Chapter 2295: Change of subject
Chapter 2295: Change of subject
"...What do you want in return?"
"Hold on." Arkail slowly raised one hand before lowering it again, an unusual smile gradually spreading across his face, somewhere between amusement and genuine bewilderment. "At first, you seemed completely serious and utterly focused on accomplishing a single objective, so I chose not to interrupt you. Yet somehow, before I even realized it, this conversation ended with me accepting your condolences and receiving the soul of the boy, Asir." He then looked directly into Robin’s eyes, his gaze growing noticeably sharper. "Now, put Asir—and everything concerning Asir—aside for a moment, and explain to me exactly what it is I’ve been hearing since you arrived."
Arkail’s voice became distinctly heavier as he slowly listed each subject.
"Creation... Spacetime... beyond the End of the World Barrier... an entire nest of Space Beasts... a Space Beast Ancestor... the Executioner... the Fifth Grade of the Master Truth Law? Just what exactly is happening here? Every few sentences you casually mention something that should be capable of shaking the entire universe, yet you speak as though they’re merely ordinary experiences."
"They’re all secondary matters." Robin tilted his head ever so slightly, and for the first time since arriving, a trace of genuine annoyance surfaced on his face. "Asir’s matter is far more important to me. It’s the only reason I came here in the first place—to offer my condolences and compensate you properly. That was my purpose, and nothing else."
"What do you mean it was the only reason?" Arkail’s brows immediately tightened. "What about the Syndicate armada that’s approaching our territory? Weren’t you planning to come out and coordinate with me regarding that situation? Don’t tell me you truly crossed this distance without intending to discuss the coming war."
"The Syndicate armada?" Robin nodded twice while briefly looking off into the distance, as though recalling something someone had mentioned earlier. "Yes. The Shadow Swords left me a note regarding it before I came here."
He then calmly turned his attention back toward Arkail.
"No. If that alone had been the issue, I wouldn’t have come."
After a brief pause, he added just as matter-of-factly,
"In fact, I wouldn’t even have contacted you in the first place."
"....?" Arkail frowned deeply but chose not to interrupt. He simply continued studying Robin’s face in silence, attempting to determine whether the man was speaking casually or whether he truly viewed the approaching army as insignificant.
"What kind of arrogance is that—" Saher angrily swung one arm, unable to restrain himself any longer as he prepared to continue.
Before another word could leave his mouth, however, Glatheon gently caught his wrist and lowered it with an easy smile.
"Easy... let them talk."
Still carrying two cups of drink in his free hand, Glatheon calmly walked forward, placed them neatly upon the stone table between Arkail and Robin, then quietly returned and gently steered Saher toward the side seats beside Richard, making it abundantly clear that this conversation had already risen beyond their place to interrupt.
Robin ignored Saher’s outburst entirely, behaving as though he had never heard so much as a single syllable. He slowly reached forward, picked up one of the cups, settled comfortably into his chair once again, and only after taking his time did he finally speak.
"Why should I personally contact you regarding the Syndicate’s army?"
He raised the cup, took a slow sip, and continued in the same relaxed tone.
"As partners, isn’t it your responsibility to protect our mutual interests? Isn’t that precisely what our partnership is supposed to accomplish?"
"I won’t fight alone in a battle that isn’t mine." Arkail replied immediately, his brows still firmly knitted together. "Partnership doesn’t mean carrying someone else’s burden by myself."
"You have the Shadow Swords. Ask them for whatever you require. Theo possesses complete authority to use every one of my assets however he believes appropriate, and if the situation genuinely requires my presence, he’ll contact me himself and request assistance." Robin casually gestured toward Arkail with the hand holding his cup. "But you didn’t do that, did you?"
"There are matters that lie beyond the authority of children," Arkail answered with complete seriousness. "Matters whose weight cannot simply be delegated. Matters that require the two of us to sit down face-to-face before decisions are made."
"And who decides that?" Robin let out a faint chuckle, the corner of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. "I do. I’m the one who decides whether a matter truly requires my personal appearance or whether someone else can handle it on my behalf. That decision belongs to no one but me."
"Offering condolences over a son I barely even knew is somehow more important than a Syndicate army consisting of five thousand fleets?!" Arkail’s voice rose noticeably, disbelief finally overcoming his composure. "There isn’t the slightest trace of logic in that conclusion. By any reasonable standard, the order of priorities should be the exact opposite."
"My condolences and compensation were for Asir, not for you." Robin tilted his head slightly, speaking with exactly the same calm voice as before. "He died fighting for me, and anyone who chooses to fight on my behalf deserves at least that much respect, regardless of rank, origin, or status."
