Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1256 1256: Fulfilling a promise

After an entire day had come and gone—

A voice, firm yet respectful, echoed from just beyond the grand entrance of the imperial throne hall:

”Your Majesty, I humbly request permission to enter.”

”You may,” came the calm, deliberate reply from Robin, who sat with regal stillness upon his elevated throne.

Claaank...

The enormous double doors groaned open, ancient metal grinding against itself as the sacred gateway to the heart of the empire slowly parted. Light spilled through the widening gap, illuminating the tall, imposing silhouette of the figure who stood beyond it.

There he was—Aro, one of the empireʼs most formidable warriors. His height alone made him stand out, towering over most at well over two meters. Two majestic horns, thick and curved like those of a mighty bull, jutted from his head, sweeping upward with proud defiance. His gleaming blue armor shimmered with intricate runes etched into every plate. With every heavy step he took into the hall, his long white hair billowed behind him like a banner of war, responding to the motion of his body.

Stopping a respectful distance from the throne, Aro bowed deeply.

”I offer my deepest respects to Your Imperial Majesty.”

Robin let out a short laugh, amused and pleased.

”Aro! Of all the individuals I expected to respond early, I didnʼt think the second one through the door would be one of my Supreme Generals!” he said, gesturing casually to the seat placed before him.

Aroʼs lips curved into a faint smile.

”Your Majesty, when your summons arrived, I halted all ongoing operations, regardless of their importance, and made my way here without delay. There is no mission, no battle, no plan more urgent than answering your call.”

With purposeful steps, he crossed the space between them and stood once again before the throne. He bowed a second time—lower this time—then gracefully took a seat, carefully resting his ornate helmet on his lap. His posture was disciplined, his demeanor unwavering.

”To sit before you is the highest honor imaginable.”

”Haha, is that so?” Robin chuckled, his expression playful. ”Well, I can think of one thing that might just be more important—those techniques that are long overdue, wouldnʼt you say?” He gave Aro a sly wink. ”Still, you are owed them, and I am a man of my word. A promise is a promise. Today, I intend to fulfill it.”

”Truly?” Aroʼs voice spiked with genuine excitement. He leaned forward slightly, as if his body couldnʼt help but react. But just as quickly, he reined in his enthusiasm.

”Ahem… Merely being in Your Majestyʼs presence is a reward greater than any technique. Forgive my eagerness.”

”Yeah, yeah~” Robin waved his hand dismissively, still smiling. Then, with a smooth motion, he raised a single finger and pointed it toward Aro. A silvery beam of light emerged from the tip, floating through the air at a measured pace. It drifted until it hovered directly in front of the general. As Aro watched intently, the light began to twist and fold upon itself, slowly taking the form of a closed, ethereal book, its cover glowing faintly with arcane symbols.

”This… what is this?” Aro narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly intrigued and more than a little surprised. He had seen many wonders in his lifetime, but nothing quite like this.

”Tethering your loyalty with simple contracts has become a mental burden, Aro,” Robin began, his voice more serious now. ”For years—decades even—I sought ways to reinforce the limitations of the traditional Oath Tablets. But no matter how I improved upon them, in the end, they remain external objects. Fragile. Breakable. Worse, the oaths they contain are shallow in structure—easily tampered with or undone by another soul master with enough experience.”

Robin sighed, then gave a satisfied nod.

”But this? This is different. Itʼs a new method—something I conceived after observing the Eternal Stillness Curse used on Jabba. That moment was a revelation. I realized that the realm of soul techniques remains largely unexplored, with endless applications waiting to be discovered. This is one such discovery. It is, I believe, the perfect method to receive a vow of loyalty—one that no one can break or interfere with.”

Aroʼs gaze dropped as he processed Robinʼs words. ”...I was one of the few who stood beside you at the moment of your ascension. I pledged myself to your cause when others hesitated. Over the past seventy years, Iʼve brought twenty-one planets under your dominion. Do you truly still doubt my loyalty after all that?”

”I will doubt you for as long as you draw breath,” Robin replied without a hint of hesitation. His tone turned sharp—like steel unsheathed.

”Unfortunately, Aro, your nature is far too elusive, far too cunning for me to ever turn my back without caution. And the generals under you, they are just as slippery and serpentine as you are.”

”...Fair enough,” Aro said after a pause, his expression unreadable. Then, in a more serious tone, he continued, ”What must I do, then, to earn your trust?”

He had served this empire for more than a century—faithfully and without question. And now, as a Supreme General, he stood at the pinnacle of military power, second only to the Emperor himself. He had no reason to betray Robin, nor any intention to do so.

”You donʼt need to perform any grand ritual,” Robin said, his tone softening. ”Just place your soul sense on the book. Thatʼs all. Because you stood with me on the day I took the throne… because you brought me twenty-one worlds… I wonʼt demand any long-winded oath. Just swear eternal loyalty. That alone will suffice.”

Without another word, Aro extended his soul sense forward. It reached out like a translucent hand and gently touched the spectral book. As contact was made, his voice rang out, steady and sure:

”I swear eternal loyalty to you.”

