Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

The prophecy of the previous travelers finally came true: the number of people capable of managing the food, clothing, housing, and transportation of 5000 canned goods using the resources of a single planet and its satellites is truly limited. The same is true for Huron. After all, you can provide a large number of light weapons and general equipment, but fleets are not so easy to manage. In the background, Huron's Star Claws Chapter numbered 3500, and there were reported sightings of 4000 to 5000 in power armor, possibly including reinforcements.

At 3500 men, that's roughly 3.5 Chapters. However, the Star Claws' fleet is far smaller than that. While more powerful than the average Chapter, it's still not commensurate with the size of its Space Marines. In the background, the Star Claws possess two super-powerful battleships (think battleships), one ancient heavy cruiser, seven assault cruisers, 3.5 various armed vessels (think escorts), and a mothership that doubles as a mobile dock.

This size isn't actually overstaffed, and it's not even the strongest of either Chapter. Take the Weepers, for example, who sided with the Hurons. They boast a mobile Chapter Monastery and shipyard, two forges, 2 support vessels, two powerful battleships, six assault cruisers, three nightguard cruisers, and 12 frigates of various classes. This fleet is actually stronger than the Star Claws. And in the background, the Weepers fleet is ultimately defeated by the Minotaurs, whose fleet is also superior!

In fact, Huron in the background fails to understand one thing: what is the true standard for a strong group? The number of Space Marines is one factor, but the more crucial factor is the fleet. For example, why did the Space Wolves dare to challenge the Inquisition? Is it really just relying on 12 Great Companies? Come on, it's the fleet!

The Space Wolves' overstaffing isn't particularly impressive, but their fleet is definitely overstaffed, boasting two large star fortresses, 2 large battleships of various types, 23-30 cruisers, and smaller vessels. (Large battleships are defined as cruisers and above.) In fleet warfare, even three Star Claws wouldn't be able to defeat the Space Wolves! (The Space Wolves rulebook mentions fleet numbers, and this is roughly the configuration.)

Another extreme example is the DA. A single Monolith plus two Glorious Queens, not to mention the other warships, is enough to send the Inquisition reeling. And yet, the DA is so arrogant that they can just make up a reason and get the Terra Central to agree to add a branch. With this combination, who dares to hold them accountable? They'd be wiped out along the way.

(Some of the more powerful wargroups in the background have 2 to 3 battleships, and some even have a mobile fortress. Cruisers generally have less than 10 ships.)

So, in essence, the Huron in the background only increased the number of regiments, but did not bring in the fleet, which resulted in the Star Claw's actual limited strength.

What about this dimension? Huron's farming skills were fully utilized, but building a fleet was still a challenge. After all, Huron could farm, recruit, and possess the charisma to keep other warbands on his side. But the problem was that he lacked technical skills! The quality of his own ships was poor and the price was high. Buying warships from outside was both restrictive and expensive.

If Huron had been less ambitious and agreed to hand over planetary management to the Terra Core, then building a fleet worthy of a First-Class Chapter would have been a breeze. Terra would have equipped it accordingly. But Huron refused! His farming skills were still somewhat lacking. As a result, while Huron on this plane possessed First-Class Chapter personnel, his fleet still fell short of the First-Class Chapter's capabilities. So now, he's resorting to unorthodox tactics. Interfering in the affairs of neighboring planets is just one example, a rather shady and unethical approach.

"This guy is also collecting extra taxes in parts of the Maelstrom," the Emperor said. "He's quite clever. He's contacted the Sub-Moffs and is using them to collect taxes from certain fleets. Simply put, he's taking more from the weaker ones and less from the stronger ones. With the Sub-Moffs' endorsement, this makes sense from a regulatory perspective. It's just that everyone else is taking a cut behind the scenes," the Emperor said with interest. Honestly, when it comes to moral principles, the Emperor is more flexible than the Traveler.

The empire is vast, and each region has its own rules and regulations, including local taxes. This traveler is difficult to manage. I don't have time to deal with so much messiness. But what about Huron? He's the type of person who's been much more restrained than he was in the background, but some of his actions still irritate the traveler. Many of his actions fall into a gray area.

"In addition, Khorne's followers have also appeared on Badab Prime, and he is somewhat interested in Huron. We have to take care of this matter. As for this man, I think we should focus on saving him. After all, he is capable and has some responsibility. Let's think of a way to make him more obedient." The Emperor said with a smile.

