Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1973 Meeting with the Pure One - 2

Applause

Theo slowly raised his hands, the motion deliberate, almost ceremonious, and began clapping in a measured, controlled manner. Each clap echoed faintly against the walls of the chamber, almost as if punctuating the weight of his words. ”Truly remarkable, Your Majesty,” he said, his voice calm, yet carrying a subtle note of admiration, even for her audacity. ”As expected from a

Behemoth... this was indeed the original plan, you said it beautifully, only adjusted slightly with a few minor, necessary details to account for unforeseen variables.”

”You!!” Orionʼs voice cracked with disbelief and outrage. He stepped forward, placing both hands firmly on Theoʼs shoulders, his strength and indignation evident. ”Do you have the audacity to admit something like this in front of us- right here, right now?”

”...At least he is honest,” Kaylis murmured, a shadow of disappointment crossing her otherwise composed face. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the room with measured calm, but a flicker of unease betrayed the storm within. She then gestured toward the door, the motion precise and commanding. ”Leave. I have no intention of following plans dictated by someone else. If I am to fall, I will do so on my own terms, by my own hand, in my own way.”

Theoʼs gaze shifted slightly, but he did not look at Orion as he responded. His tone remained calm, almost detached, but every word carried weight. ”And your ʼway! Your Majesty,” he said softly, ”involves selling the Sparkling Serene to become the consort of the sorcerer Zarghol? Simply because he is the Behemoth closest to you? Does proximity make him worthy of securing the support you need? Does marriage guarantee a true, strong alliance-or will you merely be subjected to his will once victory is declared? That is, assuming you even succeed. Your plan may seem appealing, but it is far from superior. At least, if you had followed my previous plan, you would have emerged as a hero to the very last breath, retiring with your head held high, remembered for your courage and wisdom. Instead, your current path soils your reputation, which will only worsen if you marry off the sectorʼs gem, the Sparkling Serene, to that old man.”

”...How did you come by this information?” Kaylisʼs composure shifted slightly. Her eyes narrowed, a subtle line forming between her brows, a single bead of sweat tracing her temple.

Theoʼs words were not entirely precise, but they were frighteningly close to reality.

Kaylis had used a direct communication channel with the sorcerer Zarghol to explain her situation and offer him Serene. Though the negotiations had taken several exhausting rounds of back-and-forth deliberations, each more painstaking than the last, and had come at an immense cost, the process had remained completely secret. Not even the Soul Society had any knowledge of

it.

Zarghol had agreed to provide her with the weapons, spells, and enchantments she needed. He had consented to accept the Pureheart family and their allied houses under his supervision, training them intensively for three years in governance, strategy, and the art of war. He had agreed to appear publicly, threatening Darvion and Zavaros if they attempted to enter Mid Sector 101 openly.

But he had one unyielding condition: Serene must serve as his consort and personal healer. Beyond this, he demanded the complete treasury of the Bright Galaxy upon the warʼs conclusion, formal control over a quarter of the sector, and exclusive mining rights to another quarter.

On top of that, he required the spirit of the Bright Galaxy itself to produce five planetary-grade armaments tailored to his exact specifications.

For the spirit of a galaxy, creating planetary-grade armaments meant nothing short of total suspension from all other duties. It would enter a prolonged state of dormancy for the duration of production, followed by an extended hibernation upon completion.

Nothing less than fifth-degree armaments would come up, and given the immense age and scale of the galaxy, sixth-degree creations might show up. Yet this would thrust the galaxyʼs spirit into a hibernation that could last millions of years.

During this period, the absence of the galaxyʼs spirit would cripple coordination between planets, undermining every control mechanism that kept the galaxy functional and orderly. Neighboring planets might even collide due to lack of guidance, creating chaos on a massive scale. Meanwhile, any blessings, protections, or interventions the spirit normally provided to Kaylis would also enter dormancy, stripping her of half the power that defined her as a Behemoth. Her ability to influence, protect, and command would be cut dramatically for the entire period.

And on top of that... the condition demanded FIVE pieces of planetary-grade armament.

