"Boss, boss! Hehehe..." Warfarin leaned against the doorway with a wicked grin plastered all over her face.
"Hm? What is it?" Bruce was in the middle of reading the next five-year plan Doraemon had custom-made for Wayne Enterprises.
Ever since that last tea party, anything important or unimportant was now handled either by a Primarch or by someone at the level of a First Captain. Bruce, stuck in that awkward space between senior command and glorified mascot, had temporarily been left with nothing to do.1GaL2
Unless, of course, he suddenly felt like picking a fight with the Custodes.
But Bruce was not stupid. There was no reason to pick a fight with the Emperor's own envoys, so he had very sensibly retreated back to the Remilia and gone back to being king of his own little domain.
He had thought he would get to take it easy for a while.
Never in his wildest dreams had he expected the chief apothecary of his company to come knocking on his door.1GaL2
And somehow... this already felt like trouble.
"Well... there's something I wanted to discuss with you." Warfarin rubbed her hands together, looking oddly hesitant for once.
"Come in and talk."
"Roger that!"
The moment she got permission, Warfarin darted into Bruce's private quarters. But just as she reached for the door—
"Don't close it!" Bruce shouted.
"Huh? Why?" Warfarin scratched her head, thoroughly baffled.
Such a private place, and yet the Acting Commander always insisted on leaving the door open. It really made no sense. It was like tearing the door off your own bedroom and calling it a feature. What about privacy? What if someone saw something they weren't supposed to?1GaL2
"Just... don't close it. Got it?" Bruce said with utmost gravity. "You can come in and talk, or you can stand in the doorway and talk, but under no circumstances are you to shut that door."
Ever since Bruce learned that he was being monitored around the clock by Sevatar, he had not dared relax for even a second. The thought that some perfectly innocent remark might get passed along and twisted before it reached Curze's ears was enough to keep him on high alert.
What did Sevatar mean, Bruce secretly calling Lion "my little lion" in private?
Slander. Absolute slander.
Everyone in the Legion knew the relationship between him and Lady Lion was one of pure, spotless comradeship.
Even so, Bruce firmly believed in taking precautions. As long as he behaved uprightly enough, there would be no room for rumors to take root.1GaL2
"Ohhh! Got it!" Warfarin nodded vigorously, then gave him a thumbs-up. "I don't really get why, but it sounds very impressive!"
"Enough. What is it? Or rather, what kind of trouble have you caused this time that needs me to clean it up?" Bruce sighed.
The last time, no one knew what exactly she had done, but Lion and the Dark Angels had nearly wanted her dead. Bruce had had to smooth things over personally, or the Remilia would have permanently lost an apothecary.
That said, Bruce only kept helping because Warfarin really was genuinely capable. Her medical skills were excellent—excellent enough to qualify as a core officer in any Legion company. The problem was that she always had bizarre ideas.1GaL2
Still, talent was talent.
"Hey now, is that really how you see me?" Warfarin scratched her head helplessly. "Like I'm some kind of walking disaster?"
"Not exactly. It's just that some of your behavior makes my life very difficult." Bruce began counting off on his fingers. "Unauthorized harvesting of gene-seed from prisoners, conducting experiments on mutated civilian crew members without permission, stashing samples from the Hand of Fate for yourself, sneaking into my room in the middle of the night to steal biscuits, and..."1GaL2
"Enough, enough, enough!" Warfarin hurriedly cut him off. "Boss... please stop listing them. I know I messed up."
Bruce clicked his tongue and tapped the table.
"Speak. What did you do this time?"
"Well, it's not exactly trouble..." Warfarin grinned ingratiatingly. "It's more that... I was thinking... no, rather, you must also think our company is seriously short on manpower, right?"
"We are." Bruce answered honestly. "Right now, apart from you, me, and three Black Guards, everyone else originally belonged to Sharvok. Well, Alf counts as one of ours now too."1GaL2
These days, the Remilia frequently had one or even two Primarch-level beings hanging around. But Bruce's own actual subordinates were still pitifully weak.
It was supposed to be the flagship of the Acting Commander.
In reality, it was starting to feel like a communal house for half the Legions. Any Legion with an Anywhere Door deployed could pop in at any time and hold a little social gathering. And once Bruce remembered that this strike cruiser used to be a prison...
Yeah. The absurdity only got worse.1GaL2
Wasn't this supposed to be his chance at independence?!
