Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1271 1271: Researchersʼ Homework

”The design is open source? Thatʼs incredible!” Zara exclaimed with excitement, her voice echoing with awe. ”And level 50 War Lords? That kind of power would surely tip the scales of any battlefield in our favor and bring swift victories!” Her enthusiasm faded slightly as a shadow of doubt crossed her face. ”But... why limit it to just level 50?”

”What do you mean by that?” Robin chuckled, his laughter deep and carefree. ”Anything beyond level 50 enters the domain of World Cataclysm — powers capable of shaking the very foundations of a planet. Are you seriously suggesting I build War Lords at that level of destruction... before I even fully comprehend what that realm truly means?”

”Before you comprehend?” Zara tilted her head, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. ”Father… donʼt tell me you still havenʼt discovered a path to breakthrough into the World Cataclysm realm?”

”Itʼs not as simple as you think,” Robin said, his tone shifting to something more grounded and thoughtful. ”What Iʼve learned so far is that the foundational levels as we know them will be completely obliterated upon entry into that realm. I also understand that there must be an external catalyst — a foreign element powerful enough to convert an energy core into what we call a power nucleus. Itʼs a profound transformation. I could easily spend centuries researching the various breakthrough theories, crafting a method from scratch... or, I could simply observe existing ways and seize one when the time is right.” He gave a confident shrug. ”And something tells me it wonʼt be long before Iʼm holding such a method in my hands.”

”Youʼre thinking of acquiring one?” Zara asked with concern. ”I inquired about it from the Nine Paths Empire. They told me such methods are rare and precious — treasures of immeasurable value. In return, they demanded literal tons of trade resources. I didnʼt dare proceed without speaking to you first.” Her brows knitted with unease.

”Ignore them.” Robinʼs voice turned sharp and clear. ”Itʼs obvious theyʼre trying to take advantage of us, knowing they currently hold a monopoly over our trade channels.” He rubbed his chin in thought. ”Actually, Iʼve been planning a little visit to the Middle Belt.”

”What?!” Zara shouted, visibly shocked. ”When are you going? Whoʼs accompanying you? Should I prepare Caesar and the others for deployment?”

”And what would I need them for — to guard me?” Robin laughed heartily, shaking his head. ”I have a mission, and I believe that venturing into the Middle Belt might accelerate my progress. Who knows what Iʼll find there.” He waved a dismissive hand. ”But for now, letʼs stay focused on why I summoned you.”

He handed her another glowing tablet. ”Contained here are several advanced methodologies for upgrading the militaryʼs armor systems. Honestly, after seeing the equipment your Imperial Guard division developed, I hesitated to give you this — youʼre already exceeding expectations. Still, pass it on to your design teams. It might ignite new innovations for the future.”

”And this one...” Robin passed her another tablet, this time with greater care and gravity. ”This is, without a doubt, the most daring and ambitious concept Iʼve conceived in recent years. Its realization will require significant cooperation from Sky Opening City and its resources. But if we succeed... I truly believe it will reshape the very structure of our empire.”

Zara accepted the tablet with both hands, her expression a mix of awe and unease. ”What exactly is this?” she asked, already sensing the weight of its significance. Her fatherʼs ideas had a history of revolutionizing everything they touched — the soul technologies with Emily alone were enough to redefine their entire civilization.

”This is a blueprint for a multi-planetary communication network,” Robin declared, his voice steady and full of purpose. He pointed to the tablet with deliberate precision. ”If itʼs executed the way I envision, the need for physical messengers will vanish forever. Every citizen across the empireʼs countless worlds will be able to communicate seamlessly. Emily will be able to conduct meetings with every general from the comfort of her office. No more distance. No more delays. Our empire will truly become one unified domain — one voice, one land.”

”Thatʼs impossible!” Zara gasped, her face overtaken by disbelief. ”Weʼve been battling this problem for generations. Every attempt has failed. I even tried to purchase a solution from the Nine Paths Empire, and they mocked me. Told me that when we grow up, maybe weʼd figure it out. Even they havenʼt solved it — their only answer is that strange thing they call the Soul Society!”

