Lord of the Truth

"The Cosmic Elder is your friend, huh?" Hedrick arched his eyebrows slightly, a flicker of intrigue crossing his expression. "That's… unexpectedly impressive."

Robin, unfazed, gave a small, indifferent wave as if brushing off the significance of such a connection. He didn't seem eager to dwell on the subject, nor did he show the pride others might have felt in his place. After a short pause, he took a few measured steps forward, then came to a halt and slowly turned to face Hedrick. His eyes had sharpened.

"I have a question," he said, voice low but firm.

"Go ahead," Hedrick nodded with calm composure, as if preparing himself for a difficult inquiry. He offered Robin the space and silence needed to gather his thoughts.

"My war against your sister... against the so-called Empire of the Great Serpent," Robin began, his tone hardening with each word, "Was it you pulling the strings from behind the curtain?"

Hedrick smiled faintly, almost playfully. "And what makes you suspect something like that?"

Robin didn't blink. "Because during the exact time I was locked in a full-scale war with her forces, you were embroiled in your own chaos. You were scrambling for control over the Varilion Galactic Seed in Young Sector 101. Still plotting its protection. Still tangled in the dilemma of how to help it survive the hostility of Young Sector 101, and perhaps later the dangerous terrain of Middle Sector 101. You were tearing your mind apart trying to secure a fourth- or fifth-rank planetary displacement artifact—desperate for a way out."

He narrowed his eyes. "And then... just when your nerves were likely stretched thin, your younger sister conveniently tells you she discovered a massive wormhole—a colossal passage linking Young Sector 100 directly to Young Sector 99. Then she tells you she's found a Galaxy Seed in Young Sector 99. One no Overlord had claimed yet. One that would automatically ascend if left undisturbed in a sector with no Behemoth to claim it. Don't try to convince me that didn't spark something inside you."

Hedrick gave a slow, thoughtful nod. "You're absolutely right. If I'd known about Nihari, I would've moved to secure it immediately. I would've done everything in my power to keep her hidden until it ascended. She could've been my lifeline... my second chance at redemption."

"'If'...?" Robin's tone sharpened as his eyebrows drew together.

"It seems you're conflating two very different matters, Lord Robin," Hedrick said, this time with a more serious edge to his voice. "Yes, I invited my younger sister—Helen—to settle her empire next to mine. Yes, I encouraged her to begin gathering loyalists in Young Sector 100. But that doesn't mean she's some pawn on my board."

He looked away for a moment, as if replaying old decisions in his mind. "Helen accepted my invitation because she already intended to forge her own path. She had long since decided she wouldn't rely on our father's generosity, or accept any favors during her time in the Destra Galaxy. To her, accepting my offer was an act of rebellion—an unspoken slap in Father's face. Her way of declaring, in no uncertain terms, that she chose my way over the paths of our other siblings. That's all there was to it."

"She's not under your command? She doesn't take orders from you?" Robin's tone was one of genuine surprise now.

"No. Not even close." Hedrick shook his head slowly. "She may come across as impulsive or naive at times, but don't let that fool you. She's far more cunning than most give her credit for. Otherwise, how would she have held off the Old Ghassan Empire using nothing but a ragtag army—one that didn't even have proper uniforms? That girl is a genius. But she's also incredibly stubborn. She doesn't follow anyone's lead, not even mine. Even though I never told her a word about my plan for the Varilion Seed—or even the seed's existence—I wouldn't be surprised if she figured it out all on her own."

"As for our dynamic..." Hedrick continued with a shrug, "...you could say she listens to my advice when she wants to. Then, naturally, she does whatever she feels is right. She accepted my offer to settle in Middle Sector 100 because it served her purpose, and because it sent a clear message to our father. She wanted someone she could turn to if everything crumbled—and in her eyes, I was that someone."

"And she agreed to build forces in Young Sector 100 because she desperately needed resources. That was right after she recklessly entered a war with the Ghassan Empire—without consulting me. My advice helped her in that regard. Especially when, by complete coincidence..." Hedrick added with a faint grin, "...she stumbled upon that beast king, Durger."

