"..."

Orion’s mood shifted in an instant, but not in a simple way. It twisted, layered, moved through several states so quickly that even he struggled to keep up with his own thoughts. What began as irritation toward the Shadow Sword’s presence turned into surprise... then into a deep, unsettled confusion over how he was even supposed to respond to what he had just heard.

That damned Shadow Sword was telling them to rejoice.

Rejoice... because they were being allowed to form a partnership with Lord Robin.

As if he were speaking to children who had just been granted permission to play.

The sheer tone of it rubbed against Orion’s pride, against everything he believed his mother’s position represented.

And yet...

At the same time, he could not deny the reality behind those words.

It truly was enormous news.

News that would shake their standing.

News that would change everything.

They were already, in truth, under Lord Robin’s influence, whether they admitted it or not. The web had been woven long ago, thread by thread, decision by decision. If all that was required now was a formal declaration... in exchange for gaining an actual, functioning army of their own—

How could anyone not feel something at that?

Relief.

Excitement.

Even anticipation.

Secondly, the nature of the announcement itself carried no direct humiliation. It was a partnership, nothing more. And more importantly... it came after Arkail’s own declaration.

There was no lowering of status here.

If anything... it was the opposite.

To be mentioned in the same breath as Arkail... and Lord Robin... would elevate their name to heights they had not reached before.

It would reshape perception.

Rewrite their image across the sectors.

It was far, far better than before... when their name had been tied to the cursed Darvion.

Without hesitation, Orion turned toward his mother, his eyes sharp, searching.

Waiting for her judgment.

Ready to support her if she accepted.

Ready to stop her if something within her—if that lingering negative karma—pushed her toward a decision that did not align with reason.

"The ’change’ you mentioned..." Kaylis spoke softly, her voice calm, controlled, but carrying a depth that made the entire hall feel quieter. "Is it truly the transformation of the Pureheart family’s descendants... or is this simply a step Lord Robin finds useful for what lies ahead?"

"Mother...?" Orion tensed immediately, a flicker of alarm crossing his face. Was she... hesitating?

Was she truly considering rejection?

"Shh." Kaylis lifted her hand slightly, silencing him without even looking his way. Her gaze remained fixed on the Shadow Sword, unwavering. "Let him answer."

"I believe you are overthinking this, My Lady Behemoth of Purity," the Shadow Sword replied, a faint, controlled smile forming on his lips. His composure did not break, not even for a moment. "All that is required of you... is to consider whether this benefits you... or not."

"What is the real change?" Kaylis pressed, her tone unchanged, yet heavier. "Is it pressure from the Syndicate? Do you seek to gather allies... to stand against the organization that has dominated the universe since its master’s rise?"

"....."

Orion’s brows tightened further, tension building within him, while the Shadow Sword remained as calm as ever, as if none of this was unexpected.

"...That would make sense in Arkail’s case," Kaylis continued, her voice lowering slightly, fatigue slipping through the cracks of her control. "He possesses the strength to support you."

Then her gaze sharpened.

"But me?"

A pause.

"I am a burden... am I not?"

Her words were not emotional.

They were factual.

Cold.

"You, shadow swords, have told me that before. More than once. You pushed me toward accepting reality... toward passing on my position... my galaxy... even my daughter..."

She slowly lifted her head, her presence shifting, growing heavier despite her weakened state.

"...So why me now?"

A brief silence followed.

"Why grant me such a position... at this exact moment?"

"Mother..." Orion muttered, concern now evident, his voice lower, uncertain.

But Kaylis did not stop.

"No... Lord Robin does not need allies to oppose the Syndicate."

Her tone became firmer, more analytical.

"In terms of armies, there is no ground force more efficient than the Golden and Blue Armies."

"In terms of intelligence, he has the Shadow Swords."

"In terms of special operations, he commands the Black Wasps."

"In terms of vessels, he possesses the legendary Note-4."

"And in terms of upper-tier strength... he has a number of Royal Soul Lords."

She paused briefly, then added:

"And when it comes to wealth and resources... there is no need to even list them."

Her brow lifted slightly.

"And for absolute protection... he has the Cosmic Elder standing behind him."

Another second passed.

A quiet one.

"So tell me..."

Her gaze locked onto the Shadow Sword.

"Why would he need partners at all?"

The question lingered.

Orion swallowed unconsciously as each point settled into place within his mind.

When laid out like this...

When broken down so cleanly...

Lord Robin was no longer simply powerful.

He had reached a level of overwhelming presence that surpassed what one would normally expect even from a Behemoth.

A level that made the concept of "needing help" feel... almost absurd.

Slowly, Orion opened his mouth, his voice quieter now, more cautious.

"Perhaps..."

He hesitated for a fraction of a moment.

"Perhaps Lord Robin intends to gather individuals at the Law Domination level... to form a specialized force... one capable of directly confronting the Syndicate?"

