"Aunt Luna..." he murmured to himself, "That Chaos Sorcerer, it's Luna!"
"What?" The sergeant didn't hear what he said.
Leo didn't explain, and continued to think about it.
My father died in battle two years ago.
He had always admired his father since he was a child, so he didn't think much of it.
But Leo later discovered many things were not right.
Details of that battle were kept secret, and all the surviving soldiers were executed.
All the outside world knows is that Alistair died a heroic death in that battle.
But it's so strange. If it was a glorious sacrifice, why suppress the information?
Leo became suspicious.
He spent two years piecing together clues bit by bit, though he only managed to get a general idea.
But in the end, he came to a conclusion that startled him.
My father did not die in battle, or rather, he did not die as a human being of the Imperium.
So Grandpa suppressed the news, executed everyone who knew, and only told the public that he had "heroically sacrificed himself."
And from then on, Grandpa became more and more stubborn and silent, keeping all his secrets to himself.
And Aunt Luna's obsession with STC only deepened after that.
While investigating the details of his father's death in battle, he also stumbled upon some information about the STC.
That STC seems to possess some kind of magic, making everyone who comes into contact with it for a long time become madly infatuated with it.
One time, he overheard his grandfather and Luna arguing.
Luna said she would dedicate herself to researching STC and use her knowledge and skills to benefit her family.
Grandpa firmly disagreed, saying that the object was too dangerous and that research should not go too deep.
He still remembers something Luna said back then:
"You don't understand anything. That STC chip can do everything!"
To be able to do everything—that's not something a normal person would say.
At that moment, Leo felt that his aunt's brain was being controlled by STC.
Leo continued to think.
Uncle Callum, the Lord of the Interior, had close ties with the nobles.
He could incite a rebellion in the Noble Council, spread rumors, and create chaos.
But he couldn't mobilize the knight mechs, nor could he mobilize the Knight Auxiliaries.
Aunt Luna, a technology leader, has been working with the Adeptus Mechanicus for many years.
She was close to the Adeptus Mechanicus, had access to the STC, and could study forbidden knowledge.
Moreover, she can control a portion of the knights.
So, Leo adjusted his non-existent glasses with his hand:
"My heart... I touch you once... (There's only one truth)!"
Callum orchestrated a trap for the governor, hoping to claim all the credit and gain the favor of the Chaos Gods.
Luna discovered his plan and, accompanied by Tzeentch's demon, went to disrupt things, not to rescue the governor, but to steal her prey.
The rebellion of the Noble Council was instigated by Callum.
He thought this would create chaos and keep the governor preoccupied with his own problems.
However, Callum could not control the family's main armed forces, so the Noble Council dared not go all out.
This is also why, even though Callum came to his aid, Lynn's escalating actions went unchecked.
But things took a turn for the better after Luna manipulated the Knight Mechs and the Knight Auxiliaries's rebellion.
Seeing that the main force of the St. Garus Family had been deployed, the Noble Council dared to take a gamble and ignite the civil war within the Forbidden Wall.
The two people had different plans and intentions, and even worshipped two different Chaos Gods.
But by a twist of fate, they complemented each other perfectly, triggering a chaos that swept across the entire Brevis.
"Damn it." Leo, having figured it out, was a little annoyed.
He leaned back against the ice wall and closed his eyes.
My mind is still racing, still thinking, still piecing together those fragments.
But there was one thing he was certain of.
This civil war is not over yet.
Day 5.
Leo had no idea how long he had been in that cell.
There are no windows or sunlight here, only four walls that seem to be getting closer and closer.
He sat on the stone bed, leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
The posture was exactly the same as five days ago.
The soldiers who deliver meals come three times a day.
Leo maintained normal physiological functions.
But other than that, he did nothing.
I don't speak, and I don't think about anything.
My head feels empty, which is good; at least it doesn't hurt anymore.
Footsteps sounded outside the door. Leo didn't look up; it was probably someone bringing lunch.
The small window on the iron gate was open; it wasn't for delivering food, but rather the small window used to observe prisoners.
"Lord Leo." A voice came from inside; it was the young sergeant who had been guarding him for the past few days.
"There's good news."
Leo didn't move.
Good news? What good news could there be?
He didn't want to know anything.
"Two important figures have arrived at the main hive," the sergeant said excitedly. "They say they want to see you!"
Leo's eyelids twitched.
A big shot? Looking for him.
"Who is it?" he asked, his voice sounding somewhat dejected.
The sergeant was somewhat surprised; this was the second time Leo had spoken in five days.
"Uh... there seems to be a man named Gus."
"The adjutant at the governor's office is quite young, and I've heard he's very handsome."
Gus?!
Light finally returned to Leo's eyes.
Gus is here!
Gus was Lynn's adjutant and one of Lynn's most trusted men.
He represents Lynn's identity, which shows that the Governor has not given up on him.
But then, another emotion welled up.
Worry.
He knew Gus represented Lynn's stance, but would Lynn truly trust him?
They had fought side by side, on the Forbidden Wall, on the icy plains, during those difficult years.
They shared the glory of victory and drank celebratory wine together.
However, he didn't actually have much contact with Lynn.
Lynn is the governor, the commander-in-chief, and the Emperor's Chosen.
He was merely the "young master" of the St. Garus family, and the second-in-command of the Vanguard.
Their interactions were limited to the battlefield and meetings.
Even Hammond could only watch and wait for news, locking him up in jail.
What about Lynn? He needs to consider the bigger picture; would he risk his life for him?
Leo's heart leaped into his throat.
The iron gate opened.
The long-awaited sunlight pierced into the cell, making Leo unable to open his eyes.
He shielded his eyes with his hand, adjusted his vision for a few seconds, then slowly stood up and walked out.
The sunlight shone on him, warm and comforting, a stark contrast to the chill and gloom of the prison cell.
Then he saw the people outside.
It was a dark mass of people.
The Vanguard soldiers filled the entire open space.
They were dressed in uniforms, carrying weapons, and standing in neat square formations.
No one was speaking; the only sound was the wind rustling the flags.
For a fleeting moment, Leo was in a daze.
He had stood before such a formation countless times to inspect the troops and boost morale.
At that moment, he would feel proud and excited, feeling that everything he had done was worthwhile.
But now, he only feels ashamed.
He kept his head down, not daring to look those people in the eye.
They had charged into battle alongside him, fought alongside him, and he had even entrusted his life to them.
And what about him? He's now an imprisoned suspect, a traitor expelled from his family, a pathetic wretch who needs someone to prove his innocence.
Five days is enough time for a lion to lower its proud head.
The crowd automatically parted to make way.
At the end of the passage stood several people.
Gus, Hammond, and several other generals he knew.
They stopped five meters away and looked at him.
Leo's heart sank a little.
But Gus only paused for a moment before continuing to walk forward.
He walked straight over, traversing the five-meter distance, until he stood right in front of Leo.
He didn't stop, nor did he show any wariness like the others; he simply walked straight over and stood in front of Leo.
Leo's breath caught in his throat for a moment.
Gus looked at him, said nothing, but simply reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
(PS: Unfortunately, the author said not many people would see this, so I can only use it to fill space in the main text.)
Yesterday, my friend's QUN account was blocked, and it seems unlikely to be unblocked. (Check my Tomato homepage for more information on QUN account 2.)