Chapter 481: A Historic Meeting! A Pleasant Conversation! An Important Entrustment!
---
"Guilliman, I am glad to see you again. Your father has already become a part of you. Until the Megacorp finds a replacement, he will remain here to help you purge the impurities of faith."
Seeing that Guilliman still remembered him, and that they could converse normally, the Emperor felt a wave of relief in his heart.
The price of becoming a god was bound to be heavy. The minds of the Four Chaos Gods were not always clear or reliable; more or less, they would be swayed by emotions and make poor decisions.
If Guilliman leaned too far into pure reason, he might in turn become a merciless machine. That was certainly consistent with divinity, yet entirely at odds with humanity.
Fortunately, judging from his current state, Guilliman was not showing the cold, indifferent bearing of a rational god. The emotions he was born with as a man still preserved part of his humanity.
"I am grateful for everything you have given, including the Universal Megacorp."
Guilliman's voice turned deep and far-reaching, carrying a divine resonance like the sound beyond sound. Across countless timelines, he had seen every move, every decision made by the Megacorp.
This was a force that truly could change the destiny of human civilization and shape a harmonious cosmic order. Guilliman's gratitude toward the Megacorp came from the depths of his heart.
"I will remain in the Warp to balance the trajectory of the Chaos Eight-Pointed Star. In fact, the Warp is already tending toward stability."
Guilliman had seen all of Nurgle's moves. Before long, Nurgle would come to him of its own accord to form an alliance, while Slaanesh would join with Khorne against him.
As long as Tzeentch remained neutral, the Warp would stay stable for the long term. Even if Tzeentch did intervene on Slaanesh's side, Guilliman still had the Emperor and the Megacorp at his back.
Thus, Guilliman's ascension already meant the Megacorp's great victory—and lasting peace for the Imperium of Man!
"Guilliman, your contributions will not be forgotten."
The Emperor looked at him with deep satisfaction. A god who truly cared for humanity was a rarity. With Guilliman here, the humans of the Warhammer 40K universe could never again fall into the darkness of the old age.
With the first Guilliman, there would be a second new god, and all of them would be under the Megacorp's control, guiding the Chaos Eight-Pointed Star.
By mastering the Eight-Pointed Star, humanity seemed to have found the path to eternity.
Unlike the Emperor, who was moved, Guilliman—possessing absolute reason—felt no joy. Eternity, for humanity, was both the ultimate meaning and a state of stagnation and death.
Nothing remained unchanged, unless humanity could carry its answer forward into the next cycle, synchronizing itself with the rhythm of the cosmos.
Otherwise, at the end of the universe, humanity would become a lonely species, witnessing the darkness before the next cycle began. By then, even death might be a kind of blessing.
"Guilliman, we need your help!"
The Emperor knew well what Guilliman was pondering. In truth, this was the ultimate question Li Ang too had been wrestling with. Until they uncovered the truth, none could know the ending.
The only certainty was that they were giving everything for this answer.
"I need you to continue assisting us in elevating more gods. The legions of the Four Chaos Gods have already been destroyed, no longer able to contaminate the material universe."
"But we still have the powerful armies of the Imperium and the Megacorp. We can freely choose those to be made gods—you must help us complete this long-term plan."
The Emperor gave Guilliman no time to deliberate or refuse. Guilliman's rise to the Eight-Pointed Star had already involved both the Emperor's and the Megacorp's sacrifices. Without the Atlantis civilization's offering, he could never have ascended.
It might sound as if Guilliman were being reduced to a tool, but the Emperor had to make him understand: he was indeed a tool—for the Megacorp, and for all of human civilization.
"Yes."
Guilliman responded in a voice as calm as the still sea. From the perspective of the whole, aiding the Megacorp truly could balance the universe and carry it to the end of time.
—Swish!
Just then, an AI drone projected a holographic screen, spreading the image of the Myriad Realms Base. Behind Li Ang stood the many senior executives of the Megacorp.
