Lord of the Truth-Chapter 1166: A change in Jura

After Eight Months – Planet Jura – The Ancestral Continent – In One of the City's Alleys

Whoosh—The elongated shadow of one of the buildings trembled, then began to shift unnaturally. The darkness twisted, bulging upwards as if something was forcing its way out of the very ground. Slowly, the shadow took form, solidifying into the silhouette of a man. Within seconds, Theo fully emerged, stepping onto the stone pavement as if he had always been there.

Whoosh Whoosh—Behind him, the phenomenon repeated itself, but this time, two figures emerged in succession: a young man and a young woman. They moved with silent precision, their expressions cold and unreadable.

Theo took a few quiet steps forward, his gaze sweeping over the bustling streets ahead. Despite standing in the open now, he remained eerily difficult to notice, as if his presence itself resisted detection. It was a skill honed over years—blending into the backdrop of reality, slipping between the cracks of perception.

"Hmmm…" He tilted his head slightly, his movements measured and deliberate, taking in every detail of the scene before him.

The city had survived the war largely intact. Unlike many others that had been reduced to ruins, this place had not suffered heavy bombardment or large-scale destruction. The reason was simple: most of its youth had willingly joined the People's Movement, marching to attack other cities rather than defend their own. Because of that, the city had been spared from the worst of the conflict. Now, it was one of the rare locations that still retained its historic structures, its old-world charm preserved amidst the changes sweeping the planet.

Yet, despite its controversial past, Emily had not excluded it from the empire's reconstruction efforts. The streets had been repaved, the broken parts of the city meticulously restored, and the buildings' facades renewed with a fresh coat of paint. Imperial banners adorned every street corner, fluttering proudly in the breeze, a clear statement that this place was now firmly under imperial control.

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Far from being an outcast settlement, the city was thriving. In fact, one could argue that it had become one of the most unique locations on Jura—a living relic of the past, seamlessly blended with the empire's new vision for the future. If things continued in this direction, it would likely become a major tourist attraction in the coming years.

The streets bustled with activity. Merchants called out their wares, negotiating prices with eager customers. Restaurants were packed with patrons, the scent of grilled meats and spiced stews filling the air. Workshops hummed with the sound of hammering and sawing as craftsmen toiled without rest.

Ever since Emily had implemented her policy of providing free food for all Jura's residents, survival was no longer a daily concern. With their basic needs secured, people had thrown themselves into rebuilding their trades and restoring what had been lost. The initiative had been met with overwhelming support, and its effects were visible everywhere.

Theo silently observed the transformation. There were no beggars in sight, no idle loiterers wasting time in the alleyways. Everyone had a purpose, a role to play in the new order.

"..."

Despite the uplifting atmosphere, Theo's expression remained unreadable. His eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the streets with quiet intensity. His brows furrowed ever so slightly, a barely noticeable reaction to what he saw.

"Your Highness, do you see something I do not? Please, enlighten me."

The voice came from behind him—low, respectful, yet laced with curiosity. The speaker stepped forward, his movements crisp and disciplined. It was Leonid Burton.

Leonid was no ordinary soldier. He was the one who had risked his life to inform Robin of the impending invasion of Jura, doing so in such a daring manner that even Robin himself had been impressed. That single act of bravery had earned him a swift rise through the ranks of the Shadow Swords. After the tragic but heroic death of Charles in the Nehari War, Theo had personally chosen Leonid to accompany him, grooming him to take up the vacant position.

"..." Theo remained silent for a few moments, as if weighing his words. If it had been any other Shadow Sword, he might have ignored the question entirely. But this was Leonid—the one he had personally selected for training.

At last, he spoke. "This city… was once home to Kristian Burton. He lived here for a long time, recruiting its people, planting the seeds of rebellion in their minds. From this place alone, 300,000 rebels rose to join the People's Movement. Each one of them had a family. Each family had friends. It's not a stretch to say that the entire city was aware of what those 300,000 were about to do. Even those who didn't actively join the movement—" Theo's voice darkened slightly, his gaze cold as ice, "—they didn't report them either."

His hand lifted slightly, gesturing toward the lively streets ahead, "This city was one of the three epicenters of the revolution. A breeding ground for conspiracies and uprisings. Right now, it is classified as one of the most dangerous locations on all of Jura."

His gaze flickered to Leonid, "Tell me… does what you see before you match the description I just gave you?"

"....?" Leonid let his gaze linger on the streets, his sharp eyes scanning every detail—the cheerful faces, the lively laughter, the bustling movement of trade, and the air of prosperity that filled every corner. It was a scene that should have been impossible, given what had happened here.

