Lord of the Truth

Step Step

After Robin's direct command, the five figures who had been waiting outside entered the hall one after another, their footsteps echoing faintly across the vast marble floor. Aro walked at the front, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, his posture relaxed yet dignified. Beside him, Flora followed with furrowed brows, her expression clearly heavy with restrained thoughts.

Behind them, the three imperial guards advanced in perfect order, their faces set with serious, disciplined expressions.

None of them knew why they had been summoned so suddenly to the throne room, and yet, as soon as they stepped inside, all five—without exception—lowered their heads and bowed respectfully before Robin. Only then did they offer a brief, almost ceremonial salute toward Theo.

"Sit down," Robin gestured with casual authority toward the rows of lavish seats that lined both his right and left. His voice was calm but carried the kind of weight that allowed no room for hesitation. "We have an important matter to discuss today."

Without delay, Aro and Theo exchanged brief glances and moved toward the seats arranged on Robin's right. Meanwhile, the three guards headed toward the seats on the left, as if they had silently agreed beforehand to sit together. The symmetry of their division created a subtle tension in the hall.

But Flora remained standing where she was, unmoving. She clasped her hands in front of her and raised her chin. "If I may be allowed to speak, Your Majesty," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the stillness of the throne room, "I have a petition to present."

"Flora?" Aro stopped in his tracks and turned back to her, his brows furrowed. He clearly had no idea what his wife intended to request from His Majesty, and confusion shadowed his face.

"Hmm?" Robin himself looked slightly surprised for a moment. Then, seeing her resolute posture, his lips curved into a gentle smile. "Go ahead, speak."

Flora hesitated only briefly, her eyes flickering toward her husband before she fixed them on Robin again. "Your Majesty," she said with measured boldness, "would you consider taking Aro as your adopted son?"

"Oh?" Robin leaned back slightly and let out a small laugh, the sound rich with amusement. "And what would be the reason for such a request?"

"Flora, enough," Aro cut in sharply, his frown deepening. "Don't trouble His Majesty with nonsense."

But Flora pressed forward undeterred, her voice rising with conviction. "Please think about it carefully. I have observed how the Shadow Swords and the Imperial Guards treat His Highness Theo, His Highness Caesar, and even His Highness Peon—who does not even hold an official title—far better than they treat my husband. And their treatment of the Supreme General Sakaar is also far from satisfactory."

Aro exhaled heavily, clearly frustrated, but chose not to argue further. With a reluctant sigh, he resumed his walk and settled into one of the seats.

The three guards, however, glanced at each other in surprise. Their brows rose almost in unison, and one of them—Wade—opened his mouth with evident disdain. "And what exactly is the problem? The Shadow Swords and the Imperial Guards are not under your husband's command. Should we be expected to shower him with loyalty and obeisance every time we cross paths with him?"

"What about simple respect? Have you ever heard of that?!" Flora shot back, folding her arms tightly across her chest. Her eyes burned with unyielding determination, and though her words were bold, she stood her ground without hesitation.

"Heh~" Robin let out a weary sigh, his expression softening slightly. He could understand her feelings well enough. Bringing up the idea of adopting Aro had been more of a dramatic plea than a practical request, but even so, Robin knew this was not something that could be resolved by a word of his alone.

After all, Aro was not an insignificant man—he commanded a massive army, his strength was overwhelming, and his uniqueness had even played a role in Robin's discovery of the Fifth Path of training. But the three squad leaders seated to Robin's left were wielders of a major fundamental law, veterans with vast experience on countless battlefields. Their physical prowess was not inferior to Aro's in the slightest.

From their perspective, they had no reason to view themselves as beneath him. And when it came to their official standing, they held the honored positions of the Emperor's personal guards. That role, by its very nature, elevated them above most others. In fact, one could argue they were higher in standing than Aro, as they were expected to remain at the Emperor's side at all times.

The same situation applied to Sakaar. Even though his raw power currently surpassed theirs, he was still, in the eyes of many, a Demon. To most, demons as a race were seen as inferior, a stigma that clung to him regardless of his battlefield feats. It was no surprise, then, that the treatment they received differed significantly from the treatment afforded to the commanders of the First Army.

Robin finally turned his head toward the trio of guards on his left. "And what do you think of this matter?"

"Pure delusion, Your Majesty." This time, it was Latania who replied, her voice steady and sharp.

"Everyone would do better to focus on their assigned duties rather than fuss over minor issues like manners of treatment." She then turned her gaze directly onto Aro. "When I was tasked with delivering two prisoners at the level of a World Cataclysm, the Supreme General himself saw fit to shut the portals and block my way back. He did not present me with roses or spread Pearls across the ground in my honor."

