Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

"Okay, how about we have had a competitive exchange before? No one died because of our actions, so this time we are tied. If you can't help it and want to vent your temper, don't do it to your innocent and weak subordinates, come to me, we are equals." The Lord of Glory still gave Boss Pi a way out.

"One day, I will defeat you!" Perturabo shouted back.

"Whatever you say, we'll handle future issues in the future." The Lord of Radiance pointed to the ruined city and said, "Why don't you quickly formulate a plan?"

Thus, as Perturabo sheathed his hammer, the first clash between the two ended. After this round of fighting, Perturabo seemed to undergo some indefinable change. From afar, the Emperor and Balder looked down upon Olympia. Perturabo's fate changed at that moment.

Chapter 182 Ferrus and the Raven King

"Very good, thanks to the outstanding and effective actions of the Raven Guard, we captured the planet five days ahead of schedule, and our losses were 5% less than expected. My brother is still very talented." Ferrus nodded with great satisfaction as he looked at the battle report in his hand.

"Father, Lord Clarkes did not reunite with us as agreed after completing his combat mission." Du Kain, the former commander of the Iron Hands Legion and now the second-in-command of the Legion, said to Ferrus with some concern.

"Really? Let me see, are they cleaning the planet of slave owners and criminals?" asked Ferrus.

"Yes, Lord Clarkes is doing this. Or rather, Lord Clarkes will do this every time our army conquers a planet. The title of the Avenging Crows has echoed throughout the galaxy. There is no doubt that this will increase the difficulty of our conquest of certain pocket empires. Moreover, the bureaucrats of Terra have also objected to our actions, believing that what we have done has exceeded the boundaries of the Legion. And they have already sent representatives here." Du Kain said with some embarrassment.

"My brother did the right thing. In the future, this planet will become a joint recruitment planet for the Iron Hands and the Raven Guard. How could we allow a group of rotten insects to affect the great crusade? We should support and understand the righteous actions of the Clarks brothers. Look at the planet they rule, it's a complete cage. Their existence is a blasphemy to the glory of the Empire!"

"As for increasing some difficulties? Haha, we are just solving some problems once and for all. The new human empire should not have room for these scum to survive. Their existence is like germs corroding the body of the empire. Therefore, in the spirit of being responsible for the future and mankind, I think we should do it more thoroughly." Ferrus snorted coldly.

"By the way, tell the blockade fleet outside that the battle is not over yet and prevent the Terra delegation from arriving. They can only come in with my permission! That's it!" Ferrus ordered.

"As you command, my father," Dukain said, bowing. He then left the Primarch's room.

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"Well, it's really good." Ferrus took a deep breath and sat upright on his throne. He was very satisfied with his life now. The new brother was very compatible with his temperament. Although he was a little taciturn, he obeyed orders. The two legions cooperated very well. The Iron Hands was responsible for frontal combat, while the Raven Guard was responsible for infiltration, guerrilla warfare, and interspersed operations. They disintegrated the enemy from the darkness. The cooperation between the two sides was very tacit. This made the battles that were originally difficult to fight become simple. During the repeated cooperation, Ferrus also made changes to his original combat system, such as increasing the number of fast and mobile troops. He focused on resisting the enemy's infiltration and special operations.

The two Primarchs often exchanged views during their free time. During these conversations, Krakux was impressed by Ferrus's technological prowess. Ferrus, in turn, recognized Krakux's inherent pursuit of kindness and justice, believing this glimmer of humanity was lacking within the Iron Hands. He believed his Legion's overreliance on technology and steel needed to be corrected, which was why Ferrus supported some of Krakux's actions.

Ferrus and Russ communicated frequently. In a recent exchange, Russ had boasted to Ferrus about the battle between the Space Wolves and the VII Legion, sharing a wealth of combat data. Afterward, Ferrus, eager to see the prey, analyzed the battle with Russ.

