Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 263 Two People Reminiscing (Fifteenth Update)
Chen Yu tapped the edge of the control panel lightly with his mechanical fingers, causing the scarlet optical lens to flicker slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then connected the communication.

“Sage Chen Yu.” The voice that came through the communicator was steady and powerful, like a sharp blade forged from fine gold. “I heard that you have returned to Neksam and completed your ascension ceremony.”

He paused, then continued in a calm tone, "If it's convenient for you now, I'd like to greet you in person."

Even through communication devices, Sigismund's voice still carried a unique air of authority.

“You are welcome anytime, Lord Sigismund.” Chen Yu’s synthesized voice was steady as usual, but there seemed to be a slight, almost imperceptible fluctuation in it. “Please come in.”

The heavy laboratory door slid open silently, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway.

His arrival changed the atmosphere of the entire laboratory, as if even the air itself became heavier.

Sigismund is nearly 2.5 meters tall and wears ceramic power armor painted in the iconic yellow of Imperial Fist.

The armor was thick and heavy, with rigid lines, and the shoulder armor was etched with a unique insignia symbolizing the rank of a company commander.

Sigismund stood in the doorway, not wearing a helmet.

His weathered face was etched with the marks of time, each wrinkle a testament to battle.

His short, gray-white hair clung tightly to his scalp, making his sharp, hawk-like eyes seem to pierce through any disguise.

Simply standing there, it naturally exudes the magnificent aura unique to those who have experienced countless battles.

The power sword at his waist may look plain, but the wear marks on the hilt silently tell of countless life-or-death struggles.

Sigismund's gaze slowly swept across the laboratory, lingering briefly on Ignis and the Guardians of the Order, before finally settling on Chen Yu's dark red mechanical body. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of almost imperceptible satisfaction.

“Seeker of the Sage.” Sigismund’s voice was deep and clear, standing out particularly well in the quiet laboratory. “It seems you have gone further on this path of seeking knowledge than many people expected.”

Chen Yu's mechanical body emitted a slight hydraulic sound, and he nodded slightly: "Company Commander Sigismund. This promotion is also thanks to your guarantee back then."

Sigismund's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, a fleeting expression that could be described as a smile. "I'm simply settling old scores." His gaze deepened. "Many years ago, in that alley in Terra, you displayed extraordinary potential."

“Back then I was just an apprentice,” Chen Yu’s synthesized voice remained steady, “while you had already shown signs of becoming a future warrior.”

The laboratory fell silent for a moment, the air seemingly frozen in the unfinished memories between the two.

"Is your purpose in coming here this time, to discuss the dismantling of the Seventh Army Corps?" Chen Yu broke the silence first.

Sigismund's expression turned serious again, a deep shadow falling over his brow. "The 'Second Army' that Lord Guilliman pushed forward before he fell is now a done deal." His voice was low, each word carrying weight. "Lord Dorne... although he had mixed feelings about splitting up the Legion, after Lord Guilliman was seriously injured and entered the stasis field, he believed that this plan must continue, to complete the work his brother had left unfinished."

He paused for a moment, a heavy look flashing in his sharp eyes: "Lord Dorn once said that continuing this plan after Guilliman's fall was a respect for his brother's ideals, even though it meant the Seventh Legion would cease to exist."

He paused, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly: "The Seventh Legion is about to become history. In its place will be several independent battle groups that inherit the traditions of the Imperial Fist."

His fingers unconsciously caressed the hilt of the sword at his waist, a subtle movement that betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

Chen Yu's mechanical body emitted a slight hum: "The split means that each new chapter needs to rebuild its own arsenal. You've come on behalf of Lord Dorne to ensure that Nexus can take on these orders?"

“Exactly.” Sigismund nodded. “Nexus has a long history of cooperation with the Seventh Legion. Lord Dorn hopes that even with the Legion’s reorganization, this connection will continue to the new chapters.”

There was a hint of reservation in his tone, “We need a reliable source of equipment, not only that the quality meets the standards, but also that the supply is stable. The Great Sage Vox has agreed in principle, and I’m here today to finalize the specific details and the first order.”

His gaze fell on Chen Yu again: "Learning that you have been promoted to Sage and established your own laboratory here was one of the purposes of my trip. It seems that you now have a broader stage."

"Resources and authority are indeed the cornerstones of exploration." Chen Yu's synthesized voice remained calm and composed. "The orders from the new warbands are exactly the much-needed opportunities for the Forging World. The Great Sage Vox has been troubled by the shrinking orders lately."

A barely perceptible wry smile flickered across Sigismund's lips: "Opportunity always comes with challenge. To break the legion into small units... goes against Lord Dorne's original beliefs."

His voice lowered, “But now, he has become the most steadfast implementer of this policy, believing that it is to complete Guilliman’s unfinished work.”

The company commander shook his head slightly, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "New organization, new command system... everything is still being explored. Whether the dispersed forces can cope with future threats is an unknown."

His voice carried a clear hint of distrust, but it was quickly replaced by a firm tone: "However, since it is Lord Dorne's decision, the Fist of the Empire will carry it out."

Chen Yu's mechanical tentacles tapped lightly on the control panel: "Political realities often require compromise. The important thing is to ensure that the new battle group receives the same level of equipment support as the former legions."

“That is precisely the purpose of my trip.” Sigismund nodded. “To ensure that tradition continues, even if the form has changed.” He took a half step back, the mechanical joints making a slight sound. “I will not disturb your research any longer, Sage Chen Yu. May the wisdom of the Ohm Messiah guide your path. I must return to continue discussing the details with Archsage Vox.”

Before turning away, he gave Chen Yu one last deep look: "Keep in touch. The Empire... needs the strength of every loyalist, regardless of their form."

"It's my duty," Chen Yu replied succinctly.

Sigismund nodded slightly, turned, and strode away with steady steps. The heavy gate closed silently behind him, plunging the laboratory back into silence. Only a faint, lingering weight remained in the air, as if telling the story of the choices and perseverance that everyone must face in an era of change.

(End of this chapter)