"Haha, if you want to solve it quickly, you can just let the Emperor's servants take people to capture the person and bring him back to Terra. Killing people is easy, but destroying their hearts is difficult. If you want to solve the problem fundamentally, it will take some effort." said the traveler.

"By the way, isn't the demonic disaster in the Extreme Star Region? Let him deal with it, and also let your people move. Let's give him a little shock first, and then talk to him reasonably." said the emperor.

Malzor didn't become the Emperor's servant. He was skilled enough, and his identity wasn't a problem. After all, turning a demon wasn't a problem for the Traveler. The only problem was that Malzor was a free creature of the Warp, so the Traveler and the Emperor granted him the identity of another, along with the ability to navigate the real universe. He, on the other hand, simply took on the occasional job. Most of the time, he wandered around on his own, sometimes visiting Fulgrim.

"Okay, then let's give this guy some shocks from the old predecessors." The traveler said. To be honest, this plane empire is powerful not only in technology and scale, but also in the many powerful people. The older generation has been preserved to the present by the gods through various means, and the new generation has many powerful people because of the good environment.

After all, in the background, Dante definitely wouldn't be able to command large armies, because in the background, Dante never had the opportunity to command large armies. During the Battle of Baal, although many Blood Angels successors arrived, honestly, because they had been fighting separately for so long, they didn't know how to fight as a legion. The planet's defense was also simply divided into areas, lacking coordination and high-end combat power. After all, in the Great Crusade, the legion had Stormbirds, Brutal Blades, and organized heavy dreadnoughts, but in 40K, most of these things are no longer available.

---------

"Master, our ship has been intercepted. It's the Star Claws, and they're forcibly requisitioning our fleet and knights! Earl Grayer has already gone to negotiate with them," a knight's squire told Mozai. After receiving orders from above, Mozai, hoping to loosen up, hitched a ride with a fleet of Knight Rangers. This fleet, composed of knight families, excelled at traveling and fighting for justice. They could directly attack any aliens or Chaos creatures, with the client providing the necessary support for any losses. They were a high-end mercenary. And now, as this Knight Ranger fleet reached the Maelstrom, it was blocked by Huron.

Chapter 484 Disputes and Solutions

"Dare to challenge the established Knight Houses? This Huron is quite interesting," Demon Disaster thought to himself. "Alright, tell Lord Count Regel I'll be back soon." In this plane, the Knights must also "advance with the times." Simply put, the major Knight Houses remain a reliable military force for the Mechanicus and the Empire. At the same time, some of the more outstanding and far-sighted Knight Houses also serve as Rogue Traders. If they are willing to reform their planets, the Terra Central will provide them with adequate benefits.

What can we say about the Knights? While there are some stubborn old men, they are generally loyal to the Empire, fearless, and truly courageous. Their moral standards are far higher than those of most bureaucrats. Regarding these people, the Imperial Empire adheres to the principle of transformation and restoration. As long as they avoid feudalism, promote the advancement of their planet, and improve the quality of life for the civilian population, everything else will be easy. They are given fleets, technology, and a future. In fact, later on, among the Emperor's retainers, there are former Imperial Knights.

Grayer's Red Manticore family was a renowned knightly family within the Ultima Segmentum. Members of the family had once met the Primarch, earning an audience with Guilliman for their outstanding performance during the Heresy and receiving a Rogue Trader license from the Primarch. Later, during the Eye of Terror expedition, they served under the then Imperial Minister of War, securing exemption from the Ultima Segmentum. This exemption allowed the Red Manticore family to refuse requisitions of supplies, including from Chapters, under certain circumstances.

Although Count Regel was a side branch of the family, he was still a recognized earl of the Empire, and his knight and merchant fleets were exempt from taxation. Furthermore, this fleet itself was formidable, with 12 large ships of varying sizes, including an Oberon-class battleship, a large cruiser, three cruisers, various transport vessels, and three squadrons of destroyers.

Honestly, when it comes to the Red Manticore family, most Chapters wouldn't dare to provoke them. After all, this is the Ultima Segmentum, and the Primarch is still around. If they're in the right, Guilliman or the Imperial Munitions can't deny what they've signed, right? This Planar Empire has one good thing going for it: the Imperial leadership still holds sway.

