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Page 297
A huge lesson: Chaos can choose to cooperate with the Cursed, but never join their ranks.
Joining means endless overtime.
......
"Sir, are you still here?"
But it seems his leisurely days are numbered.
The hatch opened, and the Space Marine, exuding an aura of profound weariness, spoke from behind it.
“Angertay, I have warned you many times not to barge in when I am meditating.”
Luo Jia answered somewhat displeased.
Although it didn't look like meditation, Luo Jia was still somewhat embarrassed and angry.
"Sir, I'm so sorry."
"But this time we are acting on the Emperor's orders, who commanded us to go to Prospero to bear witness."
“Witness? What is there to witness? And didn’t Father announce his withdrawal from the Great Expedition? Why do I still have to go to Prospero?”
Luo Jia was unwilling to go.
Previously, some of the Emperor's tasks were assigned to the Word Bearers.
Sometimes, she could even act alongside the emperor, which gave Luo Jia some motivation to participate in the Great Expedition.
But now that the Emperor has announced his formal withdrawal from the Great Crusade and handed over the remaining affairs to Imperial Warmaster Fugrim, Kasgar has no courage to entrust important matters to the Word Bearers, and their mission objectives are naturally relatively remote.
Kaska doesn't really have many requirements for these guys—just preach well and don't cause trouble.
This suited Luo Jia's wishes perfectly.
As a Primarch, Loka has always seen himself as a missionary rather than a warrior.
He just wanted to live comfortably in his own territory, and when he got bored, he would sing praises of the emperor's great achievements and then continue to slack off.
What intention is there to conquer the world?
The only thing that could still get him involved in the Great Expedition was spreading the faith in the Emperor himself, but this was also a long-term task, and believers couldn't be rushed.
Luo Jia didn't understand why his other brothers and sisters were all in such a hurry to embark on their expedition, as if something was really chasing them.
In pursuit of efficiency, the world conquered often ends up as nothing more than a desolate ruin—which, in Luo Jia's view, is meaningless!
What do you barbarians want with ashes?
Why can't we be like those who advocate for truth and sound reasoning, steadily and step by step influencing others through culture and faith?
Angeltai: "..."
There were things he wanted to say, but Angelte didn't say them.
After all, the relationship between Primarchs and Legions varies, from the deeply respected Legion of Sangilius to the tense relationship of the Legion of Peturabo.
But only those who are "unfamiliar" can reach the level of "not familiar".
"Well, since it's Father's request, we'll just have to comply."
"Notify everyone in the legion to proceed to Prospero."
"I'm curious too, what exactly does Father want me to do on that evil wizarding planet..."
"Yes."
Angeltai left the room, leaving Luojia alone to continue "meditation".
......
Prospero.
This once-protected sanctuary for psionicists, an oasis in the endless desert, a haven for wizards and scholars, is now in chaos.
The Herakfin, a ship from the Space Wolf, is currently hovering above Prospero in near-Earth orbit, bringing a message of destruction to the world.
Seven days.
Seven days later, Prospero, the former wizarding star, will be burned to ashes.
The Emperor has given the order; haven't you received the notification?
The Nicaea ban has been issued, meaning that millions of people will no longer be able to practice witchcraft.
Panic is brewing across the planet at this moment.
Most people found the Emperor's verdict unacceptable, but in order to save their lives, they had no choice but to board transport ships and head to nearby star systems under the protection of Space Wolves, ensuring they were not carrying any magical devices.
Their remaining books and artifacts will be burned to ashes along with Prospero in the future.
Not only books and psionic artifacts—if any wizards are truly stubborn and unwilling to succumb to depravity along with these blasphemous magical creations, the Space Wolf will also burn them to ashes in seven days.
This practice is truly unacceptable!
Many residents of Prospero went to the pyramid where the Primarch resided, which was controlled by the Thousand Sons, and begged the Crimson Magnus to come forward and resolve the matter.
Prospero should not have accepted this fate!
Isn't it just that he likes to conduct psionic experiments, distorts and manipulates the lives of mortals in pursuit of truth, performs psionic rituals to sacrifice living people, trades with creatures in the vast ocean, and even summons some magical Pokémon?
It's no big deal!
Is it really necessary to impose such severe punishment on them, burning down this giant library that once housed countless rare books?
......
The interior of the massive pyramid.
"No...this can't be true...Father would never do such a thing!"
Magnus had just returned to Prospero, ready to put aside the unpleasant experience he had on Nicaea and ignore the risks to continue his research, when he received a warning from his brother.
Seven days.
He only has seven days, and apart from himself, all the precious books he has collected from countless worlds in the galaxy, containing information about humans and the aliens that once existed, will turn to ashes after seven days.
