Arsena, representing Nareth, waited on the landing pad. Upon seeing Perturabo, he immediately stepped forward and saluted.
"Lord."
"Take me to Nareth."
Arsena compared Perturabo's tone and expression to the last time. He thought uncertainly,
'He seems in a slightly better mood than before.'
He had no time to ponder deeply. He said respectfully,
"Lord, please follow me."
Perturabo strode forward, accompanied by the high chanting of servo-skulls.
"The Primarch, Lord Perturabo, the Lord of Iron, the Hammer of Olympia, the Glorious Victor of Campinas..."
The Trident followed their Primarch, more relaxed than their usual tense state.
Perturabo entered the palace. His eyes swept over the asymmetrical architecture, then settled on the approaching Nareth and Keon standing behind him.
He also noticed two warriors not bearing the iconic black livery of Shadows of Order. The numerals on their shoulder plates marked them as belonging to the Nineteenth Legion.
"Perturabo, congratulations on destroying the xenos' war-moon in the Campinas system and achieving a glorious victory."
Perturabo's ice-blue eyes gleamed. He spoke appreciatively.
"Nareth, your son is quite impressive."
"He played a vital role at Campinas. The Iron Warriors will learn from Shadows of Order."
Nareth keenly perceived the deliberate concealment of satisfaction and pride in Perturabo's voice. He signaled his Aide to activate the hololith.
"I would very much like to hear from you personally, everything about the Campinas system campaign."
"I would be happy to share everything with you," Perturabo said, not stepping forward. He looked at Nareth, who regarded him with slight puzzlement. "I would like to invite you to the Iron Blood. I will tell you everything there."
"Along with some new works I've tinkered with in my spare time."
Hearing this, Nareth readily agreed. "I would be delighted to visit your flagship."
The two Primarchs rode the same Aquila Lander, flying towards the twenty-kilometer-long iron-grey Gloriana-class battleship.
Stepping into Perturabo's Strategium, Nareth immediately felt a repressed atmosphere.
Though this was one of the few places on the Iron Blood with windows, they were merely narrow, lancet-shaped slits set between arched iron beams.
After the Iron Warriors and servitors saluted, they immediately immersed themselves in heavy, busy work.
Perturabo concisely began to introduce the tactical concepts and series of actions he had employed at Campinas. Nareth responded with occasional appreciative remarks.
Gradually, Perturabo's explanations became more and more detailed.
One standard ship day later, he finished his account, still sounding somewhat unsatisfied.
He walked to a workbench and pointed to a model upon it.
"This is a fortress I casually constructed while commanding the campaign."
Nareth walked to the model and bent down to examine it.
"It uses a modular design. Modules like the power core, defensive fortifications, and weapon units can be selected as needed."
"Ingenious design, appropriate resource allocation, flexible enough to meet different firepower requirements."
"You've even considered the future, blending civilian structures and defensive fortifications into one. Every part of a building becomes a bunker, strongpoint, and barracks."
Perturabo's tone was casual. "Merely a casual piece. I'll convert it into technical data and send it to you."
"I certainly need it. But I'd rather see your ingenious ideas in areas other than tools of war."
Nareth asked tentatively. He knew that only Magnus had ever viewed Perturabo's private collection.
Perturabo's eyes brightened. "Of course."
Turning, he said to Forrix:
"Take the others to rest."
Nareth followed behind Perturabo, heading towards his private quarters.
One of the long cables on Perturabo's head interfaced with the door's cable. With a rumble of mechanical motion, the door opened.
Nareth entered Perturabo's quarters. Compared to his own palace, this one was somewhat smaller.
Not only because the Shadow's Sovereignty was larger, but also because Perturabo rarely spent time here. He was always busy in the Strategium, formulating plans and reviewing every report.
Nareth felt momentarily dazed. Perturabo's quarters reminded him of Ferrus Manus's quarters aboard the Fist of Iron, a dwelling resembling a forge workshop.
But he immediately noticed the differences. Here, there were more elements of engineering than forging.
Workbenches with integrated environment simulators, structural strength testers, and vibration test stations. Laser files and temperature-variable soldering irons arranged opposite each other...
The entire quarters lacked measuring or calculation tools like digital calipers or laser rangefinders, yet everything was neatly arranged and well-organized.
Nareth walked towards a stone platform. He saw numerous drawings hanging around it, and lifelike, unfinished artistic pieces on the stone base.
Seeing they hadn't yet been moved to a private storage chamber, he knew Perturabo still harbored some lingering hopes for them.
"Truly a city of grand vision. Based on Dunivar Astokon's formula, you've used the tools of science and art, applying the laws of perspective to give it perfect proportions."
"You understand Olympian art?" A flicker of surprise crossed Perturabo's cold eyes.
Nareth's gaze remained fixed on the model architecture.
"Your art has already transcended Olympian thought. The philosophy of that world was incomplete. Its philosophers focused on classification."
"The tools of art and science are the same. Everything is part of a single whole."
"You've unified them with steel and glass, constructing magnificent buildings, an awe-inspiring palace."
Perturabo's eyes gleamed brighter and brighter. This was something even Magnus hadn't articulated, the design philosophy hidden within his architecture, a secret he once thought no one would discover.
The "Baron of Corruption's" gaze finally settled on the most dazzling building. The model instantly transformed into countless geometric figures: circular outlines, floor plans...
"The most remarkable is the Grand Theater. It is the perfect embodiment of geometric beauty."
The corner of Perturabo's mouth twitched. Before it could fully rise, he caught himself and forcibly suppressed it.
He recalled the discussion of artistic views when the three of them had journeyed to the galactic core to formulate the plan to attack the Squats.
As Perturabo was lost in memories, Nareth looked at him, his pitch-black eyes meeting the ice-blue ones.
"Why not complete it?"
Nareth had to admit, Perturabo's conception balanced practicality and artistry. It was perfect architecture, rivaling only Tizca.
Paradigm City, which he had designed in the past, prioritized efficiency, with the environment as a secondary consideration.
'Even if I redesigned one now from a "geometric" perspective, I could probably only achieve this level.'
Perturabo involuntarily averted his gaze. After several seconds of silence, he spoke.
"It would consume vast resources, and it's too fragile. It shouldn't exist in this brutal galaxy."
His eyes filled with gloom.
"Peaceful and prosperous cities are destroyed in the flames of barbarism. In Terra's past, in this galaxy, it happens every moment."
"Therefore, it is meaningless. I think only you and Magnus would appreciate it. The other brothers would only see it as meaningless ruins destined for disaster."
"Art without protection is fragile. Our beautiful Angel, even his Angelicra has no space for art."
Perturabo said helplessly, "Father would also never permit me to expend vast resources building a utopia."
"No." Nareth shook his head in denial. Perturabo turned to look at him, a lingering melancholy in his eyes.
"Art isn't always fragile, as long as its shield is hard enough."
"My Ramillies-class starforts can protect the void. My fortress-grade void shields can protect an entire city. Shadows of Order is the shield that guards."
Nareth gazed into the ice-blue eyes and spoke seriously.
"I have sufficient resources to build such a city. So..."
He emphasized his promise.
"Perturabo, complete your artwork. I will make your ideal city a reality."
"I hope Vostroya can have such a city."
Perturabo's eyes lit up, gleaming like blue stars. His normally rock-like voice was filled with a rare warmth.
"Good."
As they left Perturabo's quarters, Nareth naturally made his request.
"Perturabo, I'd like to ask you to help me design a special weapon."
"Of course, no problem," Perturabo said confidently. "This won't affect my completing it."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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