Robert Guilliman slowly stepped out of the car.
It was already evening. He usually didn't care about the passage of time so much during his workday. After all, dealing with various matters was very time-consuming.
Today was different. He stood in front of the car door and gazed at the sunset that was about to disappear completely for a rare moment. The dim light is like some kind of obscure farewell, persuading people to go home.
A breeze blew by, and Guilliman lowered his head and threw all his useless philosophical thoughts into a corner. He would relive these detailed emotions before going to bed - if he could still sleep tonight.
"Primarch."
His First Chapter Commander, Marius Gage, spoke to him from behind in a serious voice: "According to your order, no one is approaching. We are only guarding outside the school. He has been in for more than thirty-five minutes. .”
"anything else?"
Guilliman turned around and unbuttoned the top button of his uniform. The temperature gradually became colder, but he wanted to let this coldness wash away his thoughts after processing the official document.
For no apparent reason, he recalled the descriptions in those supernatural ghost stories.
Generally speaking, monsters only appear in the dark.
Why? Is it because they are afraid of the sun?
"No more." Gage replied seriously. "There was no sound of fighting, no screams, nothing. The communication channel was even quiet. He didn't say anything."
The lines of Guilliman's face tightened.
He started walking and quickly approached the school gate that was completely deserted. The huge and heavy iron door was opened, and darkness had gradually fallen. Looking inside, there was a huge playground and some sculptures standing in the center of the playground.
Darkness swallowed up all details. The trees on both sides of the road slowly swayed their leaves with the breeze, and the rustling sound seemed to be mixed with something else.
"Where is he?" Guilliman asked.
"We don't know, Primarch," Gage said with a hint of frustration. "You ordered that no equipment be used to monitor or check his location, so we turned off all surveillance in the school."
Guilliman stopped. "Do you think this is wrong?"
"I don't think this is right," Gage admitted. "That's totally wrong, my lord."
Guilliman didn't answer, he just continued to stare into the darkness. After a while, he began to take off his uniform, and then took off the laurel crown. Gage looked at this scene and already guessed what his original body was going to do.
He sighed.
"I wish Lady Euton were here, my lord," Gage muttered.
"If she knew what we were doing in Macragge, I'm afraid she would be the first to question you, my First Chapter Master."
Guilliman chuckled, and then gave the order with Gage's helpless expression.
"Everyone is on alert."
"Do you really want to go in?"
"certainly."
Robert Guilliman, wearing his uniform shirt, nodded slowly and took out a pistol from his belt.
It was his personal collection, the Messarian beam pistol, derived from ancient technology, powerful and reliable. The most important thing is that it matches his hand.
Just like that, he slowly walked into the darkness.
...
...
It was so silent. Robert Guilliman thought. It's so quiet that it doesn't look like a school, but like a...
It's more like a cemetery.
He sighed, beginning to feel irritated by the thought - yes, that's right. After his conversation with Khalil Lohars he went to work, or rather, he went through paperwork and read ghost stories all afternoon.
Therefore, it is natural to be slightly affected at this moment.
As for the latter, he first went to the hospital to visit Captain Van Cleef before starting work. He inspected back and forth in the city, almost visiting all of Macragge, but
It was near evening that I decided on my first place of work.
And this school...the University of Jericho, which was famous in Macragge.
It is the cradle of philosophers and writers, and has produced more than seventeen winners of the highest literary awards in the past one hundred years. Roboute Guilliman knew these things very well, almost as if he knew them all.
At this moment, he walked quietly on the playground of Jericho University, his boots touched the ground, and the turf made a slight sound between friction.
The statues of the sages of the past gazed silently above Guilliman's head, and in return Robert Guilliman silently called out each of their names in his mind.
Actually, it's more than that.
He has even read each of their works and still remembers some of the controversial plots. Literature has almost no help in promoting science and technology, but everyone likes to listen to stories, and stories are the earliest literary carriers... No one can live without stories.
He spread his thoughts endlessly and continued to walk quietly in the darkness.
He held the gun, its trigger silently transmitting cold warmth to his index finger.
