Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1957 I want her

Middle Sector 101 Space-

Inside one of the grandest and most heavily secured halls of Supremacy Note Gen-4, Richard stood motionless, his arms tightly crossed in front of a colossal, towering screen that dominated the room. Every line of his body was rigid, every muscle tense, as he waited patiently. The silence around him was profound, broken only by the faint hum of energy from the hallʼs machinery. He didnʼt flinch, didnʼt blink, merely counted the seconds in his mind, each tick heavy with anticipation, until finally, the screen would awaken on its own.

And then-whoozz- the massive screen flickered violently at first, the light rippling across its surface in chaotic waves, casting shadows that danced along Richardʼs stern features. Gradually, the ripples subsided, stabilizing into a crisp, clear image...

A young man appeared on the screen, his long black hair cascading past his shoulders in sleek, unyielding strands. He was clad in dark, almost obsidian armor that seemed to drink in the light around him, reflecting none of it, making him appear as though he were emerging from the shadows themselves. His eyes, sharp and penetrating, locked directly onto Richard, scanning him as if measuring his every thought, every hesitation. ”Whatʼs the matter, little brother?” the man asked, his voice calm but carrying a quiet weight, the kind that demanded attention. ”I was informed you wished to speak with me urgently.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Theo noticed another figure standing just behind Richard-a Shadow Sword in the official uniform of their order. A dark, unmistakable bruise marred the area around one of his eyes, vivid against his pale skin. Theoʼs gaze lingered on the man briefly, noting the tension and restraint in his posture, before returning to focus fully on Richard. ”Did you compensate him,” Theo asked, his tone flat and deliberate, ”or not?” Richard ran a hand through the back of his head, irritation clearly etched across his features. ”Iʼll compensate him from my own funds. I was a bit agitated, and he wasnʼt exactly cooperative-thatʼs all there is to it.” His voice, though controlled, carried a hint of frustration. Then, his expression hardened, lines of determination etching his face. ”Second brother... is what I heard true? About the Sparkling Serene?”

Theoʼs gaze remained steady, unshaken by Richardʼs sudden flare of emotion. ”What exactly did you hear?”

Richardʼs voice rose slightly, betraying the urgency that gripped him. ”I heard she was forcibly summoned to the Bright Galaxy! That she is being prepared to become some Lord Damirʼs bride-in exchange for protection, and to bring the war to an official end!”

Theoʼs reply was measured, almost dismissive in its calmness. ”Perhaps. And what does that have to do with you?”

Richardʼs hands clenched so tightly that the knuckles whitened. ”Second brother!!” he shouted, his voice echoing faintly against the metal walls of the hall. ”Are you really going to pretend you donʼt understand? Maybe I was a fool back then, maybe I didnʼt realize who was traveling beside me-but are you telling me you didnʼt know either?”

Theo tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. ”Perhaps I did. Once again-what does it have to do with you?” ”...?!”

Richardʼs eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the screen, the weight of the words settling into the pit of his chest. The room seemed to grow heavier, as if the very air waited for his response. ”Second brother,” he said slowly, carefully choosing each word, ”I am not a minor commander. I am not a mere agent. And I am certainly not your enemy. Speak to me honestly, as I speak to you, without any pretense.” ”Heh-” Theo let out a faint, almost amused sound, looking away for a moment as if observing something far beyond the screen. Shadows flickered across his face, and for an instant, he seemed lost in thought. Then, just as suddenly, he turned back to lock eyes with Richard, unwavering. ”As I recall, Theo began, his voice soft but precise, ”you were the one who chose to leave her side with your own two feet. You were the one who said goodbye that day. It was painfully clear-you had no intention whatsoever of meeting her again. Not ever.”

He paused, letting the words hang in the space between them, their weight pressing on Richardʼs chest. ”Decades have passed since that farewell. You never once tried to search for her. You never spoke her name to anyone. You never reminisced about your journey together, never even hinted at what the two of you shared. So tell me-why now?”

A faint crease formed between Theoʼs brows, unusual in its intensity, a subtle mixture of curiosity and mild reproach. ”Has the fruit finally become sweet, now that you see it in someone elseʼs hand?”

