Lord of the Truth

"...So what am I supposed to do then?"

Rinara's voice came out quiet, but heavy with weight.

"Should I accept the rental offer?

Or sever everything—cut off all ties completely and move on?"

She hesitated again, eyes drifting toward the towering stained-glass windows of the hall.

"The rental offer… is outrageous.

Outrageously generous.

So generous, it feels insulting.

As if he's not just paying us—he's trying to fund us.

He's offering fifty thousand pearls per year.

That's Five millions per century.

In fact… what we would earn in a single century would surpass what we've collected over tens of thousands of years combined!"

"Five Millions every century?!"

Elinor's face went white for a brief second, her pupils narrowing.

But then, just as quickly, the familiar grimace of suspicion returned.

"Hey, Don't tell me… you're actually considering this?!"

"And why shouldn't I?" Rinara's tone was calm, controlled—almost too calm.

"With that kind of wealth, we could rebuild entire starfleets,

Forge new legions of Rune Cavaliers.

All without lifting a single finger.

No battles. No alliances. No casualties.

And in return, all he wants is the right to wave our flag and borrow our name."

Her gaze hardened slightly as she added:

"And perhaps… over time…

This seemingly shallow relationship might bloom again into something deeper.

Circumstances change. Empires rise. Trust rebuilds."

"You're a fool if you believe that!"

Elinor snapped, stepping to the side and folding her arms beneath her chest.

Her tails twitched with frustration behind her.

"Don't you see?

That kind of offer will destroy us from the inside.

You said it yourself—it feels like he's supporting us, like we're his subordinates.

That's what our Elders will believe.

That's what the Council of Halls will whisper.

And eventually—you'll believe it too."

She turned to face her sister squarely, fire in her eyes.

"After the first century, everyone will be dependent on his pearls—unable to imagine life without it.

After two, they'll be willing to march to war at his request.

After three… your own generals will be taking orders from Robin Burton instead of you!"

"...That's not impossible," Rinara admitted quietly, brows drawn tight.

"So what do you suggest? That I end everything here and now?

Let him go off and build his own planetary empire on those thirteen worlds?"

Though she was the elder—though she was the stronger, the supreme commander, the face of the Empire—

Rinara listened.

Because while she had ruled with honor, mastered the cosmic arts, and led from the throne...

Elinor had lived the sector.

She had walked among enemies and kings alike, collapsed dynasties with a single glance,

And turned allies into rivals with a whispered word.

When it came to reading ambition, especially that of men—

There was no one sharper.

"He's bluffing," Elinor said with a flick of her hand.

"Those are empty threats.

Do you think anyone can just create a planetary empire in the Middle Belt like it's a tavern stall?

And even if they did break away—who's going to wear the crown?

Caesar? That arrogant boy barely scrapes the top of the Planetary stage. That's absurd."

"Or perhaps one of the slaves he bought with his father's fortune?"

She laughed sharply.

"That won't help either.

No true planetary empire is ruled by someone below World Cataclysm level.

Even one World Cataclysm can barely hold onto one planet.

A handful of them might manage two… three at best.

But thirteen?

Impossible."

She snapped her fingers with a smirk.

"And who's left?

The one Nexus Being they rented from the syndicate?

He'll be returned soon—unless they want to dump hundreds of millions of pearls into a pit every century. Forever."

"...What if they've hidden forces? Allies we haven't seen yet?"

Rinara's voice dropped, uncertainty leaking through the cracks.

So far… everything Elinor said made chilling sense.

"Impossible. They've already reached zero hour against the Iron Boar Empire.

If they had any hidden forces or trump cards… they would've revealed them by now."

Elinor waved her hand slowly, her voice low and certain.

"All they have left is a low-tier Nexus Being—and I know it's rented. I know exactly who they rented it from."

She took a deep breath and gestured again, this time with a hint of finality.

"Listen to me carefully.

The fortune they took from Robin Burton is gone.

Completely burned through.

And he hasn't sold any new technique to replenish their resources.

They're pushing for this war because they want the Iron Boar Emperor to retaliate with full force—

So that we, you and I, will be forced to intervene."

"..." Rinara nodded slowly, silently piecing it together.

"So, based on everything I've just told you…

What does it lead to?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"He's using this 'rental agreement' excuse to entangle us in a war against the Iron Boar Empire—for his own benefit.

Meanwhile, he's buying your followers' loyalty, one by one.

Century by century, we'll edge closer to collapse—

Until the day he walks in and takes everything without shedding a drop of blood."

"That far…?" Rinara's expression darkened.

Her eyes grew distant, troubled by a possibility she hadn't dared entertain.

"Should I send him a different offer, then… something else?"

"You still want to negotiate with someone who plans to devour us from within?"

Elinor shook her head in disbelief.

"He's backed you into a corner with this ridiculous ultimatum.

So meet him with equal cruelty.

Announce publicly that those thirteen planets are no longer under our dominion.

Say the human legions have rebelled and seized them.

That you take no responsibility and have no interest in what happens to them."

"Have you lost your mind?!" Rinara's voice cracked as her brows furrowed.

"Those thirteen planets are the reason we finally earned the title of a Centennial Empire!

You want me to throw them away like trash?

What will the people say when we —a Centennial Empire— lose all those planets to a rebellion?!"

"Since when did the opinion of the public matter in moments like this?"

Elinor's voice was firm, unyielding.

"Listen carefully.

The moment that announcement goes out, the balance shifts entirely.

That arrogant little Caesar won't know what to do.

And Robin Burton himself?

He'll crawl back here begging you to reinstate your protection over those worlds."

She smiled wickedly.

"And when he does?

Don't ask for fifty thousand.

Ask for a million.

Ask for ten million a year.

Let them see who truly holds the leash.

Your followers will witness your strength, and your standing will rise higher than ever."

"..." Rinara nodded again, slower this time.

"And what if he fulfills his threat?

What if… he actually builds a functioning empire on those worlds?"

"Then he'll have signed his own death warrant," Elinor replied with a cold laugh.

"Without a legitimate emperor strong enough to hold those thirteen worlds… the other nations will descend on them like vultures.

And when that happens, you'll have the perfect excuse to step in as a 'savior.'

You'll reclaim the planets… and demand a massive compensation for it."

"Heh~ I don't know what I'd do without you, sister."

Rinara exhaled and nodded, finally resolved.

"Very well. Let's do it your way."

"Sisters support each other, sweetheart."

Aelinor gave her a gentle smile before turning gracefully on her heel.

She exited the grand hall in silence—already preparing the empire's next decisive move.