Lord of the Truth-Chapter 1167: Hidden hand

"You say that His Highness Richard succeeded? Succeeded in what?!" Leonid furrowed his brows, his confusion evident. "His Highness hasn't been seen for almost a year. He left to refine the planet's spirit, and there hasn't been a single word from him since then. No news, no sightings, nothing at all."

Theo remained silent for nearly a full minute, his piercing gaze sweeping across the street like a hawk surveying its prey. His expression was unreadable, and his body remained completely still, making Leonid and Kiri even more anxious. Then, finally, he lifted his hand and pointed in a specific direction, "There."

Leonid and Kiri instantly turned their heads, following Theo's finger.

At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary scene—a man in his fifties, round-faced and cheerful, stepping out of his small yet well-maintained home. His full figure suggested a comfortable life, and his face radiated warmth as he opened the door with a wide, toothy grin. With an enthusiastic laugh and a few hearty pats on the shoulder, he bid farewell to three guests who had just left his home.

"Haha, come back again anytime!" the man called out in a friendly tone. His guests responded in kind, exchanging polite words and cheerful nods before turning to walk away in different directions. Meanwhile, the man returned inside, closing the door behind him with a sense of ease, as though nothing in the world could trouble him.

Kiri narrowed her golden, feline-like eyes. "Do you see something we don't, Your Highness?"

Theo remained composed, his voice carrying the same cold detachment as always. "I have been keeping a meticulous watch over the three cities that served as the ignition points of the revolution. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I told you that I have memorized the faces of every key figure who holds influence here. I know who associates with whom, who owes whom, and who holds power over whom. These are the fundamentals of our work in the Shadow Swords—the Empire's watchful eyes and unseen hand. Our most important duty duty is to know everything before it happens."

He then gestured subtly toward the house. "That seemingly friendly man and those three guests should not know each other. Each of them resides in a different part of the city, a city that houses nearly a million residents. Each one of them is either the head of a small family or the owner of an independent business. And yet, despite having no logical reason to interact, they were gathered in that house. Why?"

Leonid and Kiri exchanged glances, neither of them had a clear answer.

After a few seconds, Theo continued anyway, his tone steady and measured. "Secret meetings like this became common after The People's Movement began its rise. Those affiliated with the movement would frequently gather two or three individuals from their social circles, informing them of its ideals and plans. Those willing to join did so, while those who hesitated were swiftly silenced—either through threats or persuasion. These meetings were especially prevalent among the wealthy and noble classes because they had direct influence over the lower classes. They were the ones who facilitated the transport of rebels, supplied weapons, and arranged safe houses."

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Theo's eyes darkened slightly as he uttered his next words. "What you just witnessed… was a glimpse of the past."

Leonid's face paled as the realization struck him. "The People's Movement has returned?!" His voice rose slightly, his shock momentarily making him forget their need for secrecy.

Even Kiri, who typically had little interest in human affairs, felt a shift in her posture. Her feline ears twitched slightly, her muscles tensing. This would be her first major assignment—her first real test.

"No need to jump to conclusions." Theo's voice remained calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. Then, with a single, precise gesture, he signaled toward the house.

Woosh!

The shadow of the door wavered unnaturally, rippling like liquid darkness. Then, in the blink of an eye, a figure emerged from the ground—a Shadow Sword, cloaked in black, kneeling before Theo with unwavering discipline, "Your Highness."

Leonid blinked in astonishment. "...They were under surveillance the whole time?"

Theo barely spared him a glance. "That is how intelligence and information networks should operate. If you wait until the meeting has concluded to start asking questions, then what is the point of your existence?"

Then, without missing a beat, Theo turned to the kneeling Shadow Sword. "The same as before?"

"The same as before, Your Highness. No changes." The Shadow Sword's voice was unwavering, his words delivered with practiced efficiency.

Theo nodded slightly. "You may go."

The Shadow Sword did not hesitate. In an instant, his form dissolved into the shadows, vanishing as swiftly as he had appeared.

Leonid felt a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. He had barely grasped what had just happened before the exchange had already concluded. He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "...Your Highness, could you clarify what exactly this 'same as before' means?"

There was a trace of reluctance in his tone. The more he listened, the more he realized just how much he didn't know. It was an unsettling feeling—one that made him question whether he truly understood the depth of the world Theo operated in.

It hadn't been long since Leonid was just like the Shadow Sword who had just departed—merely a soldier following orders, carrying out missions as instructed without much thought. He was told where to go, what to do, and whom to deal with. That was his role, nothing more, nothing less. But now, everything had changed. Suddenly, he was no longer just a sword to be wielded—he was the one who had to wield others. The weight of issuing orders, making decisions, and carrying the burden of responsibility was not something he had been prepared for. This was no simple change—it was a complete shift in existence.

