Father of Night

After several days of travel, Corax finally returned to Lycaeus's near-Earth orbit.

"You may go back now, sir."

Just call me Samir.

"Then, please return, Samir."

Samir shook his head.

"What's the meaning?"

"Bringing you back to the Imperium is part of the Imperium's Great Crusade. The Father of Night truly needs your power to aid him and bring new life to the Imperium."

"While the Emperor's actions were not what the Father of Night desired, it is undeniable that what you have encountered is related to the Father of Night."

"So whether it's for the sake of the Imperium's future Primarch safety, or to express the Father of Night's apology, I will stay and help you."

"Lycaeus doesn't need that kind of help."

"Or... cooperation?" Samir said.

Buzz.

Beep beep!

"A massive Warp reaction has been detected; a fleet is undergoing Warp jump."

Samir's hands clenched slightly as he listened to the spaceship's system announcements.

Who knows if what emerged from the Warp Rift was friendly forces or pirates?

"This is the Imperium Expeditionary Fleet Construction Corps under the command of Iron Warriors. Ships ahead, report your identities."

"I was sent by the Father of Night to escort Corax back."

"Corax? Why don't you stay and help your Uncle Anti-Corruption?" It was Perturabo's voice.

Uncle?

It's hard to imagine that such an ordinary-looking person would have such an extraordinary nephew.

"The gentleman told me to come back and continue my unfinished work."

"I think it was the Emperor who took you back, right?"

"It's him."

That's not surprising.

This is indeed something Emperor could do.

"Then, I will follow your Uncle's orders and help you build your Planet."

Although his orders were to remain stationed there, construction was necessary.

"The Lycaeus have their own path to follow."

"Corax, you've misunderstood me. I'm only helping you build, not fighting."

The struggle is his own business; Perturabo will not intervene.

And now he has found something he is even more willing to do.

Construction.

Fighting and killing is less effective than turning to ashes.

"So what are your plans next?"

"I'll wait for your result, the result of your struggle. If you win, I'll help you rebuild this place; if you lose, I'll burn it to the ground."

Upon hearing this, Corax was taken aback; he hadn't expected Perturabo's plan to be so simple yet extreme.

"Don't let your Uncle down, Corvus."

What does this have to do with him?

"Hehe, you don't understand Uncle charm. So far, since learning about the Imperium Anti-Corruption campaign..."

"Several Legiones Astartes, including the Dark Angels, Luna Wolves, Blood Angels, Midnight Reapers, Iron Warriors, Emperor's Children, and Imperial Fists, have expressed their willingness to offer assistance."

"Ultimately, your Uncle decided to assist with the Midnight Reapers of the Eighth Legion and the 19th XIX Legion, Primarch has not yet returned—your Legion."

"So far, the two slots for the assisting Legions have been filled, so let's not disappoint him."

In fact, Perturabo was practically grinding his teeth to powder when he said that.

However, there was Dorn also failed to be selected.

This made him feel much better, which is why he's now willing to talk to Corax so patiently.

"So I got kidnapped, and now I should thank him?"

"It was the Emperor who kidnapped you, not your Uncle. You should resent the Emperor, not your Uncle."

"Your Uncle wants you to come back and continue your unfinished work, doesn't he?"

"Perhaps it's a ploy to lure me in?"

"Ha! Haha!"

Perturabo left with a sarcastic laugh before disconnecting the two men.

"Is he laughing?"

"Perhaps, but you're quite something to make Perturabo laugh."

Um?

Calling him by his name directly?

You don't respect him.

"That includes you, and all of you."

Self, and those brothers I've never met?

"You can't call that loyalty," Corax frowned.

This has nothing to do with anything else; it's simply a feeling of disgust towards the disloyal.

"Heh, we are only loyal to the Father of Night. If he needs us, we can also be loyal to his son, but not you."

Is it the Father of Night again?

"What did he do, or rather, what kind of person was he?"

Hehe.

As expected, no one can suppress their curiosity in front of the Father of Night.

"He's a lot like you, at least in what he's doing right now."

"But at the same time, he is more resilient, greater, and more courageous than you."

"I remember we weren't in New Nostramo back then."

Samir recounted his past as he piloted the spaceship.

"The New Nostramo?"

"Yes, he saved everything on the Planet of Eternal Night. To do this, he led us to a different Homeworld."

"They changed... their Homeworld?!"

"Haha, surprised, young man? We were surprised too, but he did it, because he is the Father of Night."

Father of Night.

"What do these three words mean to you or to all of you?" Corax asked.

"He brought about a cataclysmic change; in the hearts of the Nostramo people, he was far greater than the Emperor."

"He eradicated evils, eliminated malignant tumors, established Laws, and educated the people, bringing about a renewal of all things."

"Are you excited?"

Corax could tell that Samir's hands were trembling slightly as he spoke.

"Young man, you don't understand. To those who live in Evernight, he is the everlasting sun."

"Perhaps after you've accomplished your mission and unified this Planet, you should go and see Nostramo."

"Look at the first Light-Bathed Square, look at the Monument to the Savior crafted by the Father of Night, look at the first Saviour Building."

"I recommend you go on the Salvation Day, it's the biggest festival in all of Nostramo."

Salvation Day?

"On that day, you will witness the Father of Night's influence on all of Nostramo, from military and politics to culture and people's livelihoods, in every aspect."

"If you want to eat something good, you can go to the Food Street near the Saviour Building. Trazyn is the owner there."

"In that place, you can find almost all the delicacies of Nostramo."

"If you want a good weapon, Hawk Workshop is a good place. Old Hawk is a very skilled forger."

"Of course, if you're going to the bookstore, be prepared, because most of the books there are Law Books."

"Speaking of which, I suggest you buy a copy of the Evernight Code; it's the foundation of the entire Imperium's governance and people's livelihood."

"You're not acting like a soldier, you're acting like a tour guide," Corax said.

"You have a good eye for people. I'm not only a tour guide, but also a farm machinery operator."

"The Father of Night said that a soldier is a soldier, but cannot be just a soldier."

"Also, it's time for us to land."