The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Chapter 3140: Night Talk

As night descended, and before the last rays of the setting sun had vanished at the edge of the sea, the faintly glowing spirit bone orbital arc appeared in the deep night sky. On a high cliff overlooking the sea, two figures sat in chairs around a simple circular rattan table, laden with delicate desserts, fruits, and a crystal pitcher full of fine wine.

“.Speaking of which, Rozeim, do you know why the Royal Court chose this world?”

“Why?”

Soch, dressed in simple casual clothes, leaned back slightly, gazing at the sea that had deepened in the night, and said softly:

“It was here that I first realized that I was indeed attracted to Veronica, even though I am an Astartes, and she is an Eldar.”

Rozeim stopped raising his glass, then glanced cautiously at Soch and said in a low voice:

“That’s… that’s quite romantic.”

Soch smiled and shook his head helplessly.

“Why are you still using such polite words with me?”

“I'm serious, doesn't this show that your love with Sister-in-law has nothing to do with power or material things, but is the purest emotion?”

“Ha, I even often wondered if I was really mentally ill at that time.”

As he spoke, Soch picked up his glass and handed it over, and Rozeim gently clinked glasses with him.

“But I have never regretted it, and I rushed into Commorragh to save her without even thinking about it. Really, sometimes I can't even explain what kind of person I am.”

“Oh, just be yourself. Besides, a worker who ekes out a living in a factory for more than ten years and then gets crushed to death by a machine is called loyalty and dedication; an Astartes who struggles in war for hundreds of years and finally dies in an unknown corner is also called loyalty and dedication; a governor or bishop who eats, drinks, and makes merry for most of their life, sleeps with a bunch of women, has a bunch of children, and then dies of old age, is also called loyalty and dedication... Since everything in the Imperium can be interpreted as dedication, is there any need to talk about rules?”

Rozeim took a sip of the drink in his glass, smacked his lips, and smiled:

“Hey, it's really good to have an emperor as an older brother. I guess you can't buy this kind of wine outside even if you have money.”

“Rozeim, to be honest, when you see me like this, don't you have any doubts?”

“Doubts? Doubts about what?”

“That is…”

Soch tilted his head, hesitated for a moment, and squeezed out two words.

“…Traitor.”

Rozeim looked at Soch with a very surprised look.

“Brother, you… there’s no need for this, right? What's a traitor? For example, if there's a war going on at the front, and the Department of Internal Affairs takes away the supplies and even weapons and ammunition that's being a traitor?”

“How could there be such a stupid thing… Of course, if there really is, that's not called a traitor, after all, there are rules.”

“Ah, following the rules doesn't make you a traitor? Then the Inquisition blows up a whole star system planet by planet, which also complies with the rules, so why do they accuse each other of being traitors?”

“Uh, you're still full of fallacies as always.”

Rozeim shook his head, poured himself another glass, then put an amber translucent fruit into his mouth, chewed it a few times, and said:

“How many principles in the Imperium aren't fallacies? If they were all correct, would things have come to this point? Brother, you just think too much. If you had half the cheek of those lords, you wouldn't be so tangled up. Everyone is strict with others and lenient with themselves. You are sometimes too strict with yourself. Besides, Chapter Master is a job, Phoenix Lord is a life, and the two are not so mutually exclusive. Of course, there will definitely be some trouble in this, but as long as you can overcome it yourself, it's actually nothing.”

“Overcome, ha… It's easy to say, but I still thank you. Only with you can I speak my mind with this identity.”

Rozeim clinked glasses with Soch again, then suddenly asked in a low voice:

“But seriously, there may be a day when this matter can't be hidden. Brother, are you prepared? Although I personally don't care, but… after all, for most people in the Chapter, it may be too shocking.”

Soch raised his head slightly, sighed softly, and pointed to the sky.

“They once suggested that this world should be kept in daylight forever, but I insisted on leaving the night.”

“Why?”

“Because there must be sunset after sunrise, and light and shadow must alternate to embrace each other. Have you seen the symbol of the Eldar god Asuryan?”

“It seems… I seem to have some impression, the one with black and white?”

“Yes, perhaps this is what the Eldar have truly forgotten, some kind of thought or hint left by what once existed, but I think this is equally applicable to humans. I can't always be in that position, nor should I always be in that position. Of course, I haven't really figured it out. My destiny is too complicated, and the responsibility He gave me is too heavy. In fact, many of the things I do don't have a clear goal, but I just made some preparations that I thought I should make, but I'm not sure whether those preparations will be useful. Perhaps this is the only answer I can give you.”

Rozeim thought for a while, scratched his head, and said:

“It's really a bit complicated… But brother, if you really quit, can you take me with you? Although I'm not very good at fighting, and my cooking may not be as good as your imperial chef, but I should be able to run errands.”

Soch grinned, shook his head, filled his glass, and picked it up.

“As long as you're willing, this place is always open to you. If you don't mind being surrounded by Eldar, living here is no problem, but you may have fewer of your favorite entertainment activities.”

“This place is pretty good. I used to think that the Eldar were stinky and neurotic, but after your training, they can actually live with other races. Going to Commorragh before really left me with some psychological shadows. I thought the Eldar treated other races like that.”

Seeing Rozeim take the initiative to mention Commorragh, Soch took the opportunity to say:

“You plunged into it as a human and came out completely unscathed. I'm afraid there are few people in the entire Imperium who can do it. Speaking of this… I have something I want to ask your opinion on.”

“Hmm?”

“Well, this matter has to start with my family…”

As Soch began to narrate the history of his family, a group of glowing creatures appeared around the two, creating a unique halo. The city on the sea, or rather the semi-submerged Luggnanate Ark, also emitted a pearl-like luster, and a thousand-meter-high waterspout rose from the sea, accompanied by melodious music.

More than ten minutes later, when Soch finished the last sentence, Rozeim's entire expression had solidified, his mouth slightly open, and his eyes wide open.

After a long while, at Soch's cough, he woke up from his dream and immediately raised his hand and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.