"Lack of Law Dominators didn’t stop the mad bull Aro from declaring war on the Sorcerer Behemoth, and even now... he is not the one losing!" Kaylis leaned forward slightly from her throne, her previously weakened presence sharpening for a brief moment, her gaze locking firmly onto the Shadow Sword as if trying to pierce through him. "So tell me... why does he need these official partnership declarations?"

"Your Majesty is filled with wisdom and grace," the Shadow Sword replied calmly, lifting a hand in a respectful gesture toward her. His expression carried a faint, controlled smile. "What do you believe is the reason?"

"....." Kaylis held his gaze without blinking, her eyes searching, calculating, stripping away layers of possibility one by one. "...Establishing presence?"

"..?" The Shadow Sword’s brows furrowed ever so slightly, not in disagreement, but in interest.

Kaylis continued, her voice steady, measured, her thoughts unfolding with deliberate clarity. "Arkail stands in Mid Sector 96, and I stand in Mid Sector 101... yet he holds influence across every sector that lies between us."

She leaned a little further, the faint instability in her aura momentarily overshadowed by the sharpness of her mind.

"Is he trying to impose a domain of control across those sectors? To draw invisible boundaries across the universe and declare... that this territory belongs to him and his faction alone?"

A brief silence followed.

"To send a message..." she added quietly, "that no one else should even consider stepping into it?"

"....."

Her brows tightened further as another line of thought emerged.

"Or perhaps... this is not about territory at all."

Her tone shifted.

"Perhaps he wants the universe to accept him... not as a hidden force, not as a mere researcher, not as a silent financier operating behind the curtains..."

Her gaze sharpened.

"But as an equal. As a partner to Behemoths."

She lifted her chin slightly.

"His connections with the Behemoths of Sectors 96 and 101 grant him legitimacy over Sector 99... and over Sector 100, where he has already driven in the Nails of the Cradle and the Grave."

Her voice grew quieter, yet heavier.

"By doing this... we are, in essence, declaring to the entire universe that we recognize Lord Robin as a ruler equal in standing over these sectors."

Clap Clap

The sound echoed softly through the luminous hall.

The Shadow Sword applauded slowly, his expression unchanged, yet his eyes carrying a subtle glimmer of approval.

"Magnificent... truly magnificent, my lady," he said smoothly. "I should have expected that negative karma would not cloud the clarity of the Lady of Purity for long."

He folded his hands calmly before him.

"Now you have several possible interpretations... perhaps he is gathering strength against the Syndicate, perhaps he is establishing a sphere of control, perhaps he is securing legitimacy and recognition."

He spread his arms slightly, his smile faint but unwavering.

"Will any of that truly influence your decision?"

"...."

Kaylis stared into his eyes for several long seconds.

At first, her gaze held seriousness.

Then... a flicker of restrained anger.

Because beneath the respect in his words, there was something else.

A subtle mockery that suggested he already knew her answer.

And that... she had no real choice.

Slowly, that anger was suppressed by a faint, controlled smile.

"No... it won’t."

Her voice was calm again.

She leaned back fully into her throne, her posture relaxing once more, as if the decision had already been made long before this conversation even began.

"You may leave. We will announce the partnership today."

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty," the Shadow Sword bowed with flawless etiquette, the faint smile still present as he turned and walked away without hesitation.

Creak

The heavy doors closed behind him.

And with that... the tension in the hall shifted.

"Fiuu~" Orion let out a long breath he had not realized he was holding, his shoulders easing as he allowed himself a small smile. "I’ll inform Serene about the new agreement. She’s going to be extremely happy about this."

"Inform everyone... but do not celebrate."

Kaylis’s voice cut through the moment. She exhaled slowly.

"I have already agreed to hand over the galaxy to Serene as a wedding gift."

Her gaze drifted slightly, unfocused.

"Everything that comes after that decision... is merely arrangement built upon it."

A pause.

"Do not misunderstand. This partnership changes nothing."

Her tone grew colder.

"It does not elevate us. If anything... it tightens the chains further."

She glanced toward the door the Shadow Sword had exited through.

"He is exploiting us even more. But as he said..." she continued quietly, "no matter what I understand... no matter how clearly I see through it..."

Her fingers tightened slightly against the armrest of her throne.

"I cannot refuse."

She then turned her gaze toward Orion.

For the first time... her expression showed weakness without concealment.

"...This is the fate of the weak. The fate of those who place their decisions in the hands of others."

"The fate of those who rise through the strength of others... not their own."

She took a slow breath.

"I will endure."

"For the sake of correcting the path of this galaxy."

"For the sake of what comes after me."

Her eyes dimmed slightly.

"All of these humiliations... all of these compromises... will be tied to my name."

A brief pause.

Then she lowered her gaze.

"...Just..."

Her voice softened, yet carried a quiet, unyielding seriousness.

"Do not repeat my mistake."