A Pawn Between Friends

The human the Emperor, looking slightly weary, removed the laurel wreath from his forehead. He always seemed to be like this, always tired, with an endless stream of tasks.

It would be strange if someone in such a position wasn't tired.

Karyl smiled slightly, "How does it feel to sometimes not have to pretend when facing them?"

"This has only made me more tired," Neos said.

He sat down, leaned back in the armchair, and began to remove his wristband.

They feature an ingenious unfolding mechanism at the base of his wrist; the artisans who designed them masterfully concealed a piece of extended metal beneath a seamless surface.

Neos pulled open the metal plate and easily removed the wristbands, placing them on a small table nearby. The room was empty, containing only two chairs and a small table, nothing else.

Karyl saw that their surfaces were shimmering.

He shook his head.

"I don't like them either, they're too tight, too luxurious," Neos said. "But I have to wear them."

"To display status?"

"No, it's because I swore an oath to the person who gave them to me that I would wear them in every situation where I don't need to wear armor."

"A vow," Karyl sighed. "It certainly needs to be taken seriously, but why are you taking it off now?"

"Because I am no longer the Emperor."

Karyl chuckled. "This is a room on the Macragge's Honour. You're standing here and saying you're not the Emperor?"

"I don't have to be for at least two hours," Neos said. "Of course, I can be if you want to talk about something more serious."

"I thought you were the one who decided what we talked about," Karyl said, spreading his hands. "And based on the outcome of our last conversation, you should be the Emperor now."

The Emperor watched him silently, without uttering a word, and reached out to put the wrist guard back on. He would not break his promise.

"They are stirring." The Master of Mankind spoke slowly and solemnly, his voice becoming menacing, like a blade about to be drawn. "This is definitely not a good thing for humanity."

Karyl nodded noncommittally. "Their very existence is a threat to humanity."

"But I'm actually more worried about something else." The Emperor raised his head, staring at the ceiling in silence for a while. He frowned, his dark eyes changing shape with worry.

"What?"

"The future," The Emperor said, "Is shrouded in mystery. It no longer reveals to me the possible paths and details. Something has tampered with it, and I fear I will fail it."

Whom have we let down?

"You're such a persistent person."

Karyl curled his lips into a smile, pretending not to notice the Emperor's subtle sarcasm. He simply shook his head quietly. "To betray those who died for you?"

"More than."

The Emperor lowered his head, no longer looking at the ceiling, but instead gazing into the void ahead.

"I fear I will betray every drop of blood shed for me, every sacrifice made. I have separated parents from their children, broken up lovers, and turned once-like-minded brothers and comrades into enemies. I have made countless people my accomplices, and if I fail..."

Karyl did not say "you will not fail," as that would be too self-deceptive—if there were ten million possible futures, the Emperor would probably fail nine million nine hundred and ninety thousand times.

His chances of success were so slim that no rational person would ever commit to such a terrible undertaking.

But here's the problem.

What would have happened if he hadn't started this war?

"And you still won't stop," Karyl said softly. "Humanity has no other choice, does it?"

"Yes, but it's not what I want."

The Emperor laughed, a laugh of extreme arrogance.

"I will not allow humanity to become eternal slaves to Xenos, living a life of utter degrading subjugation, or to become food and playthings for those demons and monsters."

Karyl sighed.

"In the end, it all comes back to the same old story." He chuckled. "You didn't come here just to complain to me, did you?"

"Is that not allowed?"

"Of course not. My time is very precious. In fact, I'd rather you leave as soon as possible. The Eighth Legion doesn't have many people, and your arrival has forced them to temporarily put aside many tasks."

The Emperor couldn't help but chuckle, and for a brief moment, he returned to his Neos state. However, it was only for a fleeting instant. The next moment, he reverted to his expressionless demeanor.

"Webway Project," he began slowly. "My ultimate goal. Everything I've done is for it. From the fabricated identity of the Emperor, to the establishment of the Imperium, even my sons and the Great Crusade itself—it's all just a prelude to this plan."

"I spoke with that Malcador about this."

"Then you understand its importance." The Emperor looked over, his eyes dark and his expression serious.

