82. Nine (I, 3k)

Generally speaking, opening a legal trade route is a rather difficult task.

For most planets, this would require a great deal of paperwork, and after that, you'd have to pray—pray that the ship carrying your documents and letters wouldn't get lost in the Warp.

This whole affair is extremely complicated, and a single trip often requires the lives of two to three generations.

Of course, if you're Rogue Trader, that's a different story. That's why they're usually very popular.

Their ancestors' submission and assistance during the Unification Wars and the Great Crusade earned them a trading license personally issued by the Emperor, a license that was valid indefinitely—if you ask why, is that even a question?

These trading permits bear the blood of the Emperor himself.

However, Primarch can also issue publisher licenses, which are equally effective. But unlike the Emperor, they are not subject to territorial restrictions and cannot trade freely within the Imperium.

Normally, such licenses are only valid within the sector conquered by the issuer. However, there are always exceptions, as is the case with the document Konrad Curze Curze is currently signing.

It will grant the holder the power to move and trade between Nostramo and the Ultima Segmentum.

With a sigh, he signed his name at the bottom of the document in bright red ink using a special quill pen designed for signing such documents, clearly dissatisfied.

Konrad Curze Curze.

High Gothic, in ornate style, features a series of circles and elegantly overlapping strokes and hooks, forming a line of words representing power.

"Do you really have to go yourself?" He picked up the file and handed it to another giant standing in front of the desk, asking the same question.

"If you insist on asking—yes, Konrad Curze." Karyl smiled slightly, took the surprisingly stiff piece of paper, and nodded. "It's impossible for me not to go."

"But it's just a trade route."

"A trade route established between the homeworlds of the two Primarch," Karyl corrected. "Don't tell me you can't see the significance behind this, Konrad Curze. You were the one who suggested it, and didn't we agree on it yesterday?"

"But you didn't say you were going by yourself," Konrad Curze Curze said, sticking his neck out.

"I wouldn't have gone before."

Karyl sighed and said expressionlessly, "If the position of Legion Instructor is really just about teaching close combat, then of course I won't be going to Macragge to discuss this matter with your brother Roboute Guilliman."

"Actually, if possible, it would be better for the two of you to discuss this face-to-face. However, Nostramo needs you right now, and Nostramo also needs a trade route to acquire the resources we desperately need."

"Furthermore, Konrad Curze, have you forgotten something?"

The commander of the Eighth Legion turned his head and began staring intently at his wall again.

"No, nothing," he said casually. "What is it?"

"In the ninth update to the Legion Instructor duties, you added an expansion to the powers list, which I don't know where you got it from. If necessary, Legion Instructors can assume the role of Legion Commander in times of emergency, as if the Primarch were personally present."

Karyl shook his head expressionlessly. "I even suspect you made this up."

"I didn't make it up!" Konrad Curze Curze abruptly turned his head. "Article 73 on page 1241 of the Code! You can look it up!"

"There's no need to investigate."

Karyl couldn't help but laugh. "Like you, I've been constantly flipping through the Codex Imperialis these days. In fact, if it weren't for those daily updates to the duty rosters, I wouldn't even be looking at this book that's thick enough to be used as a weapon."

You've seen them all?

"I have read every single legal provision you pointed out in the document."

"But."

"But what?"

"Don't you believe me?" Konrad Curze Curze asked.

Karyl did not answer the question. He narrowed his eyes, concealing all his emotional fluctuations, leaving only a deliberate calm.

After a moment, he shook his head.

He spoke slowly, amidst Konrad Curze Curze' disappointed gaze.

"I trust you, but I can't trust you too much in this matter. People are always prone to breaking the rules for certain things; it's human nature. And you've learned how to exploit it, even very well, so I have to be careful. This kind of thing could be a ticking time bomb."

"Another time bomb?" Curze pursed his lips in annoyance. "Are you going to bring up that countdown thing again?"

"No."

"So, when will this bomb explode, Karyl?"

Karyl chuckled softly, but ultimately did not answer the question.

"War, child, war." He sighed and turned away. "You were born to be a conqueror, the biggest cog in the machine of war, not Mercy king of a planet."

