"Corax."
"That's enough! I don't want to hear another word from you!"
Kurze gazed quietly at Corax, who roared in anger.
Three days!
Kurze had been chattering incessantly in his ear for three days. Corax was nearly driven mad!
His brother was mentally ill. His condition had been improving, but recently he had become erratic again.
Roboute Guilliman, Magnus, Lion El'Jonson.
Kurze hated all his brothers, but his negative feelings towards these three were particularly intense, even exceeding the mutual repulsion he felt with Corax.
Kurze had once deprived Corax of the honour of founding his own Legion, cultivating it into the Raven Guard instead, making all his efforts useless.
Corax couldn't blame his sons. They were victims too. They just wanted to be accepted by him.
Aside from beating Kurze up, there was nothing he could do.
But compared to these three, Kurze's past actions seemed relatively lenient.
Kurze hated Guilliman.
Because Caelan spoke highly of him. In essence, all the current Primarchs were imitating Guilliman.
Even though Kurze had a head start and would build the five hundred worlds of Nostramo faster than any other Primarch...
Those five hundred worlds were already labelled 'Ultramar'. That was his brother's honour.
Even though that brother had just returned, even though Roboute Guilliman had only just set foot among the stars.
Kurze hated Magnus.
Because Magnus had changed too thoroughly. He had once been the giant baby who most frustrated their father.
But now Magnus was more special than the other Primarchs. Chaos's schemes had given him an unparalleled advantage.
And he shared a trait with Kurze: they were both voyeurs.
So the reason Kurze hated them was essentially still mutual repulsion.
But the reason he hated Lion was simpler.
Corax asked, "Just because Lion is the First Primarch?"
"Of course not," Kurze said calmly. "He's the second-to-last, yet he walks around with his nose in the air, constantly proclaiming himself the First Primarch. He thinks he's above us all. What I hate most is his arrogant lack of self-awareness!"
Corax was unsparing. "That's the same assessment you've given me, Roboute, and Magnus!"
Kurze hated every Primarch, and each Primarch was also the reason Kurze hated them the most.
He was already terminally ill, beyond cure.
If not for their shared father, Kurze would be even crazier.
Kurze said, "Why bring up the past?"
"So what are you going to do now? Turn the First Legion into the Dark Angels?"
"He's not you. The Emperor wouldn't give me the First Legion."
The First Legion was unquestionably the foremost of the Legiones Astartes.
As the first Legion created, they were openly the Emperor's most favoured warriors.
The nineteen Astarte organs were all developed and perfected based on the First Legion's Astartes.
The First Legion was the origin and benchmark of the Emperor's genetic engineering, possessing the core technological legacy of all Legions.
Though the other Legions each incorporated genes from different Primarchs, all the techniques of gene-surgery originated from the First Legion. It was the First Legion that laid the foundation for the creation of the Astartes.
They were the most exemplary, most standard Astartes. Their role was irreplaceable.
Without Primarchs, they would be the most powerful Legion, surpassing all others in every way.
Lion El'Jonson was the First Primarch. The First Legion was the foremost of the Legiones Astartes.
No matter what the future held, these were their birthright honours.
That was one reason Kurze envied Lion.
If Lion only had the title of First Primarch, Kurze wouldn't target him so much.
But Lion also possessed a commensurate ambition, the same ambition as Kurze.
And any similarity would incur Kurze's rejection. That was his unique mutual repulsion.
However, all Primarchs resembled him to some degree, so he naturally hated all Primarchs.
Kurze's contempt wasn't directed at anyone in particular; it was equally directed at everyone.
Having spent so long with Kurze, Corax had long since figured out his personality.
He was essentially a jealous, immature child.
Feeling jealous of those more excellent was a normal human emotion.
Mortals may suffer from jealousy, but time dulls the emotion. Eventually, any emotion turns into indifference.
But Kurze was mentally ill. He was forced to witness scenes that made him jealous, day after day.
