Lord of the Truth-Chapter 1125: Orders

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Robin nodded a few times, his expression unreadable, his piercing gaze scanning the room. "I don't see any major issues with this proposal. Does anyone have any adjustments to make to your Supreme General's plan?"

The room remained silent for a moment, tension hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break. Then, General Martin raised his hand, his expression firm and unyielding. "I don't mind separating the military from governance; in fact, I can see the benefits of such a system. However, we cannot afford to completely remove our military presence from these planets. We must establish military cities and massive training centers across all colonized planets to ensure that our forces remain vigilant and ready to defend them at a moment's notice. Without a structured military presence, we leave ourselves vulnerable to rebellion, external invasion, and even internal power struggles."

Caesar lowered his gaze slightly, deep in thought, his brows knitting together. He tapped his fingers on the table before nodding. "...That doesn't contradict my plan. We can incorporate this into the structure I suggested. Military cities can be maintained, but they should also serve an additional purpose. We can allow civilians and children to visit these cities on designated days, creating a sense of connection between the people and their protectors. If we can intertwine the military with daily life in a way that fosters admiration rather than fear, we can ensure long-term stability."

"Alright, but let's not go overboard with this soft approach. The only planet that truly requires this level of careful handling is Jura. We must still enforce our laws and maintain order through strength—not through sentimentality." Richard, arms crossed, did not seem particularly fond of Caesar's idealistic vision. His voice was sharp, laced with skepticism. "Empires are built on power, not on goodwill. If we start letting our grip loosen, we invite defiance."

Robin, observing the debate unfold, gestured towards Caesar. "Your brother is talking about a long-term strategy—something that will yield results not today, not tomorrow, but over the course of decades. Stability isn't achieved overnight."

Richard scoffed, shaking his head. "Fine, but what happens until it yields results?" He motioned towards the countless reports scattered across the table, the weight of their implications pressing down on everyone in the room. "Are we supposed to ask these planets, these rebellious factions, to sit quietly and wait until love and patriotism magically fill the air? Until they suddenly decide they want to be part of our empire? That's wishful thinking."

"Heh, he's got a point." Robin chuckled softly, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

Caesar let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed his forehead, as if battling a headache. "Fine, I understand his concern. I acknowledge that force will be necessary—this time. But mark my words: as time passes, as generations change, these incidents will become less frequent. We are at the beginning of an era. We must think beyond immediate solutions and consider the future we are shaping."

Robin nodded in agreement. "That sounds reasonable."

But Richard was unmoved. He shook his head, his voice firm. "You're fooling yourself if you think this is temporary. You'll need to use force two years from now, ten years from now, fifty years from now. There will always be those who resist. There will always be those who despise authority, who refuse to submit willingly. And those people—you know as well as I do—only understand one thing: violence. There will always be a portion of the population that needs to be crushed underfoot before they fall in line."

Robin's nodding continued, his expression unreadable. "That also has a ring of truth to it!"

"Would you get serious for once?!" Caesar nearly shouted, grinding his teeth in irritation as he glared at his father.

Robin simply looked at him with a satisfied smile, then scanned the entire room with his usual composed expression. Slowly, he stood up and took a step closer to Caesar, gently ruffling his son's dark hair before placing a firm hand on his head. His touch was both reassuring and dominant.

Then, he spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight:

"I understand how you all feel. For the first time since the founding of the True Beginning Empire, we no longer have any real enemies threatening our existence. And so, all of you —great warriors, seasoned generals— have started using your minds to think about these internal matters. Instead of strategies for war, you are discussing policies and governance. Instead of battle formations, you are debating the future of our administration. That, my dear generals, is actually a beautiful thing."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over them before his voice dropped lower, more serious.

"But… do not forget Pythor's warning just days ago. Do not forget that there are other planetary empires out there. Powerful ones. Ruthless ones. And if even one of them received the orders to attack us in this state of weakness— do you really believe they will hesitate to act?"

A heavy silence filled the room.

Caesar and Richard exchanged glances. Only they had been present at that meeting. The others had no idea what had been discussed that day.

Robin exhaled slowly, his voice deep and firm. "I don't know if Pythor's words were true at the time. But I do know this —I fought against a shard of their Overlord's soul. And—believe it or not—I won. Even though it was just a shard, that woman was an impatient, arrogant, and dangerously powerful being. If she has followers, if she has other empires at her will, then she will most likely send them to us."

He took another step forward, placing his other hand on Richard's head, then pressed both of their heads down slightly, his grip firm but not painful.

"While you two stand here arguing about how to deal with insignificant rabble, there are armies preparing to march against us. There are forces beyond our current understanding watching, waiting, and assessing us. The demons are the only ones taking this matter seriously, seaching through Nihari for corpses to get their army strong again— while the rest of you are here playing games!"

"....."

The entire room tensed.

For the first time, realization dawned on the generals' faces. None of them had been present during that fateful meeting.

This was the first time they heard about the potential looming threat hanging over their empire.

