Choosing the Eldest or the Most Worthy

My idea is the First Legion.

"Dark Angels, Lion El'Jonson?"

Han Mingxuan's answer surprised both the Emperor and Malcador.

You guys don't think I'm going to talk about Curze, do you?

"That's what I thought at first."

"Wake up, Your Emperor. I know very well what kind of person Curze is. He's suited to be an Inquisitor, a executioner, but not a commander."

"Would Lion El'Jonson be suitable? Why not Horus?"

Han Mingxuan smiled and shook his head.

"Emperor, oh Emperor, you still can't forget your First-Returned Son."

"But the fact is, Horus is more suited to be Warmaster; his charisma and abilities are evident to all."

Han Mingxuan looked at Malcador, smiled, and shook his head.

"Old Ma, you are ultimately a human from the Dark Age of Technology, so it's normal that you don't understand some things. But the Emperor, there are some things he understands."

Han Mingxuan found a chair and sat down, then looked at Emperor and Malcador.

"Your Emperor, you are Perpetual has survived from ancient times to the present. You should know that establishing a virtuous heir as heir is a path to chaos."

"Establishing a legitimate heir based on merit is not wrong; the problem lies in people's hearts."

"So, you don't treat your son like a human being, right?"

The Emperor fell silent, but this silence was brief.

Humanity's glory has yet to be rebuilt; you and I are merely tools.

"Nonsense! You're just a tool, I'm not, and neither are my son and nephew."

"In your view, they are Demigods of the Warp in human form. In your view, once the Great Crusade ends, the first to be punished are the Demigods and Astartes."

"But as a man, as a father, I must make it clear to you that, for whatever reason, they are not tools."

"You brought them into the human world, clothed them in human skin, and therefore have an obligation to teach them and guide them to become true human beings."

"You've lived for tens of thousands of years, you know how to be a father. Even if it's an act, even if it's pretending, you know how to act."

"Now that the Primarch's fate has been changed, isn't their behavior enough to prove that they possess a human heart?"

"This is all thanks to you, Old Han. You have made a tremendous contribution to the entire Imperium of Man and to the fate of all humanity."

Stop flattering me. I'm not saying all this so you'll praise me.

Han Mingxuan looked at the Emperor with impatience.

"Listen to me clearly, they are human beings. They have human hearts, and as such, they experience emotions and desires, they feel jealousy, they have disagreements, and they have wild thoughts."

"Come, now tell me, what is the standard for 'meritorious succession'?"

"Of course, it's a contribution to the Imperium of Man."

"Completely wrong! The standard for virtue is that there's only one left!"

"Indeed, my superhuman Nephews are strong; they remain rational and possess noble character. But if even one of them strays from the right path, the Imperium will be plunged into an endless hell."

"Whom do you want to go astray? Whom do you want to bring about the destruction of the Imperium?"

"Horus Lion El'Jonson? Or Roboute? Or perhaps an angel?"

"Are you betting on their wisdom, or on the dark future of the Imperium of Man?"

"..."

"Okay, I'll give you the letter of appointment."

The Emperor then produced a blank appointment form, complete with everything except a name.

"You've already prepared everything."

"Yes, my friend."

"Okay, if there are no other problems, I'll be going now."

There's one more thing you need to pay attention to.

"What is it?"

"I suggest you take Futia with you during the Great Crusade."

"She is your descendant?"

I guess so.

"Which noble lady did you blow up this time?"

"Cough cough!"

"Cough cough!"

Upon hearing Han Mingxuan's words, both Emperor and Malcador nearly choked on their own saliva.

"I shaped her with my own power, I created her, so it's true that I say she's my child."

"Oh, I see. You should have said so earlier."

Han Mingxuan put away the Letter of Appointment and finally left Terra's Throne Room.

"Old friend, do you think our fate will truly see the light at the end of the tunnel?"

"Yes, Your Emperor, you definitely will. Old Han will definitely light the way for us."

The Emperor nodded, and then went into the secret chamber with Malcador.

Immediately afterwards, the Emperor took out the Box from the secret chamber.

Upon opening the Box, there was still that same Staff, but upon seeing Staff, the Emperor's pupils suddenly contracted.

The blue gemstone is gone.

"How is this possible?!"

The Shard of Miracle vanished without a trace, yet despite setting up layers of restrictions here, he couldn't obtain even a single clue.

Who did this?!

"Your Emperor, what exactly happened?"

"The Shard of Miracle are gone."

"Shard of Miracle?"

"Yes, old friend, you stay here for now, I have some urgent business to attend to."

After saying this, the Emperor ignored Malcador's reaction and instantly arrived in the Warp.

"Tzeentch, come out!"

Intense golden Psychic Power surged and churned within the Warp, scorching all the Daemon.

Not long after, Tzeentch appeared before the Emperor.

"What happened? My dear partner, we agreed to meet again in 40 years... no, if you do the math, it's 38 years from now."

"You took the Shard of Miracle?"

"How is that possible?"

That Shard of Miracle is his most precious possession, his only hope for a comeback, and his bargaining chip at the Gambling Table.

If he runs out of chips, he'll have no choice but to bet everything on the Gambling Table.

"Wait, you mean the fragment is missing?!"

"That's why I've come to you, Tzeentch. Whatever your reasons for hiding that fragment, if you can't show some sincerity, then our cooperation ends here."

"No, that's absolutely impossible!"

Then the Emperor took out the Staff, and the spot where the jewel was inlaid was now empty.

"Damn thief, who stole my power?!"

"Perhaps it is your authority that has abandoned you."

"Impossible, you the Accursed, this is absolutely impossible!"

"It was you! You must have stolen my power! You damned liar, you tried to break the contract!"

At that moment, he finally understood: it must be that the Emperor had stolen from him and was now trying to take advantage of him.

"You untrustworthy liar!"

"Can't you see exactly what happened?!"

The Emperor's words silenced Tzeentch. Yes, he could see everything that was happening in the universe.

If the Emperor did something, then his Prophecy would surely have given a warning.

But to this day, he has not received such a message, which seems very strange.

Where did that Shard of Miracle go?