Regarding the Imperial Fists' performance, Ferrus commented that their defenses were decent, but that was about it. The reason was simple: the Iron Hands and the Imperial Fists were both materialistic, and Ferrus was far more familiar with that than Dorn. Currently, the Iron Hands were superior to the Imperial Fists in terms of technology, tactics, and direct combat. Ferrus's assessment of Dorn was that his skill level was average, but he needed improvement.

Afterward, Ferrus studied the Space Wolves' tactics and performance. If everyone focused solely on frontal attacks, and if the enemy's psychic abilities weren't too extreme (Balder shouldn't be involved, after all, throwing Titans directly behind your defenses wouldn't be enough for anyone!), Ferrus believed he could still defeat the Space Wolves.

But Ferrus had to admit that the Space Wolves' frontal capabilities had greatly improved, and their maneuvering tactics were also very good. This was good, on the one hand, because the Bear Gunship fleet could airdrop a large number of Space Marines at once. On the other hand, how should I put it, Ferrus had a vague feeling that the Space Wolves' warriors seemed to be able to achieve very good results when they were free to act or had fewer people, or even performed above their level.

To outsiders, the Space Wolves' battles seemed to rely on superior equipment and the psychic powers of their Rune Priests to crush their opponents. However, Ferrus disagreed, believing the Iron Hands' equipment was equally impressive, if not superior. Regarding psychic powers, truly exceptional psykers wouldn't be easily assigned to a squad. Ferrus sensed that the lack of restraint allowed the Wolf Cub's initiative to flourish. Their novel ideas always caused considerable trouble for the enemy. This was especially true for these so-called lone wolves. He feared not only the recklessness of wild wolves but also the cultured recklessness of these wild wolves.

Ferrus's Legion is characterized by a top-down, gestalt-like command system, with each company, even down to each soldier, assigned their own mission. Together, they form the Iron Hands, a sophisticated war machine. However, when unexpected events arise in combat, or when the chain of command falters, the Legion's efficiency is greatly reduced, and its flexibility is lacking. However, the Wolves, perhaps accustomed to the disconnected nature of warfare, are free to act, with considerable success. Ferrus, however, believes that his scions should be trained to handle complex situations independently.

Afterwards, Ferrus and Rus discussed other matters. After learning that Rus had begun recruiting outside of Fenris, Ferrus decided to set up recruitment points on conquered planets to expand his army. A few weeks ago, Ferrus and Bader had spoken again, primarily discussing the development and production of the new Splendor-class battleship. Ferrus had expressed great interest in this class of battleship, and they discussed subsequent technical issues.

Ferrus felt fulfilled, as his forces shattered alien empires one after another, and his empire's territory continued to expand. Meanwhile, through interactions with his allies, Ferrus felt that he and his legion had grown stronger. He also enjoyed this kind of life: fighting enemies and researching together with his brothers. And when things got tough, they could even taunt some of the guys together.

"Sir, Lord Clarks said that the cleanup has been completed." Half a moment later, Ferrus received a report from his subordinates.

"Alright, have the Terran bureaucrats arrive at the space station we just occupied. I'll be waiting there. Also, inform my brother and ask him to consider attending this meeting," Ferrus instructed. Normally, Clarks disliked attending such meetings, especially since the Terran envoys were clearly demanding accountability. However, out of courtesy, Ferrus informed Clarks. Meanwhile, Clarks was happily tearing the last slave owner to pieces.

"We've finally cleansed this planet of its cancer. We've left the Empire a clean world. Those despicable creatures won't transform themselves into Imperial bureaucrats and continue to corrupt human society." Clarks breathed a sigh of relief. "Have the ordinary people settled in? Have their new homes, food, and clothing been prepared?" Clarks then asked his descendants.

Clarks is enjoying his current life because he saved many fellow miners on the planet of salvation. He has always believed that incorporating a planet into the Empire's territory is not true salvation. Only after all the evil people on the planet are eliminated can it be truly saved. Of course, someone reminded him that there will be new evil people in the future. Clarks' answer is also simple: just clean it up again, and he claims that this is his mission as the heir of the Emperor!

