"Do not move rashly!"
The Slayer lit his weapon, and Bul-Kathos immediately let out a roar, suppressing the chaotic scene.
The Custodian stood on the servitor platform, pointing at the Second Legion Warriors, as the vox-array spread his voice across the hall: "I am a Custodian, the voice of the Emperor, the proxy of the Emperor's will!"
The Emperor!
When the Legion heard this title and saw the golden armor shining brilliantly, the chaotic scene was instantly brought under control.
Custodians represent the absolute will of the Emperor; their appearance symbolizes the absolute authority of the Emperor.
In the vast Imperium of Man, no one is more representative or has more legitimacy in their actions than the Custodians.
The Mortal Inquisition Team knelt, and the Chief Inquisitor prostrated himself on the cold floor, using his posture to signal submission.
In terms of personal combat power, a hundred veteran politicians could not match a single Space Marine, but when it comes to judging the situation, Space Marines cannot even compare to the Chief Inquisitor.
With a humble gesture, the old man dropped a sedative into the explosive powder-keg atmosphere: submitting to the Custodian showed that the Inquisition Team submitted to order and did not question the absolute authority.
Someone had set an example, lowering the tension in the assembly hall.
On the speaking platform, Solas remained expressionless, his war-staff not lowered, his eyes fixed on that golden figure.
The sudden appearance of a Custodian had indeed exceeded his inner expectations.
He truly had not expected that an Emperor's bodyguard would be hidden within the Doom Slayer Messenger Corps, suppressing the scene at this critical moment.
The Emperor's authority is beyond question!
"A Custodian?" Solas's voice rose a few notches, his face showing anger as he issued a sharp interrogation: "Can you then rely on your authority to enter my room at will?"
The Primarch's rhetoric was clever; he did not question or doubt the Custodian's identity, nor did he ask about the legitimacy of the behavior, because supreme power stood behind the Custodian.
Solas used the event itself as a starting point, making himself a victim of that power, and began the game with a simple interrogation.
At the center of this game were the majority of the Second Legion's Space Marines standing in the assembly hall.
Regardless of the process, the result both sides now pursued was to win over more Legion Warriors and prevent them from siding with the other.
The Legion Warriors were also stunned, even feeling lost. They would shed their blood on the battlefield without hesitation, but they had never thought about so-called "taking sides."
In the hearts of the Legion Warriors, the Emperor's authority and the Gene-Father were one and the same.
The former is the Emperor, the creator of Space Marines and Primarchs, representing the Imperium of Man.
The latter was created by the Emperor, united by blood ties to conquer the galaxy for humanity and revive the past glory of the human race.
The two should have been inseparable, but now they were at odds. A serious conflict had arisen between the Emperor's authority and the Primarch.
"Again, I warn my brothers of the Second Legion, do not act rashly."
Seeing the subtle atmosphere of the Legion, Bul-Kathos growled a warning again, his tone thick with persuasion: "We have a legitimate reason; we must do this."
Hearing their cousin's advice and seeing his appearance of having a legitimate reason, the Legion Warriors did not speak, but they clearly became much more settled.
"Brothers, stay calm." Someone from the Second Legion stood up and walked to the front of the Legion's ranks.
He had a Lightning Aquila on his left pauldron and the number "1" on his right. Standing at the front of the formation, he silenced the Legion.
The one who stepped forward was the former Legion Commander, current First Company Captain, a Terran-born warrior.
"Impulsiveness will not solve the conflict." He looked deeply at the Primarch, then turned to his Legion brothers and raised his left arm, shouting: "We are waiting for an answer!"
After saying this, he turned back to face the Primarch, looking at the Doom Slayers and the Custodian nearby: "An answer to soothe the Legion's anger."
"We are loyal to the Emperor, loyal to humanity, loyal to the Primarch. We are also loyal to our cousins, and to everything we love."
The First Company Captain stood like an orator under the gaze of thousands.
Before the Primarch's return, he was the Legion Commander, leading his brothers to war across the galaxy. After the Primarch's return, the Legion Commander became the First Company Captain, but since the Primarch rarely managed Legion affairs, the First Company Captain's responsibilities had never changed.
Now, the Legion seemed to have reached a crossroads, and someone needed to take responsibility.
As one of the Legion's helmsmen, the First Company Captain vaguely guessed: something might have gone wrong with the Primarch.
Between the Primarch and the Emperor, the Legion faced an unprecedented choice.
