"Robert."

“…… I'm here, Ms. Judton. ”

"Say, 'How will your brothers boast about you behind their backs?'

“…… cough cough cough cough !! ”

——————

"Why did you think like that, Lady Yudon?"

The monarch of Maculag took a tissue from the side of the table, wiped his lips, and glanced at the document he was correcting, and the handwriting he had just left: after making sure that the brief gaffe had caused no real damage, the uncrowned king of Great Otrama dared to muster up the courage to look at his adoptive mother with a few wisps of resentment.

The original mother's adoptive mother, the most honorable lady in all of Macullag, realized after a brief moment of surprise that her words seemed to have caused the original body to be troubled: an apology accompanied by an embarrassed smile appeared on Lady Yudon's face that was no longer young.

"Did I say something wrong, Robert?"

With that, Ms. Euton poured a glass of water and placed it in Killiman's hand, and then dragged the rather heavy chair under her ass with great difficulty, and leaned forward so that her arms could rest on the table to hold her jaw against her jaw, so that the lady's gaze could reach the pupils of the genogen: in that gaze there was a love that had not changed for decades.

Fortunately, decades ago, in order to account for the obvious size gap between the genetic protogen, the Astarte warriors, and mortals like Ms. Judton, Killiman ordered almost all of the office measures on the Maculag to be modified accordingly: for example, the desk he was using at the moment adopted a mountain-like design, and the original body himself could write on the high [mountain] in the middle part of the table, while his mortal advisors or relatives and friends, You can also use the lower [foot of the mountain] on both sides.

If it weren't for the existence of such small details of proximity, it would be difficult for a mortal like Lady Jurdon to work with Killiman: in the heart of the Lord of Maculag, such proximity was one of the few things that would make him feel truly proud, and he had even recommended such a change to his blood brothers with burning passion.

As for the result, it was not too bad: Horus, St. Giles, and Fogham all thanked Gilliman in the most elegant terms, and they swore that they would consider the suggestions of the Makullags, but they also replied to Killiman's other intentions, for no one believed that the Lord of the Five Hundred Worlds would contact his brothers specifically over such a trivial matter.

Dorn's move is more characteristic of the Imperial Fist: in his reply to Killiman, he makes it clear that he will take his brother's advice, and his tone is so stiff that the Ultramarine's Genogen feels like he is reading a tough announcement from the War Council, but underneath this hard reply, Dorn is accompanied by something else, which is a specially designed furniture draft based on Killiman's suggestion, and the current desk of the Lord of the Five Hundred Worlds is designed according to the draft given by Doanthra.

Among the other brothers, Vulcan, Chagatai Khan, and Riemannus's response was lackluster, but Gilliman heard that his advice had been most thoroughly implemented in these legions; Ferus, who had high hopes from the Lord of Macurag, disappeared like a mud cow into the sea, along with Gilliman's letters, and the Iron Hand Legion did not change in the slightest.

As for Morgan......

Thinking of this, Killeman had to cough.

He did not send Morgan such a proposal aimed at being close to the people, after all, the inspiration for the proposal itself came from the fact that Killiman had observed the details of the relationship between the Dawnbreaker and the mortals in the delegation when he received the delegation of the Dawnbreakers: he believed that the Far Eastern Frontier must have done a better job than he did in this regard.

The Makulag was never ashamed to admit the excellence of others, but he also did not expect his merits to be discussed: after all, his political acumen was frighteningly low compared to Gilliman's ability to co-ordinate, but it was not entirely absent.

Some of his brothers are still well aware of his fears, and he chooses to turn a blind eye, but he will not be like his adoptive mother, who naively thinks that there will really be a genetic prototype to boast about him behind people.

Well......

Perhaps someone like Horus or Morgan would praise him, St. Giles would probably be insincere, Riemannus would laugh at him vulgarly, and Dorne would praise Killiman's professionalism, but he would also criticize him for his attitude.

And the others......

Again, Killiman coughed lightly to ease his embarrassment, and his free hands took the drink from his adoptive mother, the brain that was enough to handle all the affairs of the entire Great Otlama and the Ultramarines at the same time, and had to concentrate all his attention to meet the anticipation in Lady Yudon's eyes.

Like any ordinary mortal mother, the original adoptive mother always has an inexplicable pride in her child, believing that he can do his best in any aspect, whether it is in his career or in his relationship: when Gilliman was young, this pride from his mother would make the original body triumphant, but when he grew up, this pride would become a rather subtle burden in many cases.