"It has been arranged, my lord," replied Galt, also from the Savior Planet. While cruel to tyrants and slave owners, Clarks was also very considerate of the people. Sometimes, in order to gather sufficient resources, he would even ask Ferrus for help. Ferrus almost always responded to Clarks' requests. The relationship between the two quickly evolved from cooperation to close friendship.

"Very good, my brother has sent a communication. The Terra delegation will be arriving soon. Obviously, some of our actions have caused their dissatisfaction. I shouldn't let my brother bear the pressure alone. Except for leaving behind unwanted personnel, prepare to recover all other legion members." Clarks ordered.

"Sir, Captain Sharokin seems to be missing." Gelt said after a moment of hesitation.

"The war is over, how could he be missing?" Clarks said with a frown.

"Captain Sharokin turned off his communicator and locator, and seemed to be doing something." said another heir.

"This kid." Clarks was clearly speechless about his beloved general. However, it was obvious that he couldn't wait for the captain's return. After leaving someone in charge, he and his team boarded a Bear gunship and prepared to return to the fleet.

That's right, the Raven Guard now also possesses Bear gunships. While technically, these valuable war machines don't belong to the Raven Guard, they do have full rights to their use... After Clarks joined Ferrus's expeditionary fleet, Ferrus simply handed over five of the first batch of 20 Bear gunships to Clarks. Clarks couldn't let go of these things. They were perfect for the Raven Guard!

Just as Clarks was leading his large army back, in a ruin more than ten kilometers away from here, the famous Raven of the Raven Guard was confronting a guy wearing a robe embroidered with gold and blue patterns.

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"Emmmm." Sharokin, who always made others depressed, was depressed for the first time today. After completing the mission, Sharokin and his team were about to return. As a result, in the ruins, Sharokin received a message that there was a sneaky guy around. After hesitating for a moment, Sharokin decided to let his subordinates go back and go to take a look himself.

Then, in a refugee camp, Sharokin spotted this guy, who seemed to be conducting some kind of investigation. To avoid accidental injury, Sharokin decided to wait until he left the camp before taking action. To prevent being exposed, he also disabled his communication and positioning systems. Then, after the guy left the camp, Sharokin took action!

Sharokin's plan was simple: advance, knock the man unconscious with the hilt of his sword, and bring him back to the Legion. The plan was simple, and Sharokin was quite adept at it. To his surprise, at the final moment of his charge, he was spotted. Although the man struggled to hold his ground at first, after a brief but intense exchange, this fellow, also wielding a longsword, forced Sharokin back.

Then the two men fell into a depressed state. Sharokin was surprised that his attack was unsuccessful, and the guy opposite was obviously shocked. He didn't expect that his attack failed to take down the attacker.

"Raven Guard, we shouldn't be enemies." The newcomer spoke.

"Tell me your origins, stranger." Sharokin clenched his swords and prepared to turn on the communication device. However, when he turned it on, he was surprised to find that his communication device was interfered with.

"Orion, the special envoy of the Imperial Chamberlain's Office." The visitor thought for a moment and said with a smile.

"The Chamber of the Adeptus Custodes? Why are you here?" Sharokin frowned. He had heard of this department before, or rather, he had heard of it through the Primarch's guards. It had come up during a conversation between Russ, Ferrus, and their own Primarch, Krakos. Russ had specifically mentioned a new organization established by the Emperor, one composed of individuals even more powerful than the Custodes. Ferrus had laughed it off, expressing his disbelief. After all, they knew the Custodes were powerful, with representatives in every Legion.

Chapter 183 The Emperor's Attendants and the Crows of Mourning

While the Legion's most elite members could defeat the Custodians in single combat, the average Custodian was far superior to the Legionnaires. If the Emperor had a dedicated organization comprised entirely of these individuals, how formidable would they be? Sharokin only learned of this while accompanying the Primarch, but it was never spread. And then, whether it was his good fortune or bad luck, he ran into them here today...