"Emperor, congratulations on completing the God-Making Project and passing the Megacorp's assessment. Guilliman, congratulations on your successful ascension. Your existence has dispelled the dark fog enshrouding this universe—we salute you."
Alt Cunningham took the lead in applauding the Emperor. As one of the principal overseers of the God-Making Project, she too shared in the success.
"Guilliman and I have already reached a consensus. We will help the Universal Megacorp with further divine ascensions."
The Emperor knew exactly what Li Ang wanted to hear, so upon seeing him, he immediately stated it.
Among the many executives, the man standing at the center radiated a leader's aura. The Emperor recognized at once that this must be the supreme commander he had never yet met.
The Emperor had already resolved to pledge loyalty to the Megacorp. Without its technological aid, they could never have achieved this miracle that rivaled the gods.
Especially the ability to traverse parallel universes—no Chaos God could do such a thing. Otherwise, the Emperor would long ago have carried humanity away to another cosmos.
"That is most excellent."
Morgan Blackhand nodded, directly stating that the Emperor's next mission was to help the Megacorp elevate to the position of principal deity in the Warhammer universe.
And the Emperor answered without hesitation: "Good."
With this God-Making Project a success, every stage of the process had been smoothed out. From here on, it only required executing according to established experience, with some refinements along the way.
Industrializing and mass-producing gods would no longer be a problem!
"Emperor, you are now appointed director of the Megacorp's Pangu Division. You now have the right to speak face-to-face with the Megacorp's highest executive. You may return to Ideal City at any time."
"David Martinez will take charge of everything there."
Alt Cunningham announced the good news of his promotion. But the Emperor cared little for titles; what he longed for most was the right to converse directly with Li Ang.
"Yes."
The Emperor suppressed the excitement and joy within. He had always been a solitary figure; his vision, soaring too high, left him with no one who could truly converse with him.
No one could understand his every move through their shallow, foolish insight.
Even Malcador, as close as he was, had grasped less than thirty percent of the Emperor's essence.
And yet, even so, Malcador was still the one who understood him best—and his inseparable friend.
From the heights, loneliness weighed heavily on the Emperor. But upon witnessing Li Ang's methods and thought, he suddenly felt an impatient longing to meet him face to face.
…
After returning from the Warhammer 40K universe to the Warhammer Fantasy universe, then proceeding on to Ideal City to assume his new post, half a year had already passed.
Once the passage between the two Warhammer universes had been stabilized, and the affairs of the Primarch legions had been arranged, only then did the Emperor finally feel at ease leaving behind the beloved Imperium of Man.
Guilliman, appointed as the Megacorp's Imperial Governor, now had to oversee both Warhammer universes. His workload doubled, and with it, the troubles multiplied.
Fortunately, with AI assistance, the volume of bureaucratic paperwork had been greatly reduced. Yet the number of matters requiring serious analysis and careful judgment had multiplied countless times over.
This was the inevitable path for every Governor—they had to learn to think from the level of top-down design, not just with narrow, fragmented perspectives.
Meanwhile, in the main universe's Night City, Li Ang had already completed his historic meeting with the Emperor.
At the Universal Megacorp's headquarters in Chinatown, the two of them reviewed the company's entire development.
The Emperor had never liked learning about someone through second-hand accounts—too often clouded by bias and emotion, straying far from truth and fact.
He preferred to study another's history, to see the choices they had made when faced with decisive turning points.
Words could deceive, but deeds never did. Actions were the truest touchstone of one's essence and foundation.
To understand a person was not to listen to what he said, but to see what he did.
Through his long, careful discussion with Li Ang, the Emperor gradually discerned the man's true nature. It was clear—they were near reflections of each other. They had made similar mistakes, but never repeated them.
Li Ang had once failed to restrain Alt Cunningham's reckless independence, nearly causing a plan's collapse. The Emperor, likewise, had failed to restrain Magnus, which ultimately shattered the Webway.
