Lord of the Truth

"...How will I spend it?" Theo let out a laugh—one that brimmed with disbelief, as if Robin had just asked the most trivial question in existence. "I’ll simply withdraw the full amount and transfer it directly into the empire’s treasury, of course! Emily and the Prime Minister know far more than I do when it comes to managing large-scale operations. My task has always been to figure out how to make money—not how to spend it!"

Robin shook his head slowly, his gaze sharp with layered thoughts. "Emily and Kristan already shoulder immense responsibilities... and Zara is in desperate need of financial reinforcement. But let’s imagine we set aside the cost of stabilizing the Young Belt planets—what would that take? A billion pearls? Maybe two? Give them five, just to be certain. That still leaves you with ten billion. What then? What will you do with all that surplus?"

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"...That’s..."

Theo looked downward, his fingers drumming unconsciously on the armrest.

How does one even begin to spend ten billion pearls? Was there anything in the empire or beyond that could even absorb such an astronomical sum?

Then he raised his head again and met his father’s eyes. "Do you have suggestions, Father?" he asked, a hint of respect laced with curiosity in his voice.

If his father had posed this question, it meant he already had a plan—or at least an expectation. Better to let him say it himself.

Robin leaned back against his chair, eyes half-lidded in contemplation. His voice lowered, thoughtful.

"The four planets we seized from the Iron Boar Empire... how are they being treated? What’s being done to prepare them for integration? And more importantly—how are their native populations being handled?"

Theo furrowed his brow and exhaled, the question tugging at nerves he’d buried for months.

"Prepared...? To be honest—very little is being done. We’ve been hesitant.