Chapter 2296

2296 - Coexistence

"...?" Arkail turned slightly toward Glacion. "Did you just compare Lord Robin to the Cosmic Elder and the Archon?" Then he showed a small smile. "Not even Marlik?"

"Marlik is not worthy of wiping his shoes." Glacion replied directly.

"...." Arkail frowned. "I have always preferred your sound judgment, Glacion. Perhaps Lord Robin prefers to remain hidden behind shadows of mystery for some reason, but you are astute enough to understand that to earn respect, you must show enough to warrant it." Arkail was addressing Robin indirectly. "You cannot be treated in a position like this just because you want it."

"Sooo..." Robin took another sip.

"Lord Robin does not intend to be arrogant or act mysteriously, Your Excellency." Glacion replied quickly. "Even before just today, I had sworn allegiance and subordination to the Grave Empire, but I did not know anything either. It was chance that led me today to see things I should not have seen, things that when I saw them, I understood why they were not told to me."

Then he furrowed his brows, as if witnessing the scene of the six Master Symbols alive before his very eyes. "I have seen a world different from everything I believed, and heard of things that were never meant to be among us." Then he pointed toward Robin. "I don't want to exaggerate, but saying that man is comparable to the Cosmic Elder and the Archon does not do him justice."

"……?" Arkail maintained eye contact with Glacion, but his expression turned slightly cold. It was clear that these words had crossed every boundary.

"Heh~" Glacion rested his head on his hand, feeling bound because he was not permitted to reveal anything with his own eyes, while at the same time feeling pity for Arkail, who did not know what he was doing.

Then he quickly opened his eyes and snapped his fingers. "There is something!!" Then he pointed toward the Gate they had come from. "That Gate—Lord Robin wanted you to see it, so it is not improper for me to speak of it… It is the Fifth-Level Spacetime. We came directly from Mid Sector 99, and with just one step, we were here!"

"What?!" Sahir sprang to his feet again.

Immediately, Robin shot him a sidelong glance. "….?"

“…Just a reflex, I wasn’t raising my voice at anyone in particular.” Sahir sat back down slowly, then his eyes darted swiftly toward the place they had come from.

Fifth Level?

The Fifth Level of any Master Law meant the ability to fight Behemoths, even the power to defeat them!

“…Is what he says true?” Arkail stared into Robin’s eyes, the coldness fading from his expression, replaced by a hint of awe. “You, as a Fifth-Level Truth Chosen as you claim, also possess Fifth-Level Spacetime?”

“Mm.” Robin nodded, seeming to thoroughly enjoy the drink.

Then he reached out, placed the empty cup in front of him, and nodded toward Glacion. “This is better than what Pitso makes. Well done, Glaci.”

“Thank you for the praise, my lord.” Glacion stood, bowed, then sat back down.

“Mm?” Arkail furrowed his brows slightly at the response. “Fifth Level of Truth, Fifth Level of Spacetime, and First Level of Creation… Was that enough to repel the Space Beasts Ancestor?”

“….” Glacion shook his head with a sigh.

As for Robin, he smiled. “Enough to repel Marlik and kill any Behemoth I wish to kill. Isn’t that enough?”

"The discussion with you is tiresome, Lord Robin." Arkail furrowed his brows. "...Not all Behemoths are alike to be killed so easily; some are stronger than they appear."

"Zero interest." Robin raised his hands. "I came to give you a gift for Asr, that's all, and after that, do as you please."

"Oh, what gift?" Arkail showed a slight smile.

In his view, the conversation had already ended... that Lord Robin was never as he had imagined.

He was not the peaceful researcher one could bargain with. It turned out that Theo and the people around him, for all their arrogance and entitlement, were more reasonable than him.

"Now back to the important matter." Robin showed a big smile, then his expression turned serious. "I, Robin Burton, grant you safety and complete autonomy over Middle Sector 96 forever, to manage it as you wish." Then he smiled. "That's all."

"...That's all?" Arkail showed a very faint smile. "You're giving me sovereignty over my own sector?"

"Hehe, you'll know in the future how valuable this promise is." Robin nodded, then slapped his thigh and stood up. "Alright then, we're done here."

"Oh, why the rush?" Arkail showed a displeased smile, then pointed toward the table in front of him. "There's still a full cup here; go ahead and drink it."

It was an insult for the host not to drink with his guest, and an even greater insult to boast about it to his guest's face... but it was Robin's own style that had brought this upon him—he was the one who started it!

"Hmph." Robin nodded, then reached out, took the cup meant for Arkail, and downed it in one gulp.

Gulp.

Gulp.

Then he tossed it aside.

But something strange happened.

The cup turned to dust midair, then transformed into something like a cloud, before disintegrating and vanishing entirely upon touching the ground... and on the spot where it fell, green grass began to sprout.

"...?!" Arkail furrowed his brow tightly at the sight.

"Listen, you old graybeard, you have two options regarding the Syndicate's squadron." Robin raised two fingers in front of Arkail. "First, take your soldiers and head to Middle Sector 95 immediately, and stop them from advancing further. Use all your sons and every soldier you have to destroy that ragged squadron, and join the fight yourself to stop any Guardians or Monarchs involved... If you do that, I'll give you the same promise for Middle Sector 95 as well—eternal sovereignty over it."

Then he lowered his other finger.

"Second, return to your galaxy now, and watch them cross your territories. Consider your war against Zargul as having ended in victory—he is already dead in my eyes… If you do this, I will hold no grudge against you, and my first promise will still stand. However, you will not leave the boundaries of this sector again, and you will pay me an annual tribute that I will determine in exchange for your sovereignty over the sector."

"What madness is this?!" Arkail shot to his feet.

"This madness is the New Cosmic Order." Robin stared into Arkail's eyes with defiance and seriousness. "Coexist with it, and you will live."

Then, after seconds of silence and heavy exchanged glances, Robin snapped his fingers toward Glacion and Richard.

"Let's go."

*Ring*

The Scale appeared, causing a small sphere that had been in Robin's hand to vanish, then transform into a massive energy that enveloped him.

Then he waved, and the same small Golden Door appeared. He entered it, followed by Richard, who was still sighing.

Then Glacion followed, leaning slightly toward Arkail and saying:

"Please… coexist."

Then he followed them inside the Golden Door.

*Silence*

"…?"

"Was that… the Balance?"