Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

However, just as he was thinking about the future of himself, Fenris and the Space Wolves, he could not imagine that fate had changed. A Primarch made a new decision due to an accident, and Russ, who was almost scared into PTSD by the World Engine, came to the Iron Islands at this time.

Chapter 8 Private Visit on Weibo

"King, if everything goes well for us, we can reach the Iron Islands in just three days by following the ocean currents and sea breezes." Heimdall reported to Rus in a safe harbor.

"Is the port here safe?" Rus asked, looking at the vast sea in the distance.

"It's safe at this time of year. The coastline forms a depression here, which effectively blocks the waves and ocean currents. It is almost as calm as an inland lake. There is plenty of food in the ocean outside, and this island can provide us with enough water. Even considering the return journey, we will have no problem staying here for more than 30 days." Heimdall said after thinking for a while.

"Very good, then let the brothers rest here for a while. Find me a suitable longboat, one that's easy to operate but can carry a lot of cargo. I want to disguise myself as a merchant and see this magical place for myself."

"King, you shouldn't put yourself in danger. Our knowledge of the Iron Islands is very limited. They strictly enforce their laws within their own boundaries. Even if reconnaissance is necessary, I believe Qiao Lin and I can handle it."

"You come with me. The wolf kings of the wolf pack all know that they should lead the way and leave the greatest danger and enemies to themselves. How can I retreat? Believe me, even if something unexpected happens, I can bring you back safely." Russ then made a gesture, indicating that he had made up his mind and would not change it.

Two days later, the steam battleship Stormhammer was cruising the waters near the Iron Islands. By this time, the warm season in Fenris was nearly halfway through, marking the golden age for tribes to come to the Iron Islands for trade. Tribes from all over Fenris traded their furs, ores, and various game for weapons and tools from the Iron Islands. As masters, the island tribes naturally had an obligation to ensure their safety, both to prevent some tribes from engaging in unprofitable trade and to combat the terrifying and mysterious sea monsters beneath the surface.

"Captain, there is a ship in trouble at 2 o'clock. There seems to be something wrong with their sails, and they are spinning on the sea." At this time, a sailor came to the captain's room and reported to Huck Hammer who was studying the nautical chart.

"Really? Take me there." Huck pondered for a moment before returning to the deck, observing the distant target through his binoculars. "A medium-sized merchant ship, probably from a small tribe." Huck pondered as he observed it. The target posed no threat to him. A small ship like this could only hold less than 100 people. Furthermore, it was a true cargo ship, slow, but very capable. Fetching them himself shouldn't be a problem.

Of course, even if there were trouble, Hake didn't care. He had over 30 men on board his ship, armed with over 300 cannons. They were armed with muskets, and each soldier wore a layer of plate armor and leather armor. Whether in ranged combat or boarding, they had no reason to lose.

"Dear guests from afar, do you need help?" Huck asked while standing on the high deck after approaching the cargo ship.

"Of course, our sail is broken, and there is a leak in the cargo hold. Damn, there are only high-quality leathers in it." Heimdall stood up, his face full of regret and heartache, which was very lifelike.

"Okay, brother, come up according to our rules. You can put your goods on our ship first, and then this ship will be towed behind our ship. When you arrive at the Iron Islands, you can use these goods to sell to pay for our help." Huck said with a smile as he looked at the embarrassed crowd on the deck.

"Okay, we'll hand over our weapons now." As the two ships came together, the Storm Hammer lowered its ladder, and Heimdall was the first to climb up. After climbing up, he handed over all his weapons. Then he walked obediently to the rear deck of the Storm Hammer, looking at the battleship with curiosity.

"Big guy over here, come this way." A crew member pointed to the distance.

"Okay, I'm just a little curious. Why can such a big ship sail by itself?" Rus asked under the hood. His words seemed to have some kind of magic that made people unable to refuse.

"There's an engine room down here. The boiler generates steam, which then drives the propeller. It's very complicated, and I don't understand it either." The crew member gestured, explaining as best he could. Even the narrator might not understand, but that didn't stop Rus from being interested.

