Under their guide's direction, Bona and his party arrived at the local Talent Market.
In other words, it was something like a mercenary hall.
Large numbers of heretics and xenos gathered here. In Bona's eyes, they were all gray, though quite a few were red, green, pink, or blue.
A few were even gold. Bona suspected they might be spies planted by the Imperium.
But that did not matter.
Huron was a man of his word. He had even sent someone ahead to announce that a major employer was looking for Astartes, so many Chapters had come.
Some xenos mercenaries had also gathered off to one side, waiting to see whether this major employer might be interested in hiring them.
When they saw the employer approach, however, every one of them assumed it was the tall, deeply mysterious-looking man, rather than the fellow in white robes.
So when Bona stepped up to the front, they were rather bewildered.
"I need enough men willing to risk their lives with me. Our targets will be numerous worlds in the Eastern Fringe, including heavily defended places like Forge Worlds."
"Mortal, tell me how you'll split the proceeds. Will you pay us in advance, or give us a share of the plunder?" a Chapter Master shouted.
"Those who join will not receive a single coin, but I will give you the opportunity to serve the Emperor faithfully."
The crowd immediately erupted in laughter, while quite a few Astartes cursed and walked away.
"The Imperium must be on its last legs if it's trying to recruit even us."
The laughter grew louder.
Bona simply stared straight at them.
"So, have you ever considered what awaits you after death, Angels of War?"
"After many of you die, the Chaos Gods will turn your souls into playthings, denying you peace for all eternity."
"Daemons will seize you and torture you throughout their endless lives."
"You might even be shattered outright by the tides of the Warp."
An angry roar suddenly came from the crowd.
"Then what do we get for dying for the Imperium?"
Bona looked at that Astartes. Half his face was gone.
"I will not deceive you as daemons and those in power do. I will tell you the truth."
"When most of you die, your souls will not return to the Golden Throne. The Emperor may not even have the strength to notice you at all. You will die like ants."
"Then why should we die for the Corpse-Emperor?" The Astartes grew even angrier.
Bona quietly watched them pour out curses and abuse against the Imperium.
Yet these furious Astartes all fell silent together, as though some unknown power were soothing their souls.
"There is only one reason."
"To die so that more people can live. To die for those people who are treated like tools."
"When the Emperor created the Astartes ten thousand years ago, he wanted to save everyone from the mire of the Age of Endless Night."
"Yes, the Imperium is riddled with corruption, bloat, and deceit. But it is still humanity's Imperium."
"I have gathered you warriors here not to give your lives for the rotten High Lords of Terra, nor for the schemes of assorted nobles, but for humanity. To give your lives so that humans do not become livestock to be slaughtered at will across the Milky Way."
"I cannot promise timely reinforcements or sufficient firepower. But I can promise that every one of you will be able to die fighting with honor."
By the time Bona finished speaking, only a fifth of the Astartes remained before him.
These two thousand-odd Astartes in their varied colors looked at Bona.
At last, someone spoke.
"It's true. I hate those xenos even more than I hate the Imperium."
With that, the Chapter Master approached, struck his chest in the Astartes salute to Bona, and took his place behind the Thunder Warriors.
Another Chapter Master approached and saluted.
"I'll follow anyone who opposes the Imperium. But I'm still the Emperor's warrior."
The gathering momentum swelled, and voices of every kind rang out before Bona.
"The Emperor's Grip Chapter, at your service."
"The Yellow Scythes Chapter, at your service."
"The Steadfast Rock Chapter, at your service."
Only when this colorful band of Astartes had taken their places behind him did Bona nod in satisfaction.
"Let's go, everyone."
Not far away, several passing Black-armored Warriors cast them a contemptuous glance. The red Blood Eye insignia of the Black Legion stood out on their armor.
"Foolish worshippers of the Corpse-Emperor. Good riddance if they leave the Maelstrom sooner."
Suddenly, when the speaker caught sight of that enormous figure in a black robe, he felt a tremor deep within his soul.
The Chaos veterans stopped, unable to keep themselves from looking in that direction.
That was...
As Horus walked, he sensed movement following him.
He quietly left the group and made his way to a secluded spot.
Soon afterward, those Black Legion warriors appeared at the mouth of the alley.
As they gazed at the towering figure, their hearts began to pound. The stirrings deep within their souls made the Black Legion soldiers increasingly excited.
And when that figure lowered his hood and turned to look at them...
In that instant, they were all certain.
"Father... is it really you?"
"Gods above, the great Empyrean has granted our father new life!"
"We have all been waiting for your return! This time, we will utterly destroy this rotten Imperium!"
Horus remained expressionless as he looked at the black tin cans kneeling on the ground, so excited they could barely speak coherently.
They were all his gene-sons, Astartes known as the Sons of Horus, the Imperium's XVI Legion.
He wanted to condemn them as despicable traitors, but he himself had led the XVI Legion into damnation.
Even if the Horus of that time had not been him, the XVI Legion had remained absolutely loyal to "Horus," slaughtering the Imperial loyalists in their ranks without hesitation and following him into rebellion.
Horus walked up to them. Then, under the expectant gazes of these Black Legion veterans, he gently placed his hand on the head of the veteran at the front.
The veteran babbled incoherently, praising the blessings of the Chaos Gods, and then...
His head was twisted apart.
Then Horus killed them all, moving too fast for any of the Black Legion warriors to see.
This was the greatest gift Horus could give them, a Gene-Father's final act of love for his sons.
When Horus returned to the group, Bona glanced at him, then looked away.
His expression unruffled, Horus quietly held several gene-seeds in his hand.
He would rebuild the Legion-not the Sons of Horus, but the Imperium's XVI Legion, the Luna Wolves.
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