"You clearly lack the necessary respect for Master Killiman." Sicarius pointed out bluntly.

Considering that the man would only be able to stay in reality for another four to nine days from now, Sicarius felt that he should focus more on communication efficiency - meaning not to be so tactful: "You behaved too casually in front of the Primordial. Many times, if we only focus on the tone and phrasing of your words, we may even think that you are talking to an officer of the same rank. ”

"I think you're taking it too seriously." Instead, Hill began to pick on the thorns of Sicarius and his contemporary colleagues, "You don't even dare to look him in the eye when you talk to the Primordial, is it some terrible monster that our Genetic Father is?" ”

Sicarius was furious: "Because he is the noble primordial!" The genetic father of all of us! All of us should be humble in front of Lord Kiliman! ”

"I agree with you, Brother Sicarius, but—" Hill shifted his focus slightly, lowering his aggression to show that he had no intention of confronting the other party, "—I think we should have some cognitive differences in the degree of 'humility'. ”

"It seems that we have found the core of the problem." Sicarius's anger began to subside as the other party first made a little back-down body language cue, "There is no doubt that you are obviously too loose on this point. ”

"I do disagree: when talking to me, the original is clearly more relaxed." Hill moved himself back a little by about three or four centimeters to avoid Sicarius' renewed rage, "I'm not showing off anything, I'm just telling a provable objective fact: the Primordial prefers to talk to other people on an equal footing, rather than being put on a high position that he doesn't want at all, looking down on his genetic children." ”

“…… What are you implying with this? ”

"I'm not hinting at anything, I'm just recounting what I know. During the Great Expedition, a more enlightened era, all Ultramarines were treated to the Primordial in this way. Hill calmly responded, "We look each other in the eye in conversation, we talk about strategy and politics, we talk about climate and diet, we carry out orders issued by the original, and we tell jokes with the original - I am the one who lived that life and was left behind from that era." It seems to me that you have somewhat deified the original body. ”

"But times have changed." Sicarius makes it clear, "You may have been born in that time, but you have to realize that 10,000 years have passed." In the new era, there should be a new code of conduct. ”

"No one can resist the power of time, and I admit times have changed." Hill replied, "But don't forget that the Primordial also lived in that era, and perhaps he would expect some echoes from the old days as well." ”

Sicarius admits that this view is very likely to be true: Robert Killiman did not spend the 10,000 years of his life normally, but was frozen in the static force field, as the spiritual pillar of the Ultramarines and all the sub-regiments, and even the entire Otrama Sector, in the form of an idol between life and death, unaware of the passage of time by his side.

No one knows if he was confused about the status quo when he first woke up, even those closest to him. As a politically savvy primordial, Killiman has managed to hide everything under the seamless management of expressions and carefully orchestrated words, and almost no one can see what he really thinks behind his mask.

After initially getting acquainted with the environment of this era, he also tried to show a little of his sincerity to the heirs of this era. Sicarius knew this, as Killiman had tried to joke with him at the time—to be honest, he didn't react at all, and some of the preconceived ideas that had taken him in his mind led him to refuse to acknowledge the fact that "the original was just joking", and to try to dig out more unfinished words from the otherwise meaningless small talk...... He was absolutely stupid at the time.

Hill's words and Sicarius's own experience had convinced him, but he didn't want to admit that he was convinced: "You're just showing off. "You're flaunting that you've had a close relationship with the Original, but that doesn't mean you're right on the subject." ”

"I'm not — at least I don't have any subjective intention of showing off. Brothers. Hill finally leaked a little unhappy look on his face, "And I don't guarantee that what I said is true, I just put forward a theoretical model waiting for practical verification!" ”

"But it seems to me that you are just making excuses for all your transgressive and inappropriate behavior." Inexplicably, at this moment, the very unhappy Sicarius completely forgot the fact that he was still standing guard on duty, and the annoying ghost who was so happy and unscrupulous in his early years came back to his soul at this moment, "If everything that happened in the past is really what you claim, then why, your name is not left in the warband records?" The first commander of the second company? ”

Hill also furrowed his brow very unpleasantly:

"I'm guessing the relationship between you and your colleagues is pretty strained." He adjusted his posture again - this time, he wanted to look a little more aggressive, after all, a clash was clearly inevitable, "To be honest, I'm also curious about the martial arts of the current second company commander. ”

"Then you'll decide to meet in the dueling cage when you're free, won't you?" Another voice asked from above the two of them, "Very well, then I won't give you this chance." ”

The two incompetent guards who were arguing turned behind them at the same time—the towering doors had opened, and some of the summoned mortal officials and celebrities had hurried away, not in the armor of fate, but in a sumptuous gown of Kiliman himself, who remained in the room, looking at them with his arms folded and slightly dissatisfied. The wounds left by Xessara in the battle still exist on the original body's neck, and the scarlet and ugly threads remind others of the title of "Resurrected" by Killiman.

