Warhammer 40: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 163 Sintira's Law: The Duel

The commotion inside the Star Harbor was enormous.

A conflict between an Astronautical Army and a Space Marine Chapter deserves everyone's attention, not to mention the Space Wolves involved.

The special status of Astartes in the Empire made the nobles of Sintira marvel at the audacity of the Rangers.

Sintira's elite planetary defense forces were also mobilized, and even planetary governor Hax had to go to the starport.

As one of Sintila's key facilities, he didn't want it to be reduced to ruins in this pointless conflict.

But when he arrived at Star Harbor and saw the situation that was causing him so much trouble, he was also at a loss.

As governor, he had no authority to command the emperor's angels, and he tried to seek help from the inquisition.

However, the Grand Inquisitor Cardan remained in the Triangle Palace, the headquarters of the court, and did not leave.

Calicus had too many external threats to face, and the internal strife within the Empire left it to Hax to handle. The Inquisition also did not want to get involved in this troublesome conflict.

Since it didn't involve heresy or aliens, they pretended not to see it.

"By the Emperor, Lord Harald, Grand Master Gabriel, this is still Imperial territory! What you are doing is inappropriate. No matter who is injured or killed, it is a loss for the Empire!"

"Hax said in a deep voice," he said. The guards beside him swallowed hard as they looked at the group of Astartes and the Rangers in their combat uniforms.

Harkers holds a significant position; it is, after all, the capital of a large sector, and among the top in the entire Empire.

Damon was also surprised to find that the other party's mentor was among them.

Looking at the Astartes who wasn't wearing a helmet and had white hair, the huge warhammer he was gripping tightly in his hand was showing obvious warp reactions.

This is a powerful sacred artifact known as the God-Splitter.

Gao Yi and Damon had said that they should be careful whenever they encountered a named Astartes without a helmet, as helmets in this world are like a protagonist's halo suppressor.

"Imperial laws? Governor Hax, haven't your Sintira nobles always boasted that they are above imperial laws?"

Gabriel's blatant disrespect infuriated Hax, but his years of struggle with various nobles and interest groups prevented him from showing his emotions.

Everyone knows that Gabriel's problem is a common flaw among these nobles, but it shouldn't be brought up in public.

"Grand Master Gabriel, this is slander. Sintira is loyal to the God Emperor and the Empire. We abide by the laws of the Empire. I only know that even you angels of the Emperor must abide by them, forcibly requisitioning the weapons and equipment of friendly forces, even in peacetime!"
In Sintira, private property is protected by the planet, which is why commerce and finance thrive there.

"The laws of Sintira are also the laws of the Empire, Grand Master Gabriel."

Hacks' tone was no longer friendly.

"You must return our equipment no matter what!"

Damon retorted without backing down.

But what's in Blood Raven's hands isn't so easy to regurgitate.

This time, Gabriel only brought the Blood Raven's Third Company. Due to the severe losses suffered by the Blood Raven, the surviving companies were all conducting recruitment work in different star sectors.

He glanced at the Space Wolves, who had already assembled under Harald's orders, and the group of fully armed Rangers.

Gabriel also did not want a direct conflict to break out.

Previously, the Chapter's technical sergeants had verified the weapon power of the C-14 at the Sintira trade market.

He knew very well that the enemy's numbers were already enough to break the armor of his own battleband members.

“Governor Hax, since you’ve mentioned the laws of Sintira, I recall that dueling is legal there, right? I even know that you can use duels to decide the right and wrong of a matter?”

Haskes didn't expect Gabriel to say that either? He clearly guessed what Gabriel meant.

However, this did not harm Hax, as Gabriel said, duels between Sintira nobles were very common.

As for Hax, as long as the conflict is resolved, he doesn't care who is right or wrong, or who suffers losses or gains.

"A duel? Indeed. If so, soldiers from the expanded region, do you accept this proposal?" Hacks looked at Damon and the others.

"A duel! Gabriel! As a chapter mentor, how dare you challenge a mortal to a duel?"

Harald disliked Gabriel, but he acknowledged Gabriel's strength. He realized that if he were to fight Gabriel, he probably wouldn't last more than a few rounds.

The fighting strength between Astartes is too mysterious and incomparable.

"I won't take action myself. I'll have my chapter members remove their power armor. Ranger commander, your physique must have been genetically enhanced as well, right?"
"If we lose, we'll requisition your technology; if you win, we'll return it to you!"

Upon hearing this, Damon laughed, but Gabriel couldn't understand why Harald laughed as well.

He had initially thought that Harald would fight on behalf of these rangers, but it was clear that Harald did not intend to do so.

Gabriel himself isn't taking action... It's good that he's taken off his armor...

Others may not know Damon's fighting prowess, but Harald certainly does...

These Night Guardians were more efficient at killing the demon legions than the Space Wolves.

Harald had experienced their physical strength even before he trained Damon and the others in armor.

Damon is much stronger now than he was a few years ago.

"No, we have conditions too. If you win, we can give you the equipment and even provide you with technical support. But if you lose, I need that thing! Not just this one, I need more!"

Damon pointed to the Eldar soul stone at the think tank's waist.

"Soul Stone? You want this?"

Gabriel hadn't expected the other party to make this request. Soulstones were useful to the Eldar, but humans couldn't use them; they mostly carried these things as a form of honor.

Indeed, there are quite a few of these things inside the battle barges of the warband.

Gabriel knew that the other party came from a merchant dynasty, and his first reaction was that the other party wanted to use these soul stones to trade with the Eldar.

He knew about the trade between the merchant dynasty and the aliens; indeed, the Ark Eldar would give up resources for the soul stones of their fellow Eldar.

However, there is also the possibility of retaliation. The soulstone that Damon is referring to belongs to an Eldar prophet who traveled a considerable distance on the path of knowledge.

The enemy even killed several of their comrades in battle.

Given the Prophet's status within the Eldar, if the other party were to attempt to trade such a Soul Stone with the Ark Eldar, they would most likely face retaliation.

However, the safety of a merchant ronin dynasty was of no concern to him, so since the other party had made this request, he might as well agree.

There was no loss for Blood Raven.

"Okay! I promise you!"

Gabriel then looked at one of his fellow members of the warband behind him.

"Lucien! You do it!"

Judging from Harald's reaction, Gabriel knew that the opponent's strength was probably greater than he had imagined.

He originally intended to send out an ordinary combat officer, but ultimately chose to send out a sergeant specializing in close combat.

Lucien also took off his helmet.

With the help of a technical sergeant, he then removed the power armor he was wearing.

Damon also shed his governor's armor.

People around them spontaneously made way for them.

(End of this chapter)