The Time to March Has Come

The situation in Quintus Hive City was gradually drawing to a close, but just as the Hive City returned to peace, the real crisis had only just arrived.

"Boss, we just got word. Fourth Hive City is making a move."

In a conference room in the Upper Hive District of Quintus Hive City, Curze learned of the movements in Abyssus, the Fourth Hive City.

Compared with Quintus, the Number Five Hive City, Fourth Hive City was Nostramo's most important mining region and transportation hub.

That was right. Quintus Hive City, a veritable hell on earth, was not the most important one.

Compared with its population, Quintus Hive City's mineral resources were insignificant.

Simply put, Quintus had more people than minerals.

Quintus Hive City was home to sixty percent of Nostramo's population.

Strictly speaking, the people of Quintus were the Hive City's greatest mineral deposit.

"Fourth Hive City... Sevatar, summon our Justiciars. We need a prewar meeting."

"Yes, Grand Inquisitor!"

"Ah, Grand Inquisitor. What a righteous title, wouldn't you say?"

Curze did not respond.

"Hahaha, all right, all right, I'll keep quiet. But whenever you want, I can help you."

Curze ignored him again.

Ever since Father had personally signed something for everyone last time, the Night Haunter's personality seemed to have changed somewhat.

How should it be put?

He had become a little more cheerful.

But Curze still didn't think much of him.

In Curze's mind, the Night Haunter was still a Xenos.

Allowing a Xenos to call his father "Father" was already the limit of what Curze could bear.

Before long, all ten Justiciars of the Eternal Night Justiciar Legion had arrived.

These ten had, in fact, been carefully selected from the original eight hundred. They were primarily responsible for leading and managing the current Justiciar Legion.

"Everyone, we've just received word that there's been unusual activity in Abyssus, the Fourth Hive City. That's good news for us."

"Lord Grand Inquisitor, what do you need us to do?"

In fact, after taking and establishing actual rule over Quintus Hive City, Curze had already begun thinking about a plan to conquer all of Nostramo.

With Quintus Hive City as a springboard, Curze's conquest would only grow faster and faster.

What was more, shortly after he had first begun to make a name for himself, Curze had already sent Talos to Fourth Hive City.

So much time had passed that Talos had presumably made progress by now.

After all, Talos had taken two thousand of the Justiciar Legion's elite with him.

With his abilities, it would be no problem at all.

Curze looked at the brothers who had fought their way out of the mining hive with him and, for the first time as the commander of the Eternal Night Justiciar Legion, gave his orders.

"I order the Eternal Night Justiciar Legion to break up into smaller units."

"Sevatarion will lead two thousand men to join Talos, take Fourth Hive City, and secure complete control of the transportation routes."

"After that, reorganize the troops and split them into two groups to head for the second and third Hive Cities."

"Shen and I will lead two hundred men straight to the first Hive City."

"Eight hundred men will stay behind to guard Quintus Hive City."

"Take this planet in three standard Nostramo months."

"One more thing: if you encounter an enemy you cannot defeat, abandon everything you have gained in battle. Preserving yourselves comes first."

"Any questions?"

"None."

"Good. Prepare to move out."

"In the darkness, only law endures! Beneath the thunder, traitors meet their doom!"

After the war council, Curze went to Han Mingxuan's room.

"Father, we just received word that Fourth Hive City has started making moves. They're sealing off all underground transportation routes to Quintus Hive City."

"Curze, are you ready to set out?"

"Yes, Father. I'll leave the original eight hundred to guard Quintus. Within three standard Nostramo months, I'll take this planet."

Three months?

As expected of a Primarch. That speed of conquest really is impressive.

"I've never doubted your abilities. So, before you set out, let me tell you a story."

Curze said nothing and simply sat down across from Han Mingxuan.

He knew very well that every story his father told had a deeper meaning.

"Everyone in the legion has learned the Old Terra Language, right?"

"Yes. They learn quickly."

Han Mingxuan nodded, then began to tell a story.

A story about the Warp.

"You should know something about the Warp, right?"

"Yes. Warp travel is the Imperium's main means of transportation at present, but it's dangerous there."

"Spatial storms and monster sightings are common. The Geller Field exists to prevent interference from Warp Storms."

Han Mingxuan nodded. "That's right. Now I'm going to tell you about the real threat in the Warp."

"The real threat?"

Hum.

This time, the Night Haunter appeared directly before the two of them.

"Father, is it really all right to tell him about the Warp so early?"

"Night Haunter?"

Curze looked at the fellow who had appeared of his own accord for the first time, his heart pounding.

"My sons are about to march out. To guard against trouble before it happens, I need to make these things clear."

The Warp had not yet begun to grow active, so it was good to learn about it early.

If he waited until Warp Daemons began to appear, it would be a case of mending the fold after the sheep had been stolen.

"All right, Father. Will you tell him, or shall I?"

"I will."

Then Han Mingxuan took out four simple drawings.

"The blue one is Tzeentch, the green one is Nurgle, the red one is Khorne, and the purple one is Slaanesh."

Hum!

The Night Haunter felt his head buzzing!

At that moment, he felt it.

He felt four gazes turning this way.

But the attention lasted only an instant before turning into garbled code in the Warp.

The Night Haunter looked at the man before him, his shock beyond measure.

His father was a mortal, and one whose Warp projection was so faint it had nearly vanished!

The four gods wanted to see him across space and time, but in the end, they could see nothing.

It was simply amazing!

In Curze's eyes, the gazes were torn apart by a blue storm just as they were about to draw near.

"Do you know what these four represent?"

"Judging by their names, one is conspiracy, one is plague, one is slaughter, and the last is... desire?"

"That's right. The Warp and the material world influence each other. It is an ocean of emotions and the destination of souls."

"Originally, they had positive aspects, but for certain reasons, those four are now nothing but frenzied maggots in a sea of filth."

"Do you remember what I told you?"

Curze nodded. "Gods should be of use to people. If they aren't, they're nothing but clay statues."

"Besides, gods should punish evil and promote good. If they lead people into corruption, they're no different from evil spirits."

"Besides, Dad, you've always said that so-called miracles are just science we don't yet understand."

"Just like beasts don't understand how we throw stones."

"Very good. Set out, then. I'll be waiting for your good news!"