"The Lord Generals of the War Council, those damned bureaucratic old men, they are truly meticulous!"
In the holographic projection, Russ spat and cursed the War Council, chastising the mortal staff: "They gaze at casualty figures, using cold arithmetic to deduce the absolute limit of when we can re-enter the war."
"Next time I go to Terra, I'm going to drag them onto a ship and let those old officials witness the true brutality of the battlefield."
"A warrior's life isn't a number; it's a bloody, visible end!"
Russ gritted his teeth, continuously cursing the War Council.
Since his last learning experience with Horus and his in-depth conversation with Blazkowicz, he had changed quite a bit.
The Great Wolf knew the cruelty of war deeply; using vibrant lives to achieve victory was the essence of war.
His angry curses and complaints were a venting of his inner frustration.
Blazkowicz remained silent, listening to Russ' various displeasures, the muscles at the corner of his mouth twitching, revealing a slight smile.
The fleet stayed in the Morse Solar System for a month, finally completing initial repairs and preparing to depart.
Dedicated courier ships also delivered the detailed war documents to Terra for review by the War Council.
After confirmation, news arrived from Terra.
The War Council supported the Warrior King's decision: the First Legion was to proceed to the Forge World Shana to reorganize military discipline and repair their ships, forbidden from leaving for one year.
The Space Wolves Fleet, due to their timely support and courageous combat, received numerous commendations and honors.
They were also granted one year to freely choose a Forge World to repair their warships and replenish their ranks.
Blazkowicz did not respond to Russ' outburst but instead said to the holographic projection: "Prepare to depart; we will go to Argent Nur together."
Russ' eyes lit up, his expression of bitter resentment immediately vanishing, replaced by joy and anticipation, as if he were a different person.
He rubbed his hands, eagerly saying: "The pack is already ready, we can leave anytime."
During the waiting period, Russ had become restless; after handling Legion matters, he constantly sought out things to do.
Blazkowicz trained the Sentinels, he trained his own descendants in martial arts; Blazkowicz conducted war simulations with mortal officers, he also learned combat techniques.
An interesting incident also occurred during this time.
Russ, bored, challenged Blazkowicz to a wrestling match, his specialty; he won once initially, then continuously lost.
The Wolf King, unwilling to concede, demanded a match between their gene-enhanced descendants, only to lose even more decisively.
Two consecutive losses made Russ feel humiliated, and he vowed to regain his honor.
After discussing with Blazkowicz, they arranged a competition between the Space Wolves and the Sentinels, even setting up a traditional Fenrisian betting pool.
The final result, after a best-of-nine contest, was Russ losing the teeth of a Fenrisian sea monster.
The Great Wolf was furious, rigorously training his wolf cubs, plotting his future revenge.
Feeling stifled, Russ led the elite of his pack to eradicate numerous xenos civilizations in the nearby star sector.
Even though some of these xenos were still in the technological enlightenment stage, or even the agricultural feudal era, they were hunted by the Space Wolves.
The merciless pack purged all discovered xenos, and incidentally allowed the Imperial Department of the Interior to take over the habitable worlds.
He had long wanted to leave the Morse Solar System and visit his brother's home on Argent Nur.
Now that his wish was granted, excitement naturally surged, and he wished to depart immediately.
"I'll inform the fleet to prepare for departure," Russ said hastily, then cut the communication to prepare for the long voyage.
Blazkowicz shook his head; Russ had considerable patience for war, like a hunting wolf pack, constantly driving and wearing down its prey.
But in handling certain matters, he showed a degree of impatience, lacking meticulous consideration.
Perhaps it was an emotion his brother deliberately feigned; this apparent impatience had never led to a mistake.
The holographic image dissipated, and Blazkowicz looked down to see Urian Bendegre kneeling respectfully below.
He composed himself, his expression gradually becoming serious, and asked Urian in a calm voice: "Grand Master, have your post-war arrangements been made?"
"Great Primarch, I have relinquished the position of Grand Master," Urian replied respectfully in a low voice, head bowed: "Now I am a 'Watcher'."
"Watcher Urian Bendegre."
Blazkowicz nodded at this, silently acknowledging Urian.
Urian Bendegre had shed the title of Grand Master, stationed himself in the Morse Solar System, becoming a Watcher, constantly vigilant against the return of the Rangdan.
"Who now holds the position of Grand Master of the First Legion?" A query drifted down from the throne, making the Watcher tremble.
Urian's heart tightened; he dared not guess the Primarch's meaning, only able to respond with a trembling voice: "It is the Lord of the Void Sky Army; due to his outstanding military achievements, he received a considerable number of nominations."
The Lord of the Void Sky Army, that daring and tenacious warrior, appeared in Blazkowicz's mind, and he murmured softly: "So it's him…"
Urian's body tensed further, unsure how to respond to the Primarch.
Was the Primarch dissatisfied with the chosen individual? Did he want to interfere with the First Legion, or did he have other intentions?
"No need to be nervous." Blazkowicz saw through Urian's thoughts, dispelling his worries with words: "How the First Legion chooses its Grand Master is not something I wish to involve myself in; you are to decide independently."
There were many troublesome matters between Legions, and Blazkowicz did not want to invite trouble.
Interfering in the affairs of another Legion, even as a Primarch, required careful consideration.
Even a slight mishandling could lead to serious trouble.
The punishment for the First Legion had already been arranged; who served as Grand Master was not within his purview.
Upon hearing this, Urian breathed a sigh of relief; he was indeed worried about the Primarch interfering in internal Legion matters.
Because once the Primarch spoke, he could not refuse, nor could the First Legion.
"You may go." Blazkowicz waved his hand, signaling that he could leave.
With the final task completed, it was time to depart Morse and proceed to Argent Nur to re-equip the forces.
Blazkowicz's eyes flickered with nostalgia; it had been several years since he left Argent Nur, and it was time to return.
This return was not only to repair damaged warships but also to strengthen armaments, preparing for the next Rangdan attack.
He knew deeply that when the Rangdan returned, or when the Imperium found the Rangdan territories, the intensity of the war would escalate to an unprecedented level, so preparations had to be made.
"Farewell, Warrior King and Great Wolf." Urian bowed and withdrew.
He would leave the Great Crusade, remain on the former battlefield, and oversee the "fortification" of the Morse Solar System.
Warp light illuminated the real universe, and the Argent Nur First Fleet activated their Warp drives, entering the Warp.
The Space Wolves immediately followed, and the two massive cosmic fleets vanished from the real universe.
The Ultima Orientis Sector was vast, the largest of the star territories planned by the Imperium.
Traveling from the edge of the star territory to the Nur Stars would take at least three months.
If it were the First Fleet, utilizing advanced navigation technology, they would only need half the time to arrive.
But Blazkowicz, considering the Space Wolves, slowed the fleet's speed, which naturally extended the travel time.
The two could not be too far apart; they had to look after each other.
Both the Space Wolves and the First Fleet, with their battle-scarred warships, could not withstand a second high-intensity battle.
If they encountered hostile xenos in the Warp, the seemingly vast fleet would actually have severely degraded combat power.
During the fleet's voyage, Russ grew even more bored.
In the real universe, he could find other things to do, but traveling within the Warp, he could only wait as time slowly passed.
Finally, after a long journey, the fleet, bearing its scars, lumbered into the Argent Nur Star System like wounded metal behemoths.
At the Mandeville Point star gate, the gateway world of the Nur Stars, a large number of warships emerged from the Warp into the real universe.
The ships waiting to enter or exit the star gate were startled by the massive outgoing fleet, secretly wondering which fleet had arrived.
They did not suspect the possibility of enemy forces; Argent Nur officials had not issued any warnings, indicating it was not an enemy.
