Drink it, Cordelia, this is your destined fate

"Greetings to the esteemed scion of Emperor, the Primarch of the Blackwatch, Cordelia Hearst offers her salutations!" Knowing this was not her domain, Cordelia Hearst kept her posture humble.

In Cordelia Hearst's eyes, Hogg on the throne radiated a strange charisma; even as an Aeldari, she had to admit that Hogg was indeed as Yack had praised, possessing the aura of a true deity.

Hogg stopped his daze and looked at the Aeldari lord before him. Like other Aeldari, she possessed a stature so tall it could rival a Space Marine, and her form-fitting armor, crafted from Wraithbone, was inlaid with several Spirit Stones that looked incredibly valuable at a glance. Hogg's first impression of her was that she was wealthy.

Both had a decent first impression of each other, but where that would lead was another matter entirely.

"Welcome, my ally!"

Even though she knew Hogg's words were mere pleasantries, every race enjoys hearing kind words, and Cordelia Hearst's mood was quite good—though what followed made it less than pleasant.

In his past life, Hogg had no love for so-called drinking culture or traditional customs. He could be called a "problematic person" who wouldn't drink when a leader toasted and would spin the table when elders picked at food, but he had developed the habit of discussing matters while eating.

Yack, acting as the intermediary, was also present, and the three sat at the bridge's dining table.

"My Lord! The purpose of inviting you here is for the Primarch to discuss the general cooperation between the Aeldari and the Blackwatch." Yack initiated the conversation, introducing the main topic.

Three bottles of green Nuka-Cola were placed before them, and Hogg picked up his bottle and took a sip:

"Cordelia Hearst, I presume you know that contacting the Blacklight Cult and the Blackwatch was the will of your Cegorach; I did not force it, did I?"

"You are correct, it was indeed the will of my god Cegorach. Furthermore, with your help, the Aeldari have indeed found a way to eternal peace, but as far as I know, the human Empire does not like to associate with xenos." Cordelia Hearst remained elegant as she tasted the human beverage.

"Sigh! You don't know the half of it. We humans believe in the Imperial Truth. This theory was founded by my father, Neoth, and it doesn't say anything about exterminating other races! It says 'xenos.' Come, Yack, explain the Imperial Truth to our Lord."

"My Lord, the Imperial Truth does indeed speak of exterminating xenos, but it does not speak of exterminating other races." Having read the Imperial Truth thoroughly, Yack explained.

"Exactly! You see, 'xenos' is defined by the Empire's officials, right?"

"Correct," Cordelia Hearst replied subconsciously.

"Then who am I? A Primarch! My old man is Emperor, so I am firmly in the upper echelons of the Empire. Whoever I say is a xenos, is a xenos; whoever I say is an ally of humanity, is an ally. Besides, you worship me, so I have to look after you, don't I?"

"That makes sense. What does our cooperation entail, my Lord?" Yack, having converted his faith, asked at the right moment.

After giving Yack an appreciative look, Hogg continued to explain his financing plan.

"Yack has personally proven that faith in me can indeed protect your Aeldari and keep you from being persecuted by the Chaos Gods, so the establishment of the Blacklight Cult is inevitable.

However, it is useless if you are not pious. Therefore, so that you may fully understand my philosophy, I intend for you to join the Blackwatch and become one of us, fighting for your Holy Father."

Cordelia Hearst, realizing she was being used as cannon fodder, hurriedly refused. She didn't want to be a 'meat shield'; after all, the Aeldari were not like humans who could produce a litter in a lifetime. Once they lost a large population, their low birth rate meant it would take a long time to recover.

"Primarch... Holy Father, our Aeldari population is sparse and cannot afford such attrition. We have already gifted you 13 worlds in initial development."

"Cordelia Hearst, in this godforsaken universe, gaining peace isn't as simple as just holding a few planets. How many races are plagued by the corruption of the Warp? How many overlords have been dragged off their pedestals by Chaos Gods while on the path of progress? After all these years, besides me, have you found a way to resist Slaanesh?

Don't talk to me about gathering the Cronesword to destroy Slaanesh; we both know that is impossible. One of them is in the Six Circles of Slaanesh—if you had the strength, you would have snatched it long ago."

Unable to refute, Cordelia Hearst knew Hogg spoke the truth, but she was still unwilling: "My Lord, if the price of peace is for the Aeldari to be 'meat shields,' then I cannot accept it."

"I don't like your tone. What 'meat shield'? I plan for the Aeldari Warrior to fight alongside my scions in the future; I wouldn't sabotage my own children!

Besides, you think those 13 worlds are all mine? They belong to the Empire! Yack, tell her what the human Empire is doing." Hogg finished and pointed at Yack, who was daydreaming while tasting the food.

"Ah! I should speak? Er, my Lord, the human Empire is currently conducting the so-called Great Crusade to expand the Empire's territory."

"Bang!" Hogg slammed the table, leaving a palm print on the adamantine surface, startling everyone. Illusory tentacles emerged from the void, crimson veins glowed, and an inexplicable fluctuation disrupted the connection to the Warp, filling the minds of living beings with chaotic thoughts.

"Exactly! The Great Crusade. Don't look at me as if I'm glamorous on the surface; for the Empire's Great Crusade, I am but a single hair on a cow. Every day I wake up, hundreds of thousands of mouths are waiting for me to fill them.

Don't think I don't know what you're thinking, Cordelia Hearst. As a Primarch, I am destined to participate in the Great Crusade. If I die, the future of the Aeldari is over. Joining the Blackwatch and becoming a part of the Empire is giving the Aeldari a future.

Besides, there are only a few major powers in the galaxy right now, and the Empire is a rising stock. If I succeed, don't you succeed too? Don't you want the Aeldari to be great again under your own hands, my Cordelia Hearst!"

In a trance, Cordelia Hearst seemed to see a future where the Aeldari regained their glory, where no one had to worry about their souls being corrupted by Slaanesh, growing wantonly on various planets, not having to run around the universe like a dog, and she herself becoming a hero, a shining node in Aeldari history.

"Snap!" A palm enlarged in her vision, shattering Cordelia Hearst's fantasy.

"Make your choice, Cordelia Hearst! Will you continue to hide and become a nameless pawn, or will you become a legend of the future and save the Aeldari from fire and water?" Hogg's impassioned voice poured into her ears.

In that moment, Cordelia Hearst followed her own will, and so:

"Cordelia Hearst hereby swears to join the Blackwatch, to be loyal to you in the name of the Holy Father, and to become the sword in your hand to cut down all invading enemies."

"Ha! Hahaha! Hahahaha! Cordelia Hearst, I am growing increasingly fond of you long-eared folk. In the future, you will understand how wise the choice you made today truly is."

Accompanied by the master's laughter, the illusory tentacles began to stir. Hogg's blood seeped out, merging into the Nuka-Cola before him as if it had a life of its own, radiating a dark red, ghostly light.

Hogg raised the glowing cup and handed it to the Aeldari, "Drink it, Cordelia Hearst. This is your destined fate. In the future, no Chaos God will corrupt your people, and the great power of the Blacklight will help you restore the glory of the Aeldari."

Anyone else want to go work for Warhammer? Send me a ticket and I'll go ask Old Man Yellow.