Lord of the Truth

BlinkBlink — Robin slowly opened his eyes, his vision adjusting to the light. A gentle smile formed across his face as he immediately recognized the figure before him.

"Well, well... would you look at that? Who do we have here?" he said warmly, amusement dancing in his tone.

"Father," Theo replied with calm reverence, bowing in formal greeting.

Robin’s expression lit up with joy. "Come here, boy! Haha!" he laughed heartily as he stepped down from the bed and pulled Theo into a tight embrace, one hand gripping his shoulder. "It’s been far too long!"

"Indeed, too long... One hundred and seventy years!" Theo exhaled, his voice tinged with reflection. "Since then, I was purchased into your service, led campaigns and conquered numerous kingdoms, ventured to another planets, returned to establish the Empire of the True Beginning... After that, we launched countless invasions and expanded for many decades. Eventually, you completed your coronation, and you entered deep seclusion... And somehow, all of that unfolded in less than 170 years!"

Robin chuckled and gave his son a knowing pat on the shoulder. "You’ll have to get used to numbers like that, my boy. At the peak of the Emperor Realm, our strength and vitality grant us lifespans that stretch across millennia. In the grand scheme of the cosmos, we’re still barely toddlers. Hehe."

With a gesture, Robin guided Theo toward a nearby chamber furnished with a few simple yet elegant seats. He motioned for him to sit, then followed and settled into a chair with a soft sigh.

"Before we say another word—tell me honestly: is everything well within the Empire? Has anything significant happened in my absence?"

Theo leaned back slightly, a confident smile rising to his face. "At this point, Father, problems have learned to fear us. They’d rather run than face what we’ve become. Externally, our unstoppable legions dominate the Young Belt. We’re currently engaged in open war with three separate empires—two based in Sector 99 Young, and the third in Sector 100 Young. And despite their resistance, we’re crushing them mercilessly. It’s only a matter of time before they either surrender or fall to ruin under the pressure of our might."

He paused, then gave a strange little chuckle. "As for internal matters... the Crazed Prime Minister is overseeing everything. He’s—well—slightly unhinged, but I must admit: his reforms have reshaped the very soul of the Empire."

Robin arched an eyebrow, a glint of curiosity sparking in his gaze. "A Crazed Prime Minister, huh? Wait a second... don’t tell me— Kristan Burton took the reins?!"