Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1797 Morganaʼs Orders

”Consider it done.” Holak accepted the metal plate with a grave sense of responsibility, his expression firm and focused. His mind was already firing on all cylinders, constructing plans, branching possibilities, and outlining the very first steps needed to establish the Fifth Division... despite the fact that even the Fourth Division hadnʼt officially taken shape yet! It was as if receiving the plate had flipped a switch inside him, turning discipline and ambition into a single blazing drive.

”Iʼll be counting on you.” Robin nodded toward him with satisfaction before shifting his attention back to Jabba and Shaddad. ”The Body laws arenʼt directly tied to raw physical might - Iʼm aware of that - but it will nevertheless boost you in ways you may not even anticipate. His gaze locked specifically onto Shaddad. ”From the patterns you asked my help with earlier, itʼs clear youʼve been relying on several minor laws from this path to push forward. Now that you have the major one in your hands, I expect your progress will accelerate dramatically, right?”

”Like lightning-faster even!” Shaddad replied with explosive enthusiasm, completely forgetting every worry he had about moving to a new sector or taking on a leadership position. The excitement of advancement eclipsed everything else.

”Good. Study the laws thoroughly, understand every principle in it, then go over the points I highlighted for you earlier.” Robinʼs lips curled into a small smile. ”And of course, do all of this while youʼre in the Grave Empire establishing the city there. Understood?”

”Understood.” both men replied firmly, nodding in unison.

”Boss!” Holak lifted his hand sharply. ”May I convert some of my young men to be the first to operate that array? I want them to serve as the foundation for future divisions.”

”Hmm. Thatʼs acceptable - but they must halt before entering the direct threshold of a World Cataclysm. The same rule applies to you.” Robinʼs voice grew serious. ”We donʼt want corpses in the Guard, and we certainly donʼt want someone breaking through accidentally and causing chaos. Stay alongside Shaddad in the Grave Empire. Help him build the city and begin producing the arrays. I want at least ten completed, positioned in the most fortified points of the empire. And-and this is important-place Imperial Guards to supervise each location.”

”Understood.” Holak nodded, this time with a wide, determined smile that clearly showed he already had names and formations in mind.

Robin then turned toward Shaddad and pointed directly at him. ”Youʼll work with the Shadow Swords to bring you suitable candidates for array activation. Every single one of them must swear an oath not to leak information and to serve within the Imperial Army. And anyone who aims to become a World Cataclysm through the Body Path must swear an oath of loyalty to the Empire itself.”

His tone grew heavier, more authoritative. ”Shaddad, both you and Jabba still have a tremendous amount of development ahead of you. The comfortable era is over. The serious phase begins now. I expect to see the first Body-Path World Cataclysm emerge within my Empire within one century at most. Is that understood?”

”...” Shaddad stood silently for a moment, contemplating the magnitude of what he had just been handed, then finally nodded once with solemn resolve.

”Good, then.” Robin clapped once, his smile broad and full of genuine

anticipation. ”Iʼll be waiting for good news.”

Without another word, he turned his back to the wooden hangar and began walking toward the exit. ”Morgana, come.”

”Yes!!”

Among all the stunned faces- some locked in thought, some shaken, and some overwhelmed by the sheer amount of change - Morgana was the only one who responded instantly, her voice bright and enthusiastic as she darted after Robin with energetic steps.

A few quiet minutes passed after Morgana followed Robin out of the wooden hangar. The agonized screams of the volunteers, once echoing endlessly, had finally faded into complete silence.

Gradually, the familiar sounds returned - the playful shouting, the casual arguments, and the cheerful chatter of students moving toward the educational district, their voices weaving back into the daily rhythm of the academy as if the storm that had just occurred was nothing more than a passing shadow.

Robin, however, still did not utter a single word... his tightly drawn brows refused to ease even for a heartbeat throughout the entire walk, as if his mind were wrestling silently with a dozen unresolved thoughts.

”Morgana.” Robin finally cut through the heavy silence.

”Yes?” The girl reacted almost instantly. She quickened her pace, taking two light steps forward to close the gap between them, her expression tense as if bracing for instructions.

”Twenty years ago,” Robin began slowly, ”I told you to continue cooperating with the Academy-yet to reduce the amount of soul borrowings each year, gradually, until the supply eventually reached zero. The idea was simple: Althera would stop depending on you, and eventually leave you be. So... where do things stand now?” His eyes narrowed. ”Are you still supplying them with anything at all?”

”I followed your orders, of course.” Morganaʼs voice grew small, carrying a hint of guilt. ”But twenty years is a short time to completely sever a dependency that lasted ages. Right now, Iʼm providing the Academy with only forty percent of what I used to deliver annually.”

”A sixty-percent reduction in twenty years...” Robin nodded slowly, obvious satisfaction flickering across his expression. ”Did Althera complain? Say anything?”

Morgana answered immediately, as if she had been waiting for that question. ”Her Majesty the Monarch summoned me once and demanded that I increase the supply. But I told her I needed the soul borrowings to craft things for you, and that if she wanted more, she should speak to you directly. Since then, she hasnʼt brought it up again.” Morgana inhaled before continuing, ”From what Iʼve gathered, she recently formed partial contracts with three Royal Soul Masters -each of them now provides a yearly amount of borrowings. But even together they still donʼt cover the sixty percent I cut off. There are ongoing discussions about recruiting more, but nothing definite.”

Robin gave a faint smile. ”Partial contracts... and trying to get more random individuals? That will never sate the Academyʼs hunger. That bottomless pit cannot be filled with scraps.” Then he shrugged lightly. ”Still, thatʼs not our problem to worry about.”

”...Do you have any new instructions, Your Majesty?” Morgana asked quietly, almost cautiously.

Just moments ago, Robin had casually assigned Shaddad and Jabba to different Empires, each with monumental tasks-establishing immense forces, founding new research cities, and beginning long-term projects that could change the balance of the world. And with Holak, he just as casually agreed to create an entirely new division of the Black Wasps.

A short while ago, His Majesty hadnʼt even wanted to leave his apartment; Morgana had practically forced him out to breathe fresh air.

Yet within a single brief conversation, he had already reshaped the future paths of entire Empires.

And from the tone of his voice now... the day was clearly not over.

”The time has come,” Robin said, a mysterious edge in his voice. ”I intended to keep your identity hidden until the very last century. Your reappearance would shake the balance of power within the Three Empires and draw far too many eyes. But after creating the Fifth Path, all of that is going to happen regardless. So why not throw everything to the wind?”

”I donʼt understand, Your Majesty,” Morgana asked softly. ”What exactly do you

need from me?”

Robin halted abruptly in the middle of the glittering marble corridor. He turned slowly, deliberately, to face his most loyal subordinate. ”Tell me honestly, Morgana... which do you prefer? Endless combat on the frontlines, or the life of

a teacher?”

”You gave me my life. Wherever you place me, that will be my place,” Morgana replied with unwavering conviction.

”Good” Robin lifted his hand in a mild gesture. ”Youʼll assist me in both fields.

But I always prefer placing each person where their talents shine brightest.”

Then his eyes locked onto hers, sharp and evaluating. ”You spent nearly one million years battling the owners of specter farms... and almost two full centuries teaching. Between the two, which path feels more like home to you?” ”... Teaching,” Morgana admitted quietly, her gaze falling to the floor. ”I love the calmness of the classrooms. I love the soft chatter of students after lectures. I love watching them grow in wisdom, strength, and character before my eyes. It feels... peaceful.”

”Thatʼs good.” Robin nodded firmly, approval warming his tone. ”Then prepare yourself, Morgana... to establish the True Beginning Empire Stellar Academy.”