It was easy for Mozai to enter this fleet. While the merchant fleet was resting, the Earl organized a sword fighting competition. After all, he was a veteran Imperial noble, and he always had some inherited hobbies. Upon hearing the news, Mozai came. With his Sword Master certificate issued by the Emperor's Children Legion, he was naturally invited, and he won the championship without exception! Of course, this certificate only facilitated his actions. Otherwise, if it were just a matter of skill, Mozai's level would be enough to evaluate Fulgrim's swordsmanship!

In pure swordplay, many of the Emperor's retainers and Primarchs of the 30th rank were no match for Scourge, even though Scourge's forte was the spear. This former Great Demon possessed considerable talent, and Scourge hadn't wasted a single moment in the past 1 years. He had truly honed his skills, becoming a true master. Many of the Empire's current swordsmanship styles can be traced back to him, a move that inadvertently garnered him a measure of respect. The Emperor and the Traveler had promised Scourge they wouldn't block his path to success, and the Supremes had kept their word.

Since they were nominally riding on someone else's ship, Demon Scourge was bound to go, and he also wanted to see what kind of person this man known as the Tyrant of Badab was. A moment later, aboard the Bear gunship, a gift from Guilliman, the group arrived aboard Huron's flagship, the second-class battleship Sovereign. There was no other option; first-class battleships were too expensive and demanding to maintain. Currently, there were no void docks on the planet of Badab that could accommodate a 16-kilometer-long warship. The largest first-class battleship was actually just shy of the Glorious Queen-class battleship...

--------

"According to the ancient contract between the Ministry of Military Affairs and the family, and according to the guarantee given by the Primarch, we can refuse your call-up. You can issue a request for assistance, and we can execute it, but we need to provide adequate compensation. As for the trade of materials, we also have an equal relationship. Although the Interstellar Corps has the right to requisition materials in the war zone, it is not suitable for us to use them." Count Regel looked at Huron sitting on the throne and said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"The one before you is the Guardian of the Great Whirlpool, the Lord of Badab, Lord Huron, the First-Class Chapter Master of the Empire. And you are just a branch of the Red Manticore family. The Lord recruited you because he values ​​your strength and gives you a chance to serve the Empire." A Star Claw captain shouted loudly.

"We are willing to serve the Empire, but we refuse to take anything by force," Earl Reger said, his face flushed. "Our loyalty is self-evident. Our family has remained faithful to the faith even in humanity's darkest hour. My father died fighting the aliens, and I have been fighting for the Empire since I was fifteen."

"Our honor cannot be slandered, and the previous sacred contract cannot be violated. Or does it mean that the promises made by the Primarch and the Ministry of Military Affairs no longer count in the Maelstrom?" Count Regel asked in return.

"This..." The Star Claw captain was speechless for a moment. He really didn't dare to say such a thing. At this moment, Huron, who had been sitting on the throne, waved his power claws and spoke.

"The Primarch and the Ministry of Military Affairs' promises stand, and we abide by them," Huron declared. On this plane, the Imperial deterrent was undeniable. The Star Claws Chapter was considered an Imperially formed Chapter, meaning it had no connection to the Primarch. Gene-seed was used from multiple Legions. According to regulations, Huron had visited Terra before assuming command of the Star Claws Chapter and had been vetted by the Emperor's Chamber of the Imperial Aide-de-Camp. Such powerful and mysterious beings were enough to make Huron remember them for the rest of his life! Even though Huron remained arrogant, he remained cautious.

"Your Excellency can refuse Star Claw's deal and conscription, but I can only say that some things may be difficult to handle in the Maelstrom and the surrounding areas. After all, this is a war zone and supplies are relatively tight. As the guardians of the Maelstrom, we naturally have to leave the supplies to our friends. Moreover, the aliens are rampant here, so Your Excellency should be careful." As Huron spoke, he glanced at Mozai sitting in the accompanying seat. At this time, Mozai gave people the feeling of an ordinary middle-aged man, but Huron always felt that something was wrong.

