Chapter 67: Daemon, Does the Regent's Kindness Ring a Bell?
After receiving Ventris's affirmative reply, a conflict arose between Omega and the Archmagos over who would represent humanity in the negotiations with the daemon.
Omega felt that the Archmagos didn't grasp the true leverage they had in this negotiation. They should be "tough," "unyielding," and "reckless." It wasn't the daemon giving them a chance to live; it was them giving the daemon a chance to succeed.
The Archmagos felt that Omega was young and inexperienced, his attitude too aggressive, and that he could easily bungle the situation. Daemons did not have the same emotions as humans and could not be reasoned with in the same way.
The two were at loggerheads, "fatherly love and filial piety" in full swing. In the end, Omega played his trump card: he was not affected by daemons, having already banished three of them. If the Archmagos wanted to compete with him, he would have to find three daemons of his own to banish first.
Veyl: You think I don't dare? Today, I will... I will... beat you to death!
Omega paid a heavy price, sinking the "Dreadnought Veyl" with a single blow and winning the right to be the negotiator.
"Is anyone breathing out there? Make a sound!"
"Weren't you all so noisy before?"
"You! The one with the genitals on its forehead! Don't look around, I'm talking to you! Go and get your boss!"
"You bastard! These are horns!"
"Oh, my apologies. The heretic with the horns that look like genitals. Hurry up and get your boss."
"I'll kill you!"
"Which one of you doesn't want to kill me?"
"Ah..."
"Go on, hit me! Hit me!"
Through the transparent plasteel, the Magi watched the arrogant and smug Omega in the audio array control room. Then they looked at the "sunk Dreadnought Veyl" beside them. They had found the proof that they were father and son: they were both incredibly punchable. They had wanted to punch this old man for a long time...
Omega's words were arrogant, but his expression was grave. He was intently watching the daemons on the monitor. "You won't fight, you won't talk. You don't need to eat, but I do!"
The daemons' slow response made him wonder if their leader had suddenly died. And he was right. The Plague Prophet Viktor wasn't dead, but he was close to being twisted into a Chaos Spawn by the Rainfather's power. If Omega hadn't suddenly called for negotiations, Rotigus, with no other soul-bound agent available, would have had to keep Viktor alive.
"I am the Plague Prophet. I have come on behalf of my master to listen to your request."
"Hiss! What the hell are you? Even the daemons look more human than you!" Omega was startled by the monster on the screen. It was too ugly, too strange, too disgusting...
A "Chaos Spawn" is a creature that has undergone a severe mutation in the service of Chaos, so severe that it has become a twisted, insane abomination. Those who seek immortality and power through daemons always face the possibility of being reduced to a Chaos Spawn, either because they have accumulated too many mutations, or because their Chaos master deems them to have lost their value.
The Plague Prophet Viktor clearly belonged to the second category. The funny thing was, he had previously considered himself a "family member" of Rotigus. Now, the price of facing reality was that Viktor was a twitching, indescribable "thing." All sorts of diseased biological features could be found on his body: rows of abnormal spikes, eyes, and mouths; a maggot-like head; damp moss and twisted, withered branches rooted in his toxic, pus-secreting skin. He should have had his mind shattered by the pain, all his memories and emotions erased, leaving only a mindless body of muscle and joints. But the Rainfather had stopped in time, even helping him stabilize his constantly mutating body, and had given him a mission: to listen to what the humans had to say on his behalf.
"I have come on behalf of the great Rainfather. State your request, human!" Viktor repeated.
"I won't!"
"..."
"Apologize to me! You ugly thing, you scared me!" Omega shouted.
"..."
The Daemons: Is this human really this brave? Who cares about such things at a time like this...
"Apologize, now! No apology, no talk. No talk, and I press the nuclear button. Your master's hopes will be dashed because you're too ugly."
"..."
Remembering the terrible torture, what was face, dignity, shame? Nothing. The Plague Prophet of now was not the Plague Prophet of before. He had only fear, cowardice, and submission. Viktor said, "I'm sorry..."
"I don't accept! Hmph!"
Viktor felt he was dealing with an unreasonable madman. In such a serious and important situation, he was acting like a childish brat. But Omega added, "But we can talk. Ask your master, we'll give him a chance to get this world. Does he want it?"
"Insolence! This world is already the property of the great Rainfather!"
"Did he ask the nuclear button in our hands?"
"...You..."
"Cut the crap. You represent the Rainfather, I represent Lord Ventris."
Omega's thought: That's right, I'm just a messenger. If you have a problem, go find Ventris and the Regent.
In the command post several hundred kilometers away, Ventris's mouth twitched as he heard Omega's words through the comms network. He knew all too well what this little brat was up to.
"Kings do not meet. I will relay Lord Ventris's message, and you will relay it to your master. Let him make the choice. Do not interrupt me again! Understood?"
"..."
"I asked if you understood! Are you deaf?!"
"Understood..."
"Hmph. Tell your master that Lord Ventris is well aware of his plans. We may not be able to win, but we can prevent him from winning!"
"You..."
"Shut up! Interrupt me again, and the deal's off. And it will be all because you talk too much," Omega scolded.