CLANG!

”Aargh!!”

Suddenly, Aro clutched his head with both hands, a jolt of pain lancing through his mind. His body tensed, and for a few moments, his face twisted in discomfort.

Then he looked up at Robin, eyes wide and breath heavy.

”What was that?!”

”…”

Robin closed his eyes for a brief moment and slipped seamlessly into the soul domain— there, in the vastness of that domain, was a soul manifestation of Aro. The image was bound—his wrists, ankles, and even his neck tightly shackled by glowing silver restraints. He knelt motionless on the silver floor.

This ethereal projection served not only as a symbol of the pact they had just forged but as a control mechanism—an anchor of dominance. Through this construct, Robin could tighten or release the seal at will, exert influence, or even bring destruction with a mere thought. His power over Aro was absolute here.

A faint, knowing smile tugged at Robinʼs lips as he returned to his physical body. For several seconds, he simply sat in silence, observing Aro. Or more accurately, observing the top of Aroʼs head.

”You now carry a tangible chain forged from the essence of my very soul,” Robin began, his voice soft but laced with iron. ”It wraps entirely around your spiritual domain like a serpent coiled tightly around its prey. And at each of its ends rests a blade, honed with deadly precision. If you ever dare to betray your oath, even for a fleeting second… those blades will plunge directly into your soul, while the chain itself will constrict—pulverizing everything within. The entire process will take no more than a fraction of a second. Pain, destruction, oblivion… all in a blink.”

Gulp.

Aroʼs Adamʼs apple visibly jumped as he swallowed hard, his eyes wide with alarm.

”Thereʼs no need to panic,” Robin said, chuckling as he waved a hand dismissively. ”So long as you remain loyal and uphold your vow, the seal will remain inert. You wonʼt feel a thing. The chainʼs physical presence is simply… a precaution. A countermeasure, you could say, designed to make tampering or removal far more difficult—especially for those who might try to free you from the outside. I trust you understand the necessity?”

”…I understand,” Aro growled through clenched teeth. His hands balled into fists by his sides, his knuckles turning white.

Despite his long service and countless sacrifices for the empire… despite the loyalty he had shown time and time again… now, for the first time, he felt the sharp sting of humiliation. Was this really how much the Emperor trusted him?

CLAAAACK!

Robin suddenly clapped his hands together with enthusiasm, snapping Aro from his grim thoughts.

”Well then! Now that weʼve concluded the unpleasant formalities,” Robin said brightly, ”itʼs time to celebrate! A proper reception, wouldnʼt you agree? And of course, Iʼve prepared a few gifts I think youʼll find… very exciting.”

Aro let out a soft sigh, clearly trying to mask his lingering frustration.

”Thank you in advance, Your Majesty,” he said, the words coming out more mechanical than heartfelt.

Robin, unfazed by the tone, reached beneath his throne and pulled out two large, gleaming metallic tablets. With a light push, he slid them across the polished table toward Aro.

”Here you are. Permafrost Eternity and Purgatory Flame. Both of them belong to you now.”

Aroʼs eyes widened, returning to their full intensity.

”Both…?” he muttered, almost in disbelief. He had anticipated receiving one of these priceless techniques. Each was an apex-level merged technique—techniques so rare and valuable that entire fleets could be traded for them. And now, Robin had casually handed him two.

The Third Armyʼs strike force would evolve into something far more dangerous and far more feared. The potential was staggering.

Robin gestured casually toward the tablets.

”Now, modifying oneʼs foundation to integrate a merged law structure is no easy feat. It will demand effort, precision, and most importantly—time. I estimate the process could take several years per individual. Thatʼs why I strongly recommend appointing a Rune Master with a soul force no less than forty units to assist each soldier attempting the conversion.”

Aroʼs expression twisted again.

”A rune master for each one? And years for a full transformation? Thatʼs…” His voice trailed off in frustration. The rune masters across the empire were already drowning in responsibilities—crafting weapons, building warships, inscribing city cores. Where would he find enough skilled hands to dedicate to this?

Robin narrowed his eyes, then raised a brow.

”What exactly did you expect?” he said flatly. ”Did you think altering a soul foundation was like swapping from a minor law to a major law within the same pathway? The reality is far more demanding. In the past, I genuinely believed that I alone was capable of altering merged foundations due to the complexity. But now… after a full century of refining the process, I believe the rune masters can handle it—especially once they receive the wave of soul techniques Emily recently acquired.”

”…That was ignorant of me,” Aro admitted, forcing a difficult smile. He bowed lightly, then stood tall once more.

”Please allow me to excuse myself, Your Majesty. I donʼt wish to take more of your time. I know youʼre receiving many guests these days… The Crixsian and Devosian lineages will rejoice upon receiving these techniques. Thank you, on their behalf.”

He turned with a faint nod and began making his way toward the exit, heavy steps echoing through the grand hall.

”Wait,” Robin called out, lifting a single brow. ”Donʼt you still want your Merged law?”

”…?!”