While Datch was speaking, Erebus, clad in a dark-gray Type IV power armor, landed with a dull thud on the broken floor of the governor's residence.
The Mournival led by Horus and Abaddon,
the governor of Xenobia, and numerous Interex soldiers armed with spears and bows —
they all stared at Erebus with expressions filled with surprise and unease.
Erebus held the position of First Chaplain of the Word Bearers Legion and was also an outstanding politician and military strategist.
His status was equal to that of Abaddon, First Captain of the Sixteenth Legion.
Complex runes representing his various achievements were engraved on Erebus's armor.
This book records in detail how he rose from an obscure novice priest to the Legion's most trusted ally, and what he had done for the Legion and the faith along the way.
The multiple layers of intricate carvings form a personal chronicle carved into ceramite with iron and blood.
Erebus had come to the Sixteenth Legion carrying a mission from the Word Bearers.
The instructions had been issued by Lorgar himself, and only he knew of them.
Upon arriving aboard the Vengeful Spirit, Erebus witnessed Horus under pressure from multiple directions and being summoned by various Legions.
Not wanting to increase the commander's burden, he quietly set his own business aside.
Instead, he assumed the role of an unwavering, reliable, and selfless advisor.
This achievement earned him high evaluation within the Sixteenth Legion and the opportunity to join the core decision-making body of the Mournival and participate in various important decisions.
The fact that a chaplain of the Word Bearers Legion could infiltrate the most confidential decision-making body of the Luna Wolves showed just how popular and trusted Erebus was.
Seeing Erebus treated this way, Abaddon and the other Luna Wolves warriors openly displayed their anger and aimed their guns at the mysterious figure on the rooftop.
Their fingers were on the triggers. One pull and powerful explosives would erupt with force and tear the mysterious figure before them to pieces.
"How could they do this to Erebus?!"
Horus also let out a threatening growl.
Seeing his posture, the Interex soldiers tensed, and all became wary.
Horus regarded Lorgar as a close brother, a right-hand man, and a supporter who helped him.
Erebus was the most precious person to Lorgar. If anything happened to him, it would without doubt affect their brotherly relationship.
Lorgar would never blame Horus for Erebus's death.
However, the other party's dejection would wound Horus more than any condemnation or abuse.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Seeing that Horus was about to speak, Erebus seized the opportunity to spit blood and reveal a pitiful appearance.
Abaddon, Loken, and the other Luna Wolves became even more furious.
They would never forgive anyone who harmed their brother.
Although Erebus was not a Luna Wolf, Abaddon, Loken, and the other Luna Wolves regarded him as a brother.
If one's own brother suffered such injuries, the other party must be made to pay a heavy price in blood.
"A bunch of idiots."
Datch ignored the boltguns aimed at him and showed clear contempt without particular emphasis.
He jumped down from the high place, landed firmly beside Erebus, and stared intently at the faces of Horus, Abaddon, and the others.
"You get scammed and then have to help the other party count the money."
"What do you mean?" Horus furrowed his brows and asked. "How were we sold and then helped the seller count the money?"
"Did you order the attack on the Hall of Instruments of the Interex civilization?"
Datch did not answer; instead, he asked Horus a question.
"I only hope that the Interex will submit peacefully and have no intention of starting a new war. So how could I issue an attack order?"
Horus looked at the governor of Xenobia and began to explain.
The Primarch's voice was clearly calm.
Datch also turned toward the planetary governor and asked, "Then what was the reason you ordered the attack on the Imperial delegation?"
"Naturally, it was they who assaulted the Hall of Instruments, stole the Anathame, and murdered the guardian."
The planetary governor spoke with deep indignation. His voice was not loud, yet loud enough for everyone to hear clearly.
"Such actions are without doubt the work of Chaos."
"If we let them leave unharmed, the entire Interex civilization will surely be placed in danger."
"That's not true! It's all a misunderstanding!" Horus shouted in a voice desperately trying to explain.
"If we wanted to attack the Interex civilization, why would we attend this banquet?"
"You are trying to lower our guard so you can steal that evil weapon. If you launch a full-scale attack, we will destroy everything before we perish."
"You are the minions of Chaos and still want to use those weapons against those who continue to resist."
"We are humans — genuine humans," Horus explained. "Not anyone's minions."
"Understood." Datch interrupted the argument, regained control of the situation, and then slowly said, "Actually, the truth of all this is…"
While speaking, he raised his hand and slowly moved his outstretched finger.
Everyone's gazes were inevitably drawn to that finger; they wanted to know the truth.
Bang!
Someone pulled the trigger aimed at Datch. A sharp gunshot rang out, and the scene immediately fell into chaos.
In the intersection of the banquet hall's cold blue light and the warm yellow lamplight, Datch's head suddenly exploded.
The headless corpse stood motionless for the time of a single heartbeat.
Then his knees buckled, and he fell forward with a dull sound.
Everyone's eyes widened at the sudden turn of events.
In Erebus's heart an indescribable joy welled up.
Just a moment ago he had feared that his scheme would be exposed.
Now everything has settled.
