"Let the strongest get it?"

"That's what you said to him?"

[Almost, just with a little prefix and suffix: he should remember it, after all, Alexander is one of his most famous characters, and even Horus knows this remote history.] 】

"Does Horus know too?"

[Yes, Horus uses the Alexandrian side of the emperor to describe Killiman.] 】

"It's not the right one."

[Of course not: Alexander the Great is a mad emperor who wants to march to the end of the world, and Killiman sees the end of the world as nothing more than the door to his private office, Alexander the Great's dream is to see the bronze pillar of Hercules, and Killiman has no interest in even looking at his window potted plant.] 】

"But in the eyes of the world, they are careerists who can fight well and focus on war."

[I can't agree with you.] 】

"Oh, I know: Killeman isn't really some kind of ambitious character."

[No, I mean: Killiman cannot be preoccupied with war, in fact, he cannot be preoccupied with anything, half-heartedness is his privilege and hobby, but also his weakness, and in this point this brother of mine can be called wrong again and again, and he will not repent of his death. 】

"How?"

[If you beheaded him sixteen times, or almost beheaded him in two hours of confrontation, but you can still find a chance to behead him in the seventeenth encounter, believe me, your opinion will only be the same as mine.] 】

“……”

"Why don't you tell Gilliman about his huge hole in this area: is it because you want to keep this secret and then profit from future possibilities?"

【……】

[Why don't you tell my Father of Genes that he is so stupid in his approach to so many issues: is it because of your fanatical obedience to him?] 】

“……”

"Your father is not persuaded: even if it comes from the persuasion of his best friend, he will turn a deaf ear, believing that his friend lacks the courage and determination to build a great cause."

"His sons are not persuaded: even if it comes from their sisters, they will dismiss it, and think it is the envy and deception of their poor blood relatives."

“……”

【……】

"Have a drink?"

[Got Martini? 】

"Of course: I have a little research on bartending."

[This doesn't match your outward image, Palm Printer.] 】

"If you live for a long time, you will naturally know a little bit about everything, and you will know everything."

【…… Fair and reasonable. 】

——————

But why don't I see this in my genetic father?] 】

“……”

"Because he's lived so long."

——————

Morgan met the famous Palm Seal holder in an unexpected place: more like an accidental discovery than a visit.

Less than fifteen minutes earlier, the Lord of Avalon had ended the not-so-long conversation with her genetic father: the Emperor had squeezed as much of his daughter's future as he could, and then casually tossed Morgan's shriveled orange peel aside.

The Lord of Humanity instructed a forbidden soldier who did not know when to stand by them, and asked him to take Morgan to meet the true ruler of the Imperial Government: in the words of the Emperor, from now on, Morgan and the Palm Sealer should be best friends, and at worst, enemies.

And Morgan actually has a little opinion on this.

[I have to remind you, my esteemed Emperor: a pair of enemies can be born by the command of a third party, but a friendship is entirely due to the influence of subjective consciousness, and I do not think that I will be motivated enough to become new friends with His Excellency Makado. 】

＋…… That doesn't matter. ＋

In the face of Morgan's uncooperative attitude, human beings just looked at his daughter benevolently, and after empathizing with her, they showed Morgan a path very responsibly.

+ Or I can find a way to make you and Machado comrades-in-arms: then you can have a comradeship that fights side by side, isn't it? ＋

+ Just like you and Johnson. ＋

【…… What are you going to do? 】

+ Do you really want to listen? ＋

【……】

[No, father, I'd better consider giving full play to my initiative. 】

So, in this way, Morgan came to the palm printman she had heard of: and when the Lord of Avalon found the actual controller of the imperial government, he found that the palm seal was neither reviewing documents nor meeting with minutes, but sitting in a white wooden pavilion near the garden path, quietly enjoying his lunch.

Breads with fresh butter, roasted rump tips of curly-horned deer, salad made with unknown rhizomes and leafy greens, and a few slices of fresh fish: this luncheon of the Palm Printmaker is unexpectedly simple without looking at the expensive bottles of wine erected next to it.

Morgan sat directly across from the old man, and she waited quietly for Machado to finish most of her lunch before opening the conversation with him: after all, before leaving for the palace of Terra, her brother Riemanrus had repeatedly instructed Morgan that the person who held the seal was a respectable senior, and that if he could, observe etiquette in front of him.

The weight of such words can be seen from the mouth of the Fenris.

[I always thought that an immortal like you didn't need to eat. 】

"No, it does."