As now, while Ms. Jurdon sincerely wanted to know what she had said wrong, Killyman certainly couldn't argue with her mother head-on: admitting in front of her adoptive mother that she had a bad relationship with her brother was a very shameful thing, even in the eyes of the self-effacing humble Killyman.

Therefore, in the face of the sincere gaze of his own adoptive mother, the genetic prototype only hesitated again and again before he considered speaking.

"Ma'am, why do you think that my brothers would boast about me behind men: I mean that it is very, impolite and taboo for a man of our stature to speak freely behind the back of another figure of the same status."

"Taboo?!"

Ms. Judton's voice was half high-pitched, even a little sharp.

"What is taboo? What do you mean by a person of your stature? You are brothers and sisters, and in you you carry the blood of the same father: yes, if it were in the presence of others, before your warriors and your people, you should indeed emphasize your place, and what kind of person you are, but it would be too sad for you to use the character and the position, or even the word "taboo" in front of your own blood brothers, my Robert. ”

Lady Eudon spread out a hand and frowned, her words like a gentle sword that the Primordial could not resist, and then, as if remembering something, the Primordial adoptive mother returned to her face with a smile.

"Think about it, Robert: I haven't met most of your brothers, but I've met Morgan, and she's the most honored visitor Macurag has ever been, and I'm sure she's in some sense representative of your family, and Morgan is a friend worth making in every sense of the word, isn't she?"

"Think of your cooperation, of the ships that travel between Avalon and Maculag: if Morgan had not boasted of your rule over Otlama before her people, how could the two places be so close to each other now?"

“…… Okay"

Morgan...... It's very special. ”

Killeman rubbed the corners of his brow with a little headache, and in his hand he still held the drink: in order to avoid any further gaffe from Ms. Judton's next sentence, the genogen decided to wait until the conversation was over before enjoying the drink.

In retrospect, it was the right decision.

The original body sighed in his heart: he only dared to sigh in his heart.

Not again......

Killiman didn't know what to say.

Since that incomparably successful diplomatic visit more than a decade ago, the word "Morgan" seems to have an omnipotent magic in the mouth of Ms. Judton: for more than a decade, the close correspondence between the two men, and the increasingly prosperous trade routes between Avalon and Maculag, have made this magic not only not dissipate with the passage of time, but have become stronger and stronger.

To this day, even the Protogens themselves are constrained by the term, after all, it is impossible for Killiman to invite a brother like Johnson or Mortarian to show his adoptive mother what the [Protogens Family] is really like: Morgan is the exception.

Just as he can't spread out the political map of the entire human empire and tell his idealistic adoptive mother unmistakably that the intimacy between Avalon and Macurag is wrong in the grand scheme of things, and that the two regions should be treated as enemies of each other in order to reassure the big men on the Holy Terra.

Killiman couldn't do that, he couldn't do it to his adoptive mother, he couldn't do it to the Ultramarines or the people of Maculag, and the narrow-mindedness of his heart trapped in the Otlama region was also at work at this time: after all, for the Five Hundred Worlds, the best outcome was the one that had generated huge benefits due to misunderstandings and mistakes like the one now, and even Killiman himself could not break this result with his own hands.

Thinking of this, Killiman couldn't help but feel great shame for his selfishness in this matter: he knew very well that in the emperor's original plan, Morgan's position should be the bridgehead to contain the five hundred worlds, and in the current friendship between the two major political plates, Morgan's political pressure must be countless times greater than that of him, but the lord of Avalon has never complained to the Makullags.

The thought of his sister suffering calamity at the emperor's mercy provokes the heart of the genogen and torments his conscience in agony, not to mention his unsuspecting adoptive mother, who always likes to praise the sister in front of him, reminding him of his selfishness in this matter in disguise: think of this. The Maculags, who were immersed in the [Imperial Political Vortex] that he had conceived himself, not only showed a pained expression.

It's just that the original body is well hidden, and when Lady Judton's star-like eyes turn back again, Killiman has already shown a proper smile, and at the same time fully affirms the idealistic words in the mouth of his adoptive mother.

"Yes, ma'am, I also believe in the bright future between the Five Hundred Worlds and Avalon, and the ideas on paper are being built into reality by our own hands, aren't they: as you may recall, that sister of mine is about to make a second visit to Macurag, and in the near future, if time is not wrong, the Dawnbreaker's fleet should now be at the edge of the Five Hundred Worlds."

