40k: Midnight Blade

Chapter 52 52. Gift (End)

"So, do you like it?"

Khalil asked gently.

He stood in the splendid room, his wet hair reflecting the light cast by the chandelier. Faced with his question, Conrad Coates hesitated and shook his head.

"I can't use it," he said frustratedly. "I don't know why, but I always find it weird to use one weapon with two hands."

"A two-handed sword is far more powerful than a dagger or a dagger, Conrad."

Khalil couldn't help but laugh. He turned his head and glanced at the weapon lying quietly on Conrad Coze's desk. ".What's more, it's a power sword."

"You know about power swords?"

"I didn't do anything before I got off the ship, Conrad."

Khalil shook his head and asked in a relaxed tone, "So, do you like it?"

"It was given to me by Ferus." Konrad Curze looked away and answered thoughtfully.

"Do you like it?" Khalil asked, staring at him.

".I don't like it, but I also like it."

After a long silence, the Midnight Ghost replied in a hissing voice.

He was a little annoyed because Khalil kept staring at him—and it was quite rude not to answer if someone asked a question.

"I don't like the sword, but I like this gift - ugh"

Khalil rubbed his eyebrows with a headache and switched back to hissing Nostramo. "Then why didn't you say it when you went to see it with them?"

"I don't want to break Ferus' heart."

The ghost replied quietly. "Fulgrim said it took him ten days just to sketch."

"Then - you might have to spend some time learning how to use a power sword."

"Why?"

"Because this is a sword, and since you accepted it, you should use it in the future. The fate of the weapon is to be stained with the blood of the enemy, not to be hung on an expensive display stand and receive the spotlight."

"But I can't."

"Then go and learn."

Khalil replied in a tone that was so calm that it was almost callous.

"And, in a way, it's a lesson, Conrad."

"Lesson?" Ghost's eyes widened.

"If you don't like it, you should just say it."

Khalil shook his head with a half-smile.

"Hiding and hiding will only lead to a very embarrassing situation for both of us. Do you think that if you don't use this gift given by Ferrus Manus and instead use other weapons, he will how to think?"

".I will study tomorrow." After a moment of silence, Ghost pursed his lips and answered Khalil's words.

He lowered his head and stopped talking.

Khalil did not continue the conversation. He walked to the desk, looked at the long sword, and then lowered his head to read the notes made by Coze.

To be honest, there wasn't much he could read. Most of the papers were stacked together, and there were many words covered by the sword, but he didn't reach out to touch them.

"Khalil?" Conrad Coates's voice sounded behind him. He switched back to High Gothic.

"Um?"

"Do you want to see my notes?"

"These things are your studies, to be precise - but yes, I'd like to see them."

"Then why don't you move it?"

Khalil smiled, knowing what 'it' Cozzi was talking about.

Curze looked at him in confusion, but the former didn't answer, but just smiled more and more happily.

"Because it rained today in Quintus. Didn't you notice?"

Khalil said gently after laughing. "I don't want acid rain on your desk, your notes, or that sword."

"But you don't smell of acid rain!"

"That's because you're used to it, Conrad—well, how about I go clean myself up and change my clothes while there's still time tonight, and then we'll go visit Ferus Manus?"

"Visit him?"

"Yeah, it's better to explain things clearly in advance. And"

Khalil smiled slightly and threw a silver blade from his wide sleeves.

As a knife for close combat, it was too big for ordinary people, but for Conrad Coates, it seemed just right.

The pale giant caught it in surprise.

"Me, my knife!"

"Yes, your knife."

Khalil replied with a smile. "The handle needs a leather or wooden hand wrap, so we'd better pay your brother a visit. Kill two birds with one stone, right?"

"When are we going?" Conrad Coates asked impatiently.

"Don't be so hasty. I have to change into some decent clothes." Khalil sighed. "Ten minutes, how about it?"

"good!"

With a chuckle, Khalil shook his head and left.

He didn't know how long this rare innocence could last, but Khalil was willing to let it grow for a while before it was completely shattered by something.

The memories of childhood will shine in people's lives. He can't give anything to the ghost, but at least he will give him everything he can.

Just a partner. he thinks. Then he started laughing at himself in the corridors of the Emperor's Dream.

——

Ferrus Manus looked at a giant standing on the right side of his workbench, and then at a giant standing on the left side of his workbench, with a rare expression of confusion.

".What does this mean?" he asked.

"Huh?" The giant on the left side of the workbench answered him with an expression even more confused than his.

