Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

There is one thing that Machado can't figure out even if he thinks about it.

Why would Morgan choose Leman Russ instead of Jonson?

After all, Leman Russ is the Primarch with the closest relationship to Malcador. No one knows Leman Russ better than Malcador. He knows that this guy is unreliable in this matter: it is Jonson's loyalty. , maybe more reliable.

There was also one thing that Morgan couldn't figure out even if he wanted to.

Why would Malcador choose Jonson instead of Leman Russ?

After all, Jonson is the Primarch with the closest relationship to Morgan. No one knows Jonson better than she does. She knows that this guy is absolutely unreliable on this issue: Leman Russ has the kind of great wisdom and foolishness, and he can't stand it. His open-mindedness is worthy of their expectations.

【……】

"..."

So: What on earth is this guy across from me doing stupidly?

He was obviously quite smart just now.

At this moment, the same doubt troubled the two smartest people in the human empire.

But neither Morgan nor Macado obviously had time to think about such profound mental state issues: these two thoughtful beings almost simultaneously captured the surprise in the other's pupils, and then deduced what was in the other's heart. The thought, and then, of course, made me even more stunned.

He/she is actually serious!

Does he/she really think Jonson/Leman Russ is a suitable guy?

…

Your Majesty, the Emperor...

…

In the next few seconds, silence occupied both sides of the table, filled with inexplicable embarrassment and sarcasm.

Until Morgan blinked and took the lead in casting his gaze, Malcador put down the cup in his hand, then clenched his palm into a fist and coughed several times, breaking the awkward silence.

The palm-bearer's gaze regained its composure in a very short period of time. He looked at the Primarch again and asked a new question.

"Why do you think Ruth would be a suitable candidate?"

【……】

Makado's question made Morgan laugh out loud.

[Then why do you think Leman Russ is not suitable? 】

"..."

"You're answering a question with a question: That's inappropriate, Morgan."

The Lord of Avalon sneered.

[You are using fools to balance fools: Is this appropriate? 】

"..."

The palmer's brows raised, and he thought for a moment, whether to go around in circles on this issue, or to be honest: and considering that Morgan is a newcomer who has just joined the team on this issue, Makado is trustworthy. In the end, I chose the latter.

"Then tell me why you chose Leman Russ, Lord of Avalon."

Morgan did not answer the palm printr immediately. She leaned forward and put both arms on the table. She pushed the tea cup aside and let the tea inside slowly cool down.

Morgan's face was slightly serious.

[Because the solution to this problem is not to choose the best among the best, but to eliminate them one by one: after we have prioritized the options of Guilliman, Sanguinius, Jaghatai and Fulgrim, after we have eliminated the remaining Among those options, Leman Russ is the acceptable bottom line. 】

"..."

Makado nodded slowly, but quickly shook his head.

"Indeed, Leman Russ will always be an answer to the problem. His existence is to ensure that we have at least one card that can be used at all times: but don't forget that Leman Russ is only a guaranteed option after all. And on this issue, we have to choose the best among the Primarchs."

[On this issue, Leman Russ is the best one: Believe me, Palm Holder, I have met most of my brothers, and no one is more suitable for this position than Leman Russ. 】

Morgan's body was slightly tilted. She placed her weight on one arm and spread the five fingers of her palm one by one, and then slowly gathered them together to strengthen her persuasiveness.

"But he still has flaws."

【shortcoming? 】

Morgan sneered: To say that a Primarch has shortcomings is like saying that an Eldar likes to be treacherous.

[Of course I know he has shortcomings, Lord Malcador. After all, I have fought side by side with Leman Russ for several years. I know that he cannot be alone. His recklessness and impatience will lead to catastrophe. . 】

[But please think about it: neither I nor Horus can give Leman Russ the right to make his own decision, nor can he ask for it from us. 】

[Since he can't make a decision, then don't give him the power to make a decision. I'm not an emperor who hands over a large number of legions and power to a group of children, am I? 】

There was an indescribable irony in the Lord of Avalon's voice.

"..."

Macado took a sip of tea, as if savoring it carefully.

"That's not the problem, Morgan: there's one detail you didn't realize."

“The so-called power is something mutual, the product of mutual output between the upper and lower levels: the upper level of power needs support from the lower level in order to maintain its rule, and the lower level of power also needs feedback from the upper level. Only then can you be satisfied with your position.”

[I know this, palm sealer, I have a kingdom under my hands]

"I'm not worried about that. What I want to tell you is: since you will be at the top in this system, you must carefully maintain your feedback to those below, and the most important one of these feedbacks is authority. Or credibility.”

【……】

Morgan narrowed his eyes.

She was just silent for a moment before she understood what the person holding the seal meant.

[You mean to say that adding Leman Russ to the decision-making circle will destroy the credibility of the decision-making team, or that it will destroy the authority of Horus and I? 】

"What do you think: What you need to manage is a group of Primarchs!"

Malcador snorted lightly. He did not answer directly, but pointed to the top of his and Morgan's heads. The Primarch followed the Marker's guidance and saw only a gorgeous scene that could blind people's eyes. .

