Lord of the Truth

"...HAAAHAHAHA!!!" Robin slapped his thigh with his right hand while covering his face with his left, his laughter echoing like a thunderclap across the chamber.

"..." In front of his father's hysterical outburst, Theo furrowed his brows in deep puzzlement. "Is there something amusing here that I simply don't understand, Father?"

"Haha… hehe…" Robin's laughter faltered, slowing down until it died with a sudden abruptness. "No," he shook his head weakly, almost trembling, "no, there's nothing funny at all." His voice carried the weight of denial, as if he himself wanted to believe it.

"....." Theo wanted to press further, to demand the reason behind such a strange reaction, but seeing the gloom spreading across Robin's expression, he chose silence instead.

Moments of suffocating stillness stretched between them before Robin finally spoke, his tone heavy:

"...Tell me more about this awaited cosmic war," he asked, his words carrying both dread and curiosity. "When do you think it will begin?"

"That depends entirely on its true purpose," Theo answered, his voice steady like a commander briefing his army. "If the aim is simply to drive Lord Hedrick away from the galaxy seed and keep him entangled, or if the true intent is his total erasure—to strike him down and bury the very empire he forged with his own two hands—then the scale will be far greater."

Theo's eyes gleamed with a calculating sharpness. "The Millennial Crumbled Dreams Empire stands as the strongest in Middle Sector 101, second only in status to the Radiance Galaxy of the Behemoth Kaylis. Lord Hedrick commands an overwhelming number of generals, brilliant aides, and armies so vast they seem endless. To uproot him will require more than simple force; it will demand the united fury of many sectors."

Robin leaned back, listening intently.

And Theo continued without pause:

"Even though Hedrick dispatched most of his generals and a huge portion of his fleets to the Young Sector, the empire's core remains sturdy. Diverting such a colossus will require enormous armies. And with the infiltrations and concealment tactics the enemy is currently employing, I believe it will take only a single century before they finally strike. When that day comes, Lord Hedrick's grip on either sector will collapse entirely."

"...." Robin nodded slowly, lost in thought. Whether Hedrick kept his forces stationed near Verillion to guard it, or recalled them to defend his properties in Middle Sector 101, he would inevitably lose whichever front he abandoned.

"And what," Robin's voice dropped lower, "if the true will of war is to erase him from both sectors altogether?"

Theo hesitated, the air thickening as he pondered.

If the architect of this war was indeed Lord Zarion, then it was clear he sought nothing less than Hedrick's annihilation—leaving him no chance to breathe, no moment to rebuild. This galaxy seed had given Zarion the perfect excuse to summon forces from all surrounding sectors. And with such an opportunity, how could a man of his caliber let it slip away?

"..." Theo finally answered after a long pause, staring directly into his father's weary eyes. "I would give him three to four centuries of survival at most. Beyond that… nothing."

"Urghhh..." Robin groaned, clutching both sides of his head as though he could crush the torment inside his skull.

Why must this war come within six hundred years? Why must the only man who extended him a hand of support be doomed to die before Robin could gain any real benefit?

What choices were left to him now?

Three paths alone stretched before him: aid Hedrick, ignore the storm and drift with the tide, or attempt to fish amidst the chaos.

But how could he aid Hedrick when he himself was desperate for aid? Hedrick required generals of the Nexus State, guardians and sovereigns, titans of immense power. What could Robin's meager fleets and limited ground troops do in a war of such magnitude?

Could he simply ignore it? Stand by and watch as Hedrick is ground to dust, his empire scattered into ashes? Perhaps… but then what? Robin would lose his greatest supporter—no, his only supporter.

Who else did he have left? The Cosmic Elder was already dying, and Althera had made herself perfectly clear: neither she nor the Academy would ever help an empire expand, nor even defend itself, no matter the circumstances.

And so, the last path—fishing in troubled waters. Perhaps he could snatch a fragment of Verillion amidst the chaos? But how, when countless predators circled, waiting to devour it? Or maybe he could seize a piece of the Millennial Shattered Dream Empire itself?

No, mere delusions… as if the invaders would leave behind even scraps of flesh or bone. And even if he did manage to claim something, would it ever outweigh the benefit of supporting Hedrick directly, of honoring the promised aid to his armies and his brilliant generals?