Robin exhaled through his nose sharply, the corners of his mouth twitching. By coincidence, sure…

"If my plan works, and I succeed in transferring the seed to Sector 100 and exploiting the foundation she unknowingly prepared for me—then I'll repay her. I might fund her next empire, give her enough resources to build something even greater in another sector, or invite her to stay and help govern the artificial galaxy alongside me—if that's what she wants."

He crossed his arms slowly. "There's nothing deceptive or underhanded going on here, it's simply strategy. It's give and take, exchange and opportunity... executed at the right time."

Then Hedrick arched his brows slightly in Robin's direction.

"And regarding her war against you—the wormhole, the Young Sector 99 Seed, Nihari—she didn't breathe a word of any of it to me until after she had already launched her reckless attack on your headquarters, Planet Jura.

Only when that disastrous event unfolded, when everything went sideways and her plans fell apart, did she come running to me in Middle Sector 101.

She was shaking with panic, her composure shattered, and only then did she spill the truth."

"Heh~" Robin scoffed, letting out a bitter chuckle. "I take back what I said about you two being close."

"I don't mind in the slightest," Hedrick replied with a calm shake of his head. "There's no relationship of subordination between us. We never had any kind of formal agreement about exchanging intel or strategies.

Helen found that seed and thought it was her one-way ticket to immense fortune—honestly, I don't fault her for that. Anyone in her position might've done the same."

Then his gaze drifted away, eyes narrowing in thought.

"Of course, had she informed me from the beginning, perhaps we could've coordinated and made far better use of the Nihari Seed. We might've secured it under a united front.

But... that wasn't the path she chose. What's done is done, and I can't hold her accountable for following her instincts."

"Hey now, I'm still standing here." Robin furrowed his brow, a touch irritated.

"Oh, no offense meant," Hedrick replied with a gentle, almost playful smile.

"Do you have any more questions? I'm not hiding anything at this point."

"I've already heard what I need to," Robin said coolly, studying Hedrick's face for a long moment. "But I'll be honest—what you're asking is no small favor."

"Truly? I don't see it that way," Hedrick responded with a confident smirk. "Everything I ask of you, I'm prepared to match—or even exceed—in value. You won't walk away feeling shortchanged."

"Hah. That's bold of you." Robin chuckled under his breath. "Alright then—let's put your generosity to the test, shall we? If I hand over a fourth-rank planetary displacement tool... what exactly are you putting on the table?"

"I'll give you five first-rank planetary displacement tools, three of the second rank, and one of the third rank," Hedrick declared, his tone steady and firm. "Yes, I know lower ranks have limitations—but still, that's a nine-for-one trade."

"Okay, let's break this down like rational beings." Robin clapped his hands once, sharply.

"A fourth-rank planetary displacement artifact can precisely relocate a planet once every six months. That means, over a span of 600 years, I could reposition up to 1200 planets around Nihari with full precision."

Then he jabbed a finger at Hedrick.

"Now, let's look at what you're offering: those five first-rank artifacts? Completely worthless. They relocate planets randomly, without guidance or accuracy. They're like shooting in the dark. I can't use them to assemble an artificial galaxy—that's just a fact. So, five of your nine artifacts? Useless. Down the drain."

"...." Hedrick remained silent, face unreadable.

"Now let's move to the second-rank tools—they offer precision, sure, but at a snail's pace. One use every 30 years. You're offering three of them? That's 60 precise movements across six centuries." Robin snapped his fingers.

"And that third-rank artifact? It's better—one move every five years. That gets me 120 moves in the same time frame."

Robin folded his arms behind his back and exhaled slowly, tone sharpening.

"You're offering me tools that—collectively—give me around 180 calculated relocation attempts over 600 years.

Meanwhile, you want to take an artifact that gives me 1,200 calculated relocation... and call this a fair deal?

Is that your idea of an equal exchange?"