"Of course I won't forget."

Yudon laughed, and Killiman had rarely seen her so genuinely happy.

"A few months ago, the whole city of Macullag was preparing for this visit, and the lights of the buildings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commerce were not turned off, and I was counting day by day when Ms. Morgan would arrive.

The original adoptive mother smiled, then winked playfully: it was an active person of her age.

"But at this point, Killiman, I do recall a question: I heard from the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that you are not going to meet your brothers in Maculag?"

"Yes."

The original nodded.

"I intend to meet them in the emerging industrial world of [Couss], an important hub on the main trade route between Macullag and Avalon, which has grown exceptionally rapidly: there is no better place to start this visit than Couss, and the results of my more than ten years of sincere cooperation with Morgan will be best reflected in Couss."

"Yes, Cowes is very good."

Yutun nodded in satisfaction.

"While Morgan's request that the welcome at Maculag be as fussy as the last time, with no grand parades and side-by-side Titans, it means we need something more sophisticated: Cowes was good, I remember it was a miraculous industrial world with vast fields and lush forests."

"So, do you need me to accompany you to the ceremony, Robert?"

“…… No, you don't. ”

The original body paused.

"Maculag still needs you to be in charge, Ms. Judton, and besides, the welcome ceremony at Cowes won't be too long: Morgan and I will return to Maculag in the shortest possible time, about ten to fifteen days, and with Morgan here, the voyage in subspace will be smooth sailing."

"Wouldn't that be too rushed?"

Yutun picked up the Foreign Ministry document in front of him.

"After all, according to the documents from the Far Eastern Frontier, there will be another protogen: I remember it was Conrad, who came to visit, and this is the second honored protogenoid guest that Macurag will welcome."

“……”

Killiman did not reply, but his fingers, wrapped in steel gloves, were clenched together and creaked: Lady Eudon was unaware of all this, and she was basking in the joy that her son would meet another blood brother.

"If my memory is correct, Robert: this Conrad, did he fight alongside you, I remember the Osiris expedition a long time ago, when this Conrad had just returned to the Empire."

“…… Oh, yes. ”

Killeman reluctantly squeezed a smile on his face, hiding the gloom in his heart: there are some things that the genetic protogen will never reveal to his adoptive mother.

For example, the reason why Killeman chose to meet Morgan and Conrad for the first time in Cowes instead of Macurag was due to some personal and emotional reasons, in addition to the political considerations he had previously stated: although Morgan vowed in the newsletter that Conrad had reformed, the Lord of Macullag insisted that he would never let this crazy brother set foot on the land of Macurag until he saw the change of the Midnight Ghost with his own eyes, and would never let him get close to his adoptive mother.

After all, the unpleasantness before Osiris' expedition was still vivid, and the Lord of Maculag remembered very clearly that during the battle with his brother, Conrad had made some very dangerous remarks about Lady Euton, and although he did not believe that his brother would really point his sword at Lady Euton, the Lord of Marcurag was not willing to take even the slightest risk when it came to his adoptive mother.

As for Conrad's other misdeeds, such as the black history of almost causing the two legions of Ultramarines and Daybreakers to go to war, Killiman has claimed several times that he has forgotten it, but in the heart of the genetic protogen, there must still be a certain mustard.

He, Killiman, is not a clay man: the clay man still has three points of fire.

Dealing with his adoptive mother with a proper smile, the original body's mind had already flown to Coos, to the question about Morgan and Conrad: the Lord of Macullag knew very well that he couldn't delve too deeply into the question of the Midnight Ghost, after all, the Lord of the Eighth Legion and his legion had obviously been incorporated into the Far Eastern Frontier system in some way, and if he pursued Conrad's previous mistakes, it would undoubtedly affect his friendship with Morgan, and the precise cooperation of the two major political plates of the Imperial East.

So.

He might shake Conrad's hand: but his other hand would have clenched the sword.

He may salute the banner of the Midnight Lords' Legion, but that doesn't mean he respects the Empire's executioners whose hands are stained with blood, leaving only wails, wreckage, and ruins.

He may have allowed the Midnight Wraith's blood-stained boots to set foot on the land of Macurag, but he wouldn't give him a chance to get close to Lady Yudon. Nor will he be allowed to show his horror and absurdity in front of any of the Makurags.

He was Robert, the son of Lady Judton, and a friend of Morgan: but, if it was for the good of Otlama, and for the sake of his people and his adoptive mother, he did not mind being that Killiman in the mouth of some brothers.

