The doors were closed by the First Legion; none of the brothers left.
Dorn realized that things were not simple. His Adam's apple bobbed as he suppressed words of reproach, temporarily tolerating the First Legion's offense against the host.
His ears twitched as he heard Vulkan's low sigh: "Is what we're doing a bit inappropriate?"
What secret event had occurred right under his nose?
Dorn's pale brows furrowed, his anger dissipating. Confusion surfaced in his amethyst-like eyes as his gaze lingered on his brothers.
Ferrus seemed dazed but vaguely sensed something. Guilliman was thoughtful, watching Lion with a deep frown.
The others exchanged looks, clearly sharing a tacit understanding.
Taking in his brothers' expressions, Dorn felt a surge of anger: Why? Those in the know were keeping secrets and even nominated Solas as Warmaster, only to humiliate him like this now?
Lion, Russ, Sanguinius, and Vulkan—what consensus had they reached in private?
It was obvious that regarding the nomination of the Warmaster, several of them had already reached a silent agreement; just now was purely an act!
"What are you trying to do?" Dorn's tone was questioning as he narrowed his eyes at his brothers, speaking up for Solas: "You don't have to elect him, but you cannot humiliate him like this."
He tapped his finger repeatedly on the solid wood tabletop, his tone filled with intense disgust: "Now you intend to show outward obedience while secretly defying the Warmaster right in front of me? To unite and play another brother for a fool?"
Dorn despised the malicious behavior of the conspirators; plotting against their own brother went far beyond the scope of a mere prank.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" The laughter was wild and coarse; Russ grinned. He laughed so hard he held his belly, saliva flying, as he pointed unceremoniously at Dorn, "I told you, we absolutely couldn't tell him."
"He's just a blockhead who can't keep a secret. Once he knew our goal, he would definitely tell Solas."
"You—" Mocked, Dorn glared and raised his hand to point at Russ.
"Don't get angry." Sanguinius held him down, his voice very gentle, soothing the rising anger between the two: "Listen to us explain slowly."
"Fine!" Dorn's nostrils flared as he exhaled in anger, irritably brushing off the Angel's arm and sitting heavily in his chair: "I want to see what reason you can use to cover up this humiliation of a blood brother!"
The atmosphere in the conference hall grew tense, a conflict between Primarchs imminent. The Space Marines quietly placed their hands on their waists, ensuring they could draw their weapons at the first moment.
Ferrus turned around and said to his guard: "You all, leave."
He didn't waste words, once again using the practical action of leading by example to guide the atmosphere, preventing the conflict from spreading from the Primarchs to the Space Marines.
"You leave too," Guilliman also waved, letting his Honor Guard leave the meeting room: "The time that follows is perhaps not for you to know."
The King of Macragge was good at using rational thinking to make sensible decisions.
Plotting against a blood brother—this matter should stay among the Primarchs. Brothers should handle it behind closed doors; don't let the Legion's scions see the joke.
The Lion Guard looked at their Gene-Father; they held the door and would not move without the Primarch's command.
"You may leave as well." Lion lowered his eyes, gesturing for the Lion Guard to open the doors and leave the conference hall.
"Everyone, leave." Sanguinius's beautiful face wore a warm smile as he spoke to the warriors in various power armor standing by the walls: "Wait outside, leave the time to us."
Hearing the Primarch's voice, the Blood Guard turned and formed ranks; the golden warriors of the Blood Guard left without looking back.
With someone setting the example, the warriors who had received their Primarchs' orders but were still hesitating lined up neatly and left squad by squad.
"Out." As the host, Dorn's eyes were full of suspicion toward his brothers, but he didn't hesitate when he waved them away.
With the rumbling sound of the adamantium doors closing, the conference hall doors shut again. The vast hall felt less crowded, leaving only seven Primarchs to begin their secret meeting.
"Give me an answer." Dorn's cheeks were tight, and his downturned mouth showed how unhappy he was.
"We are indeed plotting something," Vulkan spoke slowly, his voice tinged with guilt, "but keeping it from you was a necessary measure."
What did "keeping it from me was a necessary measure" mean?
Dorn's face darkened, but as he was about to lash out, Sanguinius raised a hand to restrain him, signaling him to stay calm.
