"..." Robin closed his eyes, letting a heavy silence descend over the hall. A full minute passed—sixty long, stretching seconds that pressed on everyone's nerves, making even the air feel dense and uneasy. No one dared to move. No one even breathed too loudly. Then, finally, Robin exhaled softly, opening his eyes again. He stared up toward the ceiling, his hands resting behind his head, posture utterly relaxed as if the silence had never existed.

"Your reasoning makes some sense, Ranther," he said quietly, his voice calm yet layered with unreadable undertones. "But I won't tell you anything. There's still a chance that you might not follow me afterward."

Ranther responded instantly, leaning forward, tone sharp and decisive. "Then how about this? You're willing to tell Howard because he'll take an oath, right? I'll do the same. I'll swear a soul oath that I'll take your secrets with me to the Grave." He paused, then lifted his hand with a faint, wry smile. "No, let's go further. I'll add to the oath that I'll never act against you—even if one day I decide to walk away. What do you say to that?"

"..." Robin lowered his gaze slowly, meeting Ranther's slit yellow eyes head-on. The faint glimmer within them was impossible to mistake—pure determination, burning ambition, and a curiosity that seemed endless.

This guy... Never act against me no matter what? He make it appeared like it's a favor, but it's in HIS favor. Ranther known that if what Robin told him didn't satisfy what he is looking for, then he must still be keeping secrets, staying away from Robin and his secrets would be for the best!

In terms of personality, intellect, and charisma, Ranther was no less than Aro or Sakaar. Yet there was something more dangerous about him. He wielded his intelligence like a blade—quiet, sharp, and precise. Unlike Aro, who preferred standing in the spotlight and commanding openly, Ranther was the kind of predator who only struck when he was absolutely certain his prey would never escape.

Scratch. Robin brushed a hand through his hair, then stretched lazily before raising his hands from behind his head and sitting upright, posture straight and composed.

"Very well, I appreciate talent." he said at last, voice soft but carrying the weight of decision. "And as someone who governs a nearly millennium empire, you've earned a bit of special treatment."

A golden-white thread emerged from the center of Robin's forehead, shimmering with ethereal radiance as it twisted and coiled through the air, finally solidifying into the form of a luminous book floating before Ranther. The book's surface glowed faintly, and each page seemed to ripple like liquid light.

"Now that's more like it!" Ranther said, a flicker of excitement running through his eyes. He pressed his soul mark against the radiant tome and began murmuring his oath. The hall fell into complete stillness again, every whisper of energy subdued as the contract took shape.

The moment Ranther finished and opened his eyes—

Badum.

A deep, resonating pulse shook his chest.

He felt chains—massive, heavy chains—coil tightly around his heart and his spiritual domain, as though forged from divine iron and dragged straight from the abyss of hell itself. Their pressure was suffocating, their existence undeniable.

Ranther froze, eyes locking instantly onto Robin's. His pupils dilated as realization struck—this was no ordinary power. This was something that surpassed the strength of a mere three-star Royal Soul Master. It was higher, denser, deeper... like the presence of a being that stood above the very laws of soul force.

"....!"

The other emperors could only stare, their faces pale. None of them dared to speak. Each silently wished they could melt into the darkness itself, to vanish from sight while still hearing every word that might be exchanged. They wanted—needed—to know who this man truly was.

But Robin had no intention of granting them that privilege.

He leaned forward, eyes locking directly with Ranther's as both hands pressed firmly onto the professor's desk. His soul force surged—vast, immeasurable, and terrifyingly calm—as he transmitted his voice straight into Ranther's spiritual domain:

(To begin with, I don't plan on revealing all my cards to you. Even those closest to me may never know everything about who I am. But I'll tell you one thing—something that might help you decide your path. I am human.)

(Human?) Ranther's brows sank, his mind racing. (What am I supposed to do with that? It's obvious you're human.)

"..."

"..."

Then, all at once, realization struck him. Ranther's eyes widened to their fullest as his hand trembled and pointed at Robin in utter disbelief. "You… you're…?!"

"Shhh." Robin pressed a finger gently to his lips, his expression carrying a faint, almost teasing smile. "Remember your oath. You wouldn't want to die because of a careless slip, would you?"

"…?!"

Everyone within the academic building turned sharply toward Ranther, faces filled with curiosity and astonishment. His reaction was far too intense, far too genuine. It was as if something venomous had just bitten into his soul—a revelation so great it left him paralyzed where he stood.

