The Emperor’s Angel of Death

After the parade, the Supreme Commander of the Expeditionary Force delivered a final speech:

"Esteemed citizens of the Imperium! Beloved Adeptus Astartes! Soldiers! Commissars! Officers! Generals and Marshals!

I extend to you my congratulations on our victory!

Defending the great Imperium of Man is a sacred duty, and it is you who have created this magnificent achievement!

Everyone remembers how the enemies from the depths of the Maelstrom plundered, slaughtered, destroyed, and ruined everything of the Imperium, attempting to instill terror and fear, to weaken and disintegrate the Imperium's order from within!

But they failed, and they will never succeed!

Whether Adeptus Astartes, Astra Militarum, the Navy, warriors of the Ecclesiarchy, or emissaries of the Omnissiah, all stood united in battle, covering each other in the hail of gunfire, as close as brothers.

This is the strength of the Imperium, this is the great, unbreakable power of humanity!

We charged together into the battlefields of Badab, fought the enemy in the Endymion Sector, the Angstrom System, the Lamptan System, the Bleeding Bones Cluster, the Kolkria System, and the Magg Cluster.

Finally, in the Caracalla System, we utterly crushed the Red Corsairs, a heretical group that had plagued the Maelstrom for centuries!

This expedition will be forever recorded in history, a great victory of the Imperium's unity and spiritual strength, an unparalleled feat accomplished by the people on the front lines and at home working side by side, and it is invaluable to each of us.

In the Maelstrom, there is not a single family that has not suffered devastation in the war. This memory will not fade, and those young soldiers whose lives ended in their final moments deserve our eternal mourning.

Here, I pay tribute to all those who supported the expedition, to the resolute citizens, the brave soldiers, the fearless Adeptus Astartes, the steadfast believers, and the emissaries of the Omnissiah, to all the dead and the living!

Honor belongs to valiant humanity!

For victory! For the Emperor!"

Amidst the thunderous roar, the image disappeared. Hayes sighed softly, muttering to himself:

"It's finally over. →"

On the way home, Andina suddenly whispered some secrets to Hayes.

"Hayes, you brought those people up from the underhive, rented houses for them, and yet you do nothing but eat and drink every day, which costs a lot of money. Plus, you've spent a lot recently, and the family's funds are running out. Even father's gold mountain can't withstand such squandering."

Hearing Andina's complaint, Hayes pursed his lips. Those 14 veterans did him such a great service, he couldn't leave them there waiting to be retaliated against, but what Andina said was also true.

"I'll find some work as soon as possible."

As soon as he got home, Hayes saw a person wearing a gray coat and a hat, carrying a black briefcase, waiting at their door.

At first, he thought it was a salesperson. There were many of them in the mid-hive, so he walked over and smiled:

"Sorry, we don't need anything at the moment."

"Are you Sergeant Hayes?"

Hearing the other party mention his rank, Hayes was taken aback, then nodded.

"Yes, yes, what's the matter?"

The man smiled and took out a business card from his coat pocket.

"Are you interested in joining our New Home Project?"

Hayes took the business card, glanced at it, and frowned.

"New Home Group?"

On the back was a picturesque pastoral scene.

"Your company is?"

"Providing a new home for capable people like you."

The man smiled, then opened the briefcase and took out a stack of documents.

"A real, new home."

(Hayes' Line, End)

"Remember, take good care of yourself, don't worry about so many things."

In the manor, Veronica adjusted the cloak for Saul Tarvitz. Behind her were Loreena and a group of Eldar personnel. A miniature portal had already opened.

"Yes, I know, it won't be long, I'll be back soon."

"And."

Veronica suddenly stared into Saul Tarvitz's eyes.

"I know that Sister will be going with you too, don't cause any trouble."

"What trouble could I cause? You're being too"

"Just remember it."

"Okay, okay, I remember."

"Also, don't get anxious or angry over trivial matters. Getting angry is useless. Remember to eat when it's time to eat."

"Okay."

Afterwards, Veronica and Saul Tarvitz kissed for a moment. As soon as she turned around, Saul Tarvitz suddenly grabbed her hand, then pulled her back into his arms, and said softly:

"Veronica, please be careful too. If you're pregnant, don't run around. Take care of your health and stay in the Royal Court and wait for me."

"Okay~"

After the two were intimate for a while, Veronica and the other Eldar disappeared into the portal, heading to the distant Ark and then returning to the Eternal Royal Court.

A day after Veronica left, the Star Knight's fleet gathered in the Gothatan Wastes, surrounded by the warships of other Chapters.

"Brother Azrael, I look forward to our next joint operation. If you need any assistance, just send someone to Nason IV to let us know."

After hugging Azrael for a moment, Saul Tarvitz smiled and released him. Azrael also smiled.

"Likewise, Brother Saul Tarvitz, if you need any help, you can contact any of the Chapter's monastery fortresses or other Chapters."

In about half a day, most of the Chapters left the Maelstrom, including the Minotaurs Chapter. They had new tasks and orders. The Minotaur Lord had a meaningful conversation with Saul Tarvitz. He always felt that the other party might be more complex than he thought.

The Ranger warriors from the Alliance of the Wounded stayed in the Maelstrom, while the other Chapters escorted the Victory's Scar back to its original base. The Lamenters, having canceled their Crusade of Atonement, recruited some new soldiers on the spot in the Maelstrom and needed some time to digest them. The Penitent also needed to re-recruit soldiers. The Flesh Tearers also secretly acquired a batch of new recruits, but they still needed to be screened.

In the end, only the Imperial Fists company, the Mantis Warriors who had obtained the permission of the Terra envoy, and the Iron Hands wanderer who wanted to visit Mars went to Terra with the Star Knights. Saul Tarvitz, adhering to the principle that one more person wouldn't cost much, also brought the other party along.

It seemed like just a blink of an eye, and the vast expeditionary force had vanished like smoke.

"Commissar Yarrick, I hope this expedition will help your cause on Armageddon."

As one of the reinforcements for Armageddon, Yarrick naturally had to return to the planet. He held Saul Tarvitz's hand, and an old smile appeared on his face.

"At this age, there is nothing I care about. My only hope is that before I am buried in the grave and my soul returns to the Golden Throne, the Emperor will have mercy on me and let that damned Gutripper come to my door, so that I can truly end its filthy life."

Saul Tarvitz nodded with a smile.

"If it comes, the Star Knights will definitely be there. If that's the case, then it will no longer have a chance to escape. Oh, right, there are some people who insisted on seeing you before they left."

As the bridge door opened, more than forty recruits, led by Jacob, walked in and all knelt on one knee. This was the highest etiquette of the Space Marines.

Yarrick walked up to Jacob and gently patted the other's shoulder with his trembling one arm, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes.

"Good, good, good, Jacob, you are your father's pride, and I am also proud of you."

Jacob stared at Yarrick and said sincerely:

"Uncle Yarrick, I hope you take care of yourself. In the future, I will personally deliver Gutripper's head to you."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Yarrick swept over every warrior from Armageddon and said excitedly:

"These are the sons of Armageddon! I hope that in the future you will live up to the Emperor's expectations and let your hometown be proud of you with victory and glory!"

"Yes!"

The roar of dozens of people shook the bridge floor.

When the Armageddon fleet left, the fleet heading to Terra also entered the opened rift amidst the roar of the warp engines.

Wishing the Silver Alliance book friend Third Emperor Guilliman a happy birthday~