Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1807 Lord Robinʼs tremendous support

”...What could Robin possibly offer me that he hasnʼt already given?” Hedrick asked, his tone a mix of surprise, disbelief, and a faint edge of skepticism.

The Shadow Swords had already done the unimaginable. They had forced several of his enemies to retreat under relentless pressure, brought him multiple allies at critical moments, and provided the interstellar communication network that had completely shifted the balance during the drawn-out attrition war. Somehow, through feats that seemed impossible, they had infiltrated enemy ships from the inside and detonated them, collapsing them into twisted wreckage. And that was before considering the enormous quantities of talismans, weapons, and advanced arrays they had supplied him with.

In truth, the Shadow Swords had carried nearly half the burden of the war on their shoulders alone, and they had done so without even a hint of doubt or hesitation. Their efforts had been nothing short of heroic, beyond measure. Yet, rumors of their exploits had begun to spread, reaching corners of the Mid-101 Sector, which only served to tighten the noose around them. Enemies feared them, allies approached cautiously, and even those who dared to pursue them were careful, reducing their constant presence around Hedrick slightly... but despite this, they continued to appear when needed, supplying him with crucial intelligence and keeping him one step ahead of every threat.

”As long as every avenue of direct support has been opened to us,” Theo announced, his voice steady and commanding, ”I can confidently say that we can achieve far, far more than what has been done so far. And to begin with, before any other action is taken, I will transfer ten billion Pearls directly to your account in the Soul Society.”

”...?!??!?!” Hedrickʼs eyes widened to the absolute limit, his jaw nearly dropping. ”What... what did you just say?!”

”Ten billion, Lord Hedrick. I will send it to you immediately.” Theo repeated calmly, deliberately. ”A small figure like myself cannot dictate to Your Majesty how to spend this sum; you have your own understanding, your own

perspective. But I will tell you this, Lord Hedrick: if you spend it wisely in the war, strategically, and it truly makes a difference, I will not hesitate to send you another ten billion.”

”Twenty billion?!” Hedrick jumped to his feet, his mind racing. ”Does Robin even know youʼre saying these things?!”

”Who do you think sent the Pearls, Lord Hedrick? Do I look like someone capable of gathering that much wealth on my own?” Theo shook his head gently. ”Lord Robin sent me everything he possessed and explicitly told me to use it to support his partner.” He paused briefly, his tone calm yet weighty. ”I told you, Lord Hedrick, I donʼt know the full measure of what lies between you and him, but whatever it is... it runs extremely deep. Far deeper than anyone else could imagine.”

”...?!” Hedrick shuddered. Deep? What could he mean by deep? All that had ever passed between them was a promise-an agreement to protect Planet Virillion in exchange for the protection of Planet Nihari. Robin had no obligation, not even remotely, to send Theo to assist in any matter within the Mid Belt! But... twenty billion Pearls? No, even just ten would have been staggering. Hedrick sank back into his seat, his body trembling with a mixture of disbelief and rising anticipation. Ten billion Pearls-the largest sum he had ever held in the treasury-was now at his disposal. The sheer number of possibilities that opened up with that amount was overwhelming.

He could purchase dozens of fleets outright... or pay a fraction upfront to secure hundreds, then settle the remainder later. Were even that many fleets available for purchase? Perhaps he could hire seasoned mercenaries... contract skilled Guardians from that Syndicate... offer bribes to certain enemies to force them to withdraw... establish trade and resource deals to gain entirely new allies.

The number of things he could accomplish with ten billion Pearls was limitless. Utterly limitless. He had waged cosmic-scale wars across both the Young Sector and the Mid Sector with amounts in this range-but this... this sum could change everything again.

And yet... he couldnʼt help but wonder, his mind darkened with uncertainty: how far would his debt to Robin extend? How far could gratitude-or obligation -stretch when facing a gift of such magnitude?

”Not only that, Lord Hedrick, Theo began, his voice calm but firm, carrying an unmistakable weight of authority. ”I will bring you a massive shipment of curses valued at one hundred and fifty million Pearls. You may distribute them as you see fit among your armies, to maximize their effectiveness. And that is not all-I will personally oversee the arrival of ten additional Note-type fleets to the southern front..”

”.....?”

Hedrickʼs eyes narrowed slightly, trying to measure the scope of what Theo had just said. Those ten fleets alone would significantly relieve pressure on his forces, allowing Fargus to redirect reinforcements or even withdraw entirely from certain fronts. And those curses... just the curses themselves, unleashed in battle, could wreak unimaginable havoc. Curses worth one hundred and fifty million Pearls-where on earth did they even obtain such a staggering amount? It was almost incomprehensible.

”If this alone is not sufficient, then I urge you to hear the full scope of my plan,” Theo continued, his tone calm yet brimming with unshakable confidence. ”It is already known that we are working with you. There is no need to conceal it any longer. I propose to publicly reveal the names of every force that participated in the attack against you, across every sector. I will announce the locations of their unprotected planets and expose their weaknesses. Without exception, every single one of these forces will face attacks on the same day. Just as we did in Middle Sector 100, we will strike decisively and simultaneously.”

”.........?!?”

Hedrickʼs mind froze in shock. Wouldnʼt this mean that every single one of those forces would immediately call back their armies to defend their home worlds? Or at the very least, the news would spread among their troops, crushing morale as they realized their homes were burning while they fought elsewhere.

Even without the ten billion Pearls, the curses, or the reinforcement of the legendary Note fleets, this plan alone could decimate the Allied Army without a single shot being fired. The sheer scale of it left Hedrick momentarily breathless, grappling with the magnitude of what Theo was proposing.

”And if that is still not enough, Lord Hedrick,” Theo continued, his voice smooth, measured, and unwavering, ”then there is still more. The branch of the True Beginning Empire in Middle Sector 100, Centennial Cradle Empire, will openly declare its solidarity with you. Over the coming years, they will send at least fifty additional Note fleets, flying the Cradle banner as your first formal ally in this war. Their fleets alone could hold an entire front independently, and their support would strengthen your forces immeasurably.”

”....?!” Hedrick stared into Theoʼs eyes with an intensity bordering on disbelief. He seemed to be scrutinizing every detail, as if trying to determine whether Theoʼs words were real or some elaborate ruse.

The Centennial Cradle Empire had recently risen to unprecedented fame-not only within their sector but across the entire universe. Their name carried weight, whispered in awe even by distant systems, because of their astonishing and rapid rise. Historically, no force had risen faster or fought more fiercely than they did-except for one other empire: the Grave Empire in the neighboring 99th sector.

Yet what made the Cradle Empire truly remarkable was that most of its forces were human-the weakest race, historically incapable of handling even the fourth stage of Laws. And yet, against all odds, they had conquered their own star field and pressed onward, attacking every other star field in their sector with relentless determination.

An official declaration of support from this empire, at a time like this, would boost Hedrickʼs morale immensely. Add to that the fifty Note fleets capable of holding an entire front on their own... the impact could not be overstated. Of course, such a declaration would also come with tremendous consequences. It would draw the ire of multiple Behemoths, invite attacks from enemies who would see their war fleets moving out of the sector, and place the Cradle Empire in an extremely precarious position. Every one of these measures, however, could rain devastation upon Hedrickʼs enemies... each alone could extend the war for decades, perhaps even centuries.

”... Why is Robin doing all this?” Hedrick muttered under his breath, almost as if speaking to himself. ”Why go to such lengths?”

”I do not know,” Theo answered honestly, his tone calm but resolute. ”Since Lord Robin chose this path, he has never had a true ally or partner-only followers and enemies. You, Lord Hedrick, are truly unique. It seems my father does not wish to lose his one and only partner... I hope you will not disappoint

him after all this, and break his heart.”

”...I will see what I can do.”