"....."

"....."

Shaddad stood in the very center of the grand hall, wobbling slightly on his feet. His left eye was swollen shut, his lower lip was dripping warm blood, his nose was tilted at an awkward angle, and clear bite marks covered the side of his cheek, giving him an almost feral appearance.

"Pffft—" Jabba couldn't hold his laughter for long, he looked the other way, noises started escaping his mouth as his shoulders trembling.

"Hey!!" Shaddad barked at him immediately, clearly unable to tolerate even the slightest mockery. It was also obvious his throat had suffered some damage, because his voice came out strained and scratchy, "Just because you got in easily doesn't give you the right to make fun of me!"

"I didn't say anything!" Jabba turned away, trying to hide the smirk threatening to escape.

"Well now," Robin spoke with a soft smile, attempting to ease the humiliation boiling inside the bruised newcomer, "his situation wasn't any better when I accepted him as a disciple."

"Really…?" Shaddad squinted suspiciously with his one usable eye, glancing at Jabba as if hoping for comfort.

"Ugh…" Jabba groaned, as if recalling a trauma buried deep, "He detonated a talisman on the back of my neck that day, then tied me up like a roast and planted several more talisman traps all over my body."

"...?!" Shaddad forced the swollen eyelid open just a little further, interest gleaming through pain, "...hehe."

"Hey!!" Jabba snapped back this time, "My face didn't turn into a bruised potato like yours!"

"You…!!"

"Alright, enough," Robin clapped both hands sharply, the authority in his tone cutting through the bickering, "You'll have plenty of time to chatter later. Now then—Shaddad."

"Yes?!" Shaddad answered with instinctive haste, heart pounding intensely in his chest.

"You are officially my second disciple. From now on, you may study the three Master Laws alongside Jabba. You will share the same mission: at least one application of these Laws every thousand years." Robin nodded, his smile gentle but confident.

"...." Shaddad stared at Robin's face for several silent seconds, then slowly lowered himself onto his knees and palms, "This disciple greets his master."

"Mm." Robin nodded once more with a proud, satisfied grin, "Do your best, Shaddad—especially in forging a personal body cultivation path." He gestured toward Jabba. "Your senior brother created a formation to strengthen the physical body before. You may study it. And since he is a Truth Chosen specialized in blood differences, I'm sure he'll be able to add a few valuable touches to your path."

"Really?!" Shaddad's eyes sparkled with unrestrained joy as he glanced at Jabba, before bowing deeply toward Robin once more, "Understood, master."

Robin continued calmly, "From today onward, you no longer need to exhaust yourself searching for resources for your experiments or body-forging. Simply tell Harper what you require, and he will obtain it—no matter the rarity or cost. You may also request research archives from Sky Opening City, especially studies related to physical power, elixirs, or anything else you desire."

He then turned toward Jabba and Morgana, "The same applies to both of you as well."

Suddenly, something seemed to spark in his memory. "Ah, right. If you need someone with extreme physical durability for testing or comparison, summon Holak. If he finds out there are trials that can make him stronger… he'll rush here instantly."

"...Thank you, master." A thin sheen of tears formed at the corner of Shaddad's eye, trembling, "...I'm ready now."

"Hmm? Ready for what?" Robin raised a brow, genuinely confused.

"For the oath. Give me the method, and I shall recite whatever you require." Shaddad's voice trembled with seriousness, as though he were about to pledge his very soul.

An oath of loyalty? Eternal servitude? Silence as punishment for betrayal? It didn't matter. Becoming a disciple of the Great Truth Chosen of this era was worth any price. To serve such a generous, magnanimous, astonishing human was worth anything.

"..." Jabba let out a long exhale and straightened his posture. The moment the oath method appeared… he would immediately demand one as well, even if their master didn't ask. He had been thinking about it for a long time.

"Stand up, big guy," Robin waved with a carefree chuckle, "My disciples don't take oaths."

Then he declared proudly, voice echoing across the hall: "If a disciple personally chosen by me betrays me, then I shall blame no one but myself… for choosing poorly!"

