Lord of the Truth

Shimmer! The golden glow returned to Robin's eyes, his sharp gaze meticulously scanning Caesar from head to toe. His piercing scrutiny made everyone in the war tent uneasy, their breaths unconsciously hitching as they observed in silence. Seconds stretched into what felt like hours before Robin finally deactivated his ability, exhaling slightly as he shook his head.

"I can't detect any changes in your body… but that makes sense. How could a living body possibly adapt to Death in the first place?!"

His words carried both confusion and intrigue, a rare combination coming from a man who had mastered countless laws and dissected their workings with unparalleled precision. Yet, this—this was something that even he couldn't comprehend.

Caesar glanced around briefly, noting the tension in the air before his gaze settled back on his father. There was a moment of hesitation before he finally asked, "What do you mean, Father?"

Robin's expression remained unreadable, but his voice was firm, carrying an underlying weight of disbelief.

"You surpassed the 7% threshold. That wasn't supposed to happen. Your body should have collapsed under the sheer pressure of the Death Law… And yet, somehow, you're still standing. That can only mean one thing—your body is adapting to it."

The silence that followed was thick with shock. Even the most battle-hardened warriors present exchanged uncertain glances.

Richard, however, merely chuckled and reached over to give his brother a hearty pat on the shoulder. His casual demeanor stood in stark contrast to the tension that filled the room.

"Isn't that normal, Father? My big brother uses it all the time— maybe he's just getting used to it."

Robin's gaze snapped toward him, his golden eyes narrowing. "Getting used to it? This isn't some new cooking recipe that you dislike at first but eventually grow to enjoy!"

His frown deepened as he turned his attention back to Caesar. "When you used that 10% for the first time… Did anything happen? Did you feel any changes in your body? Any warning signs?"

Caesar frowned slightly, recalling the moment of the battle. His mind sifted through the chaos, piecing together fragmented memories.

"…I don't remember much. I blacked out for a few seconds, and when I came to, Marshal Sirbal was already dead, and then I went to help Sakaar."

Robin's expression darkened, his mind racing through possible explanations. His gaze dropped slightly, and his fingers rhythmically tapped against the wooden table as he processed this new information. The weight of uncertainty was not something he was accustomed to—he had always prided himself on knowing, on understanding.

Finally, after a few long seconds, he exhaled, his voice carrying an edge of frustration, "I don't know what to say—I have no idea what's happening to you. This isn't something logical that I can analyze or explain. Unfortunately, if you choose to continue using the Death Flame, you'll have to figure this out on your own."

His golden eyes locked onto his son's, their intensity unwavering.

"But my offer still stands. If you want to extract the Death Law from your foundations and replace it with another, it's possible. You'll suffer for a few years during the transition, but after that, you'll be free from this unpredictable risk."

Caesar swallowed, his thoughts swirling, but there was no hesitation in his response. His voice was steady, unwavering in conviction.

"The Death Flame Merged Law was your gift to me. It gave me my strength, my position, my very identity. It has become a part of who I am. I won't abandon it now."

Robin's sharp golden eyes studied him, searching for any trace of doubt. There was none.

After a long pause, he finally sighed. He reached out and lightly tapped the table, signaling a shift in focus. "Alright then. Now, what do we have here?"

The table was covered with a massive blueprint—a meticulously detailed map of the future Imperial Capital. The design was nothing short of grand, featuring multiple colossal walls, each layer built for both defense and splendor. The innermost wall enclosed only the Imperial Palace and its vast, carefully curated gardens.

"Nothing major, Father." Caesar let out a long breath, pushing aside the thoughts of the Death Flame for now. "We were just discussing ways to accelerate construction in time for the coronation ceremony."

Robin raised an eyebrow before letting out a short chuckle. "The coronation ceremony? Who has time for that?"

Billy, who had been silently reviewing the reports Caesar had handed him, finally placed them back onto the table with a composed expression. His voice was calm yet carried undeniable authority.

"I'm afraid I'm siding with your son this time." His tone was respectful, yet firm. "You need a grand ceremony and a massive military parade. In fact, I'd even suggest expanding the city's scale further."