All factions within the star system immediately adjusted their ship telescopes, aiming them at the arriving fleet to ascertain its identity.
The gateway star system, having developed for a long time, had attracted numerous human factions to establish outposts, resulting in a complex web of various forces.
When they saw the images transmitted back by their telescopes, they all gasped.
The Imperial warships, made of steel, were covered in all sorts of battle scars, crisscrossing and horrifyingly jagged.
There were laser melt phenomena, plasma-pierced holes, and wounds left by unknown weapons.
The extraordinarily large fleet, with ships of all sizes, was entirely wounded, truly terrifying.
They all speculated what kind of tragic war, what scale of massive engagement, had caused this fleet to pay such a heavy price.
Then, the observing factions saw a giant warship emerge from the star gate, her side emblazoned with a wolf head relief.
The Space Wolves' flagship—the Hrafnkel!
Those with keen eyes immediately recognized the colossal vessel; she was a symbol of Imperial pride, the flagship of a Primarch.
The Gloriana-class Battleship, she is in a very poor state.
Multiple sections of her broadside armor were penetrated, revealing damaged multi-layered decks, and countless visible damages.
Airtight doors in the damaged areas were tightly shut to prevent depressurization of the ship, which would lead to secondary destruction. Sparks erupted in space, as some severely damaged warships suffered destructive explosions when they exited the Warp.
Aid ships waiting by the Stargate immediately surrounded them, spraying gel to extinguish fires on the warships, helping to reduce losses for the damaged vessels.
Subsequently, more warships emerged from the Stargate. The Royal Majesty and Argent Nur ships were all battle-scarred, and the fleet's composition was clearly incomplete. Witnessing such a tragic sight, countless people gasped.
Two Primarchs returned simultaneously, and two large-scale fleets were severely damaged. The specific combat details were hard to guess, but the general situation was somewhat clear.
Judging by the warships' scars, the two fleets were in the same battlefield, facing a single enemy!
Many people's minds became active. What kind of war required two Primarchs to fight together, and even pay such a high price?
One must know that risk often accompanies opportunity.
A war of this scale would conquer a vast region, a star sector full of new interests.
Rogue Traders pursue profit, and they would not abandon any new world.
Terrifying Xenos? When profit outweighs risk, Xenos are no longer terrifying.
Within Rogue Trader families, there were many quick-witted patriarchs who felt they must seize the opportunity to gain more benefits for their families.
There were also those who deliberated, feeling it was not the right time to act.
In a war of such magnitude, very little news was released by the Imperium, indicating that the enemy was very powerful.
The Imperium suppressing the news suggested that the situation was not optimistic and that the populace should not be made to feel fear.
Some saw opportunity in the war, while others smelled crisis.
Humans are always complex; seeing the same external factors, their conclusions are completely different.
No matter what they thought, when all the ships emerged from the Stargate, the massive fleet filled people with awe.
Many Rogue Traders were afraid.
As sensitive merchants, information is the most important channel for making money, and also the most precious asset of a family.
Whether it's enemies or allies, the information of Rogue Traders is extremely accurate.
Comparing the information from the Imperium and Argent Nur, the merchants were horrified to discover that nearly half of the Primarch fleet's composition was missing.
Within the communication channels, Rogue Traders whispered—restraint, control, impulsiveness, madness.
Just the appearance of the fleet caused an uproar.
How the Rogue Traders thought, Argent Nur would not care.
The First Fleet arrived at the Gateway System. The Royal Majesty connected to the quantum network, and all data was immediately shared.
A large number of tugboats flew out of the Gateway World starport, towing the Space Wolves ships, helping the fleet enter the starport for docking.
The originally bustling Gateway System became even busier with the arrival of the Space Wolves Fleet, with ships coming and going more frequently.
The First Fleet continued forward, leaving the Gateway System and heading to the core region of the Nur Stars.
Only the Hrafnkel of the Space Wolves ships accompanied them, following to the Argent Nur core world.
"The prosperity here surpasses even the Solar System," Russ said, standing at the Royal Majesty's bridge viewport, looking at the bustling star system with ships coming and going.
A rare admiration flowed from his beastly eyes.
His words were heartfelt, moved by the scene before him.
On the upper level of the giant Stargate, fleets of all sizes were neatly arranged, obeying traffic rules, loaded with goods, and leaving the star system.
On the upper level of the Stargate, cargo ships towed cargo holds behind them, bringing various supplies to exchange goods with the Nur Stars.
The upper and lower levels had orderly entry and exit. Every minute, hundreds of ships left or arrived.
And not far from the Stargate, there were two mushroom-shaped starports, hundreds of kilometers in diameter, and at least three thousand kilometers in height.
Although their styles were similar, their specific functions were very different.
Visibly, one starport was used for material transactions, with countless merchant ships docked, loading and unloading supplies.
The other was relatively quiet but bristled with weapons, with a large number of warships of different models docked.
The shattered fleet of the Space Wolves was being guided by tugboats from the military starport, gradually docking into the starport for repairs.
In the central area of the star system, there were numerous large space stations, with various crests inscribed on their surface decks, clearly Rogue Trader void settlements.
The magnificent scene was reflected in Russ' eyes, and he sighed, his heart impressed by the prosperity of the Nur Stars.
Although busy, everything here was orderly.
The administrators, using enlightened methods, transformed an ordinary star system into an important economic exchange zone.
"This place is completely different from when I left," Blazkowicz also sighed, clicking his tongue at the explosive growth of the Gateway World.
In his initial planning, the main task of the Gateway System was to serve as an exchange area with the Imperium.
He never expected that the influx of merchants would lead a desolate star system to prosperity.
He raised his hand and lightly tapped the viewport. A series of data appeared on the floor-to-ceiling viewport, and the flashing data amazed the two Primarchs.
The Gateway System currently has six planets. Besides Argent Nur's exclusive Gateway World and the world allocated to the Imperium,
The land prices of the other four worlds were speculated to an incredible sky-high level.
Argent Nur has always been cautious in opening up world land, leading to the current situation where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold.
Every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. This idiom in the Gateway System was not an adjective, but a statement of fact.
"This data says that the value of an undeveloped world exceeds ten full-strength war fleets?"
Russ' face twisted, bloodshot eyes staring at the data, his breathing gradually quickening.
He looked out the viewport at the four worlds orbiting the star in the inner system, his eyes seemingly spitting fire.
It was as if forty full-strength fleets were suspended in the void, beckoning to him.
It is well known that the Imperium divides fleets into three categories: war fleets, transport fleets, and civilian fleets.
War fleets also differ, divided into conquest fleets and patrol fleets. Transport fleets are responsible for transporting war materials or tithes resources.
Civilian fleets are complex in composition, with many transport ships and various warships.
A full-strength war fleet requires at least ten capital ships, no less than a hundred combat vessels, and numerous support fleets.
Russ' greed was fully evident, his gaze burning like a torch, as if he beheld endless wealth.
He didn't understand how four undeveloped worlds could exceed all the assets of the Space Wolves.
It should be known that the current fleet size of the Space Wolves was earned by the wolves with flowing blood.
"My lord. It's not like that," Sophia appeared beside the two, bowing slightly and explaining to Russ, "If Argent Nur were willing to sell, the actual transaction price would double."
Russ' expression froze upon hearing this, his nostrils flaring, his breathing becoming even more rapid. He seemed to see eighty, or even a hundred, fleets silently suspended in the void.
For the first time, he looked at Blazkowicz beside him, gaining a direct understanding of his brother's wealth.
If Fenris was worth a hundred fleets, he estimated he would be tempted to package and sell Fenris.
