Chapter 2329

2329 - Tyranny

“…Renara?” Zavarus furrowed his brows deeply.

“Which Renara?” Kiryān turned to Zavarus. “Is that the name of a powerful figure? One of the Ruler of Chaos’s disciples or something?”

Kiryān distinctly remembered hearing that name moments ago, but Robin’s words about her made him think she was someone else.

A declaration of war from two Behemoths backed by terrifying financial and technological power, all as a prelude to the arrival of that girl, Renara?

“It’s her!” Zavarus raised his voice slightly. “The girl who was supposed to die at the hands of that wretched Helen—there is no other known Renara!”

“She is different now.” Robin showed a wide smile. “She is the spearhead of our front, and I am confident she will live up to the weight of that title.”

“…?” Zavarus furrowed his brows deeply. “The All-seeing God did something to her… just as his rival did to Helmor?”

“Does the Cosmic Elder know about this?” Kiryān furrowed his brows deeply. A mere nameless girl is supposed to be stronger than the two of them?

As for Glacion, he sighed—he had witnessed everything firsthand.

"The All-seeing God?" Robin shook his head. "I did it. It's the head of my spear, and this front is my front, and my battle is my battle. Whoever wants to join will join me." Then he shrugged. "The Cosmic Elder agrees with my vision, but he's not the one giving orders and moving the pieces—I am."

Then he swept his gaze over them. "It's true that I started as a member of the All-seeing God's team, but now the All-seeing God might support me as part of my front. If he doesn't, that's fine too."

"Lord Robin," Zavarus narrowed his eyes sharply. "Do you realize what you're saying?"

Zavarus was genuinely worried… Had the power Lord Robin gained affected his mind?!

"What, do I seem too arrogant?" Robin chuckled, then suddenly turned serious. "If you believe me, good. If you don't, swallow it as it is."

"...?!" Kiryān and Zavarus furrowed their brows deeply.

"Gentlemen!" Glacion drew their attention, then looked at them with a deeply meaningful, almost threatening gaze. "Lord Robin doesn't mean to boast—he's speaking pure truth, mentioning it now so there's no conflict later, and you don't call for the Cosmic Elder's intervention whenever Lord Robin makes a decision you dislike..."

"...I had the honor of accompanying Lord Robin for some time and witnessed certain things. Believe me, Lord Robin is no one's subordinate. He may be an ally to some and a friend to others, but he is not a follower."

Kiryān furrowed his brows. "You have a silver tongue, Glacion, but the words 'believe me' coming from your mouth don't carry the weight you think they do."

"Then it doesn't matter if you don't believe me." Glacion raised his hands in surrender. "Lord Robin has taken control of the arena, and everyone knows his role. What's the problem with fighting and waiting? You're going to fight anyway, and in the worst-case scenario, you'll receive immense support from Lord Robin to halt the advance on your galaxy."

"..." Kiryān looked down for a moment, then nodded.

Indeed, there was nothing to lose from these preparations. Only Lord Robin himself would lose face when that girl appeared and was swept away like autumn leaves.

"..." Zavarus also nodded, then extended his hand toward Robin. "To a fruitful friendship, then, Lord Robin."

"..." Robin looked seriously at Zavarus's hand, then raised his eyes to meet his gaze again. "Friendship?"

"..." Zavarus withdrew his hand again. "What's wrong?" Then he turned to Glacion.

"About that..." Glacion rubbed his hands together awkwardly. "By alliance, I meant his alliance with the All-seeing God, and by friendship, I meant his personal friendship with the Cosmic Elder."

"Ah, I see..." Zavarus nodded a few times seriously, then turned angrily toward Robin. "So we're not worthy of the status?"

"Indeed." Robin nodded expressionlessly.

"You!!" Zavarus sprang to his feet. "A moment ago you spoke of repaying favors and giving me another chance, but now you treat me with arrogance and haughtiness? Even the Cosmic Elder didn't treat me this way when we met!!"

"He probably doesn't know who you are." Robin raised an eyebrow.

"You...!!!!" Zavarus felt extremely choked.

"..." Glacion sighed. Lord Robin was making his mission harder than it was supposed to be.

"Brother Zavarus, please calm down." Kiryān looked into Robin's eyes. "What do you want?"

"I want a small oath." Robin gestured with two fingers. "An oath that Glacion will swear and recite onto my personal tablets. And of course, you two will be able to amend it as long as the minimum conditions I set remain untouched." Then he continued, "Then we can fight side by side."

"Don't you trust us?" Kiryān gestured toward him. "We're literally at war with the other side!"

Robin shrugged. "And I accomplished the All-seeing God's first mission without even knowing it." Then he stared into Kiryān's eyes. "What guarantees me that everything happening isn't a trick or scheme by my enemies to infiltrate traitors into my ranks?"

"I assure you we are not!" Kiryān also stood up. "Haven't you read anything about my history?"

"Your assurance and your history—you can wipe your ass with them." Robin replied irritably. "I showed enough respect when I didn't ask you both to kneel. I won't back down from my right to demand the Oath, and I won't invest all that money, resources, and plans in people who are suspect."

Then he waved his hand. "What's the worst that could happen? You refuse the Oath? Go ahead, I'll start arming Sector 102 only after killing Darvion, and you two can go ahead and die however you like, or even join the Syndicate. Two more with the Syndicate isn't a big deal—I already know how many Behemoths the Syndicate can mobilize when needed." Then he pointed at Zavarus. "I came to give you a second chance, not to try to win your friendship!"

"....!!" Kiryān's eyes flashed with anger... that vulgar person!!

His instinctive reaction was to move his hand to draw his Spear and attack after that insult, but Robin's faint smile, which screamed at him: "Go ahead if you're a man," made him suppress that reaction.

Even Zavarus lifted his head in anger. "...Not even the Syndicate has tried to force us into a soul oath."