Lord of the Truth

"The Light Swords Police?" Alexander furrowed his brows slightly, a hint of curiosity and skepticism in his expression. "Did I miss something important?"

Marcel turned slightly toward him, his demeanor calm yet precise.

"His Highness Caesar had originally decreed that local policing should be managed by the natives themselves, believing that allowing them to govern their own affairs would foster stability and autonomy.

However, in the short term, this approach has proven to be highly impractical. With widespread unemployment, devastation, and societal collapse ravaging every planet under our rule,

crime rates have soared to unprecedented heights, creating a situation that is not only dangerous but also unsustainable."

Then he added, "Thus, His Highness Peon, His Highness Theo, and His Highness Caesar convened in a high-level meeting,

where they deliberated extensively before reaching a critical decision—

the establishment of a planetary police force that would operate directly under the Imperial Banner. This force would not only act as an instrument of order and law enforcement but also serve as a symbol of the Empire's authority, ensuring that crime is eradicated and that planetary affairs remain stable and efficiently managed."

"...." Caesar nodded slowly a few times, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding of the gravity of the situation.

There was no denying it—every single planet, without exception, had suffered immeasurably due to the war.

Entire cities had been reduced to rubble,

entire villages had been swallowed by chaos.

This was especially true for Planet Jura and Planet Poison Rock that

were they struck mercilessly by the tides of destruction.

There was not a single road that remained unobstructed,

not a single settlement that remained untouched.

Caesar's grand vision was to construct massive, fortified megacities—

intellectual and cultural hubs that would serve as pillars of civilization

while also functioning as emergency shelters in times of war or natural catastrophe.

But what about the millions, no, billions of people left outside these cities?

Would they be left to fend for themselves, with no homes, no structure, no future? It was clear that something had to be done.

Even if only rudimentary structures—mere brick and wood—were built for them, it would be far better than leaving them to rot in the wastelands of a broken world.

But even a basic reconstruction effort spanning 13 planets would demand an immense and almost incalculable supply of resources, along with an army of skilled laborers and workers to bring the vision to life.

Take the Nihari, for example—

they alone had billions of refugees, displaced and desperate.

These people, left without homes, without jobs, without purpose,

had begun adopting a dangerously ruthless way of life.

Reports had even surfaced of cannibalistic factions emerging among them once more!

"...Why 'Light Swords' specifically?"

Alexander, still somewhat unconvinced, turned toward his commander, his brow raised in question.

Caesar, however, merely chuckled, his tone laced with amusement.

"Shadow Swords operate in secrecy, while Light Swords operate in the open. Don't you think the name is perfect?"

But then, Caesar's tone grew more serious, "Those who wield the Law of Light are the fastest in the Empire. They have high-speed, high-precision, and high-power concentrated light-based attack beams. They can turn night into day at a crime scene, manipulate light variations in their surroundings to track any movement, and use various spectrums of light to analyze crime scenes with unparalleled ease And that's just to mention a few— there are countless other advantages that make them exceptional law enforcers."

Marcel, sensing that Alexander remained skeptical, decided to step in.

"There is also a psychological and sociopolitical aspect to consider.

It is a well-documented fact that individuals with a natural affinity for the Law of Light tend to exhibit certain personality traits—

They are often cheerful, approachable, and morally upright individuals.

They exude positivity and warmth, making them the ideal representatives of the Empire's ideals. Unlike traditional enforcers who might instill fear or resentment, the Light Swords Corps will inspire trust, admiration, and a sense of security among the native populations."

Then he turned to Caesar, "As we speak, their leadership structure is being finalized, their uniforms are being tailored, and their regional headquarters are being constructed. They are set to begin active duty very soon, and their presence will mark a new era of order and stability."

"...I can't argue with that one."

Alexander, after a brief pause, gave two slow nods of approval.

"Even though the Light Swords Corps is still in its infancy and has yet to produce a single Martial Emperor, they are more than capable of forming a formidable law enforcement force. Plus, considering their rapid growth,

we can also integrate them into the Imperial Military, allowing them to be mobilized in wartime operations. Their unique skill set would make them an invaluable asset in battlefield reconnaissance, allowing us to detect enemy movements, identify hidden dangers, and neutralize threats

long before they ever reach our borders"

"Resources, resources, resources…" Caesar groaned as he rubbed his temples with both hands, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. "I have no more questions about the budget," he admitted, exhaling deeply. "In fact, I'm starting to feel like I should give back some of my budget.