It was an unimaginably huge crystal chandelier. Almost every one of them was comparable in size to a Dreadnought. When they were hung in groups on the ceiling of this large conference hall, they were enough to make anyone who stepped on Mortals who enter here feel awe from the bottom of their hearts: this is undoubtedly a symbol of wealth, luxury, and the power behind these emotions.

"Do you know what these chandeliers are for, Morgan?"

【illumination? 】

"No."

Macado shook his head.

“They don’t illuminate: because each lens of these giant crystal lamps is made individually from expensive metals from different worlds, they cannot react perfectly with each other, and the amount of light they can actually emit is very small. Faintly, the main lighting system in this room relies on those unattractive wall lamps on the walls.”

"But despite this, we still spent a huge amount of money to build these useless giant crystal chandeliers: because this large conference room is where we receive the governors of the planets who have just surrendered to the empire, and the one above our heads is Each lens of these crystal chandeliers symbolizes a world conquered by an empire and surrendered to the empire."

"And when the new surrenderers see this scene, what can make them feel the power and authority of the empire better than these extravagant and useless items?"

【……】

Although the Primarch looked up with a smile on his face, a trace of confusion still flashed across the Lord of Avalon's brow after hearing Malcador's words.

[If you want to establish authority in front of those planetary governors, isn't the Terra Palace itself enough:]

[Let the newly minted surrenderers stand on the land of Terra and look up at the palace that reaches into the sky: What else can make them realize the power of the empire better than this? 】

"That's what we thought at first."

The Palmist smiled self-deprecatingly, playing with the teacup in his hand casually, and told the Primarch of the Dawnbreaker Legion these political games within the empire: Before this, these commonplace and pedantic tricks would not be presented to the Primarch of the Dawnbreaker Legion. leaked.

Morgan was right: under some instructions from the Lord of Mankind, the Markbearers would indeed intentionally weaken the Primarchs' sensitivity and understanding of politics and power, in order to isolate them from Terra's power game. outside.

From this perspective, the current Morgan is the only [lucky one] among the original bodies.

"But the effect of that is very bad: because the planetary governors can still build such a huge palace like the Terra Palace after they have dominated their own world for more than ten generations, or even dozens of generations. .”

【……】

"On the contrary, exquisite objects like giant crystal chandeliers can give them a greater visual impact: especially after seeing the manufacturing process of these chandeliers, they will clearly realize that their country is between the human empire and the gap between them.”

"So, you will see so many useless rooms in the Palace of Terra, used to pile up art and luxury goods: they themselves are a display of power and an impact on the heart of the people, and when we use After countless means such as giant crystal chandeliers impacted the hearts of those mortal governors round after round, the authority of the empire has been shaped in their hearts."

The Seal Holder spread his hands, and he was telling the Lord of Avalon this simple and easy-to-understand truth with unprecedented seriousness: For Terra's power game, these are just the most basic common sense.

In the future, the Lord of Avalon still needs to learn a lot and learn more.

until……

The palm-printer's pupils shine.

Until she becomes just like him, until her performance is enough to reassure him.

Let him let go with peace of mind.

…

This is the Emperor's will.

"..."

Machado coughed heavily.

"However, in this process, as long as there is the slightest mistake: for example, during their tour, a crystal chandelier falls to the ground for some reason, or a chandelier is found to be a fake."

"With just this one mistake, all efforts to shape authority will disappear, because cracks will appear in their hearts, and the cracks will always tear their loyalty apart: the so-called human heart is such a fragile and changeable existence. In the hearts of mortals, it is difficult to create any cognition, but it is very simple to destroy it, and it only takes a moment."

【……】

【That's true. 】

Morgan was silent for a long time, maybe five or six seconds: a long time for a Primarch capable of multi-threaded thinking.

She nodded solemnly, agreeing with the palmist's point of view. At this moment, Morgan remembered her own move when she first descended on Avalon, suspending the entire palace high in the sky to shock people.

In fact, this is the same truth: the kings and lords of Avalon may not have luxurious palaces, but their palaces are definitely not floating in the air.

And these planetary governors who can go to sacred Terra to worship may not have a royal court that is slightly comparable to the Terra Palace, but they absolutely do not have the ability to build this kind of luxurious and useless palace that requires thousands of worlds to build. 【World】Chandelier.

This kind of existence that is far beyond the scope of ability, and even far beyond the scope of cognition, is the easiest to leave a deep imprint in the depths of human hearts, making people fear, fear, admire, and worship: and these emotions are authority and the original source of power.

"It's best if you understand that."

Machado nodded.

"And if this is true for mortals, it will only be worse for the Primarch."

"The hearts of your brothers are more sensitive than most mortals: Morgan, don't think that it is such an easy thing to be responsible for coordinating the front lines of the Universiade. You need to carefully organize the most fragile and most vulnerable people in the galaxy. A dozen powerful minds, from now on, you must be cautious at all times."

[Incorporating Leman Russ into this management team is a sign of imprudence? 】

Faced with Morgan's doubts, Machado just snorted.

