Laurel Crown

"Chapter Master, Company Commander, Chief Librarian Tank,"

His voice was infectious. "On behalf of the Planetary Governor the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar."

Just now, through an emergency interstellar meeting, we reached a consensus to make a plea from the heart of billions of people to you, and through you, to our great Gene-Father!

He raised his head, tears glistening in his eyes. "This is the will of the Imperium, the will of the people!"

On the eve of His Lord Regent's impending march on Terra to fulfill his sacred mission, the news spread throughout Ultramar and the entire Imperial World.

We should, and we must, hold an unprecedented ' Grand Glory Parade '!

"This is not a simple fleet review, but a grand celebration that spans the stars and is taking place simultaneously!"

Let our planet's surface be filled with celebrations, let our orbital platforms be adorned with lanterns and decorations, and let our ships line up in the sea of stars!

"We will use the grandest ceremony, the most widespread interstellar broadcasts, and the communication networks of all the Navigator Houses to spread this message to every corner of the Milky Way!"

His words were highly inflammatory. "Let every citizen of the Imperium know that the Son of the God-Emperor, the Great Primarch, the Hope of Mankind, Robert Guilliman, has truly returned!"

He not only reclaimed Ultramar, but will also Emperor's will and travel to Holy Terra to restore order and lead humanity to its former glory!

This will greatly solidify the conviction of all loyalists, strike a blow against the arrogance of all traitors and Xenos, and give our great journey ahead unparalleled legitimacy and popular support!

Calgar, Sicarius, and Tigurius exchanged glances.

This proposal does indeed coincide with their previous ideas, and is even more ambitious and impactful.

Let the entire Milky Way witness the father's return and his determination... This sounds absolutely right.

Immediately afterwards, Governor Arabel's projection turned slightly to the side, making a display gesture.

He appeared to be holding a cushion covered in dark velvet.

On the cushion, there was a golden Laurel Crown.

The design of the Laurel Crown is exceptionally exquisite, even surpassing the category of "exquisite."

It is woven from seemingly ancient golden metal into an elegant laurel leaf shape, with the veins of each leaf clearly visible, shimmering with a warm rather than dazzling light.

The leaves are adorned with tiny, star-like gemstones that refract a dreamlike rainbow of colors as the angle changes.

It is free from excessive luxury and has simple yet powerful lines, exuding classical majesty and a sense of sacredness.

Anyone who sees it will probably only have one word in mind—perfect.

"My lords," Arabel's voice became incredibly devout, even tinged with emotion, "This is a sacred relic that I personally discovered by chance while sorting through some ancient ruins."

Based on the accompanying fragmented inscriptions, it is likely an artifact from the Golden Age of Old Terra, and may even be related to the earliest Emperor worship rituals.

It has endured countless years, and is imbued with the beliefs of countless loyalists... I, a lowly governor, know I am unworthy to possess it."

He bowed deeply and presented the virtual cushion forward. "I implore you to offer this Laurel Crown, which carries history and faith, to our Primarch, to the Lord Regent of mankind!"

May it be worn atop His Highness's head during the glorious procession, symbolizing his inheritance of legitimacy and glory from Old Terra and the lineage of the Emperor!

This... this is the highest respect that the people of Ultramar could ever imagine!

In the holographic image, every detail of the Laurel Crown wreath was crystal clear.

Calgar gazed at it, truly moved by its impeccable "perfection."

Sicarius narrowed his eyes slightly; his swordsman's intuition told him that the "perfection" of this Laurel Crown seemed a little... too deliberate?

But the governor's loyalty is beyond question, and the claim of discovering Old Ones artifacts is not impossible.

Tigurius's Psionic Energy swept across the projection (which had no effect on the physical object) and found no obvious signs of Chaos contamination—at least not at the projection level.

"We will truthfully report your request and this... precious gift to Father."

Calgar finally said in a deep voice, "It's up to Father to decide."

A moment later, in Guilliman's office.

Calgar, Sicarius, Tigurius, along with several core company commanders, solemnly knelt on one knee before the Lord Regent's desk.

It details the proposal to hold a "Grand Glory Parade" and the presentation of the "Old Terra Laurel Crown" by Governor Arabel.

Guilliman looked up from the mountain of documents, his fingers tapping lightly on the table unconsciously.

His gaze seemed to pass through his offspring and be cast toward some distant timeline.

"A parade of glory..."

He repeated it in a low voice, a subtle, enigmatic smile playing at the corners of his lips.

In his memory, another "self" had quelled the Plague Wars and initially stabilized the situation.

It seems a similar grand ceremony, announcing the arrival of the Milky Way, was also held— the Ultramar Five Hundred Worlds Expedition Proclamation.

It was both a military parade showcasing military strength and a political declaration.

"I wonder if some reckless demon will try to cause trouble again this time?" he thought to himself, but didn't say it aloud.

Reality has changed; he is now stronger and better prepared than his counterpart in that timeline, but the tricks of Chaos never cease.

Weighing the pros and cons, whether from a political perspective, it's about uniting the loyalists in the Five Hundred Worlds and other regions of the Imperium, demonstrating its legitimacy and power, and creating momentum for the subsequent Terra expedition.

From the perspective of boosting morale and reviewing new talent, a well-planned "glory parade" is more beneficial than harmful.

As for that "perfect" Laurel Crown... a faint golden-blue light flashed in the depths of Guilliman's eyes.

Governor-General Arabel?

My impression of him is that he was a capable official, and the vetting process for his promotion was also very clean.

Old Terra Relics?

In this universe, anything associated with Old Terra often means trouble.

But... if it is truly a sacred object imbued with faith, it might also become a decent "tool".

"Yes." Guilliman finally spoke, his voice calm but decisive. "The specific plan will be developed jointly by you and the civil affairs department."

The scale should be grand, but it must be pragmatic and avoid excessive burdens on the people and resources.

Security level raised to the highest level. The Sisters of Silence and the Grey Knights were notified to prepare for any 'unexpected situations'.

He paused, looking at the hologram of the Laurel Crown wreath displayed on the Dataslate.

"As for this Laurel Crown... since it is the people's wish, I will wear it when the time comes."

Guilliman's tone was flat, revealing no particular emotion, "But all the relics must undergo triple cross-examination by the Canoness, the Grey Knights, and Lady Yvraine before being presented to me."

Do you understand?

"Yes, Father!" the crowd replied in unison, their hearts filled with excitement and a sense of responsibility for planning the grand ceremony for their father.

After they left, Guilliman sat alone in the gradually descending night, his fingers tapping the table again, the rhythm slow and steady.

Outside the window, the stars of Macragge shone brightly, but in the deeper reaches of space, the shifting violet shadows seemed to be emitting a silent, expectant yet malicious laugh.

A magnificent parade, a "perfect" Laurel Crown, a seemingly loyal governor...

A classic Chaos trick, isn't it?