Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2324 Treasure

”...My honor and Mid Sector 106 are one and the same, huh?” Robin revealed a broad grin that stretched from ear to ear.

”...” Zavarosʼ face gradually turned a deep shade of purple from overwhelming embarrassment, yet he maintained his usual expression as best he could, refusing to let the ridicule strip away what little dignity he still possessed in front of everyone present.

Those were the very words he had spoken when Helmor launched his assault and devastated the surrounding sectors. In a burst of anger and overflowing confidence, Zavaros had declared that he would defend Mid Sector 106, throwing out that bold statement because he had been utterly convinced that the sector could never fall regardless of the enemyʼs strength. At the time, however, he had no idea what he was truly about to face, nor did he realize that his opponent relied not only on overwhelming force, but also on methods of warfare, mobility, and coordination unlike anything he had ever encountered before.

”I havenʼt been defeated yet.” Zavaros declared with obvious embarrassment and frustration before clenching his fists so tightly that the veins on the backs of his hands bulged. ”Heʼs simply moving incredibly fast and striking far deeper than expected. On top of that, heʼs making extensive use of the Grand Space Portal, transporting enormous numbers of soldiers and equipment every single day in an almost uninterrupted stream, as though he has no intention of keeping a single pearl for himself and is instead pouring everything he possesses directly into this war without the slightest hesitation. The way he moves his armies makes me feel as though Iʼm fighting him in the very heart of his own galaxy rather than somewhere three entire sectors away. Every time I wipe out one force, another appears. Every time I sever one supply line, another opens almost immediately. Itʼll take time, but Iʼm still fighting... and I have not been defeated.”

”Oh, youʼve already been defeated.” Robinʼs smile faded slightly, though his tone remained perfectly calm. ”Helmor stationed his children across nine sectors, if we include Sector 115 among them.” Robin tilted his head toward Kiryan without even looking at him, as though he didnʼt need to turn his eyes to reinforce his point. ”And yet youʼre exhausting yourself fighting only the forces stationed in a single sector. What do you think will happen if the armies in Sectors 107 and 108 join the battle at the same time and begin advancing according to the very same plan?”

He then slowly shook his head, sounding more as though he were correcting a misconception than mocking him.

”Unfortunately, Helmorʼs first offensive was nothing more than a warning slap, meant to test everyoneʼs reactions and measure how quickly they could respond. His attack on the Galaxy of Oppression marks the beginning of the real escalation, and after that, heʼll come for you. Once he truly decides to begin in earnest, you wonʼt merely lose Mid Sector 106. Before we even get that far, however, we should ask a different question: why were you left until last? Iʼd say youʼre a rather special case. Keeping you until this stage doesnʼt strike me as a random decision.”

”Lord Robin.” Not a trace of pleasure appeared on Zavarosʼ face. Instead, his expression grew even more rigid as he looked directly at him. ”Did you come here today just to mock my situation?”

”Heh~”

Robin simply shook his head before gesturing toward Glatheon, silently handing the conversation over to him.

Robin then turned around, wore a faint smile, and slowly raised one hand before making a precise and familiar gesture, as though he had performed it countless times before.

Bzzzzn.

Several miles away, the muddy ground began to tremble before a sword emerged from within the earth, rising slowly at first before finally breaking free from the mud entirely. Responding to Robinʼs signal, the sword lifted into the air and began flying toward him, seemingly pulled forward by an invisible force.

Robin, however, frowned slightly...

The sword released a low, mournful hum as it trembled violently, stubbornly refusing to move despite being enveloped by an overwhelming torrent of soul power, as though it were resisting with every ounce of strength it possessed or desperately clinging to where it lay. Robin responded by increasing the force he exerted severalfold in an instant, dragging it toward himself little by little as though he were pulling an enraged bull that had planted its hooves firmly into the ground and refused to budge.

Meanwhile, Glatheon remained focused on his own task without sparing Robinʼs actions a glance, fully aware that the two matters could proceed simultaneously without interfering with one another.

”Lord Robin doesnʼt have the time to travel from sector to sector simply to mock someone, especially someone who isnʼt even his direct enemy.” Glatheon spoke, drawing everyoneʼs attention as every pair of eyes gradually shifted toward him. ”Lord Robin wants to make one thing clear to you. First, determination and resolve are meaningless when standing against a grand design orchestrated by individuals backed by power and methods we know absolutely nothing about—methods that Lord Robin personally demonstrated to all of you through the example of the Butcher Marlik, proving that the true gap doesnʼt always lie in raw strength alone, but in preparation, knowledge, and the means employed behind the scenes. No matter how determined you are to defend yourself against Helmor, determination alone is worthless unless it is supported by power... power equal to the power supporting him. Otherwise, with enough time, your resolve will become nothing more than a desperate attempt to delay an outcome that had already been decided from the very beginning.”

