The Emperor’s Angel of Death

“I'm just making a simple statement. →”

Ockham said, while pushing the black chess piece, a chariot, closer to the white king.

“Those people have accelerated their actions. When Soshyan truly reaches that point, what do you think will happen? Do you think they will really let someone in love with an Aeldari queen control the Imperium? Do you think a heretic can accept their jurisdiction or their ideas? No, I dare to assert that when that day comes, it will also be the day Soshyan disappears.”

Talos took a puff of his smoke, and said casually:

“Is Soshyan important to you?”

“Not important, but his existence is very important.”

Talos pointed to the chessboard.

“Like this game of chess? To prove yourself?”

“No, I am not important either. What is important is that when I met him, came to his side, and joined him, none of this was accidental.”

As he spoke, Ockham picked up a pawn.

“In this chess game, I am merely a pawn, but I will let all those who try to manipulate the game know that a pawn—”

Then the pawn moved forward and knocked over the piece symbolizing the king.

“Can also commit regicide.”

Talos glanced at the fallen king piece.

“Why go to such lengths to help Soshyan?”

“I said, I just want to disrupt those people's plans and uncover the truth beneath this veil. If you insist I give a reason concerning Soshyan, then fine, he is a good man. →”

Talos laughed, seeming to choke on his smoke, coughing twice, then stubbing out the cigarette on the table.

“That’s quite the compliment. Even the one currently paralyzed on the throne doesn’t receive such praise from many.”

“I think that sentence is enough to summarize my views.”

“Ockham, what you are doing is more than just making it difficult for Soshyan to achieve complete success. Not capturing Huron will also give some people on Terra an excuse to attack him, even抹消his expedition's achievements. You want him to face injustice and accusations, and in turn, be disappointed in the Imperium, disappointed in the High Lords. The more alienated he feels from the Imperium, the closer he will become to his wife, and the more anxious certain people will become, accelerating their plans. And when things are rushed, mistakes are easily made.”

Ockham rested his arms on the table, looking at Talos with a smile.

“I said, nothing can be hidden from you, Soul Hunter.”

“So, did an Aeldari seer, under the guise of the Inquisition, also find you?”

“Yes.”

“And what was your answer?”

“I said, if you have anything to say, go talk to the Phoenix Lord.”

“Hahaha—”

Talos shook his head, laughing.

“A Null, a true Ockham, worthy of an Alpha who single-handedly manipulated an expedition in the palm of his hand. So, do you want me to plead with Soshyan to release you?”

Ockham shook his head. →

“No, this place is good.”

“So, provoking Soshyan to imprison you is also part of a plan.”

“Judas has disappeared.”

Ockham suddenly said this. Talos wasn't surprised. Instead, he tilted his head slightly to the left, waiting for the other to continue.

“Someone let him go, and the location where he was held was only known to me and Kayan, so…”

“So, you suspect that there is still a mole hidden within Soshyan's ranks that we don't know about.”

“In fact, I suspected it long ago, including the abnormal ease with which Judas was captured. It was as if Huron's intelligence chief had no warning at all. There are only two possibilities: either he is an idiot, or he knew I was going to move against him, and his choice was to surrender. However, I was still considering it at the time, so I went along with the plan. Later, I carefully investigated Judas's origins and all his activities within the Red Corsairs. Although he hid it well, I still found some clues. Huron rescued him on Galmek, but in fact, the Word Bearers were not imprisoning him at the time, but receiving him. More importantly, he calls himself the Nameless.”

Talos wagged his finger.

“I’m not familiar with your Alpha Legion’s internal affairs. Just get to the point.”

Ockham leaned forward, hoarsely saying:

“I know of someone who would call himself that. His name is Kasal, the commander of the Legion-era special unit 'Reaper'.”

“Never heard of that person, but according to you, Judas is actually Kasal.”

“Very likely, but that’s not the point. The point is that such a veteran of the Long War suddenly joins Huron. Either he has an ulterior motive, or someone is instructing him from behind. I can’t find any evidence of what Kasal is plotting for the time being, so inferring from the idea of someone instructing him, the identity of someone who can command such a person must be extremely exaggerated. Now that Kasal has been released, he has, as expected, returned to Huron’s side, replacing 'me' and enjoying Huron’s gratitude and trust. My last act of saving Huron has become a ripe fruit in his hands.”

“Heh, you Alphas are really interesting. First, you replaced him, and now he has turned around and replaced you. So, looking at it that way, it seems like you’re the one who fell into the trap?”

“Trap? No, this is just a small step in the game, a preliminary plan, a concept. Since I disrupted their plan, they will naturally not let go of the chess piece that is Huron. Another idea behind me letting Huron escape was to test whether the person lurking in the Chapter would react. As expected, it was as I expected.”

“Then do you know who that person is?”

Ockham was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

“I don’t know. First, I don’t know much about the history of the Astral Knights. Second, I’m not sure if that person is within the Astral Knights. Soshyan has absorbed too many people with complex backgrounds. I guess this is also the purpose of those pushers, using complex personnel composition to cover up the existence of that mole. Now the entire Chapter is like a basin of clear water poured into multi-colored ink. It’s not that easy to find a single color among the impurities.”

“To be able to secretly release such an important prisoner, that person’s identity must be high. Heh, thinking about it that way, you’ve calculated me into it too.”

Talos stood up, smiling.

“You knew I would come, and you also knew that no one else would know I came here. Speak, what do you want me to do?”

“First, keep it a secret from Soshyan. He is not someone who can hide his emotions very well. Second, you find me the past resumes of everyone still active in the Astral Knights, mainly the Captains, as well as the Reclusiam, the Apothecarion, starting with the Astral Knights, and then gradually expanding the scope.”

“Heh, you’re going to get to the bottom of this. If you want to do this, it’s best to tell Soshyan.”

Ockham looked at Talos, as if thinking about something, and finally nodded.

“If that’s your idea, then so be it.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go out?”

“Not for the time being. I need to think about it for a while longer and temporarily leave that person’s sight.”

Talos said nothing more, turned and walked towards the door, but before leaving, he stopped and turned around to say:

“Even if Soshyan fails, they will still have backup plans. There will always be a Primarch to control the Imperium.”

Ockham shrugged.

“None of us are gods, and it’s impossible to truly control the flow of fate. It’s just a matter of reacting to the situation and dealing with it as it comes.”

Talos turned and left. The gate opened and closed again. In the dim room, Ockham reached out and swept all the chess pieces down, then put them back one by one, suddenly muttering to himself:

“A new game has begun again.”