Since the very beginning of his long and arduous path, Robin had decided deep within himself that his adopted children, his lineage, and his disciples would never be bound by any rigid oath of loyalty.

He believed that forcing devotion would only shackle their growth. Instead, he wanted them to feel that they contributed out of pure, genuine free will, pouring their full creativity, passion, and individual brilliance into whatever they pursued. He wanted them to feel like valued partners, not slaves or tools, inspiring them to always strive to elevate the Empire to a better and more prosperous state.

And also… to convince himself in the quiet chambers of his own heart that he was not merely a tyrant obsessed with authority and control, but a leader carving his own philosophy of trust.

"….?!" Shaddad stared into Robin's eyes for several quiet, trembling seconds, as if trying to confirm whether those words were real.

Drop

A few stray drops of tears slipped from the corner of his eyes, pattering softly against the floor. He inhaled sharply, then began to nod as he pushed himself upright, voice trembling with emotion, "Understood… Shaddad understands completely."

At that moment, he carved a burning resolve deep into his heart… the rest of his life would be devoted to the Master, without hesitation or regret!

"….." Jabba cast a long, thoughtful glance toward Robin, then exhaled a quieter sigh than usual.

Even though he eventually returned and annihilated the army of the Great Serpent Empire, it was still astounding—almost unbelievable—that the Master refused to place any oath on him or on Shaddad after all that happened…

Perhaps he truly had overestimated his own importance in the Master's eyes.

Now a single path stretched before him —bright but steep— he would have to prove, with sweat and achievement, that the Master did not make a poor choice.

"Mn," Robin nodded with a warm smile that held confidence, "Good. Work hard, Shaddad. With what Jabba will provide you, those three Master Laws, and the Shadow Swords… I fully trust you'll accomplish something truly remarkable—something history might whisper about. And should that happen…"

Robin paused deliberately, letting anticipation bloom, "…I promise you a great reward."

"A great reward?" Shaddad wiped lingering tears from his eyes with the back of his sleeve, voice cracking slightly, "Is there even a reward greater than studying the inscriptions of the Balance and Creation Master Laws?!"

"…?!" Morgana's eyes widened so fiercely they almost trembled. His Majesty would provide them access to Master Laws?!

But her brows gradually tightened with realization…

His Majesty mentioned three Laws.

Why did Shaddad only mention two?

"Whether it's you or Jabba," Robin continued, stepping slowly as he explained, "studying all three will drastically broaden your horizons. It's like a sturdy chair you stand on to peer over a tall wall that once blocked your view. But that is not your prize, Shaddad. Your reward is something else entirely—something you'll benefit from directly, something personal, tailored to your path."

"…." Shaddad bowed instantly, spine straight and respectful, "I'll do everything within my power. I won't waste this."

"Excellent." Robin clapped loudly once, the sound echoing through the chamber, and began walking toward the exit, "Start what you must do. I'll be entering seclusion now to prepare."

"Get back here!!" Shaddad suddenly roared with surprising speed, then whoosh lunged at him like a wild beast.

"Eh?! What are you doing?! What are you doing, Shaddad?!" Robin's eyes shot open in pure shock as he suddenly found himself lifted high above Shaddad's head like a trophy.

"I've gathered the requirements for your bath and have been waiting for you for well over a century! You're not leaving until you complete your bath today!" Shaddad hoisted him with both arms and sprinted toward a sealed side chamber. His soul sense brushed the door like a key, and it slid open instantly, revealing a small, shimmering pool behind it that glowed faintly with power!

"Shaddad, be reasonable—Shadaaa—!"

Bang!

The heavy door slammed shut behind them like a prison gate.

"Oh… he must've noticed the Master has been in seclusion for far longer than usual and needed to wash. Shaddad is surprisingly thoughtful about that. I'll keep this in mind when master returns from his next seclusion," Jabba clapped palm to palm with a faint grin.

"Pssst~"

"Hm?" Jabba slowly turned his head, ears twitching after hearing a faint whisper that sounded suspiciously like a cat's call.

"Pssst, come here, come here," Morgana leaned slightly, beckoning quietly with a sly, playful grin, "...I have a question about your Master's wives."

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