Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 516 Please, Lord Guilliman, my good prince
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After the undisputed championship battle filled with glory and blood finally ended with the complete defeat and surrender of the challengers, the remaining warriors surrounded the new strong man and fell into a carnival and intoxicated mood. Heat, hormones and a thin blood mist surged in the hall, and a faint red light began to shine on the bodies and eyes of everyone participating in the battle.

No slaves or robots have been sent to clean up the corpses on the ground. The flesh and bones are being trampled under the colorful ceramic and steel boots. Even though it is not a skull harvesting feast now, in the whirlpool, the loser will only eat dust.

Honso, Vannus and Grendel watched this strange and enthusiastic carnival with cold eyes, as if they were welcoming the return of "Mercury" instead of the real owner.

However, Valthex, the Forge Master who had learned in advance of the possibility of their working together, had no intention of letting him go so easily.

"He is your new creation, right? An excellent one..." The Red Pirate's genius alchemist master was considering the most appropriate wording, "a very excellent work. I congratulate you, Warsmith Hongso. Perhaps we should give you a new and more appropriate nickname in the future, such as - but, for now, if you can't control your new subordinate well, I am happy to provide some help."

A strange light flickered deep in the alchemist's eyepiece. "Perhaps it would be a good idea to share your biological experiment data with me at the same time."

"Maybe." Hong Suo answered without comment, but he obviously didn't take the other person's words seriously. He was more concerned about the word that Valserks had used before, so he pretended to be seen through and then covered up his surprise well. He asked the other person with a little anger but also a bit of pride, "How did you know that he was my new work?"

"Oh~ Oh, as expected." The alchemist's last words carried some rare fun of fellow scholars and experts discovering each other's hidden technical Easter eggs. "It's like this, my suggestion to you, Hong Suo, if you don't want to reveal your anxiety and concern for a beloved perfect work in such an occasion next time, it's best to wear a helmet and let the visor and goggles cover all your thoughts and subtle expressions. - When you look at him, it's as if I see the reflection of my eyes looking at the pure gene seed from the reagent bottle. That kind of eyes can't deceive people."

"Oh, oh." The Warsmith seemed to relax a little after being exposed. "Indeed, indeed. But how can you be sure that he is not a dark apostle who appeared in front of me on his own?"

"You?" The alchemist was truly confused this time. "But your past reputation and qualifications are not obvious at all... As far as I know, the Dark Council of the Word Bearers still has some minimum requirements for the target standards for selecting and dispatching apostle teams, unless..." Valthex's eyepiece flickered, and a stern warning flashed on Honso's single medical eyepiece: the Nebula Array is increasing its energy level.

Looking at the surprised Forge Master, the Warsmith immediately smiled to dispel his doubts, "Actually."

Honso lowered his voice just loud enough for Valserx's enhanced hearing to hear, "It is true that he came uninvited, but he was actually from a failed Dark Apostle team. All his companions and slaves died, leaving only him. We found him in a stasis position in the drifting wreckage, dying but well preserved. So, after examining him, I performed some trivial operations on him. Of course, it is not as good as what you did for Lord Huron, but it is enough to make a novice like me worry about it."

The master alchemist showed an expression of satisfaction and understanding, "Indeed." He couldn't help but lower his voice, feeling a little joy at having unexpectedly obtained fresh materials in the laboratory, "Using it for experiments won't cause any trouble, and it's in good condition... No wonder you..."

The two technicians smiled at each other, and Amenus Valthex began to feel that having such a colleague was not such a bad choice. If Hong Suo could always be sensible and willing to contribute his brain power to treat Valthex's master and promote the continuation of the new blood of the Red Pirates, he might be able to protect Hong Suo in front of Gareon.

but now……

Just as he was about to make another suggestion, they saw the red-armored warrior, surrounded by powerful warriors, drop the head in his hand and walk towards them.

Then, he stood silently behind Hongsuo under the admiring gaze of Valthex, lowered his head slightly and put the giant axe back behind his back, which made the other warriors look at each other in confusion for a moment.

"how?"

One of the warriors, who was wearing the same bright red power armor, almost growled in his guttural voice. He had thick blond hair, but it had long since become disheveled and unkempt, stuck together by blood and minced meat into long, hard strips that rested on the seal of his helmet and the edge of his shoulder armor. He had protruding canine teeth, red eyes, and a thick beard, but the chapter emblem on his shoulder armor, which was crossed out by a red cross painted on it, was vaguely visible as a drop of blood from a white round blade.

