Riddles, delusions, vague words.

It is full of unspeakable and jumbled signifiers common to subspace creatures: and these jumbled sentences are often the necessary elements of a sophisticated lie.

When Vashtor's last words came to Morgan's ears, it was the Spider Empress's instinctive judgment of her words, and her brow furrowed, weighing the air in the hall a little.

"Do you need me to destroy it, sir?"

Feeling the displeasure of her lord, Virgo began to move her fingers, the hot plasma and electricity working under her delicate and innocent snow-white softness, and the fingers, accustomed to kneading dough and yeast, were also waiting to pull out the miniature Gauss cannon and linear particle cannon.

The crimson pupils reflected the appearance of countless data and observations, revealing the whispers of the Destroyer, and the Lord of the Second Legion only needed a light snort to activate this terrifying weapon of war.

Quite rarely, Morgan did not answer her beloved maid, but slowly closed her eyes, and was quiet for a while, and when she opened her pupils again and looked at the creator in front of her, the blue pupils that had fallen into a daze had regained their clarity.

In Vashtor's chest, there was a roar of gears that bordered on admiration and joy because of this light of reason, and it still stood in place, like an overly abstract steel statue.

Morgan spoke.

[You have broken your promise, Iron Demon, do you think that tirade you just made things clear? This is contrary to your initial promise. 】

Vashtor nodded, not offended by the blunt accusation.

"Allow me to apologize to you on this point, Your Excellency, for I have a reason why I have to do so: there are some secrets and darkness in the subspace that even I cannot easily mention, and I cannot let my interests suffer more damage in order to explain it to you."

[Then what other benefits can you bring me, demon?] 】

[For example, the deal you've been thinking about?] Do you have any chips that impress me? 】

[The existence you have revealed, called the Plague Heart, is indeed of extraordinary value, but its name alone is enough to discourage me. 】

"I have more chips than you can imagine, and they are more valuable, Your Excellency."

Vashtor made a noise, either irritated or approving.

[Then take it out, every second of your hesitation is cutting my patience. 】

"As you wish."

Vashtor was silent for a moment, as if preparing the necessary logic for the official start of the transaction, its beacon-like eyes burning with no fuel, looking extremely strange.

In its hard chest, countless flesh-powered gears grinded together, finally slowly roaring out the coherent words of the master of the Soul Forge Furnace.

"The Heart of the Plague is just a deposit I have paid you, it symbolizes the basis of our sincerity in making this transaction, and the value it will bring to each other, and I will definitely not break the treaty we signed until you finally choose to use this item."

[And after that?] 】

"We may be enemies or partners again: it all depends on where we position ourselves in the future and whether you are willing to trade again."

The Spider Queen was silent for a moment.

So, what will you give me? 】

Vashtor's bio-mechanical limbs made a screeching sound against the stone slab, and the demonic demigod waved his hand, forming a huge screen on its arched spine, high enough for the genoplasm to see every inch of what's projected on it.

The screen on the demon's back was not complicated, it was three indescribable ancient devices, one of which was the Plague Heart in front of Morgan at this time, and the remaining two, one of which looked like the engine of a battleship, and the third, its disorder and twisting made the Genoplasm hate.

"From the beginning, Plagueheart was not a lonely being, Your Excellency, it has two equally ancient companions, and while each of them has great power, it is only when the three of them come together that they can be truly useful."

"Unfortunately, I can't give you the other two devices together, but I've got a lot of information about their whereabouts, and about the hideouts of the remaining two devices, which is another leverage for me in this deal."

What are their names? 】

"Except for the Plagueheart, the remaining two are named Ouroboros and Tuchulca Engines."

[You just said that each of them has great power, what kind of power is that?] 】

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you the answer at this point, you can explore it yourself."

[Plague Heart's is not good? 】

"Yes, it would offend the Lord of Corrosion."

[Okay......]

[So, tell me, where are the remaining two devices?] 】

Vashtor didn't answer immediately, the cold voice it projected into Morgan's armor audio dissolved into some kind of ancient whisper.

"A long time ago, in the long river of history that you can't find, there was a war that broke out to the extreme, and that war even drove my appearance in subspace."

"In the midst of that great war that would have burned the heavens, a race as powerful as gods has fallen, and they are the creators of the three ancient devices before you, which were created at the end of the war and given a great mission."

"But before these devices could fulfill their mission, the war ended, and their creators fell one after another, leaving only a few terrified successors, who claimed to be the new masters of the galaxy: these inheritors were afraid of the power of these ancient devices, and the great mission, so the successors dismantled the three devices and imprisoned them in different places until today."