Robin laughed, shaking his head in amusement. "Bigger than this? It's already nearly the size of Hope City. Once completed, it can house five million people with ease!"

His golden gaze flickered with curiosity as he turned back toward Caesar, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

"What exactly is going on?"

"Nothing too significant." Caesar took two steps forward, grabbed a stack of reports, and placed one directly in front of Robin.

"This is from Planet R-1. The negotiations that Aro initiated are still at a standstill. The arrival of Old Gu, along with King Volpe and King Shamshon, managed to prolong the discussions and stop further wars for the moment, but that's about it. According to their accounts, a battle was about to break out between the locals and Alexander's forces upon their arrival, nothing truly progressed after that."

Robin furrowed his brows. "Why is this dragging on for so long?"

Caesar scoffed, "They want us to completely withdraw from the planet while establishing 'friendly' relations." He let out a sharp huff before tossing another report onto the table.

"This one's from Planet R-2. Peon reports that the locals are highly skilled craftsmen, excelling in manufacturing unique weaponry. They have developed their own underground escape networks, allowing them to disappear at will—which explains how they've managed to survive so far. Allegedly, they want peace as well, but their list of demands is extensive. In addition, they've practically encircled our army there. A battle could erupt at any moment."

Robin's brows knitted tighter. "Then why are YOU here?" His eyes shifted toward Peon.

"That's exactly what I've been saying!" Caesar threw his hands up in frustration.

Peon waved dismissively. "The locals won't make any moves until negotiations completely collapse. Besides, their leader and his son are both here with me— what could they possibly do?"

Caesar locked eyes with Peon for a brief moment before sighing and placing a third report on the table.

"This is from Planet R-3. General Elizabeth successfully eradicated the remnants of the Great Serpent Army and destroyed nearly half of the native forces, capturing both their queen and her granddaughter. However, the remaining forces have scattered across the planet and continue to cause persistent trouble while being hunted down. There is no hope for a peaceful resolution in sight."

Robin's expression darkened as he picked up this particular report, visibly intrigued. "...Elizabeth did all that?"

Théo, ever calm and measured, finally spoke up. "According to firsthand accounts from the Shadow Swords stationed there, she had every reason to act as she did."

His voice held a solemn undertone as he continued, "The Shadow Swords suffered severe losses in the Battle of Hope City— many of our finest perished, including my right hand, Charles Burton. Despite this, I have gathered every surviving Shadow Sword I could and deployed them to Planet R-3."

Robin's fingers slowly rubbed the bridge of his nose as he processed the news. "Heh~ So Charles is gone…"

A moment of silence settled over the room. Charles had played a crucial role in the war. It was thanks to his timely intervention —alongside thousands of valiant Shadow Swords— that the Demon Emperors and four Warlords had been rescued and transported to the Dome.

Without the Demon Emperors, Sakaar and Caesar wouldn't have been able to hold the skies. Without the Warlords, Richard wouldn't have been able to defend the ground. Without Charles' heroic sacrifice, the entire battlefield would have collapsed.

Robin extended a finger and pointed at the courtyard of the Imperial Palace on the map. "Here. I want a memorial built for Charles and every Shadow Sword who fell in that battle."

Théo bowed slightly, gratitude evident in his expression. "Thank you, Father. Their families and comrades will deeply appreciate this honor."

A tribute from the Emperor himself— this was the highest recognition a soldier could receive.

With a decisive thud, Caesar placed another report on the table. "Here's Planet R-4, also known as Planet Gudah."

His tone carried an unmistakable hint of irritation. "While Volpe and Shamshon remain obedient, the common folk see us as nothing more than a convenient marketplace. Instead of viewing this as a relationship of subjugation they should be grateful for, they've started treating our traders as mere merchants—as if they're simply buying everything with their own money. There is no respect for the Empire."

General Victoria raised an eyebrow. "…But they are buying everything with their own money."

Caesar exhaled sharply. "Because we allow them to!" He gestured toward the report, "We only treat them this way because Father told us to, not because they are equal to us, they need to know this and show the respect due, or if father willed, we can just take everything we want."

Then he appeared to remember something and looked eyes with Robin, "Oh, and by the way, Devos The Transcendent has finally crawled out of his den."