These endless branches, projects, and expansions— they're all going to bleed the empire dry. At this rate, in just a few short years, we'll be back to being penniless. And then what?

The twelve planets won't be able to restore our treasury overnight;

they need time to recover and grow. Meanwhile, Nihari is still an undeveloped wasteland in many places— it requires massive investments in infrastructure and stability before we can even begin extracting its resources properly."

Then he stated to get worried, "What is Emily doing spending all that about of resources at the same time? Should we resign ourselves to waiting thousands of years until we luck into discovering new planets ripe for exploitation?"

"Why wait?"

Alexander furrowed his brows slightly.

"His Excellency secured both Orphan's Blood and Greenland without much difficulty. Surely there must be more out there to claim."

Caesar let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head.

"That All-Seeing God won't hand over anything else without a price.

My father emphasized that fact more than once."

His voice carried a note of irritation as he waved a hand dismissively,

his mind still occupied with the financial dilemma at hand.

"Hmm… I really don't think resources will be our biggest issue

once Her Highness Zara completes the warship program, Your Highness."

Marcel interjected quickly, his tone filled with certainty.

"In fact— have you received the finalized investigation report regarding The Third General Aide, Haros?"

"The investigation is done?!" Caesar's gaze sharpened in an instant, his previous fatigue disappearing, "What did Peon uncover?"

"Wait—who the hell is Haros?!"

Alexander interrupted, his voice carrying clear frustration.

He felt increasingly out of the loop, and it was beginning to irritate him immensely.

He had missed far too much while focusing on other matters.

"Haros is a former Marshal from the Great Serpent Empire,"

Marcel began explaining without skipping a beat.

"When His Highness Peon noticed that the amount of raw resources collected was far greater than what the reported nine planets allow, he formed an investigative committee alongside His Highness Theo and Lady Emily. Together, they summoned the highest-ranking surviving officer

of the Great Serpent Empire, former Marshal Haros, and subjected him to a thorough interrogation regarding the Five Imperial Vaults and their contents."

Marcel continued, his tone serious yet unwavering.

"Haros initially claimed ignorance— he insisted that he had no knowledge of what was truly stored in the vaults. According to him, the only person who handled the resources directly was Pythor.

Pythor alone decided what went in and what came out, and he was notorious for constantly complaining about shortages and financial struggles."

Marcel's expression darkened slightly.

"But under further questioning, Haros revealed one crucial piece of information— one that completely shattered our previous assumptions.

He stated that the Great Serpent Empire had a secret source of wealth

beyond the Nine Planets!"

"WHAT?!" Both Alexander and Caesar stiffened, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"He was referring to asteroids and lifeless planets

that lacked atmospheres or any form of natural energy production."

Marcel continued swiftly, watching their reactions carefully.

"These celestial bodies had no life force, which meant they couldn't refine or absorb primal chaos energy. As a result, their surfaces were completely devoid of energy pearls, essence essence, or even basic energy stones.

However— they were still composed of valuable minerals!"

Marcel's voice gained momentum as he gestured with enthusiasm.

"The former Marshal Haros described a fleet of specialized vessels

dedicated solely to scouting and harvesting nearby asteroids and dead planets. These ships would obliterate celestial bodies using high-powered energy cannons, then drag back the largest rock fragments for processing. The extracted materials were taken to Poison Rock Planet,

where they underwent meticulous refinement and extraction

to yield high-quality ores, alloys, and other crucial resources."

"This process turned the Great Serpent Empire into a powerhouse of material production. With these resources, they were able to construct a massive fleet— thousands of warships, a vast number of transport and excavation vessels, and a military force equipped with weaponry sets on par with the Golden Regiments. Additionally, their raw minerals and metals made up the majority of tribute offerings presented to their Overlord."

Marcel took a deep breath before delivering the final revelation.

"Despite being relatively poor in terms of universal currency; Energy pearls, the Great Serpent Empire had an unmatched advantage

when it came to natural resource exploitation, all thanks to their constant mining and destruction of nearby celestial bodies.

According to former Marshal Haros, this was the very reason their Overlord favored them so highly. In fact, he even personally trained their elite Imperial Guardians as an acknowledgment of their contributions.

And the most shocking part? Haros claimed that their resource extraction efforts alone were capable of funding and sustaining an entire planetary war on a Mid-Belt Planet single-handedly!"