"So," Yuki said lazily, tapping the rim of her teacup, "you've just been promoted to Minister of the Discipline Commission and already you dare to audit Guilliman?"
Malcador coughed lightly.
"Your Highness, perhaps we should avoid phrasing it that way."
Lorgar stood straight, hands folded in sleeves.
"I am merely fulfilling my duties."
Guilliman exhaled slowly.
"By auditing the Five Hundred Worlds."
"That was procedural," Lorgar replied smoothly. "Surely Ultramar has nothing to fear from transparency?"
Sanguinius, ever diplomatic, gently pulled Guilliman back into his seat before the situation escalated.
The Angel smiled warmly.
"Brothers. No need to turn oversight into fratricide."
Horus leaned back, watching carefully.
Malcador sipped his tea.
This was better than theatre.
The Regent Game
Lorgar's ambition had changed shape.
Once it had been faith.
Now it was position.
Since returning from Barbarus, he had worked relentlessly—long hours within Terra's ministries, coordinating infrastructure, logistics and census reform.
Even Guilliman had acknowledged his administrative efficiency.
Then came the Discipline Commission appointment.
Then came the audit.
Of Ultramar.
Malcador had disapproved immediately.
The Warmaster position was ultimately the Emperor's choice. Political maneuvering there was mostly symbolic.
But the Regent?
That position was fluid.
Competitive.
Earned.
Tearing down a rival was not the same as outperforming one.
"It is like an examination," Malcador later told Yuki privately. "Instead of perfecting his own paper, he tries to tear up Guilliman's."
Yuki stirred her tea.
"Some mountains are invisible until weighed."
Cliques were forming.
Warmaster supporters.
Regent contenders.
Librarius factions.
Industrial alliances.
If Primarchs began investigating one another's homeworlds—
Trust would die.
Lorgar's hypocrisy did not go unnoticed either.
Colchis' religious infrastructure continued to expand quietly.
Funding had to come from somewhere.
"And you still consider him a Regent candidate?" Malcador asked.
Yuki shook her head slightly.
"He can be Regent—if he proves he deserves the seat."
Malcador sighed.
"At present, he does not."
Yuki did not argue.
Lorgar had improved.
He no longer chased divine validation daily.
The Emperor had ceased intervening so long as work was done.
"For now," she said, "so long as he does not pry into other Legions again, he earns his achievements properly."
Malcador nodded.
Corridor Politics
"Brother," Lorgar greeted pleasantly as Guilliman exited the chamber.
Guilliman stopped.
"Lorgar. The meaning was clear. Compete openly. Do not attempt this again."
"You misunderstand," Lorgar replied mildly. "I executed my commission. That Ultramar was involved is coincidence."
Guilliman's patience thinned visibly.
Before he could respond, a dark figure approached.
"Corax?"
The figure smiled faintly.
"Were you addressing me?"
Curze.
Guilliman forced a polite laugh.
"My apologies."
Curze inclined his head and continued past.
Lorgar's eyes gleamed briefly.
Opportunity?
He followed Curze.
Guilliman frowned.
Two steps later—
He sensed someone behind him.
"Corax?"
Corax stood there, arms filled with texts.
"Are you occupied?"
Guilliman relaxed immediately.
"No. When did you arrive?"
"Just now."
Corax's stealth remained unnerving, even to a Primarch.
The books were governance manuals recommended by Yuki.
Corax intended to reform Deliverance further.
He sought knowledge actively.
Guilliman appreciated that immensely.
"If you're busy," Corax added quietly, "I can return later."
"Not at all."
Guilliman placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Come. I have the day."
Corax smiled faintly.
Meanwhile — The Cat Returns
Curze entered the administrative chamber briskly.
Without ceremony, he crouched beside Yuki's chair like an enormous predatory feline.
Yuki stared down at him.
"Koz. You may sit."
"Sister," Curze said quietly, "your method failed. Crime persists."
Yuki studied his dark eyes.
"Failed? Do you intend to return to terror alone?"
Silence.
Nostramo's condition had improved materially.
Infrastructure stabilized.
Food supply regulated.
Industry modernized.
Crime had dropped sharply.
But not to zero.
Curze desired zero.
"Koz," Yuki said softly, fingers brushing his dark hair, "why do you dislike Corax?"
"He is naïve."
Curze's smile sharpened.
"He believes oppression can vanish entirely."
He had grown in a world where survival required brutality.
He knew human darkness intimately.
Corax believed structural reform could eliminate tyranny.
Curze believed fear was the only true deterrent.
"Yes," Yuki replied calmly. "And the reason you believe he will fail is the same reason you believe you have."
Human desire was infinite.
So was greed.
But law functioned differently from fear.
When survival no longer required crime, most would choose stability.
That was justice taking root.
Fear suppresses.
Law stabilizes.
Justice grows.
Curze lowered his gaze.
"When I was the Night Haunter, there was no crime."
"There was no life either," Yuki answered gently.
Curze did not respond.
"You have taught them more than fear now," she continued. "You have taught them justice."
Lorgar, who had been silently observing, suddenly brightened.
"I have experience improving social conditions," he offered cautiously. "Barbarus is evidence."
Curze turned slowly.
The smile he gave Lorgar would have terrified mortals.
It was meant to be polite.
Yuki intervened smoothly.
"Koz. Would you accept Lorgar's assistance in Nostramo's civil administration?"
Lorgar added quickly, "Ask Mortarion if you doubt me."
Curze considered.
He trusted Mortarion.
Reluctantly—
He nodded.
Yuki glanced knowingly at Lorgar.
Political capital.
Of course.
Still useful.
"Take the Anchorite with you," Yuki added.
Lorgar paused.
"…Understood."
He turned to leave.
"Lorgar."
He stopped.
Yuki looked at him quietly.
"You have always been remarkable."
His purple eyes flickered.
"Be proud. But earn it."
Lorgar straightened unconsciously.
"Of course, sister. I have always been proud…"
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