Machado didn't look up, he was intently tearing a piece of cold meat from the tip of the roast deer's rump and shoving it to scoop up the last remaining sauce next to him: judging by the amount of food on the plate, the palm printmaker was demanding of himself.

"As eternals, our bodies do not age anymore, nor do we lose our breath from any fatal injury, but we do not lose our instincts to eat and rest, nor do we lose our joyful and sad thoughts: that is why I can proudly call myself human. Stand by the side of your genetic father. ”

But I've heard that the appearance of the Eternals will remain the same as when you were young: are you too old now as an Eternal?] 】

Morgan narrowed her eyes as she carefully examined the bottles floating in mid-air beside Machado: they were being manipulated at the fingertips of an invisible top bartender, methodically blending the wine.

"My situation is quite special, and you won't encounter it in the future, so there's no need to worry."

The Palm Printmaker put the piece of meat in his mouth and chewed it slowly, looking up as he ate, carefully examining the genogen sitting in front of him.

"You're done talking to the Emperor?"

[Yes.] 】

"Faster than I thought."

[He asked me some questions, or asked me some opinions.] 】

"Oh, he's asking: that's a rarity."

The palm printman shook his head and sighed.

"You said you moved him?"

【…… Sort of. 】

Morgan blinked: she couldn't see anything in the emperor's face, which was like a black hole, sucking the light of wisdom out of her mind, and drifting silently elsewhere.

【……】

I always feel like I've been prostituted for nothing......

[He only spent about half an hour asking me to assume a political system that would maintain the process of the Great Campaign and balance the power within the Empire, and said that after he set up a commander and left the Great Expedition, he might adopt some of my ideas.] 】

“……”

For the first time, there was a pause in the cutlery.

The sound of silver blades slicing through the porcelain plate was unbearable.

"Don't mind sharing it with me?"

【…… Of course. 】

Morgan frowned, nodded, adjusted her sitting, sorted out some of the confusion in her mind, and then spoke.

Machado listened quietly, without questioning anything, without any expression on his face, he just dutifully handled the rest of the food on his plate, and by the time he had swallowed the last bite, Morgan was almost finished.

The Palm Printmaker wiped his lips.

Then, he was silent for about a minute before he spoke.

"A system with clear strengths and weaknesses: you premeditated?"

[It wasn't until the emperor asked me that I started thinking about it.] 】

"Then you're really talented: maybe you've inherited his political talent."

【……】

[Does he really have it?] 】

“……”

"I have, he has: he is good at putting the right people in the right places, and he is also a very powerful political talent, and just by mastering this, he can build a dynasty"

[Shouldn't that be Killiman's inheritance of the emperor's political talent: after all, Killiman's political talent and political sense are the most famous of the primordials. 】

"Killiman......

The Palm Printer shook his head, mocking.

"I don't deny that Gilliman has political talent, but I don't think a character who can put the words [New Empire' on the Otlama brochure, I don't think he has any political sense."

"It's really confusing."

Machado used an egalitarian, even slightly superior, tone that made Morgan frown, to evaluate the genetic protogen, as if an old man were evaluating a mediocre junior.

The Palm Seal didn't care about the slight disgust coming from Morgan, he just looked into the eyes of the Lord of Avalon, skipped those unnecessary detours and prefixes, and stabbed directly at the heart of the matter.

"You should know what will happen if you hand over the power to collect taxes and the right to appoint personnel in some regions to the genetic protogen: although from a political point of view, the vast majority of your brothers are indeed pure and immaculate, and the Astarte warriors under their command are basically free from corruption and greed."

"But that's not the case for everyone: some Genoplasms aren't suited for this kind of thing, some Astarte warriors aren't incorruptible paladins, and not to mention the fact that when hundreds of galaxies have the same Legion flag, it's hard for the Council of Terra to reclaim their sovereignty."

Of course I know that. 】

Morgan pressed his arms together, cupped her chin, and smiled at Machado at an angled angle.

[This in itself is a trade-off: the possibility of future splits in exchange for the stability of the Great Expedition at this stage, as well as as as the ability to generate as many sources of taxation as possible, and you have to admit that if executed well, it is indeed a perfect solution, isn't it?] 】

“……”

[Not to mention......]

Morgan blinked, she didn't hide the malice in her pupils.

[If the Council of Terra, composed of mortal lords, is unable to defeat the Astartes in the political realm, thus proving that they are more capable of maintaining their rule and collecting taxes......]

