Chapter Eight: A Deal with the King of Figurines

Wang Ming’s words, conveyed to everyone present through the translation of the Custodian Guard, fell like a massive stone into a river, sending waves of agitation through the entire command center. Immediately, heated debate erupted among the people gathered there. Some argued that the current state of the battle was utterly unfavorable to the Imperium, and that they should heed the words of the Primarch and evacuate Cadia. Others insisted that the tide had finally turned with a glimmer of hope, and that they could not simply hand over their homeworld to Chaos.

Lord Castellan Creed kept his eyes on Wang Ming, hoping he would provide a reason compelling enough to justify abandoning Cadia. He knew well that a Primarch would never speak without cause.

“Can we still observe images from Cadia’s orbit?” Wang Ming asked Creed through the Custodian’s translation.

Creed nodded and spoke a few words to a tech-sergeant, who immediately began operating a console before him. As the tech-sergeant worked, a holographic projection appeared in the center of the command chamber. In the image, high above Cadia’s surface, a colossal black artificial structure floated amid a cloud of debris.

“The Blackstone Obelisk has been activated now. Even Chaos cannot seize Cadia on the ground. Abaddon plans to use the Blackstone Fortress itself as a weapon and hurl it straight at Cadia’s Blackstone Obelisk,” Wang Ming explained, gazing at the shifting hologram.

“The collision of Blackstone constructs will unleash a force far more terrible than any meteorite impact—enough to annihilate Cadia. Your lives are the Emperor’s currency; spend them wisely.”

Creed stared at the Blackstone Fortress depicted in the hologram, lowering his head in silent contemplation for a long while. At last, he nodded, acceding to Wang Ming’s proposal to order the retreat.

“Take me to see Archmagos Dominus Cawl.” Seeing Creed’s agreement, Wang Ming requested to be led to the Mechanicus Archmagos, Belisarius Cawl, who was currently beneath the Blackstone Obelisk, working with the so-called King of Collectibles to activate it. Soon, someone escorted Wang Ming to their location.

When Wang Ming and the Custodian Guard arrived before Cawl, they saw with him Trazyn the Infinite, the King of Collectibles himself.

At the sight of the Necron, both Custodians and Guardsmen immediately raised their weapons, ready to fire upon the xenos that had inexplicably appeared among them. Wang Ming raised his hand to halt their actions, and strode toward Trazyn the Infinite.

“Greetings, great Chronicler of the Galaxy, Lord Trazyn,” Wang Ming addressed him. Trazyn looked back with avid curiosity at the unexpected Primarch before him—one with no record in his vast archives.

“I know what you’re thinking—don’t even consider adding me to your collection. The value I can offer you far exceeds that of simply being a part of your collection.”

Wang Ming was well aware that the Collector King would first and foremost consider acquiring him as a rare specimen.

“What value might that be?” Trazyn asked with interest, doubting that any Primarch of the Imperium could offer him anything he truly desired.

“Daemon Primarch Lorgar Aurelian, the one who transformed the Imperium into its current state—his value as a collectible must intrigue you, no?”

“Shall we strike a deal, Trazyn? Within a millennium, I will deliver Lorgar Aurelian into your collection.”

Wang Ming’s gaze did not waver as he spoke to Trazyn the Infinite.

“What do you require in exchange?” Trazyn asked, intrigued by Wang Ming’s audacious promise, though he did not believe that even a Primarch could capture the Daemon Primarch who had dwelt for millennia in the Eye of Terror.

“The cloned Primarch Fulgrim—return him to the Imperium.”

Wang Ming named his price. After all, it was merely a clone, and trading it for a true, one-of-a-kind Daemon Primarch was a bargain.

“Agreed. I accept your terms.” Trazyn nodded, his gaze unwavering as Wang Ming matched him in resolve. Producing a palm-sized cube from somewhere within his person, he sealed the pact. Trazyn had no fear of being deceived; with Necron technology, he could collect on the debt no matter where Wang Ming might flee.

And just as Wang Ming and Trazyn concluded their bargain, far away within the Eye of Terror, where the Ravenlord had kept him trapped for ten thousand years, Daemon Primarch Lorgar Aurelian suddenly shuddered, as if sensing a distant, ominous fate drawing near.