"Why are you so fixated on the Legion's structure?" Mephiston asked, his eye twitching slightly as he listened to Alexander and Corbulo's conversation.
He was afraid that if he spoke too slowly, Alexander would turn his attention to him.
Alexander chuckled and shook his head. Even if the Legion's structure was restored, it wouldn't be Dante, Mephiston, or Corbulo who would lead it.
After all, a certain Primarch was still waiting to be revived in the form of a sauce beneath Angel Keep. No matter how the Ninth Legion's structure was restored, the Chapter Master's position would undoubtedly be his.
After all, no one would be so foolish as to try and snatch a Primarch's Chapter Master position, right?
Unless that Primarch actively relinquished command, the Chapter Master's position would certainly remain his. He wouldn't really dump all the responsibilities on Dante, would he?
As for why Alexander was considering the Legion's structure…
"I might just organize the Ninth Legion to march on Terra and explain the pros and cons to the Emperor," Alexander said in a half-joking tone.
Mephiston nearly spat out his bitter red wine, and Corbulo's eyes widened.
"You truly love to joke," Mephiston said, taking a deep breath and patting his chest.
Corbulo, meanwhile, quickly looked around, making sure no one else had heard Alexander's words.
The Blood Angels didn't fully see the Emperor as a god, but such blasphemous words involving rebellion still made them uneasy.
Alexander's lips twitched slightly. In truth, he wasn't joking.
According to his previous discussion with Sanguinius, the Emperor himself might have some issues; His condition might not be quite right.
In the normal timeline Alexander knew, only Guilliman among the Primarchs had directly faced the Emperor, but Guilliman himself was resisting his Warp nature, so he might not have noticed the problems with the Emperor.
After Sanguinius' revival, Alexander would also go to Terra with him to ascertain the Emperor's condition. If the Emperor had truly lost control or become some terrifying entity, Alexander and Sanguinius might even stand against the Imperium.
If it truly came to that, a Legion-level Astartes force would be especially important. Alexander even thought that perhaps rallying a few more First Founding Chapters to create a Third Imperium wouldn't be impossible.
But the problem with Baal was that the population on these three wasteland planets could support a Chapter, but not a Legion.
The Blood Angels needed their own Great Ultramar.
What Alexander had just said was merely to prepare the three senior Blood Angels psychologically – to give them an expectation of their future overtime work.
As if sensing that Alexander's thoughts were becoming increasingly blasphemous and dangerous, Mephiston quickly spoke, "The Librarians have already started preparations. What about your side?"
Alexander slowly raised his head, knowing Mephiston was referring to Ka'Bandha.
Corbulo cast a strange look, seemingly wondering what Alexander and Mephiston intended to do.
"We are going to summon Ka'Bandha into the real universe, then give his big red butt a good kick, and then make him disappear from this world entirely," Alexander said lightly to Corbulo.
He wasn't worried about his and Mephiston's plan being leaked or directly known by Ka'Bandha.
If it were other Greater daemons, they might play tricks or hide, but what Alexander and Mephiston were doing was akin to challenging Ka'Bandha.
A Khorne Greater Daemon would not refuse a splendid battle, nor abandon a head worth severing.
Not to mention Alexander's own head, Mephiston's head alone would probably be enough for the Greater Daemon to fulfill years of skull KPI.
Ka'Bandha would definitely come; he would never retreat.
"You're joking again," Corbulo said with a laugh.
"..I'm not joking." "We're serious."
Alexander and Mephiston nodded almost simultaneously, and Corbulo's expression stiffened instantly.
"Dante should know." "The Chapter Master has agreed in principle."
Seeing Corbulo's stiff expression, the two spoke together again.
In reality, Dante had only allowed Mephiston to use any method he deemed effective, and did not know the specific details of the plan.
Alexander and Mephiston also thought it best not to tell him the specifics.
After all, the Chapter Master only needed to see the results; their Warp duo considered much more.
Thinking of this, Alexander glanced at his four-dimensional pocket.
Among the Chapter relics, those that could be used as props in the upcoming operation were kept by Alexander, while the rest were directly sold off.
Coupled with the wool he had fleeced from Mephiston, he had almost gathered enough money to exchange for that item and the adaptive lamp.
Of course, this would require another trip to the Saint's Treasure Vault of the Blood Angels' Librarians. The true key to the entire plan lay within it.
The Saint's Treasure Vault, the four-dimensional pocket, and the hive mind—three parts, none of which could be missing.
The prisoners in the Lost Spire were roaring, screaming for blood, their thirst mingled with sorrow.
