Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1825 The discipleʼs advice

Peon remained intensely focused on the direction the bald man had taken, his gaze hardening, burning with a quiet, simmering hostility that spoke of both irritation and deep calculation.

When it came to wealth and influence, no one could compete with Interas or Morpheus. Yet only now did Peon realize that Interas could also rival Morpheus in another domain altogether-the realm of information. Knowledge, intelligence, the ability to track, observe, and predict movements across an entire cosmos: here lay a subtle, invisible dominance even more dangerous than brute strength.

Indeed, as a sprawling great empire that moved freely across an entire sector, the Cradle Empire had been penetrated repeatedly-almost ritualistically. Each year, small teams of humans, barely at the level of Saints or Sages, would descend into their midst. Their task was meticulous: to gather detailed intelligence on every single military movement, administrative operation, and strategic decision, and then vanish, leaving behind only whispers of their presence. And with them, they carried vast bundles of wealth, the spoils of their observation.

If this isnʼt an insult, what could possibly qualify as one?!

Yet no one dared lay a finger on Interasʼ envoys. How could they? Not even the most reckless Behemoths do it. Seemingly, all Behemoths had to be treated the same, if they wished to use the space portals scattered across their sector. The rules of engagement were clear: these emissaries were untouchable.

Of course, Interas granted them some gestures of courtesy-a portal or two left unmonitored, a nod to respect-but even with that, he still entered their galaxies, inspecting every other portal with surgical precision. Failure to do so could mean catastrophe; he would open the gates of hell if any loophole remained unchecked. And so, who was Peon to prevent him? Even he knew that attempting to block Interas would be nothing short of suicidal.

Still... one thing was certain: the protective measures around Nihari needed to be strengthened to levels unprecedented in the history of the empire. Anything less, and the carefully maintained balance of the last four hundred years could collapse into disaster. A misstep, a leak, a single flaw-and centuries of painstaking work would be lost.

Bzzz

”Hmm?” Peonʼs attention snapped toward the palace space portal, rarely functional yet suddenly humming with energy. A brief flicker of tension ran across his face before he relaxed slightly, settling his posture. ”Brother Jabba, I see youʼve returned a little early... more than usual, in fact.”

”...?” Jabba, stepping through the portal, paused and glanced left and right, ensuring that no one else was present besides Peon and the administrators. Once satisfied, he exhaled softly, a faint sigh of relief escaping him. ”Has the bald guy left already?”

”He has,” Peon nodded curtly. ”But why are you back so early? Did something happen on the battlefield?”

Today had been slated for a monumental test-the soldiers who had trained in the mastery of physical strength for fifteen years were to be deployed and observed in a controlled operation. This was no ordinary exercise; it was a culmination of a decade and a half of planning, training, and preparation. Jaba would have attended, undoubtedly, if it werenʼt for the unanticipated arrival of Interasʼ delegates today, a complication that had demanded immediate attention.

”Everything is proceeding perfectly,” Jabba said, grinning broadly as he walked closer. ”The regressed replacement operation has been completed, and the enemy army is now being swept from the planet systematically. Their forces are disorganized, and morale is collapsing under the coordinated strikes of our troops.”

”Haha, thatʼs incredible!” Peonʼs lips curved into a subtle, approving smile, though his eyes remained sharp, scanning for unseen variables.

”Finally, some good news after all this time!” one of the administrators muttered under his breath.

”General, letʼs move, under your command, the special forces will begin the full sweep of the planet. No one should remain to resist.”

”All right, letʼs go,” Peon responded, exhaling deeply. He began advancing toward the portal with his contingent, the disciplined formation of his troops reflecting both preparation and purpose.

”Wait!” Jabbaʼs hand shot out, grasping Peonʼs arm before he could step through. Then he gestured to the others. ”You all go ahead. I want to have a word with Brother Peon first, alone.”

”...” Peon studied Jaba for a moment, weighing his tone and intent, before signaling his followers to continue through the portal.

BZZZ....

The portal sealed behind them, and Peon finally allowed himself to relax slightly. ”What is it that you want?” he asked, his voice measured, yet carrying the weight of command.

”Come, come. Thereʼs no need to rush,” Jaba said, motioning toward a wooden guest pavilion built adjacent to the palace portal. ”Iʼll leave you enough time to catch the next regressed replacement without worry.” He guided Peon gently toward the pavilion. ”There are matters I wanted to discuss with Caesar himself, but I found him too tense to speak with. He wouldnʼt loosen up for a single conversation.”

