2326 - The Difference
“…I think you're casting your nets too far, Lord Robin.” Kiryān turned toward Zavarus, then to Robin. “You've linked distant events to Helmor's emergence, as if he's part of some intrigue—but an intrigue for whom, and why? Perhaps he's simply someone fond of debts and control…”
Glacion and Zavarus listened intently, eager to hear the answer as well.
“…” But Robin looked away and began tapping on his couch. “Perhaps this is a bit obvious… I am a candidate of the All seeing God, and you likely know him—that entity who wages wars and sends people with golden limbs.”
“…” The three nodded; all major powers had deduced this by now.
Robin continued, “But what you don't know is that my first mission involved Zavarus and Helmor.”
“What?!” Zavarus shot to his feet.
“Sit, sit.” Robin gestured to him, then gathered his thoughts before going on. “According to his plan, he was orchestrating a battle between Renara of the Empire of Nine Paths and Helen, Helmor's fifth daughter of the First Tier—and you all at least know Helen.” Then he added calmly, “His plan was for Helen to kill Renara, and for Zavarus to intervene against Helen or the interests of the Destroyer Galaxy, prompting Helmor to retaliate with something… anything.”
“And why would I interfere in such a chaotic cosmic situation over the murder of a woman whose name I barely remember?” Zavarus furrowed his brows.
“Forget the current chaos.” Robin smiled at Zavarus. “If this scenario had happened a thousand years ago, and Renara had died at Helen’s hands, wouldn’t you have interfered?”
“A thousand years ago?” Zavarus looked down, then nodded. “…I wouldn’t have interfered, but my son Zarion would have undoubtedly used it as a pretext to do something.”
Zarion knew that Hedrick wanted the Displacement Gear, so he gathered five billion Pearl and went to the event just to annoy him. If Helen had killed one of their followers, even an indirect one, Zarion would have certainly tried to exploit the situation.
“This…” Zavarus began to sweat.
That Ancient Being had been playing this chord? He wanted to use his son to drag him into a Cosmic War?!
Even Kiryān and Glacion appeared awestruck.
“The mission would have been complete then; Zarion does something, so-and-so retaliates, troops move to such-and-such planet, then the Destroyer Galaxy responds by destroying interests on the open planet…” Robin shrugged. “The question here is: why did the All-seeing God choose you and Helmor specifically? …And why did He say that Nihari’s mission concerns His Adversary?”
Until recently, Robin thought the All-seeing God was lying about the Adversary, for Helen was not worthy of such a station.
But the more he matured, the clearer the picture became.
He had told Robin that succeeding in the mission would give him a boost against his Adversary, but he also told him that even if he failed, it was no problem, and he would find him another mission.
So, the mission would help, but it was not a matter of life or death.
What would help him against his Adversary by starting a Cosmic War between Zavarus and Helmor?
“……?” Zavarus sat up very slowly. Was he at the heart of all this?
Kiryān was greatly astonished. “That entity has an Adversary? Even we tremble at the mere mention of his titles…”
Indeed… his titles.
The All-seeing God, the All-Knowing God, the All-Capable God, and other such obvious titles, for no one knows his true name.
Even those titles, people fear to utter in their gatherings, and now Zavarus, Kiryān, and Glacion were all sitting tensely just from speaking about him!
It had reached the point where some powers began giving the All-seeing God titles other than those he gave himself, meaning random names that came to mind, but they were understood from context… Kiryān, for example, calls him Andrew!
"Hmm," Robin maintained his silence for a few moments in the face of that question. "As I see it, I don't know the name of the Adversary himself, but the All-seeing God undoubtedly has enemies."
"Are you saying Helmor is working for the enemy of the All-seeing God?!" Kiryān asked in a loud voice.
Robin turned to Zavarus. "Are you working for the enemy of the All-seeing God?"
"No!!" Zavarus shouted in terror.
Then Robin turned to Kiryān. "There's your answer."
"..." Kiryān looked down, overwhelmed by signs of anger and helplessness.
At that moment, Helmor and his sons were destroying his galaxy!!
"Lord Robin..." Zavarus asked quietly, but the questioning look on his face was directed in a strange manner. "Are you saying that an entity like the All-seeing God, or an enemy of his, is strengthening and supporting Helmor to do something?"
"Heheheheh," Robin turned slowly toward Zavarus and winked at him. "It's true that I'm the youngest among you, but I wasn't born yesterday, so why don't you ask your question directly?"
"....." Zavarus gathered his courage. "...What's the difference between the All-seeing God and his enemy? And what's the difference between you and Helmor?"
"Hmm, I like to picture myself as the good boy supporting the good side, but I think you deserve an explanation..." Robin scratched his head, then pointed at Glacion with a serious look. "You speak this time."
Glacion swallowed his saliva. Robin's gaze seemed to say to him: Make sure you don't mess this up this time, or I'll erase my impression of you.
Glacion took a second to look down and to his sides suspiciously, then his face suddenly brightened when he found an explanation. "Of course there are very important differences between Lord Robin and Helmor. Who would dare to lump the two together in one sentence?!"
Then he raised a finger. "First, Helmor has been openly supported by the Syndicate recently. Marlik's presence today and his clear threat to your majesties proves it, along with all the facilities and aid provided to Helmor. And of course, I don't need to tell you what the Syndicate is and what it does to the universe... What kind of person would it specifically support? The good side?"
"..." Kiryān and Zavarus nodded. That alone was answer enough.
"Second!" Glacion continued quickly. "Let's set Helmor and his allies aside. Who is Lord Robin's ally? It's the Cosmic Elder himself—the one who saved the universe, shaped our fair world's system, and protected life when Athena fled, before the Archon was even born. Without him, would we be talking here today? And would the Cosmic Elder support someone who wishes us harm?"
"..." Again, the two nodded.
"Thirdly, the conclusive evidence in my opinion!" Glacion furrowed his brows. "...is Lord Robin's mission itself."