"Aah!--------"
A scream rang out from the secret chamber, followed by an Inquisitor whose expression was grim indeed.
An Inquisitor of the Ordo Malleus-Blackhammer.
His face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
As a high-ranking member of the Ordo Malleus, Blackhammer had access to many secrets unknown to others, including some dating back ten thousand years.
"Convene an emergency meeting for me. Authorization code: XXXXXXXXXX."
A short while later, three figures sat on separate sides of a secret chamber plastered with prayers.
One was Inquisitor Blackhammer.
Another was an Astartes Chapter Master wearing black, gold, and white armor.
And the last...
His mere presence inspired awe in everyone at his sanctity and radiance. Beneath his blood-red robes lay auramite armor.
Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes, Trajann Valoris.
"Unfortunately, the prophecy may have come true," Inquisitor Blackhammer said.
"I need concrete evidence," the Captain-General said.
Inquisitor Blackhammer produced a disabled Servo-skull, which then projected a miniature image.
The image showed what had happened in the cathedral several months earlier.
The Rebel Company.
And a towering figure whose noble bearing shone through even in a hologram.
That face belonged to none other than Horus Lupercal.
"Another Horus," Inquisitor Blackhammer said.
"But this one may well be real," the Chapter Master said.
Silence immediately settled over the room.
The Black Sentinels Chapter had split off from the Imperial Fists Chapter ten thousand years ago and was an exceptionally ancient Chapter.
Its presence within the Imperium was so faint as to be outrageous. Even Terra's garrison might not remember that this Chapter existed.
They never set foot beyond Terra. The Chapter's members were all ancient individuals, yet all were taciturn.
Perhaps they were trying to keep something secret, but even the Inquisition might not know what they were guarding.
Only successive Chapter Masters knew exactly what secret they protected.
When the Black Sentinels Chapter was founded, every member was a survivor who had witnessed that towering embodiment of Chaos fight its way to the Gate of the End.
Should this secret spread, it could deal a devastating blow to the entire Imperium. Thus, the Chapter had faithfully guarded this monumental secret to this day.
But now...
"I know a little more than you do. If a Horus appeared anywhere else, the Black Legion would be the first to charge in and kill him."
"But if it's this Horus, he may well be the real Horus, the Primarch of the Sons of Horus."
Primarch.
That ancient word suddenly echoed through their minds.
And the Primarch of the Black Legion, no less.
The thirteen Black Crusades launched by Abaddon, the Black Legion's First Company Captain, had already thrown the entire Imperium into turmoil. If the Black Legion's Primarch returned...
It was hard to imagine anyone who could lead the entire Imperium against him. The Imperium no longer had a second Macharius.
"Issue a secret directive. We must find this renegade force," Inquisitor Blackhammer said.
While the Inquisition turned the Ecclesiarchy World of Atas upside down, the Righteous Protector had long since returned to the Warp.
This time, however, it had only entered briefly, without venturing deep into the Warp.
To be honest, Bona had absolutely no idea how to deal with the Drukhari.
His knowledge of the Aeldari still came from Grandfather Malcador's lessons ten thousand years ago. He knew only the broad outlines of their situation.
But when it came to actually fighting the Aeldari, Bona knew next to nothing.
Still, it did not matter if he could not beat them. Bona knew someone who could.
An alluring, dense pink mist suddenly swirled through the room. In an instant, it grew solid, forming a phantasmal human shape.
"Oh, little one, were you calling for your big sister?"
The phantasmal figure twisted around Bona from behind, and he could almost feel that nonexistent warmth and gentle breath.
"Yes. I need your help."
"Ah... of course. Tell me, cutie," Slaanesh said, gently stroking his face with a lover's intimacy.
"I want to go into Commorragh and snatch someone. I need a little help."
"Good, good. That's easy enough..."
The pink mist dispersed, then gathered again in front of Bona.
"Teresa, come here."
A fingertip of purple mist traced a gentle line, and a Warp Rift appeared.
And the person who emerged... was actually a Sister of Battle?!
No. Bona could not sense a trace of life from her. This was a Keeper of Secrets.
She looked beautiful, unnaturally so, radiating noble purity and sanctity from head to toe.
"From now on, you'll follow him. He is your master."
Teresa bowed respectfully, curiosity filling her eyes.
"Who is she?" Bona asked warily.
"Oh, a newly emerged daemon. She's still young, only about two hundred years old."
"Don't worry. Your big sister knows what you're worried about. Teresa used to be my handmaiden. She's never even been to the material world."
Indeed, he sensed no wronged souls lingering around Teresa, which put his mind at ease.
The pink apparition drifted over to Bona and sat in his lap, lifting his chin with a finger.
"Of course, you'll have to do your big sister a favor too."
Having expected this, Bona nodded.
"As long as it doesn't involve sacrificing large numbers of innocent Imperial citizens, we can talk."
"Haha, of course not. This is a new bit of fun I've thought up."
The pink apparition's fingers moved swiftly, and an illusory image formed in the air.
It was an Aeldari.
"Her name is Yvraine. She's currently a gladiator in Commorragh."
"What I want you to do is simple: make her fall in love with a human named Roboute Guilliman, and make him love her back."
"What do you say?"
Bona fell into thought.
Roboute Guilliman?
The name sounded somewhat familiar, but perhaps he had merely glimpsed it in some report.
Considering that someone Slaanesh wanted to trick was unlikely to be ordinary, this Roboute Guilliman was probably no average person. He might hold a position of great power.
To be safe, Bona decided to ask.
"Right now, who ranks higher, him or the High Lords of the Council of Terra?"
"Oh... right now? The High Lords of the Council of Terra rank far above him."
"Then who ranks higher, him or a sector lord?"
"He doesn't rank as high as a sector lord."
"What about a Planetary Governor?"
"A tiny bit higher, but he has no real power. These days, he's practically living as an honorary monument."
That put Bona completely at ease.
Someone without real power could only cause so much trouble, no matter what he did.
He did not even notice the statue of the Emperor on the nearby table, blazing with golden light like an LED lamp. Not that he could have noticed it, since Slaanesh was blocking it completely.
"All right. I'll do it."
"Good, little one. I'll be waiting for your good news~~~"
The pink apparition dispersed with a soft laugh.
Only Bona remained, sitting upright, along with Teresa, who surveyed her surroundings like an inquisitive child.
By the time Slaanesh hurried back to the palace, the Astartes wreathed in ghostly flames and golden light had already fought their way into the Third Ring.
"Oh, come on. I'm helping you strengthen the alliance between humanity and the Aeldari."
"&*%%&*￥#￥%￥~!--------**"
Clearly, that particular individual's temper was rather poor at the moment.
Oh, and there was a little protest as well, a little protest from that Aeldari deity. Its method of protesting resembled a mouse sneaking into the kitchen to steal snacks.
With a light flick, Slaanesh sent that poor wretch flying out.
The Prince of Pleasure was an interesting being. He could become the perfect companion or lover of your imagination, provided you managed to catch his interest.
Before you continue