Theo's calm yet sharp voice broke the silence, "The 'same thing' refers to a phenomenon that has swept through this city, and many others across the shelters and settlements of Planet Jura in recent times. Those people in that house… they were discussing His Excellency, Richard, and the Empire of True Beginning as a whole… But they weren't speaking ill of them. No, they were speaking highly of them, as if they were believers in a new faith."

His brows furrowed slightly as he continued.

"What that fat man just did—those three guests who left will now do the same. Each of them will gather a few acquaintances, whether close friends or distant contacts, and they will begin spreading the same message. They will start talking about how great the Empire is, how just and fair its laws are, how Crown Prince Richard's reforms have ushered in a new era. They will glorify him and his governance, turning every conversation into an opportunity for indoctrination."

Then, Theo turned fully to face Leonid and Kiri, his dull eyes glinting in the dim light of the alleyway.

"The truly strange part is this: the people most affected by the Empire's rule, those who have suffered the greatest losses, those who should have every reason to despise this system—they are the ones being invited to these gatherings the most. And during these meetings, their hosts don't just try to convince them. No, they subtly threaten them. They make sure they understand that they are being watched. That if they dare step out of line, the entire city—their own neighbors—will be the first to turn against them."

Theo gestured behind him toward the street that had only just begun to settle down.

"What you're hearing right now, what you're seeing unfold, is the biggest reason for the eerie atmosphere in the streets. The people themselves are silencing one another. Anyone who so much as voices a doubt or questions the status quo is summoned repeatedly, pressured, and ultimately forced to comply. They are made to spread propaganda, to sing the praises of His Excellency and the system. And all of this… is happening completely out of our control."

Leonid took a step forward, his voice filled with disbelief.

"This doesn't make sense! A phenomenon like this spreading so effectively—this level of organization—it means someone is behind it. Someone powerful. If it's not us, the Shadow Swords, then who else could possibly have the ability to orchestrate something like this?! How have we not uncovered them yet?"

Theo didn't waver. He simply pointed back toward the house they had been observing.

"Do you see the gathering that just ended? Right now, at this very moment, there are seventeen others just like it happening across the city. And in just two hours, every single participant will go on to create their own meetings, and so on. The chain will continue indefinitely."

His voice was steady, but there was a clear undercurrent of tension beneath it.

"There is a specialized division within the Shadow Swords dedicated to tracking the origins of these gatherings. We have been following their movements closely, but the entire network is so deeply layered, so meticulously crafted, that we haven't been able to reach the mastermind behind it."

Theo then turned his gaze back toward the house, his usually unreadable expression showing the slightest trace of unease, "What is happening now… is identical to what happened with The People's Movement. The same method of spreading ideology. The same way the leaders remain hidden, operating from the shadows. The only difference is the objective of these meetings."

For a moment, he went silent. But then, for the first time that night, his expression darkened. His golden eyes locked onto Leonid, sharp and unwavering.

"You asked me earlier what role The Crown Prince, Richard, plays in all of this—how exactly he 'succeeded.' The truth is, I don't know. But tell me, who else could it be? I haven't done anything. Big brother Caesar hasn't done anything. Emily, Zara, the others—none of them have moved. And I personally confirmed that Aro hasn't acted either. So who else?"

He exhaled slowly. "I don't know how, but I hope it was him… just a hope." A deep furrow appeared between his brows. "Because if it wasn't Richard… if this is the work of some unknown force operating from within the Empire—a hidden hand that we have no knowledge of—then we are in serious trouble."

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Leonid and Kiri exchanged glances. Beads of cold sweat began to form on their foreheads.

Then—

RUMBLE... RUMBLE...

"Ahhh!!!"

The sky let out a deep, guttural roar, as if the very heavens themselves were about to split apart. Thick, heavy clouds began to materialize out of nowhere, expanding rapidly across the city's skyline like an all-consuming tide.

And then—

RUMBLE—CRACK—

The ground trembled violently beneath them. It wasn't a simple tremor—it was as if the earth itself was convulsing in protest. Buildings shuddered, walls groaned under the strain, and the streets were filled with the panicked screams of civilians as they rushed out of their homes, terrified that everything would come crashing down around them.

SHHHHHH—

Then, without warning, the rain began to fall.

But it was no ordinary rain.

"...?"

Theo shot into the sky, his body suspended in the air as his eyes darted in every direction, scanning for the source of the anomaly.

Then, after a brief hesitation, he extended his hand, allowing a few drops of the strange rain to land on his palm.

He watched them for a moment. Then, with a sharp intake of breath, he brought his hand to his lips and let the droplets touch his tongue.

A second later, his eyes widened. His pupils shrank, "...Essence energy?!"