Lord of the Truth

A mixture of enthusiasm, happiness, and disbelief struck Duke Galan upon hearing what Robin said.

After seeing what Robin could do, especially after the spirit Revitalizing pills he had sold at the auction, he realized that he could not force him to do anything

Because forcing Robin in something would be putting him in a box. 

if he was stupid and forced him to only make fire talismans from the beginning, he wouldn't have invented those pills or the darkness talismans which now he desires even more than the fire talismans! 

keeping him alive, making a good relationship with him, and hoping he would continue dealing with him, was the best and only choice

In his mindset: he needed Robin's future achievements and could not do anything to him, and Robin needed him now and that's why he will never hand him the real techniques or the methods to do all the work because then he will be less valuable...

this is why he never expected what Robin just said, actually he would have agreed to help if Robin swears to sell him his next few inventions! 

Jalan tried to hide his mixed feelings and looked at Robin with bright eyes, "Robin... these things can't be joked about..."

"And I'm not going to joke about important matters like this, help me conquer Dolivar and you'll have a level 6 Fire talismans manufacturing plant for you alone."

Jalan sat down again, leaned his back on the chair with his palm on his forehead, "You really know how to raise interest in others... you promise me the strength I want, and the Burton family you promise them the lands they have coveted for thousands of years...

but what about you? What will you gain from this war? How? For a wise genius like you to be led to war because someone angered his son? Don't get me wrong... it is kind of pathetic.

Secondly, Prince William told all the duchies and especially the border duchies with Dolivar - Stanley, Alton, Evren - that the Kingdom of Dolivar seeks a great war for a reason and that we must not fall into their snares until the intelligence department discovers the reason for their actions, 

I wonder how he will react when he sees me leading a war against them after his warning... while taking an Earl family with me!!"

"...Your first question has two answers, the easiest of them is that those bastards wanted to kill my son, so I will simply kill a few tens of thousands of them. 

I am not some wise god... How can I have enough strength and watch those I care about getting bullied and do nothing? So what is the point of everything I do then? But honestly, this is one part of the truth...

this leads us towards the harder answer, and in order to establish this fact and for all and do not to ask me about other reasons later...

  Let me answer the first question with a question, your highness Galan... I have been blessed with intelligence and tremendous research methods that qualify me to research medicine and engineering and develop the whole world if I want, 

but I started by developing weapons for major wars right away, why do you think I did this?

"..Why?" Galan never asked himself this question, it is natural for a person to strive to increase his strength, right?

Robin adjusted his seat and said in a serious voice, "Here's the answer to this question and with it the answer to your first question... I am a person who likes to work freely, and this freedom will only come with the extension of my absolute influence, or at least the influence of people I trust.

  For example, as long as the Duchy of Bradley is under your control, and you can be considered a valuable ally to me, I will provide you with arms and support to defend and expand your Duchy further. 

I can't just give strangers things that strengthen their armies and elevate their status and then they use it against me if a conflict of interest rises, don't you agree?

my previous inventions got me a safe sphere in the Burtons and the Bradleys territory, and I think it's a good time to increase this sphere a little

  I will not lie to you Duke Galan, I have been thinking for a while where to start expanding my sphere of influence, Duke Tinley of Dolivar presented himself to me on a golden plate, 

and here I am telling you that the Tinleys will not be the last, their Duke just sped up the process a little. 

It's just the beginning, my ambitions are much further than that ."

Mila couldn't hold herself more and interfered, "...Why are you trying to hide the truth by talking about freedom and revenge then? You're just thirsty for greatness, you want to stand on top of the world and write legends about you and for poets to sing your name, don't you?"

"Hahaha, who knows? maybe I am, does that bother you so much aunty Mila?" Robin laughed out loud

"Hmph, as long as you don't forget that we are allies, I'm happy." Mila raised her shoulders and went back to silence

"Good! As for your second question, Mr. Galan, if you were asked why you broke the recommendation and joined the Burton family in the attack, tell them that Caesar was the disciple of the one who gave you the talismans,

and that he was enraged that they tried to kill his disciple, and you are trying to reduce his anger so as not to lose his support for the Black Sun Kingdom... Just Make up some bullshit! it will not be difficult for you, you are used to politics."

After a couple of seconds, Galan finally spoke,"... alright I will join in, in 10 months I will get enough men and-"

"what 8 months? no no nooo, Duke Galan, that wouldn't work, the march must start 2 months from now." Robin shook his head repeatedly

Galan shouted angrily, "what two months?! this is invading another kingdom! I must gather at least 150,000 soldiers, I need time to gather, equip and train such an additional huge army!"

"then get me some of your already standing armies, I don't need 150k soldiers! a small army with the assistant of my talismans will be enough!"

Earl Brian hurriedly joined in, "Robin, Duke Galan is right, this in invading another kingdom, sometimes such wars takes decades to arrange, give us enough time to-"

"THEY MUST BE PUNISHED." 

A moment of silence fell over the place, the sight of the normally calm Robin shouting his lungs out, his eyes turning red and furiously gasping for air, was very astonishing...

Robin quickly readjusted himself and continued, " 2 months are already a test for my patience, I can wait no more then those, agree or not is up to you."

Everyone present had the same though watching this: It seems that even with his logical and ambitious speech... this guy wants revenge more than anything else.

"...Will you give us those level 16 talismans you gave Caesar?" Mila asked

"No, they can't be mass produced, you will have the level 6 fire talismans and the 5s Darkness talismans."

after a couple of seconds of thinking, Galan was the first to break the silence,

"Alright Alright, I'm in. but I can only share a quarter of my standing army because I have my own burning border with the Lying Water Kingdom too and can't leave the Duchy undefended, 

even though, I will send the elites with you.. the total number of what I will share will be 30,000 soldiers, 500 knights at levels between 11~20, and ten Saints, with the one leading them will be my cousin and my number one general."

Patriarch Brian spoke as well, "Sigh~ We will also participate, but as I already said, my army is screwed! we don't have enough money to maintain a large army, 

the Burton family's current standing army is only 20,000 soldiers.. But within two months I can spend the rest pit of the money we have and issue a forced armed call and gather another 10,000 soldiers, 100 knights, and we have 5 Saints other than me, I will send all of them too,"

"Hmm, then a total of 60,000 soldiers, 600 knights and 15 saints... That's more than enough! Make preparations, we'll be moving toward the frontier two months from today. 

The army from the Duchy of Bradley will have to cross the Burton lands  to go to the Dolivarians border anyway, so I think Jora city will be the best option as the meeting point,

  Duke Galan, I recommend that your generals head to Jura City as soon as possible to find out the best way to lead the combined army and the best use of the Runes during the war, 

I will get busy with making the talismans, the last batch of soldiers leaving the Duchy may come and take them before they leave, do any of you have a problem with this?"

"I have no problem," Galan nodded

"I agree too, Jura City will be happy to welcome our distinguished guests haha" Brian was trying to hide his feelings as much as possible but he still seems very happy, today is the most lively and enthusiastic day he had in his long life!

"Good, you guys stay to talk about things I don't understand, I'll go start working on the talismans, see you in a couple of months!" Robin stood and headed straight for the door, 

leaving the four behind to begin strategic coordination for the next great war.