The Imperium of Man?

"Have you finished talking?" Sanguinius looked at Lion El'Jonson, who was walking out from outside the Rock, somewhat surprised.

"You seem to have a lot to say, brother," Lion El'Jonson said. "But there's not much time left for us to catch up."

"I know that, Lion El'Jonson, but seeing you again after ten thousand years makes me feel almost disoriented. The Lion I remember is so different from the one I know now."

Compared to ten thousand years ago, the Lion now looks much older.

However, his personality is more composed, even gentle.

Compared to its youth, a young Lion is reliable but also sharp-tongued.

Older Lions now know when to bare their fangs.

Time always changes many things silently, something we can't change no matter what, but I'll always be your Big Brother.

"I may look old, but as long as humanity needs me, you'll know I'm no different from I was ten thousand years ago."

Sanguinius looked at his brother and smiled happily.

"I'm glad that time hasn't sealed your soul away, Lion El'Jonson."

Sanguinius had prepared himself to offer psychological counseling to his brother, but now it seemed unnecessary.

"Before I depart, I have a few questions I need to confirm with you."

Sanguinius laughed upon hearing this, "At least the fact that he interrogates everyone he meets hasn't changed."

Lion El'Jonson ignored the other's teasing and went straight to the point, "What do you know about the current Chancellor of the Imperium, Sinleech?"

Sanguinius remained silent.

"It seems my question was too pointed for the current Imperium."

Lion El'Jonson had already made up his mind.

Regardless of the deal between this seemingly Chaos Gods Imperium Chancellor and the Emperor, he needed to know.

This is to ensure that necessary measures are taken when necessary.

"Lion El'Jonson, I can't go into details about this; it's too complicated," Sanguinius said. "Perhaps you could ask your father."

Sanguinius already knew the answer to Sinleech's identity.

However, this answer is simply too difficult to understand.

Who would believe that Lord of Change could become the Imperium Chancellor and then spin another version of himself like a top?

"I will."

Holy Terra, Throne Room.

After waking up, Lion El'Jonson arrived at Terra as he had hoped. In fact, the journey to Terra went much more smoothly than Lion El'Jonson had expected.

That's incredibly fast.

Because they used the Phase shifting technology of the Necrons, it took the two of them less than three days to get here.

This is several levels faster than the fastest Warp travel technology the Imperium of Man has ever achieved.

Before entering the Throne Room, Lion El'Jonson asked Sanguinius one last question.

"I don't remember the Blood Angels having any Xenos technology."

Sanguinius did not answer Lion El'Jonson's question, or rather, everything would be answered once he entered the Throne Room.

"Oh dear, look who's here! The eldest son of the Imperium of Man, the Warmaster of the Imperium Secundus."

Just hearing those words made Lion El'Jonson tense.

The Imperium Secundus, which is not recorded in any way, is Lion El'Jonson's secret. Why would this person in front of him know this?

Lion El'Jonson looked at the man standing next to the Golden Throne, the current Imperium Chancellor.

However, the presence of this person in front of him made Lion El'Jonson feel very strange.

Although the other party is the current Chancellor, he doesn't exude any sense of pressure befitting a person in a position of power.

He seemed more like a noble gentleman taking a leisurely stroll here.

"You are the Imperium Chancellor?"

"If you think you can get information out of me by asking questions you already know the answer to, then I think you've been sleeping too long and your brain has become rusty."

We're all smart people, let's speak frankly and openly.

"Are you some kind of Warp God?"

"Hehehe, I am indeed a god, but not the god you know," Sinleech said. "Now it's your father-son time, I won't disturb you."

He simply vanished from Lion El'Jonson's sight.

"Father, is the Imperium know still the Imperium I once dedicated everything to?"

Lion El'Jonson knelt on one knee and asked his father.

A grand voice echoed in Lion El'Jonson's mind, carrying a hint of relief.

"Lion El'Jonson, my eldest son, since the end of that Horus Heresy, the Imperium of Man has endured ten thousand years of turmoil, but now humanity will usher in a new era of light."

Humanity will usher in the light.

Lion El'Jonson never expected to hear such words from Emperor in this era.

"You're more optimistic than before, Father."

"That's true, Lion El'Jonson. Many significant events have occurred in the Imperium of Man during this period, enough to propel humanity toward a true future."

"For example, the Father of Night, or the Imperium Chancellor?"

"Yes, as you know, the Father of Night himself has brought immeasurable changes to the entire Imperium."

"And what about the Chancellor?"

"He is the Lord of Changes."

"..."

Lion El'Jonson simply asked a question out of habit, in his mind the current Imperium Chancellor was at most a Daemon- possessed person.

Who knew it would be the Lord of Changes himself!

As expected, I had underestimated the Emperor's charisma.

Perhaps this truly is a kind of courage.

"Who else knows about this?"

Lion El'Jonson now needs to assess the likelihood of this information being leaked, and how to handle the situation should it be leaked.

"I, Father of Night, you and your brothers."

Hmm, that's something worth considering.

"Including Sanguinius?"

"Including him."

"Besides the two of us?"

"And Magnus and Mortarion."

"Who?!"

Even though Lion El'Jonson's temper had improved a lot over the past ten thousand years, he still couldn't believe it was true when he heard those two names.

"Are you... still my father?" Lion El'Jonson asked.

The question he asked was no different from that of a traitor, but now Lion El'Jonson had no choice but to ask.

Is the man on the Golden Throne still his own father?

Is he still the Emperor of the Imperium of Man?

Or perhaps, the one currently sitting on the Golden Throne is merely a Chaos Gods who has borrowed his father's corpse to seize the opportunity to replace the Imperium of Man?

Or perhaps the former Emperor has become Chaos Gods, or maybe the Emperor is already dead?

If this conjecture is true, is the current Imperium still a human Imperium?

"Of course I am, Lion El'Jonson. The changes in the Imperium of Man are far too great for you; you need time to adjust."

"If you want to understand what's happening in the Imperium, go and take a look at the Administratum. You'll understand once you see what's there."

"Furthermore, I will announce your return to the entire Imperium, after which you will lead your Legions to Old Nostramo and find Curze."

"What's this about Curze? Didn't he die ten thousand years ago?!"

"Never mind, I'll find out for myself."

Compared to the two Daemon Princes the Emperor had sent him to deal with in the Administratum, Curze's Resurrection was actually good news.

This is probably good news.

"How did your conversation with your father go?" Sanguinius asked.

"You withheld crucial information from me, Sanguinius. Given the current state of the Imperium's high command, I remain skeptical of your loyalty."

This was something Sanguinius hadn't anticipated.

"Don't think like that, Lion El'Jonson. There are many things I can tell you but you won't believe them. Only seeing them with your own eyes will be convincing."

"Look on the bright side, you've slept for so long, your mind needs to clear up a bit."

"All I feel right now is a headache, Sanguinius!"

Lion El'Jonson was certain that Sanguinius was real, and this infuriating feeling was exactly the same as it had been ten thousand years ago.

However, this means that the situation is still under control.

That's ridiculous.