2346 - The Goal
"You're saying you'll make me stronger than Marlik?" Hedrick raised his eyebrows slightly. "Do you even know who Marlik is? The Butcher, before whom all the Behemoths stand respectfully. Even the Father himself used to go greet him at The Gate whenever he came to visit. You mean that Marlik?"
"You need to move past these questions. When I speak of something, I want you to consider it an absolute truth and act accordingly," Robin replied impatiently. "Consider that I know Marlik's power. I know it well, and I will make you stronger than him. I will also elevate your status above his across The Universe."
"..." Hedrick furrowed his brows. "But Marlik—"
"Hedrick!!" Robin raised his voice. "Yes or no? I don't want to get into more side conversations. I want you to say clearly that you refuse, and I'll leave immediately."
Then he continued seriously, "Then you can continue your Breakthrough as you please, and when you emerge after 105 years, you can do whatever you see fit. I don't need a known response from you for anything... My Support for you has increased the Shadow Swords' experience, solidified their standing, and elevated me to a position higher than just a researcher. Additionally, your presence has helped The Cradle and the Grave, directly or indirectly, for a long time. Your debt has been repaid."
He then pointed toward him. "Your answer now will either open a new door for you or close an old chapter forever. Think of nothing else."
"……." Hedrick narrowed his eyes and maintained his silence.
He could see them… see the impatience in Robin's words, see the lack of need, see the strange look of pity.
He could even see a faint energy and manipulated patterns along his entire projection—patterns unrelated to hostility; they would most likely help him leave… This readiness meant he would depart before Hedrick could utter a single word of outright rejection.
Why…
Why would someone like him abandon his closest ally in such a manner?
From the moment he appeared, he hadn't even tried to win him over with gifts and promises. He hadn't attempted to increase the level of cooperation, for instance. He had come to seriously sever the relationship and gave that offer at the end merely as a way to conclude the conversation.
"You said I should consider every word of yours as true. Fine, then tell me… If I refuse," Hedrick raised his head slightly, "won't you lose your lab rat?" Then he smiled. "Perhaps you're burning with eagerness now to uncover the secrets of this *Weapon*? Or will you simply not accept refusal regardless?"
"Don't play this game with me, Hedrick." Robin shook his head. "First, if I wanted you by my side as a weapon, I could simply kill Drais outside and take your body for study. Even if you triggered your Breakthrough and tried to resist, I would kill you or imprison your soul. It's easier than you imagine, but I won't do that to an old ally."
Then he waved his hand. "Even Arkail—I gave him a similar offer, and he's over there thinking about it. But if he refuses, that's fine. I've granted him safety over his sector forever. The reason is that his son died fighting in my path... I don't mistreat my supporters, as I said. I just recalibrate things to their true scale."
Then he waved again. "If you don't join me, I won't harm you. And even if you do join me, I won't keep you by my side running experiments. Do you know why?" Robin chuckled. "Because I have your brother Hadras and your sister Helen in a half-dead, incurable state. Both are extremely talented. Hadras was already a Guardian, and the Heavenly Law got rid of him and expelled him with his first injury. The second is said to be the greatest talent in the family, according to rumors. Surely one of them has what you have, or more."
"Hadras and Helen?!" Hedrick raised his voice. "Hadras died in the Civil War, and Helen is still fighting under my banner in Middle 101! You... what nonsense are you spouting? What have you done?!"
"Shhh—" Robin raised a hand. "I told you, everything I say is the truth." Then he placed his hands behind his back. "Now, speak the word."
*Shhh—*
"…" Hedrick felt as if time had stopped, yet the world was racing forward at a terrifying speed at the same time.
The threads touching his robe and tearing it no longer elicited any reaction. His eyes were fixed on Robin—on his expressions and his words.
"…Your words have nothing to do with Logic. Every word you've spoken and every insult you've hurled feels like part of some strange nightmare," Hedrick said quietly. "But at the same time… I feel like I'll miss something if I refuse."
"Oh, you'll miss a great deal, no doubt." Robin chuckled.
"…" Hedrick stared into Robin's mocking eyes. "I agree."
"…?!" Robin's expression shifted instantly from indifference to clear shock. "You what?!"
"You said you'd make me as strong as Marlik." Hedrick hesitated for a moment, then nodded a few times. "Do it."
"…?" Robin didn't know how to respond. It was clear he had never accounted for Hedrick's agreement. "Are you sure? I'll make you take a spiritual oath. As a living weapon, or whatever your true nature is, I can't feel at ease with you without a binding oath."
"…?" Hedrick furrowed his brows deeply.
Not because Robin had mentioned The Oath, but because it seemed he was trying to talk him out of agreeing?!
“…I’m sure.” Hedrick nodded. “I don’t want to compete with you over sectors or galaxies. I don’t want power or influence. My dreams were killed along with my wife and daughter. All that’s left of me is one will: to become strong enough to kill that person. After that… I have nothing, I want nothing.”
Then he nodded toward Robin. “You’re right that I was trying to get close to you for the sake of The All-seeing God. I wanted to sell myself—have him give me tasks or do whatever he wished, in exchange for creating the right conditions to kill Helmor.”
Then he looked into Robin’s eyes. “If you create those conditions for me, I’m ready to sell myself to you.” He continued seriously, “You say you want me to be your sword and armor? Fine. Give me the power needed for that… and then relax.”