The Scarlet Scar hung low over the Lost Spire, as if a scar torn open by the fangs of the Bloodthirst-stricken prisoners.
This sight vaguely awakened Sanguinius' rage within Seth; he felt his blood almost burning.
The cold night wind of Baal swept across Seth's unhelmeted face, tracing the grotesque lines of his muscles. Seth, standing by the tall spire, was like a blood and black igneous rock, carved by Baal's sharp cold wind, stroke by stroke, into a towering, gaunt gargoyle.
Gabriel Seth was a head taller than most Space Marines, but also more gaunt, his face terrifyingly sharp. Mortals therefore regarded him as the embodiment of cruelty. Oh, with the exception of the refugees from Lexio; those somewhat eccentric herdsmen called Gabriel Seth the "Blood-Cursed," but there was no mockery in this, only deep respect.
Many Flesh Tearers had died on Lexio, both regular warriors and the Death Company. The Lexio people therefore respected Seth, even building a settlement named after him.
This was what Seth craved: to exchange sacrifice for honor, death for remembrance, their blood for the blood of more people, rather than reversing everything.
His and his Chapter's reputation had improved, but most of his kin still regarded Seth as a burden, an angry monster, a beast that might attack comrades.
Gabriel Seth also despised them; that group seemed to possess an arrogance, believing they would never be affected by the curse.
The Flesh Tearers were far more cautious than most Chapters, yet still could not escape the hunt of the curse.
In Seth's view, denying the existence of the curse was equivalent to denying what one was, denying the holy blood in one's veins.
However, Seth would not beg for his kin's sympathy; sympathy disgusted Seth. He and his kind did not crave redemption.
They only wanted war, to unleash their fury in war, and then to sacrifice.
At least now the Lexio people would remember him, Seth thought in silence.
But not many people survived on Lexio, and they might all be sacrificed in the Battle of Baal.
Seth understood those herdsmen; they craved revenge.
He couldn't help but exhale a breath filled with the scent of blood, continuing to walk along the tall spire.
Then he saw a Saint Blood Guard warrior guarding the top of the spire.
The Saint Blood Guard; they were elite veterans, the Chapter Master's honor guards. All successor Chapters flowing with Sanguinius' bloodline maintained such units.
But only the Blood Angels' Saint Blood Guard were a continuation of the former Primarch's guard; their golden power armor was even a relic from the Great Crusade era. Their wearers once fought alongside the Archangel, and the art of crafting it is now long lost.
These warriors also carried jump packs, special versions, their wings on their backs imitating the Archangel.
Seth narrowed his eyes slightly. Such precious warriors… would Dante send them out on patrol duty?
He slowly approached the warrior. The Saint Blood Guard sensed Dante's presence and placed his hand on the hilt of his crimson blade at his waist.
"..Lord Seth?" The Saint Blood Guard member recognized Seth. He subtly blocked the path.
Seth couldn't help but smile. His mind couldn't help but simulate the scene of himself tearing apart this warrior's body.
He could do it, even if his preparations were not as thorough as this Saint Blood Guard's, even if it was extremely challenging.
Yet Seth still chose to speak, his voice revealing the wildness and oppression unique to the Flesh Tearers: "What does Dante want you to do?"
The Saint Blood Guard seemed to sense Seth's vigilance.
Seth's gaze swept over the Saint Blood Guard in front of him, simultaneously noticing his comrade on the tall spire diagonally opposite.
More than one Saint Blood Guard. What exactly was Dante doing?
"I mean no offense," the Saint Blood Guard member said, his voice taut. "Lord Dante has ordered me to guard this place."
A flash of crimson crossed Seth's eyes. He stared at the Saint Blood Guard member, but the warrior only trembled slightly. Seth couldn't help but smile, acknowledging the warrior's courage.
But he had to know what Dante intended to do——
"Let him pass," Dante's slightly weary voice sounded behind Gabriel Seth.
Seth barely noticed Dante's approach. He once again understood Dante's reverence and power.
The Saint Blood Guard member made way for Seth and Dante. Dante walked ahead, signaling Seth to follow.
Seth stood by the edge of the tall spire, looking down.
He saw blood slaves, a Blood Priest, and... ten scouts?
Ten young warriors stood by a land raider gunship. These warriors had not yet been fully recognized as members of a Blood Chapter; theoretically, most of their modifications were complete, but they had not yet been implanted with the Black Carapace. This required them to prove their worth in the Scout Company.
However, Seth noticed the surgical scars on their bodies, clearly indicating they had already been implanted with the Black Carapace.
But what truly interested Seth was the cargo they were moving onto the land raider.
"You're sending your gene-seed away," Seth said, exhaling a bloody breath.