Because the latter was so calm. Judging from his clothing, he definitely wasn't from a Knight family. After all, those showoffs were afraid others wouldn't recognize their family and history. And he definitely wasn't a Space Marine either. He was tall and thin, with no signs of transformation. If it weren't for this occasion, Huron wouldn't have remembered this ordinary-looking guy in a crowd. But this seemingly unremarkable guy was surprisingly calm here. He wasn't angry, nor was he panicking. He just sat there, taking in everything around him, as if he were looking at a painting, not a tense meeting in the throne room of the Monarch!

"Does this mean that we are not following the rules?" Mozai spoke. Although his voice was not loud, everyone present could hear it clearly.

"Rules? Haha, interesting! The rules of the Maelstrom are set by the Star Claws!" a company commander stepped forward and said. As the saying goes, like boss, like subordinates. A rebellious leader's subordinates are certainly not easy to deal with. Demon Disaster had seen this before. Of course, rebelliousness doesn't mean unreasonable. The new leader, Logan, is rebellious, but he's reasonable.

"I've visited many interstellar regiments, even met members of the older generation. While their personalities vary, they all share one thing in common: their words are their integrity. Can we have a frank conversation?" As he spoke, Demon Scourge held up two ceremonial swords. These were more like credentials than weapons. They had no detachable form, and were about the same size as the tactical blades used by Space Marines. In the hands of ordinary people, they would be considered short swords. One was a gift from the Emperor's Children, the other from the Imperial Fists. After all, Demon Scourge had also taught lessons to the Templars of Dorne.

This action caused Huron's brow to furrow slightly. He recognized the two swords. After all, he had been to Terra, and as a Chapter Master, he needed to be well-informed. These days, the Imperium is teeming with powerful figures. Who knows, one day on the battlefield, the black-robed figure you'll encounter might be a veteran Inner Circle terror. It's okay to be arrogant in your own territory, but be careful outside.

It was obvious that someone recognized by both legions was no fake. If he didn't uphold his martial ethics, the consequences would be unbearable. If he took action, a knight family merchant fleet, passed down for tens of thousands of years, would be wiped out, along with hundreds of knight mechas and their pilots, all of whom were children of the nobility. Add to that a mysterious figure recognized by both legions. This situation was truly unresolved.

"Go ahead," Huron said. He decided to give the two legions some respect.

"If Your Excellency cannot make a fair deal, then we will part ways and the Red Manticore Fleet will immediately leave the Maelstrom and pretend that this incident never happened. If we can be open and honest with each other and can trade fairly, then on the battlefield, we will provide help when necessary and trade when necessary. I believe in the promises of the Space Marine Corps. After all, in the ten thousand years of imperial history, Space Marines who broke their oaths are very rare, and they have all been severely punished." said Demon Disaster.

"What is fairness? Imperial law? Or the rules of the Maelstrom?" Huron sneered.

"As a sword-wielding noble, I will use my sword to earn the respect of my partners, point by point!" Mozai raised his ceremonial sword and looked at Huron with a hint of provocation. "On the battlefields of the Empire, this is a universal rule, isn't it?"

"Huh... That's hard to disagree with." Huron laughed. "Of all the Empire's many rules beyond the law, this is my favorite: winner takes all!" Laws are laws, rules are rules. And as soldiers, whether Space Marines, Imperial Guards, or Rogue Traders, they all tend to adhere to certain unwritten rules formed over millennia on the battlefield. They even prefer to do so when distributing spoils of war or conducting business.

For example, if you're a swordsman, you might get a discount by negotiating business with the Imperial Fists or Imperial Children. But if you're a drinker, those dealing with the Space Wolves might hire your stomach. If you've helped civilians, the Salamanders and Raven Guard might offer you a friendly price. And if you're a skilled technician, you might find additional deals and rewards by approaching the Iron Hands. But the core principle that remains constant is the soldier's pursuit of excellence.

"Reduce the price of gray crystal produced by the Great Whirlpool by 3%." Mozai said, pointing to an item on the list.

"And what's the price?" Huron asked.

"If the outcome is determined by an arena swordfight, then I can challenge anyone in this hall in a round-robin format. You can select 15 people and take turns fighting. I'll rest for no more than half an hour. Everyone should use standard weapons. We'll see who's better. If anything goes wrong, don't blame others." Mozai produced a scroll radiating psychic energy. He chose a format befitting his status.