"As the years passed, the heart of the plague passed into my hands; The Tuchulca engine, on the other hand, managed to escape from prison a long time ago, and it is looking for the person it was waiting for, because it longs to be needed and used. ”

"That person, it could be you."

"And it's very close to you, very close."

[You don't want to tell me that the engine is on my Avalon?] 】

"Not really."

"But it's in the land you rule, the Far Eastern Frontier: I can remind you that the Tuchulca Engine is a cold and cruel creature that sees only its mission in its eyes, and that it has the power to enslave other lives, and it often does."

"As for your Avalon: there are interesting things out there, too, but it's not about you and my deal, and if you want to find out, I'd suggest you have all the power you can prepare."

[Thanks for the reminder.] 】

"After all, our trade will be long, and your death will do more harm than good to me for the time being."

[Very good.] 】

[So, what about Ouroboros?] 】

"Ouroboros is the only device that has not escaped its cage, and while it is actually the most terrifying, depraved, and powerful of the three ancient devices, it is also the strongest of the cages."

"Its cage binds its spirit, and while the Ouroboros tirelessly corrodes its cage and turns the world in which it was imprisoned into a terrible hell, just a few decades ago, a creature descended from the sky to bring its efforts to a virtual defeat."

【……】

Morgan frowned, and the obvious hint between Vashtol's words made the protogens quickly realize something.

[Where is it?] Tell me. 】

"A name you're all too familiar with."

"Caliban."

"Ouroboros, right on Caliban."

【……】

Morgan was silent, unusually long.

The demon demigod did not disturb the silence of the Spider Queen, and as Morgan pondered, the steel statue fell into a dead silence for a moment, and only the loud sound of the engine of war in its chest could reveal its existence.

The Lord of the Second Legion bowed her head, half of her will to guard against the demon's possible sneak attack at any moment, while the other half converged into her mind, setting off a huge wave of thoughts, mixing tens of thousands of inferences and possibilities, carefully selecting and examining every possible loophole for a trap, until the slightest satisfaction was given to Morgan's deep-seated cautiousness.

Although Vashtor's words were as sincere as its body, and although the Spider Queen's psionic power never detected the slightest hint of concealment, Morgan was immediately in a state of ......

Smell a rat.

…… It's not right.

Coincidence, what a coincidence.

Three ancient artifacts, one in front of him, the other in his own realm, as for the last one that sounded far away on the other side of the galaxy, but it was Caliban......

What reason does her lion brother have to refuse her visit?

At first glance, it seemed that she could easily acquire these three ancient devices and gain access to their powerful unknown powers, which was really ......

It's so easy.

In front of her was an easily obtainable, unknown and powerful force.

【……】

Morgan wasn't sure if Vashtor's words were really unveiled, but she was sure of one thing: the last genetic protologist to face such a powerful, mysterious, yet effortless force was Magnus.

At the thought of the name, the Spider Queen's slowly burning flames were mostly extinguished in the blink of an eye.

"Do you have any concerns?"

Perhaps because the Spider Empress's silence had lasted so long, even the demon demigods, who had always maintained a cold posture, had to take the initiative to ask questions.

Morgan glanced at the Creator, and in return for its sincerity, she did not hide her true thoughts.

I don't trust you, demon. 】

The things you have given me are so beautiful and powerful, and they are so easy to obtain that they don't seem to cost me more. 】

[This condition is so good that it is doubtful. 】

"That's true."

Vashtor nodded.

"But you're ignoring the fact that you've only heard what you're going to get, but you haven't heard what I need you to give, and your judgment is only half of the truth, so it doesn't have real value."

"Are you going to keep listening?"

Let me think about it. 】

Morgan casually dismissed Vashtor's questions, her subjective will long since detached from the conversation, and came to the depths of her heart, which had just had some order and stability.

Although she didn't want to admit it, the Spider Queen knew very well that she had to be given a guarantee and an absolutely trustworthy promise in the face of this kind of subspace existence that she didn't know much about.

She knew where to go to get the promise.

After a long absence, Morgan's soul fell on the territory of her mind, and she raised her head and looked at the golden light in the distance: the great golden sword was stuck there, and it was as smooth as new, and it seemed that it would be in this posture for eternity.

Morgan walked over to the big sword, put his hand on it, closed his eyes, and listened quietly, and in a trance, a ridiculous thought popped into her mind.

In this way, her father of genes is not useless.

——————

When Morgan opened her pupils again, the Creator was able to catch a golden flame passing through her eyes, fleeting, but presence.

