Published at 11th of May 2026 6:19 am

Chapter 2142 The red line

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"Destroy who?" the Cosmic Elder let out a cold, mocking laugh, the kind that carried both ridicule and quiet confidence, "I don't know what are you talking about."

"The Council of Thrones, of course!" Robin raised his voice slightly, his tone sharpening as his gaze fixed forward. "How will you look in front of everyone if you let them do whatever they want after giving them a direct, undeniable threat?"

"Oh? That sounds serious... Do what exactly? They had done a lot of things." Once again, the Cosmic Elder didn't seem interested, his expression calm, almost dismissive, as if the entire matter failed to stir even a fraction of his

concern.

"...Have your repeated losses against me affected your mind, old man?" Robin frowned slightly, his brows tightening as irritation crept into his voice.

"You call winning by using a fake card called the Sitting King a victory?!" the Cosmic Elder finally showed a hint of annoyance, his voice rising just enough to break his earlier indifference. "Secondly, I threatened the Council of Thrones not to obstruct the Cosmic Academies from carrying out their duties. Are they doing that?!"

"Of course they are!!" Robin raised his voice, this time more forcefully. "Don't you see that their actions are indirectly restricting the Cosmic Academies, tightening the space they operate in without ever openly opposing them?" "Indirectly?" the Cosmic Elder waved his hand lightly, as if brushing away something trivial. "Should I go to Qarun and tell him I will kill you and all your followers because you are indirectly threatening my friend's weak and helpless organization? Especially after the progress they've recently made?"

"...." Robin frowned deeply, his brows knitting together as he lowered his gaze.

Qarun...

He had delivered a dirty blow, one that both struck Robin's side and, in a strange and twisted way, satisfied the Cosmic Elder at the same time.

After the Cosmic Elder announced the establishment of the Cosmic Academies and withdrew legitimacy from the Stellar Academies, panic spread like wildfire. It erupted within the Council of Thrones on one side, and within nearly ninety percent of the Stellar Academies on the other.

The leaders of those academies never truly cared about grand slogans or lofty ideals like serving life. What they cared about was simple, direct, and ruthless: maximizing their gains. And the Cosmic Elder's decision, though it appeared beneficial on the surface, in truth shackled them tightly.

Under Qarun's administration, they had been free. They could do as they pleased, expand as they wished, exploit as they desired, so long as they handed over ninety percent of their profits. It was a crude system, but it was one that gave them freedom in exchange for tribute.

But this new system... this system that would now fall directly under the supervision of Lord Human and the Cosmic Elder... it would not tolerate such freedom. It would be watched, controlled, measured, and restricted.

Even if, on the surface, they were promised everything... better coordination, more resources, and whatever enticing benefits the Cosmic Elder had declared in his announcement... the truth was far harsher. They would never again be able to earn as much as they once did, nor secretly siphon away what they used to steal.

Thus, the Cosmic Elder's announcement became, in reality, a lifeline for Qarun, who had already begun to lose his grip over the Stellar Academies.

Seizing that opportunity without hesitation, Qarun sent out new offers. He reduced the tax he demanded, lowering it from ninety percent to eighty percent, while keeping every other condition unchanged.

And that offer... worked.

More than half of the academies that had previously declared rebellion found that offer tempting enough to reconsider. Greed outweighed pride, and hesitation turned into submission. One by one, they returned to the authority of the Council of Thrones and resumed their role in combating the Anti-Life forces.

As for the residents of the sectors, those who already had ties with these academies and had entrusted their children to them, they continued paying without pause, driven by fear and necessity, ensuring their protection would not falter.

At that time, the number of Cosmic Academies was still painfully small. They simply could not protect the vast expanse of the universe. Even if the Cosmic Elder had withdrawn his trust from the Stellar Academies, those institutions still held the experience, the established systems, the vast peacekeeping armies, and the structured power needed to defend entire sectors.

They were still, in practice, the backbone of order.

After reclaiming nearly fifty percent of the Stellar Academies under his command, Qarun did not stop there...

He pushed forward.

He sent his disciples, his most capable agents, to hunt down the breakaway Stellar Academies, those who had dared to declare independence and proclaim the rise of their own empires.

And this time... he had no intention of letting them escape.

Dozens upon dozens of Law Dominators and Royal Soul Lords spread across the universe as devastating wars erupted everywhere, conflicts so overwhelming that entire factions were crushed into the ground, their territories reduced to ruins, and everything they owned was plundered without

restraint.

Qarun did not leave even the slightest opening for any academy to remain neutral or to fully break away... every single one of them was forced into a corner, compelled to make a choice whether they liked it or not.

In the end, the incentives on Qarun's side proved to be far more tempting. One after another, more Stellar Academies chose to join him, where they were granted far greater freedom, wider room to accumulate personal wealth, and significantly lighter responsibilities, allowing them to lean on already exhausted peacekeeping armies instead of exhausting their own strength.

In comparison... the number of Cosmic Academies barely increased.

Qarun... he had not crossed a single red line set by the Cosmic Elder.

On the surface, everything he did appeared reasonable. He offered better terms for the academies to return to their duties of protecting the universe, and he even punished the hesitant academies that chose to withdraw under the excuse of serving the greater good... he committed no visible wrongdoing, nor did he directly interfere with the Cosmic Academies.

Yet, behind that flawless exterior, his actions formed a tightening siege around the Cosmic Academies... and around Robin himself.

Up until this moment, the number of academies that had chosen to stand on Robin's side was around four hundred Cosmic Academies, scattered thinly across the vast expanse of the universe, making up only about twelve percent of the total academies.

And with some sectors hosting more than one Cosmic Academy, such as the Mid Sectors 99 and 100, it meant that the overwhelming majority of sectors remained completely empty of any academy affiliated with Robin. Those dark, distant regions, from his perspective, were still fully dependent on Qarun and his forces for protection and order.

The Cosmic Elder's announcement had been meant to completely dismantle the Stellar Academy system, to tear it down at its roots... but unfortunately, a system built upon the greed of academy leaders proved far stronger than exected. Not only had it survived, it had grown even more unified and resilient

than before.

And the worst part was... there was nothing he could do about it!!

"Ugh... You just to directed your words at Qarun and tell him he still had time to

correct himself?!" Robin slammed his hand onto the table, the sound echoing sharply. "Are you satisfied with what's happening right now?"

"That the Stellar Academies have returned to operation? Yes, I am satisfied," the Cosmic Elder laughed, his tone light, almost amused.

"They're doing the bare minimum, and they're still recruiting peacekeeping armies from ordinary people and from the slaves of the Syndicate of the Hidden Hand. Doesn't that mean anything to you?!" Robin fired back quickly, his frustration clearly rising.

"That's a problem for the people to deal with," the Cosmic Elder waved dismissively, as if brushing away an insignificant matter. "The red line was not interfering with the new Cosmic Academies, and they have not done so directly so far. On what basis would I step forward and say anything more?" He let out a low chuckle. "I've said my piece, and that matter is finished. It's time for you to play with Qarun the same way he has been playing with you."

...

"...." Robin leaned back slowly in his chair, exhaling as tension lingered in his

expression. "You know that my ability to play against Qarun and my ability to dedicate time to him are two completely different matters... I'm genuinely far too busy to deal with that man right now."

"That's your problem," the Cosmic Elder waved again without hesitation. "I warned you before the announcement that this would happen." Then his expression shifted slightly as he pointed at Robin with rare seriousness. "Right now, Qarun and the Council of Thrones are the least of your concerns compared to what Sivar is doing... and what he is going to do to you."

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