Of course, the so-called witnessing by the Supreme Being naturally cannot be managed by the Traveler himself. It is just a special agreement scroll sold by the Traveler Church. There are many taboos in its use, such as it must be roughly fair and requires certain rituals. However, after use, it is still binding on both parties, because the party who breaks the trust will be marked with a special psychic mark and automatically uploaded to the empire's personal credit system.

This indicates that this person has a bad record in a major agreement, but it's not a strong enough constraint. The relevant Imperial departments will need to handle this. Generally speaking, though, those who can use this kind of thing have some leverage, often allowing the Imperial departments to find solutions and expedite the process. And honestly, once labeled this way, many businesses are no longer viable for this person.

"We accept. It's my turn next. My regiment needs support from no less than 25 knights and attached troops to deal with the invasion of orcs. I think your price is too high. I can only give you half of it." Huron spoke, his power claws gently rubbing the armrests of the throne.

"Let's have a confrontation. I will provide 200 legionnaires, and equip them with weapons no better than those of the Iron Wolf mecha. We will conduct a simulated battle in a ruin. You can also provide the same number of people and the same weapon configuration specifications as us. If you win, the price will be yours. If we win, the price will be ours." Huron said.

Chapter 485: Talking about Reason 1

"Okay." Mozai first glanced at Count Regal next to him, who had no objections, and then everyone signed. In Warhammer, Space Marines are genetically modified superhumans, but that doesn't mean the Empire doesn't have other modification technologies. As long as they're willing to spend the money, they can easily produce humans who are stronger than ordinary canned goods.

As a battle-hardened veteran, Regel believed that in a company-level confrontation like this, he and his kin were no less capable than the Space Marines. He also had great confidence in the swordsmanship master beside him. Just because Mozai was a swordsman on board didn't mean he was solely skilled in this art. In fact, during the boring voyage, during several internal fleet encounters, Mozai's tactics and command had impressed this scion of a knight family.

Thus, the first round of "bidding" between the two sides came to an end. As the guests, the Demon Disaster side first put forward their own demands and proposed the method of competition. Then, Huron put forward his own demands and proposed Huron's own method of competition. This was one round.

He was quite satisfied with the request made by the Demon Disaster. He could see that this guy had the ability, but he couldn't believe that if he took 15 of his company and battalion commanders and took turns to fight, they wouldn't be able to defeat a mortal! Such ruthless people had existed in the history of the Empire, but Huron didn't think he would encounter such a ruthless person in such a fleet! (The organization within the chapter can be arranged by yourself. You can list 800 people as a company or a battalion.) What if you really encounter such a ruthless person? Just accept it! There is no shame in losing to such a ruthless person.

His request also highlighted the strengths of the Star Claws. Although a Tier 1 Chapter, the Star Claws' equipment, especially heavy equipment and fleets, were not comparable to those of other Tier 1 Chapters. After all, the Star Claws began as a fleet-based regiment, supported by the Imperial government. After being promoted to Tier 1 and acquiring territory, they were no longer under Imperial rule. If they were to assemble their own equipment, it would be a major challenge. Badab was currently unable to produce Bear gunships, and they were unable to build anything above the fleet level of light cruisers.

While the enemy wasn't a warband, they were well-equipped, including mecha knights and various heavy gunships, which made Huron jealous, which was one of the reasons he wanted to recruit them. In reality, Huron's farming skills were limited. He could manage a planet, but amassing hard goods and a fortune without stealing or robbing was a challenge. Furthermore, Huron himself lacked scientific research capabilities, so based on this, it can be inferred that the gene-seed of the Hurons in this plane was not from the Fourth Regiment.

Therefore, Huron proposed that everyone fight a small-scale urban close combat to prevent the knights from using their heavy firepower. However, Huron was still very confident in the tactical level of his subordinates.

"You may be gifted, making you invincible in previous battles, but you lack technique." In the first battle, Demon Scourge defeated his opponent in less than five seconds. He faced a sword-wielding Captain. The opponent was tall and agile, much faster than the average Space Marine. This hardware advantage also led the Star Claw Captain to prefer a more direct fighting style, which in turn led to poorly polished combat skills.

When facing Mozai, as the opponent slashed down with his sword, Mozai struck the spine of the opponent's sword with his left hand. The precise strike deflected the opponent's attack. Then, Mozai took advantage of the situation and, before the opponent could react, the ceremonial sword in his right hand left a scratch on the opponent's breastplate. He then quickly retreated, creating distance. The battle ended there. After all, in actual combat, a single blow from the Master of Seiko's Power Sword would easily pierce the opponent's power armor.

The battle ended so quickly that even many Star Claws didn't realize it was over. It wasn't until Huron's applause rang out that everyone woke up and realized the duel was over.

"Exquisite swordsmanship. In the previous fight, your speed wasn't much faster than my men's, but your strikes were sharp and precise. A single strike broke his momentum while simultaneously disrupting his center of gravity. Then, with a bold thrust, you struck directly into his open chest." Huron's face was filled with admiration. He waved his hand, signaling the start of the next round. Then, Huron pulled the defeated captain to his side and offered a reassuring word.

The ensuing battles generally didn't last long. After all, with Demon Scourge's skill level, even if he maintained his speed and strength at the level of a Legionnaire, it would have been easy to defeat these men. (There were mortals who could defeat Space Marines before their transformation, such as DA Belia in the background, who was chosen because he had defeated DA before his transformation.) For Demon Scourge, the greatest challenge of this battle was precisely controlling the temperature, avoiding scalding the enemy to death. This would prevent Huron from harboring any negative thoughts. Even so, when the final Star Claw competitor was defeated, a warning bell rang in Huron's heart.

Huron's first thought was whether he was being targeted. After all, he knew exactly what he was doing, and too much time in the grey area always made him feel uneasy. However, Huron hadn't considered that the Imperial Central Authority was targeting him. After all, he was a First-Class Chapter Master. If they decided to deal with him, it would either be a special envoy with a fleet or the Emperor's retainers. If it was the latter, they wouldn't play tricks on him. If they secretly gathered evidence, he would be completely unnoticed. If they decided to take action, it would be like a thunderbolt, bringing their men to crush him directly.

"Contact the Mantis Warriors and the Lamenters, and help me find this person," Huron said to his confidant. One is a successor to the White Scars, and the other is a successor to the Blood Angels. It's easy for them to find some information. The Blood Angels did not originally have any divisions, but later followed the trend and split off.

The subsequent demonic calamity didn't overly provoke the tyrant of Barbuda. The second company-level clash pitted Star Claw against the Knights' private soldiers. It must be said that the Red Manticore was indeed a time-honored family, and their private soldiers were incredibly skilled and well-equipped. However, Huron, despite being a distant second to the Bad Can, was quite capable. After the clash, Star Claw narrowly escaped victory, which made Huron's expression brighter.

Following this, the two sides negotiated several other deals in a similar manner. The overall result was a give-and-take, a compromise of sorts. The Red Manticore family had deep roots, and the Hurons also had strong ties within the Maelstrom. Often, compromise was the norm for both parties to save face.

During the negotiations, both sides were also conducting sounding-outs. Huron quickly learned about the Maledigmian alias from two closely related Chapters. Overall, it highlighted a wealth of experience. According to Huron, the Maledigmian alias had been around for over 300 years, originally belonging to a middle-class family in a Hive City. They then joined the Astra Militarum, and due to their outstanding military achievements, they were promoted to the Inquisition's Stormtroopers, where they established a formidable reputation over the next 100 years.

He had originally retired successfully and returned to his hometown to become a noble. However, after working for more than 70 years and achieving good results, he seemed to feel empty and bored, and joined the army again. Later, he was recommended to the Imperial Fist Auxiliary Army, and then followed the swordsmen of the Emperor's Legion to wander around the galaxy. He only left the army in the last 30 years. The whole experience is simply amazing!

After confirming that this fierce man wasn't investigating him, Huron finally felt relieved. His next thought was how to win him over. Even if he didn't have to pledge allegiance, just working under him for a while would be fine. After all, the Demon Disaster alias was known for its versatility. Swordsmanship was only one aspect; outstanding military prowess and formidable connections were what Huron valued most. After all, Huron couldn't find a place to buy any bargains right now.

"An ambitious and intelligent man. He's skilled at leading troops in battle and managing relationships. His dominance is superficial, his cunning is his core. He has a certain air of egocentrism." The Demonic Disaster also labeled Huron. As the Traveler noted, Huron possesses the necessary skills, but his ideas can be somewhat radical and overbearing. He possesses a vision, yet can also be shady. He's a cross between Horus and Guilliman, adept at winning over people and always keeping his word. He also possesses a talent for management and farming. His abilities are quite good among the new generation of canned goods. However, his temperament needs to be tempered.

So, with both sides having their own ideas, Mozai and Huron met again at a banquet. After sending everyone away, the two had some exchanges in a private room.

"My reputation isn't good because I monopolize some resources and I've clashed with the governors of many planets. Many call me the Tyrant of Badab. But who can understand me? In this Maelstrom, on the frontier of the Empire, I wonder how much it costs to maintain and protect such a region? My legion spent hundreds of years conquering Badab. It's our home and the destination of our souls. I believe it's my obligation to protect it from anyone, whether it's aliens or those with ulterior motives within the Empire."

"The enemies in the Maelstrom region are very powerful, and there is a lack of large industrial planets, so our supplies are difficult, so we always have to find ways to make money. This is vulgar, but very important for a chapter. We also need strong partners, and although my reputation may not be good, my credibility is good enough. I need an outstanding mortal legion commander. Are you interested in gaining the friendship of the Star Claw Chapter? Whether it is trade, force or other aspects." Huron made an invitation.

"Mortal Legions? This is a very sensitive issue," said Demon Disaster. "Although the Codex has made several adjustments to the number of mortal legions that interstellar chapters can possess in certain theaters, it's still a very sensitive issue. I don't want to cause this trouble."

"Luckily, it's not a nail," Huron thought to himself. He knew that the mortal legions of the Star Legion were a sensitive topic. He proposed this to see if the other party was up to the task. If he agreed decisively, it would mean there might be something wrong with him. The other party's decisive refusal actually reassured Huron.

"That's a real shame," Huron said.

"I heard from Earl Regel that Your Excellency once wanted to order some warships through his family?" said Mozai.

"Yes, it is said that one of the Mantis Warriors and the Lamenters will be transferred out. With their transfer, the defense force of the Maelstrom will be left without a gap. As the guardian of the Maelstrom, the Star Claws will need to deal with various threats on their own," Huron said.

The used car market is a huge market for ordinary humans, and the same is true for the Chapter's used warship market. Some warships, though in good condition, are often retired or sold to others due to upgrades. These used warships can be found for very low prices, generally only around 15% to 25% of their original price. This presents a great opportunity for Huron, who is short on cash and desperately needs to expand its fleet. However, the prerequisite is that you need connections. Otherwise, you won't know which warships have been retired or their performance! Previously, the Knights of the Red Manticore had rejected Huron's request.

While the Emperor was deeply interested in Huron, he also had to be prepared to prevent him from actually going insane, so necessary precautions had to be taken. Relocating Huron's wings was one such move. This move was perfectly reasonable, considering the Primarch was still around. The Weepers were a legitimate Blood Angels successor Chapter. If the Primarch wanted to march on Tyranids, a single transfer order would be enough for the entire Chapter to dispatch without hesitation. The Khan was still wandering outside the galaxy, so the transfer order hadn't arrived yet, but the Traveler could issue one if needed.

This transfer made Huron somewhat passive, and he was powerless to do anything about the transfer of the Lamenters, so in order to make up for the strength as soon as possible, he needed to purchase a large number of warships.

"I have some connections with the Imperial Fist. In fact, every 20 years, the legion will retire some warships at a very cheap price. Moreover, the warships are relatively new and in good condition. The price is even less than 10% of the original price. But the conditions are quite special, that is, the buyer must make certain special contributions." said Mozai.

It must be said that Dorne was a man of integrity and a wealthy family. The Imperial Fists' decommissioned warships each year essentially served as targeted poverty alleviation for those with outstanding achievements but limited financial resources. However, this poverty alleviation relied on a recommendation system. After all, the Empire was so vast that it was unrealistic to ask the Imperial Fists to provide poverty alleviation for all. As it happened, the Demon Scourge was eligible to participate.

Chapter 486: Talking about Reason 2

"Are you serious?" Although Huron's words were still calm, his excitement could not escape the perception of the demonic disaster.

"The first-class regiments all have representatives on Terra. I will issue a document, and then your people will be qualified as candidates. The Imperial Fist Legion will put forward relevant requirements, and then if you can accept and do it, then the deal will be done. I will not ask for any compensation until you complete the task and get the warship." said Mozai.