He calmly lifted his cup once more before continuing.
"As for the Syndicate’s army... and this game of war between you and Zargul... none of that is worthy of my precious time."
His gaze remained perfectly steady upon Arkail.
"There are matters of far greater importance occupying my attention."
"....." Arkail maintained unwavering eye contact, refusing to look away for even a moment, "Matters such as fighting a Space Beast Ancestor?"
"Higher," Robin answered simply, without the slightest hesitation or hint of exaggeration, as though even an existence of that caliber belonged among concerns he no longer regarded as his highest priority.
Arkail stared unflinchingly into Robin’s eyes, refusing to look away for even a moment.
"Then you’ll have to explain yourself more clearly if you expect me to understand what could possibly be more important than confronting the Syndicate head-on—the Syndicate led by the Butcher, Marlik, with the Archon himself standing behind him, a Sixth Grade Causality user. You’re speaking as though a conflict that could determine the fate of entire sectors is nothing more than a minor inconvenience, yet you haven’t given me enough information to understand why."
"I’ve already told you everything you needed to know in order to understand, at least on a superficial level, what happened to Asir and to appreciate the manner in which he died. That is all you needed to know as his father." Robin replied calmly, his expression remaining perfectly composed. "You’ve also heard enough from me—and seen enough with your own eyes—to understand that I am capable of dealing with Marlik, and with those standing above him, should the need ever arise. That is all you need to know as my publicly acknowledged partner."
A faint chill gradually surfaced within his eyes.
"Everything beyond that is classified information known only to my followers. If you wish to hear the details, to understand the complete picture rather than isolated fragments... then recite the oath and become one of them."
Richard slowly shook his head before quietly laughing under his breath, "Heh~"
"There are limits to arrogance and conceit!" Saher sprang to his feet once again, angrily thrusting one hand toward Robin. "Who exactly do you think the person sitting in front of you is? Do you truly believe everyone should simply accept being spoken to like this?"
Robin slowly turned his head toward him before raising a single finger in Saher’s direction with absolute authority, his movements calm yet carrying unquestionable pressure.
"This is the second time you’ve raised your voice in my presence."
His gaze remained fixed on Saher.
"There will not be a third."
Only after saying those words did he calmly lean back once more, resting both arms upon the armrests of his throne as though nothing unusual had occurred.
"Don’t let the fact that I once addressed you once as Lord Saher make you believe you possess the right to speak to me in that manner, boy."
"Boy?!" Saher muttered in utter disbelief, almost convinced he had misheard.
"I’m older than the very planet you were born on! I’ve lived through ages you haven’t even read about!"
"...." Arkail quietly raised one hand toward his son, signaling for him to sit without taking his eyes off Robin for even an instant. Only after Saher reluctantly complied did Arkail continue.
"It would seem Lord Robin did not come here seeking mutual understanding, nor merely to offer condolences. Instead, he came to display his own superiority, diminish the standing of his partners, and gradually transform an equal partnership into a relationship of subordination."
After allowing those words to linger briefly in the air, Arkail spoke again in an unwavering voice.
"That will not happen."
"Hehehe..." Robin chuckled softly before lifting his cup once more and taking another slow sip, his relaxed demeanor remaining entirely unchanged.
"Your Majesty," Glatheon finally spoke, his tone remaining polite despite the growing tension, "please review the conversation from the very beginning. You’ll find that everything was progressing quite smoothly until you interrupted Lord Robin and began asking your own questions. I haven’t served my lord for very long, but I’ve already noticed that this is one habit he genuinely dislikes. Once he begins speaking about something important to him, he prefers seeing it through before changing subjects."
A faint smile appeared on Glatheon’s face.
"So... why not simply allow him to finish saying what he originally intended to say? I believe the answers you’re looking for would naturally arrive afterward."
"That isn’t how conversations are conducted, Glatheon." Arkail replied calmly, never allowing irritation to seep into his voice. "I already showed him sufficient consideration by allowing him to finish speaking about the boy, Asir, without interrupting him despite everything he had already revealed. Am I now expected to continue sitting here in silence until he eventually decides that the conversation is over and simply leaves?"
"Your Majesty," Glatheon said while turning slightly to meet Arkail’s eyes from the side, his own expression becoming noticeably more serious, "would you have attempted to redirect the conversation and begin asking questions if the person seated before you had been the Archon... or the Elder Cosmic instead? Would you have interrupted either of them midway through the subject they themselves considered important, or would you have waited until they had finished speaking?"
"...?"