Perhaps when everything settles down, you can become who you want to be, but before that, you must conquer.

So it will explode sooner or later. Sooner or later, whether the timing is right or not, whether you are prepared or not, it will explode.

Just like certain natural laws.

He left calmly without saying goodbye. Inside the room, Konrad Curze Curze took a full minute to compose himself before continuing his work.

He doesn't confuse public and private matters.

--

Through the armored glass of the porthole, Van Cleef could see many rocks larger than mountains. They floated in the vacuum, scattered like stars, like some kind of enormous and discrete monster.

Gazing at them, the company commander of the Eighth Legion couldn't help but sigh softly.

The Conqueror-class cruiser sailed silently through the vacuum. Six escort ships formed a convoy ahead and behind, and from Van Cleef's perspective, he could actually catch a glimpse of their presence.

He stopped gazing and began walking again.

The heavy iron boots of MK2 pounded on the deck floor with a dull thud. From the electrical cables hanging from the ceiling in the corridor and the deafening noise from the walls, Van Cleef knew that this Conqueror-class cruiser he was on had probably not been maintained for years.

These ships were, in a sense, synonymous with Rogue Trader; they were larger than ordinary cruisers to carry more cargo.

However, don't assume it lacks combat capabilities because of this; in fact, there's a reason it's known for its conquering prowess.

No matter what, it's a huge thing that's 5.1 kilometers long.

However, the fact that there was such a ship in the logistics supply fleet was beyond his expectations.

Or, to put it another way, this ship could be considered an unexpected bonus. Reaching Macragge from the Ghoul Stars would require a considerable voyage, and everyone on board knew that the Ghoul Stars was on the edge of the Imperium's territory.

In other words, anything is possible when navigating within this star sector.

Beyond Civilization

Van Cleef shook his head and said nothing more. His helmet swayed on his belt, rubbing against his Power Armour with a hissing sound. Twelve minutes later, he finally arrived at his destination.

A meeting room that wasn't particularly spacious, but was definitely adequate for its needs.

The door slid open, and he stepped inside, where a giant had been waiting for him for a long time.

Karyl Lohars stood calmly beside the table, unperturbed by the lack of a chair that fit him. Van Cleef knew that, for him, sitting or standing made no difference.

After all, their instructors almost never take a break.

"Ah, you've come, Van Cleef." Karyl looked up and smiled slightly. "How was your first day of sailing?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? This is your first time on such a voyage."

"I was just asking," Karyl replied noncommittally. "Besides, I really do want to know your feelings. Or rather, your feelings."

Van Cleef calmly shook his head. "As a member of the Eighth Legion, every single person in the First Company will obey the Primarch's orders."

"So, how are you feeling?"

"Not good." Van Cleef decided to tell the truth. "It's rather strange to have a bunch of Ultramarines doing reconstruction work on Nostramo while we're heading to Macragge."

"Only five hundred men," Karyl said. "They sent five hundred men here, so we'll send five hundred men back. It's fair, isn't it?"

Van Cleef did not answer.

Karyl smiled.

"The voyage will last two months," he said. "We're responsible for escorting—or rather, protecting—ninety tons of Adamantium. How does that number sound?"

"Amazing," Van Cleef replied.

It was truly astonishing; what else could he say? Ninety tons of Adamantium.

"The wealth of the nobles is indeed astonishing." Karyl shook his head.

"Their treasury contained almost everything, from strange weapons passed down from ancient times to translations of Terra novels brought by the first colonists, as well as vast quantities of mined Adamantium. Ironically, though, they didn't even have time to trade this cargo with the surrounding planets before they all perished."

"They deserve to die," Van Cleef said calmly. "A bunch of beasts who dare to call themselves human."

Karyl raised an eyebrow, and after a brief silence, shook his head. "How many have you personally executed, Van Cleef?"

"Four thousand eight hundred people, exactly."

"Then I understand." Karyl sighed. "The more they see, the more they kill. The more they kill, the angrier they become. I guess you still can't understand what they're thinking, right?"

Humans cannot understand the thoughts of animals.

Karyl smiled again.

"Yes," he agreed softly. "People really can't understand it."

One more chapter.