Chapter 180: Chapter 145: The Notorious Robie, Small Event Reward
Although Kemola was located in the Ash Soil Star Zone, in the three-dimensional space of the Cosmic Dimension, actual distances were measured in light-years. With no powerful faction—or even a ruling native civilization—in control, the world of Kemola was a truly lawless land.
The arriving ship seemed completely unconcerned about provoking hostility from the two Vanguard Teams below, coming to a dead stop directly above the megastructure ruins.
Then, a group of six leaped down from the ship.
When Florant saw their equipment, rife with religious elements, his heart sank. ’What are people from the Secret Order doing here?’ he wondered.
Although the Secret Order and the Imperial Administrative Region were allies, those religious fanatics couldn’t tolerate the slightest hint of heresy, let alone associate with Wizards.
The curtain of rain obscured their view, but they could vaguely see that the man in the lead was wearing a Judge’s uniform.
Though it looked like a simple brown greatcoat, it was covered in trophies from demon hunts, as well as mystical artifacts bestowed by the Secret Order and the Judgment Court.
The Knight’s Broadsword on his back showed that he had once served in a Knight Battle Group.
The three human skulls hanging from his belt clacked together with a sharp, clear sound.
As soon as he saw him, the lead Judge opened his arms wide and smiled. "Reinhardt, we meet again, my old friend. Ever since I left Verne, I’ve truly missed you."
But when Florant got a clear look at the newcomer, his expression changed, his eyes revealing a deep sense of dread.
’To run into Robbie Hiling in a place like this... What terrible luck.’
Clearly, Robbie, who had long served in the Imperial Administrative Region’s Judgment Court, was far more renowned than Reinhardt in this corner of the Ash Soil Star Zone.
Notoriously so.
It wasn’t just Florant; the expressions of the other Tier One Mages changed as well. It was as if running into Robbie was a worse omen than encountering one of the Four Gods who controlled the Power of Life.
Even Matthias frowned, speaking through their shared Telepathy. "Why is that menace here in Kemola? Lord Reinhardt, you know him?"
Reinhardt scrutinized Robbie, and the five people following him.
All of them wore silver-white Dreadnought Level Anti-Magic Power Armor. The Silver Moon Badges on their pauldrons and Chest Armor, studded with stars, were exceptionally ornate.
What’s more, all of them were Official Knights of Seven-star Military Rank. The lineup was nothing short of extravagant.
Based on their on-paper strength alone, they could have easily crushed the Vengeance Angel Squad.
After all, Matthias and Manon were only of Six-star Military Rank, while Technician Soldier Agate had never revealed their true strength.
Raphael’s heart sank at the sight of Robbie. During his three years studying under a high-level Think Tank, he had come across countless classified files. Judge Robbie Hiling was infamous throughout the Ash Soil Star Zone.
He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
A single chase log was enough to show just how vicious his methods were.
Once, simply to capture an Imperial Wizard suspected of consorting with Demons, he disguised himself and single-handedly infiltrated a world under the command of Lord Anatol, using cruel and unsavory methods to obtain the intelligence he needed.
Upon his departure, he killed everyone involved, including the informants he had bribed and all the followers who had helped him.
Even his colleague inside the Judgment Court who had provided the lead was not spared. This was all done to cover up the monstrous crimes he had committed in Lord Anatol’s world, preventing Anatol from finding an excuse to declare war on the Imperial Administrative Region.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg of Robbie Hiling’s brutal methods.
The most terrifying part was the rumor that Robbie Hiling’s spies were everywhere in the Ash Soil Star Zone. He even had agents inside Grand Lord Kles’s own stronghold, the Baze World.
The upper echelons of the Imperial Administrative Region all knew one thing: if this cursed man ever suspected you of consorting with Demons, he would latch on and never let go. He would stop at nothing, and just when you thought he couldn’t sink any lower, he would.
As Robbie greeted Reinhardt, his morbid eyes kept darting, intentionally or not, toward Raphael, his face stretched into a hypocritical smile.
"Robbie."
At the sound of Reinhardt’s cold voice, Robbie shrugged and spread his hands. "You don’t seem happy to see an old friend. I thought these heretics were planning something against you.
But it looks like you have it handled."
Florant frowned, his voice low. "What are you doing here?"
Robbie turned and grinned. "Why, I’m here by the divine decree of the great Radiant Divine Emperor, to monitor your every move on Kemola. And, of course, to confiscate anything tainted by Void Demons.
If you are all cooperative, I have no objection to resolving this peacefully."
As he spoke, his gaze went past Florant and landed on Irenia, who was keeping her head bowed as low as possible to avoid notice. "Right, Irenia?
Hmm... actually, I still prefer your human name. Eliza Hearn. How nostalgic."
Although Irenia appeared timid and shrinking, she was already cursing him out in her head, wishing she could twist Robbie’s damn head off and kick it like a ball.
’That bastard is here to ruin her plans again!’
’He’s like a fly, always buzzing around her!’
Her real reason for coming to this world was to find an ancient Wizard’s Secret Treasure related to the birth of the Void Realm. Because this was knowledge inherited through her Death Star Bloodline, she had never spoken of it to anyone.
’Could it be because of last year...?’
For a moment, Irenia couldn’t tell if Robbie was deliberately trying to bluff her.
After sensing the hidden meaning in Robbie’s words, Florant glanced at Irenia, his eyes narrowing. Among all his students, Irenia was the only one whose motives and thoughts he could not decipher.
If the temptation of the Death Star Bloodline weren’t so great, he would have genuinely considered nurturing her talents.
At that very moment,
Ethereal blue text scrolled across Reinhardt’s vision.
[You are gradually realizing that there is far more to this interlude than you imagined. Irenia’s mind is also far more complex than you estimated.]
[But none of that is important. In this world of perpetual war, what matters is obtaining the Wizard’s Secret Treasure, developing and awakening the second Earth Ring, and increasing your own power.
Anyone who wants to stop you will have to ask your War Axe for permission first.]
[Here is a small gift for you.]
[You have received: Imperial Technology Micro Upgrade Component·Deflection Force Field.]
[With this micro component of Imperial Technology, you can upgrade your Power Armor, causing the Anti-Magic Force Field to have a slight deflecting effect against Extraordinary Power, thereby increasing your defense.]
[This piece of Imperial Technology can be continually upgraded with more components, increasing the Force Field’s strength and eventually giving you control over the deflection. —Uh, are you sure this isn’t just Rebound Armor?]
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