Blazkowicz felt the fiery gaze. He dared not respond, only awkwardly scratching his face, a little embarrassed.
The current situation was beyond his expectations.
The human race has amazing potential in all aspects; he severely underestimated the prosperity brought by commerce.
Within the Gateway System, all worlds belong to Argent Nur.
The Gateway World is Argent Nur's administrative core, receiving tens of millions of settlement requests daily.
The world allocated to the Imperium is slightly smaller than Terra, and due to different management methods, it has become an overcrowded Hive City.
In the short time since establishing diplomatic relations with the Imperium, continent-spanning Hive Cities have been built on it, with the tallest spires extending into the atmosphere.
The total population migrated from the Imperial world has exceeded fifty billion.
The most interesting point is that although the population is large, there are very few impoverished people.
Because a large number of descendants of Imperial dignitaries, and even nobles from within the Imperium, settled there, bringing prosperity to the world.
Due to the demands of Imperial dignitaries, a large number of entertainment facilities were opened on the world, attracting noble tourists from across the Imperium.
The more Blazkowicz looked, the more surprised he became: a world with fifty billion people could escape poverty solely through tourism, its Planetary Governor was truly a governance genius.
Most incredibly, the Imperial world paid double tithes.
One portion was paid to Terra, and another portion was paid to Argent Nur.
Shaking his head, Blazkowicz briefly paid attention, then skipped these mundane matters.
He continued to scroll down, his brow furrowing, his expression revealing a hint of displeasure.
In the Gateway System's space, the Adeptus Mechanicus from Mars purchased an independent space at an exorbitant price and established an Adeptus Mechanicus space station.
Although they accepted Argent Nur's laws and did not pry into Argent Nur's technological secrets, their actions still displeased Blazkowicz.
The Adeptus Mechanicus opened shops in the space station, selling goods from Mars.
Blazkowicz narrowed his eyes and asked Sophia, "What's going on here?"
Russ heard his brother's question, shifted his gaze, and quickly noticed the message.
"Hmph hmph~" He made a sound in his throat, unable to suppress a laugh, and finally burst out laughing.
The Adeptus Mechanicus' red-robed magos, having suffered a loss in the "Stellar Accord," had come here for revenge.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn't exactly revenge; it was more like they were trying to make Blazkowicz unhappy.
Sophia waved her hand, and the data image on the viewport changed, "They abide by the Nuer Law, selling goods within the space station, and their actions are legal and compliant."
"Based on the Gate Law you enacted, I cannot expel them."
Blazkowicz listened while quickly browsing the Adeptus Mechanicus' information, a sneer playing on his lips: "How interesting."
The Adeptus Mechanicus' space station offered a variety of weapons and industrial machinery, and the prices were very cheap.
After Sophia's calculations, the equipment they were selling could barely cover costs, a typical "losing money to gain a reputation" tactic, aimed at causing trouble in the Gate System.
Blazkowicz sneered and shook his head; the Adeptus Mechanicus' red-robed figures weren't reciting binary code, but rather delving into the Nuer Law.
They ensured their actions did not violate any laws, to avoid being expelled.
"Have the Adeptus Mechanicus representative come see me." Blazkowicz's words were light, but the command was unmistakable.
A Primarch's command; the Adeptus Mechanicus representative could not refuse.
While Mars' actions did not violate the law, they greatly displeased Blazkowicz, and punishment was necessary.
After a moment of thought, Blazkowicz said to Sophia, "Also, select a Rogue Trader of integrity and good conduct to come see me."
"Understood." Sophia lifted her skirt, her figure gradually fading as she went to make arrangements.
"It's truly prosperous here." After his brother finished making arrangements, Russ exclaimed again: "I'm talking about a different kind of prosperity—."
"I can even feel the surging enthusiasm from the passing ships, the joy of being full of hope for life."
The Lord of the Space Wolves, the Great Wolf Leman Russ, stroked the viewport with his large hand, letting out a profound sigh.
He had never seen such human hope and confidence flourishing and growing anywhere else.
And this was merely the Gate System of the Nur Stars, not yet the true core region.
Blazkowicz solemnly replied to his brother: "Thanks to unity, humans and machines are truly united."
"We have never regarded them as servants; we give them equal respect, and machines with souls will not betray this respect."
Russ, however, shook his head upon hearing this. He understood this respect, but at the same time, he could not deny the Emperor.
A large part of humanity's current situation was a chain reaction triggered after the Machine Rebellion.
He didn't know much about that rebellion.
Whether the machines couldn't bear human oppression and rose up for freedom, or it was a unilateral, vile rebellion, it was no longer possible to ascertain.
But as a member of the Imperium, he had to obey the Emperor's arrangements.
The prohibition of artificial intelligence was an ironclad law that the entire Imperium had to obey, a ban personally issued by the Emperor himself.
As a Primarch, one of the Emperor's twenty-one sons, Russ had to uphold the Emperor.
If a Primarch took the lead in opposing, where would the Emperor's authority be?
Perhaps sensing Russ' inner thoughts, Blazkowicz sighed lightly and patted his brother's shoulder.
Understand the Emperor, respect the Emperor. He faced that man with the same mindset.
As living human history, the Emperor's choices, while seemingly brutal and crude at first glance, actually held deeper meaning.
"Sit tight." Blazkowicz soothed Russ' lament, "We're about to enter the Warp again."
The First Fleet sailed quickly, soon arriving at another stargate, heading to the true Nur Stars.
Russ immediately went to the observation deck by the window, sitting down to drink tea with his brother.
"I need to bring Freki and Geri." He slapped his forehead, not forgetting his close wolf brothers.
He then opened a holographic communication, asking the Primarch's guard to send the two giant wolves over to his brother's homeworld.
"I haven't seen them in a long time either." Blazkowicz raised an eyebrow, also very much missing the well-behaved Freki and Geri.
Russ waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed by his wolf brothers, yet the smile in his eyes was hard to hide: "They're also clamoring to see you."
Soon, the two giant wolves took a shuttle from the Hrafnkel to the Royal Majesty.
As the ship entered the Warp and the bridge gate opened, the two giant wolves eagerly rushed in, charging towards the Primarch.
"Woof~" Blazkowicz caught the giant wolf that leaped into his arms, a joyful smile on his face, as he stroked the massive wolf head.
Freki's mouth was wide open, panting, his tongue hanging from his lips, drooling all over Blazkowicz's chest.
Geri, seeing that the best spot had been taken, circled the seat, anxiously nudging Blazkowicz's leg.
"Good boy." Blazkowicz stroked one wolf's head with one hand and scratched its chin with the other, making Freki comfortably close his eyes, wagging his tail and enjoying it immensely.
"Whine whine whine~" Geri let out a wronged whimper, signaling not to forget him.
"And you—and you—" Blazkowicz quickly stroked his head, feeling the unique texture of the coarse, stiff wolf fur.
Russ covered his eyes, not wanting to see his frolicking wolf brothers, their tail-wagging pleas for affection, so much like an Old Terra creature—a dog!
He sometimes didn't understand why his wolf brothers had such a strong affection for Blazkowicz.
The journey was short. Amidst the playful antics of the two men and two wolves, the Royal Majesty, accompanied by the Hrafnkel, returned to the land of light—Argent Nur. "Woah!" Russ' beast-like eyes widened as he saw the scenery outside the window, letting out a low growl of awe.
As the spaceship approached Argent Nur, the scenery in his eyes transformed, as if he had arrived in another universe.
As the administrative center of the Nur Stars, Argent Nur saw numerous ships coming and going, the engines of the spacecraft like thriving stars.
Unlike the ponderous designs of the Imperium, Argent Nur's spacecraft inherited from the Dark Age of Technology, possessing a unique aesthetic.
