Chapter 433 The Thread in the Hands of a Loving Mother

"What are you talking about: You want to prevent Guilliman from using your research for free?"

"It can't be done."

"It can't be helped."

"Stop thinking nonsense."

【……】

"By the way, let me tell you: the regiment rotation system you just discussed with your daughters, Guilliman will promote it in the Thirteenth Legion five years later, and will also write a special article An internal paper to explain to his descendants the six deficiencies that existed when you formulated this system."

"And this paper will also be given to you as a thank you gift from Macragge."

【……】

"However, your act of taking advantage of others is not without its benefits: the advantage is that until the moment this great crusade ends, our Lord of Ultramar regards you as his best friend and the entire galaxy. Among them, he is the blood relative he can trust most."

"He even named the most luxurious public bathhouse in Macragge after you, and the Macragge Citizen Arena next to the bathhouse was named after your Dawnbreaker Legion. name."

【……】

"From this perspective, your luck is actually quite good, my dear sister Morgan: our brother Guilliman's character determines that his friendship with you is quite pure, and what he confides in is about friendship. The oath is also extremely strong.”

"If you make good use of these friendships and oaths, it is not impossible to leverage the entire Ultramarines Legion or even the huge military power of the entire Five Hundred Worlds: If you add the Dawnbreaker Legion in your hand, it is not impossible. If there is a Far Eastern border..."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"That's really true: there's a lot to be done."

The midnight ghost from Noslamo stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. He shook his head and sighed exaggeratedly. The long, silky black hair swayed as he kept groping on his shoulders. In his pupils, The banter is also almost unabashed.

I saw the Primarch of the Eighth Legion crossing his slender legs. He was leaning against the dark brown desk. Various classics and other small objects were piled messily on the desk. , you can vaguely see the piles of paint cans and paint pens in the corner: and in his hand, there is a dim lantern, which is also the only dim sun that shines in the entire room.

Of course, on the ceiling of this original body's residence, there are four rows of bright and powerful recessed ceiling lights: Morgan is not too harsh on his brothers in this regard, but even after receiving so many years of education under the Spider Queen, After that, Conrad's preference for darkness remained unchanged.

Although he does not resist standing in those magnificent halls, forcing a smile to talk to people, but if possible, Midnight Ghost still wants to enjoy his own independent space in the dark, and conceive of his hidden things. The intention in the smile.

One hand of the original body is holding the pen tightly, and under the pen is a blur of writing, surrounding the time called Nostramo, which seems to have not yet been written, while his other hand is accompanied by exaggerated words. He shook his head and pretended to sigh, and took off the glasses hanging on the bridge of his nose.

【……】

Yes: glasses.

"Flat lenses."

Noticing the suspicion flashing in Morgan's pupils, Midnight Ghost answered his blood relatives with a smile. After saying that, he put the pair of glasses on the table, stretched his fingers to the edge of the corner in the darkness, and put the teapot He hooked up the two teacups at the same time.

"I wear it when I'm writing: after all, life always needs a sense of ritual."

[This is just looking for trouble, Conrad. 】

"Of course you can say that."

The Nostramos spread their hands with an indifferent expression and poured tea for their blood relatives.

"However, this kind of meaningless trivial matters are inevitable in our lives: just like I know that the problem of Nostramo is irreversible, but I am still here planning the best way to deal with it. The method is like you have already decided on the reform of the legion, but you still have to hold a meeting with your artificial little girls and pretend to listen to their opinions. "

"Since you and I can do this, it means that this kind of trivial matter is actually not meaningless. It has its own operating logic and will bring us benefits, right? Maybe somewhere else, this kind of trivial matter is not meaningless. What you call "finding trouble" is noble and elegant etiquette, a rule that everyone must abide by, and an ancestral law that cannot be changed. "

Midnight Ghost first handed the bright red tea to his blood relatives, and then picked up a cup himself. His other hand closed his fingers, fanning the breeze, and gently blew away the drifting water on the water. With a lot of enthusiasm, he leisurely defended his behavior.

However, the Lord of Avalon, who already knew the Midnight Haunter thoroughly, only responded with a contemptuous laugh to Conrad's sophistry, which did not mean any harm.