For example, a single man might initially envy his roommate for having a girlfriend who is the campus belle.
But over time, normal people's jealousy would turn to simple admiration.
If they graduated and went their separate ways, that admiration would slowly fade, eventually becoming apathy.
But if the single man was forced to watch his roommate's romantic entanglement day after day, especially if that campus belle was the person he had secretly loved for a long time, and he had to endure the sounds through the wall late at night...
Anyone would be jealous.
People can calmly accept strangers living better than them, but often cannot tolerate someone close suddenly rising high.
If that person also constantly flaunted it before their eyes, it was no wonder they would feel jealous.
Although Corax seemed normal, he had to listen to Kurze's endless ravings every day. He was starting to lose his mind.
But what he heard was just words. Kurze saw the live show every day!
Corax could understand his brother, which was why he was so tolerant of Kurze. Otherwise, he would have knocked him out long ago.
Thinking this, Corax suddenly stood up.
Kurze slowly raised his deep-set eyes. "Where are you going?"
Corax replied, "I'm going to find Sister Dorothy and resign. At least apply for some leave."
Kurze tilted his head slightly. "Need me to see you off?"
"No need. I'm a neat freak. Thanks."
"Then remember to have Sevatar come see me. I kind of miss him."
"Fine."
Corax had no intention of helping Sevatar. Kurze was Sevatar's father. Caring for his father was a son's duty.
Anyway, Sevatar had been crazy for quite a while. He even fantasized about calling himself brother to a Primarch. Corax had no qualms about this.
...
Everain slightly turned her head, her gaze sweeping over the silent giant in the shadows. She lowered her voice. "Philly, is he always like this?"
Philly didn't even bother to look up. "Don't mind Sevatar. He's crazy."
As the sister of a Primarch and the administrator of a vast empire, they were very similar and mutually appreciated each other.
That was why they held regular tea parties, sharing experiences, daily observations, and complaining to each other about work difficulties.
But Sevatar insisted on attending, yet didn't participate in the discussion, just standing there silently.
Everain said, "I thought he was here to protect you."
"I wish he would help me with official documents instead."
Philly and Everain got along very well. They were both young, had similar experiences, had grown up under the care of Caelan and their Primarchs, and both had similar hopes.
Though neither had confessed to the other, they tacitly understood and used their commonalities to hide it.
"Philly, is Sevatar with you?" Shen's voice came through the communicator.
Philly glanced sideways at the silent giant in the corner. "He is. Why are you looking for me?"
"I can't reach him. His communicator seems to be malfunctioning. Pass on a message: the Primarch wants to see him. He should come immediately."
Philly's face lit up. She stood up and beckoned to the giant.
Sevatar walked slowly towards her. Philly asked deliberately, "Did you turn off your communicator?"
"It was a technical adjustment." Sevatar's voice, transmitted through his helmet, sounded distorted, with a hollow, intimidating echo.
Philly blinked. "Shen tracked you down to me. Kurze wants to see you."
Sevatar's movement visibly halted for a moment. "What did you say?"
He tapped his helmet. "Communicator malfunction. Can't hear you. Let me adjust it."
"Avoidance is useless. You don't want Kurze to come looking for you, do you?"
Sevatar looked at her silently. His deep voice came from behind his helmet. "If I die..."
Philly answered without hesitation, "I'll burn incense for you."
Sevatar fell even more silent. He turned, the sound of his power armour dull.
Everain watched the Night Lord leave and asked softly, "Are you two on bad terms?"
Everain didn't actually think Philly and Sevatar had a bad relationship. After all, only truly close friends could joke so freely.
But she had her reasons for asking.
Philly propped her chin on her hand, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "How could that be? We grew up together!"
"Frenemies?"
"Frenemies? I suppose so."
The Raven Guard had their share of frenemy pairs, like Sharrokin and Nev.
They had followed Corax in the uprising, charging into battle together, sharing life-and-death experiences, with a deep bond.
