Published at 10th of May 2026 6:20 am

Chapter 2141 Source of annoyance

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Elizabeth, who had once led intricate and far-reaching espionage and sabotage campaigns against the other continents n Jura, and who had personally orchestrated the fall of the Sad Cats Tribe through careful planning and relentless execution, became, at Theo's request, equal in standing to Leonid, the Black Ray, and the other numbered Swords, taking orders from no one except Theo himself, her authority now elevated to a level that placed her directly beneath his will alone.

The girl who had once been relegated to the second row of the army, barely managing to lead a small armada to invade a minor planet under Marshal Caesar's banner, one among dozens of generals competing for recognition, and moreover someone who struggled to command World Cataclysm and Nexus States without provoking their dissatisfaction as easily as the scions of the Burton family did, suddenly found herself standing upon a completely different stage, a stage vast enough to contain her ambitions, and perfectly suited for her talents to unfold without restraint.

And she did.

Elizabeth spared no effort in Mid sector 88 assigned to her, pouring her full focus, intellect, and ruthlessness into every move she made. She executed First Sword Theo's orders of dispersion and terrorization with flawless precision and chilling efficiency, ensuring that every action carried both strategic value and psychological impact.

Mid sector 88 witnessed the ugliest and most terrifying face of the Shadow Swords, a face that struck fear into every observing force, yet at the same time it also recorded one of the lowest casualty rates among their ranks, a balance that spoke volumes of her control.

After Theo saw what she had accomplished in the sector, after witnessing the overwhelming awe and fear the Shadow Swords had achieved in just ten short years, and after realizing that the number of forces daring to attack them there had nearly dropped to zero, with the sole exception being the Behemoth of Relativity, Theo came to a decisive conclusion that this battlefield, despite its importance, was no longer the proper place for her capabilities.

He chose to pull her one step back, not as a demotion but as a shift in perspective, allowing her to observe the broader picture and influence it on a larger scale. Elizabeth was promoted to stand above a number of the numbered Swords, becoming their overseer, a role that granted her authority not just over actions, but over direction itself.

Currently, she supervises operations across the Mid sectors between 86 and 90, maintaining constant coordination between the numbered Shadow Swords while also participating directly in the formulation of their plans.

"...So, what will happen this time in Mid sector 89?" the Cosmic Elder asked after noticing that Robin's breathing had gradually calmed, his tone casual yet observant.

He did not seem particularly interested on the surface, as he was busy rearranging his cards at that moment, but in truth, this was simply his habitual way of breaking the silence while keeping the conversation moving.

"You know how the Omen of Truth works. I don't see things with full clarity, not one hundred percent. It gives me something like waking dreams or vague sensations that hint rather than reveal." Robin scratched his head lightly. "This time, it seems to be related to the forces of the Behemoth of Relativity stationed there. Most likely, the marshal responsible for those forces is attempting to rally local armies against the Shadow Swords, trying to erase their presence from the sector entirely through collective pressure."

"Oh, that sounds quite significant." The Cosmic Elder nodded several times, his expression sharpening just slightly.

"Tsk... Elizabeth has already done a great deal to neutralize the local powers in that region, systematically weakening their ability to act independently, but the Behemoth of Relativity is trying to forcibly awaken them and push them back into motion... what a strange and unpredictable opponent."

Robin gently rubbed his forehead, clearly weighing the situation. "But he will need far more than this if he truly intends to push the Shadow Swords out of those sectors. He is not dealing with structured, obedient armies that follow orders blindly, but with individuals who act independently and adapt quickly."

Then he laughed, a faint amusement in his tone. "Perhaps he intended to pressure the Shadow Swords until they reacted visibly, then point at them and say: look, locals, they are dangerous and immoral, get rid of them." He shook his head slowly. "But his plan has already collapsed, shattered into a thousand broken pieces before it could take shape. He underestimates the Shadow Swords' capacity for intimidation and manipulation. At their core, they are an underground organization built specifically for information gathering and sabotage, so why would they ever hesitate, even for a moment, when it comes to doing exactly that?"

