The Emperor’s Angel of Death

As they talked, the two walked to an artificial lake. Although the lake wasn't large, it was a priceless treasure on Terra, where natural bodies of water were scarce. Its banks were surrounded by pebbles and wormwood, and on the shimmering surface, waterfowl, whether native to Terra or from alien worlds, played. Their movements created ripples that fragmented the lake's surface.

Perhaps influenced by the beautiful scenery, both of them stopped talking.

After a long silence, Tirien suddenly said softly:

"Chapter Master Sersh, what do you think of the current state of the Imperium?"

Sersh didn't know if this was a trap or a genuine inquiry. He thought for a moment, then cautiously replied:

"Not very peaceful, but generally stable. The situation in some areas has deteriorated to some extent."

"Ha, there are no outsiders here, and no one can eavesdrop in my mansion. I sincerely want to know what the Imperium looks like in the eyes of an Astartes Chapter Master who fights for it all over the galaxy. You must understand that many people think we are the brains of the Imperium and should be well-informed about all aspects, but that's not the case. Although we can know which battlefields are deteriorating with the help of the massive intelligence transmitted from the astropaths' fortresses, without having to personally go to the front lines, you also know what the astropaths' information is like. No matter how real it is, the details are still difficult for us to grasp, and we get very little information from conventional intelligence networks. So, do you understand? Although we are indeed the brains of the Imperium, the Imperium is like a weakened old man. The brain may know what hurts, but the cloudy eyes can't see the lesions and wounds on the body at all, and the sluggish limbs can hardly clean the tiny mites that are biting the body in hidden places."

Sersh thought for a while, and finally uttered a sentence.

"Full of holes and fragmented."

"Oh? I can understand the first part, but I'm a little puzzled by the second."

"Although the Imperium is still a whole now, it is glued together by the Ecclesiarchy, the Adeptus Astartes, and the Inquisition. It's like a person whose limbs have been cut off. Although you can sew them back to the body with thread, the nerves have long been severed. They are just pieces of dead flesh and cannot move at all, just like the Imperium now. It seems that most enemies can still be dealt with, but there is no ability to concentrate forces on a certain aspect and formulate decisive plans. All plans and strategies are just to delay. I believe you, Prime Minister Tirien, can also feel it, right? The directives from Terra leave the Solar System and, as the distance increases, they change from directives to instructions, then from instructions to opinions, and finally become decisions made by the actual operators based on the situation. This is certainly due to objective reality, but it undoubtedly makes the Imperium a giant with stiff limbs. It seems to be a whole, but in fact, the limbs and even the five senses are not controlled by the brain."

After listening, Tirien silently turned the gemstone chain in his hand.

Suddenly, the miniature communicator on his collar vibrated, and then he said softly:

"Yes, I understand, we'll be right there."

He looked at Sersh and smiled:

"Please come with me."

Sersh nodded, and the two then returned the same way, passing through archways, and finally entered the magnificent mansion that was ten stories high.

Although this Prime Minister Tirien was the most wise and intelligent high-ranking figure Sersh had ever met on Terra, his extravagance was also beyond his imagination. The entire mansion stood in the center of a garden spanning dozens of square kilometers, the entire building was natural, like a work of art. The walls were painted with smooth curves and delicate carvings, and the raised arches and long corridors were full of sights.

Servants and maids dressed in black and white remained motionless, with white towels draped over their arms, bowing deeply as the two passed by.

Entering the hall, a huge chandelier hung high, emitting a soft light. The floor of the entire room was covered with luxurious carpets, and the long banquet table was elaborately arranged, with colorful and elegant ceramic plates holding various delicacies, such as verdant vegetables, golden roasted meat, and delicious fruit plates, as well as famous dishes from ancient Terra, making people salivate.

In addition, the mellow red wine or amber-colored white wine in the bottles was even more irresistible. In this magnificent and luxurious space, the host's extravagance was evident.

During this process, Sersh could also vaguely detect something moving in the shadows, probably Tirien's bodyguards, but they didn't seem to be carrying any weapons, probably knowing that in front of an Astartes, their defense was more symbolic.

"To victory, to death, to the Emperor!"

The two sat at a luxurious table filled with silver plates. Tirien had carefully prepared oversized furniture, including the chair Sersh sat on, while his own chair used a lifting device to ensure that the two were at the same height.

When Tirien raised his glass, Sersh, sitting across from him, also smiled and raised his glass.

Before drinking, a refreshing scent rushed into his nose, with floral and lemon-like aromas, but not too strong, the taste was very light and psychedelic.

"This is Katarin white wine from Quaddis, you must taste it carefully."

Hearing the name Quaddis, Sersh couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. Even Space Marines knew that the wine produced in Quaddis could be said to be priceless.

But due to its extremely low production, even the top hive nobles may not have the opportunity to taste a sip in their lifetime. It is said that the wine made from grapes cultivated in Quaddis not only tastes far better than other wines, but also has unimaginable effects.

Many hive nobles are willing to spend a fortune just to obtain a bottle of Quaddis wine, and in some cases, they will even use conspiracies, murder, or theft to obtain a bottle of Quaddis wine.

And Katarin white wine is even closer to a myth, and many people even doubt whether it really exists.

Sersh remembered very clearly that the glass of wine in his hand was already more than half a bottle.

It is very likely that he would drink away the value of several planets with this one sip.

But since it was poured, it couldn't be wasted.

For the Astartes' sense of taste, no wine tasting skills were needed. Sersh directly took a sip and immediately felt the rich fruity aroma in his mouth. The liquid was relatively soft on the throat, the acidity was moderate, and the alcohol content was relatively high.

But soon he noticed some abnormalities. The remaining wine began to emit a floral taste on the tip of his tongue, as if he had taken a deep breath of the air in an early spring garden, and then he felt a fresh, sweet taste, as if his mouth was full of bunches of grapes, and the gushing juice made his taste buds jump for joy. Then there was a slight salty taste, which emerged in the wine, as if it was the salt formed by the sea, it was the kind of intoxicating and irresistible taste.

Moreover, the aftertaste lingered for a long time, and a fresh, faint taste always lingered in the throat and nose, coupled with the high alcohol content, it was easy to get drunk in a dream.