"You are the Blood God's favorite, a champion of war, why do you want to submit to him? He doesn't look like you can fight any better! Cut off his head! Then you can become the new owner of his legacy! We will all support you!"

"Don't talk nonsense." Another warrior whose power armor was painted dark black with a little white visible from the worn-out shoulder armor said calmly, "You were not there that day. It was during the final of the Skull Harvest Feast."

"The engine of my boat exploded that day! I couldn't make it back in time!" He muttered, and it sounded like a beast speaking with human vocal cords. "Later, I chopped off its head for a long time before I calmed down - what?! Could this kid be better at fighting than him?"

"The leader he recognized is the champion of this year's Skull Harvest Feast," the black-armored warrior answered. "He is the one who created the fastest championship decision record since the Skull Harvest Feast was held." He nodded slightly to Honso. "Lord Honso, the Iron Warriors' warsmith, a legendary newcomer, was the one who killed Pushtok Uluwinte without any injury after the first encounter."

Obviously, the Blood God Champion of the Blood Skeleton Gang once had a great reputation here. The unconvinced Berserker snorted heavily, but also acknowledged the existence of this combat achievement.

"Well," Valserx announced, "we can wait to select our warriors. Let us go to the throne room and meet our lord, the great Luft Huron."

The master of potions nodded, and calmly glanced at Mercury, who had remained silent since a while ago.

"Let's go," he said finally.

Then they followed the doors that opened one by one and once again entered the Blackheart King's exquisite and luxurious throne room.

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Luft Huron had already sat on his throne, waiting for the audience.

He had learned what had happened a little while earlier through the servoskull in the hall, Valserx's report, and other channels.

This made him both worried and happy. He was happy because if Honsou was really impressed by Huron as he said, and that was why he traveled thousands of miles from the Eye of Terror to the Maelstrom to serve him, then the new Khorne champion warrior that Honsou obtained could be regarded as half of his own subordinate. In addition to the Indomitable, he had added another pioneer to make up for the loss of Uluwinte, which was a good thing that would be beneficial to his strength. But he was worried because he would have to find another excuse to get his hands on the Indomitable. Such a large and complete star fortress... If he couldn't fully confirm and control it, it would not be safe to dock so close to New Badab... Also, what happened to his little pet?
Hamadrya, a witness of sorts to the bargain he made with the Empyrean when he fled into the Maelstrom, now uncharacteristically lay dormant in the shadow of his massive life-sustaining power armor, transforming himself into a thin snake and hiding inside as if preparing to hibernate.

In the past, it always became very active and prying when new people came, providing Huron with clues about the other party's mood and lies. Now it seemed to sense the arrival of some natural enemy or wild beast. Huron felt his mind suddenly become quiet, and the whispers, sarcasm and temptations that always appeared in his ears from time to time seemed to become insignificant.

Just as he was trying hard to frown his shattered face, the last inner door of the throne room opened and Hong Suo and his party walked in.

Hamadrya, this shape-shifting subspace creature almost turned itself into a flat piece of paper, tightly attached to the deepest part of the power armor's gap.

What could be the cause of this? Could it be...

Huron's dark gaze moved back and forth among the five people who walked in, and finally stopped on the strange warrior in red armor. His eyes moved on the shoulder armor where the emblem had been worn off, and then turned to look at the spells, magic circles and unknown patterns engraved on the surface of his power armor, and of course, his forehead with double horns and his head and face which were also covered with symbols and patterns.

...I always feel that he is somewhat...kind? Why do I feel this way? Witchcraft? I can't look at these runes and patterns for too long.

He gasped, waiting for the pus blocking his throat to be sucked away by the tube inserted into the side of his neck. Since the last treatment by the alchemist and the master of alchemy, his right cheek, neck and chest had been cut open again with a scalpel and a cutting torch, and then stitched again after adjusting the relationship between the machinery and the flesh. The flesh on the wound was twisted and piled up due to too many cuts and stitches. The skin that looked gray and cold due to blood loss wrapped the life-sustaining steel under the skin. It was crude and painful, but Huron endured it, and kept giving orders while enduring the pain of his body being melted and burned, repeatedly cut and stitched, and being sewn to metal, commanding the Red Corsairs to create their current world in the vortex.

Among them, Hamadria's ability to peek into minds and perceive emotions really helped him a lot in the process.

But his psychic pet had never behaved like this before. Even when facing an enchanter or a summoned demon, it had never been so stiff.