He didn't mind.

Never forgive Conrad.

……

……

He won't forgive Clad.

……

Maybe, no.

……

After all, what fool would give a madman a second chance?

——————

“……”

"I don't mind giving Conrad a second chance, Morgan, I guess."

Killiman lowered his head and muttered under his breath as he kept flipping through the report in his hand about a world: on the cover of the copy, the large characters of "Nostramo" were written in high Gothic, shining brightly.

The Progenitor's gaze swept over the staggeringly abundant reserves of resources among the Nostramo and the Ghoul Stars, and did not linger for long: for the wealthy Lord of the Five Hundred Worlds, these numbers were not enough to dazzle his mind or attract his attention.

What really interests Killiman is the second half of the copy, which is about the idea of the entire Nostramo system reform, and the actual implementation: because it is a document handed over by Morgan himself, the Lord of Macullag chooses to believe in the authenticity of the document, that is, Conrad, who is still in the stage of madness in his impression, is now using a cruel, ruthless, but very efficient means to re-establish a simple but solid system of authority on his otherwise hopeless home planet.

Although the system did not quite fit in with Kiliman's political vision: it was a little too tough and brutal, the people of Maculag understood the value of the words "local conditions", and he did not say much.

What's more: if this proposal is really 100% from Conrad, it only means that the midnight ghost that Morgan said has been reformed is real.

Thinking of this, Killiman could not help but fall silent, and he thought of the oath he had made in his heart before he set out, which no one knew; , also remembered the genuine evil that Conrad had committed; He remembered the formation of the Midnight Lords that he had seen with his own eyes when he first came to Cows, and who had come down with the Dawnbreaker formation.

The soldiers of the Eighth Legion, with their neat steps, serious eyes, and few words, were completely devoid of the legendary bloody legion: of course, maybe all this was just a disguise.

But compared to the shameless nature, even the disguise itself can be called an improvement, isn't it?

……

Not to mention......

【……】

Standing beside Killiman, the Lord of Avalon didn't say anything: Morgan just raised his arm and gently brushed the exhaustion from his hair from the dust, and looked at her brother quietly, she didn't intend to use her words to ask for forgiveness from Macurag for Conrad, and Conrad himself didn't want her to do that.

Moreover......

Seeing Killiman slowly close the document, as if it was a thousand weights, and after a long sigh, a smile crept up the corner of Morgan's mouth: just like she thought, no matter what, Robert is still Robert, it is difficult for him to be the hard-hearted Killiman as delusional as he imagined.

At least, not right now.

“……”

With the smile of the Lord of Avalon, the people of Maculag glanced out the window again: Cowes is a beautiful world that deserves to be celebrated no matter what, and even the honor guards of the three legions of Ultramarines, Dawnbreaker, and Midnight Lords walking on this land did not in any way destroy the original harmony and tranquility of this world, like the towering industrial buildings.

Whether it is the farthest field, or the prosperous city a little closer, or the training ground at their feet, the soldiers of the three legions standing silently: tranquility and peace, development and strength, the three elements are skillfully combined in this way, weaving the most vivid scene of the Great Expedition.

When anyone sees this scene, they will not have too much resentment in their hearts.

Especially Robert.

“……”

Killyman laughed.

"Where is he?"

[In the more inside. 】

Morgan stroked his neck.

[Do you want to meet him?] 】

“……”

The man of Macullag closed his eyes, and for a moment, perhaps, he really wanted to be the bastard he conceived of as hard as iron, but the idealist innocence and compassion, the brilliant emotions that were so noble that even Morgan could not adapt to them now, finally rose inexorably like the sun in Killiman's god-like face.

Just a little hope, just a little possibility of moving towards the better, is enough to make him forget the darkness of the past, enough to make him choose to believe again: perhaps, this is the most admirable thing about the people of Maculag.

Everything was finally melted into the sigh of Gilliman's mouth.

"Anyway."

"We're still brothers, aren't we?"

【……】

Morgan laughed.

[Of course.] 】

Of course we are brothers. 】

[Trust me, Killiman: Conrad has realized his mistake, and he even has a gift of apology for you.] 】

“……”

Killyman smiled bitterly.

"A [heart's work]?"

[Nope.] 】

——————

"It's a heart's work."

“……”

"Indeed, it's a painstaking effort."

