Chapter 2441

2441 - Hand of Concealment

In Glacion's manner and as was his habit, he was not satisfied with knowing only half the truth, so he used his honeyed and measured words to communicate with powers whose leaders he was certain had committed those acts. He went to complain as though he too had done them, loosening the defenses before him so they would speak… and they spoke.

It turned out that the Hand of Concealment Syndicate did not use that evidence to force them to do what they wanted. They merely confronted them with that evidence and asked them to turn a blind eye to their juniors in exchange for their previous help.

When the leaders requested that evidence which could send them beyond the suns, the Syndicate told them that one day they would order them to do something great, and when they did it, that evidence would be handed over to them.

This was the straw those leaders clung to. They stayed silent and let their lands and the lands of the universe be violated, waiting for the day they would be free of the debt and recover the documents that could overturn the world over their heads.

A number of those leaders tried to slip out from the Syndicate's control throughout history. They felt insulted by what the Syndicate was doing under their noses, but when only simple rumors about their actions were leaked, they returned to the straight path and fell silent once more… and those documents returned to secrecy, waiting for the day they would be used.

The Cursed Behemoth Darvion was one of those who attempted that after becoming a Behemoth, and because of that, information about the famous Planet Barstein leaked. But when he returned to obedience like a dog, the rumors subsided until they disappeared amid the daily news stream.

"...Do you think the Syndicate used that card to mobilize its subordinate powers?" Glacion began to sweat. "Is it worth wasting the biggest pressure card they hold over the Cosmic Powers just to stop Lord Robin?"

"When else would they use it, if not to stop Lord Robin?" Blokan waved his hand. "Even if they lose all their cards in the Sectors between 90 and 120, it would still be a gain for them if they could stop the advance and erase the new threat. After that, they could create new subordinate powers, threaten the old powers into silence and let them do as they please with their peoples..." Then he chuckled. "That is, if they hand over those documents in the first place."

"...." Glacion looked down, sweating heavily. "If the Syndicate is using the possibility of handing over the documents to stir the dormant powers, then it makes sense that they would move against us like this."

The Great Empires are not childish enough to go to war against this one and defend against that one just because rumors spread that there is a bad person!

Who among them hasn't shed the blood of billions and destroyed a few planets on their path to power?

Glacion thought the Syndicate was threatening them with an attack, but why not unite against the Syndicate as they united against Lord Robin, if that were true?

Or perhaps popular anger is pushing them, and this would gain them greater popularity among their armies and peoples… but these are extremely weak possibilities; great leaders rarely care about such things. They will fabricate lies and excuses to keep the herd on the straight path.

But if the Syndicate is using those documents… then the situation is entirely different.

"It's a game that has been played since ancient times." Blokan sighed, "The true leaders want to do something, they tell the puppets sitting on thrones what they desire, so the puppets invent reasons to carry out those actions without appearing as useless puppets. This protects the secrecy of the true leaders, and protects the reputation and standing of the puppets… This reason could be a self-acting terrorist act on a planet belonging to them, imposing vague protection over another power, calling for freedom against an occupier who never intended to occupy anything… You know how these things work."

Then he chuckled, "Qarun's speech was a ready-made excuse for the Syndicate. They no longer needed to invent a pretext for each force to move separately. Sevar must have been very happy watching Qarun stab at him and say that Lord Robin is his friend, hehe."

"But I don't understand…" Glacion looked down, "Does the Syndicate have influence and sway over the Council of Thrones and the Stellar Academies as well?" Then he raised his face toward Blokan, "Why are the Stellar Academies participating in the conflict? They stopped Lord Kiryān in Middle Sector 118 and are inciting against us in all the Sectors we share with them. Some of them even declared they might have to fight us to stop evil from spreading… Why? The masters of the Stellar Academies aren't obligated to do all this, and none of them are stupid either!"

"….." Blokan seemed a little hesitant, "Do you still remember what I said about the source of Qarun's power?"

"Yes..?" Glacion was surprised, "…Did the Syndicate make him strong?"

"Hmph, Qarun could fold the Syndicate under his armpit if he wanted. Sevar likely knows about his multiple laws, but he may not know the extent of his true power, may not know how deep it runs… but I know." Then he turned to Glacion, "And I also know that the source of that power is linked to the Syndicate's actions and demands."

"Is the source of power connected to the Syndicate's actions?" Glacion was confused. "But when I asked you earlier whether the Syndicate made him stronger, you denied it!!"

"You won't understand... and I don't want you to understand." Blokan shook his head. "You'll occupy yourself with things beyond your ability. Even I, with all my strength and status, put my tongue in my mouth and took a few steps back."

Then he looked at Glacion. "Just know that Qarun is not easy—not in terms of individual power, nor in terms of influence. A quarter of the Stellar Academy Masters are tied to his leg, doing as he wishes—whether because they owe him, through direct threat, or because their souls are in his grip."

Then he turned away with a suffocated look. "The world above is dark, Glacion. They always say *the lower world* as a metaphor for crimes, but I have seen pure evil above... I saw a world of masters, puppets, herds, and sacrifices." Then he hesitated, grinding his teeth. "...I saw devils of mankind."

"...Is there no way to find a place for us among all this?" Glacion swallowed his saliva.

"There is." Blokan sighed. "By cutting the threads of the puppets... or killing the true masters." Then he turned to Glacion with wide-open eyes. "Otherwise... be the villain, endure, and stay silent."