2295 - Changing the Subject
“…What do you want in return for that?”
“Hold on.” Arkail raised his right hand and then lowered it slowly, a strange smile appearing on his face. “You seemed serious and focused on your goal at first, so I didn’t want to interrupt you. But it ended with you accepting your condolences and giving me the spirit of the youth Aser.” He then looked directly into Robin’s eyes. “Now, set Aser and Aser’s problems aside, and explain to me what I just heard.”
Arkail spoke in a heavy tone: “Creation, Spacetime, what lies beyond the Wall of the End of the World, a nest of space beasts, an Ancestor… an Executioner? The Fifth Level of the Master Law of Truth? What exactly is going on here?”
“All trivial matters,” Robin tilted his head slightly, annoyance showing on his face. “The matter of Aser is more important to me. It’s the only reason I came—to offer you my condolences and compensation, that’s all.”
“What do you mean it’s the only reason?” Arkail furrowed his brows tightly. “What about the Syndicate’s squadron approaching us? Weren’t you planning to go out and coordinate on that?”
“The Syndicate’s squadron?” Robin nodded twice, looking into the distance. “Yes, the Shadow Swords wrote me a note about it before I came here.” He then turned his gaze back to Arkail’s face. “No, if it were just that matter, I wouldn’t have come—I wouldn’t have contacted you at all.”
“...?” Arkail furrowed his brows, merely staring at Robin's face without adding a word.
"What is this arrogance, you—" Sahir waved his hand vigorously and was about to add more.
But Glacion gently grasped his left hand and lowered it with a smile: "Easy... let them talk." Then he stepped forward, holding two drinks in his other hand, placed them on the table between Arkail and Robin, then turned back and began gently guiding Sahir toward the side seats next to Richard.
Robin completely ignored Sahir's words as if he hadn't heard a thing, slowly reaching out to take his cup before sitting back comfortably: "Why should I personally contact you regarding the Syndicate's army?" He then raised the cup and took a sip: "As partners, isn't it your duty to defend our shared interests?"
"I won't fight alone in a battle that isn't mine." Arkail furrowed his brows.
"You have the Shadow Swords to command as you wish; Theo has full authority to do whatever he deems appropriate with all my assets, and if necessary, he will contact me and ask for help." Robin gestured to Arkail with the hand holding the cup: "But you didn't."
"There are matters that exceed the authority of children, things we must discuss face to face." Arkail replied seriously.
"Who decides that?" Robin let out a faint chuckle. "It's me. I'm the one who says whether a matter requires my personal appearance or not."
"Is offering condolences for a boy I don't know more important than a Syndicate army of five thousand fleets?!" Arkail raised his voice slightly. "This conversation lacks logic!"
"My offering of condolences and compensation was for Aser, not for you. He was killed while fighting for my cause, and anyone who fights for me deserves at least this level of respect." Robin tilted his head slightly. "As for the Syndicate army and the war game between you and Zargul, none of it is worth my precious time... There are more important things."
"..." Arkail kept his gaze steady. "Things like fighting the Space Beasts Ancestor?"
"Higher," Robin clarified.
Arkail stared into Robin's eyes. "You'll have to explain further for me to understand what that thing is that's more important than directly fighting the Syndicate—the Syndicate led by Marlik the Butcher, and behind him, the Archon, a user of Causality at the Sixth Level."
"I have told you what you need to know to superficially understand the story of what happened to Aser and to appreciate the manner of his death... This is what you need to know as a father." Robin replied calmly, "And you have heard and seen enough from me to understand that I am capable of confronting Marlik and those above him if necessary... This is what you need to know as a declared partner."
Then a faint coldness appeared in his eyes: "Other than that, it is confidential information known only to my followers. If you wish to delve into the details, recite the oath and become one of them."
Richard shook his head and laughed: "Hehe~" This was undoubtedly his father.
"There are limits to arrogance and haughtiness!" Sahir stood up and waved angrily: "Who do you think is sitting before you?"
Robin turned to his side and pointed at Sahir with absolute authority: "This is the second time you have raised your voice in my presence, and there will not be a third." Then he returned his hands to rest on the armrests of his throne: "Do not let the fact that I once addressed you as Lord Sahir make you believe you have the right to speak to me in this manner, boy."
"Boy?!" Sahir muttered: "I am older than the planet you were born on!"
"...." Arkail raised his hand toward his son, signaling him to sit, then spoke while looking directly into Robin's eyes: "It's clear that Lord Robin did not come for understanding or to offer condolences, but to boast, belittle his partners, and turn the relationship into one of subservience." Then Arkail continued after a brief pause: "That will not happen."
"Hehehe." Robin chuckled and took another sip from his cup.
"Your Excellency!" Glacion finally spoke: "Please review the conversation log, and you'll see that everything was going well until you interrupted Lord Robin and started asking questions. I haven't known my lord for long, but I've noticed this is a trait he dislikes. Why not let him continue with what he wants to say, huh?"
"That's not how dialogues are conducted, Glacion." Arkail replied calmly: "I gave him enough attention and consideration by letting him finish the matter concerning the boy Aser. Am I supposed to remain silent until he decides to leave?"
"Your Excellency," Glacion looked into Arkail's eyes from the side: "Would you have tried to change the subject and ask questions if it were the Archon or the Cosmic Elder sitting before you?"
"...?"