Richardʼs reaction was immediate and sharp. ”I-- I never saw her as something I could put my hands on!” he shot back, the words coming out too quickly, too heated. Then, realizing his tone was escalating once again, he forced himself to stop, taking a deep, deliberate breath. ”I left her that day for two reasons,” he said. ”The first... was her ambition. She wanted to wander the universe, searching for incurable cases, curing the impossible, and earning the title of the greatest doctor to ever live. And that was something I could never help her achieve- because my fate is bound to Planet Jura.” ”... And the second reason was that, even though I didnʼt truly know who she was, I knew-deep down-that she was exceptionally powerful, of an extraordinarily high lineage, and that her family would never accept someone like me. Someone who came from the Young Belt, from an empire that had barely been established a few centuries ago, an empire still finding its place in the cosmos.”

He lowered his gaze, his voice growing heavier. ”So I chose to sever the bond early, before it could deepen any further. I wanted her to continue her path freely, to pursue her ambitions without restraint, to find someone truly worthy of her standing and her future. I... didnʼt want to become an obstacle in the life of the girl who helped me avoid sinking into a swamp of hatred and self-destruction.” ”And what has changed?” Theo replied calmly, his tone steady and unprovoked. ”Everything youʼve said still applies. None of it has disappeared.” ”A lot has changed!” Richard shot back immediately. ”First, sheʼs no longer focusing on herself or her ambitions the way she once did-she was forcibly brought back to the Bright Galaxy against her will. Second...” Richard hesitated for a brief moment, then raised his voice, ”Second, Iʼm not just some stray dog or cat from the streets like I used to believe. I am the son of Lord Human!!” He added sharply, ”That has to carry weight when facing the Purity Behemoth

Kaylis!” ”Heh~” Theo let out a faint, almost amused chuckle. ”So you want Serene to be your wife instead of Lord Damir, the son of the Behemoth of Curses? Youʼve chosen quite the opponent for yourself...” ”I just want to help her... the same way she helped me back then,” Richard said quietly, his eyes fixed on the ground. ”I know the request is unreasonable. Our empire doesnʼt possess that level of power yet, and even if it did, it wouldnʼt be logical to provoke a conflict of that scale just for my sake. But...” He raised his head and met Theoʼs eyes. ”Arenʼt we already in direct opposition to the Behemoth of Curses by supporting Lord Hedrick?”

He waved his hand dismissively. ”Forget about me marrying Serene. Canʼt we at least sabotage her wedding to that Damir?” He struck his chest twice, forcefully. ”All I need is approval. Iʼll find a way to ruin the wedding myself. Just mediate with Father-make a small adjustment to the whatever plan you guys made, thatʼs all Iʼm asking!”

Theo stared at his brother for a long moment, his gaze lingering on eyes that wavered between cold determination and barely restrained madness.

Sabotaging a wedding between two Behemoths?

This wasnʼt childish bravado. He meant it-and worse, he had probably already devised a plan.

The confidence Richard had gained from his recent battles was evident, but it wasnʼt unfounded.

Although Richard hadnʼt broken through to the World Cataclysm realm and hadnʼt formed an energy core, the colossal amount of stolen life force he possessed more than compensated for it. Coupled with his exceptional genius, he had managed to master several fifth-grade offensive and defensive techniques of the Life Fire Law-techniques personally designed by his father and bestowed upon him long ago.

The result?

Richard was capable of wielding the fifth grade of the Life Fire Law.

Of course, the affinity serum would be exhausted the moment he unleashed even a single attack. But a fifth-grade strike, backed by such a vast reserve of life force, was typically more than enough to annihilate a target, to cause massive chaos, to draw every eye-especially at a wedding.

But was that enough to accomplish what he was truly planning?

Of course not.

It was a suicidal plan from start to finish. ”Heh~” Theo sighed softly again, a small laugh escaping him as he continued to stare into his brotherʼs eyes. ”Talk to your father yourself. Explain everything to him directly. I donʼt need to mediate-honestly, he might even be pleased.” ”...What do you mean?” Richard frowned deeply, confusion and tension tightening his features. ”Itʼs a small project heʼs been quietly betting on ever since he learned about the girl who was traveling with you.” Theo broke into a wide smile, then pointed straight at Richard. ”Say it out loud after me: I want Serene.” ”Huh?” Richardʼs face flushed crimson almost instantly. ”I donʼt want her like that. I just-” ”Man up!” Theo shouted sharply. ”...I want Serene.”