[Okay, I don’t have time to listen to your nonsense here, Conrad. 】

[Also: I’m not pretending to listen to my daughters’ suggestions. I sincerely want to absorb wisdom and suggestions from all over before implementing such a major reform: and this kind of humility also means It certainly did me good. 】

As he spoke, Morgan took a sip of tea. The blood-like liquid was redder than the lips of the Primarch, and it painted a bright color on the pale skin of the Spider Queen: When Conrad's vision captured all this, he felt a little proud in his heart.

[In fact, it was with the reminder of my daughters that I realized how big a loophole there was in my regiment rotation system: I originally planned to rotate every two to three years, a cycle of ten years: but such a rotation time is too short. Excluding the time consumed on the road, the actual service time of the soldiers may be less than twenty months. ]

[So, after my daughters' suggestions and calculations, I decided to change the regiment rotation system to complete a rotation every eight to ten years, that is, let the Dawnbreakers complete a cycle in twenty to thirty years to get used to the war on three fronts: from the perspective of time, this is a relatively reasonable arrangement. ]

"Well, I also believe that this is the arrangement that will eventually be implemented."

Midnight Ghost nodded, but his extremely affirmative tone made Morgan feel a little curious.

[How can you be so sure? 】

The Lord of Avalon was even a little happy: Could it be that her brother secretly made up for the knowledge about commanding the legion without her knowing, so he could answer this question fluently?

It's normal to think about it: After all, Conrad is about to meet his legion, and it makes sense that he has worked hard in this area. After all, he is no longer the bastard boy he was back then.

Thinking of this, the Lord of Avalon even felt a little touched in his heart.

But this emotional psychology did not last even for a second.

Conrad licked the tea casually.

"Because in the future, Guilliman did not mention this point in the article that pointed out your various mistakes: This shows that you at least did not make any mistakes on this issue, otherwise, that guy would definitely not show mercy."

[……]

"……"

"!!!"

"Why did you splash me?"

[Shut up! 】

Morgan pursed her lips, frowned, and two irritable dimples rolled up on her pale cheeks. The simple combination expressed silent anger, which made Conrad retreat immediately. The Spider Queen just lowered her head and looked at the bright red tea that she had spilled half a cup of, and drank it all in one gulp.

She certainly found that with the passage of time, her emotions seemed to become richer and even more fragile: if it was Morgan twenty years ago, she would never laugh at her daughters' [rude] choice, and she would never lose her composure because of Conrad's unintentional words.

[……]

But everything has changed.

It's not twenty years ago now.

After drinking the hot drink, the Primarch could only sigh in his heart: whether she regretted making this change or not, Morgan had to admit that this change in character was almost irreversible.

After she became a person who felt helpless towards her daughters and instinctively forgiving towards her brothers, she seemed to be unable to return to the ruthless person she once was: the iron heart that could once slaughter Magnus had long since left her.

...

That's all.

Let's take it one step at a time.

[Have you decided how to deal with the Eternal Night Mother Planet? ]

The Primarch threw the cup onto the table, and before this valuable handicraft rolled to the floor, Conrad caught it and put it back into the darkness.

The Midnight Ghost immediately pointed to the full bookcases behind him: these bookcases occupied an entire wall of space, and every corner on them was filled with densely packed books and files.

"I have prepared many plans, imagined every possibility I could imagine, spent a long time looking for similar cases in the files of the Empire, flipped through those damn sociology, psychology, natural science and economics books, and in the four drawers next to me, there are all methods that I might use: they are all candidates."

"But even so, I dare not say that I am ready."

Conrad put down the teacup, one of his arms stood on the table, supporting his face.

"I don't even dare to guarantee how to face my Eighth Legion: every time I think of their names, their figures, and their achievements recorded in the files of the Empire, there is always a kind of... doubt in my heart."

[Suspicion? 】

"About my own doubts."

"Although I already know the names of those noteworthy figures in the Legion, their future, and when, where, and how they will meet their deaths: but even so, when I think about seeing them with my own eyes, facing them in person, talking to them in person, and giving speeches to them, I feel a strange sense of powerlessness."

"..."