Once they arrived, Jaba sank comfortably into one of the chairs, the seat framed by carefully cultivated flowers and flowing water channels. He gestured for Peon to sit opposite him. ”Honestly, I donʼt know when Iʼll have another moment like this, as I will enter a seclusion soon. So itʼs better I speak to you first, while the opportunity exists.”

”A seclusion?” Peon settled himself calmly, though a faint, amused smile touched his lips. ”Didnʼt you sleep for five hundred years already?”

”...This seclusion will be specifically to catch up on everything Iʼve missed,” Jabba said slowly, his voice carrying a mixture of determination and fatigue. ”I still need to carefully choose a proper law,” he added with a long sigh, his fingers brushing through his hair as if trying to untangle his thoughts. ”Originally, I planned to select a merged law and request the Masterʼs assistance in creating it. But, to be honest, I felt deeply embarrassed after witnessing Sister Zara craft the Living Shaping Merged Law herself. It made me realize how far behind I might be if I rely on help alone.”

He shook his head slightly and continued, ”So, over the coming months, I will focus on laying the foundational pillars for the Sky Opening City branch to grow. Iʼll establish the guidance and structure, letting them gradually begin relying on themselves. Only after that will I allow myself some solitude, to step back and find my own path, my own direction, free from interference.”

”If thatʼs what you want,” Peon replied, his tone calm, almost indifferent. His eyes, however, revealed quiet vigilance. They had fought without Jabba for centuries and would not suddenly miss his presence now. ”But what exactly do you want to discuss with me? Whatʼs so urgent that you pulled me away?” Jabbaʼs eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked directly, ”What do you know about the Radiant Torrent Millennium Empire?”

Peon raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the abruptness of the question. ”Hmm? The Millennium Empire that attacked us in Young Sector 100?” he replied. ”I know they made the gravest mistakes of their lives.” ”Hmm, I wonʼt argue with that,” Jabba said, nodding deliberately. ”The First and Second Armies in Young Sector 100 abandoned everything else and united solely to confront the Millennium Radiant Torrent Empire over the last several decades. Because of that, we managed to seize more than 300 of their planets and completely obliterate 20 others. Their losses have been catastrophic.” Peon shook his head slowly, a slight smirk forming despite the gravity of the conversation. ”...I still donʼt understand why youʼre bringing this up. Are you worried about our losses against them?” he asked. ”So far, the losses are minimal, almost symbolic. Theyʼve only been able to drop a few thousand troops from the Flood ships, and every time they attempt to attack our lands, Uncle Billy intercepts them like a hawk, tearing through their formations. They are attempting to fight an army capable of sweeping across the entire Young Sector Belt. They have no idea what theyʼve stepped into.”

Jabbaʼs expression softened, his gaze lingering on the distance as he spoke quietly. ”No, itʼs not about our losses. In truth, their aggression actually benefits us. As we fight them, we collect planets faster. Once their armies are expelled, those planets are immediately ready to join us, without the need to worry about the locals. They essentially pave the way for expansion.”

He paused, allowing his words to hang in the air, the silence thick and tense. ”... But donʼt you see that this isnʼt necessarily beneficial in the long run?” Peonʼs frown deepened, his eyes sharp. ”...The Millennium Radiant Torrent Empire has roots extending over 470,000 years. They have Overlords in Mid Sector 100, at least one, and surly other connections with other empires in the Middle Belt, whether direct or indirect. Waging war against them is equivalent to broadcasting the name of the True Beginning Empire and revealing their armament systems to the entire Middle Belt. This war will inevitably tie them to us. It wonʼt be surprising if the words ”True Beginningʼ echo across the sectors after this. Every power with interests in the Young Sector will watch them, conspire against them...”

Peon clenched his jaw, his thoughts spinning with concern. He had heard something similar before, a whisper of a truth that no one was supposed to know. This empireʼs roots were ancient, and now, just by discussing it, secrets

could slip into the wrong cars.

”I understand,” Peon finally said, nodding slowly. ”But should we just let them attack us? They were the ones who started this conflict in the first place.”

Jabba leaned forward, his eyes sharp with urgency. ”I believe there are other ways to handle this. Why not locate their Overlord and settle the matter directly? Or strike at their capital with a single, precise assault, destroy it, and withdraw as a show of force? There are multiple ways to halt this war. Capturing 300 of their planets was already a significant punishment. They still have approximately three thousand left. How long do you intend this war to

drag on?”

Peonʼs eyes flickered with thought as he considered the options. ”...Shouldnʼt this be Shadow Swordsʼ responsibility? Detecting potential threats and advising us? Why is it you who noticed this first? And what has happened to Shadow Swords recently, that such a responsibility fell to you?”

Jabba hesitated, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee. ”...Perhaps they are occupied with something else?”