"You dare imprison an Imperial Guard!?" Wade rose to his feet slowly, his voice a low growl filled with restrained fury.

He could mock or provoke Latania as much as he pleased, but there was a clear and sacred line that no one outside the Imperial Guard was ever permitted to cross. No outsider could touch one of them, restrict their movements, or force them into obedience. To violate that rule was an act worthy of death.

Robin raised his hand in a calm but firm gesture, signaling for him to sit, before turning his sharp gaze toward Aro. His expression grew noticeably serious. "Did something like this truly happen?" he asked, his voice carrying a weight that made even the massive throne hall feel smaller.

Aro leaned forward slightly, eager to clear himself of any suspicion. "She told me that her mission was completed once she delivered the two prisoners, and that she was preparing to return to Jura to wait for Your Majesty's orders there. So I asked her to stay a few more days and lend me her strength on the battlefield. The Grave Empire is lacking in World Cataclysm-level experts, and the war front was stretched thin. Isn't it better for her to fight for a short while rather than return to Jura and sit idle, doing nothing?" He rushed his words defensively, then quickly threw a glance at Latania. "Hey, didn't I promise you a quarter of the battlefield spoils as payment for that help?!"

"I haven't seen a single coin or shard from you," Latania retorted, waving her arm with sharp annoyance, her voice echoing in the hall. "And second, you keep sending the Shadow Swords on suicidal missions behind enemy lines—missions designed only to gather information for your negotiations. Many of them never return from those operations. That is the reason they resent you. That is precisely why your name doesn't inspire loyalty among them. And furthermore—"

"Enough." Robin's tone cut through her words like steel. He raised his voice only slightly, but it was more than enough to silence everyone. Bringing his hand up, he pressed two fingers between his brows as though to calm his thoughts, then looked toward the three guards again. His golden eyes gleamed as he spoke. "…When rank and status are equal, the proper way is to treat each other with respect. Perhaps generals may need to pass through you in order to reach me, but remember—there will come a time when you might rely on their armies. Perhaps you'll need them to help search for something irreplaceable, or to secure privileged positions for your own relatives within the military structure, or for reasons you cannot yet foresee. Power shifts, and no one stands alone forever."

He let the words hang for a moment, then continued with added force, "And most importantly, all of you are on the same side. Every single one of you will live and die under my banner. Trying to use your authority—whether you or the generals—to suppress or humiliate each other is nothing but arrogance and folly. Do you understand me clearly?"

"...." The three guards exchanged uncertain glances, their pride momentarily clashing with Robin's authority. But in the end, each of them lowered their heads in acknowledgment, nodding in unison.

On the other side, Aro also gave a reluctant nod, though his jaw clenched. He let out a long sigh, and inwardly cursed Flora for raising the matter in the first place. For a brief moment, he even wished he could march over and silence her himself, but all he could do now was swallow his frustration.

Robin, however, did not comment further. Instead, he turned his eyes toward Theo without speaking a single word. The silent exchange was enough.

Theo inclined his head slightly. "I'll handle the matter," he said with calm decisiveness.

The confirmation seemed to ease Robin's mood. A faint smile touched his lips again, and his posture relaxed. Then he looked back toward Flora, softening his tone as he gestured for her to go sit beside her husband. "I heard the two of you have a child now—my congratulations."

"Haha, thank you, Your Majesty!" Aro answered before Flora could, his voice loud and brimming with pride. "Though to call him a child now is difficult—he's already sixty years old and nearly at the peak of the Martial Emperor Realm."

"Hmm, time passes quickly," Robin mused, nodding several times. His voice carried both nostalgia and solemnity. "I recently entrusted headquarters with several pieces of planetary equipment. Tell him that I personally grant you permission to take one for your son. I would very much like to see what kind of prodigy emerges from the bloodline of a Lightning Bull fused with that of a Red Flame Dragon… especially when both parents themselves possess such extraordinary talent."

"Planetary equipment?!" Aro exclaimed, eyes widening. He immediately sprang to his feet and pulled Flora up with him, the two bowing deeply in perfect unison. "Thank you for Your Majesty's endless generosity."

"Planetary equipment, is it?" Theo muttered on the side, curiosity in his tone as he tilted his head.

"Go to your sister and you'll know everything. They're preparing a handful for you as well," Robin said dismissively, closing the matter with finality. Then his features hardened once again, and the faint warmth in his tone faded. His voice dropped, heavy with importance. "The true reason I summoned you here today is to speak of the time and location of the Galaxy Seed's ascension… and of what will come afterward."