004.M31, eastern Ultramar sector.
The cleansing fires of the Great Crusade had yet to burn away the last remnants of this sector's corruption, and within the cold void hung a colossal behemoth. The Dark Angels' heraldry on its hull reflected a grim metallic sheen beneath the stars.
This was the flagship of the First Legion: the Indomitable Truth, a Gloriana-class battleship.
As one of the Imperium's crowning industrial achievements, the vessel stretched twenty-eight kilometers in length alone. Loaded with the finest weapons and technologies mankind could produce, it was less a warship than a roaming fortress.
Its hull bristled with vast lance batteries and macro-cannon arrays. Most notably, the stern concealed twelve vortex torpedo tubes, along with eight emergency reserve tubes that would only be exposed in dire circumstances. Its main batteries alone possessed enough firepower for a single ship to shatter the defenses of any small planet.
Against stubborn xenos who refused to yield, the Dark Angels had never hesitated to fire the sword of judgment itself into enemy worlds, letting cyclone torpedoes deliver destruction, death, and redemption all at once.
That was how the First Legion had always operated: efficient, direct, and utterly merciless toward the enemies of the Imperium.
At this moment, upon the central command dais of the bridge, a tall figure stood before the star-map projection. Clad in black power armor, Lion El'Jonson clenched his fist. He had only just finished a transmission with the Warmaster's command.
How should one describe the Lion's current mood?
Stifled. Bitter.
Dealing with the remnants of the Rangdan xenos, shoring up the Great Crusade's supply lines—since those were assignments given by the Warmaster, he had tolerated them no matter how irritating they were.
After all, it was for the Great Crusade.
For their father's grand ambition.
But this…
Now you want me to investigate Curze's disappearance too?
What exactly do you take me for, Horus?!
"Father…"
A knightly adjutant from Caliban spoke with care.
"What are our next orders?"
On one side lay the Warmaster's assignment concerning the Night Lords.
On the other lay the Great Crusade itself—supply lines, xenos pursuit, and the broader campaign.
Which mattered more?
That was the question.
"All of you, hear me. I am issuing the following deployment."
The Lion drew in a slow breath. As he manipulated the star map, he delivered his commands with machine-like precision.
"I will personally lead part of the battle fleet to the Nostramo sector. The rest will continue the current operation according to plan. Command authority will be distributed as follows…"
Under the Lion's exacting orders, the entire Legion moved like a perfectly tuned engine. His authority was so absolute that even in his absence, the First Legion would remain a devastatingly effective force.
That was one of the Lion's greatest strengths.
And the absolute strength of the First Legion as well.
Orders passed through the chain of command layer by layer. In less than one Terran hour, the Legion had fully accepted that the Lion would be temporarily departing the front.
"Bruce Wayne. Acting commander of the Night Lords Legion?"
Lion's voice turned cold.
"For your sake, my brother's disappearance had better have nothing to do with you."
A Primarch had vanished.
Such a thing was beyond belief.
And with the beast-keen instincts the Lion possessed, his first suspicion immediately fell upon Bruce—that obscure nobody—because Bruce now held power within the Night Lords.
Which meant the entry point for the investigation was suddenly obvious.
Find the man.
Interrogate him.
Make him cough up his brother's whereabouts.
Then he could report back to Horus.
Simple.
"First Battle Group, hear me! Depart immediately!"
The Lion waved his hand, unwilling to waste another second.
From the Xana sector to Nostramo would require only fourteen Terran standard days. That was far from the limit of the First Legion—or the Indomitable Truth—but the Lion would need time to make proper preparations.
"Yes, my lord!"
Soon, a rapid-response force detached itself from the main fleet of the First Legion: the Indomitable Truth, six Hunter-class destroyers, four strike cruisers, and more than two thousand Astartes. Once resupplied, they immediately made for the warp gate.
It was enough strength for the First Legion to inflict a terrible price even in the worst-case scenario.
This was the Lion's caution.
And his cunning.
The Lion never treated anything as simple. In his mind, even Curze's disappearance might well be part of a trap.
But his confidence told him that no matter what waited ahead, he could force his way through it.
Damn it.
If this really is a trap, then I'll crush it with brute force.
After thirteen Terran days of warp travel, the First Legion's investigation fleet arrived in the Nostramo sector.
The Lion did not order an immediate approach to Nostramo itself, cradle world of the Eighth Legion.
Instead, he chose to make station in orbit around the nearby moon Tenebor and transmit Imperial friend-or-foe identification codes to the nearest Night Lords warships.
Though the Lion's method—arriving unannounced like this—was blatantly arrogant and insulting, the Night Lords, in the face of such an ill-mannered intruder, did little more than simmer in anger.
They did not dare do more.
The First Legion's colors and insignia were unmistakable, after all. And everyone already knew the Imperium would soon be sending an investigative delegation to look into the vanished Primarch.
More importantly, Acting Commander Bruce had already warned everyone in advance:
No matter what happened, they were not to fire the first shot.
That was the Primarch's order.
For all those reasons, the Lion's domineering and openly disrespectful conduct toward the Night Lords was endured.
"Interesting…"
The Lion stared intently at the star-map projection.
What surprised him was that the Night Lords had not merely refrained from targeting his fleet—they had not even so much as activated a single orbital defense array.
Were they afraid?
Had they prepared for this?
The thought crossed his mind.
"Establish contact with Nostramo. Tell that so-called acting commander to speak with me."
After confirming once more that the Night Lords had made no move against him, the Lion finally gave the order.
"Yes, my lord!"
The channel was opened.
A moment later, Nostramo accepted the transmission request. A holo-projection formed over the star map, taking shape opposite the towering Primarch.
Then the Lion frowned.
"Clown. What in the world are you wearing? Is this mockery?"
Looking at the Astartes in front of him, Bruce—wearing some sort of absurd fish-shaped hat—instantly ignited the Lion's temper.
Wearing something that ridiculous, and deliberately painting some strange substance around the fish's mouth…
It was practically an insult.
"Lord Warmaster! I have long admired you! I've dreamed of meeting you!"
Bruce, wearing the gadget known as the Flattery Shark, responded at once with overflowing emotion.
The Lion's brow twitched.
For some reason, he suddenly found the fellow's voice extremely pleasant to listen to.
He rather wanted to hear him keep talking.
"I am Lion El'Jonson! Primarch of the First Legion! Remember that name!"
The Lion steadied himself and barked the correction.
"The Warmaster of the Imperium is Lord Horus!"
"Lord Horus is of course the Warmaster of the Imperium," Bruce said smoothly, "but to a humble man like me, you are the expeditionary Warmaster who guards mankind in the eastern reaches!"
"And besides—"
Bruce lowered his head slightly, full of sincerity.
"Lion, this is truly a campaign fit for a Warmaster!"
The Lion fell silent.
"Lord Warmaster Lion, and battle-brothers of the First Legion, why not descend to Nostramo first? Whatever must be discussed, we can discuss it properly on the surface."
Bruce bent low and asked with utmost caution:
"My lord Warmaster, what do you think…?"
"All ships, hear me! Approach orbit according to their guidance! Prepare to land on Nostramo!"
The Lion issued the order.
I want to see for myself how this silver-tongued fool intends to explain my brother's disappearance.
Bruce Wayne.
I'll remember that name.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 150)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 110)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter105)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter100)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter69)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter95)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 55
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 40
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 45
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 32
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 31
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 31
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