"Is it about Moribus Solas?" Ferrus was much calmer, his black eyes fixed on the Angel, hoping for an answer.
"Yes." Sanguinius nodded, admitting that the target was their blood brother.
The Angel's heart was trembling; despite the reasons, plotting against another blood brother was still a great sin that was hard to face.
"Please give those of us who are uninformed a reason." Guilliman's finger subconsciously tapped the tabletop, making a sound; the rhythm indicated he was thinking.
"He—"
Lion opened his mouth to explain but was stopped by Russ raising a hand. The Wolf King sat up straight in his chair, his wild face very serious: "Let me say it."
"Moribus Solas, he might be a Rangdan spy."
Whoosh—!
As soon as these words were spoken, those who had been sitting stood up from their chairs, staring at Russ with expressions of disbelief.
"Do you know what you're saying?" Dorn's voice was like thunder, pointing at his brother, his pale hair standing up in shock, his face full of disbelief: "Take back what you just said, and I'll act like you said nothing."
"We are Sons of the Emperor; how could we betray humanity? Loyalty to humanity and hatred for xenos are part of the underlying code written into our genes."
Russ didn't immediately retort. He held the edge of the table and slowly rose from the accusation, his gaze sweeping over Guilliman and Ferrus before finally looking at Dorn and asking back: "Do you know him?"
"My stubborn brother, have you ever known Moribus Solas?"
The Great Wolf was less coarse than usual at this moment, his golden beast-like pupils meeting his brother's gaze, his sharp eyes not yielding: "Do you know anything of his past?"
Facing his brother's questioning, Dorn's brain worked rapidly, searching all information regarding Solas, only to find he knew very little.
"This—" He was momentarily speechless. After his righteous indignation faded, he was startled by the Imperial records concerning Solas.
It wasn't that they were few; it was that they simply didn't exist.
"I am Leman Russ, and I come from Fenris." Russ first announced his origins, then pointed at the stunned Dorn: "You, Rogal Dorn, Emperor of Inwit."
He then pointed to the blue giant: "Roboute Guilliman, King of Macragge."
"Vulkan, King of Nocturne." Russ pointed one by one, naming each person's origin: "Ferrus Manus, ruler of Medusa; Sanguinius, The Great Angel of Baal."
Finally, he pointed to Lion. He didn't speak; his brother had only recently returned, and he indeed didn't know where he came from.
"Lion El'Johnson, The Lion of Caliban, Lord of the First Legion." Lion puffed out his chest and spoke proudly of where he came from.
Russ nodded slowly to him, his gaze returning to Dorn: "No matter where we come from, we are all immensely proud of our home worlds."
"If even we are like this, not to mention Blazkowicz Novick, Horus Lupercal, and Magnus."
"Brothers return from the stars, perhaps with different origins, but they would never hide their past."
"Comparing us, think again about Moribus Solas. Do you know even a fraction of his past?"
Hearing his brother's analysis and questioning, Dorn's expression changed repeatedly. Finally, he licked his dry lips and said to Russ: "I'm sorry."
Clearly, after setting aside brotherly affection, he sensed the anomaly.
"Don't worry too much about it." The one speaking was Vulkan. He spread his hands, signaling his brothers to sit, and then dropped another bombshell: "Brother Solas's return was different from ours."
"He and—" Even someone as kind as Vulkan had an unusual look on his face: "When Father found him, Solas was with xenos, piloting a ship to explore the universe."
Hiss~~~
Except for Vulkan and Guilliman, the others gasped, their faces full of disbelief.
"So that's how it is." With a single sentence clearing the doubt, Guilliman suddenly understood, the confusion in his eyes gradually becoming clear: "—
All the clues are connected. Solas is indeed under heavy suspicion."
Under his brothers' inquiring gazes, Guilliman smiled politely and spoke eloquently: "When I first returned, I was on Blazkowicz's ship with Vulkan and spent some time alone with Father, learning some secrets."
"But I never connected them together."
He shook his head with regret, then recounted to everyone the memory that had been implanted in his mind by their Father, the Emperor.
Guilliman fully utilized his talents as an orator, describing how the Emperor brought back Solas so vividly that it was as if he had experienced it personally.
When he finished the whole process, the conference hall fell silent, with only the sound of rhythmic breathing to be heard.