Lord of the Truth

"...Coco?!" Caesar muttered under his breath, his mind still struggling to process the situation. His golden eyes, usually filled with sharp confidence, now carried a glint of disbelief as he stared at the towering figure before him.

Meanwhile, Sakaar turned his gaze away, but not before letting out a muffled chuckle. "Heh heh heh." His laughter, though seemingly suppressed, was deliberately audible. He knew exactly what he was doing—ensuring that everyone present heard it.

Not because he found Holak's words amusing, but because he took immense pleasure in watching Holak accumulate more enemies for himself. The more conflicts the man created, the more isolated he would become. And when the time was right, Sakar would strike.

"You have crossed the line, you filthy commoner!" A burst of black flames erupted in Caesar's palm as he shot forward, his killing intent surging toward the massive figure in the distance.

Whoosh Whoosh

But before he could take more than a few steps, nearly all of his generals moved to intercept him. Theo and Peon each grabbed one of his arms, their grips firm yet respectful. Zara, her brows knitted tightly together, stepped directly in front of him.

"Are you seriously trying to destroy the platform before the coronation even begins?" she asked in a cold, reprimanding tone.

"....."

For several seconds, Caesar remained silent, the dark flames flickering dangerously in his palm. Then, with a sharp exhale, he extinguished them and motioned for his subordinates to let go. His expression was calm once more, but his tone was as sharp as ever as he pointed at Holak.

"Just wait until after the coronation," he declared, his voice laced with menace. "If I find out that my father did not personally invite you, I swear I'll take at least half of your life!"

"Oh? You'll leave me half? How generous of you, Ahahaha!" Holak's deep, guttural laughter erupted like rolling thunder, echoing throughout the venue. His tone was dripping with mockery, as if Caesar's threat was nothing more than a child's tantrum.

"Amazing..." A strange light flickered in Aro's eyes as he watched Holak closely. His expression, rather than being annoyed or offended, was one of intrigue. It was as if he had just discovered something of great value.

"My dear...?" Flora, standing beside him, furrowed her brows in confusion. "What's so amazing about that brute? Didn't you see how he mocked you? How he tried to belittle your status? Just ignore him! We can report him to His Excellency later."

But Aro did not respond to her concerns. Instead, he gently patted her shoulder, his gaze locked onto Holak.

"Just wait here," he said softly before stepping forward.

Flora opened her mouth to protest, but ultimately, she closed it with a sigh. She had seen this look in his eyes before—the look of a man who had made up his mind.

Aro crouched down before Holak, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

"...I've seen everything, Ancestor Holak. Your place is not among the commoners. Nor is it with powerless kings who wear crowns but lack true authority. And it is certainly not in some forgotten cave, waiting for your next breakthrough only to do nothing with it..." He paused, then met the giant's gaze with unwavering confidence, "Your place is here."

For the first time, Holak opened his eyes slightly, his deep gaze scrutinizing the man before him.

Aro was the first person —aside from the ancient giants of Nihari— to ever refer to him as 'Ancestor.'

"I understand what you're thinking," Aro continued. "You believe you shouldn't serve under anyone, that there's no one stronger or better than you to give you orders. And you know what? I completely agree. That's a natural way of thinking. Someone of your strength deserves the rank of Supreme General, but…" Aro's expression softened, as if he were gently coaxing a wild beast. "Do you even have the desire to lead soldiers? If you did, His Excellency would have given you command of the Third Army instead of me."

"....."

Holak remained silent, but his subtle nod did not go unnoticed.

He had no interest in leading an army. He had always been a lone force, an individual who carved his own path through raw strength.

Seeing this reaction, Aro's confidence grew, and he pressed on.

"If you want status without the burden of leadership, then how will you obtain it, Ancestor Holak? Accept my offer and join the Third Army. I'll grant you the rank of General, and you won't have to command anyone. You'll have complete freedom—you can appear whenever and wherever you want, do as you please. What do you think of that?"

"Hmm…" Holak tapped his chin, clearly considering the offer. "A tempting proposition, I must admit..." A smirk formed on his lips before he chuckled. "But won't everyone say that I'm serving the horned little boy?"

"Ancestor Holak," Aro's voice remained steady, but there was a clear edge to it now. "It's true that you are stronger than me, but I am still a Supreme General. How about showing some respect?" His eyes narrowed slightly, his aura subtly pressing forward. Even though he deeply desired Holak's power in his army, he could not allow future subordinates to openly disrespect him. If he did, the army's entire hierarchy would crumble.

"You want respect?" Holak let out a low, rumbling chuckle before raising his massive hand. Slowly, he reached out and tapped Aro's neck twice, his fingers heavier than stone, "Earn it first."

"Do you not intend to take anything in your life seriously?!" Aro grabbed Holak's wrist and shoved it away with force, his eyes filled with frustration. "If you refuse to lead men under His Excellency's banner, and you reject my offer to become a free General with no obligations, then what exactly do you want? Will you become a mere bodyguard now? Is that the grand destiny of the almighty Holak?!"

