Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 1028

Chapter 1019: Suppressing a Lion

“That’s a trap,”

Gu Hang told Leon.

He was referring to the current movement of the Death Angels, which had gathered a large number of sub-groups, forming a legion-level force, and heading out of the Jue Ye Universe.

“But the Angels of Death have no intention of listening to the Imperial Center’s persuasion, and even refuse reinforcements. They claim that this is their own business and hatred, and they must resolve it themselves.”

“But that’s not right. This is not their own business.”

“To put it bluntly, even if the Angels of Death are destroyed, it won’t matter much. We have abundant productivity and sufficient gene-seed to rebuild the Angels of Death in a few years. The casualties of nearly 20,000 Space Marines are a heavy loss, but I can barely accept it, especially since more than 20,000 of them don’t like to obey the orders of the Imperial Center. So what if they sacrificed? “

“But I will never allow the Megalith Monastery of the Angels of Death to fall into the hands of the Chaos enemy.”

“I have ordered the Angel Expeditionary Force to assemble in full and march to the Nevernight Realm. Whether the Angels of Death need reinforcements or not, our reinforcements will arrive.” “

If the Angels of Death can save the Megalith Monastery, then the Empire can allow the Angels of Death to continue to retain and protect the Megalith. If the Angels of Death cannot do this, the Megalith Monastery should be kept by the Empire, or the Angels of Death will need the Empire’s help to protect the Megalith.”

“If the Angel of Death becomes an obstacle to the Empire’s defense of the Monolith, then…”

“They are enemies of the Empire, traitors to humanity!”

Hearing this, Leon finally couldn’t hold back and couldn’t remain silent any longer.

Leon Charlie abruptly stood up, his heavy, meticulously crafted dark green and black armor rubbing against the stone chair with a sharp, piercing sound. The Son of God’s massive size was enough to look down upon Gu Hang’s incarnation, who sat like an ordinary mortal.

“Traitor?! Prime Minister Gu Hang!” Leon’s voice was low and oppressive, and every syllable contained power. “You’d better think carefully about the meaning of your words! You accuse my descendants, the most loyal and tenacious Death Angels of the empire, of being traitors? The First Legion, which sacrificed countless blood and won countless glory, is a traitor? Even if it is a possibility, it is an unforgivable humiliation!”

“Unwilling to hand over the foundation that has been guarded for ten thousand years to a…” He paused, as if looking for words that were less sharp but equally full of doubt, “…a new government that they have not yet fully understood? This is too reasonable! Even if what you said is true, the Death Angels have guarded the boulder for ten thousand years and will continue to guard it for ten thousand years in the future! The Death Angels’ loyalty to mankind and the empire must not be questioned!”

“I’m not accusing them of loyalty,” Gu Hang’s voice was as steady as the abyss under the windless sea, “I’m accusing them of arrogance and shortsightedness!”

“They have the ability to protect it!” Leon growled, clenching his fists. “The destruction of Knight Star failed to erase their will! After ten thousand years of perseverance, they still defended the territory when the empire was falling apart…”

“The destruction of Knight Star ten thousand years ago,” Gu Hang interrupted him, his tone suddenly rising. “Isn’t it because of the irreconcilable internal secrets and internal struggles?! Isn’t it because of the traditions and actions they stubbornly adhered to that gave the enemy an opportunity to take advantage, ultimately leading to tragedy?! Your Highness Leon, history has taught us a bloody lesson! The tenacity and tradition that the Angels of Death are proud of are leading them to a dead end of repeating the same mistakes in the face of the evil god’s carefully woven conspiracy network! This is not tenacity, this is stubbornness!”

“Who do you think you are?!” Lion’s fury ignited. He took a step forward, and the ground seemed to tremble. “A human Prime Minister, in power for barely a hundred years?! What qualifications do you have to so casually question, or even judge, a Legion with a thousand years of glory and my blood?!”

His words were filled with the unique pride and intimidation of a Primarch. “Their problems are my responsibility! I will deal with them and guide them! I don’t need your ‘Imperial’ to pass judgment in this way!”

Their gazes met fiercely in the air.

The Lionheart’s imposing aura, like that of an ancient lion awakening, was enough to make mortals prostrate and suffocate Space Marines.

But Gu Hang, bolstered by his formidable psychic power and will, not only did he not flinch, but he actually stood taller. A tremendous “pressure,” originating from the very essence of the real universe, spread out from Gu Hang, thickening the air and slightly distorting the light, abruptly stagnating and neutralizing the surging pressure of Lion.

“You are their Primarch, the Son of God, the Lionheart, Leon Charlie.” Gu Hang’s voice was no longer passionate, but held a more terrifying, fateful coldness. “But at this moment, do you still acknowledge yourself as a member of the Empire? Do you still obey the Empire’s orders? Do you recognize the New Empire, after you have met the Emperor?”

Without waiting for Leon’s response, Gu Hang continued, “If your answer is ‘yes,’ then I tell you, I am commanding you as the supreme leader of the Imperial government, carrying the Emperor’s will and maintaining hope for all humanity in the dark galaxy!”

Gu Hang emphasized the word “command.”

As sons of God, Gu Hang had never spoken to Robert in this way before.

