabriel's head, landing on his left shoulder armor at the same angle, in the same posture, and with the same force.

This is... Zabriel's mind went blank. He opened his eyes, looking at the Lion King with a hint of confusion.

"Rise, knight."

There was no reproach in the Lion King's eyes, only a calm like a clear lake. "Caliban is gone, but its will must live on, even with the sins it bore."

His tone turned somber, heavy with the pain of the past, and he spoke in a venting, deep voice. "From this day forward, those who uphold their knightly oaths and wield their swords against Chaos may still be my offspring. Your past sins will be washed away with the blood of Daemon!"

Touching the shoulder with a sword is an extremely ancient investiture ceremony in Caliban, and also a way of recognition!

Zabriel's pupils dilated violently, his lips trembled, and he stared intently up at the figure that resembled a towering mountain. "You—forgive me?"

His sins were not limited to his status Fallen Angel; there was something far more serious: daring to attack his own Gene-Father, the Primarch of the Dark Angels —an unforgivable crime!

"I forgive you, Zabriel."

The Lion King nodded. "Through your actions and the oaths you have kept over the years, you have proven your loyalty to me. You are still my son!"

"You... acknowledge us as 'Dark Angels'?" Zabriel asked excitedly.

But this question elicited a rare, bitter smile from the Lion King: "No, you will be the 'Sons of the Forest,' a legion that needs no atonement or repentance before the Stone Fortress."

The misunderstanding between the Stone Fortress and the Fallen Angel is not an enmity that can be easily resolved overnight.

Although he was not yet clear about the current situation of the Imperium, he had a vague sense of urgency.

Therefore, the Lion King made the decision that best suited the current situation: to allow the Fallen Angel to operate independently, thus avoiding enmity between the two sides and concentrating their efforts on resolving the problem!

This is the most suitable solution at present.

The Fallen Angel was renamed "Sons of the Forest" and, as the Absolved Angels, avoided conflict with the Stone Fortress, thus allowing the two forces to converge!

Then, the Lion King looked at Alvin: "You will temporarily serve as the Grand Master of the 'Sons of the Forest,' the First Watch Knight. These former Fallen Angel, including Zabriel, will be under your management and instruction."

"I?!"

Alvin froze for a few seconds, stunned by this unexpected windfall.

This is... instant success!

The Lion El'Jonson Eljonsson, personally bestowed upon him the Grand Master of the Sons of the Forest and First Watch Knight. As more and more Fallen Angel return, his power will rise accordingly, perhaps even second only to the Lion King, making him second only to the king!

But what's the price?

Alvin was plunged into unprecedented confusion; the unknown price behind this power left him somewhat at a loss.

"Didn't you receive a Fallen Angel?"

The Lion King's face was solemn, but a slight smile played on his lips. He said, "I've given you the title and the power. Now let me see just how far you can go, Alvin Valshius."