White spacecraft shimmered with ethereal grace, appearing and disappearing without a trace, while two stellar rings emitted a soft glow, encircling a beautiful planet. The two harmonized perfectly, showcasing the beauty of technology and nature coexisting.
Looking closer, the planet Argent Nur glowed brilliantly, the light refracted by its gem-like mountains painting layers of magnificent colors across its atmosphere.
"She is truly beautiful." Russ finally understood the words Harlan Ogilvy spoke to Malcador, which were recorded in the Imperium's history: "Terra is not as beautiful as Argent Nur."
"Brother. I have seen countless worlds, and your homeworld is the most beautiful."
Blazkowicz stood tall, nodding in great approval, accepting his brother's praise.
A beautiful homeland was something to be proud of, especially when the praise came from a blood brother, which made him even more joyful.
"Fenris also has a unique beauty." Out of politeness, he still used the same praise to commend his brother's homeworld.
"What beauty? A pile of ice and cold wind?" Russ waved his hand; he knew Fenris' true nature.
Despite his words, his tone held joy.
No one would despise the homeland that nurtured them, and Primarchs were no exception.
Fenris was a death world, but she forged the resilient Fenrisians, and Russ was proud of her.
"I need to prepare, so as not to be impolite." Seeing the ship about to dock at the stellar ring, Russ bid farewell to Blazkowicz and went to prepare for the visiting ceremony.
Coming to his brother's homeland, Russ took this visit very seriously, making thorough preparations.
Blazkowicz originally didn't want to make it too grand, but Russ insisted.
The seemingly unruly Russ respected Argent Nur's culture, including the warrior culture and court etiquette that originated there.
The Royal Majesty docked at the Nur Ring; her battle scars drew attention, and many sent messages of concern, which Blazkowicz answered one by one.
After everything was done, and the ship's platform awaited Russ, his brother's appearance made him light up.
His golden hair was tied into a high ponytail, bright and clean; his sideburns were braided into small pigtails, with ornaments dangling at the ends.
He was wearing the winter snow-colored robe he had worn at the banquet, which Russ felt suited him well, so he decided to wear it.
Around his neck hung a wolf tooth necklace, the teeth fanned out like a crescent moon, from largest in the middle to smallest at the sides.
With Blazkowicz's keen eyesight, he could naturally see the tiny Fenrisian script carved on the wolf teeth, demonstrating their extraordinary significance.
The wolf tooth necklace, paired with Russ' precious hunting trophies at his waist—items taken from various fierce prey—completed his wild attire.
Russ stood there, his long robe exuding nobility, his ornaments revealing his wildness. These two starkly different elements combined, highlighting his contradictory temperament.
Beneath the wildness lay civilization, just as his outwardly savage and brutal appearance belied an inner delicacy like silk.
Behind him, the Primarch's guard had brightly polished armor, adorned with precious furs.
The men of Fenris had removed their power armor helmets and tied them to their waists, revealing their wild and rugged faces.
With thick reddish-brown hair and equally thick beards, they looked like legendary warriors stepped out of Viking mythology.
"Brother, take me to visit the world that raised you."
"Gladly."
...
The two Primarchs descended from the Nur Ring to the surface via an orbital elevator.
Teleportation technology had always been Blazkowicz's hidden method, which he would not easily display before anyone.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Russ, but as the leader of the Nur Stars, he had to conceal his trump cards and always have a trick up his sleeve.
Everyone harbors secrets; trust is not a reason to reveal them.
Russ also kept things from Blazkowicz; when the two fought side-by-side against the Rangdan, the Great Wolf concealed his secrets.
Sophia, from the Thirteenth Company of the Space Wolves, briefly tapped into their communications and heard bestial, wolf-like roars.
Blazkowicz did not delve into the hidden mystery; he was not a prying observer of secrets and chose to trust Russ, believing his brother must have had an unspeakable difficulty.
"Is that where you grew up?" Russ stood by the elevator's observation window, pointing to the city below.
The buildings were as white as snow, and under the illumination of the star's radiance, the reflected light intertwined, as if covering the city with a white veil.
The entire city was pure and flawless, incredibly sacred, reminding one of the "Holy City" from myths.
"Argentum, the cradle of warriors." Blazkowicz looked down at the Argentum shrouded in hazy light, his voice subtly tinged with pride: "The pure white bricks and blue doors and windows symbolize the purity of warriors and the indomitable spirit in the mental domain."
He had never appreciated the scenery of the Argentum from such an angle; he had always used teleportation to go up and down.
Looking at it now, the Argentum was even more beautiful, solemn and sacred like the dwelling of a god.
"Everything here is full of meaning; every building interprets a legend, every fresco tells an epic. This is the warriors' domain, recording past glory and composing future brilliance."
Blazkowicz explained in a low voice to Russ that the warriors' domain carried extraordinary significance; it had stood firm since its establishment, inheriting an immortal warrior spirit.
He was not exaggerating to impress; the architecture of the Argentum indeed had a long heritage.
Those white stone houses had given birth to countless powerful warriors, with glory inscribed on every brick and stone.
Every seemingly ordinary building carried the rise and fall of a warrior family for hundreds of generations and still bore witness to glory.
If a house was uninhabited, it meant that family had died out, vanishing into history...
Blazkowicz saw something different again; outside the high walls that originally defended against the Orks, there were many newly built white houses on the outskirts of the Argentum.
A smile played on his lips, and his heart was comforted and joyful.
Newly built houses were a good sign, indicating that the houses in the city were full, and the population of Argent Nur's remnants was no longer declining, showing an upward trend for the first time.
Even having witnessed the vastness of the universe and the boundless human population, the people he cared about most in his heart were still the residents of Argent Nur.
"The people here deserve respect." Russ nodded heavily, his expression solemn at this moment: "The comfortable environment did not extinguish their fighting spirit; instead, it made them unyielding, ultimately breaking through their shackles."
On the way to the Nur Stars, Blazkowicz had told Russ about Argent Nur's past.
Now seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn't help but praise again, commending the unyielding spirit of Argent Nur's people.
"You can experience Argent Nur's customs and traditions up close."
As the two spoke, the orbital elevator began to decelerate, descending into the pristine white city outside the observation window.
As soon as the orbital elevator opened, a red carpet with gold threads lay before them, specially laid out to welcome distinguished guests.
One hundred Sentinels stood on one side of the red carpet, dressed in white power armor with gold patterns for court ceremonies, draped in blue emblazoned cloaks, holding banners with both hands, welcoming the guests.
Clang, clang, clang ~
They stamped their feet and switched to holding the banner with one hand; as the banners fluttered, they clenched their fists and struck their chests, making a heavy clanging sound as they performed the warrior's salute.
Russ secretly clicked his tongue, his expression unchanged, but his heart was secretly relieved that he had prepared early, otherwise he would have lost face today.
Facing such a solemn scene, the Space Wolves were equally solemn; they stood ramrod straight, not daring to show the slightest slack.
Even Freki and Geri, the two giant wolves, sat crouched beside Russ, their wolf heads slightly raised, displaying proud majesty.
The Space Wolves honor guard immediately moved to return the Sentinels' salute.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh ~
The melodious sound of a horn rang out; the Space Wolves warriors blew their horns, showcasing the biting chill of Fenris.
Warriors with brown hair and beards, their armor polished to a shine with whale oil, holding the wolf-head Legion banner, emerged from the orbital elevator.
They stood with chests out on one side in a single file; after a hundred warriors had taken their positions, they all turned in unison, facing the Sentinels.
"Welcome, honored guests from afar." A gentle male voice rang out; at the end of the red carpet, Flano Novick placed his left hand over his chest, and his family welcomed the distinguished guests with royal etiquette.
