The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Soshjan had to admit that the Deceiver's plan was successful. Now, he strongly resisted the identity of Xerxes, as disgusted as if he had swallowed a fly.

No one would convince him until he found a better reason.

Loyalty never meant being submissive, let alone being insulted and trampling on dignity!

Soshjan first listed two columns, enemies and friends. This was his consistent principle. First, he needed to figure out who were the enemies and who were the friends before deciding how to deal with them next.

In the enemy column, Soshjan wrote a long list of names, including the fallen Primarchs, Vect of Commorragh, Szarekh the Silent King, the Tyranid Hive Fleets, and Huron, Abaddon, the Lord of the Soul Forge, Lucius, Thraxas, and others, adding Lee's name at the end.

In the friend column, he wrote Master Shifu, Jaghatai Khan, Thor, and after a moment of hesitation, he added Kayan's name. He wrote half of Occam's name and then deleted it, replacing it with Tyrian's name, followed by Malakeen and a group of Chapter Masters from the Alliance of Suffering. After thinking for a while, he added Dante and Azrael, then Ulan Huda and Ryza, and the three forge worlds of Zhao-Arkhad. Finally, there was Eldar's Yvraine and the Death Guard she established.

Then he listed some names that were neither enemies nor friends, or whose allegiances were difficult to discern. The first was Malcador and Sevatar, followed by the three Primarchs, Leman Russ, Corax, and Dorn. In fact, Soshjan wanted to put Dorn in the enemy column, just because the inferior gray matter he created had tormented so many White Templars. But in the end, he chose to put him in the neutral target category, followed by the Laughing God and the Harlequins, the Eldrad of Ulthwe, several Phoenix Lords and large Craftworlds, then the Leagues of Void-Faring Kin. Finally, after much hesitation, Soshjan added the Void Dragon and several other C'tan names—in the past, Soshjan would have definitely listed them as enemies, but now his vision was not so narrow.

After listing a series of names of people and forces, Soshjan listed two more columns: goals and behaviors.

And roughly summarized them according to his understanding of these people and forces, based on their goals and behaviors.

Because only in this way could he figure out how many of his current friends might become enemies or neutral units due to different goals and behaviors, what kind of neutral units would transform into friends or enemies due to their goals and behaviors, and what kind of enemies would transform into neutral units, or even temporary friends.

At the same time, he could also know how to turn as many neutral units into friends as possible.

The most direct way was to unify each other's goals and behaviors.

Soon, complex tables and diagrams were formed. Soshjan's eyes swept across this web-like relationship diagram, and his mind was performing rapid calculations and considerations.

It goes without saying that it would be easy to unify goals and behaviors with the Eldar. Saving Isha was the most unified goal, almost capable of summoning all Eldar, and Veronica could restrain them in terms of behavior, basically achieving the unity of goals and behaviors.

Soshjan couldn't say what the goals of Malcador's group were, but he felt it would be difficult to unify them unless he was willing to follow their path, so the probability of them turning into enemies in the future was very high.

Among the few Primarchs, it seemed that the only one who could be won over was Corax, because he had saved Veronica. Soshjan guessed that he might be on the same path as the Deceiver. Now that the Deceiver was still supporting him, then the goals of the two could be considered unified. In terms of behavior, he had not shown particular hostility towards the Eldar or the Eleventh Legion, while it was Dorn's behavior that made Soshjan think it would be difficult to turn him into a friend.

As for the Leagues of Void-Faring Kin, they seemed to be a race that only interacted for profit. Logically speaking, if someone offered a higher price, they wouldn't mind being Soshjan's enemies, but now the only one in the galaxy who could afford a higher price than him was the Imperium. However, the Imperium's consistent approach to aliens would only push the Leagues of Void-Faring Kin to the opposite side, which was a good thing.

On the other hand, the Laughing God, this Eldar god, must know a lot about Asuryan, but it was difficult to get this ghost to show up, and even more difficult to find it. Its behavior and motives were also very mysterious, but it was ultimately a member of the ancient Eldar Pantheon. If Isha was to be rescued, it should logically be supportive.

Then Soshjan circled the Laughing God's name, meaning it would be a key target to strive for.

Just as Soshjan was conducting research and thinking, the communicator beside the throne rang, and then Kayan's voice came.

"It's me."

"Come in."

Following Soshjan's instructions, the bridge door opened, and Kayan, wearing a robe, walked in.

Soshjan's throne turned backward, and he looked at the other party with a smile.

"You're back."

Kayan nodded, without much expression, but Soshjan saw the helplessness in the other party's eyes, so he cautiously asked:

"Was the meeting not pleasant?"

"I've calculated it, so I won't talk about these things. It's good to know she's okay. I don't have anything else to ask for. I did find out something about the Third Legion that you asked me to inquire about."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Regarding the Third Legion's gathering, there are some rumors in the Eye of Terror, but Eidolon's mouth is quite tight-lipped. Even many Slaaneshi warbands don't know the specific reasons. Some even speculate that the Third Legion wants to launch a new round of challenges against the Black Legion. After all, these two groups have a great hatred. I was also a witness to the destruction of the City of Sacred Pleasues back then. Abaddon still remembers the Clone Horus incident to this day. However, according to my internal information, not many people are actually responding to Eidolon. The more famous ones are Avennus, Balzaphon, Demetrius, Illexis, and of course, the resurrected Lucius. Even Balzaphon seems to be maintaining a state of verbal support. Eidolon doesn't have many available troops. After all, many people in the Legion are just waiting to see him make a fool of himself."

Soshjan frowned slightly.

"See him make a fool of himself? Aren't they worried about Fulgrim's punishment?"

Kayan spread his hands.

"At least according to the information I received, Fulgrim hasn't shown up. Many Slaaneshi warbands also don't believe that Eidolon is following the Primarch's orders, or rather, they selectively choose not to believe it. After all, Fulgrim hasn't really managed the Legion for many years. In short, you're lucky. Eidolon is now in a very awkward state. He can only play some small conspiracies to deal with you. However, if he fails again and again, I think Fulgrim will eventually take action, unless he can endure this humiliation. But at that time, the situation may be more serious. The Third Legion may really gather again, with all kinds of former Emperor's Children and Slaaneshi warbands who worship Fulgrim. There should still be at least fifty to sixty thousand of them."

Soshjan smiled grimly.

"I'm just afraid he won't come. Kayan, I plan to completely destroy Fulgrim."