Strange. The last time Hongso came, Hamadria was very uneasy for a while, although he seemed to be normal afterwards, but he still remembered it.

Huron thought, although the Word Bearers are indeed famous for their ability to make demonic contracts, the followers of the Blood God may not have the patience to improve their sorcery skills. As we all know, the God of War hates psychic power. Unless the status and strength of this demon... Well, it seems that Hong Suo is a rising star, not a dazzling but fleeting meteor, so the attitude towards him should be slightly...

Honsou had already reached the steps of the throne, and the warsmith bowed deeply to the huge tyrant himself on the throne.

"I have accomplished the mission, sir." Hong Suo said, while raising his head and looking boldly into the eyes of the Blackheart King. He seemed to be trying hard to suppress his excitement and honor, and even trembled slightly.

It had been a long time since he had seen such true sincerity expressed by any of his subordinates, and Luft Huron almost felt dazed for a moment, as if the days when he was still wearing silver armor and bearing the title of Guardian of the Great Whirlpool were reappearing before his eyes.

But then, darkness and cruelty returned to him: this is a vortex where the strong prey on the weak, and sincerity and belief in sincerity are among the least needed emotions.

"Well done, Hongsuo, quite an impressive achievement." He nodded. "The position you requested from me before departure will be granted as you wish. I will allow you to join our pharmacists and forging masters and examine my body."

The mechanical noise just appeared in the majestic and hoarse voice of the Blackheart King, causing him to frown imperceptibly and pause.

"Great! Sir!" The master of medicine immediately responded, sounding as if he was a little out of control due to excessive ecstasy. "Then I will go back and arrange for Ataxia and the others to move in, and then I will come to check on you right away!"

The tyrant's next move was interrupted, and he turned his eyes unhappily to the newcomer behind Hong Suo.

"Who is this warrior?" he asked Honsou. "I did not see him at the previous skull harvest, but his bravery has been reported to me by the servants in the antechamber. What is your name, warrior? Come forward and answer me, and I will allow you to kiss my weapon."

The red-armored warrior still kept his head slightly lowered, motionless as if he had heard nothing.

"Well, my lord, he just recovered from near-death, after undergoing a head surgery..." The Warsmith's entire body revealed a well-controlled but extremely worried emotion, and Huron's senses, which were enhanced by the contract, could detect it without even Hamadria's help.

"I'm asking this warrior, not you, but I also appreciate your medical skills, Hongsuo." The Blackheart King stared at the red-armored warrior who lowered his head slightly, "Come forward. Look at me."

Amber eyes instantly met cloudy irises.

"Ah," the attendant beside Huron heard him whisper.

"What is the warrior's name?"

"Mercuris."

"Will you serve me? I will grant you a valiant army and ships, and let you burn, kill, and plunder freely, spreading the anger and terror of revenge to every corner of the corrupt empire."

The champion with demonic horns shook his head slowly. "Thank you for your kindness." His voice was almost inhuman, low and ancient, and sounded strangely full of fiery rage and yet extremely restrained, as if a volcano filled with magma - or a powerful demon was hiding under his tattooed skin and flesh, ready to burst out.

As if a bloody corpse had been chewed countless times in his mouth and the marrow had been sucked out by sharp teeth, the warrior who called himself Mercury squeezed out a sentence. "My contract has been concluded with the man in front of you, the war blacksmith Hongso."

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Don't explode.

Don't explode.

Don't explode.

I beg you.

Please, Lord Guilliman, my Lord, my Lord, my good Highness! ! ! !

When you get back to the Indomitable, we can get angry all we want behind closed doors, but don't explode now.

Please believe that this is a dream and don't say anything weird!

Supreme Father! Merciful Daddy! Lord of Steel! My eternal master! Please bless me! Hold down your brother! Don't make trouble! Don't make trouble! Don't force me to kill all these precious specimens here in the end! I haven't extracted any living tissue, done any biopsy slices, or conducted any drug observation experiments, ah ah ah ah——————

as well as.

——Great, finally, it’s finally over.

These were the thoughts that screamed loudest in Honsou's mind before he returned to the Indomitable and kept his expression until the docking cabin door dropped.

Then...

He turned around woodenly.

Vannus and Grendel had already minimized their presence and slipped away with their own excuses.

Forget it.

Anyway, my shield can't be destroyed. What's wrong with letting the Primarch destroy my belongings? I can afford it... Bullshit!

(End of this chapter)