But whenever outsiders were present, they would use harsh words to mock each other. Sharrokin called Agapito brainless. Agapito called Sharrokin a coward who only hid behind and sniped. They seemed like mortal enemies.
If Everain hadn't grown up with them and experienced the Deliverance uprising, she would have misunderstood their relationship too.
Everain asked softly, "How is your relationship with the Primarch?"
"Why are you suddenly asking? Our relationship... is just normal, I suppose. Brother and sister."
Though she had ambitions, Kurze could see them. And she could see that Kurze could see them.
Kurze was very disdainful. But Philly wasn't discouraged.
And their relationship wasn't affected. Only Philly was one-sidedly afraid of Kurze.
But apart from that, their relationship was very normal.
She was female, couldn't undergo Astarte surgery, and was fortunately not transformed into Kurze's daughter.
So while her former brothers had all become Kurze's sons, she remained Kurze's sister.
Whether she was older or younger, Kurze didn't care, and Philly didn't dwell on it.
Her ambitions lay elsewhere.
Everain said, "I'm a little jealous."
"Your relationship with Corax is good too, isn't it?"
"It's different."
Philly keenly caught a flicker of unusual sadness in her eyes. She lowered her voice in surprise. "You're not in love with the Primarch, are you?"
Had she guessed wrong? Was Everain's goal different from hers?
Everain shook her head. "It's not what you think. I just used to admire him very much."
Philly hummed softly. That was the same.
They were allies.
Sister Claudia was perceptive. Fighting alone only leads to internal friction.
They must continuously expand their alliance, increasing their united-front value.
Only then would their demands be taken seriously, and only then could they ultimately get what they wanted!
The Primarch of Olympia would soon visit Nostramo. That Primarch also had a sister, another target of Philly's.
Also the sister of the Seventh Legion's Primarch. Philly would have to recruit them all.
It was a pity Sister Claudia couldn't leave Nuceria. Otherwise, she could probably do even better than Philly.
...
"All in the cup!"
Luther raised his bowl and toasted the table. "If you ever need me in the future, I will go through fire and water for you, no matter what!"
He clumsily repeated the words his wife had taught him, but nervousness made him forget most of it. He only remembered a little.
Fiona, holding the baby, lowered her head helplessly. Her husband was also a passionate man.
But having just turned eighteen, he was already famous at a young age and had his own pride.
Yet that pride was at a loss before the immense weight of their debt of gratitude.
He was by no means ungrateful, but he didn't know how to express himself. Fiona's instructions felt awkward to him.
But Fiona couldn't correct her husband at that moment, as it would undermine his dignity.
Caelan said, "You don't have to wait for the future. There's an opportunity right now."
Luther straightened up immediately, his expression serious. "Just say the word."
Caelan said, "Lion is determined to completely eradicate Caliban's Great Beasts. But the Order still has reservations. I hope you will support him."
"Absolutely!" Luther answered without hesitation.
If it were any other request, he might have to weigh it against the knight's code.
But eradicating Great Beasts was also his long-held conviction. His own parents had died in a Great Beast attack.
They were of one mind.
Luther asked, "Brother Lion, how do you plan to eradicate the Great Beasts?"
He called the 'eight-year-old' Lion 'brother' affectionately, without the slightest condescension due to his age.
Lion replied, "How? Just kill them. Exterminate them all, leave none alive!"
Lion had no personal grudge against the Great Beasts. Those that offended him were already dead.
But there was an irreconcilable conflict between Great Beasts and humanity. Since Lion had sworn to become the king of men, he must eliminate humanity's enemies.
There was no deeper motive behind this. It was just one of his attempts to become king.
If none of his brothers were kings, he would be the only king!
He was not willing to fall behind others, especially other Primarchs.
Especially Kurze!
Though he had never met Kurze, he greatly disliked this 'first-found son' as described by Caelan.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu