Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2314 The status of the Pureheart family

”...What do you think?” Robin asked with a broad smile, clearly pleased with the picture he had just painted in his own mind, as though he could already see every step of that celebration unfolding exactly as he intended.

”...?” Glatheon furrowed his brows deeply.

The coronation of Lord Human as a Behemoth, his sonʼs wedding, and the announcement of Sirene as the Behemoth of Purity and his sonʼs wife?

Just how far did he intend to magnify that day, and how many earth-shattering events did he plan to gather into a single occasion before finally considering it complete?

”My opinion?” Kaylis showed a strained smile, one that looked as though it had been forced onto her face despite her true feelings. ”You kill Darfion, then announce your own coronation and hold a grand wedding as the opening event... Hmm, what else?”

”Was that sarcasm?” Robin asked in surprise before turning to Glatheon with genuine confusion written across his face. ”Did she just mock me?”

”Of course not. Sheʼs simply wondering how grand that day would be!” Glatheon replied quickly before turning toward Kaylis with a serious expression, clearly attempting to prevent the conversation from drifting in the wrong direction. ”Lord Robin wants your opinion on the scenario, whether those events—if they happen—would make for a good sequence in your eyes. Thatʼs all. Lord Robin isnʼt asking for help, nor is he asking whether itʼs possible. Heʼs only asking whether, assuming everything proceeds exactly as described, the order itself sounds appropriate.”

”Oh,” Kaylis replied with a fake smile that barely concealed her helplessness, ”as long as weʼre throwing logic aside, then sure. Yes, that sounds like a fine order of events, Lord Robin. Itʼll certainly be a huge day, especially when another Behemoth becomes your sonʼs wife. Thatʼll definitely be something worth boasting about.”

”Even my servant Bitsu boasts because he serves me. What about someone who marries my son? Sirene is a good girl, and she deserves to rise straight to the seventh heaven by being allowed to marry my son!” Robin laughed heartily before nodding in complete satisfaction. ”Good, Iʼm glad we understand each other. It seems my visit here wonʼt take long after all, since there doesnʼt appear to be any disagreement regarding the important matters.”

”Wait!” Kaylis raised her voice slightly before falling silent for a few moments, visibly organizing her thoughts before speaking to Robin seriously. ”Since youʼre here, letʼs talk. And since your son loves my daughter this much, he certainly wonʼt want to see her grieving over her mother after Iʼm injured—or even die from giving up the galaxy seed. And even if I survive, my death will be guaranteed the moment I sever my connection to the Major Purity Law so Sirene can inherit it, because a Behemoth cannot simply abandon such a Law and continue living as though nothing happened... Do you really want your sonʼs mother-in-law to die and his wife to spend the first years of their marriage in mourning instead of happiness?”

”....” Robin raised his left eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed by her reasoning. ”So someone wants to run away from her obligations?”

”That obligation is nothing short of suicide. Whatʼs wrong with trying to negotiate a new deal?” Kaylis replied immediately without allowing him to continue. ”Find something else you need, and Iʼll do it for you. Donʼt you want the Behemoth of Purity in your family? Fine, Iʼm willing to marry you.” Her eyes lit up as though she had suddenly discovered a perfect solution. ”But my dowry will be Darfionʼs head. I want to see it with my own eyes first, then after that we can discuss everything else.”

”No, thanks.” Robin waved his hand several times with complete disinterest, rejecting the proposal as casually as though it had never deserved consideration in the first place. ”What else do you have to ransom your life with?”

”.....?!” Kaylisʼ expression visibly darkened, and her pride suffered a crushing blow after being rejected so effortlessly, leaving her staring at Robin in disbelief for a brief moment. ”...What do you want? Part of my sector? My treasury? Some of my children to serve as healers for your officers? Name your price, and Iʼll seriously consider it.”

”I own more sectors, larger treasuries, and arrays that can replace your children... But even if I had none of that, everything youʼve offered—and more—will become mine once Sirene becomes my sonʼs wife anyway.” Robin waved dismissively, his tone remaining calm and matter-of-fact. ”So, what else do you have?”

”....?” Kaylis turned toward Glatheon as though asking for help, hoping he might say something capable of changing Robinʼs mind or at least softening his position.

”Your Excellency,” Glatheon shrugged helplessly, ”an agreement is an agreement. If you want to change it, youʼll have to offer something of considerably greater value. And I donʼt know what you still have left to offer, because everything that naturally comes to mind has already lost its value under the current circumstances.”

”If you donʼt need anything from my galaxy or my sector, then what difference does it make whether the Behemoth is me or my daughter? Ask her, and sheʼll tell you she doesnʼt want to replace me either!” Kaylis raised her voice after realizing the situation was slipping out of her hands, desperately trying to make Robin understand that neither she nor Sirene truly desired such an outcome, and that forcing it upon them would leave wounds that would not easily disappear.