"Wang, their equipment is really good." Qiao Lin looked enviously at the people patrolling on the deck in the distance.

"Very good," Russ observed. Although he was as tall as a giant bear, after that terrible night, if he didn't want to attract attention, then no one would pay attention! And when he made a request or order that was not too demanding, few people could refuse.

"Dear Captain, in order to thank you for your generous rescue, we are willing to give you half of these furs and gold." At this time, Heimdall was trying to get close to the captain, and Russ also quietly came to the side.

"Put these things away and sell them to the Iron Islands. Afterwards, we will take our share according to the regulations, but I will not give them privately. Don't insult a soldier." Huck said somewhat displeasedly.

"As a warrior and the owner of this ship, there seems to be no conflict between you and accepting our reward." Heimdall continued to persuade.

"This isn't my ship. It belongs to the Iron Islands. Without the thousands of craftsmen and brilliant designers who designed and built it, it wouldn't exist, much less come into my hands. I simply manage it on your behalf and serve the entire tribe. I can accept your gratitude, both verbally and in kind, but it must adhere to the tribe's rules."

Huck pointed to the distance and said, "We are different from those people on land. We have our own responsibilities. Although we also wield sharp blades, we are here to protect, not plunder. We have rules and will not act arbitrarily." Obviously, Huck has a special sense of superiority about his status.

"Those guys from the sea!" Qiao Lin muttered angrily. Ruth's complaints ended with a look. After a moment of contemplation, Ruth took a few steps forward and appeared in Huck's sight.

"Hello, sir, what may I do for you?" Huck's expression shifted as he saw Ruth appear before him. He looked at the tall man, the man exuding the aura of superiority, and his rosy face. Huck carefully considered his words. His intuition told him that this was a truly important figure.

"I'm just curious about who made these rules. Can you tell me about them?" Ruth's calm words seemed to carry some strange power that made people want to listen and obey.

"It's our master forger, Lord Balder Ironforge. He is a talented forger and a powerful warrior. He really looks like you. I think you should be able to become friends with him." Huck said.

"Are you similar to me?" Ruth savored the unexpected words in this short sentence. "Very good. Very good." Because no one had ever used such words to describe him!

Chapter 9 First meeting

"Huh?!" Russ's brow furrowed slightly the moment he landed on the Iron Islands. He had a vague feeling that a powerful presence was atop the city's towers. In Rus's vision, its presence was so prominent, like a wolf king—even surrounded by wolves, he'd still be recognized at first sight!

"Heimdall, Jolin, follow me and leave the chores to others. Let's get down to business." Rus said with a serious expression.

"Yes, King." The two men immediately hurried to follow. They rarely saw their king being so serious.

"Holy crap! Is this coming?" Balder, who was working, suddenly looked up and walked to the window, looking towards a corner of the city. There, a soul as bright as a furnace fire was approaching him step by step. The soul projection of the person next to him was only like a firefly compared to his. And in Fenris, there was probably only one person who could give him this feeling!

"What's he doing here? Shouldn't he be here?" Balder was a bit confused. He didn't know what twist in the thread of fate had occurred to allow this ambitious king to come here. But it didn't look like they were here to kill him. After all, Russ didn't know his own Warp nature or his Primarch status at that moment. Under such circumstances, he wouldn't come here to challenge him with just two people!

"He's aware of my arrival." Russ' eyes sparkled as he gazed toward the distant tower. Balder's observations hadn't escaped the perceptive Primarch. Then, he glanced outside the city, where he'd become aware of this particular individual. "I discovered him more than twice as far away as he discovered me."

Russ stroked his chin, mentally assessing the difference in perception between the two. Ever since that horrific night, Russ had found himself much changed. The warm and forthright Barbarian King seemed only one side of him. He now wanted to be a truly good leader, one who could protect and lead his people.

"Let's go. I feel the owner here is ready to welcome us." A smile appeared on Rus's lips, because he felt that he had finally found someone he could confide in.

"He's here." Facing the sudden arrival of the Primarch, Balder would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. But he wasn't overly panicked either. The Primarch wasn't hostile. On the way, he even had the energy to chat with the surrounding merchants and civilians.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. Leman Russ is a wise man." Balder looked up, his eyes scanning the mechanical clock beside him. This was Balder's own creation, the world's first mechanical timepiece. As the hands gradually approached 12 o'clock, Balder couldn't help but frown. "Could Russ have come just in time for dinner?"

"The host is ready to welcome us," Russ nodded with satisfaction as he looked at the people waiting outside the gate. The scene wasn't grand, just a welcome. Russ didn't really care. After all, he was only accompanied by two attendants, so it was a private visit. Heimdall was one of his most capable subordinates, and Jolin? Well, Rus was worried he might cause trouble.

"Please follow me, distinguished guest." The attendant led Russ and his companions to Balder's residence. The unique tall buildings and roaring machinery piqued the interest of the two attendants. Heimdall's eyes were filled with curiosity. Jolin, on the other hand, was trying to estimate how much these things were worth in wolf pelts.

"We're about to meet." Balder adjusted his mindset and took one last look at his appearance. After confirming that there were no problems, he walked out of the room. As the door opened, Balder saw for the first time a Primarch, a true king of Fenris. His towering figure was awe-inspiring. The luminous soul in his psychic vision was slightly dazzling. His every move was filled with power. His manners were not elegant, but they were comforting. His expression was serious, but it was filled with expectation and a hint of kindness. Russ was powerful and awe-inspiring, but Balder didn't sense any dominance.

Balder instinctively glanced at his attendants. They were like quails facing an eagle, hiding in a corner and trying not to attract attention. The two sturdy men beside Russ also looked at him with a hint of avoidance and fear. Suddenly, Balder realized that in the entire room, only he and Russ seemed to have a normal atmosphere!

"Perhaps my spirit and psychic powers have also been strengthened. Since the God of Laughter is protecting me, it's only natural for him to invest in me. Or perhaps Trazyn's genetic technology also strengthens psychic powers and spirit." Balder instantly understood the situation before him. He also had a rough assessment of his own level. "Does this count as attracting investors from both the Eldar and Pai Gu at the same time?"

Meanwhile, Leman Russ was also observing his opponent. Balder, in his eyes, was undoubtedly formidable. While still inferior to himself, he was undoubtedly the strongest he had ever met. It was an intuition, a feeling he had even before fighting. But his opponent's strength was different from his own, a feeling woven from the knowledge and rationality of a learned scholar. He felt that the opponent was undoubtedly a novice in hand-to-hand combat, and that he would easily defeat him. However, Russ did not underestimate him. He felt that what he possessed was precisely what he lacked. It was a wonderful complementarity.

"Welcome, guest from afar. King of Asaheim." Balder opened his arms first.

"Respected Loremaster, Master of the Iron Islands, thank you for your welcome." Russ stepped forward and embraced Balder in a manly embrace. Russ was noticeably taller and stronger, but Balder's physique rivaled that of a behemoth. The two powerful figures embraced. While this friendly embrace seemed more intense than even the most ferocious throw between ordinary warriors, to outsiders, it was more powerful than anything else.

"Why don't you come to the party I'm hosting and discuss some things together?" Balder made the invitation after glancing at the wall clock.

"Prepare my men. I think we have more important things to do." Russ lowered his voice and whispered in Balder's ear, "About that night 30 days ago!"

"Shit!" Hearing this, Balder shuddered in fear, and the look he gave Russ changed. His eyes were filled with unconcealed fear and uneasiness.

"No way? No way? Is the Primarch so powerful? How could he find me here? Didn't Trazyn say that he had cleared all clues?" Just when Balder was suspicious, Russ's next words reassured him.

"You also saw that scene, right? Unspeakable beings were fighting in the highest sky. While fighting, they did not forget to erase their own traces." Rus's face showed that he had found the right person. In his opinion, only he and Balder still remembered the situation at that time!

Chapter 10 Change of Destiny

"I want to be quiet for a while." Balder quickly sorted out the clues after checking Rus's reaction. However, he didn't forget to cover up: "I originally thought I was the only one who saw that scene. I originally thought no one would bring it up again."

"My friend, avoidance is not the solution to the problem; it will only make it worse." Leman Russ had no doubt about Balder's reaction. After all, he was frightened at the time.

"I'm sorry my arrival has brought back memories of that terrible night. After what happened, I couldn't find anyone to talk to. I heard the Iron Islands are the home of respected forgers and the abode of the wise, so I came here," Russ said apologetically. "You can rest for a while," he said, rising to sit beside him. Balder finally understood what was going on.

Trazyn's plan was correct. Russ truly didn't know he was the direct cause of the World Engine's appearance on Fenris. It was simply because the World Engine's movement was so loud, and the Figure King couldn't erase the memories of a Primarch. This was partly due to his lack of ability, and partly due to his fear of the Emperor. Regardless, Russ saw the scene and remembered it etched in his memory. Living on Fenris, a barbarian for decades, Russ had never seen such a scene before. Naturally, he was terrified! The scene became an unavoidable nightmare for him. Worse still, everyone around him had forgotten. Russ was trapped in the Prophet's confusion, with no one to confide in.

But for unknown reasons, Russ knew of his existence and made a special trip to the Iron Islands. Their extraordinary psychic powers or intuition brought them together in the first place.

"Isn't this the awakening of some of the Warp's essence?" Balder looked at Russ. The man before him was somewhat different from the one described in the background. He was still bold and "barbaric," but with a new sense of anxiety and responsibility. After all, the World Engine was too extreme. For those who had never seen or heard of it, and were mentally unprepared, PTSD would be the least of their worries!

Thus, under Trazyn's unintentional provocation, Rus's temperament changed, awakening something in him. Perhaps not as completely as the Raven King, but Rus likely already possessed some psychic abilities. Balder couldn't be sure whether this was a good or bad outcome. The thought of this unexpected outcome gave Balder a headache; he hadn't expected this!

"Sorry to have kept you waiting." After adjusting his mood, Bader looked at Rus with a guilty conscience, thinking in his heart, if Rus knew the truth, could his small body withstand it?

"That was truly a shocking scene. I never imagined such things would appear. They were like gods, arbitrarily deciding everything for mortals. They had no scruples, wantonly tampering with the memories and spirits of their subjects. And I, Leman Russ! I will never sit idly by and wait for death." Russ said fiercely. "I swear!"

"So what is your purpose here? While the Iron Islands are the pinnacle of Fenrisian technology, those things are beyond my imagination, and I have no way to deal with them." Balder said carefully. When faced with a Primarch who might have awakened in some way, he could never be too cautious. So he was speaking the truth! The World Engine was indeed beyond his comprehension and imagination, and he was indeed powerless to deal with it. That was true!

"I sense your honesty, my friend." Russ looked at the man who could listen to him, pondering his every word, analyzing the information and truth within. Ultimately, his intuition and experience told him that what Lord Balder said was true!

"But I'm not willing to give up, and I don't think you'll either," Russ said again. "I can tear a mammoth apart with my bare hands and slay a Kraken in the sea, but I can't do anything against anything that exists in the sky."

"What you said is too far-fetched. If you really want to do something, then I hope we can do something within our capacity."

"For example?" Ruth asked curiously.

"Let the world be free of meaningless battles, and let conflicts between tribes cease. I heard you have unified the entire continent of Asaheim. If possible, I hope you will treat your subjects well, allow them to grow and prosper, make their lives less painful, and allow them to have children. Strengthen our tribe. And I, as the Lord of the Iron Islands, am willing to help you."

"Yes, such worthless fighting and killing are meaningless. The merits built on killing and looting have no meaning except to tell of a person's madness and paranoia." Rus sighed. Once upon a time, he also enjoyed the feeling of conquest, but after that day, everything became boring. Rus even hated his former self.

"May we have a pleasant cooperation." Badr said.

"Are you willing to share the Iron Islands' gunpowder and machinery?" Russ asked.

"I am willing."

"You are willing to arm my men with your precious fleet?"

"I am willing."

"Are you willing to share power and glory with me?" Rus' eyes were full of hope.

"Share the rights?" Bader was stunned. Originally, he had prepared to be acquired by the other party and then cling to their thighs. However, he found that the other party did not seem to let him be a professional manager, but was preparing to make him a shareholder?

"That's right, share power. We are friends, and you are the one who can share power. After all, I know my abilities and shortcomings. And I need the assistance of a wise man. You are beyond my system. There is no hierarchy between us, only mutual cooperation and help." The sincerity in Rus's words was evident.

Russ hadn't considered interfering in the affairs of the Iron Islands. After all, he knew nothing about their operations. Blindly intervening would only lead to further chaos. Professional matters should be left to professionals. And his court truly needed a group of people who could offer him advice regardless of their status. So, Russ offered Balder a very generous offer.

"Your generosity surprises me," Balder said, somewhat surprised. Russ, in the background, was a sensible man, but also a proud and stubborn one. He had imagined the scenario of a meeting between the two, even considering how to end it gracefully if he was pinned to the ground and rubbed. But he had never imagined that they would discuss the future on a nearly equal footing.

"You underestimate yourself. You are a humble scholar and an excellent blacksmith master. Perhaps you are not good at ruling. That's why you have an instinctive awe of the king." Russ talked freely: "In fact, a long time ago, I was also like this. When I first faced my adoptive father, I was also in awe. But guess what now?" Russ moved closer and said mysteriously.

"How does it feel?"

"Actually, that's how it feels when you sit on the throne." Russ laughed.

"Well, may our cooperation be pleasant and our friendship last forever." Balder stood up and opened his arms. Then, the two hugged each other again.

Chapter 11 Alliance

"The Iron Islands are almost here, let's get ready." Russ opened his eyes and reluctantly left his seat. This was his first steam battleship, the Hammer of Lemann.

As a symbol of their alliance, Balder presented Russ with one of the Iron Islands' most advanced warships. Today, Russ will lead his fleet to the Iron Islands' main island and, witnessed by the gods of Fenris, forge an everlasting alliance. From this moment on, all of Fenris will have only one king. This king will share power and duty with the Supreme Forger of the Iron Islands, safeguarding the people of Fenris! Power and responsibility are unified, and weal and woe are shared!

Russ left the captain's cabin and stepped onto the deck's high platform, basking in the sea breeze as he gazed at his fleet behind him. Hundreds of longships, loaded with the tribes' finest warriors and vast quantities of cargo, sailed swiftly under the wind. They surrounded the Riemann's Hammer like a pack of wolves guarding their king.

"Very good, that's quite interesting." Russ nodded with satisfaction as he looked at his subordinates who, after a period of training, were finally able to make the fleet move out of formation.

During his time at the Iron Islands, Russ observed the steam fleet's naval exercises. The fleet's smooth, swift shifts in formation, after thorough training and adjustments, resembled a coordinated wolf pack. During this process, Balder explained to Rus the importance of tactics and discipline, using a vivid analogy: no amount of loose sand can stop a rock. Russ deeply agreed.

"Tell Jolin Bloodhowl to raise the Wolf Banner, representing the King of Fenris! Inform our friends of the arrival of the Lemans from Asaheim," Russ commanded loudly. At that moment, his roar even drowned out the howling sea breeze. That majestic, commanding, and inspiring voice echoed throughout the vast fleet.

Upon hearing the order, the Russ family quickly raised the flag. The entire fleet accelerated forward, and a moment later, they saw the Iron Islands fleet coming to greet them.

Balder's flagship, the Storm Lord, was in the lead. This warship was slightly smaller than Rus's Lemann Hammer. Behind them was the Iron Islands' escort fleet. Their towering presence was naturally no match for the longships of Rus's fleet, but their smaller numbers made them less imposing.

"Fire a salute! Hail the king of the Leman race." Following Balder's command, the Storm Lord opened its gun ports, and dozens of cannons of various calibers began firing. A total of 28 salutes, a thunderous roar that reverberated across the sea and sky, seemed to herald the arrival of a new era.

Soon, the Lemann Hammer responded, expressing gratitude for the host's hospitality. The two fleets met at sea, and under the command of the two flagships, they merged into a single fleet, sailing towards the Iron Islands' main island. The two flagships sailed side by side within visual range, officers and sailors from both sides greeting each other. Meanwhile, Balder and Russ exchanged silent words.

"Everything is ready, my king. The fleet will disperse after arriving at the inland sea, and the transport ships carrying cargo will be arranged to unload at a special cargo terminal. The fleet will go to the main port. Because there are too many people, only a part of them can participate in the ceremony at the main venue. But it doesn't matter, the others will be arranged around, and they will also witness the sacred moment on the platform." Balder spoke.

"Master of the Forge of Fenris, you don't need to be so polite. We are equals." Russ was very pleased with the other party's attitude. Giving him respect in public could be described as a ritual necessity. After all, they were all people who cared about appearances, and Russ did this often. But still showing respect behind his back showed the other party's sincerity.

The two then held a final negotiation on the details of the ceremony, and as time passed, the fleets of both sides landed, the personnel disembarked, and together they walked towards the platform that symbolized the covenant.

"At the moment we shake hands, I, Rus of the Leman race." Rus's rough roar sounded.

"I am Balder, the Iron Forge Hammer, the Lord of the Forge from the Iron Islands." Balder's voice, as deep as iron felt, echoed.

"Under the witness of the gods of Fenris, and in the gaze of the blue sky, earth and ocean of Fenris, we will form an eternal alliance for the people of Fenris, for our people and tribes! We will never leave each other and share weal and woe!" The two people's joint voices echoed in the sky, even forming a strange resonance.

With a heroic oath, Russ accepted the longsword inlaid with Kraken teeth and adorned with frost crystals from Balder. Then, Russ also presented Balder with a hammer representing knowledge and forging.

"What happened?" Balder's expression changed slightly as he felt the resonance from the Warp. He felt that, due to the power of his oath, his fate was bound together with that of this planet, the people of Fenris, and the Primarch before him. Even more surprising was the feeling that, from above Fenris, a special presence seemed to be watching him.

"Do you feel it? Balder, our destinies are now united." Rus said excitedly.

"May it be so now, forever, and forever," Baldur said. However, Baldur suppressed his curiosity about the many strange phenomena this had unleashed. After all, Fenris was a land of exceptional people and extraordinary talents. So far, Chaos Daemons, World Engines, Hive Fleets, and every other entity except the Orks had visited. The Emperor and the Eldar were certain to arrive in the future. For the former, it was destiny, but for the latter? Baldur didn't believe the Laughing God would help him in vain. Before the Emperor even arrived, the Harlequin Legion and even a certain immortal prophet might arrive!

What followed was simple, a completely Fenrisian affair: trading, jousting, drinking, and boasting. The people of Fenris celebrated this historic moment in their own way. At the evening feast, Russ sat on the throne, accepting blessings. Balder sat nearby, lost in thought, pondering a variety of seemingly unrelated questions.

"Bader, my friend, you seem very silent?" Rus noticed something unusual about Balder.

"I've always been like this. I'm not quite used to this kind of environment," Balder said, looking at the banquet that had transformed into a sea of ​​joy. Honestly, whether it was his past life working 996 in a company or his current life as a blacksmith in Fenris, Balder was somewhat resistant to such overly enthusiastic scenes. If Russ was a natural social butterfly, then Balder was just average. He wasn't used to this kind of unbridled emotional outburst and noisy atmosphere.

"It's okay. I'm adapting well and enjoying it. You just need to think calmly." Russ patted Balder's shoulder in a friendly manner.

"Overall, it seems that we are compatible." Balder began to feel satisfied with the oath that was made invisibly.