How had he ended up still firmly under his Primarch's thumb?
It felt like he had finally graduated from university and was ready to strike out on his own—only to find that the apartment he rented, the cheap fast food he lived on, and even the company he worked for all secretly belonged to his mother.
And since he was living off her, he couldn't even complain.
"Then, Boss... would you object to bringing in a few more 'our own people'?" Warfarin asked with a hopeful smile.
Bruce's eyes sharpened instantly.
"What do you mean?"
Then his face darkened.
"I'm warning you now—do not touch our gene-seed vault. Every single unit in there went through proper procedure. They're numbered and logged."1GaL2
"If you start messing with those, even if I let you off, Sevatar certainly won't."
In the 30K era, gene-seed was nowhere near as scarce as it would become in 40K, but that didn't mean it could be treated casually. Every gland was a precious military asset. What it would be used for and where it would go had to pass through strict channels.
After all, each Astartes produced two, and one of them only came out after death.1GaL2
"I'm not that insane," Warfarin protested, waving both hands. "Besides, training new recruits takes way too much time, and we don't even have the framework for that yet. What I mean is... local recruitment."
Bruce froze.
Then his entire face twisted.
"Wait. Don't tell me... you've laid hands on the people of Prospero?!"1GaL2
Damn it.
She really would do it.
Magnus might have lost her title and command, but she was still a Primarch, and still the ruler of this world.
You touched her people?
Was Warfarin trying to embarrass him? Or embarrass Curze?
No one could save her if that was true.
"No, no, no!" Warfarin hurriedly shook her head. "Okay, I did detain a few prisoners, but I treated them well! Food, shelter, no torture, nothing like what you're imagining!"
Bruce relaxed, but only slightly.
"Oh? Then stop dodging and tell me what you actually want. If you keep wasting my time, I'll have Alf toss you into disaster relief duty."
"Alright, alright, fine." Warfarin sighed. Then she turned and called toward the hall. "You'd better just come in yourself. I'm not getting anywhere here."
Bruce blinked.
Only then did he realize—
Someone else had been standing outside the whole time.
His scalp prickled.1GaL2
"When did that happen?" he said flatly. "You brought someone aboard the Remilia and all the way to my quarters without clearing it with me?"
He sounded calm.
That was how Warfarin knew he was genuinely angry.
"W-Well, the circumstances were a little urgent..." Warfarin said, suddenly sweating. "But I guarantee there's no problem! If I brought her, then she's safe!"
"Fine. Let her in. I want to see exactly what kind of person inspired you to pull something this stupid."
"At once!" Warfarin saluted.
Then she waved eagerly.
"Come in, come in! The boss said yes!"
A moment later, a silver-haired, red-eyed girl in a Gothic black dress stepped inside, looking deeply uneasy.
Bruce's expression shifted from puzzled...
to startled...
to absolute composure.1GaL2
Warfarin.
I always knew you were a degenerate.
But on this one matter, I may actually owe you a thumbs-up.
"And you are...?" Bruce asked gently, folding his hands beneath his chin.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Acting Commander." The girl's voice was soft and tense. "I was once a member of the Thousand Sons, but now..."
"That's fine. Heroes aren't defined by where they came from. Sit."
Bruce turned his head toward Warfarin.
"Warfarin. Out."
"Eh?"
"And close the door on your way out."
Warfarin's jaw dropped.1GaL2
"Wait, what?!"
"What 'what'? Get out. Unless I'm mistaken, she's here to discuss terms for joining the company."
"This conversation is not to leave this room. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
Warfarin saluted again, then flashed her good sister an approving wink before scampering away.
Once the door shut, Bruce smiled warmly at the silver-haired girl.
"Now then—let's begin with your introduction."
"I always welcome talented people into my company."
It was time for a direct interview with the boss.
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 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 150)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter190)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter105)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter225)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 195
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 170
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/5
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 225
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 210
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/30
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 115
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 130
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 105
I Can Copy Unique Skills 100
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 90
My Harem Is Indescribable 85
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 90
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 100
Still playing traditional Honk 69
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 75
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 60
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 71
Checking In in Demon Slayer 75
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 80
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 66
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 58
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 65
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 63
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 59
Why did they assign me to Uma 55
MYGO Beauties 56
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 45
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 49
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 36
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 35
The Uma Musume Who Became 30
I'm Definitely Not the King of 35
After Maxing Out Every Class 35
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