“Yesterday she told me she wanted to practice more with me.
Don’t you think this is a bit too fast for her?”
Within the sprawling Imperial Palace atop the Himalayas, Valdor expressed his doubts to The Emperor.
“She just learned how to fight, and you’re already asking her to lead an army into battle?”
The Emperor did not even look up.
At this moment, he and Malcador were using their psychic powers to split their consciousness into multiple parts to handle administrative affairs.
“I didn’t expect you to be so considerate of Number Zero now, Valdor.”
Valdor stood to the side and curled his lip.
“If your other Primarch sons were as easy to deal with as she is, I’d save myself a lot of trouble.”
The Emperor rubbed his brow.
He was truly busy.
Aside from the mountain of administrative work, the flaws of the Thunder Warriors had not yet fully manifested, the new generation of warriors, the Astartes, were nearing completion, and in a while, he had to discuss cooperation with the Adeptus Mechanicus on Mars.
The work on repairing the Webway still had no leads.
Even if he split himself into a thousand parts, The Emperor felt he was busy to death.
“Valdor, I’m letting her lead the army not just because I believe in her, but more importantly because she doesn’t believe in herself.
Just a few days ago, she was merely an ordinary person from the 2K era.
Back then, humanity couldn’t even leave the Sol System, yet now she is to participate in a war covering the entire galaxy.
So she is afraid, she is fearful.
I understand her, but I want her to understand that she can do it.
She didn’t come here because her soul luckily entered a Primarch’s body; rather, only a Primarch’s body is worthy of her soul.
Therefore, she needs a trial—a trial that ends in victory.
After that, she will truly face the fact that she is a Primarch and the Princess of the Empire.”
Valdor raised a question: “What if she fails?”
Malcador, who was also split into a thousand parts and sitting nearby handling affairs, spoke up.
“What’s the panic?
There’s still me, and there’s still The Emperor.”
Valdor looked at the two old fogies who had the Child’s life all planned out.
“I’ve only just realized how truly ruthless you two are.”
“No salary for you this month.”
“Don’t!
I was just joking.”
…Inside a tent at the Imperial border, Morningstar stared at the strategic map of Terra with a deep frown.
Setting aside the minor factions that would crumble at a touch, there were still many tough nuts for the Empire to crack.
The nation of Albia, entrenched in North America; their monarch has repeatedly refused to kneel to The Emperor and has used machines similar to later-generation Dreadnoughts and armies to resist the Thunder Warriors’ attacks multiple times.
The Caucasian Wastes, occupying the Caucasus Mountains.
Although the Thunder Warriors haven’t clashed with them yet, it’s rumored they possess powerful gene-modified creations.
Hy Brasil, the most powerful techno-barbarian force in South America, possesses advanced ion reactor technology.
The Moranson Federation possesses a large number of Psyker units and an army of cyborgs, occupying the Scandinavia region, which was once Northern Europe.
The Pan-Pacific Empire; its leader, Nathanduum, is said to be one of the smartest people on Terra.
Rumors say he can grasp every thought of the citizens he rules and possesses machines that can control and distort the minds of others.
The Ursh Empire, entrenched in Central Asia.
Although its technological strength doesn’t seem to match other techno-barbarians, it possesses eerie and powerful forces.
These are just the obvious tough nuts; those minor factions can’t be ignored either.
They only appear weak on the surface; if pushed too hard, they might pull some Dark Age of Technology relic out of nowhere, shouting something like, ‘Damn it, you’re driving me into a corner?
Then let’s go!’ while blowing everyone to kingdom come.
Morningstar had a bitter look on her face, cursing The Emperor in her heart over and over.
Who starts someone off with a top-tier match?
Whether you’re a mule or a horse, you have to be taken out for a walk, but taking me straight to the battlefield—what are you trying to do?
“Is Her Highness dissatisfied with our past actions?”
Iligos, the Primarch of the Sixth Legion of Thunder Warriors, asked Morningstar cautiously.
Since a moment ago, the Princess’s expression had been extremely distorted.
He naturally wouldn’t think Morningstar found the enemy difficult; he only thought this was Her Highness expressing her dissatisfaction.
Morningstar waved her hands hurriedly: “No, no, Mr.
Iligos.
Your actions have been perfect.
I’m very grateful for your efforts, otherwise I’d have an even bigger headache now.
I was just thinking about how exactly this war should be fought.”
Iligos was overwhelmed by the favor.
The Princess actually called him “Mr.”?
Ignoring the jealous looks from his colleagues, he asked Morningstar: “Then, Your Highness, what are your thoughts?”
Morningstar’s gaze sharpened, and her decadent, lazy aura vanished instantly.
“Everyone, please help me find a few mortals.
They don’t need powerful strength, just to be quick-witted and smart.”
“Mortals?
Does Your Highness not trust our abilities?” Kilihose, the Primarch of the Twelfth Legion, asked hurriedly.
“I trust you very much, Mr.
Kilihose.” Morningstar shook her head.
“But the next plan can only be carried out by mortals.”
“Look here,” Morningstar pointed to a certain location on the map, a confident smile spreading across her face.
“The Federation of Indonesia.
Their Bishop, Tang, is a real madman.
He demands forced breeding for citizens he deems ‘genetically compatible,’ while those with what he sees as inferior bloodlines are forced into extinction.
Almost everyone who opposed him has been burned to death by his orders.
Heh, it probably won’t be long before he’s overthrown by his own subordinates.”
“But we can’t wait that long,” Morningstar raised her finger and shook it gently.
“We can plant people within the Federation of Indonesia to secretly incite riots.
After Tang is overthrown, they will surely fall into a state of chaos.
That will be our best opportunity to strike.”
“After taking the Federation of Indonesia,” Morningstar pointed to Oceania again, “we use it as a springboard to strike directly at the heart of the Pan-Pacific Empire—Oceania.
It’s said that Albia and the Pan-Pacific Empire are in constant conflict.
We can use diplomacy!
Take this opportunity to cooperate with Albia; I heard Father seems to admire their lord quite a bit.
We’ll attack the Pan-Pacific Empire from two sides.
This way, the major threats on the Empire’s eastern front will be cleared.
The factions to the west are too complex; it’s better to take them slow.”
“But remember,” Morningstar looked up and scanned all the Thunder Warriors, “the attack on the Federation of Indonesia must not be rushed.
If the enemy hasn’t completely fractured yet, external intervention might instead unite them.
That would be more loss than gain.”
“That’s why I want to find some mortals.
The characteristics of Thunder Warriors are too obvious; it’s impossible to infiltrate.
But don’t be impatient, everyone.
There are still many tough battles waiting for you in the future.”
“Long live Her Highness!”
The tent echoed with a roar like crashing waves.
All the Thunder Warriors could not hide their excitement, and their previous doubts melted away like snow.
They all believed that before long, Terra would be unified by the Empire, and they would be cast into the galactic battlefield to fight for all of humanity.
(Emperor: You’re right.)