Chapter 2219: The court |
"...The boy will not die, and Universe B-14 will not be punished. Name your price." The All-Seeing God’s manifestation slightly raised his head, giving Robin his back as though the matter had already been decided.
"Does Your Exalted Self intend to obstruct an Executioner’s work?" Tanoya slightly raised an eyebrow, though the pressure around her had clearly grown heavier. "Can Your Exalted Self truly bear responsibility for something like this?"
"I did not interfere with your colleague when he tore away ninety percent of B-14’s territory, annihilated the civilization of a universe that had flourished for nearly thirty million years, and cast it back beneath zero." The All-Seeing God’s tone became colder with every word. "He concentrated all power and knowledge into the hands of a tiny number of surviving factions, and ever since that day humanity in B-14 has never returned to its former glory... and perhaps never will."
Then he narrowed his eyes further.
"If one of B-14’s genius kids had not risked himself and exacted retribution upon that Executioner who abused his authority, then who knows how much worse matters would have become? I endured it. I neither documented the incident nor demanded compensation for that cruel event which appeared orchestrated, but I will not allow another one."
"...?" Robin’s expression kept shifting every passing moment.
One of B-14’s genius kids...
Was he referring to the Cosmic Elder?!
The entire situation had become unbelievably strange.
Yet for some reason, the All-Seeing God was standing on his side and actively trying to find a way out?
"Orchestrated?" Tanoya showed a faint smile, though her eyes remained sharp. "Is Your Exalted Self prepared to defend those words before the Court?"
"Do not attempt to frighten me with the Court!" the All-Seeing God waved his hand forcefully, causing the surrounding laws to tremble. "I remained silent during the first incident so my prestige would not suffer and people would not say I am incapable of enduring some losses, but I will not permit further punishments even if I must gather the Court itself, I do not care!"
Then he pointed directly toward her.
"If you I’m correct, and this targeting truly was orchestrated, then you should already understand my position and what I am capable of. Do not gamble on the limits of my reach!"
"...." Tanoya furrowed her brows tightly.
For the first time since arriving, hesitation visibly appeared in her expression.
"Wait, I want to say something." Robin suddenly raised his hand despite his miserable condition, then pointed toward the Executioner. "She said you’re a filthy cheat."
"Me?!" the All-Seeing God pointed toward himself in genuine shock.
"He’s lying, he’s lying!!" Tanoya quickly took a step backward, her composure nearly collapsing. "How can Your Exalted Self take such a lowly liar as a candidate?!"
"You may search through my memories however you wish, I’m telling the truth." Robin nodded toward the All-Seeing God with complete seriousness. "She also said you’re filthy, useless, AND trash."
"You!!!" The Executioner nearly burst into tears from rage.
"Enough." The All-Seeing God raised one hand and looked toward Tanoya firmly. "She is merely a low-ranking employee, a trivial existence. By the Court’s standards she is nothing more than a soldier, and by the Pantheon’s standards she is not even worthy of being considered a servant."
Then restrained anger appeared in his voice.
"But she dares speak so disrespectfully here because she possesses protection from the Pantheon while carrying out her duties, that is all."
"...." Tanoya forcibly maintained a smile despite the twitching in her expression. "It is good that Your Exalted Self understands I am merely carrying out my duties, so why not allow me to continue? Please disperse your shard. I do not sell my services, I will continue carrying out my duty to the best of my ability, and once again... Your Exalted Self may file a complaint against me if desired."
"So that’s how it is..." The All-Seeing God stared at her silently for several moments before a strange smile slowly formed across his face. "The useless, lazy Executioners suddenly became diligent and passionate about their work?"
Then he raised his voice and gestured broadly around them.
"What about all those humans piercing the shells of their universes and wandering through the void day and night, especially those from A-rank universes? Why don’t you hunt those people down and punish their universes instead?"
"I cannot speak on behalf of others. I am merely carrying out my duty." Tanoya replied without emotion, though her body had already begun trembling faintly.
"And it just so happened that the dead dog before you was diligent and devoted to his work as well?" the All-Seeing God raised his voice further before slowly nodding to himself. "Then it truly is a conspiracy against B-14, just as I suspected..."
"Your Exalted Self is jumping toward baseless conclusions." Tanoya began sweating slightly despite her attempts to remain composed. "Please do not create massive theories and problems and place me in the center as evidence. I am merely carrying out my duty."
"Ohh, but you are already standing in the center whether you wish to be or not." The All-Seeing God displayed a wide smile before pointing far into the distance. "Unless you open your mind and listen... go hunt one of those rats fleeing from other universes if you desire a victim. If you put forth even a little effort and abandoned the famous laziness of the Executioners, you could probably catch two or three before this millennium ends. Wouldn’t that be safer than fighting my candidate? Look at him, look at his power!"
Afterward, his tone shifted slightly.
"...Do as I say, and then come to me. Maybe you do not truly know who I am. Maybe you only recognize my rank through the shard’s aura, but I know you, I saw your face now..." His smile deepened further. "Just come to that place, and I will reward you. You know very well that I can."
Tanoya’s body trembled harder.
For a brief instant, hesitation genuinely appeared in her eyes.
"...I apologize, but I must carry out my duty."
"....." The All-Seeing God slowly lowered his hands, the anger within his eyes growing hotter and hotter.
Then he suddenly turned toward Robin.
"Here is your new mission. Protect Universe B-14."
"Hah?!" Robin visibly froze in confusion at the abrupt change in topic.
"This mission has nothing to do with repaying debts or training." The All-Seeing God’s voice became completely serious. "Protect the universe. Even if you possess the ability to escape and survive by yourself, just as that little brat Athena did, do not do it. Escaping and abandoning the universe to its fate would merely be a slower death."
Then his gaze sharpened further.
"...Do everything within your power. If you succeed, you will be rewarded. And if you fail, then go knowing that you already achieved your own glory. With power like yours... you were destined for things far greater than this."
The All-Seeing God extended his hand and placed it firmly upon Robin’s shoulder.
"Whether you emerge victorious or defeated, I will turn the Court upside down." Then a faint smile appeared on his face. "...I gave you many missions, and you failed to complete even one of them, but I will wager that you can accomplish this one... it is Universe B-14’s final hope."
Woooosh.
The All-Seeing God’s manifestation began dissolving into streams of golden light before they rapidly entered Robin’s forehead. .
"Huh?" Robin instinctively took a step backward, shock and confusion completely covering his face.
"Fwooo~" The dark-skinned Executioner finally showed relieved expressions. "Meeting someone like him is always difficult."
Then she slowly raised her mace toward Robin once more.
"Come on, give me your head. I need to return with your corpse before he submits his report."
"This..." Robin took another step backward, his eyes filled with countless questions and disbelief. "How... how..."
"Do not exhaust your tiny brain trying to understand what you just heard." The Executioner secretly began erasing the four symbols and the enormous eye in preparation for another round. "...You will never hear those grand terms again."
"How..." Robin placed both hands over his head for several moments before slowly lowering them again.
Then he stared directly toward Tanoya with widened eyes.
"...How exactly does he intend to reward me for killing you? Do you think he truly meant what he said?"
"...?!"
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