Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1951 Return-2

”...Let them try!” The planetary emperor spread his hands to their absolute limit, his posture radiating arrogance and confidence. ”Do you truly believe weʼre easy prey, Eleanor? Iʼve always treated you as a clever woman-so why are you thinking like this now?”

”.....” Eleanor nodded several times in silence before answering. ”I understand that attacking us would be difficult. The Twilight Spectrum Centennial Empire is far from weak, especially after our recent alliances. They would need to mobilize all of their armies to even attempt an assault against us,” she said slowly, then lifted her gaze to meet his once more. ”But even so, they would still emerge victorious if they truly set their minds on the complete destruction of the Centennial Twilight Spectrum Empire.”

”They wouldnʼt even dare to begin a war!” the planetary emperor waved his hand dismissively, his voice sharp. ”If that information doesnʼt become common knowledge, they wonʼt fire a single arrow at us-absolutely impossible. They would fear its spread far more than they fear us. As long as even one out of the four of us survives, that survivor could expose everything to the entire universe.” He scoffed coldly. ”And secondly, it will never spread. Do you really think the Savage Behemoth Galaxy is foolish enough to grab loudspeakers and announce it to everyone?”

”But theyʼll exploit it in some way!” Eleanor shot back immediately. ”Even if they donʼt use the information themselves, theyʼll sell it to a third party!”

”Enough!” the planetary emperor raised his hand sharply, cutting her off. ”Whatʼs done is done. Thereʼs no longer any need to keep arguing about it.” His tone cooled. ”What matters now is that the three of us disperse across several planets, just as we always do, to prevent any schemes from that child Caesar and his idiotic followers.” He lowered his hand and looked at Eleanor with faint puzzlement. ”That aside... what brought you here today, anyway?”

”...Heh-” Eleanor let out a long sigh, then looked away, clearly forcing herself to abandon the topic and move on to another. ”Our intelligence networks have detected unusual movements within the Centennial Cradle Empire. Armadas have begun gathering around Originus, and Renara -as well as all the other Nexus State experts- have been recalled from the less important fronts.” Her voice dropped slightly. ”A catastrophe is going to happen soon.”

”And what does that have to do with us?” the planetary emperor waved dismissively, unconcerned. ”Let them drag the next unlucky fool into it and burn through even more of Lord Humanʼs money. Perhaps their target is the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire. As for us, weʼre living in eternal safety-haha.” ”It appears the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire really is the target,” Eleanor nodded gravely. ”All the armies on the northern front are assembling and taking up defensive formations. Itʼs obvious theyʼre preparing for an all-out war.” She paused, her expression darkening. ”A war that doesnʼt seem like itʼll be any less destructive than the Grave Empireʼs war against the Holva Empire.”

”What does that matter to us? Let them burn together,” the planetary emperor waved it off yet again, then turned his gaze back to her. ”...But why did you come here personally? Why didnʼt you send one of your envoys, like you usually do?”

”Theyʼre all busy scouting” Eleanor replied. ”I couldnʼt find a single one free for some reason, so I came myself to inform you-hoping you might send some form of assistance to the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire, since weʼre allies now.” She crossed her arms and raised one eyebrow. ”But it doesnʼt seem like youʼre particularly interested.”

”Theyʼre allies only when theyʼre useful to us,” the planetary emperor said flatly, waving his hand. He was about to continue when-

Krrrk-

At that moment, the massive doors of the grand hall were pushed open with a grating sound. From the center stepped a man who appeared to be in his fifties, floating above the ground as though touching it would stain him. His expression was solemn.

”Nephew,” he said calmly, ”there is urgent news.”

”The royal uncle?” The planetary emperor knitted his brows tightly. ”Welcome back to your homeland and all that-but what kind of news could possibly make you return in person?”

He was the empireʼs second Nexus State-a low-level one-and currently the only Nexus State beneath the emperor himself, after the third had been trapped by Renara and vanished following a serious injury.

