Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1134 1134: The Third Supreme General

”...This is Haros, the Tenth Marshal, and your right-hand man!”

”....” Haros looked away, clearly annoyed. Even after he offered to be the new third Supreme General, Robin still referred to him as Aroʼs right hand, he treated his words as nothing.

”He was,” Aro furrowed his brows sharply, his tone filled with certainty. ”...He was a Marshal before he was defeated and thrown into prison, he is nothing but a slightly stronger war prisoner now.”

Despite his confident words, a flicker of hesitation flashed through Aroʼs eyes. He had fought against a Marshal before. He knew the sheer power they possessed. If Haros were to engage in battle now, he would undoubtedly lose.

”Aro, oh Aro~” Robin shook his head with a smirk. ”Why the hesitation? Didnʼt you rush to Planet R-1 to assist Alexander, eager to prove yourself? Donʼt tell me you went there on your own accord, simply out of the kindness of your heart. We both know better than that.”

”...I canʼt hide anything from you, Your Excellency.” Aro sighed deeply before continuing, ”But I had a different plan in mind. I was aiming for a high-ranking internal position, perhaps even a prestigious administrative role. But to be a Supreme General? No, no, itʼs far too soon for that.”

”Coward,” Haros muttered under his breath, loud enough for Aro to hear.

”...No wonder His Excellency didnʼt appoint you as the Third Armyʼs Supreme General right away. Youʼre too shortsighted!” Aro turned his sharp gaze toward Haros. ”Do you even understand who Caesar and Sakaar are? Do you know the strength of their top followers— Alexander, Peon, Theo, Amon, and Saʼir? What do you think their reaction would be if someone like me —a nobody in the empire— suddenly emerged from the shadows, took such a high position, and stood on equal footing with them? I do want power. I do have the qualifications. But not at the cost of making enemies out of every influential figure in the empire!”

Robin chuckled at Aroʼs reasoning. ”So youʼre not afraid of the responsibility of leading an army— youʼre afraid of the political backlash, of upsetting the other Supreme Generals and their followers, and of getting caught up in a dangerous web of conspiracies? Now that is a fear I can understand.”

”Afraid of leading the army? I could lead all three for all I care. Afraid of upsetting the other commanders? If I reached level 49 or obtained a merged law, I wouldnʼt fear anyone! Afraid of internal conspiracies? No one in this empire can outmaneuver me in political intrigue!” Aro declared boldly, his voice filled with arrogance. Then, he pointed directly at Robin. ”Thereʼs only one thing I fear— you raising me too quickly, having me build an army for you, and then turning around to lend your ear to the complaints of your sons, only to cast me aside and bury me underground with a single word.”

”...” Robin fell silent for a moment, his sharp gaze locked onto Aroʼs. After a few moments of contemplation, he nodded slowly, as if acknowledging the truth behind Aroʼs words. ”Your concerns are valid. But thatʼs only because you donʼt truly know me or my sons yet.”

”Listen, Aro. When I was young, I had an overwhelming desire to accomplish something no one else had ever done—to carve out my own path, to become a man unlike any other, to leave a legacy that would be remembered for generations. Of course, back then, those were nothing more than the naive dreams of a child. But now— now, I have the means to turn those dreams into reality and more.”

He began to walk slowly around the massive pyramid, and the three individuals followed behind him. ”In the past, I had no army, no allies, no influence. So I focused on something within my grasp. I decided to create my own law technique, a unique system that had never been seen before. I spread it throughout the Black Sun Kingdom so that even if I disappeared, my name would be remembered. That was the peak of my ambition back then.”

Robin came to a halt, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield before him. ”But now, things are different. My ambitions are no longer limited to merely creating and sharing knowledge. And, of course, they are no longer confined to just the Black Sun Kingdom!”

”...Right now, Aro, I have two great passions. The first is to continue uncovering the deepest, most elusive truths of the universe, and the second is to watch my empire —an empire I have built with my sweat and blood— rise to heights beyond imagination, expanding into uncharted horizons with unstoppable momentum.” Robinʼs gaze drifted upward, locking onto the towering pyramid that stood as a monument to his ambition. ”And these two passions are not as separate as they might seem. To explore the fundamental truths of existence, I need strength —immense strength— to shield me from the dangers that lurk in the unknown, and I need vast resources to sustain my journey. And there is only one way to secure both: through the dominance of powerful, disciplined armies that answer only to me!”