"I can't confirm your identity. This is the war zone under the charge of the Raven Guard and the Iron Hands. I will bring you to the Primarch." Sharokin actually believed most of what the other party said. After all, although the galaxy is huge, Sharokin has also seen the world. The guy in front of him is obviously worthy of the praise of Russ, the Primarch of the Space Wolves. He is really amazing!

"Will you fight me?" Orion said with a smile. "I've heard of your name, Crow of Death. One who brought shame upon the Luna Wolves. However, I'm afraid your encounter with me today is unfortunate." Orion's sword twitched slightly, and a hint of teasing lingered in his tone.

"I once fought the Custodians and defeated them. I cannot confirm your identity, so we are now enemies!" Sharokin said. Inspired by the Space Wolves' frequent sparring with the Custodians, and Ferrus's perception of the Iron Hands' weakness in close combat, after coordinating with the Custodians, "communication" between the Legionaries and the Custodians did occur. Sharokin was not exaggerating; he had truly won.

"Lord Krakos has left," Orion said. "So, if I win, you must cooperate with me. Crows of Death, your Primarch is in trouble. The Terran bureaucracy is deeply dissatisfied with your actions. They have not only sent an envoy, but have also reported all this to the Emperor. I will independently investigate all this and report back to him."

"......." These words put Sharokin under unprecedented pressure. It wasn't that the Emperor was personally investigating, but rather that this guy had openly told him his purpose. Clearly, they were confident they could capture him. Otherwise, they wouldn't have said it so directly! And if this guy was truly the Emperor's special envoy, wouldn't it be a grave mistake to take action on his own?

"I'm going to attack! You can use all your means at your disposal. Don't worry about the guilt of attacking an imperial envoy." Orion seemed to have guessed Sharokin's thoughts. He smiled, but his movements were not slow at all. He quickly transformed into a phantom and rushed towards Sharokin. The longsword in his hand even stabbed with a sonic boom.

"Too fast!" Sharokin, sensing the incoming attack with his superhuman senses, began to retreat. Even with his jetpack, he was still slower than the opponent. The man seemed to be flying through the air, his gaze fixed on him. But all this was within Sharokin's expectations. When he saw the shadowy figure within a few meters, he threw a stasis grenade...

The Stasis Position instantly locked onto the target, imprisoning the target and everything around them. However, just when Sharokin thought the situation was settled, a warning in his heart saved him, and a figure appeared out of nowhere beside him.

"You're being unsportsmanlike," Orion said with a smile, then thrust his lightning-tinged sword at Sharokin, who immediately parried the blow with his twin swords. But that wasn't the end of it. With a flash of movement, two identical clones appeared before Sharokin, charging forward. Just as Sharokin was about to activate his jetpack, one of the clones reached out and yanked, a force so powerful it negated the power, instantly pulling Sharokin forward.

"Psychic!" Sharokin realized he was facing not just a skilled warrior, but a master of psychic powers. As he pulled closer, Sharokin unleashed a melta grenade, but unfortunately, it was pushed aside by a repulsive force. Next, Orion casually threw a stasis grenade, attempting to restrain Sharokin. However, at that moment, Sharokin, already possessed by psychic power, suddenly transformed into a dark shadow and vanished from Orion's sight.

"Interesting! He's awakened his psychic powers." Orion was also somewhat shocked by the change before his eyes. It was clear that Sharokin was a potential psychic, and in battle, he had awakened his psychic talents. (The Raven Guard's Shadow Step is actually a form of psychic power, a passive psychic power that can erase their existence from ordinary consciousness. After all, detection equipment and psychics can still detect Raven Guard in the shadows.)

The newly awakened spirit caused Sharokin pain. He felt a confusion he had never experienced before. Countless voices from the highest heavens echoed within him, and countless indescribable beings sought to approach him. They were filled with malice. Sharokin tried to stop them, but to no avail. In the infinite distance, a blue ocean and a golden sun dispelled all traces. Sharokin gradually regained consciousness.