”Itʼs Ragnar-the nephew. Weʼve located him.” The low-level Nexus State descended beside Eleanor, his feet touching the ground soundlessly, not sparing her even a single glance. ”Heʼs currently acting as the spearhead of the Grave Empire in Mid Sector 99-quite literally leading every one of their assaults on all fronts!”

”What?!” The planetary emperor erupted in fury, rising from his seat in a single motion. ”Impossible... are you absolutely certain itʼs him?”

”Itʼs him, without the slightest doubt.” The elderly Nexus State replied calmly. ”The footage arrived only moments ago.” He raised one hand, manifesting a disc of light. Above it unfolded a colossal battlefield-explosions tearing the void apart, armies clashing-and at its very center stood Ragnar, single-handedly fighting three Nexus States at once, blood spraying as he was wounded with every passing second.

”Itʼs him...” The planetary emperor descended several steps, his aura surging violently as his face twisted with rage. ”My beloved brother... treated like this by the rabble of the Grave? Iʼll make them pay!!”

”Please, calm yourself-what are you planning to do?!” Eleanor rushed forward and grabbed the planetary emperorʼs arm tightly. ”Theyʼre in a completely different sector, and weʼre already in direct hostility with their agents here- the Cradle Empire!”

”Silence!” the planetary emperor roared. ”How can it be acceptable for my brother to be used like a slave?! What will become of our familyʼs reputation if news like this spreads throughout the cosmos?!” He flung his arm aside violently, knocking Eleanor to the ground. Then he turned back to glare straight into his uncleʼs eyes. ”Iʼll send a direct threat to the Cradle Empire, demanding his immediate return-or else the name ʼHumanʼ will be on every tongue by the end of the day!”

”That will be enough. Theyʼll comply, without question.” The royal uncle nodded calmly. ”Iʼll begin mobilizing the armies. Weʼll stand alongside the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire in response to this humiliation.”

”...Do it.” The planetary emperor nodded, his voice trembling with suppressed

fury.

His brother would be liberated and placed back above all others-and the price for that would be the invasion of the Cradle Empire today. All that was needed was for them to dare make a move against the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire; once they did, their headquarters would become nothing more than

easy prey.

”Wait!” Eleanor forced herself upright, dusting herself off. ”Donʼt destroy everything weʼve built over the past centuries with reckless haste! We donʼt even know who leaked this footage to the royal uncle-or why it was done now,

of all times!”

”...?” The elderly Nexus State glanced at her sideways in mild confusion. ”Do you have a dual affinity-boosting session scheduled with His Majesty today? Or

perhaps with me?”

”No!” Eleanor snapped, her brows knitting tightly.

”Then why are you speaking?” the Nexus State replied coldly, raising a brow before turning back to the planetary emperor. ”Iʼll begin the preparations at

once.”

”....” Eleanorʼs eyes widened in shock, but she quickly lowered her head, clenching her fists as she struggled to suppress the anger boiling inside her.

This treatment was nothing new. It had always been this way whenever she tried to voice her opinion on matters that truly mattered. But fine... she hadnʼt chosen this side in order to advise the Centennial Twilight Specter Empire on its affairs. Let the empire burn-let everyone within it burn alongside it. Within, at most, one hundred thousand years, she would reach a blood density no ancestor before her had ever achieved. She would take her followers, sever all ties, and establish the true Empire of the Nine Paths-raising the glory of her forebears to heights never before imagined. By her carefully calculated steps, the Empire of the Nine Paths would become at least a millennial empire, unlike the previous failed attempt.

A little humiliation is nothing... Eleanor lifted her head slowly, watching the

emperor and his uncle continue their discussion. She could no longer hear their words-her thoughts drowned everything else out. My day will come soon. The day I face those bastards... the day I face Renara... the day I prove

that I was right!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

”ELEEEEEEEEEEEANOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!”