Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2282 The offer

”...Althera, would you like another chance?”

A broad smile spread across Robinʼs face as he spoke those words, one that carried an unmistakable sense of satisfaction and amusement.

He had heard these words twice from the same man, the words that bring hope and shame at the same time...

So this was the feeling that came with saying them!

”Another chance?” Althera asked hesitantly, unable to understand where the conversation was heading. ”What do you mean?”

The way she looked at Robin had changed completely.

Before this moment, she had always known that he was stronger than her. Even after reaching the greatest level of power she could possibly attain and stepping into a realm she had once considered unattainable, she still understood deep down that Robin remained the stronger of the two.

Even so...

What he had just done with the chains had changed everything.

The difference between being stronger and possessing absolute authority over another personʼs existence was unimaginably vast.

He could kill her with nothing more than a single thought.

She was literally breathing because he allowed her to.

”The chain of reasoning that brought us to this conclusion is most likely correct. My six Master Laws gave you a body capable of cultivating a Master Law in the same way ordinary people cultivate Heavenly Laws.” Robin continued with a relaxed smile. ”I can provide you with the First Grade of a Master Law so we can put our theory to the test and see whether our conclusions are accurate... thatʼs your first option.”

”...Thereʼs a second option?” Althera frowned slightly, yet despite her confusion, her heart was beating so violently that she could almost hear it herself. The mere possibility that she might actually become capable of cultivating a Master Law was enough to overturn everything she had believed throughout her entire life.

”Of course there is.” Robin chuckled. ”Your limits have already been removed—that part is over. Your soul domain is still developing and evolving even as weʼre speaking. If you manage to return to your previous level once again, youʼll recover the same power you experienced before your body was reconstructed. While the Dominion Realm itself doesnʼt physically strengthen your body, it will at least allow you to use the Seventh Grade of your Law and once again reach the very limits of this universe.”

Then he winked at her.

”And no need to thank me for that either, by the way. Even the Seerʼs other candidates had to undergo the process of having their limits removed after enhancing their bodies and successfully cultivating the first level of their Master Law. As for you... youʼre the only person in the entire universe who obtained a body free from those limitations without cultivating a Master Law in the first place!”

Then he shrugged casually.

”Or at least, thatʼs as far as I know~”

”But if you choose the second option...” Robin extended his hand, revealing a golden key resting quietly in the center of his palm. ”I have a feeling I can unlock the lock spinning above your head. If I do, youʼll lose the ability to cultivate Master Laws, along with whatever other abilities may accompany that process—abilities that remain completely unknown to us at this point. As a result, Iʼll also lose every means of controlling you. However, youʼll retain your exceptionally rare body free from natural limitations, and with time youʼll recover your former strength... The choice is entirely yours.”

After Robin finished speaking, he lowered his eyes toward the golden key resting between his fingers, studying it thoughtfully.

Was this what the All-seeing god had meant when he spoke about taking away his Golden Honor?

And what exactly was honorable about it?

That Golden Honor was obviously something of tremendous importance to Sevar and the others. Through it they had been able to cultivate Causality, Creation, or whichever Master Laws had been entrusted to them by the Seer, accomplishing something that should have been impossible under ordinary circumstances.

As for him...

He had managed to obtain a Master Law entirely on his own without receiving even the slightest assistance from the Golden Honor.

Then, after that, he had gone on to discover five additional Master Laws, comprehend each of them, and gradually bring them under his control without relying on any external help whatsoever.

The Law of Truth had simplified everything to such an absurd extent that the Golden Honor had become almost completely meaningless in his case, serving little purpose beyond functioning as a collection of chains belonging to the All-seeing god and leaving behind a distinctive golden mark by which anyone familiar with the system could identify him wherever he went.

A color...

What exactly was so special about it?

Why would something as insignificant as a color become the symbol of a candidate?

And why did the All-seeing god need a candidate in the first place?

Why had he spent nearly millions of years searching for a suitable individual, deliberately stirring up wars, influencing civilizations, and pushing countless events toward carefully chosen directions as though he were preparing the universe itself for someoneʼs arrival?

A distinctive color...

Honor...

A candidate...

The Transcendents...

The Court...

And the accusation that the All-seeing god had cheated by granting Robin more than a single Master Law...