"Father..." Theo finally spoke, frowning deeply as he saw the struggle etched into Robin's face. "It's clear you have some kind of bond with Lord Hedrick. But I thought there was enmity between you?"

"There is no eternal enmity, nor eternal affection in this world, my son… no eternal enmity, no eternal affection." Robin's voice was distant, his gaze wandering into emptiness as if staring at futures only he could see. At last he lifted his hands away from his face and turned aside with eyes that no longer focused on the present.

"...This war," Robin whispered, heavy as a death knell, "will overturn everything."

"...Well, it's all just one-sided speculation," Theo admitted at last, his tone softening when he noticed the heavy lines of frustration tightening his father's face. He tried to ease the weight pressing on Robin's shoulders. "There's still a chance, however small, that Lord Hedrick already knows what's happening—that he's been gathering clues and preparing for it in secret all along."

"Heheh…" Robin gave a dry, almost bitter laugh. "Trust me—he doesn't know." His chuckle turned into something hollow, more like mockery of fate than amusement.

He had met Hedrick only a week ago, had spoken with him face-to-face, and the truth was unmistakable. He's completely blind. The way he spoke of the seed's future, the war, the Radiance Galaxy… everything about him screamed ignorance. He is marching forward, proud and unknowing, like a general stepping into a trap with open arms.

Theo narrowed his eyes but inclined his head. "I wouldn't dismiss that possibility. After all, even for us, gathering this information was grueling." His voice carried respect for the effort it had taken.

The Shadow Swords were, without a doubt, the most efficient and far-reaching network when it came to acquiring intelligence.

Robin knew well why. The Major Law of Darkness, coupled with the limitless supply of resources and authority he had granted them, had made the Shadow Swords a dominating force across both Sector 99 and Sector 100 whether it's the young or the mid!

In those four sectors, they moved like shadows over water—untouchable, absolute. No one held greater sway except for that Syndicate… and even then, Richard's presence in Middle Sector 101 had forced them to spread their roots deep into that contested ground as well. If even the Shadow Swords had bled and strained to uncover these truths, then who else could possibly hold such knowledge, if not maybe the Syndicate itself?

"So what do you think, Father—should we tell him?" Theo's voice was calm, but the gleam in his eyes hinted at mischief.

"..." Robin's brow furrowed, his thoughts grinding like millstones. "Do you believe it would truly help?" he asked at last, his voice low, uncertain.

"I think it would certainly make the war… more interesting." Theo's lips curled into a cold smile, one far beyond his youthful age. "At the very least, Lord Hedrick wouldn't crumble as quickly as they are hoping for. He might even drag their plans into the mud with him."

"...." Robin closed his eyes for a time, letting the silence draw out, weighing the many strands of consequence unraveling before him. Then, after long moments, he finally nodded, slow and deliberate. "Return to your base in Sector 100. From there, prepare me a detailed report and send it through the Spirit Society. Leave nothing vague—I want specifics. Include the exact number of planets where those hidden forces are lurking. Evidence is what I need."

"Understood." Theo bowed his head, his voice steady with resolve. "Do you have any other orders, Father?"

"No," Robin replied with quiet pride. "You know what must be done with the rest… You always know what must be done." He gave his son a faint nod, but one heavy with satisfaction.

Before such a rare and genuine smile from his adoptive father, Theo felt warmth surge within him. His chest swelled with pride, and a faint glow of happiness lit his features. He returned the smile, bowed deeply, and then turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the hall.

Tap Tap

Yet once Theo's presence faded from the room, the matter refused to fade from Robin's mind. The silence only sharpened his turmoil. Should he forward the report to Hedrick? And if he did, what would it cost him? Would Hedrick immediately demand the fourth-tier Planetary Displacement Gear, straining his empire's resources beyond measure? But if he withheld the report, if he left Hedrick blind… who else could fill the void when the war came crashing down?

"Urghhh…" Robin growled in frustration, dragging his fingers harshly through his hair as though trying to tear the indecision out by force. His skull throbbed with the weight of impossible choices. "This isn't the time for endless doubts," he muttered.

Straightening his posture, Robin turned his head toward a distant direction, his eyes locking onto the invisible pull of the nearest space gate. His expression hardened, the hesitation swept away.

"Now," he whispered with quiet finality, "is the time to awaken someone."