"..!" Ranther slowly lowered his hand, but his gaze remained locked on Robin. There was something dark behind those slit golden eyes now—something sharp, almost predatory. His expression carried not just confusion, but the faintest spark of hostility.

The revelation that he is Lord Human, the very one accepted to become the Great Truth Chosen of this era… it explained everything.

It explained why he'd been appointed without ever passing through the Professors' Council.

It explained why Althera had protected him so fiercely, even against the will of other high authorities.

It explained how he could so freely experiment with their bloodlines, grant them techniques that no one else could replicate, and supply resources that defied logic.

It even explained the near-limitless funding that fueled the Grave Empire—a force that had risen from obscurity to dominance within a single generation.

Yes, that one word—Human—unraveled every unanswered question.

But then again...

That also meant something else. That human wasn't backed by some vast cosmic force. No Behemoth was watching over him, feeding him treasures, or shielding him from the unseen storms. There was no ancient dynasty behind him, no thousand-year lineage of divine scholars. He was alone—a lone genius with nothing but his mind, his fortune, and his unshakable will carving a throne for himself in a universe ruled by monsters.

Ranther's thoughts turned sharper. (Why would a researcher… a scholar of bloodlines and laws… invest so heavily in military expansion? Why pour his resources into an empire that breathes war and death? Why—)

"…!" His eyes flew wide open as the realization clicked like thunder. He looked straight at Robin, his soul energy trembling slightly.

(You… that cosmic war you spoke of before. It's something connected to you personally, isn't it?)

(Perhaps~) Robin's lips curved into a cold, knowing smile. His tone was calm, yet his words struck like a blade.

(Just remember this one truth, Ranther—if our front wins the next cosmic war, the entire Middle Sector 99 will belong to me.)

(Is that a threat?!) Ranther's brows furrowed deeply, his aura flaring for a brief moment.

"Hehe~" Robin chuckled aloud, his laughter echoing through the still air. (You give yourself too much credit. I'm speaking about ruling an entire sector, and you think I'm threatening you? What are you compared to a sector? A single spark trying to measure the sun? But yes… those who refuse to join me willingly will join me by force. When that day comes, there will be no offers of wings—only obedience.)

Ranther's teeth clenched, his hands tightening into fists. (Where do you get that arrogance?! That impossible confidence?!) His expression twisted with open hostility. (Just because you're rich? Just because you can forge a few trinkets and weapons to strengthen the Grave Empire? You think that's enough to topple the civilizations and legacies that the forces of this sector have built over millions of years? Do you truly believe all of that will crumble just because you've decided it should?!)

(Yes,) Robin replied simply, his eyes closing once more, tone utterly calm yet cutting like divine steel. (And you will see it with your own eyes. The discussion ends here. Decide what you wish.)

"You… you're completely insane!" Ranther suddenly shouted, pointing toward Robin, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. "You don't listen to reason at all!" His irritation was visible in every motion, his aura flickering with unstable emotion. Then, with a loud exhale, he sat back down heavily, his chest rising and falling.

"…?!"

The sight left everyone stunned—especially the four other emperors who watched in utter confusion. What had angered Ranther so much? And if he was that furious… why didn't he leave?

No one dared to interrupt. They sat frozen in silence, all of them aware that Ranther's decision would affect them all. He now knew something they didn't—something about that man named Robin.

Even Howard swallowed hard, throat tightening. For the first time since the meeting began, he hesitated. He hadn't sworn any oath yet, and now, uncertainty began to gnaw at him.

The tension in the air was suffocating. Seconds turned into minutes; minutes stretched into what felt like eternity. The atmosphere inside the academic building was heavy enough to crush thought itself.

Finally—after nearly fifteen endless minutes—Ranther rose to his feet once more. The movement was slow, deliberate. His expression had returned to calm, but it was the dangerous calm of a man standing at the edge of a decision.

He fixed his golden eyes on Robin and spoke, his voice steady but heavy:

"…I have one final objection."

"…?" Robin arched a brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "What now?"

Ranther turned and pointed toward the man with the translucent, jelly-like hair.

"My joining as a wing would strengthen the Grave Empire far more than Howard's ever could. Our influence, our power, our reputation—all of it outweighs his. So tell me—why should I receive the same benefits he does?"

".....?!!?"

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