It knows what that is.

"I suppose you've got permission?"

[It's a promise.] 】

The Spider Empress corrected, her posture looking much more relaxed, and she had a vigorous confidence than her previous caution, which was maximized as she raised her head and looked directly into Vashtor's pupils, which were like bright lights.

She spoke, her voice more like a command.

[Go on, demon, I'll consider agreeing to this deal.] 】

Now, tell me, what are you craving for in trading?] 】

The Creator nodded.

"It's for the best."

"I'll make it clear to you."

"Like I told you before: these three ancient devices, you can also call them the three artifacts of subspace, have a great mission, and that mission is that when they come together, they will be the key to a treasure trove."

[Another key? 】

"It's just words with similar meanings, don't care about the details."

[You say that this key can open a treasure house, what is in it?] 】

"Heritage, a powerful legacy that can subvert the galaxy, those ancient races as powerful as gods have sealed their power and creations in the treasury, and these three ancient devices are the only keys to the treasury."

"The heirs of the ancient races feared the rediscovery of their existence in the treasury because it would be enough to upend their fledgling empire, so they held three ancient devices in captivity."

[You don't need to be so mysterious, Vashtor, I know what you mean: Back in the Battle of Heaven, the ancient saints of the ancient race created a batch of terrifying weapons and sealed them in a certain treasure house, and the three ancient devices you want me to gather are the keys to unlock this ancient treasure house? 】

"That's it."

[So, let's get to the point: What you need in this transaction is for me to collect three ancient devices, so that they can merge again to become the key, and open the treasure house, so that you can obtain the destructive power inside.] 】

"I have more of a purpose, but you can understand it that way, because in essence, there is no more problem with your inference, and it is."

Morgan listened carefully, her brow unrelieved from beginning to end.

Then why don't you do all this on your own? Now that you have a trail of them, it's up to you to collect them yourself and unlock the treasure trove of your heart's desire. 】

Is there any reason why you can't do it yourself? Or are you hiding some of these dangers from me? 】

[Answer me, Devil, or we will terminate this transaction.] 】

The Creator's chest churned with a roar like a sticky swamp, and for the first time a flash of urgency flashed in its eyes, easily caught by Morgan.

"Yes, I'll answer you."

[This time, won't it include some subspace secrets that will embarrass you?] 】

"Not really, because the one behind you understands my words and sincerity better than you do."

The Spider Empress frowned, and Vashtor's words made her a little unhappy, but she couldn't refute the correctness of this sentence, because in her heart, the buzzing golden sword was indeed the greatest confidence that she could carry on the conversation until now.

[Say it.] 】

"Although the great mission of the three artifacts of subspace is to open the treasure house of the ancient saints, for you young, self-conscious races, another role is more important, favored by the person behind you."

[Be clear.] 】

"I'll show you a way, or give you a blueprint, as long as you put the three artifacts together again in the way above, and place them in a specific cage, they will be reassembled."

What is a specific cage? 】

"A world that needs to be shattered enough and completely impregnated by subspace."

[Then after they are reorganized, do they have any other abilities besides acting as keys?] 】

"Yes, they can form a discordant engine, and with the cage itself, they can come and go freely between the subspace and the physical world."

【……】

[I don't know what more value it has. 】

Vashtor was silent for a moment, seemingly struggling for less than a moment as to whether or not to continue to confide, but it quickly resumed its indifferent telling.

"Netway."

【Channel?】 】

"Yes, the Discord Engine is one of the greatest traversal engines, and it can be crafted into a powerful piercing tool that bites through the third space that hides between reality and subspace like a stubborn worm."

[When you say the third space, do you mean the network? 】

"Don't you know it?"

Morgan didn't answer Vashtor's question, but in her heart she was sure of the answer: I don't know.

She had heard of the Broken Channel, because countless broken memories of the Spirit Race would mention it, but she had never really cared about it, because she couldn't see the value of the broken channel.

The Spider Empress paused, then continued her questioning.

[You say, what do you mean that this so-called discordant engine can bite through the network like a worm?] 】

"Literally."

[A tunnel shield machine capable of digging new tunnels? 】

"It can be understood that way."

"The Tunnel is an ancient garbage dump, and while it holds immeasurable value and wealth, the vast majority of its passages are either too dangerous or unusable for a young race like you."

"But, with the help of this discord engine, you can build on the old ones, dig out your new paths through the old walls, and even have your own ones, as long as everything goes well."

