Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1911 Astronomical figures

”...Leosar?”

Robin tilted his head slightly to the side, his tone carrying unmistakable uncertainty.

Of course, Robin was not ignorant of this creatureʼs existence. Sakaar had sent him a detailed report long ago-one that outlined its physical specifications, the abnormal circumstances of its birth, and its highly unconventional method of feeding on souls. Additional reports had followed, documenting its unusually slow growth rate alongside a sharp, aggressive intelligence that far exceeded expectations.

From Robinʼs perspective, however, his interest had always been confined to a single matter: the hypothesis surrounding the evolution of the Plague, and how such an evolution might eventually affect him. Leosar itself had never truly mattered to him. In fact, he had been genuinely relieved almost delighted- when he learned that the creature lacked reproductive organs, unlike other demons.

That alone had been enough.

He hadnʼt heard anything about Leosar for a very long time, nor had he felt any need to ask. There had been nothing worth asking about in the first place. The life or death of a single demon, amid the countless billions that existed under their shadow, meant absolutely nothing to him. The only reassuring factor had been Sakaarʼs direct supervision. Sakaar would never allow such a being to reproduce, even if a method somehow emerged in the future. As for how the creature might be exploited or utilized, that decision had been left entirely in Sakaarʼs hands-to do with it as he pleased.

And yet, seeing Leosar here, in front of him, was undeniably strange.

Astonishing, even.

Because now, with his own eyes, Robin was witnessing what appeared to be a completely new strain of the Plague-one that felt unfamiliar, unannounced, and unsettling precisely because it had appeared without any warning at all. ”...?!”

The moment it heard its name, Leosarʼs single eye snapped open to its widest extent, locking directly onto Robin.

Robin saw no hostility in that gaze. There was no hatred, no fear, no revulsion. Instead, there was only faint surprise-mixed with a thin layer of curiosity-as the creature stared at him with its luminous golden eye, studying his face intently.

For reasons even it did not understand, Leosarʼs mouth slowly opened. Its teeth -square, orderly, disturbingly human in shape-parted as it muttered in a hoarse, unsteady voice:

”Father?”

”Hah?!”

Althera turned toward Robin instantly, clearly startled. ”Thatʼs your son? Hmm, I donʼt mean to interfere, but you have a rather... unusual taste in bed partners.”

Even Robin raised a single eyebrow, visibly stunned by the way Leosar had addressed him. Yet, strangely enough, Altheraʼs comment pleased him even

more.

Just as Sakaar had said...

Leosarʼs aura bore not the faintest resemblance to the Red Plague. And while its appearance was undeniably grotesque, it was fundamentally different from that of the Red Plague as well. Its smooth, soft skin alone set it apart completely, whereas the Red Plague was encased in thick, rigid scales. At first glance- indeed, even at second-there was no immediate way to associate the two.

Anyone who saw the creature would reach the same conclusion Althera had: that it was merely another race, the unfortunate result of two exceptionally hideous beings producing offspring.

”Alright,” Robin said calmly, regaining his composure. ”Wait downstairs, and treat Leosarʼs wounds more properly until Iʼm finished with my meeting with Her Majesty. After that, Iʼll personally look into his situation.”

He clapped once, sharply, and gestured for them to leave.

”Understood.”

With a brief bow, the imperial guards gripped Leosar by the shoulder and guided him down the stairs. Moments later, the door closed behind them, sealing the room once more.

”You certainly have a distinctive way of treating your children,” Althera remarked, a strange smile tugging at her lips-one that carried a clear hint of mockery.

”I am a kind emperor and a compassionate leader,” Robin said, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of self-mockery. ”Everyone sees me as a father, a figure they can rely on... so what am I to do?” He gestured toward the office chair with a graceful sweep of his hand, inviting Althera to sit. Then, with a gentle smile, he moved to take a seat on the bed. ”Very well, Your Majesty,” he continued, his tone polite but playful, ”What is it that you wish from this humble, devoted professor today?”

Althera settled herself with measured nobility, placing both hands firmly on one of her thighs. Her posture exuded authority and elegance. ”I want one hundred billion pearls,” she declared, her voice calm yet unwavering.

Robinʼs smile remained, almost teasing, as he continued to look at her with serene patience. ”....Very well, Your Majesty,” he said, maintaining his polite tone. ”What is it that you wish from this humble, devoted professor today?” ”Robin Burton, stop feigning ignorance with me!” Althera suddenly raised her voice, the sharpness in her tone cutting through the calm atmosphere. ”You must compensate me for all the damage youʼve caused to the Dawnlight Stellar Academy! And this one hundred billion pearls will be the first installment!” ”What damage? And what first installment?!” Robinʼs expression shifted instantly from calm amusement to genuine shock. His golden eyes narrowed slightly. ”Are you speaking of me withdrawing Shaddad and Morgana? They are my followers! How is that a damage to anyone?”

”No, Lord Robin,” Althera replied with measured seriousness, her voice steady but loaded with authority. ”I will not even start on how removing two of my most crucial instructors caused the suspension of research into Body Force- the single greatest source of soul-enhancing borrowings the academy has accumulated over millions of years. I will ignore that, just as I ignored that ill-fated day when both of them resigned.”

”But your reliance on Morganaʼs fame to establish the Sacred Covenant Academy... that was a dirty move,” she continued, leaning slightly forward. ”You caused more than a third of the academyʼs students to withdraw, which slashed the academyʼs profits by one-third.” She gestured sharply with her hand. ”And that foolish brute in the Centenary Grave Empire, who attacks indiscriminately without thought or strategy, terrified several major powers. They stopped their annual contributions to the academy -or significantly reduced them, which destroyed yet another third of our profits.”

She folded her hands gently in her lap, her gaze steady. ”I will not even speak of all the other powers who stopped payments and began arming themselves because of the recent unrest and the Cosmic Elder, because I know you are not responsible. But even ignoring that, it cost me another portion of the profits.” Altheraʼs brows furrowed over her large, penetrating eyes. ”When the academyʼs income averaged 350 billion pearls per century, it suddenly plummeted to only seventy billion. And this happened at the exact same time

that the Vanguard Flame Stellar Academy and the Deep Fog Stellar Academy completely ceased their contributions. Their absence should have been offset by increased revenues from the Dawnlight Stellar Academy, yet that did not

happen.”

She leaned slightly closer, her voice sharp but controlled as she stared directly at Robin. ”Logically, after the Vanguard Flame Starry Academy and the Deep Fog Starry Academy withdrew, the profits from Dawnlight Stellar Academy taxes should have risen to nearly a trillion pearls per century, enough to fund countermeasures against the Plague and other anti-life threats in this sector. Yet instead, the income fell to just seventy billion. Tell me, Lord Robin, how am I supposed to maintain a Peacekeeping Army that is annihilated entirely every few years by the Plague? How am I supposed to defend the entire sector alone with such meager resources?”

Robin fell silent for a moment, his hand moving to rub at his forehead in thought. ”And I am expected to fund you now, to continue deploying the Peacekeeping forces, correct?” he said finally, his voice low.

Altheraʼs expression softened just slightly, though her gaze remained sharp. ”I will not ask for a trillion pearls, and I will not ask you to shut down the Sacred Covenant Academy or dismantle the Grave Empire. I understand that would be extreme, even for someone like you. So I will be reasonable... merely one hundred billion pearls per century. The rest, I will try to manage myself.”