Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1965 A new era

Middle Sector 99 Inside the Hall of Meditation and Focus

”W- what...?” Robin abruptly cut himself off mid-sentence. The aggressive, irritated expression he had been wearing-born from his lingering frustration with the Soul Society-froze in place, then slowly melted into unmistakable shock.

”Wh... what is this number?” His voice dropped into a whisper, as if speaking louder might somehow make it more unreal. ”Whatʼs happening? It hasnʼt- it hasnʼt even been five minutes since the announcement!!”

Robin pointed toward the profits field with trembling disbelief. ”Could there be an error? A miscalculation? This canʼt possibly be happening-”

”Ahh...” Robinʼs mouth fell open completely. He could only stare, eyes fixed on the counter as it continued to climb at a terrifying, almost absurd speed. The numbers surged upward like a launched missile, and for once, he didnʼt even attempt to comment.

”Hehe... you really keep underestimating what youʼre offering, Lord Human,” Timari said lightly, turning in a slow circle as if admiring an invisible masterpiece.

”Underestimating?” Robin muttered, still staring at the skyrocketing display. ”No- Iʼm not underestimating what I offered!”

He exhaled sharply. ”I prepared myself mentally for profits reaching five hundred billion in total. I made deals with you through bribes-yes, sorry, but that is the truth-just to make sure the four projects would be approved and pushed through.”

He paused, swallowing. ”Up until the moment I saw this bar, I was waiting for a strong reaction... something big. But this-” Robin pointed again at the profit bar, which had already climbed even higher. ”This is absurd. This is beyond excessive!”

Then, as if a thought suddenly struck him, he raised his voice.

”But who even bought anything to begin with? Everyone either left immediately after seeing the innovations, or stayed frozen in place, staring at them with those weird, unreadable expressions!!”

”The ones who left,” Timari replied calmly, her tone steady and confident, ”are precisely the ones who bought, or hurriedly want to alert someone about buying.”

She continued, explaining patiently, ”They caught sight of a product that could resolve a long-standing problem of theirs-or a product that could spell absolute catastrophe if it fell into the wrong hands. Some of them made their purchase instantly and rushed out of the Grand Hall to track delivery schedules or inform trusted allies of what they had obtained.”

She tilted her head slightly. ”The rest left to warn their followers about the disaster that might be approaching... and perhaps to gather enough funds to make a purchase of their own.”

Timari then raised a single finger.

”As for those who remained inside the Grand Hall, most of them are likely representatives of major figures-sent there in their mastersʼ stead. They inspect everything meticulously, reread the descriptions again and again, write down notes, analyze potential applications tailored to their individual situations.”

Her finger lowered slowly. ”After that, theyʼll either make a cautious purchase... or return to their masters to relay the full picture and request explicit permission.”

”Heh~” Robin closed one eye and let his body fall backward onto the soft, green meadow beneath him. He relaxed fully, arms loose at his sides, enjoying the gentle breeze brushing against his face as if nothing in the universe could disturb him now.

”Well... thatʼs reassuring” he said with a faint chuckle. ”I was honestly worried that your excessive promotion would make people see my innovations as a letdown.”

He smiled wryly. ”To be fair, if I were in their place, I mightʼve seen them as a disappointment too-especially after the shop stayed closed for over a month.”

”...Lord Human,” Timari said quietly as she stepped closer, stopping near Robinʼs head, ”you truly undervalue your innovations.”

Her gaze sharpened. ”No- you undervalue yourself!

She leaned in slightly. ”Do you have any idea whatʼs happening right now?” ”...What?” Robin opened one eye, curiosity finally overpowering his relaxation. ”There are Lords of Evil, who will set into motion schemes so chilling, so bone-deep terrifying, that will become stringer because of your innovation. There are once-helpless heroes who will regain their lost strength and return to the battlefield, not just to fight, but to seek revenge-all because of what youʼve created. There are assassination and espionage organizations capable of bringing entire kingdoms to ruin, all triggered by your inventions. And there are empires that will retreat and barricade themselves within the limits of Blood Inspection Gates, living in fear of everything Iʼve just mentioned.”

”In the coming days, weeks, and months,” Timari continued, her voice calm but carrying weight, ”we will hear constantly of massacres with no clear explanation. We will witness wars multiplying tenfold, twentyfold, perhaps even more. We will hear of assassinations taking place inside royal chambers, of street duels and public challenges erupting across cities once the energy gathering center problem ceases to be a limitation for the wealthy”

”Do you understand what this truly means, Lord Human?” Timariʼs lips curved into a small, knowing smile. ”It means the demand for Soul Society products will shift dramatically. Luxury goods-once the pride of the elite-will almost vanish in the coming period, replaced by military items and tools designed to enhance personal strength and combat efficiency. It means the Stellar Academies must reassert their presence, loudly and forcefully, or risk seeing the universe descend into even greater instability than it already suffers.” She paused for a brief moment, letting the gravity of her words sink in. ”This means, Lord Human, that you didnʼt merely pause our operations for a month because of the anticipated demand for your products. No-what you have done has permanently rewritten the Soul Societyʼs product map because of these four items. You have created an entirely new era, one that we-the Soul Society-must now follow and adapt to. Even the greatest merchants, the largest sellers, such as the Tyrant Interas, the Sorcerer Zargul, and countless others, will inevitably witness a shift in their sales toward more aggressive, combative equipment, and directed at individuals, all to suit this new age that you have unleashed.”

”...” Robin slowly sat upright, blinking in disbelief. His hand moved to point at himself, his shock barely contained. He wanted to ask, Me?!-but no sound

escaped his lips.

”Hehe, yes-you, Lord Human!” Timari said, nodding almost playfully. ”I understand you didnʼt dwell on the consequences. You needed a vast sum of money in a very short period of time, and so you acted decisively. But what has happened... has already happened. The disappearance of the Cosmic Elder has ushered in an era of chaos, and your actions have reinforced this course with full force. The trajectory of the next era of the universe is now engraved in stone... wars, destruction, and conflict will spread more violently than ever

before.”

”But,” she added with a subtle wink, ”you have nothing to fear on our side. In the Soul Society, we fully support this new direction. Even the greatest vendors will not object-after all, more chaos equals more profit.”

She then gestured toward the profit bar, which continued its relentless, almost

absurd ascent.

”You will need to become familiar with these numbers, Lord Human. As the pioneer of this era, alongside the Cosmic Elder, you must grow accustomed to such figures. They will continue to rise as instability increases, as chaos spreads further, and as wars erupt in every corner of the cosmos. From what we can see... they will not stop rising anytime soon.” Timariʼs gaze sharpened as she locked eyes with Robin, her expression serious

now.

”But we must also issue a warning. Major traders, influential players-they will be able to estimate your profits even if the exact figures remain unknown to them. Therefore, first, we stress caution in all your future movements. No one truly knows the mind of a great figure, and no one can predict their next step. Second... we renew our invitation for you to reside in the Dreamer Galaxy, as protection against both expected and unexpected threats.”

”...” Robin held the fairyʼs gaze for several tense seconds. Finally, his curiosity broke through his shock. ”Who... who are you?”

”Your assistant fairy, Timari-hehe,” she said with a playful twirl, spinning in a full circle around his head. ”Would you like me to remove the profit bar from your view so it doesnʼt distract you? There are many missions waiting in the Truth Room if youʼd like to take a look. It could help you make the best decisions now that you have these resources at hand.”

”Heh~” Robin rubbed the bridge of his nose for a moment, finally letting himself

relax slightly. ”Show me the messages. Now that I have the money, thereʼs no need to keep anyone waiting.”