The Emperor’s Angel of Death

After Malaqin left, there was no news from him for a full nine months. However, only the tenth company commander, who remained at Victory's Scar to train new recruits, did not participate. Additionally, two other companies were on missions elsewhere. Nevertheless, the tenth company commander didn't find it too strange, as the location was extremely remote, possibly without a single psychic beacon within several light-years. Slow communication was normal under such circumstances.

After all, given the unstable nature of the Warp, it wasn't uncommon for a battle group to disappear for a decade or two, so there wasn't much anxiety.

However, Soshjan felt a faint unease, because while the location was indeed remote, there was a relatively prosperous world nearby: the religious world of Saint Kasparren. There would definitely be a psychic choir there, so there was no reason why they couldn't be contacted for nearly a year.

With this unease, Soshjan convened the initiation ceremony for new members. After a vote, the Relictors Chapter was unanimously approved to join the Covenant of Sorrow. Then came the Mantis Warriors. During the vote, the Ranger Warriors ultimately chose to abstain, while the other chapters voted in favor. Thus, the Covenant of Sorrow gained two more members.

After the joining ceremony, naturally, there was a welcoming ceremony. As always, it adopted the most common and beloved format among the Adeptus Astartes chapters: a competition.

After rounds of intense duels, Robin of the Astral Knights ultimately defeated the masters from the other seven chapters, winning the championship and bringing glory to Soshjan.

As soon as the camaraderie-building banquet ended, Soshjan immediately went to a hidden psychic chamber within the Astral Knights' area of Victory's Scar. He contacted the Ranger scouts of the Royal Court in the vicinity, who were part of the Golden Guard, though only as peripheral members. Soshjan instructed them to go to Sandheim 5 as soon as possible to investigate what had happened to the Lamenters, and to report back immediately if anything was found.

Afterward, Soshjan bid farewell to Arash, giving him some instructions, telling him to actively participate in training and management after returning to the Legion, and to discuss matters with Talos.

However, no sooner had Arash left than a group of people found him.

They were from the Deathwatch, led by Watch Master Veldrian Synn of Watch Fortress.

Watch Masters, sometimes known as Watch Commanders, are high-ranking officers in the Deathwatch, serving as lords of Watch Fortresses, a position equivalent to Chapter Master. The difference is that they are scattered throughout countless Deathwatch fortresses in the galaxy, commanding multiple Kill-teams.

Watch Fortress is one of the two major Deathwatch fortresses in the Tempestus Sector, located on the western edge of the Tempestus Sector, bordering the Ultima Sector. The other is the Foresight Fortress, located on the eastern edge of the Tempestus Sector, bordering the Segmentum Ultima. These two Watch Fortresses, one in the east and one in the west, are the only large Deathwatch strongholds in the Tempestus Sector.

However, the main guardian of the Tempestus Sector is the Foresight Fortress. The Watch Fortress focuses more on alien activity in the Ultima Sector. However, the fact that the fortress is relatively close to the Nayseth system and even closer to Brakato is actually a good thing for Soshjan.

But today, the sudden arrival of this Watch Master made Soshjan somewhat suspicious, but he still warmly received the other party.

Veldrian Synn was accompanied by a Kill-team, numbering only six, obviously just as bodyguards. Their composition was as complex as that of the Deathwatch itself, including a Space Wolf, a Raptor Warrior, and four other warriors without obvious Chapter affiliations, but all battle-hardened veterans.

Because Veldrian Synn stated that he wanted to discuss confidential matters, Soshjan did not call the other Chapter Masters, but instead chatted with the other party in a conference room.

The conference room was simple, with a large table with a display, several scribe servitors, and servo-skulls. The two stood at either end of the table, the Deathwatch standing behind the Watch Master, appearing relatively relaxed, while Robin and other Astral Knights guards stood on either side of Soshjan against the wall.

"I hope you don't mind my uninvited visit."

Veldrian Synn's nickname was Black Fortress Lord, not because he was black, but because of his origin. He came from the Black Templars, which meant that he had some connection with Soshjan.

Soshjan smiled.

"How could I? The gates of Victory's Scar are open to all Astartes brothers, especially the warriors of the Deathwatch. Brother Veldrian, you are welcome to come anytime."

Veldrian had a very characteristic Imperial Fist face, with sharp edges, a broad chin, and full of scars. His left eye was replaced with a mechanical eye, and he had a white buzz cut. Obviously, he didn't have much expression on his face, so he just nodded at Soshjan's words.

"That's great. I'm here mainly for two things."

He pointed to the display on the table.

"May I use it?"

"Of course, please do."

At this time, a Deathwatch Techmarine behind Veldrian came over and inserted a tendril into the interface of the display. As a wave of water rippled in the air, photos and images appeared in layers.

At that moment, Soshjan's eyes twitched almost imperceptibly.

Those were all images of various Eldar, including warships, arks, various aircraft, and even soldiers, but they all had one characteristic.

Soshjan also realized that he had overlooked a "small matter", and now this momentary negligence was about to bring him big trouble!

His silence seemed to be mistaken for a kind of incomprehension, Veldrian said in a deep voice:

"What you see are the traces of the Eldar recently discovered by various Watch Fortresses and Ordo Xenos agents in the Ultima Sector."

Then the Watch Master pointed to one of them.

"Have you noticed that they all have one thing in common?"

"Well, I'm not an expert in alien studies, maybe"

Veldrian then zoomed in on one of them, which was a uniquely shaped warship. Soshjan recognized it at a glance as the Eclipse-class cruiser of the Third Squadron of the Tears of Heaven Fleet. He knew the markings on it very well, but of course, what the other party wanted him to see was not this, but a symbol—

The symbol of the Eternal Court.

"Do you recognize this symbol?"

When the other party said these words, all the hairs on Soshjan's body stood on end, but he could only pretend to be calm and shake his head and say:

"I don't recognize it."

Veldrian nodded.

"I don't blame you, because I didn't recognize it at first either. The Ordo Xenos has been studying the Eldar for nearly ten thousand years. The Eldar are currently mainly divided into four branches: one is the vermin hiding in Commorragh, one is the cowards living in huge mobile homes, one is the primitive tribes living on prosperous planets stolen from humans, and the last one is the bizarre clowns. They are all shameless beasts and cunning animals, but they have different characteristics. In these ten thousand years, the Ordo Xenos has recorded all the Eldar that have had contact with humans and have been witnessed, including their symbols. Although not necessarily complete, it already encompasses most of the Eldar scum we have seen."