Sicarius immediately took a step back, got down on one knee, and assumed the standard attitude of "confession", but Hill - he only showed a slight expression of "I did wrong" in the first moment, and then he pointed to his side with confidence: "He started first!" ”

Killiman almost burst out laughing at what looked like a child complaining, but thankfully, he held back. In the eyes of others, the original body only maintained a dissatisfied expression, and raised an eyebrow slightly: "I think Sicarius is right, Ionid." Compared to 10,000 years ago, you've been a little bit smaller lately. ”

Because of these words, Hill immediately wilted like a frosted eggplant. In this interscenment, Killiman asked Sicarius to summon the officials he needed to attend the next round of meetings, so that he could take advantage of the interval between meetings to "talk to Ionid on this issue."

Any servant could be hired for the job, so it was obvious to everyone that Killiman was just looking for a reason to take Sicarius away so that he could talk to Hill alone. But this was a direct order from the original body after all, and even if he was reluctant, Sicarius left step by step. And when his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, Ciel, who originally looked wilted, immediately reverted to his original state and reported with a businesslike appearance:

"I think they all grew up with that kind of education, Primitive." Ionid Hill made his assessment, "In the last 10,000 years, you have been too close and too far away from them, and some ideas have become ingrained in their minds, and it is likely that one or two examples can be corrected in just one week. ”

“…… I understand. Killman, who had hinted at Hill before and tried to influence the "more religious" heirs of this era with his own more casual attitude, was a little sad, "I just thought...... Change always has to begin. ”

"If I can do that, I'd love to be 'the beginning of a change' again." Hill's eyes began to wander, "But I still have a question that I don't know if it's appropriate......"

"It's just the two of us here, just ask."

“…… Am I as annoying as he used to be? Hill raised his chin in the direction where Sicarius had disappeared, "I think my popularity will definitely be better than his!" ”

Instead of trying to control his expression again, Killiman let himself laugh. But instead of answering the question head-on, he asked, "Why do you think that?" ”

"Genetic seeds." "After being completely transformed into a subspace creature, I felt that if I could trace the origin of the genetic seed that Cato Sicarius used in the transformation, it would eventually be traced back to me," Hill said. ”

Hill's words, though gentle and objective, reminded Killiman once again that even if they were talking to each other as usual at this time, it was only a brief dream. The smile disappeared from the face of the original body, which had become older than 10,000 years ago, and his calm tone revealed a little nostalgia: "No wonder I think he is a bit like you." ”

"It's hard to say, I don't think I'm as annoying as he is." Hill was a little worried, "What do you mean by 'why didn't your name leave your name in the warband records' - isn't it normal for the historical records to be missing and scattered after 10,000 years?" ”

Kiriman was silent.

He had something to ask, like what happened to Hill in the rest of the time after he entered the stasis field. He wondered what kind of life the son he once loved had spent in a place he hadn't seen, and why he had to die and say goodbye to the burning galaxy. He wondered if Hill was satisfied with his life and if he had any regrets left on his deathbed—but he didn't dare ask.

He had tried to look for these traces after waking up, but as Hill himself had said, it was normal for the historical record to be flawed and scattered over a long period of time. He found no record of Hill's life, except for the name of the latter, which had been eroded by time on a nondescript monument.

Kiriman was well aware that what he was experiencing now was a dream that lasted roughly a week. Even though the Hill in front of him was acting like he was alive, and the Psionic Council had studied it and recognized the stability of the Curse Band, he was still unsure if he should bring it up. Not only was he unsure if Hill would be willing to reveal those experiences to him, but there were other things, more ...... Ridiculous reasons.

Killiman had always believed in science, and in the past he only thought that all superstitious traditions came from man's imagination of the unknown, and that he would read them and learn them, but that this was only a reserve of knowledge necessary to rule over the local people. However, when he was confronted with his dead son, the legends of the souls of the dead would uncontrollably hive in his mind - the "resurrection of the dead" had already happened before his eyes, and he began to be afraid to confirm that none of them were true.

These thoughts only swirled in his mind for a microsecond, and then the original body calmly changed the subject: "Why don't you try to mention it to them again, the Astarte Holy Book also has your share." Realizing that 'good new tactics will be added to the Holy Text,' maybe they'll learn to let go of the outdated reference book. ”

“…… I'm not sure. To Kiliman's surprise, Hill hesitated, "Although I also think it's stupid for them to ignore the changes in circumstances and just hold on to the Holy Book and not let go, my lord." But ......"

His gaze flickered and dodged for a moment, but finally spoke: "To a certain extent, I can understand them. In your absence, the Holy Book may be the only way they can 'talk' to you. ”

Killiman was silent again, this time longer than ever, until Sicarius staggered back to his post.

The Primordial must admit that, just like 10,000 years ago, Hill once again offered an angle that he hadn't thought about. But it's not pleasant.

Miwoo (none)

The original and Sicarius joked: "My worst enemy is this paper!" ”

(End of chapter)