"Hunting, you say?" A bone-deep, spine-chilling smile slithered across Gragnakh's monstrous face, his voice dripping with mockery. "Are you seriously trying to wrap your own foolishness in the excuse that you actually meant that?" His tone was filled with venomous amusement, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

Robin only exhaled slowly, his expression calm, his tone steady. "What can I say? As Harper here pointed out earlier, I'm far too kind-hearted for my own good. But at the same time, I've never been the type who enjoys going out of my way to make friends… or enemies. I'm the kind of person who prefers those kinds of relationships to find their way to me." He gave a faint, almost self-mocking chuckle. "When I found your children to be… promising, I decided to give them a chance. But in truth," he lifted his gaze toward the crowd, "I was giving you all a chance as well."

"…A chance to see whether any among you are truly worthy of kindness." His voice deepened, the weight behind his words spreading through the room. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, swept across every face present like a silent storm. "And a chance to see if any among you are vile enough to deserve punishment." Then, with a light shrug and a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes, he added, "Either way, I win."

"…You," he turned back toward Gragnakh, his gaze piercing, "since you only control a quarter of that ancient, millennial empire of yours, what I require from you is this: 150 planets, 150 planetary-grade artifacts, and 1.5 billion Pearls."

"Hah?!" Gragnakh blinked, then suddenly burst into roaring laughter. "Hahahaha!!" He jabbed a thick, clawed finger toward Robin, his laughter echoing through the chamber. "Do you all hear this idiot?! Do you hear what I'm hearing right now?!" His shoulders shook from the force of his mockery as he turned toward the others in the room.

"…" Everyone stared at Robin in stunned disbelief, their brows furrowed and eyes full of confusion. What was going on here? Why was a professor —a supposed mentor— talking to them with such audacity? Even Her Majesty Althera herself would have to show proper respect toward centennial and millennial powers!

"This is utterly absurd." The woman wearing a crown of gleaming feathers stood from her seat, the movement sharp and decisive. The retainers and warriors behind her immediately followed suit, forming a wall of hostility.

"Professor Robin," another group spoke up, their leader's voice cold as ice, "you'd better reconsider your stance before this escalates."

Then another delegation stood. "It seems we made a grave mistake coming here."

Clap! Robin clapped his hands together powerfully, the sound cracking like thunder across the hall. "It was an honor to have you all here today," he said with a polite smile. "As I mentioned before, you're under no obligation to accept anything. It's merely a matter of offer and demand. These gifts are simply tokens to my students, and the so-called 'deal' we spoke of is nothing more than a small, forgettable side arrangement."

His eyes grew colder, though his tone remained gentle. "I only ask one thing: since you've refused the offer, do not try to extract information from the children. Should that happen…" His lips curled faintly, "I'll be very sad."

"Who cares about your sadness, clown?!" Gragnakh roared, veins bulging across his neck. "We came all the way here, gave you face, gave you honor! That alone should've been enough for someone like you to grovel in gratitude—and yet you dare demand such insanity?!"

"Ah~ It seems there's been a little misunderstanding," Robin murmured softly, though his words carried through the entire room like an echo of power. He turned toward the grand gate with slow, deliberate steps, his demeanor suddenly shifting from calm to commanding. "My words weren't directed at you— but only them." He raised a hand, pointing lazily at Gragnakh. "They can still make their decisions freely. But you… your time has already run out. You'll have to repay your debt—by force."

Robin's eyes gleamed as he looked Gragnakh up and down. "From the moment you entered this place, I could smell it—the stench of one of those creatures you used to strengthen your lineage, on those I personally recommended." A small smirk formed on his face. "It seems your blood density has risen by about 0.5%."

He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "But that's not all, is it? I can sense the faint presence of other bloodlines, other borrowings merging within your system. Heheheh… you're desperately trying every method available, aren't you?" His grin widened dangerously before he turned his gaze toward his student—Vanir. "I can't help but wonder… how did that happen?"

"What?!" All of the guests turned toward Gragnakh in shock.

Those techniques—the ones used by the children—were said to be complex and unstable, and yet… could they truly affect a being at the Nexus State?

"Uh… u-uh…" Vanir's entire body stiffened as his eyes began to tremble violently. He could barely control his breathing as he turned his head away from his teacher's piercing gaze, his heart pounding so hard it hurt. Inside, he was silently praying for the ground to open up and swallow him alive.

"Vanir, you…?!" Mirena's voice cracked as she pointed at her teammate, disbelief painted all over her face.

"I—I'm sorry…" Vanir whispered, voice trembling as he stared down at the floor, shame written across his features. "Our faction… it's been losing strength lately. I tried to stall, to hold on until we could find the professor, but he... and… and…"

"Enough!" Gragnakh's furious bellow tore through the air, echoing across the grand hall like a rolling thunderclap. His arm slashed through the air with such overwhelming force that the pressure alone made several nearby guests flinch. "Why must you justify yourself, you pitiful wretch?!" His voice thundered again, venom dripping from every word. "Why are you spilling internal secrets here of all places? You're a disgrace to your bloodline!"