"Go." Blazkowicz whispered to Russ, signaling that they could now exit.
Russ understood, slightly raised his head, and stepped onto the magnificent red carpet.
Beside him, Freki and Geri slowly rose, maintaining a synchronized pace with their brother as they walked onto the red carpet.
Behind the Primarch followed the honor guard, warriors with chests out and heads held high, their power armor adorned with precious fur, their weapons polished to a keen edge.
The thirteen Company Captains were also like this; they followed the Primarch, receiving the gaze of the people of Argent Nur.
At this solemn moment, the Space Wolves shed their savage disguise, returning solemnity with solemnity.
Court ladies stepped forward, emerging from the gaps in the ranks of warriors, taking petals from the triumph flower baskets they carried on their arms, scattering them around the two Primarchs.
Beautiful chanting filled the air; a choir sang a lively song, welcoming the distinguished guests.
Russ walked on the red carpet, petals falling on his shoulders, his mighty figure very upright, reaching the end of the red carpet.
"Leman Russ." His voice was like a low war drum, as he announced his name to the man before him.
"Flano Novick." The man in ancient ceremonial armor returned the greeting, looking up at the giant with a benevolent smile.
Russ placed his hand over his chest and bowed slightly in return.
"Sola Klaus Novick." Beside Flano, a queen in a red court gown, with golden hair and a beautiful face, wearing a crystal crown, curtsied.
Facing the lady, Russ knelt on one knee, gently took Sola's right hand, and expressed his respect for the lady with the traditional Fenrisian hand-kissing ritual.
"Marie Novick." The girl's voice was crisp and clear; she lifted the hem of her blue skirt, her emerald eyes filled with curiosity, as she saluted the giant before her.
Blazkowicz smiled as he looked at the young girl; in a few years, little Marie had grown from a cute child into a ten-year-old girl.
Russ suddenly froze, his knuckles unconsciously tightening.
The moment he first saw the girl, his heart felt a little uneasy, and he hadn't expected his fears to come true.
On the spaceship, his brother had mostly told him about the local customs and history of their homeworld.
Although he had mentioned family relationships, having two brothers, he hadn't specified having any younger family members.
According to Fenrisian tradition, elders meeting younger relatives needed to present a gift to confirm the relationship of seniority.
Russ knew Blazkowicz valued this family affection greatly, and he naturally respected this sentiment.
His blood brother's brother was naturally his brother too.
"Child," Russ lowered his voice, kindly asking Marie, "Do you have any siblings?"
The giant's question caught Marie off guard, but she still answered sweetly, "I have a younger brother."
"He followed the warrior seniors into the stars; he didn't intentionally not come to greet you."
While answering the question, she explained her brother's whereabouts to prevent the distinguished guest from misunderstanding her brother's impoliteness.
Russ' question made Blazkowicz realize, and he thought of the special care that might be given to children on Fenris.
He was also worried that the person he hadn't mentioned might have caused Russ difficulty.
"In Fenrisian culture, elders need to give gifts to children." Russ explained with a smile, then glanced back at Blazkowicz.
His rough hand caressed the girl's small face, and he winked at Marie, saying, "Your uncle seems to have forgotten you when he introduced the family."
Blazkowicz awkwardly turned his face away; it was indeed a mistake not to have deeply understood Fenrisian etiquette.
"Uncle Blazkow is very busy; you can't blame him for this." Marie said with a serious expression, defending Blazkowicz's oversight.
"So cute." Russ laughed happily, seeing the girl's serious demeanor.
He earnestly told Marie, "Your uncle might have forgotten you, but I won't forget the gift."
With that, Russ bared his sharp canines in a grin, and raised his hand to grasp one.
"Hiss ~" As he winced in pain and gasped for breath, he suddenly exerted force with his right hand, forcefully pulling out his own canine tooth.
Russ gasped, quickly moving his facial muscles to alleviate the pain from the tooth extraction.
"Wolves!" He slowly stood up and shouted, facing the Space Wolves behind him, holding up the pure white canine tooth in his hand: "Remember this token."
The Space Wolves collectively knelt, looking up seriously at the slender canine tooth in their Gene-Father's hand.
Under the gaze of the Space Wolves, Russ slowly crouched down and said to the girl looking up at him, "This is for you and your brother, Marie."
Russ swallowed a mouthful of bloody saliva, held the fang in his palm, and presented it to the girl: "Under the premise of not violating human interests, this object can command the wolf pack."
This was an immense honor and power—the Great Wolf Russ bestowed it upon Marie as a welcoming gift for a new scion of his brother's family.
"This is too precious…" Flano tried to decline the gift, but Russ raised a hand to stop him.
"Precisely because it is precious, it is worthy of my brother's family." Russ grinned, the bleeding in his mouth already stopped.
A Primarch's recovery ability was inherently powerful; it wouldn't be long before his lost fangs grew back.
Marie did not take the tooth, instead looking to Blazkowicz for help, knowing that only her uncle could decide this matter.
Blazkowicz nodded slightly, signaling that she could accept it.
This was indeed an exceptionally precious gift, one that might prove useful one day.
This gift would provide the Novick Family with more protection, and Russ' intentions were good, so his face naturally could not be rejected.
"Thank you, Sir." Marie extended her fair hands, taking the dagger-like fang and feeling its heavy weight.
"You're being too formal." Russ' face fell, and he said with a hint of reproach: "I am Blazkowicz's blood brother; you can also call me uncle Russ.
After speaking, he bent his massive frame, picked up Marie, and placed her on his broad shoulder, showing his affection.
Russ' eager approach made the restrained and serious atmosphere much lighter.
"This way, please." Flano smiled, gestured with his hand, and turned to lead the way.
Blazkowicz nodded to Russ, and the two slowly followed, the group heading towards the Royal Palace.
As they passed through the Royal Palace Avenue, Flano introduced Argent Nur's culture and historical changes to Blazkowicz's brother, Russ.
Russ, with Marie on his shoulder, walked along the Royal Palace Avenue with a solemn and grave expression, listening to the introduction and often nodding in approval.
On the outermost sides of the Royal Palace Avenue, giant stone screens were carved with history, depicting magnificent tableaux.
They portrayed the rise of the Sentinels, then showcased the glory of their formidable years, and finally, scenes of people gazing at the stars and looking towards the future.
Russ watched with great interest; Argent Nur was different from Fenris, with all history clearly recorded, making all of yesterday seem close at hand.
Fenris' history was mostly passed down orally, and the figures and events within it gradually became songs and myths.
"What race is that?" Russ pointed to a scene on a stone carving, depicting a peculiar race he had never seen before.
They had hairless heads, strong limbs, wore simple clothing, and their faces were twisted and mad.
The stone carving depicted a scene where a vast number of that peculiar race surrounded a city, fighting the Sentinels.
"We call them Greenskin Orks." Blazkowicz looked in the direction Russ was pointing and immediately explained to him: "A barbaric and belligerent race."
Blazkowicz eloquently described the characteristics of the Ork race: their combative nature, their troublesome semi-biological, semi-fungal characteristics, their special Waaaaaagh field, and their decent taste.
However, he did not recommend ordinary people eating Orks; mortals who ingested large amounts of Ork spores would undergo genetic mutation and gradually turn green.
Russ found it interesting; the vastness of the universe was unimaginable, and he had never seen such a miraculous species as the Greenskin Ork.
"The War College library has a lot of Ork knowledge; you can learn more."
Blazkowicz reminded his brother to prepare early for encountering Orks.
The powerful creations of the Old Ones could never disappear from the universe; the Imperium would one day encounter them.
