Lord of the Truth

"…Has Heaven's wrath finally struck you down and left you a cripple at last?"

BAM!

The sound tore through the air like a thunderclap.

"Damn it, what the—Ghhkk!!"

"Mind your manners in His Majesty's presence, you dog!"

"Hmm?"

It all happened so fast that Robin's eyes took a moment to catch up. In the span of a heartbeat, a young man was forced down beside him—both knees pressed into the floor, head bowed unwillingly. His mouth was stuffed with a dusty battle boot. Malik's boot.

Robin tilted his head ever so slightly, his expression one of mild curiosity rather than surprise. "Who are you? Do I know you?" His voice carried both strain and an unshakable authority.

"Khh—Khhgggh!!" The youth gagged and sputtered, trying to push himself up, but Malik's hand on the back of his neck was immovable, as if the First Squad Captain's grip were carved from the mountains themselves.

He twisted, writhed, even tried to snap his teeth around Malik's ankle in a last act of defiance, but his jaw would not close. It trembled, resisting his will, as though some unseen force kept it locked open.

The thought flashed through Robin's mind: What is this gulf between them? This one is supposedly at the peak of the Martial Emperor Realm… yet he can't even shake off my guard.

"Malik, step back. I want to hear what he has to say," Robin commanded, his tone flat, but the order undeniable.

"As you command."

Malik released his grip, stepping aside, though his eyes stayed fixed on the youth with the calm focus of a predator who could pounce at any moment.

"You… you filthy servant!!" the youth spat as he rose, massaging his neck. His face twisted with rage, and tears welled unbidden at the corners of his eyes. "Do you think you're strong because you caught me off guard? Do you have any idea who I am? You're already a dead man!!"

Robin simply stared at him for a long moment—long enough that the youth's chest began to heave with the weight of his own indignation. Finally, Robin raised an eyebrow. "Ohhh… you're one of my students."

The boy's complexion was tinged with a yellow undertone, his hair long and curled, his upper canines just a little too prominent. Yes, Robin remembered him. One of the brats he'd packed into the lecture hall and stripped of arrogance with nothing but his words. Most who endured that class walked away with a lesson or two… though clearly, not all of them appreciated the experience.

"Don't you dare call me your student, you worthless excuse for a teacher—fraud!!" The insult rang out, raw and unfiltered, drawing more eyes from the hall toward the growing commotion.

Robin's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Fraud, am I? And how exactly did I cheat you? I never took a single Pearl from you. I don't even know your name."

"You stole my time! You humiliated me in front of others, hiding behind your authority as a teacher so I couldn't talk back!!" The youth's voice cracked, and he jabbed a shaking finger toward Robin. "And now the heavens have punished you for your crimes!"

"Heh~" Robin chuckled quietly and returned his gaze to the mission wall. If Heaven's punishment meant enduring weaponized baths that tempered and strengthened the body… then may Heaven punish me again.

"His Majesty no longer wishes to hear your voice. Leave." Malik's words were calm but final. He reached forward, grabbed the youth by the shoulder, spun him around like a ragdoll, and delivered a sharp kick to his backside.

The youth stumbled forward, but his rage only flared hotter. "Damn you! I'll cut off that hand of yours, crush that leg of yours! I'll teach you what it means to lay a hand on a Zanier heir! You—servant! And your crippled master won't escape the consequences either!!!"

His rant grew more erratic as he stepped backward, pointing wildly at both Malik and Robin, his voice dragging more and more spectators into the moment.

Thud.

He backed straight into something—or someone. Before he could even turn, a quiet voice coiled into his ears like a blade dipped in oil, each syllable heavy with killing intent.

"If you point that finger at His Majesty again," the voice whispered, calm yet suffocating, "I'll make you eat it… then I'll make you spit it out… and eat it again."

The young man turned sharply, only to find Wade standing there—his eyes blazing like twin suns, radiating a piercing brilliance that felt as though it could burn straight through his soul. A wide, predatory grin spread across Wade's face, and for an instant, it seemed as if streams of blood were pouring from the youth's own body in a roaring crimson waterfall.