Then his burning eyes snapped back toward Robin, gleaming like molten metal. "Yes! I'm using them—what of it?! I came here, lowering myself to your little presence, to express gratitude and perhaps strike a deal for my next ascension. But a lowborn, ignorant worm like you," he sneered, spitting the words with pure contempt, "wouldn't know the value of a single star, even if the heavens themselves fell and placed it in your palm!"

He jabbed a clawed finger toward Robin, again and again, his rage mounting with every breath. "What I can't obtain with courtesy, I'll take with blood and bone! Don't test me, teacher. Don't step beyond those academy walls, or I swear, I'll crush you where you stand. Consider that your only warning!"

"Lord Gragnakh, this behavior is completely inappropriate," interjected the man with the translucent, jelly-like veins rippling faintly beneath his skin. His tone was firm, but even he couldn't mask the nervous quiver in his voice.

"Silence!" Gragnakh snapped instantly, his tone sharp enough to cut air. "What's wrong with this day?! Since when does every crawling insect think they can tell me what's proper and what's not?!" He turned and glared around the assembly, his expression twisted with fury. "Even a man who nearly lost his title as a centennial emperor dares to preach to me? Pathetic! You've all forgotten your places!"

"Lord Gragnakh," another voice joined in—this time the stag-horned elder, his antlers glimmering faintly under the ambient light. "We cannot, and will not, allow you to engage the professor in a unilateral act of aggression! This is an academy of neutral standing. You'd better restrain yourself!"

Gragnakh's expression darkened further before slowly twisting into a cruel grin. "Restrain myself?" he repeated mockingly. "When I'm done squeezing him dry," he spread his massive arms wide, laughter rumbling deep in his chest, "I'll sell you all what remains—his knowledge, his secrets, his precious data—at excellent prices!" Then, with a wicked smirk, he added, "And if any of you manage to catch him before I do, by all means—do the same! Hahaha!"

Then he raised his hand and pointed directly at Robin one last time, his eyes blazing with open hatred. "You dare tell me I'll pay by force, hmm? Then be a man and come out of this academy! Make me pay if you can!"

Without another glance, he turned sharply, his heavy cloak whipping through the air. "We're leaving!"

With a few thunderous strides, Gragnakh and his retinue vanished, their presence dissipating from the edges of the academy grounds like a collapsing storm.

"I suppose that means we should take our leave as well," murmured the man with the goat-like horns, his tone carrying an air of cold finality.

The wife of the founder of the Peacock of the West Empire—a graceful woman draped in flowing silks and jeweled feathers—nodded softly. "Indeed." Her voice was calm, but there was a trace of disappointment in it. "This meeting was clearly a waste of our time." With that, she turned and began walking down the marble steps of the amphitheater, her entourage following in silence.

"All of you…!!" Shaddad suddenly shouted, pointing toward the departing dignitaries. His voice trembled with disbelief and desperation. "You have no idea what kind of opportunity you're throwing away today!!"

"Thank you, Professor Shaddad," replied the green-skinned man with a condescending smile as he turned to leave. "But you can keep that 'opportunity' for yourself." He gave a mocking bow and departed, his laughter fading behind him.

They had come here expecting a breakthrough—a chance to gain more power, to climb higher up the ladder of the eternal path. Instead, they had been asked to give up nearly half of the accumulated wealth their empires had guarded for millions of years. No sane emperor would agree to that. The idea alone was absurd beyond belief.

And besides… now that the children already possessed the knowledge they came for, there was nothing left to bargain with. No leverage, no negotiation, no deal.

Poof. With the sound of seats creaking softly, all the students—except for Vanir—sank back into their chairs, their shoulders trembling. None of them spoke. Their eyes were locked on their teacher, filled with silent dread. But it wasn't fear of him—it was fear for him. Why was he doing this? Why was he deliberately provoking beings so far above mortal comprehension?

They had come today full of pride, their heads held high, believing they were honoring their mentor by bringing the representatives of their noble houses to meet him. They had even paid enormous sums just to gain access to the academy grounds, a gesture meant to show the highest level of respect and admiration. And yet… how had it all ended like this?

The air grew still, thick with confusion and tension. But then—something happened.

A sound broke the silence. Just a single voice, faint but steady. It wasn't loud, yet it carried through every corner of the hall like a whisper of doom.

Harper's voice.

"Professor," he said cautiously, "should I forward Gragnakh's party name from the Eternal Turtle Empire to Marshal Aro?"

"Aro?" Robin's tone softened slightly, an amused glint in his eye. "No, no." He chuckled under his breath, his laughter quiet but oddly unsettling. "They're still a respectable millennial empire, after all."

Then, suddenly, his smile faded. His entire expression turned cold—so cold that the students felt their blood freeze.

"Forward their file to Wade personally," Robin said flatly. "And tell him… to double the rate."

"…..?!"

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