"This boy will become a great man." In the dark, Sharokin heard a voice coming from the blue ocean in the distance.

"Lucky guy." Orion also stopped attacking. Obviously, the sudden awakening of psychic power made Sharokin weak. Facing this excellent Raven Guard, Orion extended a helping hand, took out a bottle of liquid from his pocket, and gave it to Sharokin.

"So I'm the winner now, isn't that too much?" Orion spoke after a few minutes' rest. Honestly, Sharokin was one of the toughest Legionnaires he'd ever faced. Unlike Ramon, who was elevated from the Custodians, Orion, descended from a family of Navigators, was considerably weaker than Ramon. Even with the strength of his Ascension and sufficient training, Orion couldn't defeat Sharokin in a simple duel of martial arts and melee combat. However, the Navigator's superior psychic foundation made his psychic powers even more powerful than Ramon's, allowing him to cast a wide variety of psychic spells with ease. Coupled with his extensive equipment, he was confident he could defeat Sharokin.

However, the outcome was somewhat beyond Orion's expectations. Did he win the battle? Of course, he did, but Orion felt it was unfair. Of course, fulfilling the Emperor's orders was paramount.

"You should know I'm truly the Emperor's special envoy," Orion said. "So tell me about the situation after you occupy this planet, including the population, industry, and plans for restoring production." Orion then produced a special identification device used by the Custodians. The Office of the Adeptus Regiment had only just been established and hadn't yet developed its own comprehensive system, so for many things, they would simply use the Custodians' identification device.

"So, what do you want me to help you with?" Sharokin asked. When Orion produced his Guards ID card, Sharokin had little choice. Orion hadn't produced it earlier, perhaps just for fun. Now, it was time to get down to business.

"I disagree with the envoys from the Terran government. They believe that the Legion's actions have crossed a certain line. But all this has not yet been recognized by the Emperor and the Sigillite. The Emperor would rather understand the current situation of the conquered planets and make an assessment of future production and development. If the conquered planets can resume production in a shorter period of time and support the Great Crusade, then everything will not be a problem. So, do you understand?" Orion said.

What is the Emperor's primary concern right now? The progress of the Great Crusade and the production of every human world. While the Imperium of Mankind is formidable, it is also plagued by dangers, from the Chaos Gods far away to the Randan xenos near at hand. This forces the Emperor to prioritize pragmatism. As for the power struggles between the Legions and Terran bureaucrats, the Emperor is not particularly concerned. Simply put, whatever it takes to speed up the restoration of production on a planet is the solution. As the Emperor's special emissary, Orion's mission is to gather relevant information and bring it to the attention of the Emperor.

"Can I report all this to the Primarch?" asked Sharokin.

"Of course not," said Orion.

"A company commander is missing, the Raven Guard cannot fail to respond." said Sharokin.

"Your Primarch and most of your personnel will be communicating with the Terra delegation in the next few days and will not be able to take care of this place for the time being. As for responding? I don't think it will be easy for other Raven Guard to find me." Orion said with a smile.

"Are there any other people among you?" asked Sharokin.

"You ask too many questions, Raven Guard."

"Okay, take a break and get back to work. I need to evaluate the industry, personnel and other conditions of this planet." Orion was obviously not interested in continuing to chat with Sharokin.

"Okay, I will cooperate with you to a limited extent. I can help you understand the situation of this planet without leaking the Legion's secrets. Because the latter is not within the scope of your work, and after you complete your investigation, I need to contact the Primarch as soon as possible." Sharokin said.

"Okay." Orion nodded.

So, on this newly annexed planet, just as an Emperor's envoy "enlisted" Sharokin to begin his mission, Clarks and Ferrus prepared to meet with the Imperial representative. As Orion had said, Clarks had encountered a significant problem. If he mishandled it, a reprimand from the Emperor and the Imperial administration would be inevitable.