This matter was not in compliance with the rules and regulations. You should always keep your finger on the trigger guard when you are not sure whether to fire. Guilliman knew this rule and code, but he had to violate it.
His gun needed half a second to warm up before firing, which meant that if it was going to fire tonight, he would have to keep his finger on the trigger at all times.
It's almost like a preparation, a note for an uncertain future...or, an advance warning?
Guilliman smiled.
What am I thinking? Forewarned?
Roboute Guilliman, you are absolutely crazy. Not only did you believe the words, you even got him to act on them.
Look, what has become of the highest palace of philosophy where the lights used to be brightly lit and debates lasted all night long...
Deadly, eerie, cold...
cold?
Guilliman stopped and turned sharply, but there was nothing behind him. The playground was dark and stared at him, like a huge monster with its mouth open. The breeze blew, and his excellent hearing allowed him to hear the rustling of leaves again.
And that feeling is still there.
Cold – it’s everywhere.
Robert Guilliman stared seriously into the darkness. He could see through the darkness and naturally take in every detail. Half a minute later, he was sure again that there was no one else on the playground except him.
"Primarch?"
Gage's voice sounded in his communication headset. "You've been in for five minutes. How is the situation?"
"Everything is normal," Guilliman said. "Except I still can't find where he is."
Gage sighed and said nothing, but it seemed like he had said everything.
"Be patient, Gage, this is not the first time you have dealt with the Eighth Legion, isn't it? They have always been elusive on the battlefield... Also, what is the temperature tonight?"
"Twenty-two degrees Celsius. What's wrong, Primarch? Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to know." Guilliman replied calmly. "Continue to be vigilant. I'll search for another ten minutes and I'll be out."
He turned around and planned to go to the teaching building to take a look, but at this moment, his movements suddenly stopped. Then, he raised the gun in his hand.
Behind him - to be precise, directly in front of him at this moment, there was a slender figure waiting quietly.
Guilliman lowered his gun after three seconds.
"Instructor Khalil," he greeted softly. "Good evening."
"Good evening, my lord." Khalil Lohars nodded calmly and emotionlessly. He stood in the darkness with an indifferent expression, his hands hanging down naturally, and his posture relaxed.
And Guilliman was pretty sure he wasn't here just now.
.
He's not here, Guilliman told himself calmly, and he definitely wasn't here just now.
So, where was he just now?
"How is your work going?" Guilliman asked.
"very successful."
Khalil said. Apart from this brief comment, he said nothing, not even a redundant explanation.
Guilliman inevitably frowned. He put the gun back on his belt, expressing his wishes with subtle movements. As he did this, he looked closely into Khalil's eyes, trying to read his reaction.
However, the giant standing opposite him was as calm as if he were dead. His eyes did not even move, and he just looked at Guilliman.
"...Success? I see no evidence to support your statement." Guilliman decided to open the situation himself. "You came here to help me deal with the threat of Macragge. Instructor Khalil, you said you would kill every monster that dared to invade here. Where are the monsters?"
"Dead," Khalil said simply and clearly.
Guilliman almost laughed in anger.
"I gave you the greatest support, Instructor Khalil. I asked my legions to guard you, and asked the students and professors in the university to leave their research halls. I even went so far as to do it myself without getting a response from you. Entered your workplace instead of letting my legion search for traces of you! And now, you tell me that they are dead, so where are the bodies?"
"In fact, if possible, Lord Robert Guilliman... I would rather you not even come in." Khalil shook his head slowly. "Plus, they don't have bodies."
The corner of Guilliman's eye twitched.
He raised his right hand resolutely and waved it like a sword: "Enough, I have heard enough riddles today. I need to see the evidence now, Khalil Lohars, otherwise I can only treat you as a liar."
He glared aggressively at the giant, who stared back quietly.
There was a flash of anger.
That's it again. Guilliman thought angrily. There was this look again, as if I was a child who didn't understand anything and was throwing a tantrum. Why did he dare to despise me like this?
His anger went away just as quickly as it came. Guilliman did not remain angry for long. His rationality allowed him to quickly regain his composure. After a moment of silence, he made a gesture: "I want the truth."
The tone was firm.
So Khalil could only sigh.
"Follow me." He turned around.
