He seethed for a few seconds upon receiving the communication from the Lion, the anger and doubt almost leaping off the page, even through the text.
Not long ago, he had just completed the certification of the Daemon engine with Rosales' help, and then, in a blink, he received the Lion's communication.
But then, Emrys guessed that someone must have contacted the Lion using a secret code, 'reporting' his actions, which made the Lion angrily send a clear message of inquiry, demanding an explanation.
"Was it you?" Emrys pinched his brow, his gaze turning to Krast, who had been waiting by his side, and asked in a calm tone.
"Yes, Lord."
Krast did not shy away, his gaze like a straight sword. He made no attempt to justify his 'report' to the Lion using a secret code. Instead, he said in a low voice, "You should be very clear that what you have done, from the perspective of the Imperium of Man, is already a substantive act of 'betrayal'. I must be responsible for the Sons of the Forest Chapter, and this is also being responsible for the Lion. If you are still loyal to the Imperium and loyal to the Emperor, I am willing to pay the price for my actions, whatever the punishment may be."
After saying this, Krast calmly took off his helmet, then knelt on one knee before Emrys, raising his head, his eyes full of frankness, as if waiting for his answer.
A moment later, Emrys rubbed his brow.
"I don't mean to blame you. If anything, I should thank you.
Not chopping me down on the spot already shows great respect for me, your 'grandmaster'."
He knew very well what he had done.
In front of him, he completed the promotion ritual for a Chaos Space Marine in an extremely blasphemous way, becoming a high-ranking Chaos Lord, and even shouted 'Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne'. This was beyond ordinary blasphemy!
It's no exaggeration.
Under those circumstances, Krast not immediately pulling out a knife and attacking Emrys already showed a very good temper.
If it had been a slightly more radical person, he would have shoved a bolter into his mouth!
If it were an Inquisitor, the Grey Knights would probably already be on their way, and only an Exterminatus would await Emrys.
Explanation?
Non-existent, don't even think about it.
Moreover, thinking carefully, the Lion's greatest taboo was being betrayed by his own people. Previously, because of Luther, he slept for ten thousand years, not to mention his own legion split into two factions.
Not directly jumping through the Warp to capture Emrys, but choosing to use a clear message to ask him to explain, was already very merciful.
From this perspective, Krast also helped Emrys once. Misunderstandings must be resolved in time, otherwise, who knows if another tragedy might unfold?
"I understand your intentions." With this in mind, Emrys didn't blame him for unilaterally bypassing him and reporting to the Lion.
"Don't worry, I will personally go and explain this matter clearly to the Lion."
Hearing this, Krast also breathed a sigh of relief.
This matter, while not huge, was not small either. Moreover, his use of secret code communication essentially showed that he was still willing to trust Emrys; otherwise, why use a secret code?
He was truly afraid that the tragedy caused by the misunderstanding on Caliban would repeat itself now.
Without further ado, he was going to use this opportunity to discuss with the Lion the specific details of how to trap and kill this group of Chaos forces in one fell swoop.
Soon, he returned to the hive city through the teleportation gate. As expected, Zabriel was waiting for him in the banquet hall.
"Later, you'll have to give the Lion a good explanation, Krast." Zabriel lowered his voice, reminding him.
"The Lion almost died of anger when he found out about this.
Emrys shrunk his neck, only able to give an awkward smile, then followed Zabriel to the upper office.
As soon as he entered, the Lion's gaze fell upon him, cold and chilling, then he couldn't help but let out a sneer, saying in a sarcastic tone, "Oh, isn't this lord Chaos Lord?"
...Emrys was full of embarrassment.
"What? Why is this lord Chaos Lord not speaking?" The Lion snorted coldly, his tone mixed with a strange taste.
"In the middle of the night, it's a hardship for you, lord Chaos Lord, to come see me, a mere Primarch."
This tone sounded a bit like a wife suspected of cheating, caught red-handed by her husband, then getting jealous and furious?
"Listen, lord Lion, please let me explain."
Emrys twitched his mouth, just about to speak, but was interrupted again.
Bang!
"Explain? Explain what?" The Lion slammed his hand on the table, gritting his teeth.
"I sent you to destroy the Chaos fleet, not to become a Chaos Lord! You're truly impressive, I heard you even cut off his head and shouted 'Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne'?!"
The last sentence, the Lion almost roared out.
Rain-like spittle, several meters away, almost splattered onto Emrys' face, showing just how furious this Primarch was!
If this had been ten thousand years ago, he wouldn't have listened to Emrys' explanation at all, but would have directly rushed over and twisted his head off!
Fortunately, after venting, the Lion took a breath and calmed down again, his gaze coldly fixed on Emrys.
"Speak! What exactly happened! Explain it clearly to me, or I'll slap you to death!"
Emrys smiled bitterly, and could only tell the Lion all his thoughts.
He did this because he wanted to use this identity to wipe out the Chaos fleet and also to trick Abaddon.
"Do you know what you're doing?!"
After listening to his explanation, the Lion's anger still hadn't subsided.
"What if something goes wrong and you really get 'blessed'? Can you resist the corruption of the Chaos Gods? What you're doing is simply reckless!!!"
As a Primarch, and having personally witnessed how the once brilliant and trusted Warmaster Horus gradually fell into a puppet of Chaos, he knew all too well how terrifying the corruption of Chaos was!
But Emrys?
He repeatedly took risks. Once, twice, it could be attributed to luck, but a person cannot always be so lucky.
Chaos can fail once, ten times, a hundred times!
But if it succeeds just once, then what awaits Emrys is to completely fall into the abyss of Chaos, just like Horus once did!
This was also the reason for the Lion's anger.
Although he still didn't understand why the Emperor valued Emrys so much, he didn't want what happened to Horus to repeat itself with Emrys!
He couldn't afford that price.
And the now divided Imperium of Man could never bear such a price again!
"Emrys, you are a smart person, but your understanding of Chaos is not deep enough." The Lion saw Emrys with his head down,
thinking his reprimand was too harsh, his tone immediately softened.
"Some things absolutely cannot cross that bottom line.
Your success once is not because you are lucky, but because the Chaos Gods are deliberately indulging you. That's how they are, step by step luring you in, and when you finally realize it, it's already too late to turn back."
"I—I understand, lord Lion."
After being reprimanded, Emrys also sobered up a bit, and at the same time felt some lingering fear.
As the Lion said, Chaos could fail hundreds of times, but if it succeeded just once—he would embark on the same path as Horus.
"You know now? Too late!"
The Lion sighed deeply, looking at Emrys, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"Take off your armor and see for yourself!"
Seeing the Lion's unfeigned expression, Emrys also felt the seriousness of the situation, swallowed, and while quickly taking off his armor, chuckled dryly.
"It shouldn't—it can't be that bad, can it?"
"Not that bad?"
The Lion sneered.
"Look down yourself, what's on your body!"
After taking off the heavy armor, Emrys lowered his head, but when he saw a deep red, extremely twisted pattern like a 'scar' wrapped around his arm, his pupils suddenly constricted.
"What is this thing?!"
"What is it? It's the price you have to pay!"
The Lion saw it, his brows furrowed, and he said darkly.
"This is the Mark of Khorne, part of the Eightfold Blessing, meaning—you've been targeted!"