The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Hearing Sosi Yang's slightly teasing words, the Star Disaster not far away chuckled and responded:

"Your Highness, I once encountered such a being. At the time, I thought it was just a member of some unknown race. It was also very enthusiastic about exploration and artifact excavation. But I have to say, they are indeed very good at languages, and even after a brief contact, they can say some very interesting proverbs in Aeldari."

Sosi Yang nodded.

"Archivist, why did you appear at the Blackstone Fortress?"

"Because one of my kind was lost in this place. I am sure it is dead, so I want to find its spaceship, and its Grel Inturia Vault, to retrieve the relics inside. But the complexity of the Blackstone Fortress is far beyond my imagination. I almost got lost in it several times, so I had to stop outside the Blackstone Fortress to find a solution."

The Star Disaster then said:

"Your kind went to Val's Bounty, I'm afraid it was also coveting the heritage of my race?"

"We only look for unclaimed items, never plunder or steal."

"A good unclaimed item, you are really eloquent."

Sosi Yang raised his hand to signal the Star Disaster to stop talking, and then said slowly:

"What are you so eagerly collecting relics from other races for?"

"Interest."

"Nothing more?"

"Every life has its own goals and values, although these goals and values may not be understood by other lives. Just like you don't understand the meaning of pure consumption like the Tyranids. We have broken free from control, but we are still troubled by many problems. Every life solves problems in different ways. This is the method we choose."

"Oh, a bit of philosophy there."

"I think you are trying to build your own culture as an independent race by doing this."

Veronica's words made the Archivist's eyes move slightly. Sosi Yang blinked and nodded, continuing to listen to Veronica.

"Although you have broken free from the shackles of the Tyranid will, you are still confused about your own existence and meaning. This is a common emotion that many 'creations' have after leaving their masters. You don't know how to define yourselves, define yourselves, or even describe yourselves. You have no past, so you cannot form a consensus that brings you together. In short, you are ideologically independent, but you are still affiliated with the Tyranids in terms of identity. You have not yet built your own racial consciousness and culture, and can only seek answers and inspiration from those races that once existed in the galaxy."

Sosi Yang agreed:

"Reasonable."

The Archivist was silent for a moment before responding to Veronica.

"Perhaps, but personally, my goal is only to be an archaeologist, a scholar. I am tired of bloody hands, and I don't care so much about so-called races. The galaxy is like a piece of rotten wood, and the races inside are the fungi that grow on the rotten wood. The rise and fall are nothing more than repeated cycles. What if you become a race? Everyone gathers together, and then begins to consider who will manage whom? Begins to consider survival, expansion, confrontation, and the balance of interests? When all this will eventually return to dust, it is meaningless."

"You are still an extreme liberal and historical nihilist."

Sosi Yang crossed his arms and turned to its side with interest, glancing down.

"Wait, don't you have genders?"

"We do not have natural reproductive capabilities."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to"

"It's okay, we don't have the concept of sex, so this does not involve insult or tradition."

Then Sosi Yang walked back to face it.

"Archivist, you must also know what this place is. As you said, the Court does not have extreme racial policies and has no reason to harm you, but... you discovered Val's Bounty. This thing is an important military asset of the Court and very confidential intelligence. If you are released, it may cause unnecessary risks. The Court's expedition team is currently only exploring the outer parts of Val's Bounty and establishing operational bases. If external forces intervene, it may lead to a war."

The Archivist also knew its current situation and did not struggle, saying very calmly:

"Then I am willing to accept your custody until you retrieve your military heritage. At that time, you will naturally not have to worry about me leaking information."

Sosi Yang smiled slightly. Keeping this unique creature locked up like this is a bit of a waste.

According to the expedition team, it is not only cunning, but also quite powerful, and also possesses a psychic power that interferes with thinking. The mechanism is a bit similar to the Tyranid hive mind. In addition, from its words and deeds, Sosi Yang can feel that this creature's knowledge should be very broad. Coupled with its long lifespan, it is a worthwhile object to use for the Court, which often uses alien mercenaries.

"Archivist, I actually quite appreciate your free and easy philosophy of survival, but unfortunately, the secret you discovered is not just the Blackstone Fortress."

Sosi Yang pointed to himself.

"You saw my face."

This time, the reptile face, which could hardly express any emotion, finally changed. Visible panic appeared on it.

After all, it had been in the galaxy for so long and knew a lot about the Imperium. It could tell at first glance that this big guy was not Aeldari. Its physique was not even like that of ordinary humans, but rather like the powerful gene-modified warriors among humans - Astartes.

But despite all the guesses, it hid it very well, because it knew that once the other party realized this, it would really have no way to survive.

No matter what the identity of this person is, a human who reigns among the Aeldari must represent incredibly explosive news.

"I...I can erase my memory, I don't know the Human Imperium..."

As soon as it finished speaking, the Archivist realized that it had misspoke. It was the fifth time it had misspoke since it developed self-awareness, and it was also likely to be the most fatal.

Sosi Yang first pointed at it with his finger, and then pointed at himself.

"Imperium, so, you, guessed that I am related to the Imperium."

"I will forget! Aeldari seers have powerful psychic powers that can erase my memory, please spare me!"

As an extreme liberal, another characteristic of the Archivist is naturally extreme fear of death. It is very afraid of death, because only by living can it feel everything it has.

Sosi Yang smiled and shook his head.

"That's not safe. Generally speaking, dead people are the safest, or would you like to stay in prison until eternity?"

"No, no, please--"

Looking at a huge four-legged creature with its hands clasped together in a very humble manner is indeed a bit laughable, but Sosi Yang also felt that it was a bit pitiful and did not continue to tease it.

"Then how about this, let's make a deal."

"Hmm? What kind of deal does your noble Highness wish to make? Or do you wish to obtain some relics from me? However, what I collect is mainly cultural heritage, I am afraid there is nothing of military or technological value--"

Also, by the way, half-dragon or dragon-man is actually an inaccurate translation, because the original English name of this thing is Zoats, which is the Lizardmen of the Old World. GW designed the Lizardmen of the Old World earlier than 40k, so normally it is more accurate to call it Lizardmen.