------------

"I can't stand the harm those cancers are doing to human society. Besides, you said that the Space Wolves are doing similar things. Why can they do it?" After hearing what Ferrus said, Clarks said very dissatisfiedly.

"This matter is a bit complicated. On the one hand, many of the things they do are in secret. And both Russ and Balder have very good relations with the Sigillite. On the other hand, the Space Wolves have a relatively independent logistics supply system and have obtained the support of the Mechanicus. They don't care about the reprimands from the Imperial government departments." Ferrus said.

Is a reprimand from the Imperial Administration serious? Well, for Legions whose Primarchs haven't returned, it certainly is. But for Legions whose Primarchs have returned, it can be quite troublesome, too. The fundamental reason is that the vast majority of Legions still rely on the Imperial administrative system for their supplies. When the Imperial Administration issues a reprimand, it essentially signals a red flag in the relationship between the two parties. Supply and logistics issues may arise, and some matters may be difficult to handle. After all, you can't just turn to the Emperor and the Sigillite for every problem, and the Sigillite may not be tolerant of certain Primarchs.

But the Space Wolves were different from other Legions. Russ truly considered the Sigillite his uncle. And Balder was the Sigillite's last disciple. Generally, unless something truly serious happened, the Imperial administration would turn a blind eye to the Space Wolves' actions. After all, your boss was their teacher. How could you possibly win this lawsuit?

Even more bizarrely, there was one time when someone high up in the Imperial hierarchy sued the Space Wolves for overreaching. Before that, somehow, the Space Wolves knew about it and, instead, accused them of condoning corruption and bribery! And then they brought the case down... It was like someone was suing me from the sidelines.

Even more crucially, the Space Wolves possessed their own fiefdoms, and Balder's farming skills were truly impressive. Not only were the Space Wolves now self-sufficient in armaments, but they also earned significant foreign exchange through exports. Even if the General Staff and Terran higher-ups cut off their supplies, it wouldn't affect the Space Wolves' operations. Furthermore, some things couldn't be done to the last resort. After all, you could create obstacles, but you couldn't deny them anything. Regarding the issue of supplies and treatment, the Space Wolves petitioned again, and this time, their petition was undoubtedly successful.

Therefore, unless the Space Wolves did something unbearable to the Emperor, the Terran High Command was left with no recourse, and ultimately, a simple act of turning a blind eye. Furthermore, while the Space Wolves may have had issues with certain Terran High Commanders, they maintained a very good relationship with the Imperial Navy and the Vandal Auxiliary Forces. Generally, both generals and soldiers who had worked with the current Space Wolves held them in high regard.

Ferrus, while not as close to the Sigillite as the Sigillite, still had sufficient production capacity and supplies, and didn't particularly care about the Terran higher-ups. However, Clarkes was different. Clarkes lacked connections and a supply system of his own. A reprimand from Terra would have been quite powerful, and Ferrus's own industrial capacity was sufficient to supply the Iron Hands, but it would have been difficult to support two Legions. Therefore, this matter presented a challenge.

Chapter 184: Legion, Bureaucracy, and the Emperor 1

"Well, my brother, your actions have earned my support. Now that you've landed in trouble for them, I will certainly not sit idly by," Ferrus said comfortingly after his explanation. In truth, as a Primarch, if he were willing to be more flexible and humble, some issues could be negotiated. But, to be honest, this clearly didn't sit well with Ferrus. He was fed up with the corruption and inefficiency of the Imperial bureaucracy. Clarks, on the other hand, was unwilling to abandon his original intentions, resulting in a delegation from the Terran high command. The two sides held a final round of negotiations. Meanwhile, the matter had been reported to the Emperor, and Orion was investigating on his behalf.

"My lord, everything is ready. You may see the Primarch at any time," an attendant said to Admiral Thomas. If nothing unexpected happened, this high-ranking Terran bureaucrat would soon assume command of a sector's Imperial Navy and concurrently serve as Governor of a sub-sector. The prospect of a pre-sector fleet commander meeting the Primarch forced Ferrus and his men to exercise caution. (Sectors are vast; for example, the famous Gothic War erupted within a single sector.)