Yet Li Ang had fortune and "external advantages" on his side, while the Emperor could only push his own powers to their utmost, without ever breaking the laws of fate.
Over a century of refining the details of his own history, Li Ang had already constructed a flawless logical chain, erasing any trace of the system's possible existence.
For instance, the weapons with which he rose to power were "experimental models from the Kantao Megacorp," not something pulled from a mysterious system. The Red Queen and White Queen AIs were said to be rogue intelligences captured from beyond the Blackwall.
Everything had a trail that could be followed, yet none could be verified. Even the Emperor could find nothing amiss.
The more he came to understand Li Ang, the more the Emperor admired this seamless man. No wonder the Megacorp had ascended to godhood in just a hundred years.
Because the one leading it forward already possessed the wisdom and power of a god.
"Neoth, now that I have shared my story, I need to ask you another favor. To be precise, this is not a simple mission or plan—it is an entrustment."
Li Ang and the Emperor were enjoying each other's company, their rapport deepening rapidly through such close dialogue. When kindred spirits meet, even a thousand cups of wine seem too few. The Emperor had also proved his ability and loyalty through action.
At this point, his role within the Megacorp was akin to Quintessa's—more a partner-level executive than a mere subordinate.
Now, Li Ang was about to entrust something of utmost importance to him. And among all the Megacorp's leaders, only the Emperor had the ability to see it through.
"Whatever it is, I will devote my all to completing it," the Emperor replied without hesitation.
What could possibly be more difficult than the God-Making Project already completed?
"Good. I need you to take my place in managing the Megacorp for a time. All major affairs will be under your command. I believe your wisdom will allow you to adapt quickly."
Li Ang wasted no words, speaking directly and clearly.
In truth, long before the Warhammer 40K universe had even been opened, Li Ang already knew what the next multiverse would be. And that universe might be the one closest to the Megacorp uncovering the ultimate truth.
Yes—that universe was The Three-Body Problem!
"What—you want me to manage the entire Megacorp? Why so suddenly?"
The Emperor was visibly stunned. This was no small matter. He had only just joined the Megacorp, and now he was to be handed full control? It didn't feel right.
For a brief instant, he wondered if this was a test of loyalty. But for someone of his intellect, did Li Ang really need such a crude trick?
It would be utterly meaningless.
"Neoth, this is no empty test. I truly need you to govern the Megacorp in my stead."
Li Ang saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes and spoke to dispel it.
"I am about to enter another universe to complete a new unification. This is a world without psychic power, without magic, and even without the traditional laws of physics as we know them."
"In that world, the speed of light decreases daily, the constants of nature are like illusions, and godlike civilizations lie dormant across the cosmos."
"Once we open the stargate into that universe, our only means of communication will be the Xeelee Nightfighters. Until the mission is complete, the stargate must never open again."
Li Ang's tone was solemn.
The Three-Body universe was unlike Warhammer. Here, god-tier civilizations were many, not only the Zeroers.
With enemies lurking and watching, frequent stargate activity would draw their attention and risk exposing the Megacorp's presence in other universes.
Thus, until the mission was complete, the stargate could only be opened once. That meant Li Ang could bring only limited forces and resources into the Three-Body universe—no great logistical support to rely on.
This was an unprecedented unification. None of the Megacorp's past experiences would apply. Li Ang could not trust anyone else to lead it.
He had to be on the front line, micro-managing every step!
"A universe where even laws and constants collapse… must we really attempt to unify it? Could we not choose another?"
The Emperor was bewildered by Li Ang's decision.
Why would he suddenly risk so much? The Megacorp was already on the road to divinity; it was merely a matter of time.
Simply continuing along the current trajectory, both the Megacorp and humanity would inevitably reach the ultimate truth.
But Li Ang's choice to risk his own life—this did not seem like the act of a mature ruler.
(Show your support and read more chapters on my Patreon: [email protected]/psychopet. Thank you for your support!)