45. The Olympian Turmoil (VI)

Led by Perturabo, Karyl was able to pass through the main gate and enter the council chamber without hindrance.

The interior decoration was not particularly luxurious; by the standards of nobles and tyrants, the style here could even be described as "simple." The walls were iron gray, almost as if they were unpainted.

A huge, thick, heavy round stone table was illuminated in the center of the hall by natural light, which came directly from an opening in the ceiling and cleverly illuminated the entire table and the seats.

A woman sat in a solid wood chair watching them. She had aged, and the beauty of her youth had transformed into a different kind of intellectual charm mixed with fortitude.

As Karyl looked at her, another face appeared before him—the face of the female captain of the Iron Blood. She and the Lokos tyrant named Calliphone did not actually resemble each other, but they both possessed this resolute temperament.

That's rather interesting, Karyl thought.

"Calliphone," Perturabo greeted somewhat stiffly. "This is Karyl Lohars, an instructor in the Eighth Legion."

"I'm not familiar with your positions, but good day, Instructor Karyl," the woman said, rising to her feet.

She was smiling, and her body beneath the white robe wasn't entirely composed of fleshy curves. Karyl could tell she had undergone an implant surgery on her right shoulder; this terrifying observation was an instinct he couldn't stop, yet it caused Perturabo to frown at him at that moment.

"Good day, Calliphone." Karyl reluctantly interrupted his observation, which lasted less than a second, and returned the greeting. He had to admit that being with Perturabo was indeed somewhat exhausting.

"Why do you want to see me?" Perturabo asked, his tone sounding no different from that of an interrogation. Calliphone looked at him, and after a scrutinizing gaze that almost made Perturabo explode, she shook her head.

"Of course it's because of that civil war, Abo, what else could it be?" the tyrant replied in a relatively relaxed tone.

She even gave him an affectionate nickname, which the Lord of Iron didn't seem to enjoy, perhaps because of Karyl's presence. In any case, he frowned again.

"Call me by my full name. I don't like that way of addressing me."

"It's your decision, Your Majesty." The tyrant nodded obediently, but a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes. "But aren't we still siblings?"

"Family, siblings, playmates, whatever you like." Perturabo looked at her coldly and somewhat annoyed, which made her let out a slightly sad sigh, but the Lord of Iron did not react.

Is there really no reaction? Karyl's gaze fell on his clenched right fist.

"Let's get straight to the point, Calliphone. I don't have the time or inclination for reminiscing right now, and this isn't the right place. I won't ask why this building suddenly appeared in Lokos City; you must tell me everything you know about the civil war."

Perturabo stepped forward, looking at his unrelated sister with an almost aggressive air.

"Why are they doing this under the banner of Damnekos? Aren't there enough reasons for war that have already been used throughout history for them to choose from?"

The tyrant did not explain immediately; she simply sat down slowly and placed her hands on the stone table. Her hands did not resemble those of a noblewoman; rather, they were rough like those of a laborer.

Do you remember the proposal Damnekos made to you in his final years?

Perturabo visibly gritted his teeth.

"I remember." He took a slow breath, his voice becoming muffled.

"Then you should know why they're attacking each other with the weapons you gave them." Calliphone gave a sad smile.

"Your demand for Olympia is far too great, Perturabo. The figure you've given is at least a thousand reserves every year, a number that means countless families have lost their sons. When honor becomes a mandatory responsibility, fear naturally arises."

"I've already discussed this with Damnekos, and I don't want to go through this with you again."

Perturabo was silent for a moment, deep wrinkles appearing between his brows. "Besides, they're going to the stars to become heroes. At least for now. Furthermore, didn't Damnekos agree with me? He withdrew his proposal."

"That may be true for you, but not for us. You know he won't say anything negative about you; he's always spoiled you, Perturabo."

The tyrant sighed and fell into memories. For a few seconds, she seemed to be recalling the past. But only for a few seconds; time passed, and she returned to her calm.

"Moreover, although he withdrew the proposal, what about those who proposed it? They didn't. Under the manipulation of some people, the proposal gradually took root and grew into a towering tree, its shadow shrouding us all."

Its supporters believe that the loss of hundreds of thousands of children in Olympia every year is appalling and must be abolished. Opponents argue that if even the ruler of Olympia, Perturabo, has to continue doing this, what reason do they have to support it?