What he found even harder to accept was that this was his father's order.
This...this is impossible!
Magnus and the Emperor had a long period of contact, and through psychic energy, their two powerful souls were able to communicate in the vast ocean. Magnus could be considered an old psychic friend to the Emperor.
He couldn't understand why this friend, with whom he had once shared insights and experiences on the use of psychic energy, would choose to burn all that precious knowledge and truth to ashes today, just like the most foolish religious inquisitors.
"There must be something wrong here!"
The Emperor merely prohibited the use of psionic energy on Nicaea; he absolutely did not say that any books on psionic energy should be burned, nor did he order the Thousand Sons' homeworld to be reduced to ashes!
Burning the homeworld of an entire legion is absolutely impossible!
Absolutely... absolutely something is wrong with Lemanus!
That's right!
Magnus suddenly realized.
Even if the Emperor wanted to ban psionic powers, it was because there were too many idiots within the Empire, like Mortalian!
And then there's Lemanus, that shameless idiot who says wizards are all bad, yet he still keeps rune priests in his legion, even though they've been disbanded, he still has them, and he even says that the power of nature isn't psionic energy... It's infuriating to look at!
Of course, Magnus, enraged, didn't know that even if Lemanus used the rune priest in front of the Emperor himself, the Emperor wouldn't say anything.
At most, we can tell him to tone it down and not make things difficult for the emperor.
As the Emperor's two most trusted Primarchs, Lane Aljonsen and Lemanus possessed something of paramount importance.
Self-awareness.
It wasn't because they did anything for the Emperor that made them trustworthy, but because they had self-awareness—something many Primarchs never possessed.
He used it, and it's not like the emperor hadn't used it before.
As long as one doesn't get stuck on trivial details like Magnus, the emperor is truly very tolerant.
Of course, Magnus wouldn't think that way.
He would only feel that he couldn't continue his research on psionic powers, and that was all the fault of these treacherous villains.
They forced the Emperor to ban psionic powers, and this imperial edict must be a forgery, a pretext deliberately made by Lemanus to suppress their Thousand Sons!
How could Lemanus be so wicked!
"My lord... what should we do next?" Ahriman asked.
"You all try to calm the residents of the city down first. I'll go explore the warp space first."
"But the Emperor's Nicaea decree..."
“He will understand me.” Magnus’s face was resolute, filled with the tragic air of a martyr. “If this is an enemy plot, my persistence will save us all.”
In a previous psionic vision, Magnus saw an endless sea of fire burning beneath the sky.
A civil war between Primarchs is inevitable in the future.
He already knew this through psychic prophecy, and with the help of the "Spirit of the Imperial Two-Headed Eagle," he saw even more.
Although it was later proven that this Imperial Two-Headed Eagle appeared to be an evil warp creature and not to be trusted... the information he provided was indeed accurate.
Soon, a protracted civil war will break out among the Primarchs.
With that thought in mind, Magnus disregarded Ahriman's advice and no longer hesitated. He closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.
......
The vast ocean, also known as subspace.
He tried his best to navigate through it, searching for any suspicious clues.
He was completely confused and had no clue what to do.
The vast ocean is boundless, and it's highly unlikely that he'll run into anyone he knows while wandering aimlessly like this.
and many more!
It seems that before leaving, Casca revealed to Magnus that their next operation would take place in the system near Prospero!
Magnus was overjoyed.
What a coincidence!
It's nearby... Got it!
In this vast and boundless subspace, Magnus saw that familiar golden-red presence.
Casca!
You were here after all!
He appeared in the warp even after the Nicaea ban. What does that mean?
This shows that Casca, like him, considers the Nicaea ban a piece of waste paper!
Haha, great minds think alike!
He excitedly went to greet them.
Magnus! What are you doing here?
Haha, friend, that's what I wanted to ask you!
[Quick! You need to go back right now, this is no joke! After the Nicaea ban, none of us can use our spiritual power for our own selfish reasons!]
The Emperor will punish you! Hurry up!
Casca's message was urgent; if Magnus hadn't also been traversing this warp, he might have actually believed what the other said.
Stop joking, Casca. What are you doing here?
[It's Fulgrim! Something's wrong with Fulgrim... she seems to be plotting a rebellion!]
[It's highly likely that Lemanus's secret order was modified by the War General!]
"What?!" Magnus exclaimed in shock. "We must inform the Emperor! Now!"
[I've already informed him through the Star Speaker, and we're currently keeping him occupied. Please, don't do anything foolish, Magnus!]
Casca warned him not to do anything foolish....