Aro took a deep breath, his irritation evident, then stood up straight and turned away, his dark red cape fluttering slightly with the movement. Without another glance at Holak, he started walking back toward his faction. "Think about my words carefully. When His Excellency arrives, he will ask you why you are here. If your answer is unsatisfactory, you won't need to worry about him dealing with you personally—everyone here will do it without hesitation, and they'll do it gladly. Caesar alone seems to hate you guts!"

Holak remained seated, watching Aro's retreating back with an expression that was both amused and contemplative. He rested his chin on two thick fingers, his large, clawed hand supporting his face as he muttered to himself, "...Hmm, the horned little boy does have a way with words. He's good at laying things out plainly."

As the tension sparked by Holak's unexpected arrival gradually settled, an eerie silence took hold of the area once again. Caesar and his faction stood at the very center of the ceremonial platform, to their right stood the imposing Demonkin faction, and to their left was Aro with the generals of the Third Army.

The atmosphere was thick, nearly suffocating. Beyond the occasional quiet whispers exchanged between some of the women present, the space felt as though it was being weighed down by an unseen force. It wasn't just formality—it was something far more ominous.

Particularly for Caesar, Sakaar, Amon, and Aro… all four of them maintained an unwavering composure, their gazes locked forward toward the towering grandstands, as if their regal bearing and pride alone could ward off any sign of unease. They had appearances to maintain, after all. But in truth, not a single one of them was focused on the ceremony itself.

No—what truly occupied their thoughts was the unpredictable menace lingering behind them. Holak. The rogue beast who had suddenly inserted himself into this high-stakes battlefield of politics and power.

Whoosh

At that moment, the rhythmic stomping of heavy talons against the stone ground echoed through the space as a massive Draco beast approached the platform. The creature's dark, armored scales gleamed under the celestial lights, its serpentine eyes scanning the gathered elites with something resembling wariness. Then, in one swift and practiced motion, a figure leaped from its back—soaring high into the air before landing gracefully on the balcony of the platform, directly in front of Caesar.

"Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late." The man's voice was casual, almost too relaxed given the weight of the event. Clad in a resplendent set of white armor, his presence was both commanding and yet oddly carefree. He grinned as he continued, "There were a few problems that needed my attention, but I handled them."

His words were lighthearted, but the moment his sharp eyes swept over the figures on the platform—taking in the sheer tension in the air, the lingering hostility, and the crushing pressure weighing down the very atmosphere—his expression changed ever so slightly.

"...Yeah, uh, you know what?" Without missing a beat, he turned back around and bent his knees slightly, preparing to jump again. "I'll just go pay my respects to Jura City first. See you later!"

"Get back here!" Before he could make his escape, Caesar moved like lightning—his hand latching onto the man's leg in a vice grip.

"You can pay your respects later!" Caesar growled, tightening his hold. "As the Chief of the Planetary Police, you should have been here from the very start of the coronation!"

"Alright, alright, let go already!" The man—Billy Burton, the so-called 'Chief of the Planetary Police'—sighed heavily as he wrenched his leg free from Caesar's grasp. He landed beside him with a grumble, rubbing the back of his head. "Damn it… Who is whose uncle, anyway? Robin needs to teach you how to respect your elders!"

"Haha, friend of His Excellency and Chief of the Planetary Police, I formally greet Sir Billy Burton." Aro gave a theatrical salute before tilting his head slightly, a playful smirk forming on his lips. "I wanted to ask, Sir Billy, if you were looking for more elite members in your force. I have plenty of exceptional candidates at my disposal! Or… do you intend for the police force to remain entirely human?"

Aro's words were smooth, his tone measured—but the sharp, knowing glance he threw toward Caesar was impossible to miss.

It was a veiled accusation.

The Planetary Police, in theory, were meant to be an independent law enforcement body—one that upheld order across multiple worlds, free from the influence of any single faction. But in reality? They were little more than an extension of the First Human Army, a convenient tool for Caesar's people to maintain control over the planets they governed.

And Aro wanted everyone here to remember that.

"Tch… Didn't I tell you before?" Caesar clicked his tongue, crossing his arms. "I hate your little word games, Aro, Play it somewhere else."

Rather than engage further, he simply looked forward once more, unwilling to waste time with petty debates.

"Hehe, High General Aro does make a fair point, though," another voice chimed in—smooth, feminine, yet carrying the weight of authority. Zara stepped forward slightly. "The Light Sword Police Force is always in need of new recruits from all races. However, it has been decided that all members must wield the Law of Light. If you have any races with a natural affinity for it, send them to police headquarters. The Chief will handle their training personally."

She then turned her attention to Billy and gave him a playful pat on the shoulder. "Right, Uncle?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course," Billy replied, chuckling.

He had always liked being called 'Uncle' by those five kids.

"Haha, that's reassuring to hear." Aro clapped his hands together once, his smile widening ever so slightly. "It would've certainly caused quite an uproar among the citizens if the entire police force were—"

BZZZZZZZT

Suddenly, a violent surge of energy crackled through the air.

CRACKLE CLANG

The atmosphere shifted in an instant. A new presence had arrived.