【……】

【……】

[So what?] 】

Morgan was in a state of confusion: it was real confusion, because even though she searched every inch of her mind in an instant, even though she raised her hand, placed it on top of Virgo's head, and searched Virgo's database at the same speed, she still didn't find anything about the Internet.

Aside from the few words of the Elvens, this seemed to be important enough to be a final bargaining chip in Vashtor's mouth: it was completely outside of Morgan's knowledge.

She even searched for the memories of her eleventh brother, but found nothing.

Channel, is it important?

In Morgan's mind, such words kept coming, but on the surface, she still sorted out her thoughts, let the cold face hide the anxiety in her heart, and after a short shallow thought, she spoke again.

[Let me speculate: the treasure house in your mouth is in the network, and you want me to build that discord engine to help you dig out the location of that treasure house. 】

"No need for your help: the moment you magically merge the three subspaces, our deal is over, and you can dispose of them as you wish, they are yours."

Morgan nodded, temporarily suppressing the confusion in her mind about the net.

[But despite this, you still can't seem to answer my question: you can do these activities yourself, why do you come to me to trade, and is there anything I am responsible for that you can't do?] 】

[Can't you find them?] Or can't you just put them together and drive the discordant engine into the tunnel? 】

"I can't do the second point."

After a brief moment of silence, Vashtor's voice flickered like its pupils.

"My kingdom is in the subspace, in the soul furnace, I can maintain a corresponding balance with the gods, although their power is stronger than mine, but they also have their own concerns, so I am not afraid of them."

"But in the network, or in the physical universe, I will not have enough strength to protect myself, and if the discord engine is in my hands, then unless I have a strong ally, I will definitely not be able to sail smoothly in the network."

"And you, you may be strong enough, but you can't be my allies, you can only be my bargain partners, helping me to complete these dangerous tasks."

Why did you choose us? 】

"For reasons you don't know, but the one behind you knows it all too well."

In the roar of Vashtor's flesh-and-blood gears, there was a rush of approval and terror.

"The gods are very sensitive to the being behind you, especially when he is involved in the net, the attention of the four gods will be highly concentrated, and that will be when they are extremely rare and have no time to care."

"So, I gave you this artifact that involves the net, because only you can attract all the attention of the four gods and create a safe enough opportunity for me: such an opportunity may only appear once in a flash if you look at ten thousand years."

"And this is the real core of our deal: I will get the way and opportunity to open the treasury, and you will get the artifact of the network, which may be the best chance to change the fate of your race."

"It's fair to get one chance for another, isn't it?"

"Now that I've made it clear what I need to say, it's time for me to ask you."

"You, accept it?"

【……】

【I ......】

Morgan hesitated: she didn't know how to choose, and Vashtor seemed to have constructed an extremely fair deal, but it didn't anticipate some things, such as the fact that the genetic protoplasm in front of it could be said to be ignorant of the existence of the network.

And at this time, a kind of earth shaking that had never been seen before shook in the heart of the Spider Empress, and it was the golden will.

——————

[Promise it, my daughter. 】

[Morgan, my most important son, agree to its deal, and hold the ancient beings in your hands. 】

[I will answer the doubts in your mind, but for now, carry out my command: you need to agree to its deal, my Morgan, this is a crucial step. 】

——————

【……】

【……】

If he happened to go against the emperor's desires, what kind of expression and anger would appear on his face when they met again?

For a moment, Morgan was even very eager for the answer to this question.

So, she blinked and smiled.

【I ......】

[I accept.] 】

——————

"Of my brothers, there are only two of whom I am ashamed of."

"One is Horus, and the other is Johnson, they are the most powerful commanders, the oldest and most glorious legions, and their deeds are enough for anyone to look up to, for they stand on a height that no one can surpass."

"I admire them because they are better individuals than I am."

In the sacred, unpretentious, command room of the Makulag, the Lord of the Five Hundred Worlds stood among countless documents and reports, easily processing the scattered information and finding time to chat with the few heirs around him.

On the star map in front of them, the southeast corner of the entire Storm Star Field has been divided into countless strict grid squares, a small half of which has been smeared, symbolizing the purity and safety there, while the rest of the grid is like a gradually tightening hunting net, besieging the opponent who has not yet met step by step.

The hunt was going well, and the genet's expectation that he would be able to erase the shadows over the Legion with his own hands within two months brightened his mood, and when he chatted with his closest heirs, he made a rare mention of his blood relatives.

"But apart from Horus and Johnson, there is only one brother whom I can revere, and that is Gorgon, from Medusa, who is simply a natural computing machine, and my reason and logic are not worth mentioning in his aesthetics."

