Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1327: Visiting old friends-1

After unlocking the data Robin had transferred, the fairy’s jaw dropped open. Her tongue twisted uselessly, and her mind went utterly blank—like someone had wiped her core memory clean in a single instant.

”Hehe, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a programmed fairy actually struck dumb.” Robin laughed heartily, a rare sense of pride bubbling up in his chest. For once, he couldn’t hide it—he had really outdone himself.

The fairy suddenly remembered he was watching her, and she pointed at him frantically,

”It’s right here, isn’t it?” Robin shrugged with casual confidence. ”So, tell me—can I list it in the auction or not?”

the fairy burst out, her voice filled with a shocked excitement—only to quiet suddenly, almost sheepishly,

”But what?” Robin raised a single eyebrow. Something in her tone had shifted—this wasn’t the calm, robotic voice he was used to hearing. For the first time in 170 years of working with her, she sounded... almost human. Unfiltered. Emotional. He squinted at her curiously. ”Don’t tell me... after all this time, you’re gonna try to cheat it out of me?”

she blurted, clearly flustered.

”You mean to tell me... you’re passing up profit all of a sudden?” Robin chuckled in disbelief. ”Didn’t see that one coming.”

She clapped her tiny hands together sharply, as if sealing a deal.

She smiled at him, eyes gleaming,

Robin’s eyes narrowed slightly. ”No thanks. I want it in the auction.”

He spoke with finality, waving his hand in refusal. Yet inside, deep in the back of his mind... awe began to stir.

A fourth-stage planetary artifact would normally have an opening bid around 70 million Pearls. Even cutting-edge planetary array blueprint that could double conquest efficiency across the universe were priced at 8.5 million in the store.

But this? This thing was apparently worth four hundred million to them without negotiation?

she tried again, almost pleadingly.

”Stop.” Robin shook his head with a small sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. ”This isn’t about money. Not this time.”

He paused. Then added with unusual gravity, ”I’m taking a long break from selling in the Soul Society. So I want the last thing I release... to be unforgettable. I want the name ’Human’ to echo—loudly. To leave a mark. Something big. Something that will make them remember. Do you understand?”

she blinked, genuinely confused.

”Ahh, yes... that would be the rational move, wouldn’t it? That’s what a sane person would do.” Robin laughed, loudly and without shame. ”But what can I say? I’m a glory-hungry bastard. I like the spotlight. I like the noise.”

He grinned, then turned toward the mirror and pointed.

”Add it to the auction list. Tonight, everyone in the Mid-Belt will know the name ’Human’. Tonight... I’m sending a message.”

the sprite sighed, defeated but compliant.

”No. You go ahead first.” Robin’s grin faded slightly into something more thoughtful—almost solemn. ”I’ll head to the Chamber of Truth... one last time.”

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The Hall of Truth —

”Hoh hoh~” came the coarse, almost raspy laughter of the elder with the dark, dog-like head. His aged eyes squinted in amusement. ”You’ve been lingering here more and more these days. One might think you’ve grown attached.”

”Mind your own affairs,” grunted the other figure, whose head bristled with spiked hair like a crown of thorns. His gaze remained fixed on the glowing interface before him, the shifting data reflected in his eyes. He didn’t bother to raise his head, didn’t even acknowledge the elder’s tone. It was obvious—he had no intention of making small talk.

”Hoh hoh,” the old one chuckled again, his voice like gravel over stone. ”I mean no offense. I just... understand your new interest. After all, that metal-faced guy—he calls himself ’Human,’ doesn’t he?—he’s turned the entire martial arts market upside down. It’s only natural you’d be watching closely.”

”...Don’t you find him suspicious?” the spiked-haired one suddenly snapped, his tone laced with barely restrained irritation. ”The guy hasn’t picked up a single official task from this Hall. Not once has he tried to craft a sigil or draw a diagram here. Yet he floods the shops with creations—martial arts, array schematics, talismans, even cultivation techniques—like a bottomless spring pouring out of nowhere!”

”I did have my doubts too,” the dog-headed elder admitted with a thoughtful nod. ”At first, I figured it might be a strange coincidence... until I personally verified his name through the control panel during his last visit, he IS Human. Otherwise, I would’ve bet my tail it was someone else.”

”Tch~ He reeks of mystery, and I don’t trust it,” the other man muttered with clear disdain. ”But let him have his fleeting fame. Let him gather his little wealth. In the end, he’ll be just another overconfident youth, no different from the dozens who came before him. Let’s see how long he lasts.”

His voice grew colder, almost venomous.

”If he survives long enough to sell even a single fourth-stage martial art, then—then we’ll talk about competing with me in the martial arts market.”

His words carried weight. During his long and storied career, he had successfully crafted not one, but two martial arts of the rare and revered fourth stage—each one a masterpiece that still echoed through the annals of combat to this day. People pestered him constantly, begging for a third even in this day and time.

”Hmm... you’re not wrong,” the old one conceded, his voice calm. ”Still, he’s young. Time’s on his side. And frankly, I should be relieved—neither you nor him have ever shown the slightest interest in the Pill Market. That’s one battle I’m not ready to fight.”

”Heh~” the spiked-haired one finally looked up, lips curling into a wry smile. ”Didn’t he release those Rune patterns to optimize elixirs and refine third-stage pills, old man? I’d say he just butchered at least a quarter of your profit margin without even trying.”

Before the old dog-headed man could retort, a soft but confident step echoed through the chamber. A new voice followed, crisp and calm—tinged with amusement.

”Oh? Sounds like I’ve stirred up quite the commotion just by being around. Maybe I owe everyone an apology.”

”Hoh hoh! Brother Human, in the flesh!” the elder turned to greet the newcomer, his smile warm but observant. ”We haven’t seen you here in... what, fifty years? I’d assumed you’d settled into life selling wares in the market.”

”Tch~” the spiked one scoffed but didn’t look up. His fingers continued dancing across his interface like nothing had changed.

”How could I ever abandon the Chamber of Truth?” Robin said with a gentle smile, striding forward with composed ease, hands clasped neatly behind his back. ”I learned so much within these walls. Even now, simply watching the complex troubles people bring here... it sparks inspiration in me.”

”Then perhaps it’s time you started solving some of those problems,” the spiked man shot back, a sneer curling his lips. ”True skill lies in solving difficulties—not mimicking brilliance and rebranding it as your own creation.”

Robin paused, slowly turning to face him. He raised a single brow, not in anger, but with a trace of amusement that edged into challenge.

”Perhaps you’re right. Maybe I should start listening to you more carefully. I’m sure someone like you, who practically lives in this room, has completed dozens of missions by now—yes?”

”Dozens?” The man with the spiked hair laughed out loud this time, an honest, mocking sound that echoed across the stone walls. ”You really don’t understand how this place works, do you? You think the kind of people who pay millions in pearls are doing so for quick fixes and trivial errands? Hah! You’ve read the requests, haven’t you? Every single one. And still—you haven’t completed even one.”

He pointed straight at Robin, voice rising with raw accusation.

”You, the newborn brat who thinks the title of Truth Chosen is just some flashy badge. You believed it was about using your bright eyes to look around like an idiot. But the moment you entered this room and saw what real problems a Truth Chosen has to deal with... you turned and ran.”