In truth, Theo had indeed hesitated for a long time, far longer than he would ever admit openly, his thoughts circling the same concern again and again, not because he lacked the overwhelming power to destroy everything in his path and stand unmoved in the face of any retaliation, but because he genuinely feared for the reputation of Lord Robin Burton, whose name had, over time, become unofficially yet unmistakably intertwined with that of the Shadow Swords in the perception of countless forces across the sectors.

But Robin reassured him, calmly and without hesitation, and ultimately gave him the green light, removing that final layer of restraint that had been holding

Theo back.

Was there truly any force in the vast universe that did not possess some form of dirty, hidden intelligence apparatus operating in the shadows, unseen yet ever-present? Whether the Shadow Swords were officially tied to him or not was a meaningless distinction.

In the world of great powers, where influence and survival dictated every move, what truly mattered were interests, and interests alone.

And what the Savage Behemoth was currently doing stood as the clearest, most undeniable proof of that unspoken rule.

"Hmm... you do remember who you are speaking to, right?" the Cosmic Elder

hummed in a strange tone, one that carried both amusement and subtle

warning.

Robin was, quite literally, standing before the Cosmic Elder and speaking openly, almost casually, about sabotaging entire regions of the universe without the slightest attempt to soften his words.

"My apologies, but those sectors matter to me as much as they matter to you, if

not more." Robin shrugged lightly, his voice steady and unshaken. "But they

were the ones who started it."

"Who exactly started it?" the Cosmic Elder stopped rearranging his cards with one hand, his movements slowing before coming to a halt, and asked in a

serious, probing tone, his attention now fully focused on Robin.

"Does external pressure absolve them of responsibility?" Robin understood the deeper implication behind the question instantly, without needing further clarification. "None of them dares to openly declare that the Hidden Hand Syndicate and the Council of Thrones are the ones pulling their strings, so why should I refrain from punishing them for the actions they themselves carried out, willingly or not?"

The sudden mobilization of all these forces against the Shadow Swords was certainly not something tht could be attributed to coincidence, chance, or any natural alignment of interests. These leaders did not simply wake up one day and, without cause, decide to besiege the Shadow Swords from all directions.

Or more precisely...

To besiege the extended arm of Robin Burton himself, to strike at him indirectly without ever facing him directly.

Destroying the influence of the Shadow Swords within a region was, in

essence, equivalent to cutting off Robin's leg and foothold in that area, weakening his authority, limiting his reach, and reducing his ability to project power across the sectors, and whoever was orchestrating this understood that truth with absolute clarity and intent.

Yet at the same time, the one behind all of this clearly had no desire to confront Robin directly in a face-to-face battle, where the risks were immeasurable and the outcome far from guaranteed.

The forces of the Hidden Hand Syndicate within those sectors had not made a single visible move, not even the slightest ripple to indicate their presence. The Hidden Hand Syndicate, for instance, possessed at least one or two Law Dominators within every sector, powerful individuals capable of shifting the tide of war on their own, and yet they had not deployed them to attack the Shadow Swords, nor had they made any move against the Cradle Empire or the Grave Empire up until this point.

Instead, they maintained an unsettling and almost unnatural silence, appearing outwardly as though they were merely observing events from a distance with detached indifference, yet there was little doubt that they were the hidden hand orchestrating the ongoing military siege from the shadows, pulling strings that others did not even realize were attached.

After all, no one else possessed the capability to mobilize the Behemoth of

Relativity.

No one else could influence thousands of forces across dozens of sectors, compelling them to suddenly turn against the Shadow Swords without a clear and direct cause, coordinating such a wide-scale movement with precision. As for the Council of Thrones... unfortunately, it too had entered the conflict, though in a manner far more subtle and calculated, acting through influence, pressure, and unseen agreements rather than open confrontation.

As Robin considered all of this, his brows furrowed slightly, a trace of irritation

surfacing in his expression, and he turned toward the Cosmic Elder with a faint but unmistakable edge in his gaze. "Didn't you issue a direct threat to Qarun and his council in your announcement?" he said, his tone calm yet carrying a quiet pressure beneath it. "Why not follow through on it, destroy them outright, and spare me the trouble altogether? This isn't good for your own image, you know?"

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