The Most Special Collectible

To keep that sliver of his soul stable enough, Trazyn had spent most of the past year doing things without using his brain.

Yes, without using his brain.

Even his neural circuits and logic units had been running at the bare minimum.

He had left everything else to the staff on his Tomb World.

That sliver of soul was more precious than his entire vault.

"So you've thought it through this time?"

"Yes."

"All right, let's begin now."

"Now?" Trazyn hesitated.

"Of course. That root was meant for a physical body from the start, but who could have known that would happen back then?"

"Besides, your root is very special."

"Special?"

Trazyn immediately grew nervous.

The Necrontyr had suffered a setback when it came to souls. If he wasn't careful, he could suffer a great loss.

"Yes. Your soul will be the most stable of all."

"Unless I personally plant an equally special root for someone else."

"Otherwise, your soul will be the only one of its kind in all the universe, throughout all of time. Absolutely one of a kind."

There was one thing Han Mingxuan hadn't said.

He had written the soul edict used to plant Trazyn's root in his own blood.

Normally, plain water would have sufficed.

But he didn't dare say so. If others with their own agendas found out, it would mean big trouble.

Of course, Han Mingxuan was only guessing about that too.

His soul was a stat monster, so he figured his body couldn't be bad either. After all, he had transmigrated in the flesh.

"This will be the most precious collectible of my life, worthy of defending with my life, my friend."

Han Mingxuan smiled and nodded.

Something sought but never obtained, then lost and regained, deserved to be called the most precious.

"But I have one more question."

"Go ahead. Ask everything you want to know, so nothing troubles you."

"Why are you doing this?"

The Necrontyr had been deceived so badly that they had learned to fear it, so this time Trazyn had wised up.

"Do you know about the Warp?"

"Yes. No one understands what the Warp is better than I do."

The former Empyrean, heaven, was now an emotional garbage dump.

As for why it had become that way?

Heh.

"My soul's projection in the Warp is very small. It wasn't born that way; this world hid it."

"Hid it?"

"Yes. My soul is too heavy. To dig my soul's projection out of the Warp, I have to do something."

"After receiving guidance from an elder in my family, I learned that I need to use certain special methods to do it."

"These methods include, but aren't limited to, giving others souls, strengthening others' souls, eliminating the negative effects of the Warp, and even eliminating harm to the physical body."

Trazyn froze, at a loss for words.

"That sounds very selfless, so selfless that you sound like a sinister schemer."

As the old saying went, the most treacherous appeared loyal, and the most genuine appeared false.

Han Mingxuan disliked that saying.

Bad people shouldn't be put on pedestals, and good people shouldn't have guns pointed at them.

What kind of bullshit logic was that?

"Hey, hey, my friend, don't make me sound so bad. I'm a teacher. Do you understand what a teacher is?"

"It's a profession that demands a conscience."

A teacher?

A conscience?

Trazyn stared at Han Mingxuan, looking somewhat puzzled.

"My records do show that you once worked as a teacher, but if you'll forgive me for saying so, in this place, someone with a conscience like yours is a rare collectible."

The Will of Earth really came through. She can even fabricate a past. Amazing!

"Hahaha, teachers tend to be at least a little idealistic."

"As the saying goes, the spring silkworm spins until it dies, and the candle's tears dry only when it turns to ash."

"A teacher passes on the way, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts."

Trazyn said nothing, merely pondering Han Mingxuan's words.

"They have a pleasing rhythm. My logic units cannot fully understand them, but they carry a martyr's sense of sanctity. That is indeed a state of mind an idealist would have."

"Yes, it's normal not to understand. Those are very ancient words." Han Mingxuan smiled without realizing it.

Posing as an old-timer in front of someone who had lived for tens of millions of years was quite an experience.

"Then, is there anything else you need to ask?"

"My questions have been answered. We can begin."

"Before we start, I have a suggestion, to ensure your safety."

"A soul is a rare thing. If the Warp takes notice of it, everything will come to nothing."

"Then please wait a moment."

Trazyn left the room to prepare his security measures.

Curze walked in carrying a pot of tea.

"Dad, did that skeleton leave?"

"Yes, he went to prepare some security measures. I reckon it won't be long before Nostramo has a whole lot more robots."

"Will it really be all right, father?"

"Don't worry, Konrad. There won't be any problems."

"Even if there are, we still have to take the gamble. If we don't, life won't be easy in the days to come."

Both brothers understood that Han Mingxuan was absolutely right.

Curze had also learned about the galaxy's future from the Night Haunter. All he could say was that, for most people, having their souls scattered would be a blessing.

Damn it.

I'm still not strong enough. If I were strong enough, if I had the kind of power Konrad described, Dad wouldn't have to take risks.

Huangpizi, when exactly are you coming?

"Father?"

"Oh, Horus."

"Were you all right just now?"

"I was fine. I saw your brother."

The Emperor had been a little surprised just now, because his mind had wandered.

Yes, his mind had wandered a little.

After coming to his senses, he had used his power to look into the future.

Curze had been talking about him.

How strange. This had never happened to him before.

It seemed his decision to forcibly take him over had been the right one.

Otherwise...

Hiss!

A piercing pain came from behind him, shooting straight through his heart and into his brain.

Forget it, forget it. I still can't afford to provoke that being.

If there's really no other way, I'll have Old Han teach his nephews some more.

"Order the fleet to increase speed. We've been delayed for too long already."

"Yes, father."

Horus withdrew and began issuing orders.

At the same time, Horus contacted his brothers.

Their brother, whom they had yet to meet, had actually caused their father's mind to wander. That wasn't normal, not normal at all.

"Father, a communication from Lord Horus the Primarch."

Aboard the flagship Magnus rode, he received Horus's communication.

Or rather, this wasn't a private communication.

"Horus, my brother, is there an important battle plan? Why have you contacted all of us?"

Horus had gone and done something big.

He had contacted the dozen or so other brothers, except for the Primarchs who had yet to be found and the one they were about to find.

He had to form a faction of his own before meeting that brother.

"My dear brothers, we will soon be welcoming our new brother. I think we should go and meet him."

"Lupercal, you're mad," Jonson said.