"The lord said Calgar brought him a gift," Sicarius organized his thoughts before speaking. "I wanted to ask, Phicris, do you know what kind of gift it was?"
A hint of bewilderment appeared on Phicris' resolute, broad face, and he shook his head.
"What kind of gift? I've never heard the lord mention this matter."
Sicarius observed Phicris' expression, capturing every subtle change in his demeanor, to confirm that he wasn't lying.
They had known each other for decades, and Sicarius understood Phicris well.
Phicris was a straightforward person, finding it difficult to hide his inner thoughts.
Because of his lack of cunning, his emotions were usually displayed openly on his face.
Judging by his appearance, it was clear that even he was unaware of this matter.
It seemed the secrecy surrounding this matter was quite high.
Even he and Phicris didn't know.
Sicarius realized he wouldn't get an answer and decided not to waste any more time.
Leaving the confused Phicris behind, he turned and left.
After Sicarius had gone far, Phicris turned his head to look at the Honour Guard member beside him.
"You know, should we give a gift too? Maybe the lord hopes someone will give him a gift? After all, he lived ten thousand years ago, and I know from some books..."
"...that during the Great Crusade, his mother would still celebrate his birthday with him and give him gifts. Maybe even the Emperor at that time would give him gifts."
"Now the Emperor hasn't stirred for ten thousand years, and the Primarch's mother has long since left this world, so no one gives him gifts anymore. That's why he seemed very happy when Calgar gave him one."
Phicris, wearing his power armour, spoke with a serious tone, as if stating a profound truth.
The Honour Guard member in Terminator Armour turned his head to look at the speaking Phicris, an invisible giant question mark hovering above his head.
Give a gift??
To the Primarch??
And celebrate a birthday??
These questions were truly a bit beyond the comprehension of their simple minds.
Fighting orks, engaging Chaos, killing traitors – they were very good at that.
But giving gifts and celebrating birthdays fell into a blind spot of their understanding.
"Perhaps you should ask Reddy. She is the Primarch's economic advisor, constantly moving between the Empire's fringe worlds and the Imperial bureaucracy. She is also a normal human, so she might know about these things."
The Honour Guard member said.
"That makes sense."
Phicris nodded, agreeing with the suggestion.
Realizing who he should seek out, Phicris told the others to stay at their posts.
He himself headed for the bar on the Macragge's Glory to find Reddy.
The Gloriana-class Battleship Macragge's Glory was over twenty kilometers long, essentially a mobile space city.
It housed a large number of crew, ordinary soldiers, tech-priests, Knights, and servants, among others.
Besides combat units, there were also people in the cultural sphere such as record-keepers, artists, composers, and Ecclesiarch Priests.
The crusade launched by Guilliman was not just a war; it was also a great movement to reform the Imperium of Man.
The most important aspect of the reform was to change humanity from its fundamental ideology.
To restore humanity's former confidence.
For this, Guilliman could only bring along these artists, composers, and others, allowing them to travel to every world on his behalf to preach his ideals and get the populace to cooperate with the Imperial forces in remaking the worlds.
Public opinion was truly a very important thing.
Tell a lie a thousand times, and someone will eventually believe it is true.
Guilliman needed to ensure control of the narrative was in his hands, to stand on the moral high ground, so that he could deal with the Imperial bureaucracy with ease.
There were also the record-keepers; their role was equally significant.
They were responsible for documenting every event and writing a complete history of the Imperium.
History was a very useful thing.
People could learn a lot from history, thereby preventing the species from falling into the same traps again.
With so many ordinary people, there was naturally a need for a place to relax.
During a monotonous journey, a simple bar where one could drink freely was undoubtedly the most relaxing place.
The bar, as usual, was packed with people.
Besides the record-keepers, poets, artists, and composers, off-duty crew and soldiers also gathered here, hoping for a brief moment of relaxation.
Some people here were listening to stories, others were watching performances. There were also some in the dark corners enjoying lewd revelry.
Everyone was chattering incessantly.
Men and women occupied every table, most were playing cards, and some more enthusiastic individuals were giving impassioned speeches.
An Ecclesiarch Priest was in a corner of the bar, preaching the deeds of the Emperor to the people.
"The Emperor said 'Let there be light', so that my people may live, and thus there was light in the dark universe."
"The Emperor's power is unimaginable. He deeply loves every human, and even though he suffered greatly for humanity, he never gave up on this."
"Those regiments from Natar are really amazing; they have achieved the most victories so far."
"It is said that a young man named Hawk, when the entire front line collapsed, carried the Aquila Standard and counter-charged, single-handedly pulling the defeat back into a victory. Just hearing about it makes you feel how awesome it is."
Several men and women who looked like soldiers were discussing the news they had heard while playing cards.
"The new economic model should be controlled more by the Imperium and not by the various noble houses."
"How long do you think the Primarch will take to win this campaign?"
Reddy was also in the bar; her unique wildness and untamed aura attracted the attention of many members of the opposite sex.
She was one of Guilliman's many advisors and strategists.
She specialized in economics, responsible for researching a systematic economic operating method to help the Primarch control the Imperium's economy.
"May I have this dance?" A man with slicked-back hair and a meticulously groomed appearance walked over and asked in a gentlemanly tone.
Reddy took a sip of the drink in her glass, then poured the rest of the wine onto the man's slick, immaculately styled hair.
"Don't waste my time. I'm not interested in an idiot like you. Go find a bitch who likes your pathetic little worm."
The red wine flowed down the man's head, and his expression quickly changed from startled to angry, his face instantly turning crimson.
"You insult me, woman! My name is Reginald, the Sixth Marquis of the Longshanks family. Apologize to me, or you will pay the price."
Reddy spat contemptuously onto the floor. "I refuse to apologize to an idiot."
"Die, bitch!" The man, enraged, raised his hand to slap her.
But his hand couldn't fall, as it was caught.
A large dark shadow loomed over him.
The argument here attracted a lot of attention.
Some people had been about to cheer, but now they all fell silent.
The two bartenders were so scared their faces turned pale, and they dared not speak.
Reginald turned his head and saw a primaris space marine in power armour standing behind him.
It was he who had stopped him from hitting Reddy.
"Phicris... Lord."
The man's words were slightly slurred due to fear.
"Bullying women is not very gentlemanly."
Phicris' voice was very low, full of oppressive force.
He released the man's slender hand, which could be torn off with a little force, and let him retreat into the crowd.
"I need your help, Reddy."
Phicris said.
"It's an honor, Phicris. Thank you for your help."
Reddy smiled.
"I was saving him. Your body is enhanced; if you had struck him, you would have injured him. I don't think the lord would want his economic advisor to be involved in a scandal of injuring someone."
Phicris said.
The man nearby heard this and his face turned even redder.
Being saved from a woman by a primaris space marine was undoubtedly a huge joke.
But Reddy and Phicris ignored him and walked straight out of the bar.
In the corridor outside the bar.
"I have a problem."
Phicris said.
"What problem?"
Reddy asked.
"The Primarch is preparing to celebrate his birthday."
Reddy: ????