That strange and mysterious figure is dead. And no one will know the truth.
His plan had succeeded.
"Fire! Kill these minions of Chaos!"
The planetary governor shouted at the top of his lungs.
His voice echoed through the banquet hall and snapped everyone out of their astonishment.
"For the Emperor, for Horus."
Abaddon roared in Cthonian.
The fact that he shouted in that language meant he no longer regarded this moment as a diplomatic opportunity and no longer saw the Interex as negotiation partners.
On the contrary, they were all regarded as enemies who must be completely eliminated.
He had hated these Interex ever since the Murder Planet operation.
How could humans associate with such despicable xenos?
Look at those damned Kinebrach. Better to be bombed than live in peace with them.
Abaddon hated everything about the Interex civilization.
We must attack thoroughly, teach these villains a lesson, and make them know that humanity is the supreme existence in the galaxy.
We will thoroughly enlighten the stubborn fools with warships and explosives.
"Wolf God, Wolf God."
Others joined in, chanting the honorific of the Wolf God Horus.
In the oral traditions of Cthonia, the Wolf God symbolizes war, hunting, and victory.
The Luna Wolves warriors had charged countless times while shouting this name and had won victory after victory for the Imperium.
Their slug guns were not aimed at the fallen body of Datch.
Looking at the Interex soldiers who were about to begin their attack,
just as both camps were about to be drawn into a bloody disaster and corpses were about to pile up like mountains,
another great roar rang out and broke the tense deadlock between the two sides.
"Wait..."
The mysterious man whose head should have been blown off by a single bullet somehow revived.
The original corpse vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed in the first place.
The Chaos cultists hiding in the shadows widened their eyes at the sight and gasped in surprise.
His head was blown off — how can he still be alive?!
Something is wrong, something is really wrong!
This is cheating! This is completely cheating!
Can the gods see this?
Hurry and come punish this damned fraud.
Horus and the Imperial people all showed expressions of surprise and watched in disbelief.
They were certain of what they had just seen. That mysterious man had had his head blown off by a single bullet.
The Interex people standing nearby were also shocked; their gazes toward Datch were filled with awe and unease.
The surroundings fell silent. No one opened their mouth; they merely stared at the mysterious man who had returned from death.
Damn… I got shot again. My vigilance is still insufficient.
Getting my head shot while trying to look cool is a real failure.
Datch cursed inwardly.
I feel I'm far from being a pro player.
As the Player, he did not care who had fired.
The ritual atmosphere he had painstakingly built — the sense that "the truth is about to be revealed" — had now completely vanished.
Datch stretched out his hand and used the power of the Reality Stone on the Infinity Gauntlet.
With a single thought, he forcibly dragged out the Luna Wolf who had just fired.
Datch opened the information panel and learned that the other party's name was Urran Gauk.
A warrior who had used explosives and a chainsword to fight numerous battles for the Emperor and the warlord and had won victory and glory.
He is also a member of a secret society and a Chaos cultist brainwashed by Erebus.
Datch used the Space Stone to lock the other party in mid-air; no matter how much the other party struggled, he could not escape.
Seeing this, Abaddon immediately let out a roar of anger.
"Release Urran Gauk."
The muzzle of his explosive rifle shifted from the direction of the Interex soldiers toward the direction of Datch.
Urran Gauk was a soldier of his unit and also his brother. Therefore, he could not silently watch an enemy freely harm his brother.
Datch glanced at Abaddon and, in an instant, used the power of the Reality Stone to shatter the gun in Abaddon's hand into countless fragments.
It fell to the ground with a dull sound.
This...
Abaddon looked down at his empty hands, an expression filled with surprise floating on his face.
"How did you do that?"
With just one glance, his boltgun shattered into pieces!
Datch's action calmed the Luna Wolves who had initially been furious.
Their muzzles were still aimed at Datch, yet the fingers on the triggers had all frozen.
The other party can dismantle a boltgun instantly, and they can also have their boltguns dismantled instantly.
Who on earth is this man, and why does he possess such power?
Horus quickly observed the mysterious figure before him, secretly thinking he was someone to be wary of, and his pupils rapidly contracted.
The Interex people were also filled with awe and instinctively distanced themselves from Datch.
"Alright, be quiet. I'll continue."
After intimidating Abaddon and the others, Datch continued speaking.
"Horus did not order an attack, and the governor had received news of the attack on the Hall of Instruments and the death of the guardian. The explanations of both sides contradict each other."
"In other words, if you set aside everything that is impossible, no matter how far-fetched, what remains is the truth."
"The only truth is that someone is interfering with events and does not want the Imperium of Man and the Interex civilization to conclude a peace agreement."
"Let us guess who this person is."
After finishing speaking, Datch looked toward Abaddon.
Everyone else's gazes also followed his gaze that was staring at Abaddon.
The eyes of Loken, Aximand, and the other Luna Wolves showed subtle expressions mixed with suspicion and anger.
After the Murder Planet operation, Abaddon had demanded war against the Interex.
This was common knowledge. Everyone in the Sixteenth Legion knew that First Captain Abaddon deeply resented the Interex's "alliance with xenos."
