That Counts as Basic Success!
Is he ruthless?
The Red Corsairs King's fearsome reputation is well-deserved.
Dare to make a move?
Judging from the way he gritted his teeth when he mentioned the High Lords, he was definitely impatient.
Are you capable?
Given how well they've managed to manage the Maelstrom, planning a precise "purge" operation against the High Lords of Terra wouldn't be a problem for them either.
Has a "stain"?
The identity of a traitor is the best camouflage and the best excuse for later explanations—"A vicious traitorous leader attacked Terra, and the High Lords was killed."
valuable"?
Having eliminated the High Lords, his "mission" was complete. Whether to kill him or spare him was entirely up to Guilliman.
Keeping him around allows us to continue using his abilities to handle other dirty work that is "inconvenient" for the Imperium authorities to handle.
Or he could be used as a pawn to counterbalance other forces; killing him would Imperium and demonstrate the image of the Lord Regent as "just and impartial, not even forgiving the mistakes of returning 'loyal subjects'."
More importantly, the almost distorted dependence and loyalty that the Huron Blackheart exhibited towards the "Gene-Father" could be manipulated and exploited.
As long as Guilliman gives him "recognition," "tasks," and an opportunity to "prove his loyalty and worth," this vicious dog will not hesitate to pounce on the designated target.
Guilliman had even planned out what would happen next: once the Huron Blackheart had "dealt with" the High Lords, he would "protect" him at the appropriate time.
Such an outstanding and "useful" child deserves to be ranked among the Four Heroes!
Thoughts raced, but reality was but a fleeting moment.
Guilliman's icy voice shattered the silence of the bridge, like a chilling gust of wind:
"What task did the Imperium assign you back then?"
"Huh? A mission from the Imperium?"
Huron Blackheart was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the Gene-Father to suddenly ask this question.
His mind raced, recalling the contents of that yellowed yet still etched-in-his-bones appointment letter from ten thousand years ago, and he cautiously replied:
"The Imperium's mission is... for me, and the Astral Claws, to protect the Maelstrom region, eradicate the Chaos forces and traitors that are breeding within it, and safeguard the stability of this Imperium territory."
Guilliman nodded slightly, his gaze seemingly penetrating.
A sweep across the bridge's massive observation window, casting a gaze upon the eternally swirling, strangely colored Warp Storm outside, and the vast, chaotic Maelstrom sector behind it.
His gaze seemed to span light-years, reaching out to the planets, fortresses, and people struggling to survive in the shadow of Chaos.
"Here," Guilliman's voice was calm, yet carried an invisible pressure, "Do you feel safe?"
The Huron Blackheart fell silent.
This silence is a genuine reflection, a weighing of pros and cons, and an assessment of the balance between "the truth" and "the narrative."
He knew this was the crucial question.
Excessive boasting appears insincere, while excessive denigration negates the value of one's millennia-long efforts.
A few seconds later, he raised his head, his gaze becoming unusually firm, even carrying an unquestionable confidence befitting a ruler:
"Stable!"
He spoke in a loud voice, patting his battered breastplate.
"Father, I can assure you with my own heart, which is still beating!"
The Maelstrom area, in my... in our Red Corsairs...
(He hesitated for a moment, but still used this form of address.)
"Within the star sectors, shipping lanes, and outposts under its actual control, the people of the Imperium live far better than the people on many 'peaceful' planets within the Imperium's borders!"
At least, we have sufficient armed forces to protect them from direct harm from Chaos and Xenos, relatively stable supply channels, and even the most basic production and trade order!
We collect taxes, but we provide protection; we recruit soldiers, but we provide living space!
He paused, then added, "I think... the High Lords of Terra of Terra, those gentlemen, know this best."
They were envious of the 'stability' and potential profits of the Maelstrom back then, which is why they forcibly intervened and demanded 'taxes' that they couldn't possibly pay, ultimately leading to... what happened later."
This statement once again shifted the focus of the conflict to the High Lords.
Guilliman certainly knew all this.
In the Imperium historical archives he collected after his awakening, the records about the "Badab War" and the "Huron Blackheart's Rebellion" were deliberately vilified and simplified by the authorities.
However, by combining intelligence from various sources, especially the Macragge intelligence network's investigation of the outer star sector, he was able to piece together the general truth: a frontier guardian who was struggling to maintain order and even making some achievements in a desperate situation.
Because they refused to satisfy the unrealistic and greedy demands of central bureaucrats, they were forced to rebel, ultimately leading to complete confrontation.
The person who coined the term "collective honor" is simply a genius among geniuses!
This story has been repeated time and again throughout the Imperium's ten-thousand-year history, but the Huron Blackheart is the most "successful" and the most "famous" of them all.
"In other words," Guilliman began slowly, his voice devoid of emotion, "You have completed the task the Imperium assigned to you."
Boom--!
These words were like a thunderclap, exploding across the bridge!
It wasn't just the Huron Blackheart who exclaimed, "Huh?"
Completely stunned, mouth slightly agape, eyes glazed over, as if doubting his own ears.
Even Calga and Sicarius, who remained on the sidelines with a high degree of vigilance and scrutiny, were not immune.
Even the Ultramarines officer, the Red Corsairs leader, and everyone on the bridge who could overhear the conversation from further away were all stunned!
Mission accomplished?
A traitor, a pirate captain, a man wanted by the Imperium for over a thousand years, whose crimes are too numerous to count.
In the words of the Primarch and the Imperial Regent, he was actually praised for "completing the mission assigned by the Imperium"?
This... this political logic jumps around way too fast!
It's like jumping straight from the Segmentum Obscurus to the Eye of Terror!
The Huron Blackheart's mind went completely blank.
"But... I betrayed... no... I didn't manage it properly either... there are still many problems there... the infiltration of Chaos..."
He stammered, trying to regain some "objectivity" and "humility".
Just then, a large, blue hand covered in Adamantium armor, yet unusually gentle, patted his shoulder, which was slightly stiff from nervousness.
The strike wasn't forceful, yet it seemed to carry immense trust and... a profound sense of approval.
Guilliman's voice rang out again, and this time, the speaker of the Helm of Dominion even seemed to carry a barely perceptible, almost amusement-like, gentle tone:
"That's called... basic success, kid."
Basically successful.
Four words.
It was unremarkable, even carrying the cautious wording common in bureaucratic reports, leaving room for interpretation.
But in this context, when Guilliman uttered these words, they were like a soul-crushing storm to the ears of the Huron Blackheart and everyone who heard them!