2299 - The Secret
"Ugh...!" Aru clutched his chest, feeling a general weakness in his body. He was forced to throw himself backward, only to find himself lying shoulder to shoulder with Richard, who was chuckling weakly.
Aru, who had been fighting Zargul for some time, making plans to neutralize him, and even begging the Shadow Swords to send him anyone who could help just to annoy him, felt a strange and intense humiliation. It could be said that his mind stopped working for a few moments.
As for Richard, he laughed at the sheer audacity of the words, but he wasn't surprised. He had heard far more audacious things before. This was the same man who had once cursed Helen and Renara to their faces when he was still just a saint and an ordinary Spirit Master!
"Sir!" The only one who knew Robin's power and took his words with complete seriousness was Glacion. "Do you intend to go and kill him yourself? That would be..."
He then furrowed his brows deeply.
He knew that Robin could kill Zargul. No matter what cards the old Behemoth had stored away, nothing would avail him against six Master Laws!
However...
"It would be what?" Robin sighed. "Beneath me? That I moved to kill just a Behemoth not famous for his strength?"
"Ugh!!"
Aru grabbed his chest with his other hand and cast a weak glance at Robin... What had happened to His Majesty? Had he gone mad from everything that was happening?!
"That's the reason." Glacion nodded. "When news spreads that you killed Zargul yourself, the word will travel fast, and your status will rise quickly. But later, when your true strength becomes known, everyone will see you as having bullied Zargul, using your power inappropriately. Then everyone will fear you, not respect you... That's a good outcome for someone like the Archon who runs an underground organization, but it's dangerous for someone who wants to rule and unify."
"……………?!?!?!?" Aru released his chest and sat back down with his brows deeply furrowed. "What's going on here? Are you talking about the same Zargul I know?!"
He had forgotten he hadn't breathed in a while, but the successive shocks made him forget the pain.
"….." Glacion turned toward Aru. "Isn't it a shame that you don't know your master's strength? On what basis do you fight for him, then?"
"The last time I heard anything about His Majesty's power was on the planet Azakra, when he swiftly fought several World Calamities, and I thought that was truly impressive!" Aru defended himself. "What's with you now, talking about him bullying Zargul the Sorcerer? What did I miss?"
Glacion gestured calmly toward Robin. "Your master could wipe the floor with him." Then he turned to Robin. "But I advise against that... Fear and intimidation work in the short term, but they are detrimental in the long run. If you asked any Behemoth or major power for their opinion on the Syndicate, they would say they want to annihilate it if given the chance. That does not suit someone who stands against Space Beasts and keeps the universe safe."
"..." Robin nodded a few times. "You've confirmed what I was thinking. I like your way of thinking, Glaci. If my nephew had been sound of mind, he would have been like you." Robin sighed.
"So... have you reconsidered your promise?" Glacion showed a hesitant smile. "It's fine. We'll pretend we never heard anything."
"No, I haven't reconsidered anything." Robin waved his hand. "Zargul will die soon, and not by my hand."
"Who else can kill a Behemoth besides you?!" Glacion raised his voice slightly. "Even another Behemoth can only defeat its peer or force it to flee. Only someone like the Destroyer or the Tyrant has a chance to kill another Behemoth!"
"..." Robin smiled and said nothing.
Then he turned toward Aru. "How are you now?"
"..."
"Hey, Bullhead, how are you now?" Robin snapped his fingers a few times in front of Aru's vacant eyes.
"Ah!" Aru snapped out of the daydream he had fallen into and replied hesitantly, "Yes... I'm fine... very fine."
He no longer recognized the person sitting before him...
When was the last time he had met him? Just a few centuries ago? In that time, he had reached a level of power that allowed him to speak of the Behemoths in such a manner?... What exactly was going on?!
And whose side was he working for, exactly?!
"You don't look well." Robin stared at Aru with eyes glowing faintly gold. "I was told you were suffering from accumulated negative Karma, but this is worse than I expected. Your physical condition is terrible. I can see the energy flow, and even your blood flow is constantly blocked. Heart palpitations, problems with energy absorption, and even digestion—these are the same ailments that kill mortal humans. Diseases that shouldn't afflict even an ordinary practitioner, let alone someone with a Triple Merged Law."
Then he furrowed his brows slightly. "Even your Spiritual Domain is in a pitiful state. Let me guess... nightmares, depression, lack of desire for anything, no sense of accomplishment. Perhaps you're even pondering the very reasons for existence."
“…Is all of this obvious? The situation is what it is.” Aru shrugged weakly with a faint smile. “There has to be a villain to keep the major powers in motion. In the case of The True Beginning, I am that villain… Some suffering is inevitable.”
“As long as you hold that in your mind, you will always remain in hell,” Robin then pointed at himself. “Everything you do serves my interests. Every disaster you cause is on my behalf. Do you think Karma is blind enough to let me off and strike you? I am the root of everything.”
“…..”
“Forget what you’re doing… The deeds of the Shadow Swords, my empire of The True Beginning and The Cradle, and the Imperial Guard—aren’t they all acting on my orders? What about the Spirit Society’s sales? I’ve sold my products to billions of people, and almost all of them are used for killing.” He then spread both hands. “Why do you think I’m still breathing?”
“….?” Aru furrowed his brows deeply, clear interest showing in his eyes. “Are you saying I’m doing something wrong?”
“Aru…” Robin stared seriously into Aru’s eyes. “Do you give to charity?”