"..."
"Our Lord Ventris says that the world is a helpless place. There are not so many winner-take-all situations. It's the same for men, and the same for daemons. He also says that the consequence of not compromising is often just embarrassment for everyone. He can understand that the Rainfather, having just been promoted, wants to make a name for himself, to make a contribution. But one must know gratitude. The same goes for daemons. Has the Rainfather forgotten who gave him a hand at the critical moment, who helped him reach the top and fulfill his long-held wish? It was Regent Guilliman!"
In the warp rift command post, the basest aspect of the human species was on full display—"infighting." The Ultramarines Captain, pinned down and restrained by Isaac and Colin, stared at them with wide, furious eyes. "Let me go! I'm going to kill him!"
"Hey, hey, calm down, Ventris," the Knights of Iron Chapter Master said, his head bowed.
Chaplain Colin, also with his head bowed, added, "It's all a stratagem, Ventris! Think of the bigger picture!"
"That's right! Didn't you just advise me to think thrice? How could you forget so quickly? Restrain those Ultramarine cousins. And bring me my helmet. My lip is split. It's detrimental to the image of a Chapter Master."
"Bring me mine too. My lip is also split. I am a Chaplain of the Emperor. I must pay even more attention to my personal image," Colin said.
"..." Ventris.
Ventris was furious. That brat had publicly slandered his gene-father. Even for a child, this was unforgivable. He couldn't understand how a man as loyal as Veyl could have such a rebellious son.
"Let me go! I'm going to kill him!" This was Veyl, being restrained by the Magi. Unfortunately, he was now being held tightly by a group of them, and the excellent soundproofing of the audio array control room meant that Omega had no idea what was happening behind him.
"Without the Regent's fire, where would the Rainfather's position be today? Our Lord also says that he who can raise the Rainfather up today can also bring him down tomorrow. Don't think we are threatening the Rainfather. How long ago was the Plague War? This matter here is the Rainfather's first achievement since his promotion, right? Think about it, if it all ends in vain, what will He who promoted the Rainfather think? Will He not start to remember the good things about the Plaguefather? The Rainfather should know how favored he is. Otherwise, why would the most diligent Greater Daemon always be number two?"
"Our Lord also says that he understands this feeling all too well. He doesn't even know how many brothers he has. Besides the first and most beloved, the second, third, and so on, there is no difference. He says, the higher one's position, the more one must be graceful. If the Rainfather is not graceful, someone will want to help him be graceful. He says that as a newcomer, the first thing the Rainfather must do is do it beautifully, do it gracefully. Either win completely, or lose gracefully. If you can't get the tangible benefits, at least leave with your reputation. Everyone who hears of it will have to give the Rainfather a thumbs-up and say, 'What a man! He can afford to lose!'"
"So, to break the current stalemate, our Lord proposes a wager, with the Grand Manufactorum as the stake. Our two sides will have a duel. The winner takes all and gets this world. The loser gracefully withdraws, to fight another day. Of course, the Rainfather can refuse. Attack, and we will detonate the nuclear bomb. The Rainfather can kill all of our lives and souls, but he will not get this world. Or, he can wait. Use his power to corrupt and twist us, hoping we will surrender. But Lord Ventris has a message for the Rainfather. This is Teyedan, the only Forge World under Regent Guilliman's command, one of his most important achievements since his return. Reinforcements are on the way. The Grey Knights are on their way. The last Greater Daemon who required so much effort from the Regent was the Plaguefather. The Rainfather knows the outcome. I just don't know if the Rainfather and the Plaguefather..."
"Choose!"
"Agree, and withdraw your daemonic legion. As a show of good faith, we will not repair the city walls and defenses, and we will also withdraw our troops from the warp rift. Refuse, and there is no need for more words."
Silence... It was as if all sound on Teyedan had been paused. Everyone, every daemon, was waiting for the Rainfather's choice.
One second.
Two seconds.
...
One minute.
Two minutes.
...
Ten minutes.
Twenty minutes.
...
Finally, a sound like vomiting, like coughing, like drowning, came from within the pseudo-Chaos Spawn Viktor: "Human, what if you renege on your debt after you lose?"
"We have the same concern!"
"..."
"Since the Rainfather has agreed to this plan, we can discuss the details. How about it?"
"I will provide a contract. I want Ventris to sign it. The price for breaking the agreement will be his soul."
"..." Omega.
Ventris's voice suddenly came through the audio array: "Fine. I agree. But the contents must be negotiated. Withdraw the daemons surrounding the Grand Manufactoran, and we will not repair it. If you break the agreement, we will destroy it directly."
"No. If you withdraw your men after the daemons withdraw, what if you destroy it directly? However, I can withdraw my army, on the condition that you gather all your people there."
"Fine. But your daemonic legion must also be concentrated at the warp rift. You cannot block us on the periphery."
"Good. No tricks. I will be watching you. The moment any of you leave, I will attack you directly."
"Hmm. Our two sides will withdraw our troops simultaneously. I will sign the contract after our people have confirmed the contents."
"Deal, son of Guilliman," said Rotigus the Rainfather.
"Deal, daemon," said Uriel Ventris.