Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1840 Cockroach Lair-2

Step... step...

Helen descended gracefully and continued walking through the opulent, marble-floored corridors of the palace, her movements measured and dignified, exuding both authority and elegance. Each step seemed deliberate, a soft echo against the polished floors, commanding attention without demanding it. Her posture was impeccable, neither too rigid nor too relaxed, carrying the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to power yet wary of the worldʼs gaze.

The palace of the Centennial Cradle Empire was anything but silent. This was the nerve center of the empire, where all the key organs of administration, strategy, and governance intersected. Orders were issued, plans coordinated, and decisions weighed here. At any given moment, there was never a corridor devoid of purpose or presence. Senior leaders strode with brisk authority, generals barked orders, and merchants from the prominent Burton family moved like a buzzing hive of activity, their precision and energy reflecting both the importance of their duties and the constant tension in the air.

And today, the scene was no different. Wherever Helen turned, she encountered a flurry of activity. Officials hurried back and forth, their faces filled with admiration, curiosity, or intense scrutiny; others bore looks of deep-seated resentment or envy, their emotions engraved into their very posture.

Every glance directed toward her carried weight-some awe, some thinly veiled hostility. The intensity was palpable, an invisible pressure that made her steps feel heavier, as though the palace itself were measuring her presence. ”....?!”

”Seraphina,” Helen murmured, her voice low and even, ”What is wrong with this place?!”

”What do you mean, my lady?” Seraphina asked, catching up after two quick steps. ”Do you mean the crowd? This is entirely normal. Marshal Caesar recently led a massive campaign-a monumental battle just days ago. He employed a new strategy in ground warfare and achieved victory in a way no one expected. Ever since then, the atmosphere within the empire has been electric. There is tension, excitement, and, most importantly, momentum in every corridor.”

”...From what Iʼve heard, every general has been summoned to understand the new strategic maneuvers on the ground front. A counteroffensive has been launched to reclaim the planets lost over the years, particularly now that thirty new fleets have been added to their forces. Their air and space superiority has been restored, if only partially, and whispers suggest that a renewed campaign of expansion is imminent. Marshal Caesar has never allowed his ambitions to fade, not for a single moment. Rumor has it he intends to establish a Double Centennial Empire-an empire that would dwarf almost everything else in the 100th sector except the millennium Empires!”

”...Double Centennial Empire? Like the Grave Empire, in the neighboring 99th sector?” Helen murmured again, the phrase lingering in her mind. The weight of the term was enough to make her briefly forget the strange, piercing gazes that followed her every movement through the halls. ”That will not be easy,” Occupying over a thousand planets is not a task for the faint-hearted. It is not easy-even for empires led by Monarchs of unmatched skill. If it were truly simple, there would be far more Millennium Empires scattered across the sectors. Yet in reality, each sector hosts only a select few.

Some sectors hold barely ten Millennium Empires, while others count only two or three. The scarcity is not due to a lack of planets- there are millions, even billions of habitable and strategically valuable worlds-but because creating an empire capable of governing thousands of planets is an almost impossible feat. It is not merely about conquering planets or assembling armies. Building a strong, efficient, and resilient empire requires a ruler who is not only formidable in combat and capable of wielding the power of a Monarch or Guardian but also a genius in managing populations, resources, trade networks, and diplomacy. These qualities rarely converge in a single individual.

Of course, a highly competent ruler might assemble a cadre of trusted aides, specialists, and advisors to handle various aspects of governance. But even this is far from simple. Recruiting individuals with exceptional skills, ensuring their loyalty, and coordinating their efforts is a monumental task in itself.

Helen herself had lived nearly 11,000 years, and yet she still lacked such a network. She had Seraphina, her steadfast and loyal servant, and a few dedicated generals, each courageous and skilled. But she had no one she could fully trust with administrative responsibilities, economic management, construction oversight, or large-scale logistical planning.

Her empire, while impressive in scale and potential these days, still bore gaps that she alone could not fill. The weight of these absences pressed upon her subtly but persistently, a reminder of the fragility hidden beneath the empireʼs grandeur.

And this wasnʼt just her problem... even her siblings, the users of the Path of Destruction, had consistently failed to assemble a competent team capable of creating anything even remotely similar. Each one of them lacked a crucial element-an essential skill, a missing talent, or insight-that prevented them from taking the next step, from achieving something greater, from constructing an empire or force that could rival others.

Yet here was the Cradle Empire, which had barely emerged from obscurity, led by a Marshal who barely made use of even the fourth stage of the Laws... and somehow, it possessed all of this? Everything required to build fleets, armies, and infrastructure, to project authority and maintain cohesion over thousands of planets... all of it was somehow in place?

”...Seraphina, youʼve come here countless times,” Helen said, narrowing her eyes slightly, her tone layered with curiosity and suspicion. ”Have you not been able to sense the immense power that supports the Centennial Cradle Empire? Who, exactly, is standing behind them, pulling the strings?”

”Not precisely...” Seraphina responded, her voice calm but tinged with uncertainty, her shoulders lifting in a slight shrug. ”It appears that every leader, every commander in that empire, has sworn an extremely strict oath, binding themselves to loyalty and duty... but one thing is certain. Their supporter is someone unimaginably wealthy, someone who possesses extraordinary power and virtually unlimited authority. Otherwise, no one could have constructed an empire of this scale in such a short period, nor become partners with Lord Hedrick!”

”...Exactly.” Helen gave a slow, deliberate nod, her mind racing as she connected

the dots.

The seven billion Pearls that had suddenly appeared alongside her elder brother had not come from nowhere. They had been delivered, carefully and purposefully. Whoever had orchestrated this had almost certainly been the same individual providing the Centennial Cradle Empire with its immense wealth and resources. There was no other party in existence capable of this level of wealth, influence, and strategic foresight-certainly no one who would have a reason to support her elder brother in such a decisive manner.

The support of equipment, of vast sums of money, of powerful fleets-this was not random. This person must have a personal understanding of her elder brother, perhaps even a connection that went deeper than surface knowledge. Helen had once asked him directly about this, but he had refused to answer explicitly, giving only a strange, cryptic look that had sent chills down her

spine.

Most likely... it was the Behemoth. There was simply no other plausible

explanation.

And it would not be surprising if this Behemoth resided in Middle Sector 98. He was the closest, the wealthiest, and the most powerful individual, possessing the authority, resources, and influence required to accomplish all of this. When paired with rumors circulating about the striking similarities between the armors and fleets of the Cradle Empire and those of the Grave Empire in Middle Sector 99, their coordinated timing, and the uncanny resemblance in their expansionist ambitions and ruthless governance... the probability grew even stronger, almost undeniable.

This Behemoth had planted loyal followers in Middle Sector 99 and Middle Sector 100, while simultaneously supporting her elder brother in Middle Sector

101.

Everyone knew he was unimaginably wealthy, but to this extent? Could his fortune truly be limitless? Were there any boundaries to his ambition?

In any case, it was wise to exercise extreme caution-never provoke him, never interfere with his plans, and never underestimate the reach of his followers. It was fortunate that he was supporting her brother rather than opposing him; otherwise, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

”Weʼve arrived.” Seraphina gestured toward a massive, ornate gate at the end of the corridor, its immense structure radiating authority and power. She took a few brisk steps ahead of her mistress and pushed the enormous doors open

with both hands, their weight groaning under the effort.

Rrrrreeeee...

With the gate now open before her, Helen stepped forward without hesitation.

She didnʼt pause, didnʼt seek permission, and didnʼt glance back-

Yet the moment she took her first step inside, an unusual sensation gripped her.

she lost control on her legs...

She froze.