9. A Resolute Believer in the Imperial Truth (I)

"I had anticipated this plan," Fulgrim said.

Shoulder to shoulder, he turned and left the cafeteria with Karyl. No one blocked their path, though people along the way kept saluting them—naturally, every gaze directed at the Phoenix was filled with respect and trust, whereas Karyl, the suddenly appeared Inquisitor...

No one looked kindly upon him; it could even be said that hostility predominated. Neither of them spoke again as they walked, until they passed through a great door and arrived at a plaza on the outer platform.

The place was empty. Flags flew high atop the flagpole. Night was approaching, and the burning clouds churned endlessly, but the sun's warmth could not reach this altitude of ten thousand meters. The air was bitterly cold, while the clouds glowed with crimson twilight.

A gale swept across their faces, tossing the Phoenix's white hair. He lowered his head calmly and looked at Karyl, his eyes reflecting the fierce blaze of the red clouds in the wind—suddenly, he looked no different from that savage beast of ten thousand years ago.

The Grand Inquisitor raised a hand to hold down the brim of his hat and spoke softly, continuing the unfinished conversation from the cafeteria.

"However, your connection to the Warp has already become quite deep, Fulgrim. Killing you would force the surviving Emperor's Children to endure a new nightmare, and might even trigger another disaster. Therefore, we will not consider this plan."

"But it would settle everything once and for all," Fulgrim countered in a low voice. "And it is also the simplest method."

The Grand Inquisitor finally narrowed his eyes, his expression turning cold as he corrected the Phoenix word by word. "Yes, it is the simplest method, but also the stupidest. I brought it up because I heard some unsubstantiated rumors