At that time, the Primarchs leading their Legions would be the first to bear the brunt.
"I will definitely study it." Russ nodded solemnly; from his brother's description, he deeply understood the Orks' war potential.
"What's that again?" As the group moved forward, Russ, like a curious child, constantly asked about the history recorded on the stone carvings.
Before the end of the stone carving scroll, he saw Blazkowicz holding a peculiar greatsword, pointing to the sky, and his brother's body emitting a dazzling light.
Around him were Sentinels warriors holding spears, fighting valiantly and repelling terrifying, hideous monsters.
Those monsters were unprecedented; even in the stone carving, they exuded pure malice.
There were those with bulging muscles, bat wings on their backs, prominent horns, and faces full of rage; there were graceful, four-armed blasphemers; there were those as bloated as small mountains, covered in festering sores and full of joy; there were bird-like figures with wings on their backs, holding raging fires.
There were also various types, large and small, gnashing their teeth and claws, surging towards the Sentinels.
Their hideous and evil appearance was very similar to creatures from human legends—demons.
The war between the two sides was terrifying; the demons attacked the Sentinels, surrounding Blazkowicz and his warriors.
But the outcome of the war was not hard to guess; his brother was still alive, and the Argentum still stood in Argent Nur.
"Some ordinary Xenos." Blazkowicz's eyes scanned the murals, a helpless smile on his face, and he shrugged, saying: "With some exaggerated artistic creation added."
He spoke as if it were fact, his expression unchanged, even his tone somewhat helpless, as if lamenting the artists' excessive creativity.
"I see." Russ nodded slowly, his gaze leaving the carvings, not delving deeper.
Out of trust in his brother, he would not discuss the matter further.
But Russ knew that those terrifying things were definitely not "simple Xenos."
He was an extraordinary Primarch, capable of quickly reconstructing the truth of an event from subtle clues.
This massive stone carving scroll, which had previously displayed legends and heroic epics, had never featured such peculiar monsters.
They seemed to appear out of thin air, then were defeated by Blazkowicz and the Sentinels, completely disappearing from history.
Humans, relying solely on imagination or any artistic embellishment, could not reproduce that kind of malice and terror.
Before Russ withdrew his gaze, he deeply etched the carved images into his mind, imprinting those monsters onto his retina and into his brain, vowing never to forget them.
He did not delve into specific details, instead asking his brother: "What is the fastest way to eliminate them?"
"Swords and fire…" Blazkowicz answered without hesitation, swords and flames being most effective against demons, and after a brief thought, he added: "And psychic powers."
This was the limit of what he could reveal; Chaos knowledge was a true taboo.
Blazkowicz found himself in the same predicament as King Nowick, not daring to reveal too much, unsure of his brother's attitude towards Chaos.
He also had another apprehension: the Emperor had repeatedly instructed that Primarchs or Space Marines must not be allowed to know about Chaos.
Although he didn't know the Emperor's exact intentions, there weren't many things he cared about, so repeated instructions surely had a reason.
Furthermore, the fewer people who knew about the existence or knowledge of Chaos, the better, as it could weaken Chaos' power.
"Swords, fire, psychic powers, huh?" Russ murmured softly, noting down the methods for dealing with the unknown monsters.
His beastly intuition told him that the scenes carved on the stone wall were definitely not simple, and knowing how to deal with them would certainly be beneficial.
The two fell silent then; Russ stopped asking questions, and Blazkowicz revealed no more secrets.
"These are the old King Nowick and Queen Elise." Flano's somber voice sounded at the opportune moment, introducing the statues at the very end to Russ.
Beside the Royal Palace Avenue, at the end of the queue of royal statues, the lifelike statue of the old King Nowick stood tall.
His statue was the most unique, seated on a throne, with Queen Elise standing beside him.
As the saying goes, seeing things brings back memories; Blazkowicz also had a somber look between his brows, still missing his father and mother when he looked up at their statues.
Russ looked up at the faces of the statues; the man's face was extraordinarily majestic, and the woman's was beautiful and kind.
He chose to kneel on one knee, showing respect to his brother's parents, bowing his head in silent mourning for a long time.
This pair of "mortal" parents had nurtured his brother's great soul; he had to respect them.
Marie dismounted from his shoulder, silently mourning her grandfather and grandmother.
The Space Wolves following behind him, with a clatter, knelt down alongside the Primarch, expressing their respect for the Primarch's parents.
The two wolves, Freki and Geri, lay prostrate on the ground, ears drooping, emitting soft "whimpers" from their mouths and noses, as if crying for them.
After a brief period of mourning, the procession continued forward, arriving at the Royal Palace Hall of the Argentum.
Returning to the ancient bluestone hall, Blazkowicz felt a slight sense of disorientation; he hadn't been back here for a long time.
After Argent Nur was unsealed, his office had moved to the Nur Ring to handle more numerous official duties.
Blazkowicz felt a certain reluctance towards the Royal Palace of the Argentum.
The events of that year were vivid in his memory, and he could never forget every detail of what happened that day.
Beside the throne was a chair, serving as the seat for "Regent" Flano, used to handle urgent matters.
People waited in the hall, humans from all over Argent Nur, who had come to pay respects to King Nowick's blood brother.
They knew a great deal about the Imperium of Man, aware of the Emperor and the twenty-one Primarchs.
They all turned their gaze towards the giant beside King Nowick, a figure combining wildness and refined temperament, and two striking giant wolves.
"The banquet begins."
With the main characters present, Flano announced the start of the banquet.
The mermaid raised her head, singing the most beautiful songs with the most melodious voice.
The banquet began, and people from all corners of the world met the Emperor's offspring, expressing their respect to King Nowick's blood brothers.
During the banquet, hosts and guests alike enjoyed themselves. Two different cultures, in their mutual exchange, sparked new ideas.
Russ appeared at ease, demonstrating superb political skills to everyone who came to see him.
He quoted classics and was adept at philosophy. The Primarch's extraordinary wisdom earned the admiration of all present, who were captivated by his remarkable charisma.
The Great Wolf was not surprised; as a Primarch, he inherently surpassed mortals.
However, he was not arrogant, because the extraordinary capabilities of the body did not represent true wisdom and foresight.
From a soul perspective, the Primarch and the mortal were no different.
After meeting everyone, Russ finally took the time to approach the glass tank and carefully observe the beautiful mermaid within.
He had never seen such a fantastical creature. In the long-standing legends of humanity, mermaids usually possessed beautiful faces and enchanting, seductive voices.
What he saw before him was indeed consistent with the legends; the mermaid was not only of peerless beauty, but her singing was as melodious as a heavenly sound.
When Russ returned after satisfying his curiosity, Blazkowicz told him about the mermaid's origins and past.
Russ was greatly astonished. The barbarism of humanity in the Dark Age of Technology, hidden beneath advanced technology, deeply shocked this seemingly barbaric Primarch.
With the aid of technology, humans arrogantly eliminated those who stood in their way, shaping living beings and matter into whatever forms they desired.
Finally, Russ pondered for a long time and quietly asked a question that left Blazkowicz in silence.
—Is the mermaid oviparous, viviparous, or ovoviviparous?
At his brother's sudden curiosity, Blazkowicz's mouth twitched, and his gaze swept over the mermaid singing in the hall. He did not have the nerve to ask her.
Russ pondered for a long time, eager to ask, but ultimately chose to give up.
A simple welcome banquet lasted until night, adding a touch of liveliness to the usually quiet palace.
By the time Russ awoke from his peaceful sleep, it was already noon the next day. The two brothers then went together to the Nur Ring.
