Dangerous Figure

"You're mad, Lupercal."

"No, brother, I was just thinking: as the first son to return, having spent thirty years at Father's side day and night..."

"As the Primarch of the Luna Wolves, Father's centaur, I should discuss this with you."

Here he goes again...

The other brothers all felt a headache coming on as soon as they heard that.

Even Guilliman, who had been well brought up since childhood, found it hard to take.

That was just how their brother was.

Whenever he opened his mouth, it was gold rings, thirty years, and the like.

Although every brother had different experiences and a different personality, Horus had no equal in this regard.

"Let's get to the point, Horus," Guilliman said.

"Only a few of our brothers have yet to return. We should give them the grandest welcome and recognition."

"Likewise, we should do this to help him accept the Imperium as soon as possible and take part in the Great Crusade. What do you say, Brother Roboute?"

Everyone knew that this brother, who seemed the most normal, was actually the most ambitious of them all.

After Father found him, instead of thinking about getting on with the Great Crusade, he had thought about carving out territory and making himself king.

It was truly unpleasant.

"There's nothing wrong with that approach, but we need to ask Father's opinion. We're on the Great Crusade, not a sightseeing trip, my brother."

"Horus, Magnus, Ferrus Manus, Fulgrim, Dorn, Lorgar, and Roboute, you will accompany me to greet your brother when the time comes."

"Father?!"

"It's me, my children."

Horus had never expected that his old father would catch him and his brothers red-handed while they were holding a little meeting.

But that wasn't the point.

There were two key points.

First, Father hadn't blamed him, which meant he was still Father's centaur!

The second point was also the most troublesome.

The reception was a bit too grand.

He had originally planned to call a few brothers he was close to, but now things didn't seem quite right.

Fifteen brothers had returned so far, and Father had named seven.

More than half the Primarchs!

Who on earth is on that planet for Father to place such importance on him?

Of course, that still wasn't the most important thing.

The most important thing was the chain reaction that followed.

"Father, may I go?"

It was the Angel.

The most perfect of all the brothers.

Sanguinius of the Blood Angels.

The others were all astonished to hear that the Archangel wanted to go.

Did this brother, who loved eating fruit every day, also like joining in the fun?

"Did you see something?" Guilliman asked.

Sanguinius nodded.

"Yes."

Father had actually agreed?!

But the Emperor had his own considerations.

He was sending Horus because he wanted to see how Curze, raised under Old Han's guidance, differed from Horus.

Horus could be called his finest son. The Emperor was confident of that.

He was sending Roboute to see how the two children, both taught by their elders, differed.

He was sending Sanguinius because of the Blood Angels' genetic flaw.

Perhaps Old Han had a way?

Perhaps.

The Emperor didn't know that, as he made these arrangements, Horus had already marked Curze as a dangerous figure in his mind.

One of the most dangerous among all their brothers.

On the same level as Guilliman.

Guilliman might threaten the stability of the Imperium, but this new brother was very likely to threaten Horus's place in Father's heart.

With the Emperor's approval, the other Primarchs set off. Of course, at this point in the Great Crusade, they all traveled light.

Nostramo, the Saviour Building.

This was the former site of Quintus Hive City, and the first building in front of Light-Bathed Square.

It was where the Eternal Night Justiciar Legion and Nostramo's relevant personnel worked.

Curze was attending to his daily official duties.

Suddenly, his head began to ache fiercely.

"Hsss... aagh!"

"Calm your mind and steady your will, my brother."

"I'd like to, but I think... I'm about to see something!" Curze said with difficulty.

"Take a deep breath."

The Night Haunter's voice rang out, followed by a cool sensation that spread through Curze's body.

Curze calmed down.

"What was that just now... what happened?"

"It's an ability we already had: seeing a fragment of the future. What did you see?"

"I saw a fleet, and a golden sun."

The Night Haunter was silent for a moment.

"Remember what I said? The Huangpizi's coming to make trouble at home."

"Then it looks like the Huangpizi really has cultivated into a spirit. Don't tell me he's coming to ask us to confer a title on him too?"

"Hahahaha, perhaps."

Konrad had said some time ago that the Huangpizi was coming, and now Curze had sensed it too. It seemed they were already very close.

He needed to give Dad a heads-up.

Meanwhile, Trazyn had returned to Han Mingxuan.

"Ready?"

"Yes. My most elite troops have already entered the planet, but they won't disturb ordinary people's lives."

The Necrons' technology really is overpowered. There wasn't the slightest news of them.

"Dad!"

"Oh, Uncle Trazyn's here too."

"Hello."

"Why are you rushing about? What happened?"

"The Huangpizi's come to ask for a title."

The Huangpizi?

Damn.

"You sensed it?"

"Yes."

"I see. Don't panic yet. Let's get the second phase of the project on track first."

"All right, you two carry on."

Curze pushed the door open and left the room, while Trazyn watched the direction he had gone.

"You've raised him well."

"The kid made something of himself," Han Mingxuan said with a smile.

"Hahaha, shall we begin?"

"Of course. Follow me."

Han Mingxuan led Trazyn to the Evolutionists' Adeptus Mechanicus headquarters on Nostramo.

The Evolutionist Technology Building.

"Father of Night."

"Archmagos Angrak, long time no see. Has everything been going smoothly lately?"

"Everything's going smoothly, except for the second phase of the planetary reconstruction plan and this... Necron."

The moment Angrak saw Trazyn, his mind froze.

As a former archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the leader of an entire faction, he knew about some secret matters.

The Necrons were one of them.

"Don't panic. This is my friend, and the main force behind the next phase of the planet's reconstruction."

Using Necron technology to reconstruct a planet?

What a truly crazy and bold idea!

"Oh, right, I'd like to borrow your laboratory to give my friend here a physical examination. Is that all right?"

"Of course. Please follow me."

The three of them arrived at the archmagos's laboratory, and Trazyn took out the body he had prepared for himself.

There was also a very elaborate outfit.

"Archmagos Angrak, check this body's vital signs. I'll handle the rest."

"All right."

Once the various tubes and wires were connected, Han Mingxuan took out a brush and waved it toward Trazyn.

"Come, quickly!"

A golden wisp of soul came into his hand, surrounded by fine strands of something black.

The curse of the C'tan.