Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2053 Thermal

”By the way, donʼt return this box to me until youʼve washed it thoroughly.” Holakʼs expression twisted with irritation. ”Your loss. If I copied my exquisite body scent and sold it as a perfume, Iʼd have a retirement project that prints money forever; an endless river of wealth!” He waved dismissively, as if brushing the idea aside. ”Anyway, how exactly am I supposed to build an empire for you? Iʼm not the administrative type, not a planner, not a bureaucrat, you know that perfectly well...”

”I know.” Robin waved him off calmly. ”Thatʼs not what I need from you. I want you to contact Prime Minister Kristan, explain that you now possess this artifact, and have him prepare a full list of the planets that must be moved into Nihariʼs orbit, along with their new coordinates, routes, and stabilization data. Move all of them. Every single one. Thatʼs... How you build my empire for me.” ”All of them?” Holakʼs brows knotted tightly, his face hardening with disbelief. ”Yes.” Robin rubbed his forehead slowly, as if the thought itself weighed on him. ”I was told that the number of Class-S planets -the subjugated ones- in the Young Belt has surpassed five thousand. The entire plan for the Empire of the Future began on those planets. It would be a complete waste to upgrade the Nihari Galaxy with only a few hundred planets when we already have thousands of newly subjugated worlds ready for relocation and integration, wouldnʼt it?”

Then he gestured toward Holak with quiet certainty. ”A Seventh-Grade

Planetary Displacement artifact can operate day and night without cooldown. It can move entire galaxies without trouble-so it certainly wonʼt stumble over a few thousand planets. Honestly, I donʼt believe youʼll need even a single year before the Nihari Galaxy reaches the size I want.”

”...I delayed this decision for two reasons,” Robin continued. ”The first was that the sudden appearance of a galaxy of that size would bring nothing but disasters. A structure that massive forming overnight would attract predators. Zargul the Sorcerer, in particular, would have sent all his forces, and come personally, to try to seize it. But he has something else occupying him now. I made sure of that.”

”... The second, and more important, reason was the prying eyes-especially the Syndicate and Tyrant Intirasʼ Galaxy. I didnʼt want anyone questioning how I managed to move all those planets into the protected zone in such a small number of years. But I have solid cover now, a believable veil. Iʼll activate it as soon as I re-enter the Soul Society.”

He spread his hands calmly, as if the matter were already decided. ”With those two problems solved, I no longer see any reason to delay strengthening Neri.”

”Whatʼs the cover?” Holak asked cautiously.

”Donʼt worry about it.” Robin showed a wide, confident smile, then pointed toward Holakʼs crotch. ”What matters is this-donʼt show that thing to anyone except Kristan and the numbered Shadow Swords. Iʼm afraid if word spreads about it, uncontrolled rumors alone could trigger a catastrophe for all of us.” Holak looked at his crotch, then at Robin, and spoke with a twisted smile, ”... Heh heh, itʼs HUGE matter, sure, but not to that extent!”

”...?” Robin blinked at Holakʼs laughter, didnʼt understand at first, then smacked his own forehead and turned away

Muttering under his breath as he moved, ”I shouldnʼt kill my guard... I shouldnʼt kill my guard... I really shouldnʼt kill my guard...”

He released a slow breath and called out, ”Leonid.”

”Yes.” Once again, the second Shadow Sword appeared beside Robin, silent and precise.

”Iʼm heading back to the academy to gather my things. I want you to arrange a permanent residence for me here.” Robin spoke as he walked away from the corridor gate. ”I donʼt want a palace-no extravagance, no symbols of power. A glass room will do. It must be close to the corridor gate so I can feel whatʼs happening at all times, but far enough to grant me some peace and isolation for my work.”

”It will be ready within an hour.” Leonid nodded firmly. ”But... wouldnʼt it be better for you to stay at the academy, Your Majesty? Iʼll make you a proper room with sound and light barriers, full isolation layers. Even so, it still wonʼt be completely safe, especially near the corridor...”

”Iʼm the only one holding a fragment of the Cosmic Elderʼs soul,” Robin said calmly. ”I have to be present in case the Space Beast ancestor enters. I cannot afford distance in such a moment.”

After a brief pause, he added more quietly, ”Besides, I only stayed at the academy because of Althera. As long as sheʼs moving here, thereʼs no real reason for me to remain there.”

”Understood.” Leonid bowed slightly as he walked. ”Iʼll begin working on the room immediately, without delay.”

He would have to rely on the three Sky Opening Cities, consulting them in depth and importing everything that could possibly help make the room as comfortable, stable, and secure as it could be. Every detail would matter- materials, shielding, insulation, energy flow, protection systems-nothing would be left to chance.

”Oh, by the way!” Robin suddenly stopped, raising a finger, then turning to face Leonid directly. ”Any news about Renara?”

All major news that affected the Empireʼs strength reached him constantly, without interruption. And of course, Renaraʼs massive resource support-along with her relentless attempts to dominate the secondary Frost Law-were always at the top of the reports and discussions.

If she succeeded, she would become the first true Law Dominator in the Empireʼs history, a symbolic and strategic milestone that would reshape its

future.

”Not exactly, Your Majesty,” Leonid replied quickly and respectfully. ”The latest report says she has drunk seven blood bottles so far of Aurora Dusk Fox, a beast emperor one. This allowed her to sense the Frost Law and partially resonate with it, but it also causes serious complications-especially since the last bottle she drank was taken whole. Because of that, sheʼll need to spend several years in assimilation and stabilization before attempting another breakthrough... In the end, this isnʼt blood that naturally flows in her veins. There is heavy internal resistance inside her body every single time she drinks it, and that resistance keeps accumulating.”

Then he continued more carefully, ”...If those ten bottles had been from a Nine-Tailed Fox instead-combined with her innate talent and the iron will she has recently forged-she might have already become a Monarch by now. But the future isnʼt completely dark. With the unconditional support of His Highness Caesar and the annual elixir bottles that are provided to her, I believe that within a maximum of three years, sheʼll be able to make another attempt.”

”.....” Robin fell silent for a moment, thinking deeply. ”The price of the elixirs- three hundred million each-is a heavy burden on Caesarʼs budget,” he said slowly, ”and at the same time, it places a severe restriction on Renaraʼs path

and pace...”

Then his expression hardened with resolve. ”The Shadow Swords will take over funding Renaraʼs elixirs starting today. Withdraw whatever you need from my personal account, without hesitation. And push the Sky Opening Cities to produce at least a monthly elixir-at the very minimum. If you can secure a weekly production cycle, that would be even better.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.” Leonid nodded firmly and decisively. ”Both His Highness Caesar and Lady Renara will be deeply pleased by Your Majestyʼs generosity

and support.

”And take this as well.” Robin pulled out a metallic tablet and handed it to Leonid. ”This is the Major Law of the Thermal Path-the original path from which the minor Frost Law branches. Deliver a sealed copy of it to Renara

personally.”

”...This is up to the sixth stage?!” Leonid said in shock as he received it carefully, as if it were a sacred artifact.

”Yes. The Thermal Behemoth Galaxy sells it up to the sixth stage, so I bought it from them.” Robin chuckled lightly. ”Because the path is extremely widespread, and hundreds of powers and factions already use it or its minor laws anyways, they decided to sell it themselves as an additional source of income rather than guard it as a secret.”

He tapped the tablet several times with his finger and added firmly, ”Tell Renara to use this major law for her breakthrough instead of relying on the minor Frost

Law.”

”Huh?!”