Even if the galaxy survived the first attempt, it would still have to endure four more trials, each one more devastating than the last. The odds were brutally high: the spirit of the galaxy would almost certainly die on the second attempt, or at best, the third. And once that happened... the artificial galaxy, a living, breathing network of worlds and systems, would descend into utter chaos. A true, irreversible hell.

Negotiations were still ongoing, attempts being made to reduce the number of armaments required or even to remove the condition entirely. But the stipulations regarding Serene and the treasury were already etched in stone- figuratively and perhaps almost literally. These could not be bargained with at present. The focus, for now, had to remain entirely on saving the galaxy itself. There was no room for error, no luxury for delays.

And if she could not neutralize this final, insurmountable condition, she would have no choice but to turn her offer toward the Sands of Time Galaxy-a desperate, last-ditch alternative.

”... You ask how I knew?” Theo said, his voice calm, almost teasing, as a small, knowing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. ”Just a guess. Pure speculation, based on logic and observation.”

Kaylisʼs eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of curiosity flickering through her usually impervious gaze.

”Your Majesty,” Theo continued, ”you will not-cannot-go and hand over the Sparkling Serene to the accursed Darvion Galaxy as originally planned. That would achieve nothing. They have already set their sights on uprooting Bright Galaxy entirely from your control, and thatʼs the end of the story. You, Your Majesty, are far too clever to do such a useless thing.”

”And yet... Zarghol, the sorcerer,” he continued, leaning just slightly forward, ”he is the closest to noticing. Youʼve seen his excessive movements lately-the subtle interferences in Mid Sector 97, the way he has begun massing forces along the borders of Mid Sector 99. I inferred that he might have enough power to support you directly if needed. And there is no doubt he has sufficient wealth to support you indirectly, without even appearing in person.”

Kaylisʼs lips pressed into a thin line, and a slight bead of sweat formed on her temple. She had felt these subtle movements herself-an unsettling ripple in the usual balance of the sectors-but Theoʼs words made the implications

concrete.

”... Perhaps you also imagined him to be my master, the hidden supporter of

Lord Hedrick,” she said, her voice steady but tinged with caution. ”And that you made this proposal as a preemptive move, a sort of silent message: I trust your capability, and I know who you are, without a single word spoken. That would have been clever... if only you were correct. But he is not my master. He does not even deserve to touch the soles of my masterʼs shoes.”

”Watch you words.” Her face flushed slightly with restrained anger, the slightest

flare of indignation in her eyes.

Theo raised both hands in surrender, a calm, almost apologetic gesture. ”I

would never dream of insulting Your Majesty. I am simply sharing my reasoning, nothing more. If my words come across as offensive, I apologize sincerely. But let me say this-the Sparkling Serene deserves a better future. And you, Your Majesty, deserve better treatment as well.”

Kaylisʼs voice softened, though it remained precise, measured. ”...Where do we find that future?” she asked quietly. ”No one offers aid without expecting a price in return. The real question is... what sacrifices must I make to achieve it? There are no heroes in this world. No saviors waiting to appear.” ”You are right, Your Majesty,” Theo said, his smile softening, the edges of his eyes narrowing with a faint warmth. ”No heroes will come to rescue you. But that does not mean your sacrifices must be unbearable. You do not need to destroy yourself to save the galaxy.”

He leaned back slightly, his calm gaze fixed on her, conveying both reassurance and the weight of cold strategy. ”In fact, the scenario you mentioned earlier- your potential entry into the war-was precisely our initial plan. But it does not have to be the current one. It can be revised, improved, adapted to minimize unnecessary losses.”

Kaylis blinked, a flicker of hope appearing in her eyes for the first time in what felt like an eternity. ”What do you mean?”

Theoʼs lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. ”As long as Your Majesty was

willing to exchange the Sparkling Serene for survival...” he said softly, letting the implication hang in the air, heavy and potent, ”...I have a proposal. A good

proposal. One that includes her.” Kaylisʼs eyes widened slightly. ”....?”