"If I understood your attitude correctly, then yes, this journey was prepared for you."
When even Magnus could only shake his head helplessly at Perturabo's sudden outburst, Horus knew he had miscalculated. Perturabo's ill-timed sensitivity was truly unexpected.
Seeing Horus admit it so frankly, Perturabo felt as though he had punched a ball of cotton.
He resented being tested, because he believed he had done nothing wrong and should not have been suspected.
He also knew full well that this journey-like test had not been Horus's idea, because Horus simply could not have arranged it. This was clearly the Emperor's will.
Could he possibly curse the Emperor to his face?
"..."
Just like that, Perturabo went from suddenly furious to taciturn, appearing to others as though words like calmness and steadfastness had been written across his body.
Yet Perturabo's heart was far from as placid and composed as he appeared.
In his mind, he was cursing Horus viciously.
"I can understand Father-Emperor and all of you suspecting me. After all, my original self rebelled. Though that damned original self of mine rebelled alongside your original self, Horus, everyone still instinctively targets me alone."
"But why did Father-Emperor have to humiliate me? Why humiliate me like this?!"
In Perturabo's mind, Horus even responded to him.
"Father-Emperor humiliated you?" the imagined Horus asked.
"He arranged this journey. He could have sent me straight into the most dangerous place and watched to see whether I would go soft when facing those damned sons of mine, but instead he chose the worst possible method!"
Perturabo roared inwardly.
"He arranged for us to meet a group of skinless mutants who worship him. How could those damned mutants possibly be his followers?!"
"He only wanted to humiliate me, to make me see defective products created through