"Alright, send a request to the two Primarchs. We'll be leaving now." Thomas stood up. His towering frame, over two meters tall, made him look no shorter than the Space Marines. In fact, as the reserve commander of the Sector Fleet, Thomas himself had a distinguished record. He was also an excellent warrior. His modified body and awakened psychic powers made him a formidable fighter. He once tore through an Ork boss that had boarded his flagship with his bare hands, and then led his guards to crush the enemy.

(Body modification is common in the Empire, and many modified individuals are no weaker than Space Marines. After all, in Warhammer, there are Inquisitors who can banish 888 in single combat. Interested readers can look at the story of Inquisitor Hector Rex banishing Angras in the later stages of the Siege of Vraks.)

"Your Excellency, the actions of the two Primarchs have seriously challenged the authority of Terra. The Legion should be the sword in the hands of the Empire and should not interfere in the governance of the planet. I hope you can uphold this principle at the meeting." The deputy envoy beside him said to Thomas.

"Challenging Terra's authority?" Thomas sneered. Though also from Terra, he was a different branch of the bureaucrats around him. Thomas was one of the earliest followers of the Emperor, witnessing the unification of Terra and the Legion's march to the stars. He had fought alongside many Legions, and his perspective differed from that of these newer bureaucrats.

"Lord Lano, whether the Legion's actions challenge Terra's authority is not for you to define, and of course, it is not for me to define it either. As for why I joined this mission, it is because some of our ideas are the same as yours. But at the same time, there are some ideas that we do not agree on." Thomas said calmly.

"grown ups......."

"Okay, just express your opinions when facing the Primarch," said Thomas.

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"My lord, that is Admiral Thomas. We once fought alongside his fleet. He is a very outstanding naval commander, a wise man, and a warrior. He is one of the original members of the Imperial Navy. Although he has been sent out, he can still contact the Sigillite and even the Emperor himself." When meeting the Terra delegation, Ducain, who was following Ferrus, said to his Primarch.

"It seems this matter is going to be more troublesome," Ferrus thought to himself. Although Ferrus could never achieve the smooth tactics of Horus, his own level was still up to par. Having encountered people like Balder before, Ferrus did not look down on so-called "mortals". Even the first time he saw Thomas, he realized that this man was someone worthy of admiration. Although he was not a Space Marine, he was no less than an ordinary Legionary. As he walked, he revealed a murderous aura. His actions were swift and decisive and quite thoughtful. And a commander who could get Ducain's endorsement must have a very outstanding record. In Ferrus's view, it was normal for such a person to gain the attention of his father.

It was clear that the Primarchs were worried that if they were to receive a reprimand from their father, the situation would be extremely dire. Punishment was one thing, but at least the returning Primarchs still held the Emperor in high esteem. Ferrus also vaguely felt that he might have been a little too indulgent with his younger brother. Or perhaps he had gotten a little carried away. His father had just asked him to take care of his younger brother, and this was the result.

"If Father really ordered a reprimand, Horus would probably be beaming, right?" Ferrus sighed inwardly. However, Ferrus wasn't one to shy away from questions. He simply didn't care much for high-ranking Terran officials, but he did take those with direct access to the "Holy Ear." As for Clarks beside him? This newly returned young brother didn't seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

As expected, after the two sides began their talks, Clarks first started arguing with the delegation's deputy, Lord Rano, while Ferrus and Admiral Thomas remained somewhat silent.

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"We are the descendants of the Emperor and the saviors of mankind. Our mission is to free every civilian from the tyranny of slave owners and warlords. Obviously, everything I do is in accordance with my father's teachings. I will never accept that those hateful guys can easily change their allegiance and become a member of the Empire just because of surrender, and then continue their rule." Clarks said angrily.