”...Second, Lord Robin wants you to understand that Helmor is certainly seeking expansion, but that isnʼt his only objective. The proof is simple: he already possesses all this power, yet he has only just begun to move despite having every opportunity to act much earlier. Furthermore, heʼs attacking the Galaxy of Oppression in an extremely calculated and methodical manner while simultaneously intimidating the forces of the Savage Galaxy—your forces, Your Excellency—as though heʼs deliberately waiting for something before making his next decisive move. What exactly is he waiting for? What could possibly be important enough for someone like him to postpone striking at his greatest enemy? And why didnʼt he target you first, when youʼre the one universally known throughout the surrounding sectors as his greatest rival and sworn enemy?”

Glatheon continued, his brows tightly furrowed, his voice growing heavier as the individual questions gradually merged into a single line of reasoning.

”...Finally, Lord Robinʼs last question ties those two points together. Why would someone backed by such mysterious support deliberately give you an opportunity instead of eliminating you immediately while the advantage is clearly his? Why would even the Butcher personally come to recruit you instead of simply treating you as another obstacle to be removed, especially when Helmor the Destroyer has chosen this exact moment to begin his campaign, while the Syndicate is simultaneously trying to organize a united front against the Elder Cosmic and Lord Robin? When all of these events are viewed together rather than separately, doesnʼt it seem as though every side is preparing for something much larger than the battles currently taking place?”

”...”

Kiryan and Zavaros both furrowed their brows, neither of them interrupting, as countless thoughts rapidly surfaced in their minds while they unconsciously began connecting one event to another through Glatheonʼs words.

Hearing analyses like these from Glatheon was anything but surprising. His reputation, forged through countless discussions, debates, and major events over the course of millions of years, had made him one of the very few individuals people would intentionally seek out simply to sit with and listen to for hours. Many powerful figures had done exactly that in the past, and some would even willingly pay enormous sums merely for the opportunity to hear him explain a situation from his own perspective, knowing that he often noticed connections others completely overlooked.

On top of that, he knew Lord Robin far better than either of them did. He had arrived alongside him, had traveled with him, spent time at his side, and understood the way he thought as well as the meaning hidden behind many of his seemingly casual remarks. What an outsider might dismiss as nothing more than ridicule or sarcasm, a companion like Glatheon would almost certainly interpret from its true perspective, recognizing the intention concealed beneath the surface rather than stopping at the words themselves.

And in truth... if they were forced to choose between believing Robin had merely come to mock them or believing there was genuine depth behind every question and every remark he had made since arriving, they would inevitably choose the latter. Even if Robin truly had intended to ridicule them, there was absolutely nothing they could do about it except remain exactly where they stood and continue listening in silence, making it far more worthwhile to search for the hidden meaning instead of wasting their thoughts on wounded pride.

By the time that realization settled completely in their minds, the two of them slowly turned toward Robin once again, their gazes carrying noticeably greater depth and concentration than before, no longer looking at him as someone casually making sarcastic remarks but as someone deliberately guiding the conversation toward a conclusion only he could already see.

Bzzzzn.

Robin, who was still pulling the sword toward himself with tightly furrowed brows and unwavering concentration, ”...,” sensed their eyes upon him. He glanced at them for only a brief moment before immediately returning all of his attention to dragging the sword forward, speaking almost absentmindedly as though the matter in front of him had become more interesting than the conversation itself.

”That thing possesses awareness far beyond that of Planetary Weapons. Its consciousness is distinct... fully established... and far more complete than an ordinary weapon should ever possess.”

”Hm?”

The three of them simultaneously extended their soul senses toward that direction and discovered a sword slowly making its way toward them through the distance...

Its blade was still pointed toward the ground. In fact, it was deliberately plowing through the earth, repeatedly driving itself into the soil as it advanced, carving a long trail behind it while intentionally increasing the resistance against its own movement, as though it were doing everything possible to make itself slower... and far heavier.

”That?”

Kiryanʼs eyes widened in unmistakable surprise.

”Thatʼs one of the Butcherʼs three swords?”

Glatheon and Zavaros both nodded almost simultaneously.

Only now did they remember that the Butcher had been transported away while holding two swords, leaving the third one behind. After Robin had restored the battlefield and reconstructed the surrounding area, the abandoned sword had disappeared beneath the trees and thick mud, quietly hiding itself until everyone had completely forgotten its existence.

”That little bastard buried itself beneath the mud the moment Pink was transported away.”

The veins on Robinʼs forehead immediately began twitching as he continued exerting more force to drag it closer.

”It realized it had suddenly found itself inside enemy territory and immediately decided it had to protect itself. It even completely suppressed its aura, erased every trace of its presence, and entered a state of absolute silence, pretending to be nothing more than an ordinary piece of wood buried beneath the ground. Most likely, itʼll remain in that state indefinitely until Pink eventually returns, at which point itʼll crawl back out on its own to greet him as though nothing had happened.”

A broad grin slowly spread across Robinʼs face as his eyes remained fixed on the stubborn sword.

”But wouldnʼt it be a terrible waste to leave a treasure like this buried underground when itʼs practically delivering itself right into our hands?”