"There is indeed no problem with Leman Russ' ability, but you have to pay attention to another thing: Leman Russ's reputation and external image are completely the antonym of authority and credibility, especially his role in the Primarch. image in."

"To put it bluntly: What authority can a department that even Leman Russ can enter have?"

【……】

Seeing that the Primarch's expression was still somewhat confused, Malcador could only point to the ceiling above their heads again.

"You have to know, Morgan: not everyone can observe the inner nature of every Primarch so clearly like you. Think about it, most of your brothers even think that you are a soft or even weak Primarch. They What kind of knowledge can we have about Leman Russ?"

"No matter how sober and calm the Wolf King is inside, in the eyes of most of the original bodies, he is a barbarian, and they will never allow a barbarian to stand above their heads, and they will never admit a barbarian. The ruling body that houses the barbarians.”

"Horus has the endorsement of the Emperor, and you can hide in the shadow of Horus and display your charm and abilities: Compared with you, what means does Leman Russ have to shape his role as a brother?" The authority among them?”

【……】

【Just for this? 】

Morgan frowned in surprise.

[For these...things that have no theoretical basis? 】

[Even if they spend ten days with Leman Russ, they will know what kind of person he is: In order to take care of their lazy behavior, we have to eliminate the best options? 】

"Excellent does not necessarily mean suitable."

This time, it was the palmer's turn to sneer.

"The choice of mortals has always been to choose the most suitable, not the best: this is their unique pedantry and compromise, and you must also adapt to this, Morgan."

"Think about your blood relatives: Which of them likes to pay attention to theoretical basis? And who of them can let go of their inner pride and get along with their brothers for a long time, and take a closer look at how their brothers are better than you? ?”

"It's better to kill them than to let them admit their shortcomings: if the ones who are better than them are those close brothers, that's fine. If it's a barbarian like Russ, then they may really commit suicide."

【……】

[There is one person who can do it. 】

Morgan blinked.

"Yes, we all know that there is a person who can do it, and can admit his shortcomings and learn from them humbly: so, that person is now an ambitious potential traitor in the Human Empire."

Morgan thought for a moment.

She thought of Perturabo, Magnus, and Lorgar, and Lorgar, and Guilliman...

Think about the expressions that might appear on the faces of these Primarchs once they knew that Leman Russ was responsible for them, and what they might do in a fit of rage...

【……】

【you're right. 】

Morgan shook his head and sighed.

[But despite this, I don’t think Zhuangson will be a suitable choice: after all, although Leman Russ was eliminated due to his external image, his ability is passable, and Zhuangson doesn’t even have the ability. Unable to pass. 】

"..."

The person holding the seal raised his eyebrows.

"He destroyed Randan. He is in charge of the most powerful First Legion. We can all be sure of his loyalty to the Emperor. He also has a terrible reputation among the Primarchs: can you tell me where he is? Is this ability not up to par?"

【……】

Morgan narrowed his eyes.

I saw the Lord of Avalon exhaling a hint of contemptuous helplessness from his nose. Then, Morgan picked through the briefcase handed over by Visenya, got the memory template she needed, and pressed it , accepting those data streams inside.

After completing this process, the Primarch stretched out his hand to the palmer, and Malcador shook hands with Morgan without hesitation, thus accepting the data in Morgan's mind.

"..."

"What's this?"

[Jonson’s ability. 】

"..."

Machado fell silent.

For about a minute, the palm-printer remained in this indescribable silence, but the expression on his old face was changing at the completely opposite speed and intensity.

First his eyebrows were raised, then the corners of his mouth twisted, and then a rare drop of sweat slipped from his earlobe, while his pupils jumped back and forth between shock, astonishment, and a little anger.

It wasn't until Morgan, with a smile on his face, transmitted the words "Six Titan Legions" to Malcador's mind that the Patron Master finally gritted his teeth, shook off the Primarch's hand, and disconnected .

"..."

He opened his mouth, then licked his lips, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he could only spit out a dry sentence.

"you're right."

"..."

"Jonson is not qualified for this position."

"Let's... let's take a long-term view..."

【……】

【So much the better. 】

Morgan just smiled.

Then, the original body and the palmer fell into silence again.

"..."

【……】

"..."

【...What shall we do next? 】

"One last thing."

Makhado waved his hand.

"We need to discuss how to place your brothers: what kind of power and honor should be given to them so that they can join this system willingly. After discussing this matter, you can go back."

【……】

Morgan felt a little resistant.

[What you mean is: You and I, a mortal official and a Primarch, are privately measuring the status of other Primarchs, thinking about how to use and persuade them, and combine these Emperor's descendants with The Legion of Astartes, placed as casually as a tea cup on the table? 】

"This is politics for mortals."

The palm bearer smiled mockingly.

"Yes, you are going to discuss with me the treatment of your brothers, and think and play with their minds as if they were superiors: you had better get used to that, Morgan, for that is your main job in the future."

"How does it feel?"

【……】

【……】

【Awesome. 】

【Who shall we start with? 】

"..."

Makado glanced at Morgan's expression at this moment.

That is……

Eager to try.