"You, boy, are quite bold, but—you lack reverence for rules." The Lion looked at Emrys with dissatisfaction, his eyes showing a hint of admonishment for a junior.
"I wasn't doing this for the Imperium, was I?" Emrys knew he was in the wrong, lowered his head, and mumbled softly.
"Hmph, naive!"
The Lion's tone suddenly rose, looking like he was exasperated, and he angrily rebuked, "Do you think these rules are restricting you? Wrong, completely wrong. Do you feel in your heart that some of the Imperium's laws are too bloated and corrupt?"
Emrys didn't dare to retort, but he did, to some extent, have such thoughts in his heart.
"Ah—"
Unexpectedly, The Lion did not continue to scold him, but sighed deeply.
"Indeed, given the Imperium's size, its administrative efficiency and laws are too old, bloated, and even inefficient—do you think we didn't anticipate these shortcomings back then?"
"No, whether it was I, or Guilliman, or even Jaghatai Khan, who was least adept at politics and always on the fringes, we all realized this point!"
Jaghatai Khan not adept at politics?
No, no, no, this lord was too skilled. It was precisely because he was too clever that he kept his distance from you!
Of course, Emrys didn't voice this thought.
The Lion continued, "But there are some things you haven't experienced, and have never witnessed firsthand. You only 'know' about them."
"For example, the abomination intelligence—its destructiveness is far greater than the benefits you currently gain. Although I don't know how you temporarily controlled them, I can be sure that once you trust 'them,' that will be the beginning of disaster!"
The Lion's words clearly expressed his aversion to the abomination intelligence.
"Boy, you are still young." This elder, like a senior, spoke with a hint of worry and concern.
"I am telling you this today because I want you to understand that abiding by these old, bloated rules will indeed restrict you, but at the same time—these rules are also protecting you!"
Emrys was not unreasonable.
He could hear that The Lion's words implied he was worried about him; always operating outside the rules could indeed bring him short-term benefits, but if he looked at it long-term, the risks hidden within these benefits would also gradually escalate!
Until one day, they would completely erupt!
Just like the Emperor, he knew that destroying the perfect city of Lorgar might detonate this bomb, but for the smooth progress of the Great Crusade, he chose to ignore it.
Ultimately, the meticulously planned scheme resulted in the bitter fruit of humanity for ten thousand years, completely coming to naught.
"Don't worry, The Lion." Emrys took a deep breath and nodded.
"I understand what you mean. I will follow the Imperium's rules as much as possible."
"I hope you truly understand." The Lion sighed. He wasn't sure if his sermon today could make this boy understand the cost of overstepping the boundaries of the rules.
After speaking to Emrys, this former mighty Lion turned his gaze to the trembling 'Fallen Angels,' which was the Atonement Crusade.
Led by Olsen, the Dark Angels who joined Emrys' command and crusaded in the name of atonement, now the Dawnwatch Legion, were all drenched in sweat under The Lion's stern gaze.
For no other reason than the mistakes they had made were more than just the title of "Fallen Angel."
If Zabriel was still wronged, with ample reason and confidence to confront The Lion, then they, including Olsen, every single one of them, had once intended to defect to Chaos.
Just this point alone, they couldn't clear their names!
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
The Lion said nothing, but his eyes were extremely cold, and his index finger tapped the metal surface, emitting a terrifying low pressure, like a calm surface with turbulent waves beneath.
This terrifying pressure made Olsen and the others feel as if they were in an ocean, ready to be submerged by a tsunami at any moment.
Devoured!
In the suffocating pressure, The Lion was the first to speak.
"Name, designation."
Bang!
With a dull thud, Olsen knelt on one knee, lowering his head.
"Olsen, formerly part of one of the Six Great Angelic Hosts—the Coronet Angelic Host, your direct elite guard."
At the beginning of the Great Rebellion, during the Great Crusade.
The Dark Angels Legion's organization was not yet the current Six Wings and Inner Circle, but the Six Great Angelic Hosts, each commanded by an Angelic Host Leader.
Among them, the Coronet Angelic Host was The Lion's most elite guard, personally selected by him from Caliban, and directly under his command and control.
But what pained him most was that the Coronet Angelic Host, who remained on Caliban, also participated in Luther's rebellion, which The Lion had always found difficult to accept.
Now, this elite guard of the Coronet Angelic Host had transformed into members who once attempted to defect to the Chaos Warmaster and destroy an important Imperial expeditionary outpost.
Although this plan was thwarted by Emrys in advance, preventing them from committing a major error, ultimately, harboring such a thought was already a grave, Unforgiven mistake for a Space Marine who should always uphold loyalty as their bottom line!
"Coronet Angelic Host——. Heh heh."
The Lion heard this and a sneer appeared on his face.
"I don't have such an elite guard who would conspire with a Chaos Warmaster to destroy an important Imperial outpost—you've done a really great job, Olsen."
The obvious sarcasm in these words made Olsen lower his head in shame, his lips trembling uncontrollably. The Lion saw he dared not reply, and sneered.
"What? Dare to do but not dare to admit? Is that how I taught you back then?!"
These words already carried a hint of anger.
"Yes!"
Shame-filled Olsen gritted his teeth and said tremblingly, "We once intended to join Chaos and retaliate against the Imperium for its harsh treatment of us for ten thousand years!"
Even Zabriel, who should have been on the same side, now looked at them with no pity or sympathy, completely indifferent.
They would have no mercy for traitors.
"According to the rules of the Dark Angels Legion, you should know what punishment you will receive."
The Lion's tone remained cold, his gaze chilling.
"Yes, I—understand!"
But upon hearing these words, Olsen seemed to be relieved, a hint of ease on his face. He slowly lowered his helmet,
kneeling before The Lion.
"I am willing to pay the price for my recklessness and foolishness, to prove my loyalty with my life, but—I beg you, these men are still very young, they were following my orders, please spare them—The Lion."
In this warband, there were only a few veterans.
Most of the members were later recruits and not truly from Caliban.
The Lion's eyes drooped.
"Good, I promise you."
Olsen showed a relieved smile. Although the other members were pained, they did not stop him.
In fact, Olsen had anticipated his end long ago. As the mastermind of the rebellion, even if this warband could be pardoned, he, as the Commander, had to pay the price!
Olsen took a deep breath, then drew his dagger, just as he was about to end his own life to put an end to this matter,
Emrys couldn't sit still.