Lorgar's shock lasted only an instant. In the blink of an eye, he returned to his usual self, his gentle and magnanimous smile even giving Morgiana a momentary illusion.
If not for the abrupt cessation of his laughter, which was truly memorable, the Spider Lady might have wondered if she had misheard. She carefully observed the corners of Lorgar's eyes and his pupils, but could not discern any obvious disguise.
The conversation continued because Horus did not want to stop it. Even though Morgiana straightened her back and conspicuously rested her fingers on the tabletop, Lorgar's tone remained an unrejectable gentleness. He continued to ask questions, maintaining his smile, and interspersed obvious concern for Morgiana in a unique rhythm between every few questions.
After some topics related to Legions and honor, Horus inquired about his brother, Lion El'Jonson. Amidst his continuous questions, he would occasionally mention things about Morgiana.
These questions did not feel deliberate but were sufficient for Lorgar to form a detailed comparison between this Lady Morgiana's true image and the legendary, infamous "Soul Drinker" based on the limited information.
"I have been following this war since the moment it broke out. I have been watching this powerful adversary and my brothers' bloody struggle. I once requested permission from the Emperor to join this war, but clearly, other parts of the galaxy needed me just as much."
This was not the first time Horus had subtly alluded to similar content. Such words, mixed with numerous questions and exquisite rhetoric, would have gone unnoticed by a mortal elite like Morgiana.
But unfortunately, she was not. So she noticed this: perhaps Lorgar himself hadn't realized that he was always unconsciously emphasizing that he had not shirked this war.
The White Scars' absence from Rendan was due to orders, duty, and uncontrollable factors, not their own reasons.
The Spider Lady couldn't help but fall into a state of curiosity: was this an intentional emphasis by Horus, or an unintentional narration?
Amidst this curiosity, Horus also meticulously explained Rendan's offensive.
"It can be confirmed that the Eleventh Legion should have failed. Countless Rendan troops are pouring in from their defensive lines, and the Imperium has not deployed much strength in these directions. This is the main reason why Rendan advanced triumphantly in the previous Terra Standard Months."
"The areas north of the Sol System have almost entirely fallen. The scale and speed of these xenos' attacks exceeded all Imperial commanders' estimations. Terra urgently ordered the Dark Angels to abandon their defenses in the northeast of the galaxy, ceding over a hundred inhabited star systems to Rendan, and return to defend the Sol System."
"The Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, and Nineteenth Legions also transferred a large number of troops to the front line against Rendan, barely managing to hold their offensive outside the Sol System. However, the temporary defensive lines are completely unstable, and Rendan's offensive has not thoroughly ceased. These xenos are highly likely organizing a larger invasion."
When Lorgar spoke of these things, certain details in his expression showed characteristics that greatly interested Morgiana.
Firstly, when speaking of the Imperium's defeat and Rendan's invasion, Horus was no different from any loyal servant of the Emperor. His brow was furrowed, his expression solemn, and his words carried an unquestionable firmness and a hint of anxiety, which he concealed very well.
This loyal demeanor was the prevailing attitude in Horus's speech, but when his sentences touched upon other issues, some almost instinctive reactions would appear on his face.
"My brother, Lion El'Jonson of Caliban, has been formally appointed as the Supreme Commander against the Rendan Empire. Before this, the position wavered between him and my missing brother. In fact, many still have reservations about this position, after all, a position that can naturally… command other Primarchs is indeed a very unusual arrangement."
Morgiana narrowed her eyes.
Perhaps even Lorgar himself did not realize that when his words lightly brushed past terms such as "position," "Supreme Commander," and "command," his pupils would brighten slightly, and his lips would purse, enunciating each word.
His tone when discussing these terms was very strange, like a stingy lord speaking of old frescoes in his castle: he seemed not to care, and indeed didn't particularly like them, but when they appeared in the hands of others, his tone would unconsciously become serious and chagrined.
Perhaps, in Horus's view, some things were unnecessary, and even if they did exist, they should naturally belong to him.
Morgiana thought this to herself, building her understanding and analysis of Horus brick by brick. Frankly, this was very taxing on her energy, because Lorgar was more complex than any Primarch she had ever met.
He seemed gentle, yet possessed an undeniable majesty; he seemed humble, but his words always gave a sense of intertwining like a net; he truly cared for his brothers, his blood kin, but when he spoke of issues concerning status and hierarchy, a ruthless glint indeed flashed in his pupils, like a dark meteor streaking across the cool starry sky.
He was like a prince.
But compared to a true prince, he didn't seem to have that arrogance, that confidence, that fearlessness of anyone's gaze or gossip.
In other words, Horus always seemed to live under the scrutiny of the world, but from another perspective, he had never truly acknowledged the gazes of these mortals.
A… complex fellow.
Morgiana thought so, but she couldn't completely confirm her judgment. So, she listened quietly to Lorgar's words, with appropriate mortal bewilderment and ignorance appearing in her pupils. And when Horus paused his speech and turned to receive new information and reports, the Spider Lady would lower her head, allowing her gaze to reveal a dim, deathly silence amidst alarming calculations and schemes.
But what Morgiana didn't know was that whenever Horus turned his head to receive information, the arrogance and chagrin in his pupils would vanish in the blink of an eye, leaving only a wolf-like silence and seriousness. His eyes constantly flickered, recalling and analyzing every move of the mortal before him, and her answers to his every question.
Such silence and stillness would not last long. When the brief information report ended, the Primarch and the silver-haired lady would once again meet each other's gaze. Their pupils would instantly be filled with arrogance, chagrin, bewilderment, and astonishment, appearing as a majestic demigod and a humble mortal engaging in a simple conversation.