”Hmm... this doesnʼt look promising at all.” Robin let out a quiet sigh and spoke in a voice so low that only he himself could hear it, his brows knitting together as one question after another continued surfacing inside his mind.

”....” Althera kept her gaze fixed on the ground for several long minutes, carefully weighing every possibility before her. This decision would determine the direction of the rest of her life, perhaps even her existence itself, leaving no room for a careless answer.

Finally, she turned toward Glatheon.

”Youʼve proven your analysis more than enough. If you were in my position... what would you choose?”

”Me?” Glatheon pointed at himself and remained silent for several moments before looking directly into Altheraʼs eyes with complete seriousness. ”Iʼd ask Lord Robin what he wants from me in exchange for that Master Law!”

”What he wants?!” Althera immediately turned back toward Robin in surprise, as though the possibility itself had never crossed her mind.

”Haha, I like you more and more, Glathy.” Robin clapped his hands several times, clearly pleased by the answer.

”My gratitude, Your Majesty.” Glatheon bowed slightly with a smile. ”These are the survival methods of weak people like me whenever weʼre caught between greater powers. What do I have besides making the correct analysis and knowing exactly when itʼs wiser to take a few steps backward instead of trying to advance?”

”You should think more highly of yourself.” Robin shook his head toward Glatheon before turning back to Althera. ”Young lady, I can consider the removal of your limits a free gift for everything we have been through together. But leaving the Golden Honor in your possession and then giving you a Master Law without asking for anything in return? Iʼm not running a charity.”

”Isnʼt it enough that Iʼve been managing the Cosmic Academies for you?!” Althera raised her voice slightly, unable to suppress the frustration building inside her.

Robin simply waved a dismissive hand.

”Letʼs acknowledge reality. You have some experience, but youʼre a failure when it comes to administration and dealing with people in general. Not long ago you couldnʼt even find a single Royal Soul Master willing to help you. Someone as insignificant as Boraka—or whatever his name was—a mere two- or three-star Royal Soul Master, managed to isolate you completely and prevent you from obtaining any Soul Borrowings.”

Then he continued without changing his tone.

”Thank you for helping with the first wave of the Cosmic Academies, but I no longer need you there. Morgana is handling educational affairs, while Blokan is responsible for military expansion and strategic development. Between the two of them, every responsibility you once carried has already been covered.”

”So thatʼs the fate of those who help you, Robin Burton?!” Tears began filling Altheraʼs eyes despite her attempts to suppress them. ”You dismissed everything I did for the Academies simply because Iʼm standing here in this humiliating position?!”

”Did I say that?” Robin pointed toward himself with a puzzled expression. ”I was only talking about the administrative side of things. Thatʼs simply not where your strengths lie.”

”Letʼs acknowledge reality. You have some experience, but youʼre a failure when it comes to administration and dealing with people in general. Not long ago you couldnʼt even find a single Royal Soul Master willing to help you. Someone as insignificant as Boraka—or whatever his name was—a mere two- or three-star Royal Soul Master, managed to isolate you completely and prevent you from obtaining any Soul Borrowings.”

Then he continued in a calmer, more measured tone.

”But I watched you fight more than ten Young Space Beasts while you were still merely a Low-Level Monarch. Under normal circumstances, a Monarch might not even be capable of stopping a single Young Space Beast, much less fighting more than ten simultaneously, let alone killing them one after another.”

”.....” Althera gradually calmed herself, though confusion still remained in her eyes. ”What exactly are you trying to say?”

”Iʼm saying your true strength lies in your sword, not in administration.” Robin smiled faintly. ”You love combat so much that you deliberately chose a shortsword instead of a weapon with greater reach. You even developed an entire close-quarters combat style so your whole body would remain involved throughout every battle, allowing yourself to experience danger, pressure, and exhilaration from the closest possible distance. Youʼre obsessed with killing and fighting, Althera. Your position and responsibilities have done you a tremendous injustice... am I wrong?”

”....” Althera stared directly into Robinʼs eyes with undisguised resentment. ”What exactly do you want from me in exchange for that Master Law?”

”....” Robin slowly straightened his posture, placing one hand behind his back before meeting Altheraʼs gaze without the slightest hesitation.

”I want you to become my personal bodyguard.”