The Emperor’s Angel of Death

It was precisely because it was so easy to arrive at the enemy's capital that Giulio felt a sense of 'unsatisfied enjoyment.' In simpler terms, it was like he hadn't even exerted any effort, and the enemy had already fallen.

However, according to the scans, he already knew that within this small nation encompassing dozens of planets, there was a considerable number of ships. Not all of them were necessarily warships, but they should have accounted for a certain proportion. The enemy's fleet size was actually much larger than the Royal Court had estimated.

But it was merely 'larger.' The warships he saw were not even as good as those of the human Empire, such as the Lunar-class, which was the most common type of warship.

He didn't know that he was actually facing the Hero-class cruisers, which the T'au had originally designed to match the Lunar-class. This was also the most common type of main warship for the T'au. Although its early and mid-stage models had not truly been able to match the Empire's Lunar-class, the subsequent improved models had reached a level close to the Lunar-class. However, because K'san was located in a relatively remote area, its Hero-class ships were mostly older, early models, which was why they were so vulnerable.

For some reason, looking at the wreckage of those shattered Hero-class cruisers, a poem widely circulated in the ancient Aeldari navy suddenly appeared in Giulio's mind:

I am the sword that pierces the starry sky,

I am the flame that illuminates the darkness,

We bravely lead the way,

The flowers of death are our destination.

My beloved,

Please do not weep for me,

Among the stars,

Flowers will bloom for you,

Those drifting wrecks,

Are my eternal tombstone.

Lift your head,

The starlight is my gentle gaze,

I will still be with you,

Until the end of time...

Immediately, he felt a surge of poetic inspiration. He took a roll of flexible wraithbone paper from the tray on top of a spindly servitor drone and used only his fingers to write down these beautiful and cruel verses.

Giulio had loved poetry since he was a child, which earned him the nickname 'Poet Star-Marshal'.

The adjutant and the Farseer beside him clapped and praised:

"A void tomb, what fine poetry, Star-Marshal, how refined."

Still feeling unfulfilled, Giulio put down the written scroll and picked up another, preparing for another improvisation.

However, a voice interrupted his artistic mood.

"General."

The voice of the technician in charge of communications sounded in his ear.

"The enemy has sent a communication request. They want to speak directly with you. Do you need me to connect the channel for you?"

"The identity of the other party?"

Giulio put down the scroll with some annoyance.

"It claims to be a messenger of peace."

"A messenger of peace?"

Giulio was taken aback, then laughed. The other Aeldari around him also let out suppressed chuckles.

After a while, he shook his head and said:

"These inferior blue-skinned monsters even know the words 'peace'? I think they're just scared."

"Star-Marshal, should we decline?"

Giulio thought for a moment, then said:

"No, I'm actually a little curious. Connect it."

Soon, a golden orb flew over silently. With a flash of light, a holographic figure appeared in front of Giulio, who had resumed holding the command staff.

This was the first time Giulio had seen a live T'au. Before, someone had suggested salvaging a few corpses to take a look, but he had refused, considering it a waste of time. Now he was glad for his decision, because it really was a waste of time. Even by his lowest aesthetic standards, the T'au were too ugly, or rather, hideous. To say something disrespectful, they were ten thousand times uglier than humans.

Even the Farseer beside him turned his head and muttered softly:

"It sullies our eyes."

Giulio also regretted it, but if he lost his composure at this time, it would damage the Royal Court's prestige, so he could only endure his discomfort and look at the T'au in the image.

It was wearing a cyan-blue robe, its skin was a dirty blue-gray, it had almost no hair, only a lock tied behind its head, its eyes were round and bulging, and its mouth barely had any lips. And most importantly, it had no nose, but rather a Y-shaped slit extending to its forehead, which was quite unaesthetic and embarrassing.

Moreover, he couldn't even tell the other party's gender, because according to the information provided by the Royal Court before the war, the T'au were indeed hermaphroditic, so it was easy to have problems with addressing them.

But things were already like this, so he didn't need to consider it.

"Greetings, Aeldari fleet commander, I am Ya'na-o-K'san-Shou'lani, a mid-level diplomat of the Water Caste."

When this T'au opened its mouth, her voice sounded, full of confidence, and translated into Aeldari using simultaneous translation equipment, although it was a bit stilted.

"I have been authorized by the Ethereal Council to conduct reconciliation negotiations with your side."

But Giulio did not answer, but rather looked at the other party with interest, with an expression as if he was watching some kind of animal performance.

"The losses suffered by our respective forces in this conflict are meaningless!"

Ya'na continued, even reaching out her open hands towards the warship:

"I have always studied ancient Aeldari culture, and I believe you are an elegant and orderly race. We can resolve misunderstandings through negotiation and exchange. For the benefit of our two factions, I urge you to stop this aggression."

It was difficult to read the T'au's expressions, because most of their expressions were in the precise stretching of their mouths and nostril slits. Giulio tried hard to discern whether the other party's mind was clear, because this was really not something a diplomat would say. Too naive, too innocent. What was in its head?

"If you are willing to cease military action, I will endeavor to mediate a peace agreement. An Ethereal will personally negotiate with you."

But her next words were interrupted by Giulio raising his hand. Then, the Star-Marshal patiently spoke his first sentence.

"If those two eyes on your face can be used normally, then please open them wider and see the current situation clearly. With just one order from me, in the time it takes you to blink, I can turn your little planet into dust in space, just like your toy fleet. You have failed. Losers have no right to negotiate. You can only do one thing: surrender. No, it's beg for mercy, pray that the merciful Eternal Queen and the great Phoenix King will spare your lives. But before that, you must disarm all your forces and have your leaders kneel before Her Majesty and His Highness to be granted this qualification."

Ya'na widened her eyes, tightened her nasal slits, and then tried to remain calm as she said:

"You only defeated the defense fleet here with a dishonorable raid. Soon, fleets from various surrounding colonies will arrive. You will pay a heavy price in casualties. This is unnecessary. We do not understand each other and have no conflict of interest. Why fight like this? What do you need?"

"Me?"

Giulio laughed and helplessly covered his forehead.