”There seems to be a misunderstanding here.” Robin let out a slow sigh before leaning forward slightly in his seat, his eyes remaining fixed on Kaylis without the slightest hint of hesitation. ”If your daughter hadnʼt tried to help my son, and if my son didnʼt have feelings for her, I wouldʼve placed the entire Pureheart family—with you at the very top—on the list of people who need to be eliminated. Frankly speaking, youʼre useless. You had plenty of time to think of ways to free yourself from Darfionʼs control, yet you chose the easy life instead, convincing yourself that enduring humiliation was preferable to taking a dangerous gamble. Thatʼs something I simply canʼt tolerate within my inner circle. Your family is even more useless than you are. I have no need to train you, protect you, or make you part of my family. I donʼt even have a reason to be speaking with you right now, except for one thing: your daughter happens to have very good luck.”

”....?!”

He continued with the same emotionless expression, showing no intention of softening his words simply because they were unpleasant to hear. ”When I first learned that my son was in love with Sirene, my original plan was to make you relinquish the galaxy entirely and have Richard refine the galaxy seed for himself. Then I wouldʼve allowed you and your family to continue living there as nothing more than the family of his wife, surviving on charity inside something that no longer belonged to you while relying entirely on Richardʼs goodwill to remain there... But I changed my mind and decided to leave the galaxy to Sirene instead. Why? Because a happy wife means a happy life, and I want Richard to have a happy life. If giving Sirene her home instead of forcing her to inherit it through humiliation makes that future brighter for him, then itʼs an easy decision for me... As for him, Iʼll find another galaxy seed for him soon enough.”

He then pointed directly at her, his finger remaining perfectly steady. ”Take note that neither the old arrangements nor the new ones include you. Not even for a single moment did I ever expect Iʼd have to deal with you for any extended period of time. Every scenario Iʼve considered has always ended with getting rid of you in one way or another. The only difference is that the current scenario is simply the lightest and most favorable one, which is why youʼve been given an opportunity to try escaping it and preserving your life... But I can switch to another scenario whenever I please, and doing so wouldnʼt inconvenience me in the slightest.”

”...?” Glatheon opened his mouth wide in genuine astonishment. His lord could say incredibly painful things when he truly wanted to, and somehow deliver every sentence in such a calm tone that it sounded even harsher than if he had shouted.

He quickly turned toward Kaylis, raising both hands slightly as though trying to stop the situation from worsening. ”What Lord Robin means is—”

”I have ears. I can hear!” Kaylis shouted before taking a slow breath and forcing herself to calm down, her voice becoming noticeably quieter despite the anger boiling inside her. ”...I understand perfectly well what Lord Robin means.”

She then stared at Robin with a suffocated expression filled with grievance, frustration, and wounded pride, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the armrest beside her. ”Iʼll be ready to transfer ownership of the galaxy and the Major Purity Law once Darfion is dead. Not before that. As long as heʼs alive, I wonʼt make a move, no matter what happens.”

”Haha, simple enough.” Robin stood up with a smile, as though the negotiation had finally reached a satisfactory conclusion. ”When the time comes, Iʼll send you a number of Royal Soul Masters. At the very least, you wonʼt die. That would be a bad omen, especially with my sonʼs wedding approaching. Iʼd rather avoid unnecessary funerals around such an occasion.”

He then turned and looked toward a certain direction. He was just about to wave a hand covered in intricate golden runes, but paused for a brief moment as though remembering something at the last second. ”...Very well, weʼll leave you for another time.” He then opened a golden gate leading in another direction with a casual motion of his hand. ”Come on, Glathe!”

”And Young Master?” Glatheon jolted before instinctively looking toward the portal, clearly remembering Richard only after Robin had already begun leaving.

”Let him eat ice cream with his fiancée. Hehe.” Robin chuckled in obvious amusement before stepping straight through the portal without the slightest concern, as though there was absolutely nothing left that required his attention.

As for Glatheon, he paused for a brief moment, then turned toward Kaylis, who looked as though she was barely holding herself back from screaming at the top of her lungs, and gave her a slight, polite bow despite the atmosphere. ”For a better tomorrow and lasting peace of mind. I sincerely hope todayʼs conversation will eventually prove worthwhile for everyone.”

”Get out!!” Kaylis hurled an empty cup lying nearby with all the strength she could muster. Bang! It never reached Glatheon, who had already fled through the portal at full speed before the cup even crossed half the distance between them.

Only after the portal had completely closed, cutting off every trace of Robin and Glatheon, did Kaylis grip the armrest of her chair so tightly that her knuckles turned pale, throw her head back as every ounce of restraint finally collapsed, and scream at the very top of her lungs, ”AAAAAAAH!!!!!”