"For me, this seems to be an extremely important matter."

"And I don't want to mess it up."

The always cynical face of the Midnight Ghost was very rare to be quiet. He licked his lips, his thin eyebrows were raised, and his eyes were deep: when he finally raised his head, Conrad began to tentatively ask his blood relatives for help.

"Perhaps you could tell me, Morgan, how you originally initiated your reunion with the Dawnbreakers: that's strange, because I never seem to hear any of the Dawnbreakers place the beginning of this legend in their No one told me these stories, which made me indifferent to what happened.”

Midnight Ghost shook his head, the exclamation in his words was genuine.

"You know, even the Dark Angels under Zhuang Sen's command will vividly describe to their recruits the scene when the five hundred people reunited with Zhuang Sen, as if they themselves were present: But I have never been in the Goddess of Dawn. I’ve heard similar stories.”

[Probably because it is indeed a very common story. 】

Morgan leaned back in his chair.

[There were no impassioned speeches, no fighting side by side, no feats of Primarchs kneeling down to the Legion, and no madness to violently eliminate the unqualified: I reunited with the Dawnbreakers, just an ordinary thing under the moonlight, with me and them Compared with the twenty years we have experienced together, the initial story actually has nothing to tell. 】

[If I really want to say it: At that time, I was still called the Soul Drinker, but I don’t know since when, this title will no longer be mentioned by anyone. 】

"Soul Drinker."

Conrad chewed on the name.

"It sounds a little scary: like my midnight ghost."

Morgan smiled.

[Perhaps in another twenty years, or even longer, no one will remember the name Midnight Ghost: they may give you another title, one that you don’t want but have to wear. title. 】

"That will hopefully be a little longer: preferably when I don't know."

Conrad also smiled. He responded to the words of his blood relatives with half interest, hiding his face from the looming light of the lantern. In the following time, the two Primarchs did not speak much. All views, arguments, thoughts and opinions, all love and hate, thoughts and concerns, seemed to have been said in the previous twenty years.

The final moment has come. The two siblings just sat in their own darkness, staring at the lantern between them, letting their pupils be lit by the old light.

They were silent: at this moment, this silence is so precious.

"Don't you give me some advice?"

【I have nothing more to give you. 】

Morgan sighed.

[If you really want me to say it, just let nature take its course, Conrad. 】

[Let nature take its course and don’t think too much here: Many things in this galaxy are actually not that complicated in nature. Simple thoughts can strengthen your will and allow you to actually do something and accomplish something. Among the stars, the most important thing is It is always courage. 】

[Just like the Emperor may have to think of a million plans for his Great Crusade, but the real driving force for the Great Crusade is the persistence and belief at the bottom of his heart. 】

As she spoke, the Lord of Avalon stretched out her hand. Like an ordinary mortal mother comforting her son, she gently patted Conrad's head, while Midnight Ghost sat quietly. In his seat, he didn't hide away or make any unnecessary jokes, he just listened to Morgan's words attentively.

[Listen, my little one: for my part, you are a creature of the Emperor, a Primarch, and that thing in your head can, in a second, compose the most impassioned song in the galaxy at any moment. speech, so you don't need to worry at all. 】

[Personally speaking, you are the genetic father of the Eighth Legion and their leader. Countless of them have traveled through the galaxy of blood and fire in search of you: I think that your education is not important. It's too successful, but it won't be a failure. So, since even a guy like Perturabo can finally lead his army smoothly, instead of dying in a mutiny with too damn good reasons. , what do you have to worry about? 】

The Spider Queen smiled mockingly.

[So, what do you have to worry about, Conrad: The fact that you're sitting here worrying about how to meet your legion shows that you're going to be a good genetic father. , your heirs will only be proud of you. 】

[What you really have to do is relax, my little one: stop thinking about these things, relax your mind, don't think about anything, complete this journey, and meet your legion at the end of this journey, I will be with you on this last journey, I always will. 】

Morgan raised her head slightly, so that her entire face was illuminated by the light of the lantern. When she mentioned [Legion], the Lord of Avalon obviously thought of his own heirs, so that bright look Making her the most beautiful person in the galaxy.