”Maybe they donʼt have a solution, but thatʼs none of our concern,” Robin said with calm certainty, his voice laced with the quiet confidence of someone who had thought long and deeply about the matter.

Zara, however, appeared even more stunned than before. Her brow furrowed in disbelief, and she took a step closer, speaking slowly as if to make sense of her own thoughts.

”But how, Father? Each planet is surrounded by its own protective atmosphere — a shield against a nearly endless list of cosmic threats. That includes the vacuum of space itself! Out there, in that vast emptiness, thereʼs no air to carry sound, no medium through which fire can burn, and no soul frequency can travel unaided. And how long would it even take? Years? Centuries? Sadly, every planet is trapped within its own shell, cut off from the others. The only method weʼve ever had for interplanetary communication is through the use of space portals!”

As she spoke those final words, she noticed a peculiar smile slowly forming on Robinʼs face — the kind of smile he wore when someone unknowingly touched on a truth he had already mastered. Zaraʼs eyes narrowed with suspicion.

”Wait a second… what are you thinking?”

Robin chuckled heartily, the kind of laughter that comes not from mockery, but from deep satisfaction.

”Ha! It seems your time spent as head of Sky Opening City is finally sharpening your thinking. Yes, my daughter, youʼre absolutely right — the secret lies in the space portals. Only through them can a stable path be formed between distant worlds, a tunnel through which sound and soul waves can travel without decay.”

Zara, still skeptical, shook her head slowly.

”But Father, that idea isnʼt new. Weʼve known that for generations. Whenever we need to send an urgent message — or even broadcast a live event — we open a portal that connects to the destination planet. But even then, thereʼs still delay, because the portals were never designed for communication in the first place. Besides, itʼs wildly impractical! Who can afford the energy cost of keeping space portals open around the clock just to send messages? Thatʼs why we prefer to send a Shadow Sword.”

Robin raised his hand and gestured toward the sleek metallic tablet once more, his expression now carrying the weight of revelation.

”And that, my dear Zara, is why youʼre holding that tablet right now. The core of the idea is this: to construct small, compact space portals — miniature versions, if you will — on every inhabited planet. Picture them about the size of a large fruit, no larger than that. These tiny portals would be powered not by pearls, but by simple energy stones, or in worst-case scenarios, the liquid essence will be enough. Theyʼd be designed to remain continuously active, positioned securely in protected locations, always ready.”

His voice lowered slightly as he leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with both pride and anticipation.

”The space inside these mini-portals is formed using Fourth-stage of the major law of space. While they canʼt transport living beings, they can transmit small parcels, data cores, and — most importantly — encoded soul signals. Iʼve also embedded several layered inscriptions within the mini portalʼs structure, designed to isolate and amplify the soul resonance frequency of a bonded ring on another planet. The inscriptions gather the signal, enhance it, and launch it across the portal far faster than conventional methods.” He leaned back with a playful grin. ”So... what do you think? Isnʼt it brilliant?”

Zaraʼs eyes widened, not just from understanding but from awe. Seeing her father so animated — so driven by a new creation — stirred something deep in her. She smiled genuinely.

”Have you completed the entire design already?”

Robin scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

”Well… not entirely. What you have are the finalized schematics for the spatial component, along with the framework for the soul transmitter. What remains is up to your team: youʼll need to find appropriate construction materials, calibrate the runes, and troubleshoot any issues that arise during deployment. But after everything youʼve built these past few years, Iʼm confident itʼs well within your reach.”

Zara nodded with increasing enthusiasm, her smile growing wider by the second.

”If the spatial rune element is already completed, then consider the rest done. Weʼll handle the engineering and testing. Father... this might be one of the most revolutionary things youʼve ever designed. Communicating across planets — instantly, effortlessly, and from the comfort of oneʼs home — your citizens will feel as though theyʼve stepped into a dream.”

”Thatʼs the purpose of researchers, my dear,” Robin said with a hearty laugh, spreading his arms. Then his expression turned more serious, eyes locking with hers.

”And now... are you ready to receive your gift?”