Several centuries ago, during his very first visit to the Chamber of Truth, Robin openly revealed that he was in Mid Sector 100, doing so in the presence of two other Truth Chosen. Not long after that revelation, he discovered that certain individuals had begun trying to track him down inside Mid Sector 100 by following the traces left by the Truth Chosen themselves-
specifically by monitoring the circulation and sales of artifacts and materials associated with them,
most notably the panels crafted from treant bark.
If it had not been for the deliberate misdirection carried out by the Shadow Swords, who had already begun operating covertly across the sector,
and if it had not been for the direct protection of the Soul Society itself, he might have been completely surrounded and captured on Planet Zaron before he even had the chance to understand what was happening around him. That was why, in their final encounter, he swore vengeance, leaving behind the words:
/"Farewell, to the honest... and see you soon, to the rat."/
After that, filled with anger and cold resolve, he inford Theo of everything that had occurred and demanded that the one responsible be brought to him- alive, conscious, and delivered directly to his feet.
That had happened centuries ago... and he had truly forgotten the entire matter.
"...!!"
The old man lowered his head even further. His bodily reactions betrayed him completely-his breathing, his tension, the tremor in his fra-everything showed pure terror the mont Robin spoke.
He rembered him!!
"His Highness Theo never forgot his promise to bring you the traitorous Truth Chosen, Your Majesty," Leonid explained calmly.
"He issued orders to all Shadow Swords branches to pursue any new leads that might appear, but it was ultimately futile. Our authority in the sectors beyond 90-109 is extrely limited, and our influence there is weak."
He continued, his voice steady and formal,
"So when the opportunity finally arose, His Highness used this man as part of a deal with the Syndicate, and demanded that they deliver him alive and fully conscious. It was later discovered that he had been hiding in Mid Sector 720 the entire ti."
Leonid grabbed the old man by the collar, lifted him slightly, then slamd him down at Robin's feet.
Baaam!
"We may have arrived late, but here he is-alive, at your feet, exactly as you commanded, Your Majesty.
"A-ah... a-aah..."
The old man stared at Robin's shoe for several long seconds, his mind completely blank, unable to form a single coherent sentence.
"I-I'm sorry... I have a family to feed... If I could go back in ti... I swear I would never have done it... Please forgive ..."
He slowly raised his head, forcing himself to look into Robin's eyes, trying desperately to move him with his frail, wrinkled gaze-
to soften his anger, to awaken his sympathy, to grasp at even the smallest chance of rcy.
"P-please-"
But his words died in his throat.
Robin was looking at him...
not with rage,
not with hatred,
not with disgust,
not even with contempt.
No-there was nothing cruel in that gaze at all.
Robin was smiling.
And it was not a mocking smile.
Not a sarcastic one.
Not a smile of dominance or victory.
It was genuine.
Pure.
A real smile-
a smile of simple satisfaction and quiet happiness.
Even Althera noticed that strange, clear expression from the side, and her brows furrowed slightly in confusion.
"Who exactly is this person?"
"Heh- He's nobody," Robin waved dismissively, turning his face away from the old man as if he were nothing more than an afterthought.
"It's just that I once said sothing... and today, it happened. I simply like it when I say sothing and reality carries it out exactly as spoken. That's all."
Then he turned back to Leonid.
"Which sector are we in? Ah-Mid Sector 99. Good. Send him to Shaddad in Sky Opening City. He might still be of use there. But first, make him swear loyalty to
Shaddad, and to the Empire of course!"
Robin took out a special oath tablet and handed it to Leonid.
"Killing a Truth Chosen would be nothing but a waste."
"?!"
The old Truth Chosen jolted violently in shock.
He wouldn't be executed?
He wouldn't be tortured?
"Understood," Leonid nodded calmly.
"And what if he refuses to swear the oath?"
"I'll leave how to deal with him to you and to Shaddad... kill him, imprison him,
send him back to the pen he crawled out of-I truly don't care!"
Robin then clapped his hands loudly, the sharp sound echoing through the hall, turned around with calm indifference, and gestured for Althera toward the door with a smooth, commanding motion.
"Shall we go, my lady?"
"Yes,"
Althera nodded once, her expression firm and composed, and moved ahead
without hesitation, holding her small sword tightly in her right hand, its blade catching the light as she walked.
After she exited, Robin glanced to his side. His smile vanished completely, as if it had never existed. Instantly, he reached out, grabbed Richard's ear hard with crushing strength, and dragged him toward the door with no rcy.
"Co on, you street-raised brat. Let's see what I can teach you today... and
how much you can endure."
"Ouch!!"
The spiky-haired Richard let out a low, painful cry, his face twisting in agony,
but he kept walking behind him, forcing his legs to move despite the pain.
"This is your responsibility now."
Leonid handed the tablet to the nearest Shadow Sword with a firm,
authoritative motion.
"Take the tablet and the prisoner to Sky Opening Tower and deliver him personally to His Majesty's disciple. Then inform him of everything that happened here-every detail, without omission."
"But isn't His Majesty's disciple, Lord Shaddad, in seclusion?" the Shadow Sword
asked as he took the tablet, his heart aching with the desire to accompany His
Majesty instead.
"He entered it days ago."
"Then place him in the prison until Lord Shaddad cos out. I doubt out
prisoner here will mind."
Leonid then smiled faintly and sent a cold glance at the Truth Chosen lying on
the ground, helpless and broken.
"You don't mind spending a few decades with that sealing nail in your chest, do
you, old thing?"
Then he gestured to the rest of the guards and Shadow Swords with a sharp,
decisive motion.
"Alright. We won't keep His Majesty waiting. Even if he asks for a pen, put your lives on the line to provide it-or create that pen yourselves. Understood?"
"Understood!"
The five guards and the four Shadow Swords shouted in unison, their voices filled with resolve and fear, then followed Leonid outside without hesitation.
"Ugh..."
The last Shadow Sword stared at their backs until they disappeared from sight, then turned slowly to the old Truth Chosen and kicked him hard in the face.
Thak!
"This is all your fault, you filthy old bastard!!"
"Pff!!"
The Truth Chosen spat blood. He was still nothing more than a saint who had
only built second-grade pillars, barely clinging to life, sustained only by the fragile remains of his power and a planet that still existed in Mid Sector 720, gifted to him at one stage of his life.
The old Truth Chosen didn't get angry or protest.
Instead, he smiled with a bloodied mouth at the Shadow Sword, his expression
strangely calm and submissive.
"Hehe... sorry, I'm really sorry... I didn't an you any harm, hehe... I truly
didn't."
"Tsk- Co with ."
The Shadow Sword lifted him roughly and began pushing him toward the exit-
he couldn't drag him across the ground in front of the students, not here.
"If you make a sound or try anything suspicious, I won't wait for anyone's permission. I'll execute you in the middle of the road. Understood?" "Understood... of course, understood..."
The old Truth Chosen forced himself to move at the required pace, his body
trembling with every step.
He cast a strange, serious, cold glance in the direction where Robin and the
others had left-a deep, calculating look even the Shadow Sword failed to notice- before returning the gentle, harmless smile to his face. "Hehe... I'll delay you a little... sorry... Truly... I am sorry."
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