This guy might overthink things when he's idle, so for someone as capable and ambitious as Huron, it's best to give him something to do. The Maelstrom must be stabilized. With the other warbands withdrawn, order here must remain strong!

"What kind of reward does your Excellency want?" Huron asked. Although he considered himself a tyrant, Huron did not have the bad habit of taking other people's things for free.

"Gray crystal, my hometown really needs these raw materials. I need to purchase them in large quantities at affordable prices, as well as stable trade routes." Mozai said.

"That might be a bit difficult," Huron said. He didn't refuse. The gray crystal of the Great Whirlpool was a specialty, but the purpose was to exchange it for money. If the other party could offer other conditions, then it wasn't impossible to negotiate. Furthermore, Huron had checked and found that although this person had been traveling with the Knight Fleet, he was also a wealthy man, so such a request was not out of the question.

"Your fleet has expanded, but the personnel may not be able to keep up. I can help you contact the Naval Academy, from the most basic sailor to the first mate level. After all, I used to work under the Inquisition." Mozai said.

"I'm afraid many people don't want to come to the Great Whirlpool." Huron said. He didn't like others to interfere with his pocket kingdom.

"Then I can help you contact an instructor who graduated from the Ultramar Naval Academy." said Mozai.

"Just training? I can accept that." Huron breathed a sigh of relief, then he took out a data tablet: "The export of gray crystal can be negotiated. I can give you a fair price, and you just give a quantity. As long as it is a transport fleet flying under your flag, the Star Claws will guarantee its safety, and will not charge any additional taxes." Huron said with great satisfaction.

"Let's put that aside for now. I'm just doing someone a favor," Mozai said. "The empire might be in big trouble lately. Have you heard about it?"

"The aliens named Tyranids from outside the galaxy? I've heard of them." Huron nodded. After all, the Maelstrom was in the Extreme Star Field, and Huron was the leader of the First Class Regiment, so he knew about this matter.

"Ultramar needs a large amount of labor, and the price there is very reasonable. If you can export manpower to Ultramar, your commission will not be small, and I don't want any commission. How about it? Do you want to consider it?" said Mozai.

To be honest, although Huron's rule may not have much to do with benevolent governance, he can still be called prosperous under his rule. After all, in the final siege, the space sharks killed 20 billion people by blowing up the reactor of a hive city... And in the final stage, there were still millions of mortal troops helping the Star Claws.

With such a vast human resource base, we must avoid another explosion this time. Let's first move some of them out to work. Besides, this is Ultramar, and there are so many people who want to go but can't! While we might have to bear the brunt of the Tyranids, most of the 500 worlds are definitely safe.

"We can talk about it." Huron said after thinking for a while.

"Let your messenger go to Imperial Fist to find this person first, and then go to Ultramar's representative on Terra." said Mozai.

"Thank you very much. Star Claw will always remember your assistance." Huron nodded. He didn't question why the Demon Scourge asked for any compensation. In fact, free things are the most valuable. Just like he helped many warbands, some of them were free, but they earned their kindness. The guy in front of him had a similar routine to his own. This made Huron feel a little favorable.

"Give me another tax-free quota for my fleet. I'll tell you a piece of news." said Mozai.

"That depends on what the news is," said Huron.

"Some of my former colleagues from the Inquisition have appeared in the star regions surrounding the Maelstrom. Everyone better keep their hands clean lately," Demon Disaster said. If the previous conversations had been conciliatory, now it was time to show his true colors. Huron's actions had indeed gone too far; he had meddled too much in the politics of the surrounding worlds. He had to stop.

"Sir, are you here to pass on a message for someone?" Huron said with a tense body and a somewhat unfriendly expression.

"I'm not targeting the person, but the issue. Sometimes, taking a step back opens up a new world, and it's not like I haven't solved your problem," Mozai said. His implication was clear: if he stopped and showed a positive attitude, he'd let bygones be bygones. If he persisted, it would be hard to say for sure.

There was no one else in the secret room. Faced with the demon's attitude, Huron fell silent. Huron's emotional intelligence was not low, and he was not the kind of person who was completely reckless. Although the other party's words were somewhat threatening, they were both meaningful and respectful.