"Malcador has his own ideas, so he still doesn't trust you. Therefore, I'm surprised he would tell you about this as well."

"He doesn't trust me, but he trusts Karyl Lohars," the Pale Giant said. "In other words, I showed him my true nature."

The Emperor frowned.

"Did he offend you?"

"No." Karyl smiled slightly. "I simply don't intend to hide anything from him. The alliance is already made, and I don't see any benefit in concealing my own situation from him."

"Given his personality, he'll most likely see your actions as a provocation." The Emperor frowned. "Let's get back to the point—how much do you know about the Webway?"

"Malcador has been completely open with me," Karyl answered honestly. "He didn't lie to me; it was difficult for him, but he did it."

"Then you should know just how important it is," The Emperor said solemnly. "It is humanity's hope, enabling all of humanity to evolve in sync at a much faster pace."

"If humanity can reach a certain point in this way, then threats within the Warp will never pose a significant threat to humanity as a whole. Not to mention the immense benefits of Warp travel. It can ensure humanity's eternal unity."

Karyl did not immediately answer the Emperor's question. He was thinking. He could hear a clear longing and expectation in the Emperor's words— the Master of Mankind had a special yearning for this plan, and if possible, he would probably want it to be completed immediately.

It sounds wonderful—no, in reality, if it could actually proceed in the way the Emperor desired, it would certainly be the most wonderful plan.

The problem is...

"What is the success rate?" Karyl asked briefly.

"I cannot answer your question immediately," The Emperor said. His expression was filled with worry about what was to come; he always looked into the distance and would often drift off into thought during the conversation.

Karyl waited patiently. After some time, the Master of Mankind finally spoke again.

"The Webway is not anyone's creation; it belongs to a great race that has long since vanished. It is an independent realm they meticulously crafted in the space between the Warp and the material world. Even for me, it is an unknown puzzle, and I need complete concentration to unravel it."

"And does that mean you'll return to Terra at some point?"

"Yes."

"So, you're going to let someone else lead the Great Crusade in your place?"

"Yes."

Karyl sighed. "You probably already know what this means, right?"

"A change of leadership, the most favored candidate will be chosen, a political storm brewing, insects lurking in the shadows." The Emperor replied indifferently. "What else could it mean? But it's necessary; Webway Project needs me."

"And your sons are being coveted by them."

"It has always been so," The Emperor said calmly. "They were watched by them from the moment they were born, otherwise they wouldn't have been separated from me. But they definitely didn't expect your existence."

"I?"

"You are the key to breaking the deadlock." The Emperor turned his head and stared intently at Karyl Lohars.

He met his gaze, their dark eyes locked in a silent struggle. They began to fight again, the two men wielding sharp knives digging into each other's hearts until everything was covered in blood.

"What do you want me to do?" Karyl asked softly.

"Do whatever you want," The Emperor replied sternly.

He flipped his wrist, and an exquisitely crafted chess piece appeared in his right palm. It was jet black, made to resemble a wandering Ghost, with its arms tucked into its sleeves, its face a pale skeleton, and its skull-like eye sockets gleaming.

"What's this?"

"A piece in a game of chess that can predict the future, representing you," The Emperor said. "But this game cannot begin yet. In fact, I hope that Malcador and I will never begin it."

"Contingency plan?"

"It's a backup plan that we have to implement when necessary."

As the Emperor spoke, he placed the chess piece on the small table. It began to change rapidly, its robes billowing as if it had come alive, moving without wind, and its eye sockets glowing with a chilling blue light.

Karyl looked at it thoughtfully, without saying a word, but simply reached out and picked it up. He showed no reaction to the Emperor's description of it as a "chess piece," neither angry nor surprised, as if he had already accepted it.

After a while, he put it down and nodded to the Emperor.

"I'd better have more backup plans," Karyl Lohars said calmly. "Because they'll always have one more than you."

"I know," The Emperor replied solemnly.

Today's 10,000-word update is complete. In this volume, the Eighth Legion will receive their name.

Requesting votes.

By the way, I'd like to recommend my new keyboard that just arrived today. It's really great, with Black Canyon Y9 Ice Cream switches. I feel it's even better than my old Ningzhi keyboard.