"Listen up, everyone. I will not spoil this period of peace for you, but do not sink too deeply into it." Robin finally spoke with a serious tone, his words cutting through the air like a blade. His usually relaxed demeanor had been replaced by one of absolute authority, and everyone in the room instinctively straightened their backs. "I will give you one month. Within this one month, all internal issues must be resolved one way or another! No delays, no excuses."

A heavy silence settled over the room as the weight of his words sank in. Then, without hesitation, he pulled out a scroll, swiftly writing something on its surface with decisive strokes before sealing it with his personal insignia. With a calculated motion, he tossed it onto the table, the scroll landing with a soft thud. "This is a direct decree from me. It can be used to summon Aro to intervene in any negotiations or disputes. If any race or some kind of power refuses to comply after his involvement—eliminate them immediately. No exceptions." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

After finishing his decree, Robin turned to Peon and Theo, his expression softening slightly. He placed a hand on each of their heads, ruffling their hair in a rare show of affection. "From this point forward, I entrust both of you to handle the empire's immediate affairs. Peon, you will take charge of strengthening the military in preparation for the inevitable war. Chief Research and Development Officer Zara will assist you in this task. The army must reach an unprecedented level of power—stronger than ever before."

His gaze then shifted toward Theo, his tone equally resolute. "Theo, your task is no less critical. You will oversee the recruitment and training of more Shadow Swords—enough to maintain absolute control over the 13 planets under our rule. I expect efficiency and discretion. The empire must be fortified from within as well as from without."

Then, with an air of solemnity, he turned toward Caesar. "Once this harsh month has passed and everything is settled for the short run, I expect you to begin implementing your long-term vision. Draft a list of potential planetary rulers and government structures. Build whatever cities you deem necessary and use our treasuries as you deem fit. You are responsible for shaping the future of the Empire." He paused momentarily, his eyes narrowing. "That is… if the empire has a future after the war that looms on the horizon."

Finally, Robin's piercing gaze fell upon Richard. "And you. Return immediately and continue refining Planet Jura as you were commanded. What are you doing here, lingering when there is work to be done?"

The four of them—Peon, Theo, Caesar, and Richard—exchanged glances before bowing their heads slightly in unison. "Understood!" Their voices rang out with conviction, their loyalty to Robin unwavering.

Robin then shifted his focus to the rest of the generals in the room. His gaze swept across them, lingering on each individual as if assessing their resolve. "All of you, listen well. The coming period will be a race against time. There is no room for hesitation. No room for failure. I am counting on you to support my children so that we may overcome this crisis together!"

"Understood!" The generals responded in perfect synchrony, their voices filled with unwavering determination. As one, they fell to one knee, bowing their heads in a sign of absolute loyalty and submission.

A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Robin's lips. He gave a small nod before reaching out to pick up the dossier on Planet Gudah from the table. "Handle the rest. I'll be taking this one."

"Where are you going?" Caesar asked swiftly, his eyes narrowing with concern.

Robin exhaled deeply, allowing a brief moment of weariness to surface in his otherwise unshakable demeanor. "I'm going to rest for a bit. I think I've earned it, don't you?" A hint of amusement laced his voice as he stretched his arms. "Call me when the time comes for the coronation. I'll be there."

Then, with a sudden whirr, a spatial rift cracked open beside him. The very fabric of reality trembled as space itself split apart. In the blink of an eye, Robin stepped through the shimmering void, disappearing without a trace.

For a brief moment, there was only silence.

Then, with an impressed nod, Raiden pointed at the fading remnants of the spatial rift and clapped his hands together slowly. "...His Excellency always has such dramatic entrances and exits. How does he do that?"

Billy scoffed, crossing his arms with a smug grin. "Hmph! It's in the blood of the Burton family~" His confidence was palpable as he leaned back in his chair, propping his feet up on the table. Unfortunately, his bravado was short-lived.

CRACK!

The chair beneath him gave way, sending him crashing unceremoniously to the ground.

A small chuckle escaped someone's lips.

Billy's head snapped up, eyes blazing with indignation. "Who laughed?! Who dared to laugh!?" His voice boomed through the room as he scanned the faces around him, daring someone to own up to it.

Meanwhile, Caesar took a deep breath before clapping his hands together firmly, refocusing the room. "Alright then, you've all heard the boss' orders. We will begin immediately—"

"Big brother." Richard's voice cut through the air, interrupting Caesar mid-sentence. His tone was calm, yet carried a sense of quiet finality. "I can't stay any longer. I'm heading back to continue refining Jura as Father commanded. But before I go, I have a small request."

Caesar turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Of course. What is it?"

Richard's usual half-lidded gaze met his brother's, a small smile playing on his lips. "Planet Jura—don't make any plans for it. Leave it to me. I will handle its problems in my own way." His voice was even, yet there was an undeniable certainty behind his words. "Alfred can remain as the planet's governor, and I'll send him instructions from time to time. But I don't want any interference."

Caesar's expression hardened slightly as he furrowed his brows. "Are you sure? Won't you be too busy refining the planet's spirit? Do you even have any administrative experience?"

Richard slowly opened his eyes, his gaze steady. His smile remained unwavering, "...I have my own methods."