He had repeatedly emphasized this point in private conversations with the other members of the Mournival.
When Horus finally decided to go to the peace summit with Xenobia, he stood up and directly criticized it as a wrong action.
He even had a fierce argument with the Primarch over this matter.
The argument was so loud that every commander in the Legion learned of it.
Although the conference room door was closed, Mr. Horus's angry voice carried all the way outside.
Loken, Aximand, and the others present had witnessed the entire event.
Horus was furious and told Abaddon that if he could do it, then he should serve as First Captain; if he could not, he should be replaced. This enraged Abaddon, who slammed the door roughly and left.
A few hours later, persuaded by Loken and the others, Abaddon went to apologize to Horus.
During those few hours, Abaddon locked himself in the combat cage and destroyed several training servitors.
Among those present, Abaddon was the person who most strongly desired that the Sixteenth Legion wage war against the Interex civilization.
He was First Captain, second only to Horus in authority, and his company was the most elite unit among the Luna Wolves.
In every battle, they carried out the most important, dangerous, and glorious missions.
They had both the motive and the ability. And most importantly, the gun that had been fired at the mysterious man had been fired by the First Company.
With so much evidence assembled, Abaddon naturally became the prime suspect.
"Was it really you?"
Horus Aximand asked in a tone filled with disappointment and anger.
This has gone too far. Not only did he provoke a war, but he also endangered the lives of his other brothers and the Primarch.
The others also showed expressions full of expectation and waited for an answer.
Even Horus, with a handsome face filled with disappointment, looked at the company captain with suspicious eyes.
"I did not."
Abaddon hurriedly defended himself. "Please believe me. I am innocent. I have been treated unfairly."
Datch said nothing and merely stared intently at Abaddon.
This action looks very casual from the side.
If you weren't here, who would pay attention to you?
"I thought you were only opposing me, but at least you would respect my orders and acknowledge my position as commander."
"I never thought you would…"
Disappointment and pain seeped into Horus's voice.
The betrayal of his sons was sharper than any sword and brought him even greater sorrow and suffering.
Abaddon dropped to one knee in a panicked manner.
The knee of his power armor struck the cracked stone floor with a dull, heavy sound.
"Your Excellency, I have not done such a thing. Please believe me."
Seeing that Horus was shaken and immersed in grief, Abaddon immediately turned toward Datch and pleaded.
"Please explain. I am not a murderer."
"Please tell the truth quickly."
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Datch cleared his throat several times, turned his face slightly away, and made an expression that said: "Sorry, I can't."
These words made the future Dark Warmaster prostrate himself before him.
Want to learn? Hurry, it's free; all it takes is a little "like."
Abaddon looked at Datch's figure and felt as if his chest were being squeezed.
No, brother, you're just trying to frame me!
I have always followed the Primarch — how could I have issued the order to attack the Hall of Instruments?
When faced with a difficult question, you must not remain silent.
Please explain quickly. The Primarch is about to misunderstand my intentions.
However, the governor of Xenobia furrowed his brows upon seeing this scene.
"Is this something you arranged?"
"Don't think you can get away with such a method."
The governor raised his right hand and pointed his wrinkled fingers at Abaddon, who was on one knee.
"Just because you found a scapegoat doesn't mean I'll believe what you say."
"Drop your weapons and surrender immediately. Otherwise, do not blame us for taking an insolent attitude."
The Interex soldiers raised their guns, placed their fingers on the triggers, and prepared to pull them at any time.
"And you as well." The governor looked at Datch. "Who are you, that you can resurrect?"
"Could it be that the minions of Chaos are colluding with them to stage a show?"
"Your Excellency, please refrain from such an insolent attitude toward a god who walks among the people."
A voice was heard from behind as if interrupting the governor's remarks.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and immediately raised cries of surprise.
Ashlot, guardian of the Hall of Instruments and a member of the Kinebrach, appeared from among the crowd.
The governor was shocked and wore an expression of disbelief.
The report he had received should have been fine.
The Hall of Instruments was assaulted, Guardian Ashlot was murdered, and the Anathame was stolen.
But now Ashlot is standing before his eyes.
Can someone please explain what on earth is happening?
The moment Erebus on the ground saw the figure of this Kinebrach man, he was immediately seized by terror and his face turned pale.
He remembered that he had indeed executed that man, killed him with his own hands, and that the brand of death had appeared on the man's helmet.
And all of this has just happened.
Yet the other party is still alive? This is wrong!!
Could it be that the Chaos Gods have abandoned me and resurrected the other side's forces?
That would truly be a bad situation.
No longer interested in criticizing Horus and Datch for arranging their own play, the governor asked in confusion,
"Guardian, aren't you already dead?"
"Could it be that I received incorrect information?"
"I did indeed die."
Ashlot pointed at Datch in a calm tone and said, "But this honorable person resurrected me."
"That is why I am able to stand here and have the opportunity to tell everyone the truth."
Hearing this, the governor thought for a while, then turned toward Datch and said, "Your Excellency, please tell us the truth about your name and everything else."
…