The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Soshjan didn't expect that even in such a dilapidated state outside, the Deceiver's tea room would remain as good as new, but considering that this Blackstone Chapel is just a space of consciousness, or a corner of the Warp, this is not so difficult to understand.

The Deceiver didn't say much along the way, as always inviting him to sit down and then make tea.

One cup down, the chill on Soshjan's body disappeared.

Two cups down, his thoughts also became calm.

By the third cup, he didn't pick up the cup.

"Deceiver, Master Ananda said that I couldn't come to see you because of that never-ending Daemon."

Soshjan placed his hand on his knee, staring intently at the Deceiver opposite him.

"Is that so?"

The Deceiver nodded, answering very directly:

"Yes."

"Then if I haven't misunderstood, you are the Emperor, the Mortal is the Emperor, and that Daemon is also the Emperor."

"We have discussed this question before, but if understanding it this way can make you less confused, yes."

"Then—"

Soshjan raised his right index finger and then shook it gently.

"I will no longer think about whether what you told me before is true or false, the thing I most want to know now is, in front of me, is it the Deceiver, or that Daemon?"

The Deceiver met Soshjan's gaze.

"I am the Deceiver, as always."

"Good."

Soshjan nodded.

"I believe you."

Then he changed the subject.

"Deceiver, I have discovered a few things that I think it is necessary to tell you, to report to you, this is just my personal exposition, not a question."

Hearing Soshjan say the word "report" in that special tone, the Deceiver silently picked up a teacup and took a sip. Soshjan paused for a moment, then continued his words.

"I met a person named Li, he claims to be your first child, and has been working for you and her mother, that Primarch-mother named Erda."

The Deceiver did not reply, but silently poured another cup of tea.

"I also saw Dorn's notes, he seemed to know about Xerxes, he almost broke into Xerxes' room on Terra, he also knew about the Gray髓(灰髓: gray marrow) thing. After the Great Heresy, he seemed to have discovered something, and soon disappeared, and the name Zede, was Erda's nickname for Dorn."

"Also, I heard that Xerxes and his father once had a debate, or dispute, about what a ruler should be."

One thing after another, was narrated by Soshjan in a very calm tone, without any meaning of complaint or questioning, it was just a very pure narration, not even a confession, as if he was just talking about some insignificant trivial matters, he didn't even know why he was in this state.

"Finally, I met the survivors of the Toxic Thorn Chapter, they were also once a Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists, but were destroyed by the Imperial Fists. The leader of the survivors was also implanted with a Necron mind-control scarab, but they also obtained knowledge and technology about the Gray 髓(灰髓: gray marrow), and some people instilled in them the wrong history of the Eleventh Legion, and the one who created all this was that Li."

After saying all this in one breath, Soshjan finally picked up the third cup of tea, and with one gulp, it was so bland and tasteless.

He held the teacup, not speaking, nor looking at the Deceiver, just staring at the strange calligraphy and paintings on the tea room.

The Deceiver drank it all in one gulp, and also played with the teacup in his hand, and after a moment, said softly:

"Soshjan, I am not as omniscient and omnipotent as you think. After all, since you parted ways in the Webway, you haven't met me anywhere else, right? I do know some of the things you said, but there are also some things I don't know."

Soshjan looked away and looked at the Deceiver.

"But you don't seem surprised at all."

"Because whether I'm surprised or not, things have already happened, and the problem has formed, it's right there."

"So—"

"So, Soshjan, there are still many things you haven't said."

Soshjan paused, he really had a lot to say, not that he couldn't say it, but that he really didn't want to say it, such as his family history, that trace of Eldar blood, and about his being selected as a Space Marine. He felt that making this topic clear would only increase the embarrassment between the two sides, and would have no effect on reality.

The Deceiver looked at him and smiled lightly.

"In this way, there are some things that you should be able to understand."

Soshjan sighed and shook his head.

"Deceiver, if one day I go to a side with a different position from yours, what will you do?"

"This is not a question I think about, so I can't give an answer. Besides, do you know what my position is now?"

"Then, about Dorn, can you tell me something?"

Hearing Dorn, the Deceiver raised his head slightly, thought for a moment, and asked back:

"Does he have any meaning to you now?"

"I suspect he is studying Gray 髓(灰髓: gray marrow) in private. You should also know what Gray 髓(灰髓: gray marrow) is. This is a very dangerous thing."

The Deceiver pondered for a moment and said:

"You don't need to worry about this."

"Then does this mean that Zede of the White Templars is Dorn? I have investigated the records about him, he is huge and has only one arm."

"You guessed right, Zede of the White Templars is Dorn."

Although he had guessed almost everything, Soshjan was still shocked to get confirmation from the Deceiver.

"So, the deteriorated Gray 髓(灰髓: gray marrow) was also made by him? He is conducting dangerous experiments on the descendants of his brothers, without regard for their lives!?"

"Yes."

"Then how did he disappear into the Webway? Where did he go after that? Why did you come to the Star Phantoms as Zede?"

The Deceiver did not answer directly, but refused him very euphemistically.

"Soshjan, if you don't know these things, your worries just now will not be a problem, but if you know these things, your worries may become a real threat."

Hearing this, Soshjan calculated in his heart, the other party's meaning was very clear—if he knew Dorn's whereabouts, then the danger that Dorn's research on Gray 髓(灰髓: gray marrow) might produce would occur.

Then what would cause this?

Will Dorn come to him?

Or will he can't help but go to Dorn?

Or, will a third party be involved?

But the Deceiver definitely knows where Dorn is.

After weighing it again and again, Soshjan felt that he should stop this line first. Now he has a certain mysterious awe for unpredictable risks. In the current complex situation, it would be great if he could not add extra variables.

Then he tentatively asked a question that he already had an answer to.

"I understand, Deceiver, I will remember your advice. Deceiver, can you tell me clearly, who was it back then, which of the Necrons lured Xerxes to the Shrine of Asuryan?"

The Deceiver looked at him and said meaningfully first.

"It seems you already know a lot."

"Shouldn't my every move be in your eyes?"

"Ha, I'm not a Peeping Tom, and I don't have that much energy. Even the four Ruinous Powers can't say they know everything about the affairs of the mortal world."