What qualifications do you have to push us out of the political arena? 】

“……”

Indeed, my Father of Genes desires for mortals to rule this galaxy, but first, you must also prove that you are worthy to rule this galaxy and this empire. 】

[Whether it's a genetic protogen or an Astarte warrior, we may not have a grudge for domination and power, but that doesn't mean that we want to hand over the land we have worked so hard to build over to a group of mortals who are completely unworthy to rule them, Lord Machado. 】

“……”

"You're still unhappy with the Emperor's actions, Morgan."

[Where do I dare to be disgruntled: You should know very well that Your Excellency, compared to my naïve and impulsive brothers, this kind of behavior of mine is already very subtle. 】

[Moreover, I am also thinking about you.] 】

Morgan smiled.

[You must know that both the original body and Astarte are actually warriors: warriors are a group of very simple people. 】

As long as you behave well enough, they will naturally recognize you. 】

[That's why I say, if it's executed well: if the emperor executes it well, and you execute it well, it's going to be a perfect plan, isn't it?] 】

“……”

The palm seal holder hesitated, he seemed to spend a second to distinguish the authenticity of it, and then nodded with some emotion.

"Yes, if executed well, it's a perfect solution."

"The good thing about the plan is a stable expedition and as much tax revenue as possible, which can be enjoyed at the beginning, but the bad thing about the plan is that the split activity that occurs in the later stages: if the emperor completes the network plan, this division will definitely disappear in front of him."

"If the Emperor is unable to complete his network plan, then in the face of the series of troubles we will face next, political stability and the division of the frontier regions are just a small matter that cannot be put on the table: not to mention, if it does go that far, these separated frontiers may become a new fire."

Speaking of this, the corners of the palm print's mouth even raised imperceptibly.

"Of course, in the eyes of some mortals outside the palace, this generous gift of power will cause the genetic protogens and legions to form a tendency to become a tail of greatness, and they will fear that the edge of the galaxy will become a kingdom within a state that no longer obeys the orders of the Holy Terra, and become a new five hundred worlds."

[Those rat-eyed guys would not have thought that if the entire galaxy was a region like the Five Hundred Worlds, the Emperor would not have started this great expedition at all. 】

Morgan scoffed.

[At the same time, they are unable to understand the relationship between the emperor and the primordial body: this relationship is the greatest confidence in my system.] 】

[As long as the emperor completes the network and stands in front of the primordials again, then these so-called kingdoms within nations will disappear, because the leaders of these kingdoms will be eager to throw themselves into the arms of their fathers. 】

[Before the war started, the king descended first: It's really an enviable father-son relationship, isn't it? ] 】

[Funny, but true.] 】

"Who isn't."

The palm printmaker shook his head, poured himself a glass of water, and clinked glasses with Morgan: at this moment, for the first time, the hearts of the two dispatchers felt a little sympathetic.

Morgan's face was bitter.

[Mortals think that this is a political issue, but in fact, the biggest subject of this so-called political problem is the legion, and the greatest interest of the legion is the will of their respective genetic protogenes, and the greatest will of the genetic protogens is often related to the emperor. 】

[Therefore, whether it is the process of the Great Expedition or the balance of power within the empire, it seems to be a complex and sophisticated political issue, but its essence is nothing more than the family interaction between the emperor and the genetic prototypes: the biggest reason for the political situation of the entire galaxy is actually the awkward but deep blood connection between a father and his dozen sons. 】

[It's really to the point that if you say it, it will make people laugh. 】

Morgan sighed and drank the wine from his glass.

Except for the two of you here, I'm afraid no one would have thought of this.

The seemingly treacherous political situation of the Human Empire is in fact just a very naïve family ethics drama: the facts are so absurd that they confuse every smart person outside the palace.

“……”

"What do you think? If you develop according to your thinking, how many legions will rise in this process of decentralization: more than half? ”

[Half is impossible. 】

Morgan shook his head.

[At least a quarter of the progenitors and their legions are not suitable for taxation at all, at least a quarter of the progenitors will see this as a simple burden rather than a source of power, and a quarter of the protogens may establish a small tax area but will not think about expansion, and in the end, only a quarter of the protogens will establish a stable country within a country.] 】

[But five hundred worlds is already their limit: in terms of ambition, Killeman can be said to be unsurpassed. 】

"Who else but you and Killman will make up the quarter?"

【……】

Morgan thought for a moment.

[Maybe ......]

[Perturabo, Donne, and Roga can do it, Conrad, St. Giles, or Fogham are a little possible, and there are additional alphas, as well as ......]

"And the most likely, our great wolf god?"

【…… Oh, yes. 】

Morgan laughed: both she and the palm printmaker had captured the rapidly approaching storm and noise in the distance.

Isn't he coming? 】

(End of chapter)