"Respected Primarch, how to punish these guys is the business of the Terra Administrative Council and the Legal Department. The Legion is the Emperor's sharp sword. It should not interfere in other matters. This is procedurally illegal. Under the Emperor's will, we make laws, and laws must be obeyed. This is true for everyone. Some of your actions clearly violate the law. Of course, the Emperor is merciful and tolerant of some of the things you do out of righteous indignation. However, it is obvious that you have done too much in some things." Lord Lano said.

In Lord Rano's opinion, the Terran Council and the Judiciary were quite tolerant of the Primarch's returning legions, turning a blind eye to the occasional incident. However, Clarks' actions were so numerous that they became unbearable. Hence, the arrival of this envoy, a significant event even for the Primarch.

"I don't think I did anything wrong. I've looked up a lot of information on the Empire's worlds that surrendered and then rebelled. One of the important reasons is that the rulers of those worlds continued to oppress the local people after surrendering, and even intensified it. In this situation, the local people could no longer tolerate it and launched a rebellion. Therefore, I believe that these cancers must be eliminated, which will reduce the cost of the Empire's rule over these worlds. Many things have proved my idea." Clarks had made preparations before this meeting, or when chatting with Russ, the latter reminded Terra that the relevant departments might cause trouble for him, so Clarks was also prepared to speak.

"There are many reasons for the riots. Even the rebellions in many worlds were caused by excessive killing. The Eighth and Ninth Legions are notorious for this (the Ninth Legion had a very bad reputation before the return of the angels). And now, your Excellency the Primarch, I don't want to add the name of the Nineteenth Legion at the end when discussing certain things in the future." Lano said. Originally, he was going to talk about the Sixth Legion again, but after thinking about it, he decided to forget it...

"Don't compare my legion with these two legions. They are executioners, and my legion is liberators!" Clarks said angrily.

A protracted argument ensued, with neither side unconvinced. Ferrus, though occasionally expressing his agreement with Clarks, watched Admiral Thomas. He realized that, despite being the representative of the diplomatic corps, his perspective differed significantly from Lano's. Ferrus sensed that Admiral Thomas was waiting for an opportunity.

"The Space Wolves are doing similar things, but you didn't reprimand them. Is it because I look easier to bully?" When Clarks said this, Admiral Thomas finally spoke.

"Actually, from my perspective, I agree with what Lord Clarks has done. I was once a slave on Terra, and the Emperor ultimately saved us and led us from Terra into the interstellar sea," Admiral Thomas said slowly. "Those slave owners, warlords, and cultists should be dealt with. There's no doubt about that."

"The Terran Council believes that the actions of the two Primarchs have interfered with the normal work of the Council and made future conquests difficult, which is indeed true. In fact, if you look at the statistics, you can find that when facing the human pocket empires of the 10th and 19th Legions, their probability of surrender is decreasing. However, the price the two legions need to pay to conquer a world is increasing. Two Primarchs, do you understand what I mean?" Thomas said.

"My legion is willing to take responsibility for the problems caused by this, and the Imperial Iron Fist will smash them to pieces," said Clarks.

"You obviously don't understand the point of what I said." Admiral Thomas said somewhat helplessly, then turned to Ferrus. "What do you mean, Lord Ferrus?"

"I understand what you mean." Ferrus nodded. "Actually, my father doesn't care about the quarrel between us and the Council. He cares about the progress of the Great Crusade and the associated costs. Am I right? Because the Space Wolves can currently support the expenses of the expedition, some of their actions are allowed. But it seems that we can't, is that right, General Thomas?"

Ferrus' words surprised Clarks and Lano. Neither of them had imagined that this was the reason Admiral Thomas, the Emperor's chief lieutenant, had come here on behalf of the Emperor! Lano finally understood what Admiral Thomas had meant by his words before the meeting. Clarks, after a brief moment of shock, realized that his Legion's attrition was somewhat high. Besides normal combat, Clarks also used much of the Legion's supplies to improve the lives of the people on conquered planets. Sometimes, an industrial world could have a population of hundreds of millions...