"Me? I had to do it?" Perturabo looked at the tyrant in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Conscription in Olympia was my order! How could they have such a stupid idea?!"

"Yes, that's the problem, Abo." The tyrant lowered her head. "In the last years of Damnekos's life, a wave of opposition against you and the Imperium was growing among the people. The reason is the endless conscription."

"People cannot bear never seeing their son again. Doubts have arisen about the Imperium, and some dangerous arguments are emerging Damnekos cannot completely reverse them, especially since he himself has little sense of the Imperium that took you away."

"So, he chose to improve your reputation. He told people that you refused his offer because you had to. The Emperor forced you."

Perturabo's face flushed red; he was gripped by a restrained rage, and Karyl could see his skin trembling with fury.

"What has that stupid old man done?!" he roared in exasperation—surprisingly, he only roared.

"He protected you," Calliphone said softly.

"Who can he protect? He's only created a rift between Olympia and the Imperium!" Perturabo retorted angrily. "Do you know what this means? Do you know what happens to any world that is disloyal to the Imperium? The nature of this doesn't change the slightest because I grew up in Olympia. If you don't believe me, ask him!"

He stretched out his hand and pointed sharply at Karyl: "Ask him, Calliphone!"

"Instructor, is there anything you can tell me?" The tyrant turned her head, smiling nervously and sadly at Karyl.

"I can, but I don't want to, and can't, interfere in your family affairs," Karyl replied with a reassuring smile.

"Family matters?! What are you talking about, Karyl Lohars?!"

"It means exactly what it says, Your Excellency Perturabo."

Karyl maintained his smile, spread his hands, shrugged, and glanced at the entrance to the council chamber out of the corner of his eye. When he lowered his hand, a fleeting glint of light flashed between his fingers.

He is about to do two very dangerous things.

"In the last years of his life, your adoptive father went to great lengths to preserve your reputation, doing something that is difficult to judge as right or wrong. But why did he do it? Ultimately, who has been endlessly recruiting soldiers in Olympia? Your sister has already shown great restraint, sir. Please remain rational."

Perturabo's eye twitched dangerously.

Calliphone looked at Karyl with an indescribable gaze, a mixture of shock, awe, and pity.

She couldn't believe that anyone in the world would dare to speak to Perturabo like that with impunity. But her sympathy quickly vanished, replaced by even greater shock.

Because Perturabo didn't actually make a move.

"My tolerance for you has reached its limit. Get out, Karyl Lohars," Perturabo said grimly. "I'll talk to you about your words later."

"Yes, Your Excellency Perturabo," Karyl said. "Furthermore..."

"Speak!" Perturabo roared.

"Please protect your sister," Karyl replied softly.

The next second, he vanished from the spot. Perturabo's pupils contracted sharply. His reason told him that he shouldn't act according to Karyl's words—he had heard Karyl Lohars speak in that tone before, and the memory was still vivid in his mind.

However, that brief moment of hesitation caused the situation to plummet into a worse state.

Perturabo heard the sound of something cutting through the air, and his superhuman reaction speed allowed him to immediately spot six pale blue energy orbs hurtling towards him. It was his own design, a beam weapon different from the Imperium light guns.

Now, however, it's being used against himself and his sister.

They might pose little threat to a Primarch, but what about to mortals?

Perturabo roared and lunged at Calliphone. His sister's body was so thin it was like a withered branch, and in that less than half a second of contact, Perturabo could tell that she had a problem with her lungs.

But now was not the time to think about such things. The Primarch gritted his teeth, preparing to wait for the scorching heat of the energy orb, but it did not come. Instead, a sound like cold water extinguishing a flame rang out in the hall.

Perturabo turned around and saw Karyl Lohars's back. He stood there holding a knife in one hand, the energy orbs had all disappeared, and his knife was still emitting a cold aura.

All of this happened in a split second. Perturabo didn't have time to care what Karyl had done; he immediately realized what he should be doing now—he looked toward the entrance of the hall and, with the Primarch's superhuman eye structure, caught a few Shadow in the darkness.

"The gate!" Perturabo roared.

"Thank you, Lord Perturabo, though I don't need it—"

Karyl slowly turned his head, his right hand releasing its grip, and the blade vanished naturally. At the same time, the shadowy Shadow at the door swayed and fell, followed by screams.

"--I've already taken care of them."

There are so few updates lately, I've lost all motivation to update frequently (slumped over).

P. S.: The strange math problem regarding GW has been corrected.