And when the conversation paused momentarily, and their gazes averted, only cold calculations and deathly silence remained in the air.
But more often than not, there was only a perfect Primarch and a powerful mortal, exchanging gentle smiles.
——————
The conversation lasted thirty minutes.
Perhaps longer.
But when another message reached Horus's ear, the conversation finally met a necessary end.
Because another Primarch had descended upon the Death Guard's flagship, the Steadfast.
——————
Jaghatai Khan's fighter, like a milky white thundercloud, arrived in the Steadfast's hangar in the blink of an eye.
The Primarch of the Fifth Legion was a lithe man, dressed in a set of snow-white armor adorned with golden and fiery red emblems. This Eagle of the Steppes had strongly defined features; his nose was a classic aquiline, beneath which was a long, well-groomed mustache that extended to his snow-white cape. On his forehead, a crimson marking in the shape of a lightning bolt seemed to split his face apart.
Jaghatai Khan, the Primarch of the White Scars, the Falcon of Chogoris, Lord of the Icy Blue Sky, Khan, Great Khan, Vanguard of the Imperium, appeared before Morgiana with such light steps that she didn't even remember how he had leaped from his fighter and swiftly walked to Horus's side to embrace him.
Whether it was this Primarch himself, his fighter, his sons, or even his Legion, they were all too swift, and too lacking in presence, as if you only had to zone out for a second for them to vanish over the horizon, leaving only a bewildered soul pondering whether the so-called Jaghatai Khan and the Fifth Legion truly existed.
"Jaghatai, my brother, my eagle, have you finally remembered to return?"
Horus smiled, a smile completely different from the one he showed Morgiana. Lorgar seemed completely relaxed; he had long since opened his arms, embracing his brother with immense warmth.
"If I didn't return now, I'm afraid I'd be called a coward by some."
Facing Horus, the Primarch of the Fifth Legion uncharacteristically displayed a clear and flamboyant smile.
"Oh, come on."
Lorgar waved his hand, embracing his brother, head to head, whispering.
"You and I, we both know that war has more than one aspect, and our brothers don't apply to this point... but I don't recommend you tell him, he doesn't listen to advice~"
The two Primarchs laughed heartily.
After they finished laughing, Lorgar seemed to remember something. He turned around, took a few steps, came to Morgiana's side, patted her, and then turned to his brother.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Morgiana, the famous 'Soul Drinker'. I believe you have heard of her achievements and power, my brother, and I also believe you have common topics and language."
Hearing Horus's words, the Khan raised an eyebrow with interest, then looked at the silver-haired lady.
At first glance, his brows suddenly furrowed.
The Primarch of the Fifth Legion fell into a deadly silence the moment he saw the Soul Drinker. He stared at the silver-haired mortal lady, not saying a word.
His black brows were twisted into a dangerous arc, and an undeniable light shot from his pupils, as if an eagle in the sky was surveying a deadly viper. His beard twitched occasionally, and the hand that had just embraced his brother now slowly dropped to his waist, reaching for his sword hilt.
And just as Morgiana approached him, preparing to bow.
The Khan struck.
The snow-white blade, like lightning, came so fast that Morgiana's nose almost touched the most dangerous edge before Lorgar could react. The Primarch of the Fifth Legion seized the perfect distance, standing still, his arm outstretched, and the blade stopped right in front of Morgiana.
Not a single drop of blood fell.
And Morgiana did not take another step forward.
"Jaghatai!"
Horus roared, seemingly wanting to rush forward and argue with his brother, but the Khan merely raised his other hand, making a stopping gesture, and Lorgar's steps involuntarily slowed.
And at the same time, Jaghatai Khan's indifferent voice slowly echoed in the cold air.
"Please do not step any closer, Lady Morgiana. A sword's length between us would be the most ideal situation."
"I do not wish to know you, nor your stories, your thoughts, or your schemes."
"I hope you feel the same."
——————
"You are too rude, Jaghatai!"
"Regardless, Morgiana is now a guest of the Dark Angels. She represents the First Legion's role in this war, and rashly drawing swords will bring no good."
When Morgiana had walked away, and the unpleasant meeting had ended, Horus finally stood beside his brother. He frowned, his tone carrying a hint of reproach.
The Khan smiled, not retorting in kind. He patiently waited for Horus's anger to subside before slowly asking his question.
"What do you think she is, Horus?"
The question jolted Lorgar. He turned his head, his voice low.
"Did you notice anything wrong?"
"Cannot be certain, but yes, there is something."
Horus praised inwardly.
Lorgar pondered, then gave his answer.
"A Golden Person, or an Iron Person."
"Because she's from the First Legion? So you suspect this is Lion El'Jonson's plan?"
A light flashed in Horus's eyes.
"Our brother, Lion El'Jonson, has reason to keep her, doesn't he?"
The Khan stroked his beard, not answering immediately, which filled Horus with curiosity.
"What exactly do you think, Jaghatai, my brother? Tell me."
The Khan laughed.
"Have you ever considered, Horus,"
"For an existence like Lady Morgiana, if she was truly 'created,' then the biggest suspect…"
"Shouldn't it be the Emperor, who already has twenty works?"
Horus was silent for a moment.
"A female Primarch… your deduction seems a bit frightening, Jaghatai."
"If there are no ghosts in your heart, then there is nothing to fear."
"Isn't that right, Horus?"
The Khan merely smiled. He didn't speak, didn't elaborate, and didn't dwell on his recent encounter with Morgiana.
His attitude was expressed in his words.
Meet halfway.
Don't interfere with each other.
That was enough.
As for the mess that tyrant had made, let him worry about it himself.
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