Axis hadn't taken off his helmet right away, so when he entered the hall, Russ didn't recognize him.
"Welcome, esteemed Adeptus Custodes!" Russ said, nodding to the Custodes before turning his gaze to Axis.
This Custodian seemed a little odd. Why was he so short?
At two meters and ten centimeters, he was of average height for a Space Marine. But next to the Custodes, who stood just over three meters tall, he was a tiny little thing.
Still, he wore golden power armor and a pair of enormous Power Fists. And since he'd led the group here, he was clearly their leader.
Suddenly, Leman Russ noticed the fluffy tail curled around the waist of the Custodian who stood just over two meters tall.
In an instant, Russ remembered a certain boy whose tail he'd once cut off. Twenty-four years had already passed!
"My little Wolf Cub, is that you?" Russ asked.
"Hahaha! If I hadn't shown you my tail, you wouldn't have recognized me, right?" Axis said with a laugh. Then he took off his helmet.
Though they hadn't seen each other in over twenty years, Axis still looked like an eighteen-year-old boy. After undergoing genetic modification, his appearance wouldn't age.
On top of that, the Saiyan race's natural gifts meant that once he reached adulthood, his appearance wouldn't change at all. He would stay forever young.
Leman Russ roared with laughter as he strode forward, spread his arms, and picked Axis up again. At just over two meters tall, Axis was still a little kid in front of the three-meter-eighty Wolf King.
"Come on, I'm all grown up now. Could you put me down?" Axis said helplessly.
Being held in a giant's hands like this was embarrassing! Axis stole a glance at the Custodes who'd come with him, but none of them showed any reaction.
The scene was ridiculous, but the Custodes could keep their composure. They weren't about to tease their boss over something like this!
"Hahaha! My little Wolf Cub, the Allfather really did give me a surprise. I was planning to return to Holy Terra next year to fetch you, but you came all this way on your own!
"Have you become a Custodian already, or is your modification only half complete? Why are you so short?" Russ set Axis down and patted his shoulder, asking in delight.
This wasn't quite what he'd expected. Why was Axis so short? He was the same height as an ordinary Space Marine!
Could it be that his Custodes Surgery hadn't been completed?
"My modification is complete! As for my height, just consider it a racial advantage!
"After all, it's easier to find a wife at this height, isn't it?" Axis wasn't the least bit ashamed of being two meters and ten centimeters tall!
This height was perfect. Among ordinary humans, he cut a wonderfully imposing figure. Besides, when Axis transformed into a Legendary Super Saiyan, he grew taller, and his build and weight increased as well.
And if he needed to, Axis could also grow to the height of an ordinary Custodian.
"So you're thinking about finding a wife? Want me to find you a strong Fenrisian warrior woman?
"I guarantee she'll give you a healthy little Wolf Cub," Russ said with a hearty laugh.
"Don't start! Are there even any beauties on Fenris?" Axis rolled his eyes.
In that bitter, icy environment, the women looked much like the men: broad and muscular.
Since he'd come to the Warhammer Universe and possessed such great power and status, naturally he wanted to find someone beautiful.
"What do you mean there aren't? Besides, women from other regions aren't strong enough!
"They're so skinny that I feel like a gust of wind could knock them over. And they're so weak they can't even lift a bucket of water," Russ said.
"Really? I think that sounds pretty good," Axis said.
Who the hell wanted a wife who was more muscular than he was?
"Hahaha!" Russ laughed heartily and clapped Axis on the shoulder.
To tell the truth, Russ had never been interested in women, not even as a boy. It was as though the curiosity and restlessness of adolescence simply didn't exist in him.
That was what the Emperor's Primarchs were like. Their minds were so calm that they weren't troubled by instinct.
Even Fulgrim, the returned Third Primarch, had married several human women for political reasons. But he'd never felt love for any of them.
It had all been for politics!
The fact that his little Wolf Cub was interested in women was a good thing. A very good thing!
At least the boy wasn't like the other Primarchs and Space Marines, cold and heartless war machines. He still had something called humanity in him.
"Cough, cough! Lord Axis, shouldn't you read out the Emperor's orders?" Kaisa said coldly from the side.
Was this a joke? The two of them were discussing this sort of thing in front of so many people!
"All right, let's talk business, Dad. My Custodes Surgery is complete. The Emperor sent me here to help you kill the Second Primarch.
"Once this mission is over, I'll lead the sixteen Custodes under my command and stay by your side," Axis said.
This was the Emperor's reward to Russ for presenting him with a faster-than-light ship and energy weapons. The Custodes represented the Emperor's authority.
They could also help Leman Russ carry out the Emperor's special missions.
"Is that so? It seems you've surpassed me in strength," Russ asked.
Axis nodded. If he hadn't been strong enough, the Emperor wouldn't have sent him.
"I understand. With you and the sixteen Custodes helping me, I'm absolutely certain we can take down this brother of mine," Russ said with a sigh.
If he could help it, who would want to be an executioner? Who would want to kill his own brother?
But someone had to do it. In front of all his brothers, he'd made himself out to be a beast, a savage. He was the best one for the job.
Russ could already imagine how his brother Primarchs would treat him after he'd done this!
Axis seemed to see the meaning behind Russ's sighs. His father might look rough, but he was thoughtful beneath the rough exterior, and a man of great wisdom.
"Dad! I'll deal with the Second Primarch this time. You can handle the other matters," Axis said.
Before you continue