"Kiiiehh!!"

His voice cracked in startled terror as instinct took over. He jerked two quick steps to the side, putting distance between them, and without daring to look back, he sprinted straight for the door as if the floor beneath him were about to collapse.

Clap Clap

Malik's deliberate applause cut through the tension. Standing with calm authority, his eyes swept over the gathered students, sharp as a hawk's.

"The performance is over," he said, voice carrying a tone that brooked no argument. "Back to your tasks—now."

"Your Majesty," Wade's voice came low, quiet but cold enough to freeze bone. He stepped toward Robin with measured strides, the casualness in his tone only making his words more lethal. "Shall I bring you his head? I can make it… discreet."

Robin waved a hand lightly, his demeanor almost bored, as if brushing away an insignificant insect. "No need—just an overzealous youth venting his feelings." He was already losing interest in the matter. "What matters is this—can we depart for the Specter Valley now?"

"We can," Wade replied, but his voice dipped into a darker register. "Still, there are things you must understand first… that place is anything but simple."

"Are you afraid?" Robin's lips curved in a faint, amused smile.

"Pff—"

Latania's shoulders trembled as she stifled her laugh.

Wade's face twisted slightly, his pride bristling. "Afraid? Your Majesty, just give the order, and I'll storm the Interas Galaxy before nightfall."

Robin chuckled. "Then there's no reason to delay. Tell me about the place on our way there." He glanced sidelong at Wade. "You guys brought the coordinates and the gate-use permit, I assume?"

"Everything is ready." Wade's answer was firm.

"Good. Then let's make for the nearest space gate at once." Robin exhaled slowly, finally forcing his gaze away from the mission board on the wall. Those missions would have been ideal—perfect for honing the skills of the Imperial Guards while amassing an ocean of pearls—but they were reserved exclusively for the Academy's students.

Whoosh

Catching her Emperor's signal without a word, Latania shot forward, her presence like a streak of light. She extended her senses outward, reading the waves of space itself, scanning for the nearest gate. Upon finding it, she altered her trajectory and raced toward it in a straight, unwavering line. Wade and Malik moved into position on either flank—Wade clad in tight black leather, every movement radiating a predator's readiness, Malik in his flowing robe with a short staff balanced lightly in his grip.

Once the trio vanished beyond sight, the crowd of students gradually dispersed, returning to their routines. Yet a few hurried off with gleaming eyes, eager to report the incident to the Executive Authority—hoping to be the first to spread word of a high-profile scandal and earn valuable merit points.

Meanwhile, the troublemaker himself remained behind, standing not far from the mission building, his gaze locked on the horizon where Robin and his guards had disappeared. Hatred burned in his eyes—raw, unfiltered, consuming. Slowly, deliberately, he raised his wrist, activating his bracelet. "Call the boys. Bring every guard we've got. We're going on an urgent mission."

------

Whoosh

The wind roared in their ears as they cut through the open air at high speed. Robin leaned back slightly in his seat and glanced toward Wade. "You can speak as we travel."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The blond warrior dipped his head respectfully before continuing. "I paid fifty thousand pearls for the coordinates alone. Another fifty thousand for the permit to enter the planet that houses The Specter Valley. And that's not all—they demanded a prepayment of ten thousand pearls for every additional day we might spend there, and twenty thousand per day if we extend without paying upfront. I prepaid for five extra days… which brought the total to a hundred thousand pearls for entry—one guaranteed day, plus five more reserved in the same visit."

"What?!" Robin's voice spiked as he nearly sprang from his seat. "That's beyond outrageous! Is the Academy now in the business of bleeding dry anyone who dares to request something from them?"

Even Latania and Malik exchanged looks, their expressions hardening. A hundred thousand pearls for less than a week on a single planet? The price was obscene.

Wade's gaze grew colder, his words edged with steel. "It seems the planet falls under the jurisdiction of a sovereign authority. They're the ones who impose the fees."

Robin's brows drew together. "Even over Dawnlight Stellar Academy?"

"...Even them," Wade confirmed grimly.