When the Lord of Maculag first walked into the room specially prepared for him, Rao couldn't help but be stunned for a moment with Killiman's multi-threaded and powerful brain: the reason for his stunned was in the very center of this large room.

There was the only piece of furniture in the room: a square table in the shape of a staircase for the exhibition, and in every corner of that square table, small gifts had been carefully placed.

“……”

Killiman's breathing was heavy, and he wanted to go faster, but he had to try to contain his excitement lest his heavy footsteps knock the little gifts: when he walked to the table, the genogen almost couldn't wait to pick up one of them.

This is a chess piece, or rather, this is a vivid villain, although it seems to have no practical value, but the master of Macurag, who has a great memory, can see the identity of this villain at a glance: this is an elite veteran under his command, and whether it is the posture of wielding his blade, or the scattered orc remains beside him, all reveal the deepest memories of this elite veteran of Ultramarines in the depths of Killiman's memory.

This is a very hard-working chess piece that has been carved, every texture detail on his body has been handled very skillfully, the various colors of the armor are even and standard to the point that the genetic prototype can't find mistakes, and even on the roaring face, there seem to be real drops of sweat dripping down: Killiman estimated a little, even if he wants to make such a realistic flag, it will take a lot of effort and hard work.

Killeman remembers very well: this elite veteran was once one of the benchmarks of the Ultramarines' propaganda campaign, and that propaganda was about a war against the orcs, and the veteran slashed off the orc general's head with a blade, as the chess pieces show.

Apparently, someone silently wrote down the content of this propaganda and used it as a template to carve this chess piece.

“……”

Thinking of this, the Lord of Maculag put down the chess piece almost with respect, and looked at the rest of the table: this crime, which was huge enough to act as the bedside of Killiman himself, was now fully occupied by this kind of chess piece, and after just a slight sweep, the original body found that these chess pieces were all veterans who had made meritorious contributions among the Ultramarines, and they were all materials used by the Ultramarines to promote.

Some of them are hyped up. Some of them were only mentioned in some reports, but in any case, the appearance of their battle was vividly portrayed and placed here: obviously, the person who carved these chess pieces not only carefully collected all the promotional materials of the Ultramarines over the years, but even spent a lot of time carefully figuring out the psychology of these fighters when they were fighting, as well as the possible scenarios at that time.

From veterans fighting at the grassroots level, to think tanks and technical sergeants, company commanders and battle regiment commanders, and even those war engines, flying units, and even knight mechs and titans who have made immortal achievements, all the chess pieces are just standing on the table, and if they are alive, they will be enough to bear a high-intensity war.

“……”

Killiman watched all this quietly, letting the minutes pass by, carefully examining the details of each chess piece, the family crest on the knights' armor, and the traces of honor from the Terra period among the legion veterans: there was no mistake, not even a slight mistake with Killiman's memory, but after comparison, the Lord of Maculag realized that it was actually himself who made the mistake.

So, in the end, Killiman just watched all this quietly, quietly looking at these vivid works of art, showing the entire history of the Thirteenth Legion so vividly in front of him: even the most glorious memorial on Maculag seemed to be unable to do this before.

“……”

For a moment, the genogen didn't know what to say, and when he finally opened his mouth and said the first sentence, it was a pathetic inquiry that Killiman himself wanted to laugh at.

"How many are there?"

There was no desire for an answer, it was just a sigh from the genotype, but, almost in the next second, in the shadows of the room, accompanied by the sound of graceful steps, the voice that had only madness in Killiman's memory, but was now calm enough to amaze him, calmly answered the Maculag.

"Five hundred."

"Five hundred, whole."

“……”

Slowly, the original body turned around.

He saw the Nostramo man, clean, elegant, with a proper smile at him, perfectly fitting the manners of an imperial heir......

Conrad.

“……”

The Primordial was silent for a moment, and he carefully observed the eyes from Nostramo in the kind smile of the Midnight Wraith: Conrad didn't hide more, he just let Killyman scour everything in his pupils with the most careful inquiry.

He waited.

He substituted silence for his own words.

Until a few minutes later.

Until the results come.

Until Killeman sighed again, and realized: at this moment, in the face of such Conrad and such an apologetic gift, he seemed to have only one choice.

A choice that comes from the heart.

A choice that is enough to satisfy everyone, enough to make Killiman's heart no longer tormented by the past.

……

Thereupon.

He laughed.

——————

“……”

"Welcome to Macurag."

"Brother."

(End of chapter)