At the very least, in Conrad's eyes, Morgan is the most beautiful at this moment: her smile has never been so moving, her voice has never been so sweet, and every word uttered from her mouth seems to be deeply... embedded in the heart of Midnight Ghost and will never be forgotten.

[When you see them, when you see their faces clearly. When those names are no longer vague words in your memory, but vivid lives standing in front of you, you will naturally know how to get along with them: because the first time you see them With your eyes, you will know what they are to you and what role they will play in your life. 】

【By then, you will naturally have a lot to say to them. Of course, you can also keep silent and use a victory in war to replace words: many of our brothers will do this, and they will turn the reunion with the Legion into a carnival of blood and glory. 】

【You don’t need to worry about what happens next. The relationship between the Primarch and the Legion is never a one-time thing. Although the Eighth Legion has a not-so-good reputation in many cases, it is not a hopeless or desperate force. The soldiers of the Eighth Legion are not so in urgent need of encouragement and salvation from the Primarch. 】

【This means that they have enough time to wait, wait for them to realize what kind of person their Primarch is, wait for them to learn to love their Primarch in their own way, and at the same time, wait for their Primarch to learn how to love them. 】

Morgan’s fingers slowly slid down Conrad’s hair, absent-mindedly tidying up the messy locks for her brother. Her movements were already extremely skillful, and such interaction has even become a habit between the two Primarchs.

[That's it, Conrad. If you want to ask me how to get along with the Legion, then this is all I can tell you. If you ask me what I have learned in the past twenty years with the Dawnbreakers, then I can only tell you: when you strive to be a qualified gene father, your offspring will never let you down. ]

[You don't need to hesitate, because you don't need to be the best, you don't need to make those great moves, and you don't even need to ensure that every one of your offspring knows your philosophy of life: do your part, fulfill your responsibilities, and try to love them as a father and guide. ]

[Don't ignore their needs, don't belittle their honor, don't treat them as tools that can be discarded, and don't be paranoid to pick out the one you love the most among them: a smile is more powerful than a whip, a hug is more worthy of them than a medal, and when they really do this, remember to stand in front of them. ]

[Remember: every Astartes warrior is fearless on the battlefield. There is only one thing that can really scare these people who are born for war. 】

【That is being let down. 】

【……】

【Don't let them down, Conrad. 】

【Just do this, and that's it. 】

"……"

Midnight Haunter was silent for longer than he thought.

Conrad almost used up all his strength before he murmured and reluctantly asked a question: He even regretted his behavior, so how could he still have doubts at this time?

"Morgan."

"The galaxy will burn."

"And the end of my destiny is in that burning galaxy."

"How can I not let them down?"

【……】

Faced with this question, the Primarch just laughed. Her fingers followed Conrad's hair to his face, and then slowly moved up along the raised eyebrows until she touched the edge of the wrinkles on Midnight Haunter's face due to long-term staying up late, and carefully smoothed out those wrinkled veins one by one.

She was so careful and careful, as if she was touching the most precious gem in the world.

Morgan smiled.

[This kind of question is destined to have no accurate answer, Conrad. Not every question in this world has its own answer: Instead of getting a response from others here, why don’t you find the answer that suits you best? ]

"…"

"How should I find it?"

The brows that had just been smoothed by Morgan wrinkled again, and the Primarch continued to stroke them with unusual patience.

[This is not something that can be done overnight. ]

[But if you insist on me giving you a guide: then let me ask you a question first, Conrad. ]

Morgan stretched out her other hand, and her two hands held the cheeks of the Midnight Ghost, just like this, face to face, eye to eye, staring intently at the color in Conrad's pupils.

[Have you ever thought about: What are you going to bring to Nostramo? ]

"Of course."

Conrad was smiling.

"I thought about this question a long time ago, Morgan, and I have thought of the most important answer: this answer even needs your help."

[…]

[What would that be? 】

"Light."

Conrad opened his mouth, revealing his sharp teeth, tearing at the two words, his words were irresistible.

He quickly added.

"Of course, it won't be the real light: it's my light."

[……]

[Why: Will you choose to bring light in the end? ]

"…"

Midnight Ghost laughed, and he hid his answer in his pupils.

"Because…"