Russ and the Emperor's Pact, Axis's Allegiance

There is still a long way to go before the FTL Engine can be fully mastered and officially mass-produced, but a bright future for humanity is already laid out before them.

Over the next few days, Leman Russ was required to learn various aspects of Imperial knowledge. As a future key general of the Imperium, Russ absolutely could not be illiterate, so his schedule was packed with lessons.

Although he was a barbarian, the Primarch's terrifying brain allowed Russ to progress through his studies quickly, and he even took the time to teach Axis some of the Imperium's literature.

However, Axis's learning ability could only be described as that of a poor student. You expect a Saiyan to study academics?

What a joke! Learning combat is fine, but forget about everything else! We only excel at fighting.

Axis felt that compared to Russ, he was the true barbarian—the kind that could turn into a Great Ape.

A few days later, Emperor met with Leman Russ and Axis privately in a small room. Only Emperor's Adeptus Custodes were present; no one else was there, not even Horus.

"You have arrived. Sit," Emperor said, his mood quite good. With a smile, he greeted Leman Russ and Axis, gesturing for the two to take their seats.

"Father! It looks like you are ready to fulfill your reward to me," Leman Russ asked with a laugh.

"Hahaha! What you gave me is indeed very useful. Now, in the name of Emperor, Master of Mankind, I issue a gag order to you both. You did not present any FTL Engine spaceship yesterday; you only presented the Combat Suit, the Energy Gun, the Scouter, and the Medical Tank. This matter must be kept strictly confidential. Once you walk out of this room today, you are not to remember this event."

First, he had to ensure secrecy. The matter of the FTL Engine was of great importance; if it weren't for the fact that one of these two was his own Primarch and the other was the future Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes he had his eye on, Emperor might have even wiped their memories.

"I understand, great Master of Mankind. We saw nothing and know nothing of yesterday," Axis said. It seemed Emperor was very satisfied with the FTL Engine; the joy on his face could not be hidden.

"The Wolf Cub is right. We only brought the Scouter, the Combat Suit, the Energy Gun, and the Medical Tank," Leman Russ added, being very tactful.

"Good! Now, tell me what reward you want. What you have presented to me is of immense help to the Imperium of Man and the future of humanity. Russ, today, as long as you ask, I can grant you anything."

"Then I will not stand on ceremony, Father. I hope that after Axis completes all his Adeptus Custodes augmentations, he can return to my side to follow me in the Great Crusade. That is my only request," Leman Russ said.

As soon as these words were spoken, the few Adeptus Custodes standing guard nearby immediately turned their gazes toward him. Leman Russ's words were a great disrespect to Emperor.

It was even more of an insult to the Adeptus Custodes themselves. The Adeptus Custodes did not even belong to the Imperium of Man; they belonged only to Emperor of Mankind. They were His most loyal guardians.

Every piece of Power Armor and every Power Weapon of the Adeptus Custodes was personally bestowed by Emperor, and even their first names were granted by Him personally.

They would only follow the Master of Mankind and could only follow the Master of Mankind. For an Adeptus Custode to follow a Primarch was inappropriate.

Because this would give others the wrong impression: why do other Primarchs not have an Adeptus Custode following them, but you have one?

Could it be that Emperor intends to groom you as his successor? But Emperor is an immortal; he has no need for such a thing as a successor, yet people would inevitably think in that direction.

Emperor looked at Leman Russ very seriously and asked slowly, "Have you decided, Russ? Your request is for Axis to follow you?"

He could not let the future Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes he had hand-picked be poached just like that! It seemed he would have to find a way around this.

"Yes, Father. That is my request," Leman Russ said, looking at his father with determination.

"I understand, Russ! If you truly wish to keep your Wolf Cub by your side, then I can grant this request. I have said that as long as it does not harm humanity or the Imperium of Man, I will grant whatever you ask of me," Emperor said.

Emperor's agreement was so swift that even the Adeptus Custodes standing guard were somewhat surprised. They had expected Emperor to refuse without hesitation.

After all, if there was a first, there might be a second and a third; other Primarchs might end up making similar requests. The great Master of Mankind should know this—what exactly was his decision?

"Thank you very much, Father! My bond with Axis is very strong, and I hope that in the future Great Crusade, this child can accompany me, fight alongside me, and serve the Imperium of Man and you," Leman Russ said.

"There is no need to thank me. This is what I promised you; I am merely fulfilling my word. But there is a condition: I will let Axis follow you during the Great Crusade, but after the Great Crusade ends, he will return to serve in the Adeptus Custodes," Emperor stated.

"Father! It seems you also value my Wolf Cub highly," Leman Russ remarked.

"Indeed! This child has infinite potential! I have very high expectations for his future," Emperor said without reservation. Even without undergoing any modifications, Axis should be able to rival his own Primarchs once he reached adulthood, so Emperor would not easily give up on him.

"Hahaha, I agree!" Russ said. Once the Great Crusade ends, the Wolf Cub will be grown up and should leave the pack to live on his own!

"Very well! Axis will return with me to Holy Terra to undergo the surgical augmentations of the Adeptus Custodes. This will take at least twenty-five years. Once he completes his transformation, I will have him return to your side," Emperor said.

Unlike the mass-produced, accelerated warriors of the Astartes, the process for the Adeptus Custodes was a professionally customized genetic modification procedure that had to be completed within the Imperial Palace on Holy Terra.

It would involve the Bio-Alchemists within the Imperial Palace and Emperor himself designing and overseeing the reinforcement process, so it would take at least twenty-five years, if not longer.

"No problem," Leman Russ replied.

"Go and say goodbye to your father, child. Tomorrow, you will return to Holy Terra with me," Emperor said, looking at Axis.