"I can't even imagine how I can treat him on the battlefield, Ferus is synonymous with invincibility on the battlefield, and I think it would be a blasphemy to associate his name with defeat."

Such exaggerated words made the high-ranking officers of the extreme warriors look at each other, and soon some people had the audacity to take a step forward and question their original body.

"Do you mean: Lord Ferus can never be defeated, father?"

Killyman laughed.

"As far as I know, Ferus himself has always wanted to experience a defeat, but his strength does not allow such a thing to happen, and for me, even if I am given more time to plan and prepare, I am not in the slightest sure that I will be able to defeat Ferus and his legion."

"For him, the plan is invalid?"

"Yes, my child."

The genogen nodded.

"There are only two kinds of characters who can invalidate even the most sophisticated plans, one is a genius like Ferus, whose intelligence and logic can make even the most elaborate plans leaky, and the second is the opposite, they don't carry any brain organs in battle, and no amount of careful planning can prevent such a group of people."

The Ultramarines fell silent.

"Is there really anyone like that?"

The Lord of the Five Hundred Worlds scratched his neat, short, golden hair.

"I'm not sure, for example, Ruth? Who knows, he looks like he's in the same state as the second, and I really don't know if he's intentional or not. ”

“……”

"You seem to have a penchant for mentioning Lord Riemanrus in all sorts of questions, father?"

"Because in a way, he's really ...... Very representative. ”

Killeman coughed lightly, his eyes rolling as he thought of some kind of addition.

"But despite this, Ruth is not without merit, he has his own charm, he and his wolves are unstoppable on the battlefield, only death can stop their steps, but they despise death in their bones, this savage thinking allows them to tear through any line of defense."

"If Riemannus and his wolves are my allies on the battlefield, then I will have the confidence to overcome any opponent: if he listens to me, even occasionally."

"So, sir."

Among the audience, the face of the high-ranking field commander Auguston was already full of the most savage and expectant smiles.

"You mean, as long as we can join forces with the space wolves, we are invincible?"

"Is the Space Wolf so tough?"

“……”

Killiman was silent for a moment, then shook his head at his heir.

"It's a complicated issue, my Auguston, and I can't explain it to you in a few words, but what I can tell you is: yes, joining forces with Riemanrus is enough to give me the conviction and odds to win against any opponent in the galaxy."

"Is this the charm of Riemanrus?"

"No, it's not."

Killyman shook his head.

"In addition to Riemanrus, there are four blood relatives, and I believe that joining forces with any of them will be enough for me to achieve a doomed victory on the battlefield."

"Who are they? My lord? ”

"Horus? Or Johnson? ”

Even among the serious and conscientious Ultramarines, the question was like a boulder falling into a pond, setting off a low but lively wave of discussion, and the officers spat out what they thought was the candidate, Horus was undoubtedly the most mentioned, but there were also Primordials who were not mentioned once.

For example, Luo Jia.

But in the end, it was Killeman who waved his hand lightly, suppressed the discussion, and solved the brief mystery himself.

"There is no Horus and Johnson: although they make me admire immensely, I don't think I will get along with them on the battlefield, excellent and suitable are two realms, and there is no real high or low between them."

"Who are they? My lord? ”

Killeman thought for a moment.

"Ferus is certainly one: the throne is above, and I am willing to fight with him at any time."

"St. Giles is also included in it, he has a unique charm, a strong legion, and a strength that is stronger than me, although there is no real difference in strength between us genetic protogens, but St. Giles is indeed stronger."

"Dorne is also a good choice, the Fist of the Empire is always the best ally, Dorn will not be disturbed and attacked by any factors in battle, if there is really a terrible catastrophe of the galactic level, Dorne is the most suitable commander, his firmness and will even outweigh Horus and Ferus."

"And another, my lord, who else?"

In the face of the heir's question, the Lord of the Five Hundred Worlds was silent for a while, and then he showed a smile that knew his heart, and his thin lips touched lightly, and he said the name.

"Morgan."

"My blood relatives."

"She has qualities that I trust and even envy: her rationality, her prudence, her kindness to those under her command, and the fire of mission that burns in her heart, all show that she is a reliable comrade-in-arms, worthy of a foundation of an empire like Dorne."

"As for the other factors......

"Her psychic powers, her planning, her versatility in management and domination, and her ever-expanding and rising kingdom are unique powers."

"How can I get her help, if the power we have in our hands, the legions we command, and the territory we administer, can unite for one purpose."

"I'll even be brave enough to face a whole galaxy that is burning."

(End of chapter)