The mixture of mischief and understanding on the Emperor's face abruptly changed when he heard Lorgar's blurted complaint.
A glimmer of triumph suddenly lit up deep in his golden eyes, then swiftly spread across his face. He tilted his head slightly, watching Lorgar's frustration after his fruitless search and the Emperor's teasing. Slowly, unmistakably, the corners of his mouth rose into a brilliant smile brimming with ill intent.
"Heh heh heh..."
A low chuckle escaped the Emperor's throat, sounding especially clear in the empty corridor.
He took a small step forward, closing the already tense distance between them, and leaned in slightly. His golden eyes glittered with calculation as they stared unwaveringly into Lorgar's.
"Well?" The Emperor drew the word out, his tone coaxing and calmly confident of victory. "Now... things are different, aren't they?"
He deliberately paused to let Lorgar digest that information—the Spear of Longinus Gun was in his hands.
Then, in his grand, tranquil voice, now laden with naked bargaining, the Emperor clearly and slowly offered the proposal he had made before, though it now carried an entirely different weight:
"You see, the thing... is with me. You want it, don't you? And you seem to want it quite badly."
"So, our earlier offer... still stands." The Emperor's smile grew increasingly "kindly," but the mischief in his eyes was almost spilling over.
"Properly and sincerely, call me... 'Father.' No 'old,' no 'geezer,' and no 'bastard.' Just 'Father.'"
He emphasized the pronunciation as though teaching a child who couldn't speak clearly.
"As long as you say it..." The Emperor slowly spread his hands in a gesture of generous giving, his tone decisive. "The Spear of Longinus Gun is yours immediately. Delivered on the spot, without delay. What do you say? A perfectly fair trade."
With that, the Emperor