"Things are mostly handled; let's take a break," Swain said to Corax, who had just seen off Arch-Sage Kroll. He had been so engrossed in his thoughts earlier that he hadn't noticed the exact agreement the two of them had reached. However, seeing both non-humans smiling broadly at the end, Swain knew that the Dark Raven Guard and Griffin IV must have forged very deep cooperative policies.
"Leader, besides the reconstruction plans for Deliverance and Kiavahr, Griffin IV also signed a two-hundred-year arms supply agreement with the Dark Raven Guard," Corax said with a smile. "They'll provide various weapons and equipment from Griffin IV's Forge World, and we only need to select what our legion needs from their catalog."
"That's indeed a big move, but it's normal," Swain replied. "After all, there are other Forge Worlds rushing here like sharks that have smelled blood. If they don't seize the initiative now, future opportunities will be smaller." There's also competition within the Forge Worlds. Besides being first-come, first-served, the difference in strength between each world truly matters. However, no legion will cooperate with only one Forge World, and neither the legions nor the Forge Worlds will put all their eggs in one basket.
"Let's go, I'm hungry. Let's see what delicacies are on your father's flagship. It's perfect that your father called for us; eating energy bars these past few days has made me want to puke!" Swain thought of the super high-concentration energy bars used by Astartes in emergencies and immediately lost his appetite.
Although the Imperial Administratum thoughtfully provided these energy bars with multiple flavor options, compared to those with various artificial flavors, anyone would prefer carefully prepared delicacies. Not to mention that the Emperor's flagship boasts various rare ingredients from across the entire galaxy, and the Emperor's personal chef can satisfy any palate.
"Let's go, let's go." Swain immediately pulled Corax toward the hangar where the Stormbirds were parked.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Corax? Haven't you gotten used to your father's sudden appearance yet?" Seeing Corax's reaction, Swain naturally understood. It was nothing more than that strong sense of unreality caused by a long-lost biological father suddenly appearing before a child who had grown accustomed to poverty. This situation would resolve itself in a few days.
Swain didn't think this was a big problem. After all, wine is the best key to opening people's hearts. Two cups of wine later, all barriers disappear. The Emperor should pull his cheat-like sons to drink more often instead of always maintaining that grim expression. The galaxy is so vast, and the Emperor and Primarchs often don't see each other for decades, so why keep a straight face?
Ordinary wine is like plain water to the Emperor and Primarchs, but Fenris's famous mead is definitely on the Emperor's Dream list, and it must be the kind Russ personally brewed and offered to his Allfather. This stuff can even kill an Astartes.
Mead is one of the most famous specialties of Fenris, which surprisingly has no wolves. This wine is brewed from unique crops on Fenris. Mortals often need to dilute it countless times before they can drink a small amount. This stuff is more like a potent poison than wine. Its powerful corrosiveness requires containers made from the unique Kraken sea monster's spine bones found on Fenris to be preserved for a long time.
"Only love and good food cannot be let down. Delicacies of the galaxy, here I come!" As the powerful thrust of the Stormbird hit, Swain was finally able to fully enjoy the peerless delicacies from various planets.
The golden Stormbird transformed into a golden arrow, shooting straight into the sky and disappearing into the skies of Lycaeus in an instant.
"Stunning!" This was Swain's first impression of the Emperor's Dream, this massive war-carrier. As one of the Emperor's flagships, this command carrier, comparable to a small asteroid, was equipped with many forbidden weapons from the Dark Age of Technology. Unfortunately, in the grim future, the fate of this carrier, like its name, was destined to show that all of the Emperor's efforts to completely free humanity from the Warp were nothing but a dream.
"Lord Corax, Mr. Swain, our Lord is still dealing with other matters. Please wait a moment," Yore, the Sisters of Silence captain of the Fire Dragon squad, conveyed through a series of hand gestures.
"Yore, you can just speak. Sign language is still too complicated," Swain said. Although he had learned some of the Sisters of Silence's sign language during this time, he could only understand some simple ones.
"This is our vow. Please forgive my disrespect," the Sisters of Silence stubbornly stated.
"Alright, suit yourselves. Take us to where the Emperor dines. Since things have come to this, let's eat first!" Swain gave up trying to persuade these stubborn individuals and let them lead him and Corax to find food.
"First, give me two portions of charcoal-grilled Ant-Ox meat, two Ant-Ox hearts, and two grilled Grok beast meats. Corax, order whatever else you want," Swain said first, deciding to taste this delicacy, which was most widely circulated in the 2K era.
Regardless of whether this delicacy, which could make a chef fight, was the top delicacy in the galaxy, he would taste it first. Maybe he could even witness the precious historical scene of an Ant-Ox fighting the Emperor's chef.
Unfortunately, the scene Swain expected—where the ingredients and the chef would first decide who would become the ingredient—did not appear. The Emperor's personal chef calmly took out two pieces of Ant-Ox meat and began to grill them. Clearly, on the Emperor's Dream, Ant-Ox canned meat had no chance of causing trouble.
Soon, the attendant brought up two portions of Ant-Ox meat emitting a unique charred aroma. The Ant-Ox meat, with all its insect eggs and parasites eliminated, was handled exceptionally quickly and did not require three days of high-temperature roasting with a promethium torch, followed by cutting with a knife, chisel, and axe before it could be eaten.
"Mmm, delicious, it truly lives up to its reputation. Corax, hurry and try it," Swain said indistinctly to the Primarch. As soon as the Ant-Ox meat entered his mouth, a rich charred aroma exploded on his taste buds, followed by abundant meat juices gushing out from the grilled meat, enveloping his entire mouth. An unprecedented sense of satisfaction instantly made Swain feel utterly content.
"When the Great Crusade ends, I must make a documentary about galactic cuisine. I've even thought of the name: 'A Bite of the Galaxy,'" Swain said, his mouth full of Ant-Ox meat, speaking his thoughts indistinctly.
Then he turned his gaze to another delicacy that had just been served: Ant-Ox heart!
Compared to Ant-Ox meat, Ant-Ox offal is even more delicious and precious in the galaxy. The characteristic of Ant-Ox meat is that no matter how long it's cooked, it remains very tender, while the heart meat is a bit tougher, but it is precisely this tenderness that brings endless aftertaste to one's taste buds.
"It seems the delicacies on the Emperor's Dream have not disappointed your expectations." The Emperor's voice suddenly interrupted Swain's process of devouring delicacies from all over the galaxy.