"Just came to visit you, Ferrus Manus." The giant on the right side of the workbench, Khalil, replied with a smile.

"Come together?" Ferus asked, his tone calm, but his eyebrows were raised suspiciously.

"Yes, come together." Khalil nodded calmly. "Is there anything wrong?"

"If we follow the regulations, there are many things that are inappropriate."

"for example?"

"For example, you should notify me three days in advance, so that I have time to prepare for the military parade, welcoming ceremony and a grand banquet."

Khalil laughed, with a hint of sarcasm in his smile - and Ferus knew that the sarcasm was not directed at him.

"You're actually so familiar with it? Don't tell me that you really like this." He said in a brisk tone.

"of course not."

Ferus shook his head. "But Fulgrim liked it, but he agreed to compromise. So the military parade was cancelled, the welcome ceremony was shortened to less than four hours, and the banquet was only for the two of us."

"Why, is he the only one who visits you frequently on weekdays?"

Ferrus Manus nodded expressionlessly and said nothing, but it seemed that he had said everything.

"Anyway—we're here for Conrad's gift."

"I'm not surprised," Ferus said calmly.

He looked at Konrad Coates, paused for a moment, and under the latter's uneasy gaze, asked in a soft and even dry tone: "You don't like it, do you, Konrad?"

"me"

Khalil turned his head and avoided Conrad Coates' pleading gaze.

He didn't intend to answer for him. Some things were destined to be solved only by Konrad Coates himself.

"I like it, but I don't like it either." The pale giant said through gritted teeth. "I mean, I like your gift, but I don't like the sword - because I can't use it."

The corners of Ferrus Manus's mouth curled up slightly, and although it quickly disappeared, it was an indisputable fact that he had smiled.

"I'm not surprised," he replied. "I saw it when you came to see it."

Conrad Coates was startled and raised his head suddenly: "Is it so obvious?"

"No, it's just my sensitivity as a craftsman. We can tell whether a warrior likes a certain weapon without even asking."

"Can this be seen?" Cozz asked suspiciously.

Ferus smiled again, and this time, his smile was genuine, and it stayed on his face longer than ever before.

He smiled and shook his head: "Of course, Conrad. You are not a craftsman, so you won't understand."

"Then can I become a craftsman?"

"you"

Ferus looked him up and down for a while, then shook his head. He gave the answer directly without explaining the reason. Fortunately, Conrad Coates doesn't care much about this matter.

"So, do you want that sword back, Conrad?"

"No, no - actually I do"

"you think?"

"I-uh, Khalil!"

The giant whose name was called sighed and turned his gaze back helplessly - he was originally admiring the unfinished works of Ferrus Manus hanging on the wall of his room.

To be honest, he didn't intend to interfere with this rare conversation, but it seemed that Konrad Coates had reached his limit.

"Yes, he wants to return that sword to you." Khalil said calmly. "Besides, I'd like to ask you a small favor."

"As long as I can."

The pale giant blinked and carefully took out a knife from his sleeve.

Ferrus had not noticed this at all before. His pupils inevitably shrank at that moment - the clothes Conrad Coates wore today did not have very large sleeves.

"A little trick."

Khalil explained calmly. "This is the knife I gave him as a gift. As you can see, Ferrus Manus, it does not have a suitable handle. The pure metal section is not very friendly to the opponent."

".indeed so."

Staring at the knife, Ferrus Manus nodded slowly. He glanced inquiringly at his brother, who quickly handed him the knife. The giant with a pair of steel arms took it, his movements and postures were extremely careful.

After a long time, he sighed deeply.

".How did you do it?" he asked.

"This knife?"

"Yes."

"A little trick." Khalil smiled slightly, raised his hand and tapped his temple. "What do you think of it?"

Ferus did not answer immediately, but narrowed his eyes and stared at the weapon. His fingers were twitching slightly.

After a moment, he uttered two cold words.

"horrible."

Then he raised his head and looked at his brother: "A handle, huh? Leather, or wood?"

"Well"

"Is it up to me?" Ferus asked prophetically.

Conrad Coates nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, it's up to you, Ferus."

After a brief silence, Ferrus Manus nodded slowly.

"I will not insult this knife," he said calmly to Khalil.

The latter smiled intriguingly: "It's not worthy of you taking it so seriously."

"If you look at it from a weapon level, I really don't, but it's not a weapon." Ferus replied.

Sneak attack!

The glorious tradition of the Night Lords.jpg

(Actually, I just wanted to mention the progress, so I’m adding an update. Thank me, happy)