Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 686

Chapter 684, Seating

Salilius strode across the Golden Gate with long strides.

The two Ortopis guards followed behind him, their heads held high and their eyes fixed straight ahead. The two in front of him quickened their pace, pushing open the heavy door in front of them to allow Salilius to pass without stopping.

Striding into the conference room, Salilius’s gaze swept around, his steps involuntarily slowing down.

He saw a long conference table, occupied by a group of figures.

The one at the top looked like a mortal. Salilius was meeting him for the first time, though he had seen their portraits and images many times.

It was Gu Hang, Grand Marshal of the Imperial Astra Militarum, Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Front of the Ironclad Campaign, Head of the Dragonhawk Star Region, Viceroy of the Alliance, and a legal Alpha-class psyker certified by the Imperial Psionic Order.

Salilius also recognized the person sitting first to Gu Hang’s left.

It was Su Lie, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front and the Phoenix Lord of the founding chapter, the Phoenix Chapter.

Salilius had earlier received news of the Phoenix Chapter’s reappearance and its decisive impact on the battlefield.

Salilius was genuinely surprised by their return.

While he didn’t know how they had managed it, it was clearly thanks to Gu Hang.

The second person to his left was also a Space Marine. He wore black power armor, with a black cross on a white background on his shoulder.

That was Xi Rui, the Grand Marshal of the Black Crusaders’ Fourth Fleet. He was, and still is, the second-in-command of the now-missing Northern Front Legion, second only to Marshal Leroy. He was, and still is, the supreme commander of the remaining Northern Front Legion forces.

Second to Gu Hang’s right sat Martins Salas, the Phoenix Chapter Captain, who had fought alongside him for the past year, had saved his life, and whom he greatly admired.

He didn’t recognize most of the others. However, even if he didn’t recognize them, the insignia and decorations on each of them were clearly visible.

There were High Inquisitors of the Order of the Exorcists, Mothers of the Sisters of Battle, and Admirals of the Imperial Navy…

The largest group was a group of Space Marine Chapter Masters.

Chapter Masters of this caliber could be described as a “group.”

Leaving Martins aside, the Blood Sharks and Dragon King Spear Chapter Masters, Armagh Ewing and Taishichen, were also familiar figures who had fought alongside him on the Western Front.

Furthermore, there were two other Chapter Masters, each sporting the orange-red and copper-colored camouflage of the New World Torch and the orange-red and black camouflage of the Fury.

These two Chapters, condemned to the Penitent Crusade, now served under the Alliance. Their Chapter Masters were, of course, no longer the previous incumbents, but rather were promoted from the ranks of the newer ranks. However shallow their credentials, and however low their status as Penitent Chapters, the Chapter Master’s status remained, symbolizing their command over an entire standard Space Marine Chapter—a valuable asset. Not to mention, they have the support of Gu Hang behind them.

Not counting anything else, the last item alone is enough for them to sit at the table.

A table full of people like this is enough for Salilius to retract his wind-like footsteps.

The sound of Space Marines stepping on the floor is usually very heavy. They can certainly control their pace so that they can run quickly while in action without making any sound. However, they usually do this when they are in stealth operations. Normally, they deliberately step very loudly, in this way, to demonstrate their strength and to intimidate opponents and enemies.

The same is true in political and military conversations.

Originally, Salilius did this instinctively. But now, he has to relax his pace a little.

At the same time, he also noticed that there were only two seats left on the entire long table.

One is the first one on the right hand side of Gu Hang.

The second is the seat opposite Gu Hang, at the other end of the long table.

Now, the choice is placed before Salilius.

Both positions are available, and he can choose either one.

Choosing the seat opposite Gu Hang, at the other end of the long table, would make it seem as if he is on equal footing with Gu Hang.

This was what Salilius had thought before he came.

But now, he is hesitant again.

Should he actually sit on the right side of Gu Hang?

This position is certainly very solemn, and sitting face to face with Su Lie is not too humiliating to Salilius. However, if that is the case, he would be sitting below Gu Hang. In terms of meaning, it seems to mean that after the merger of the Western Front and the Southern Front, his status is one level lower than Gu Hang, and the one who makes the decision here is Gu Hang, the commander-in-chief of the Southern Front, not him.

This is not in line with his original idea.

The Western Front is different from the North Front, which has been destroyed and can be said to be non-existent.

The Western Front still retains considerable combat effectiveness. Moreover, speaking of achievements, the Western Front eliminated the Ironclad Rebellion’s greatest ringleader, Humphrey Paul, Chapter Master of the Ironclad Legion.

Doesn’t that put the Western Front on par with the Southern Front?

On closer inspection, it’s unlikely.

Without Martins’s support, the Western Front might have fared slightly better than the Northern Front, but only to a limited extent.

Had Martins not intervened at that crucial moment in the final battle, Salisbury himself might have been slain by Humphrey Paul.

Honestly, does Salisbury himself hold a higher share of the Western Front’s credit than Martins?

Probably not.

A 50-50 split wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

In this scenario, Martins would be relegated to the second seat on the right. What would Salisbury do?

Furthermore, Martins was essentially a subordinate of Gu Hang’s Southern Legion.

It would not be a disgrace to let Salilius sit face to face with Su Lie, his predecessor as the commander-in-chief of the Western Front and the commander of a newly founded regiment.

Salilius was entangled in his mind for a long time, but finally made a decision.

He still followed his heart and chose to sit first on Gu Hang’s right.

“I definitely don’t acknowledge Gu Hang’s absolute leadership position.”

“I just show respect to him.”

“Otherwise, sitting in the front seems to have too strong a sense of opposition, which is not conducive to unity…”

“Su Lie, Xi Rui, and Martins are sitting in the back. It shouldn’t be embarrassing for me to sit in front of them?”

Many thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and he slowly went from being uneasy to feeling at ease.

(End of this chapter)