"Since leaving Fenris, I have rarely slept soundly in unfamiliar places." As the two walked through the ring-shaped ecological city, Russ stretched lazily, his eyes still heavy with sleep, and sighed,
"Even in the Imperial Palace on Terra, I rarely sleep. Old Man Malcador doesn't like to see us idle and always pushes some work on us."
"Even when I do sleep, I never wake up naturally, constantly disturbed by various trivial matters, or my inner stress keeps me from sleeping."
"So every time I go to Terra, I leave as soon as I'm done with my business; I rarely stay there."
Russ clasped his hands behind his head, looked up at Argent Nur above, and a look of annoyance appeared on his face.
Blazkowicz nodded empathetically. Malcador would not let go of any high-value labor. He had also worked in the Department of the Interior.
That old man was also very fond of him, saying that a Primarch educated in a normal court had a grand vision in his suggestions.
Every time he saw the piled-up documents, he felt his scalp tingle.
He once again thanked Sophia in his heart, because the existence of the Central Law spared him the suffering of office work.
If he were to work according to the Imperial model, with the ever-expanding dominion of the Nur Stars, Blazkowicz would have little time to rest.
The two enjoyed a leisurely stroll, accompanied by two giant wolves, chatting all the way to the ring-shaped palace.
Russ also enjoyed the rest. He had a whole year to rest properly, under the guise of preparations.
The Space Wolves Fleet was being refitted in other Forge Worlds, and he might have to constantly pay attention.
But this was the Nur Stars, a highly intelligent human-ruled area, and he did not need to do everything himself.
In the palace hall, a table rose from the polished floor as the two arrived, with two large chairs facing each other.
As the two sat down, a holographic image lit up on the table, showing a scan of the Space Wolves Fleet.
Within the Nur Stars, after a brief Warp journey, the Space Wolves Fleet arrived at a Forge World and completed the fleet scan.
The holographic image displayed the ship repair and firepower upgrade plans that Argent Nur could provide for the fleet within one year.
Russ carefully browsed the upgrade plans, and golden light erupted from his golden eyes.
His long-cherished wish was finally granted today.
For the first time, Russ felt the convenience of technology. After a few operations, he understood the principle behind it.
It was similar to an assembly game; one only needed to select a modification plan and apply it to the chosen ship.
He was in high spirits, praising the advanced technology of the Nur Stars while cursing the Adeptus Mechanicus.
For similar-level modification plans, the Adeptus Mechanicus would go through various meetings and finally come up with a stripped-down plan.
Then those red-robed figures would arrogantly state: "The spaceship is the conquering will of the Omnissiah and cannot be altered at will."
Looking at the plan his brother provided, it was the maximum level of modification.
If time had allowed, Argent Nur could have provided even more powerful ship modifications, allowing the warships to be completely reborn.
"You can choose any of these plans." Blazkowicz leaned back in his seat, watching Russ choose with a smile, recalling his own excitement when playing holographic games.
"Thank you for your generosity." Russ' expression was solemn as he focused intently on selecting modification plans for each warship.
Blazkowicz did not disturb him, merely picking up the brief from his time away and quietly flipping through it.
The hall was unusually quiet, with only the faint glow of the holographic images.
After reviewing the information, Blazkowicz nodded repeatedly. The expansion rate of the Nur Stars was moderate but steadily progressing.
It was not that the conquest fleet's progress was slow, but rather that the plan he had initially formulated limited the speed of conquest.
The Nur Stars had three major regions: the Core Territory, the Controlled Territory, and the Influenced Territory.
The Core Territory, with Argent Nur as its center, was a three-dimensional region of two hundred light-years, including Argent Nur's homeland.
The Controlled Territory extended from two hundred light-years to five hundred light-years, a stable domain under absolute control.
From five hundred to one thousand light-years, or even further, was the Influenced Territory.
Due to the vast distances, the construction of the quantum communication network was slow, so only influence could be exerted.
The main direction of conquest now was the Controlled Territory, striving to bring all valuable Worlds under the rule of the Nur Stars.
The three-hundred-light-year ring-shaped three-dimensional space contained billions of stars, and planets were countless.
There were various xenos and lost human homeworlds.
Argent Nur's thousand exploration ships were a drop in the bucket for exploring such a vast cosmic region.
Blazkowicz's strategy dictated that within the Controlled Territory, conquered Worlds must establish corresponding governing bodies.
This was to help local Worlds restore production and assume corresponding responsibilities within the Nur Stars, preventing them from falling into famine and chaos again.
Within the Controlled Territory, as the conquest deepened, the quantum communication network was also gradually being built.
With fast and efficient communication, Sophia could monitor planets and allocate resources to generate quotas.
Reasonable resource allocation could effectively prevent wasted productivity and ensure the employment of people in subordinate Worlds.
Under such a process, the speed of conquest was relatively slow, but it ensured control over the conquered Worlds.
The liberated people became more accepting of the Nur Stars' rule, and it would only take one or two generations for them to fully pledge their allegiance.
As for the Influenced Territory, for now, they could only occupy high-value Worlds and establish dozens of fortress systems to serve as bridgeheads for future conquests.
The fleets led by Blazkowicz, Harlan, and Senna had established a formidable reputation, conquering hundreds of major Worlds and marking countless resource Worlds.
Other smaller fleets, led by the Sentinels Masters, also achieved significant results.
Data continuously scrolled before his eyes, and Blazkowicz was very satisfied, a smile constantly on his face.
His orders had not been in vain; the conquest fleet had performed very well.
Within the Controlled Territory, twenty-eight newly transformed agricultural Worlds distributed enough food to every World, ensuring that no one went hungry.
In some lost Worlds ravaged by hunger, a single meal was enough to make the local residents willingly submit to Argent Nur.
Force was the last resort; winning hearts was the best strategy.
Feeding the hungry, bringing hope to the desperate, and liberating the oppressed.
Using appropriate methods, they took one World after another without bloodshed.
Argent Nur's fleet and system brought relative fairness.
As for absolute fairness, Blazkowicz dared not promise; he did not have the ability to make such a promise.
But the relatively fair environment allowed the people of those conquered Worlds to live a life hundreds of times better than before.
Occasionally, old-era elites would jump out and rebel.
Such acts of overthrowing the government, detached from the people's base, were met with swift action; before the security forces could even depart, the leaders were already apprehended by enraged militiamen.
"Finally, it's done."
Just as Blazkowicz was browsing the information, Russ let out a cheerful sound. He had finished selecting the fleet upgrade plans.
"According to my estimation, the modified fleet's combat power will increase severalfold!"
Before coming to Argent Nur, Russ could not have imagined that the combat power of the entire fleet could be increased several times over.
A several-fold increase in combat power was no exaggeration.
The increased range and enhanced maneuverability of warships gave rise to an entirely new tactical system.
Blazkowicz opened the holographic image and carefully read the refit plan submitted by Russ.
Reinforced force field struts made the ship's structure tougher, enhancing its durability and resistance to bombardments.
Agile steering engines, a complete set of small steering engines, allowed large ships to turn faster.
More advanced weapon systems increased the fleet's firepower by fifty percent, allowing them to shoot further and reload faster.
Replacing the plasma engines with more powerful ones satisfied the warships' surging energy demands and provided longer combat endurance.
The completion of these core component modifications indeed significantly boosted the fleet's combat power, along with numerous other detailed changes.
Perhaps influenced by his time on Argent Nur's ships, Russ took this opportunity to improve the living conditions of the crew, and the living conditions of the indentured laborers also saw some improvement.
"Sophia." Blazkowicz called out to the Grand Steward after reviewing the items, and as her ethereal blue figure appeared, he immediately instructed, "You may begin work. Complete the ship modifications as quickly as possible."
"Estimated completion in ten Terra months," Sophia replied precisely, her eyes flashing.
