Warhammer 40k: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 163: The Law of Scintilla: Trial by Combat

The commotion at the starport was simply too great.

A conflict between an Astra Militarum regiment and a Space Marine Chapter was worthy of anyone's attention, to say nothing of the fact that the Space Wolves were also involved. The special status of the Astartes in the Imperium made the nobles of Scintilla marvel at the audacity of the Raiders.

Scintilla's elite planetary defense forces began to mobilize, and even the Planetary Governor, Hax, had to make his way to the starport. As one of Scintilla's most important facilities, he did not want to see it reduced to ruins in this pointless conflict.

But when he arrived at the starport and saw the headache-inducing scene, he was at a loss. As Governor, he had no authority to command the Emperor's Angels, and his attempts to seek help from the Inquisition were met with silence. The Grand Inquisitor here, Cadhan, remained in the Inquisition's headquarters, the Tricorn Palace, refusing to come out. Calixis was facing too many external threats, and he had thrown this internal dispute to Hax to handle. The Inquisition did not want to get involved in this troublesome conflict either. As long as it didn't involve heresy or xenos, they would pretend they hadn't seen it.

"By the Emperor, Lord Harald, Chapter Master Gabriel, this is still the territory of the Imperium! What you are doing is not appropriate. Regardless of who is injured, it is a loss for the Imperium!" Hax said in a deep voice. The guards beside him swallowed nervously as they looked at the group of Astartes and the Raiders in their combat suits.

Hax's status was not insignificant. This was the capital of a major sector, a noteworthy world in the entire Imperium.

Damon had not expected that the opposing Chapter Master would be present as well. He looked at the Astartes, who wore no helmet and had a head of white hair. The giant warhammer he held in his hand had a clear warp reaction. It was a powerful relic known as God-splitter.

Lucan had told Damon to be wary of any named Astartes who wasn't wearing a helmet. In this world, a helmet was like a plot armor inhibitor.

"The laws of the Imperium? Governor Hax, have not your Scintillan nobles always prided themselves on being above Imperial law?"

Gabriel's words, which gave no face at all, filled Hax with inner rage. But years of struggling with various nobles and interest groups had taught him not to show his emotions. Everyone knew that what Gabriel said was a common ailment of the great nobles, but it was not something that should be said so openly.

"Chapter Master Gabriel, that is slander. Scintilla is loyal to the God-Emperor and the Imperium. We abide by the laws of the Imperium. I only know that even you, the Emperor's Angels, must also abide by them. To forcibly requisition the equipment of an allied force, and not even during wartime! On Scintilla, private property is protected by this planet. This is the reason for Scintilla's thriving commerce and finance. The law of Scintilla is also the law of the Imperium, Chapter Master Gabriel."

Hax's tone was no longer friendly.

"No matter what, you must return our equipment!" Damon said, showing no weakness.

But things that had fallen into the hands of the Blood Ravens were not so easily spat out.

This time, Gabriel had only brought the Third Company of the Blood Ravens. Due to the Chapter's severe losses, the surviving companies were all conducting recruitment missions in different sectors. He looked at the Space Wolves, who had already assembled under Harald's command, and at this group of fully-armed Raiders. Gabriel also did not want a direct conflict.

On the trade markets of Scintilla, the Chapter's Techmarines had already verified the power of the C-14 weapons. He knew very well that the enemy's numbers were enough to cause armor breaches on his Chapter brothers.

"Governor Hax, since you mentioned the laws of Scintilla, I recall that dueling is legal on Scintilla, is it not? I even know that you can use a duel to decide the right and wrong of a matter?"

Hax had not expected Gabriel to say this. He clearly guessed Gabriel's intention. But for Hax, this was not a bad thing. As Gabriel said, duels between Scintillan nobles were very common. And for Hax, as long as the conflict was quelled, he didn't care who was right or wrong, or who lost or profited.

"A duel? Indeed. If that is the case, soldiers from the Expanse, do you accept this proposal?" Hax looked at Damon and the others.

"A duel! Gabriel! As a Chapter Master, you would propose a duel with a mortal?"

Harald was displeased with Gabriel, but he had to respect his strength. If he were to fight him, he probably wouldn't last more than a few rounds. The combat strength between Astartes was too unpredictable; there was no real way to compare.

"I will not fight personally. I will have one of my Chapter brothers remove his power armor. Commander of the Raiders, your physique suggests you have also received gene-enhancement, correct? If you lose, we will requisition your technology. If you win, I will return it to you!"

Hearing this, Damon smiled. But what Gabriel couldn't understand was why Harald was also smiling. He had originally thought that Harald would fight the duel on behalf of these Raiders, but clearly, that was not the plan.

Gabriel himself won't fight, huh... and without power armor, even better... Others might not know Damon's combat strength, but Harald certainly did... When facing the daemon legion, the killing efficiency of these Night Sentinels was even higher than that of his Space Wolves. When he was training Damon and the others without armor, Harald had experienced their physical strength firsthand. And the Damon of today was much stronger than he was a few years ago.

"No," Damon countered. "We also have a condition. If we lose, you can have the equipment. We will even provide you with technical support. But if you win, I need that thing! And not just this one. I need more!"

Damon pointed to the Eldar soul stone on the Librarian's belt.

"A soul stone? You want this thing?"

Gabriel had not expected this request. Soul stones were useful to the Eldar, but humans could not use them. They were mostly kept as a kind of trophy. In their Battle Barge, they did indeed have quite a few of these things. Gabriel's first reaction was that this Rogue Trader Dynasty wanted to use these soul stones to trade with the Eldar. He knew that Rogue Trader Dynasties traded with xenos, and that some Craftworld Eldar would pay resources for the soul stones of their kin.

But it could also lead to retaliation. The soul stone Damon was pointing at was from an Eldar Farseer who had walked quite a distance down his path. The Farseer had even killed several of their battle-brothers. Given the status of a Farseer among the Eldar, if they tried to trade this soul stone with a Craftworld, they would most likely be met with retribution.

But the safety of a Rogue Trader Dynasty was of no concern to him. Since the other party had made this request, he would agree. For the Blood Ravens, there was no loss.

"Fine! I agree!"

Gabriel then looked at a Chapter brother behind him.

"Lucien! You will do it!"

From Harald's reaction, Gabriel knew that his opponent's strength was likely even greater than he had imagined. He had originally intended to send out an ordinary battle-brother, but in the end, he chose a sergeant who specialized in close combat.

Lucien took off his helmet. Then, with the help of a Techmarine, he removed his suit of power armor.

Damon also removed his Praetor suit.

The surrounding crowd consciously made a clearing for them.

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