Stone's Heart Ached

"What exactly were your orders?"

After everyone left, Luther looked at Lion El'Jonson in shock, as if he couldn't believe that the Primarch who had used the Exterminatus Primarch his own standard could say such a thing.

One can only imagine how horrific the details of the secret order must have been.

Lion El'Jonson did not answer Luther's question; he simply fell into a long silence.

What he just told his brother was what the secret order explicitly stated could be explained, while the things that couldn't be explained were the secret tasks his Uncle had given him.

If any uncontrollable problems arise on the front lines of the Great Crusade, my Uncle's plan is to use Supernova explosion to wipe out all the enemies at the forefront of the Great Crusade.

The supplies needed for these Supernova explosions, in addition to those he captured during the Ullanor Crusade, would be delivered by his Private Guard.

He had witnessed such power during the Ullanor Crusade; just two shots had reduced the entire central area of Ullanor to nothing.

If this order were carried out, Lion El'Jonson had no idea how many worlds he would reduce to nothing.

He didn't know what would ultimately be left of the Imperium of Man after paying such a heavy price.

"Luther, do you have any wine?"

Yes, I'll go get it.

Holy Terra, Horus finally made it back here after a long journey.

He hadn't even had time to reorganize the Legion upon his return before he went to see Dorn.

Horus, I told you not to come back.

"I must return, Dorn. I must do this for the Imperium."

Listening to Horus's words, Dorn only felt a headache coming on.

Why can't this Wolf of Fenris listen to me just this once?

Given Horus's loyalty to the Emperor, if a war were to break out, it would be a loss for the Imperium and would be difficult to resolve.

"Alright, now that you're back, tell me about your journey."

I must go see my father first.

"Tell me immediately what you encountered on your journey. I must adjust Terra's defenses based on your account."

Hearing Dorn's almost roaring voice, Horus calmed down and recounted in detail what he had seen and heard.

"You mean to say that warp Warp travel is no longer usable?"

"Yes, if it weren't for the Nostramo-descended in my Legion, I probably wouldn't have gotten this far."

What's so special about the Nostramo-descended?

"Throughout this voyage, I've discovered that all Nostramo-descended possess extremely high Psychic Power resistance and are also highly resistant to Warp interference."

"My suggestion is to inform the entire Imperium to temporarily refrain from Warp travel during this period."

"But if we do that, the Imperium will be paralyzed."

"Whether to paralyze the Imperium or let Imperium wander aimlessly in the endless Warp, we must make a choice."

After Dorn deliberation, Dorn made his choice.

"I will try to contact Curze and have him spread this news throughout the entire Imperium. From now on, whether you want to see the Emperor or the Chancellor, it's up to you."

"Contact Curze? Are you sure?"

"Confirmed. We have expressed our position on this matter as clearly as possible, and only Nostramo possesses a means of communication that circumvents the Warp."

"Alright, I'll go see my father."

After Horus left Dorn immediately contacted the Eighth Legion. The first person he contacted was not Curze, but Defensio.

He doesn't know Curze's exact condition right now, so he can only try to get information indirectly from Defensio.

"Defensio, I'm so glad you can still answer my calls."

"Primarch, we are merely holding someone accountable, not Horus Heresy. Normal communication is still possible."

Hearing Defensio's businesslike tone, Dorn felt a little uncomfortable, but fortunately, they could still communicate.

"How is Curze now?"

"The Boss is rational now, you don't need to worry."

"Good."

After receiving a definite answer, Dorn contacted Curze and expressed his desire for his help.

Curze didn't object either, "Wouldn't doing that bring the Imperium to a standstill?"

"But we have to do it, otherwise our losses will be too great."

"Okay, I'll pass on the message."

Then the two fell silent.

"Curze, why are you still willing to do these things?"

"You've stated your position, and I've expressed mine; we both hope this incident can be resolved with minimal losses."

"Moreover, when I first returned to the Imperium, I promised my Dad that my return would bring justice, reason, and hope to the Imperium of Man, and I do not want it to be destroyed in my hands."

"This has nothing to do with loyalty; it's simply a promise I made to my father."

On the other end of the communication, Dorn was deeply shocked by Curze's answer.

"I'm sorry, brother," Dorn said.

"It was all part of my duty, brother. I don't blame you."

"Um."

After the communication ended, Curze immediately spread the news throughout the entire Imperium.

But on Dorn's side, his heart was filled with sorrow.

There was a time when, when more than half of the Legions issued statements of accountability, he even doubted his own brothers.

But now it seems that my thinking was too rigid back then.

Sigismund.

"Grown ups!"

"Strengthen routine patrols and defenses of the Segmentum Solar."

"Conventional?"

Sigismund found Dorn's order hard to believe, because it meant that the crisis in the Segmentum Solar was over.

"Yes, that's standard."

"Yes, sir."

Meanwhile, Horus finally arrived at the Throne Room.

"Commander Valdor, step aside, I need to see my father."

"Honorable Legion Primarch, my Lord has said, 'See no one.'"

"But I also said I was going to see my father."

Do you want to disobey my Lord's command?

"Look at the mess outside, General Valdor! If Father doesn't step in to resolve this issue by now, then I must go in!"

Valdor said nothing; he simply gripped his weapon tighter.

However, their encounter was brief, and Valdor was defeated in a single exchange.

"I have no intention of fighting you, Adeptus Custodes Marshal, but at this moment, I have no choice."

After subduing Valdor, Horus rushed into the Throne Room, where he saw the Emperor sitting quietly.

Or perhaps he saw his father's true self.

It wasn't the Master of Mankind we usually saw, nor was it the four-meter-tall, golden god of the mortal realm.

This is an ordinary middle-aged man who looks somewhat tired and anxious.

Horus, you have come.

"Father, I've come. I've come to find an answer."

The Emperor said nothing; he simply patted the seat next to him, gesturing for Horus to sit down.

"Sit down and talk, Horus."