But with Leon, it was different.

This suspicious, arrogant son of God, awakened from a ten-thousand-year slumber, was not a so easily reasoned being. Simply reasoning with Robert wouldn’t cut it.

This lion had to be convinced.

“Even if you are the Son of God, even if it is a founding regiment, your honor and disgrace, and the ten-thousand-year tradition of the Death Angels Regiment, are insignificant on the scales of the survival of the human race.” Gu Hang’s words were like a heavy hammer, “If you think my ‘New Empire’ is an illusion, then you can go to see the Emperor again, or try it with the sword in your hand!”

“But at least now, the order is in front of you: accept the assignment of the Imperial Government, and immediately follow Marshal Dante and his Angel Expeditionary Fleet to the Night Realm!”

The dangerous anger in Leon’s eyes was about to burst out like substance.

But his last bit of rationality restrained his emotions, and his chest only heaved violently.

“Your mission is not to lead them on a revenge expedition,” Gu Hang stared into Leon’s eyes and said without question, “but to prevent a catastrophe caused by their loneliness and stubbornness! If the Angels of Death accept the central government’s order, abandon that foolish expedition that is most likely a trap, and assist the Empire in defending the Stone Monastery, then they will still be the pride of the Empire. If they are stubborn and, for their own personal grudges, disregard the Empire’s overall strategy, refuse to cooperate, or even obstruct the Empire’s actions to protect the Stone…”

“Then, no matter whose descendants they are, no matter how glorious they were in the past, they are enemies of mankind! And your responsibility, Your Highness the Lionheart, is to carry out the will of the Empire – control them, or destroy them.”

Destroy them?

Destroy the legion that he created and regarded as his own?

He… seemed to have done it once.

After waking up, he was determined not to let the past scene repeat itself.

But…

“You have no right…”

“I have the right!” Gu Hang declared decisively, the power of his mastery suddenly intensifying, the lights in the conference room flickering. “You want to talk about legal principles? The Imperial Constitution grants the Prime Minister supreme decision-making authority! The Imperial Council of Dual Heads grants me the final say in all major crises!”

“Or do you want to talk about something else? About v*olence?” He pointed at Leon. “v*olence is power. The ultimate v*olence of humanity, and I have it. “

By this point, Gu Hang had made his point starkly.

“Choose, Leon.” Gu Hang’s tone softened slightly, but the force of his words remained undiminished. “Will you be a Warmaster serving the common good of humanity, or a lone warlord obsessed with bloodline and Legion tradition, potentially destroying his own descendants? Time is running out. Every second wasted brings Chaos one step closer to what we wish to protect! The Angel Expeditionary Fleet is ready to sail, and their commander awaits you.”

“Will you lead your genetic offspring to redemption, or add to the lamentations of their destruction?”

A profound silence enveloped the conference room.

Leon’s chest heaved violently, his jet-black armor a heavy burden.

The pride of a Son of God, the sense of responsibility for his progeny, the rage of hearing such a blunt rebuke in who knows how many years…

The strength Gu Hang displayed, the guidance he received during his audience with the Emperor, the dangers and risks his rational mind had to acknowledge…

all these things simmered and burned within him.

He thought of the chaos of his own awakening, the hardship of leading a desperate people to survive under Chaos’s rule. He understood that for that small alliance to grow into the behemoth it was today, commanding half the Imperium, there must have been a ruthless and iron-blooded side. Beneath Gu Hang’s gentle exterior lay a terrifying determination to survive at any cost.

And his previous audience… had the Emperor demanded his obedience?

No, the oracle wasn’t quite that clear.

But the heaviness felt strangely similar to the resolve Gu Hang displayed now, the will to crush any obstacle for humanity’s survival.

Finally, Leon’s clenched fists loosened.

He didn’t bow his head, but beneath the blazing fire in his eyes lay a deep weariness and the solemnity of being bound by the ropes of fate.

“My power armor needs repainting,” Leon’s voice was dry and hoarse, the weariness of ten thousand years of sleep and the intense argument just now, yet filled with a steely resolve. “Prepare a shuttle to Comoros.”

He didn’t acknowledge all of Gu Hang’s accusations, nor did he completely abandon his trust in his offspring, but he chose to obey orders and accept the assignment.

“Where’s Dante?” he asked, his voice returning to its usual calm, as if the previous outburst of rage had never occurred. “Call my… Angel of Absolution Guards. Tell them we’re about to correct… a deviation.”

Gu Hang’s face returned to his signature polite yet cold expression. He nodded slightly. “A wise decision, Lionheart. Dante and the transport team will be waiting at the designated ‘gate.’ Remember, your mission is to solve problems, not create new ones.”

In a flash of light, Gu Hang’s figure vanished like a bubble, his attention, maintaining this projection, clearly drawn back to more important matters.

In the empty conference room, only Leon remained. Standing amidst the gradually fading psychic energy and the cold reality, the Lionheart’s heavy figure seemed strangely lonely. He raised his hand and covered the cold, hard breastplate, where the warmth of his previous rage seemed to still linger.

“Emperor…” A very soft sigh, filled with complex emotions, escaped his tightly pursed lips.

(End of this chapter)