The First Company Captain possessed deep prestige; with his reassurance, the Second Legion reorganized their ranks, facing the Primarch and the Custodian with a formal and serious formation.
The Legion Warriors were not reckless people; they wanted to get an answer, distinguish right from wrong, and then make a choice.
"Wait and see, observe the development of events closely."
"Wait for the Custodian to state the reason; we have the right to know the truth."
Within the Second Legion's internal communications, the lurking Hydra Warriors exerted their influence, taking the lead to speak for the majority at the right moment.
"Primarch, you already have the answer in your heart." The Custodian seized the opportunity, his words not losing their etiquette; they were the peak masterpieces of genetic engineering, and besides being warriors, they were also excellent diplomats.
At this critical juncture, they did not dare provoke the emotions of the Legion and the Primarch; maintaining stability was the true victory.
The Custodian avoided a direct answer to the Primarch, using a counter-question to focus the Legion's gaze on the Primarch, hoping for an answer.
The clever counter-question not only increased the suspense and piqued the Legion's curiosity, but also served to stall for time, allowing another Primarch to gather key evidence.
"I do not know." Solas shook his head, not falling into the linguistic trap.
He raised the Coiled Dragon Staff, the lightning at both ends flickering, and pointed it at the Custodian: "I hope to get an answer."
His attitude was very firm, and at the same time, it was a probe.
Solas had absolute confidence that the Custodian had no substantial evidence; otherwise, he should be facing the Emperor or another Primarch right now.
What he had to do now was end the delay as quickly as possible and let the situation become chaotic.
But deep in those grey-silver eyes, looking at the Legion's First Company Captain, there was a trace of indescribable relief.
Among his blood scions, there were those who held firm to their beliefs. Not like him, who hesitated before a choice, able to see through everything yet always finding it difficult to make up his mind.
"The answer you want will come soon," the Custodian said respectfully to the Primarch. "At that time, the truth will be revealed—"
"What truth?" Solas's voice was low. No one could see the Primarch's expression under the helmet, they could only judge from his tone that he was very angry: "Just a fabricated reason to rashly enter my private room for a search!"
"You could have applied through proper means, yet you chose to barge in rashly. Is this not an insult to me? A sign of complete distrust?"
"Warmaster?" He suddenly mentioned a title, his words full of understanding and regret: "So it's because of that? I understand now!"
His words were full of grief and indignation, and then he threw out another topic, one that easily invited jealousy and wariness.
Many Legion Warriors looked up, a bolt of lightning flashing through their minds, and they could not help but speculate.
Was it because he served as Warmaster that the Primarch had attracted certain schemes? Had he walked into the center of a power struggle?
"It has nothing to do with that!" The Custodian Guard's voice was bright and clear, interrupting the Primarch: "Your appointment as Warmaster received the support of most Primarchs."
"Then what is the reason?" A smile played at the corner of Solas's mouth, his war-staff pointing at the Custodian, his words pressing: "That makes you dare to offend me?"
"Since you have done this, do you not dare to state the reason? Or is there no reason at all?"
Even under accusation, the Primarch's majesty remained; his rapid-fire questioning left the Custodian speechless.
There was a reason, of course, but the Custodian Guard did not dare to say it yet.
Betrayal!
If those two taboo words were spoken without immediate evidence to appease the Space Marines, the Primarch would only need to throw a single spark to ignite the Second Legion.
To protect their Gene-Father, the Legion Warriors would tear everyone present to pieces.
In such extreme events, if one does not act, fine; but if one does, they must use thunderous means to suppress all doubt.
If the Second Legion rioted, the Messenger Corps and Doom Slayers would be unable to suppress it; key combat power was missing, and no one could stop a Primarch.
The other Primarch who could face Solas was currently collecting evidence and still needed a little more time.
"Nothing left to say?" Solas made his war-staff creak as he slowly walked off the platform, his voice having some electromagnetic static under the helmet: "Seize them!"
"If I am guilty, I will explain it to the Emperor himself!"
Clatter—!
The Legion Warriors moved upon the command; many warriors stepped out of the ranks to retrieve their weapons from the racks.
The First Company Captain looked urgently at the Custodian, hoping the Emperor's messenger could suppress the riot.
The Messenger Corps looked at the Doom Slayers, communicating rapidly on the vox-channel, asking what to do next.
"Stand aside!" A roar came, like midsummer thunder piercing a noisy rainy night. Bul-Kathos leaped onto the platform, pushed the Custodian aside, and raised his left arm, shouting: "In the name of the Warrior King!"