Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2336 The lost one

Inside the Soul Society — Central Hall of Mid Sector 656

This was where everyone without a destination came; those who had no interest in finding a wife or joining an auction, those who didnʼt want to read their fortune or buy something from the shop, or simply those with free time who wanted to clear their minds, relax for a while, and meet new people without any particular purpose beyond passing the time in pleasant conversation.

Normally, the hall was fairly quiet. Even with millions of people present most of the time, almost everyone simply opened their Status Window and began searching for their next destination, browsing through countless opportunities and notifications, or casually spotted a man or woman wandering around aimlessly and struck up a quiet conversation, exchanging a few words before each continued on their own way... After all, anyone wealthy enough to enter the Soul Society wouldnʼt be some loud teenager eager to draw unnecessary attention to themselves or disturb everyone around them.

But today—

It was even quieter than usual, to the point where the unusual silence itself became the first thing anyone newly arriving would notice before paying attention to the people gathered throughout the hall.

*Whosh*

”...Whatʼs going on today?” One person suddenly appeared inside the hall through a Space Portal and immediately began looking around in confusion, instinctively slowing his pace as his eyes swept across the unusually subdued crowd.

Everyone had their brows furrowed and their Status Windows open. Those who werenʼt alone had gathered into small groups, some consisting of only two or three people while others were noticeably larger, and it was obvious they were all watching the same thing, their expressions ranging from disbelief to confusion as they quietly exchanged hushed remarks with one another...

”You finally got here? Come!” A man wearing a cat mask waved him over with obvious urgency. ”Look, look.”

”Hmm?” The newcomer walked over to the man with the cat mask and, after being granted permission, began viewing his Status Window, his expression gradually changing as the recording started playing before him. ”This is...?”

Bang! Bang!

It was a recording of a space war, featuring, in particular, a young man surrounded by numerous crimson-armored, horned warriors who attacked him relentlessly from every direction without giving him even the slightest opportunity to escape or retaliate.

Then, in the end, after being bullied for quite some time and gradually pushed into complete desperation, Krarak pierced his heart with one of its metallic tendrils, ending his life on the spot as the recording came to its brutal conclusion.

”Ouch!” The newcomer grimaced instinctively. ”That was brutal.” Then he looked at the man with the cat mask with a puzzled expression. ”You called me over just for this, Uncle? Iʼve seen you kill people in much worse ways, and you didnʼt seem nearly this interested back then.”

”Shh, idiot.” The man with the cat mask pointed toward the background of the recording without taking his eyes off the window. ”Look at them secretly eating flesh, and look over there at that blood technique. Donʼt keep staring at the dead kid.”

”Hmmm...” The newcomer scratched his head as he replayed parts of the recording several times, carefully examining the details his uncle had pointed out while trying to understand what was so unusual about them.

”Heh~” The man with the cat mask sighed helplessly. ”I didnʼt notice it either the first time I watched it, but the uploader says theyʼre Crimson Plagues with the strength of a Law Dominator.”

”What?!” the newcomer shouted before immediately examining the recording again from the very beginning, paying attention to every movement and every detail. ”Impossible!” His brows knitted tightly together. ”Since when have Plagues been organized and worn armor?! Theyʼve always fought like mindless monsters.”

”Thatʼs not all!” the man with the cat mask said quickly before the other could continue thinking. ”They say these troops belong to Lord Human. More specifically, theyʼre defending his personal galaxy in Young Sector 99, carrying out his orders as though they were a disciplined army!”

”Lord Human has his own galaxy in Young Sector 99?!” the newcomer exclaimed before pointing at the window in utter disbelief. ”And heʼs training Crimson Plagues to defend it?!”

”Mhm.” The man with the cat mask nodded seriously. ”Every news outlet across the universe is circulating this recording right now, heavily promoting both it and the information attached to it. Only the Soul Society hasnʼt posted any official announcements about it yet, but itʼs allowing people to watch it privately through their windows, just like weʼre doing now. Thatʼs spreading the recording at a terrifying rate, because people keep sharing it with one another instead of relying on public broadcasts.”

”Itʼs only natural they wouldnʼt approve it. Lord Human is currently their closest business partner...” The newcomer glanced around once more, finally understanding the reason behind all the gatherings and whispered conversations, as nearly every group appeared to be discussing the exact same recording while cautiously lowering their voices whenever someone unfamiliar approached.

”What do you think?” The man with the cat mask pointed at the window with knitted brows. ”Some people are openly cursing Lord Human for betraying the Cosmic Elder and everyoneʼs trust, while others see him as a hero who managed to subdue the Crimson Plague just as he promised. What should we do? Should we spread the news throughout the Empire, at least among the common people, or keep quiet about it and wait until everything becomes clearer?”

”I donʼt think this concerns us.” The young man began looking around cautiously before lowering his own voice as well. ”Lord Human possessing Crimson Plagues with the strength of a Law Dominator is certainly suspicious, but letʼs hope the Cosmic Elder already knows and is keeping watch. We wonʼt say another word about it or involve ourselves in something far beyond our position.” He then patted his uncleʼs shoulder a few times. ”Come on, come on. Close that thing and letʼs get out of here. I have a feeling weʼre being watched.”

Swoosh

The young man left, and a few seconds later, the old man let out a sigh and left as well.

”....” From afar, one person finally shifted his gaze away from the two of them, then moved it to another group for several minutes, then another, then another.

He was listening with extreme concentration.

Then, after maintaining that position for several hours, whoosh, he disappeared as well.

---------------------------

Mid Sector 250—

Someone opened his eyes, then stood up and began walking through enormous illuminated corridors lined with statues of legendary soldiers and heroes until he finally arrived before a gate, where more than forty people stood in a perfectly straight line.

He took his place among them and closed his eyes.

With every passing minute, one person emerged from inside while another entered, yet the line only continued to grow longer as more and more men and women joined it.

After nearly an hour, it was finally his turn.

Creak

The man gently pushed the door open and stepped into a quiet, brightly lit hall containing nothing but a desk and several reception chairs.

Behind that desk sat Qarun, and no one else.

”Mid Sector 656?” Qarun said, resting his chin against the back of his hand before giving a slight nod. ”...Speak.”

”Yes, sir.” The man bowed. ”The percentage of people praising Lord Human has reached seventy-seven percent, while the remainder showed obvious concern and exchanged skeptical questions.”

”Twenty-three percent skepticism? I expected less than that, especially in a sector this far removed from the center of the conflict...” Qarun nodded twice. ”What about the rate at which the Cosmic Elder was mentioned?”

”One hundred percent,” the bowing man answered clearly. ”Those praising Lord Human in taming the plague said the Cosmic Elder had supported Robin with his experience, while the skeptics said rather unpleasant things; that he had been deceived, or that after turning his attention toward women, he had changed his priorities to making money by helping Lord Human, along with remarks even worse than that... Some of them even started questioning the old stories.”

”Those are indeed unpleasant words...” Qarun began tapping the desk with his fingers before gesturing toward the door. ”Very well, you may leave. Get some rest, then return to your surveillance, and send in the next one.”

The man bowed deeply once again, then stepped backward, creak, and closed the door behind him.

As for Qarun, he smiled. ”The Cosmic Elder will be quite furious if he hears this, especially if someone starts funding those rumors to spread them even further.”

He continued tapping the desk with a finger glowing with brilliant golden light. ”I wonder when our dear lost-one will finally come out to defend his reputation. Heh~”