He then turned toward Aro, his eyes sharp and unwavering. ”You will not find yourself clashing with Caesar or Sakaar. In fact, you may not even see them or their most trusted subordinates for decades at a time. Each of them will be given a fleet of warships, and perhaps even coordinates to new, unexplored territories. Each of you will have your own battles to fight, your own means of acquiring fresh troops, and your own self-sustaining war industries. When I say that my armies are separate, I do not mean this in a metaphorical sense. I mean it literally.”

Robin took a slow step forward, his tone becoming even more deliberate. ”The three of you —Caesar, Sakaar, and yourself— will cross paths in only three instances. The first is when you report to Emily, surrendering the spoils of your wars for proper distribution. The second is when you consult with Zara, ensuring that you remain up-to-date on the latest technological innovations. And the third? The third is when you stand before me. Whether it will be to receive punishment or reward— that will depend entirely on your actions. Now tell me, does this arrangement sound acceptable to you?”

Aro exhaled slowly, almost as if he had momentarily forgotten how to breathe. He was silent for a long moment, contemplating the sheer scale of what Robin was proposing. This was not merely a promotion—it was the kind of opportunity that could shape the fate of entire worlds. ”...Why me?” he finally asked, his voice unusually subdued. ”Why not him?” He gestured toward Haros, who stood rigidly beside them.

Robin chuckled, shaking his head. ”The First Army consists entirely of humans. The Second Army is made up of Demons. Now tell me— what do you suggest I do with the rest of the countless inhabitants of my dominion?” His smirk widened slightly. ”I once attempted to integrate the Astrals and the Dwarves into the First Army, at least as Rune masters and weaponsmiths, but they were always treated as outsiders, never truly belonging. In the end, they chose to leave after the conquest of Greenland. I do not blame them. Swearing allegiance to a race that is not your own is no small matter. And frankly, Caesar is utterly incapable of commanding a military force composed of multiple species. He lacks the flexibility for it.”

Robin then turned his gaze to Haros. ”Now, Haros here is an accomplished war commander. He has waged brutal battles across multiple planets. His combat instincts are sharp—razor-sharp, even—and he has personally been a thorn in my side in the past. He is undeniably ambitious, which, in that regard, makes him similar to you somehow. However...” Robin tilted his head slightly, his expression scrutinizing. ”He has never led a multi-racial army. And letʼs be perfectly honest—given that he once served as a Marshal in a military force whose sole purpose was to eradicate every race they saw, most of whom I now count among my subjects, how will they listen to him? ” Robin clapped Haros on the shoulder, and though the man didnʼt say a word, his tense posture made it clear he resented the remark.

”As for you,” Robin continued, now looking back at Aro, ”you may not yet have proven yourself as a battlefield general, but you have demonstrated something far rarer: the ability to unify people of vastly different backgrounds under a single banner. The fact that you have managed to unite the scattered factions of Orphanʼs Blood multiple times —without resorting to all-out war— is a testament to your skill. Your intervention on Planet R-1 was yet another display of your strategic cunning. You have a unique talent, Aro. You know how to weave the minds and hearts of others into your own vision. That is why you are the only one suited to command the Third Army.”

Robin placed a firm hand on Harosʼs shoulder once more, though this time, his expression was more serious. ”However, since you lack experience in direct military leadership, Haros will stand beside you—not as a rival, but as a mentor and a battle-hardened war strategist who will teach you what you need to know. The two of you will lead the Third Army together. But there is one condition: Haros will swear an unbreakable oath—to follow your leadership with unwavering loyalty, to never attempt to deceive or manipulate you, and to fully dedicate himself to the success of the army under your command. This way, you can focus entirely on your mission without needing to constantly look over your shoulder.”

”...” Harosʼs fingers curled into a tight fist, almost breaking his arm in the process. His jaw clenched, and for a moment, it seemed as though he might lash out—but then, just as quickly, his muscles relaxed. His eyes burned with restrained fury, yet he said nothing. He was a defeated commander. He had no real leverage in this negotiation. In truth, he should be grateful that he was even being allowed to live, let alone retain a position of power.