Russ nodded in satisfaction. Completing the refit in ten months showed the terrifying productivity of his brother's domain.
It was important to note that the refit scope was not limited to the fleet that had arrived at Argent Nur, but also included other ships coming from various Forge Worlds of the Imperium to supplement the fleet.
The Wolf King's heart was filled with joy.
Fighting alongside his brother, striking hard at the xenos, not only brought immense honor but also enhanced the fleet's combat power.
It was well worth it!
Though honor was precious, it was somewhat ethereal. The real firepower of warships could secure any honor.
Russ' satisfied expression was noted by Blazkowicz, who smiled without comment.
The plan Sophia provided, and the technology involved, indeed represented the limit of external modifications.
However, this was only for external technology; the true core technology was not touched upon at all.
Regarding the use of core technology, Blazkowicz had strictly forbidden its outflow to ensure Argent Nur's technological lead.
It wasn't that he was stingy or unwilling to share.
Rather, given the current state of humanity, excessive sharing of technology would lead to even more terrible conflicts.
There was also the Adeptus Mechanicus factor; those red-robed individuals who fetishized technology posed a huge hidden danger.
If Argent Nur dared to share technology today, tomorrow the red robes would dare to label it as 'omnissiah,' and the day after, they would turn around and accuse the Nur Stars of using heretical technology.
Then the Adeptus Mechanicus would monopolize technology, seal away advanced techniques, forbid their outflow, and ultimately poison all of humanity.
Therefore, the use of technology had to be under strict supervision.
In the Nur Stars, Sophia could ensure technological protection, but once outside of controlled areas, the consequences were unimaginable.
"You must be careful of the Adeptus Mechanicus," Blazkowicz said playfully, looking at Russ and giving him an early warning.
The production and maintenance of most of the Imperial fleet's ships were handled entirely by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Even the upgraded Space Wolves ships would ultimately be maintained by them.
Blazkowicz wasn't worried about technology leakage; he simply wanted to tease Russ.
Because the ship upgrades didn't change the technical route, only the manufacturing process and precision differed.
Once the finished products were installed on the ships, the Tech-Priests would realize it was a manufacturing process advantage, not a different technical route.
"What should I do then?" Russ asked anxiously, a flicker of struggle in his eyes, scratching his ears in frustration.
Blazkowicz wasn't in a hurry to explain, suppressing a smile as he watched his brother's predicament.
"I've got it!" Russ' golden eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands together with a 'snap,' having found a solution.
"Tell me."
Blazkowicz was intrigued, wanting to hear what idea he had come up with.
"Do you know about Tech-Marines?" Russ grinned, proudly displaying his wit.
Blazkowicz naturally knew. Tech-Marines originated from the 'Olympus Accord' signed by the Emperor and Mars.
Each Legion would send a portion of its Space Marines to Mars for training, to understand the principles of mechanical operation, and after learning, they would serve their respective Legions, maintaining various war machines.
This was originally a very good thing, but Tech-Marines were ostracized within the Legions.
Due to the unique nature of the Martian Adeptus Mechanicus, learning their technological knowledge required faith in the omnissiah.
Thus, those wearing red power armor and carrying auxiliary backpacks had a very low status within the Legions.
During a war charge, Astartes would roar and bellow, shouting the names of their Primarch and the Emperor, rushing forward to slaughter the enemies of the Imperium.
At such a moment, a sudden 'Praise the omnissiah' from the side was quite jarring.
After the war ended, while their Legion brothers engaged in boisterous discussions, the Tech-Marines would be muttering binary to their machines.
Tech-Marines ensured the Legion's combat effectiveness, but for various reasons, they became 'outsiders' in the Legions.
In all Imperial Legions, Astartes who became Tech-Marines had no further upward mobility.
This was because the Primarchs or Legion high command did not want to see individuals tainted by Martian culture leading their Legions in the future.
If a Tech-Marine were to hold high command in a Legion, would the Legion become Martianized?
No one knew the answer to this question, so it had to be nipped in the bud, completely cutting off the invasion of Adeptus Mechanicus ideology.
"Within the 'Stars Accord,' the Nur Stars' provision of technical talent to the Imperium is strictly limited."
Blazkowicz slowly shook his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes, rejecting Russ' idea.
Actually, there was a loophole in this; Argent Nur could not openly send talent to the Imperium, but it didn't say it couldn't accept personnel sent by the Imperium for study.
There were many such loopholes in the 'Stars Accord,' carefully selected by Sophia to prevent excessive restrictions.
"Hmph~" Russ' eyes darted, and he said indifferently, "What if I buy weapons from Argent Nur and learn how to use them from the included instruction manuals?"
"Are those red-robed zealots really going to openly investigate me and you?"
Blazkowicz stared intently at Russ, his gaze seemingly piercing his soul, scrutinizing his brother.
Such a petty trick was something anyone could think of, but it was rare for a Primarch to shamelessly voice it.
The two wolf brothers turned their faces away, looking elsewhere, pretending not to know him.
Under the scrutinizing gaze, Russ' old face flushed, and he awkwardly rubbed his face, maintaining his composure.
"You still want weapons?" Blazkowicz didn't dwell on it, instead hearing other intentions in Russ' words.
"Yes." Russ rubbed his hands, a smile plastered on his face, like a market hawker.
He quickly rattled off his demands: "One million bolters, one hundred thousand plasma pistols, fifty thousand melta weapons, ten thousand various power weapons, and one billion bolter rounds."
After hearing this, Blazkowicz's thick brows furrowed, and he carefully scrutinized Russ, as if saying—are you serious?
While Argent Nur could easily produce the vast array of weapons and equipment, too many political factors were involved.
Argent Nur itself didn't care, but the problem lay with the Space Wolves.
The Space Wolves had no Forge World of their own, nor any industrial base; their supplies relied entirely on Imperial provisions.
Where did the Imperium's supplies come from? Nowhere else but Mars.
Once the Martian Adeptus Mechanicus learned that the Space Wolves were acquiring arms from Argent Nur, they would certainly make trouble for Russ.
Argent Nur upgrading the Space Wolves' ships was an act of brotherhood, not involving an exchange of interests.
Trading weapons, however, was different; the nature of the two changed.
"My brother sends me weapons, and I send my brother resources." Russ gave a devilish smile, spreading his hands to the sides. "Is that too much?"
Blazkowicz rolled his eyes, shaking his head with a speechless laugh: "Do you think they'll believe that?"
"I don't know if they'll believe it, but it's enough if I believe it." Russ was determined; this deal had to be made.
The Wolf King had long since thought it through; this batch of weapons had to be acquired to enhance the Legion's combat power.
The Imperial weapons produced by his brother's realm boasted at least a thirty percent advantage over similar Martian types in terms of paper statistics, making him extremely eager.
Seeing that his mind was made up, Blazkowicz did not interfere further, lest he appear petty.
He asked with great curiosity, "What resources will you use to trade for so many weapons?"
Aside from Fenris, the Space Wolves had no apparent Forge Worlds or other sources of income.
Argent Nur did not accept Imperial currency, leaving only various industrial raw materials as trade options.
"You don't need to worry about that. I've calculated it carefully; I have the means to pay for the trade goods."
Russ patted his chest, swearing to his brother that he could pay goods of equivalent value.
"Alright then…" Though Blazkowicz had doubts, he still nodded and agreed to the trade.
After all, in a galaxy as vast as this, it wasn't strange for the Space Wolves to have some private assets.
The number of weapons his brother needed far exceeded the Legion's standard prepared by the Imperium, and he couldn't help but ask, "What do you plan to do with so many weapons?"
"Stockpile them," Russ replied with a serious expression.