"No, Your Highness… nothing here matches what you've described," he admitted after a moment, his voice carrying a trace of hesitation. His brows knitted together slightly before he continued, "But is that really a problem? Perhaps… the government's efforts are finally bearing fruit?"

Three hundred thousand rebels had marched out from this city. That meant three hundred thousand dead. From one city alone! Every street, every alley, every home—each had lost at least one or two members, perhaps entire families had been wiped out.

Every single person walking these streets, trading goods, laughing, and chatting… they had all lost someone. A father. A son. A brother. A dear friend.

And yet—everything was too normal.

It was unnatural.

There was no air of mourning, no visible traces of grief, no signs of lingering sorrow. If anything, the city was in an unnervingly good state. It wasn't just surviving; it was thriving.

"Something is being orchestrated in the shadows." A female voice finally broke the silence, firm and laced with unease.

It was the young woman standing beside them—her arms crossed, her feline eyes narrowed with suspicion. Her tone left no room for doubt.

"It's impossible for this to be the natural reaction of families who lost their sons and daughters just a few months ago," she stated with conviction. "I know for a fact that this is simply not possible!"

Theo turned slightly, his gaze shifting to the speaker.

That woman was Keri, the leader of the Night Cat race and his newly appointed closest aide after she had sworn an Extreme Soul Oath.

The Night Cats were no ordinary race.

Their affinity with the Path of Darkness was something no human could ever match. While humans had to undergo rigorous training and selection, with only one in a thousand applicants successfully becoming a Shadow Sword, every single Night Cat was practically born ready. Their natural talent in shadow warfare made them a perfect fit for the role.

Their mass surrender to the Empire had instantly bolstered the Shadow Swords' strength to unprecedented levels.

The only reason they had been unable to oppose Elizabeth—or Xanox before her—despite their overwhelming numbers was their lack of access to the Major Law of Darkness. Instead, they wielded only lesser derivative laws, which, while powerful, were not enough to match a true master of darkness.

This was one of the key reasons why Keri had willingly sworn herself to the Emperor under a binding Soul Oath, pledging her allegiance as a Shadow Sword for the next thousand years—along with any of her people who chose to follow her.

The temptation of gaining access to the Major Law of Darkness had been too great to resist.

At present, only Keri and a select few high-level martial emperors had successfully endured the excruciating process of the Foundation Modification Technique—a method that forcibly reshaped their energy foundation to allow them to wield the major heavenly Law freely.

But every single day, more and more of her people came forward, choosing surrender in exchange for power. Hundreds of Night Cats took the oath daily, undergoing the same transformation.

It was only a matter of time before the Shadow Swords were completely dominated by the Night Cats.

After holding his gaze on Keri for a few moments, Theo finally turned back toward the streets, his sharp golden eyes flickering with thought.

"She's right." His voice was quiet but carried a certain weight that made both Leonid and Keri straighten their backs slightly. "No one subjected to this level of grieve could simply forget everything within a few months… perhaps not even within a few years. We had put measures in place to monitor cities like this closely—for at least the next twenty years. And yet… it doesn't even seem necessary anymore."

His fingers tapped lightly against his wrist, a rare sign of contemplation, "It's as if their minds have been… washed clean."

"..." Leonid's brows furrowed deeper. He had never been one to be easily shaken, but the implications of Theo's words unsettled him.

"Perhaps… His Highness Caesar's efforts are actually working?" he suggested cautiously.

Theo slowly shook his head.

"No." His voice was calm, but absolute. "Little Brother Richard specifically requested that Big Brother Caesar stay out of Jura."

Then, he tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable, "And to be honest… even if Caesar had tried, his methods wouldn't have worked here."

There was no arrogance in his tone—just cold, calculated reasoning.

"His strategy relies on appearances—on grand displays, spectacles, and broadcasting achievements across giant screens. He uses the Shadow Swords to spread carefully crafted propaganda to shape public perception. All of that… might work on other planets."

His gaze sharpened, "But not on Jura."

He continued, his tone growing firmer.

"Planet Jura is unique. It houses the Imperial Capital, the Research and Development City, and massive defensive strongholds. Unlike other planets, where power is centralized in a few key locations, Jura is different—its military academies, weapon markets, and technology hubs are everywhere. There's no single place that holds control over the others."

He exhaled slowly before delivering his final verdict. "And the people here… they are not fools."

He paused, scanning the city once more. "They are the core of the First Golden Army. They have been at the heart of every major war for the past fifty years. They saw the battles with their own eyes. They fought in them. They bled for them. No amount of propaganda could ever hope to sway them."

His fingers curled slightly. "Big Brother Caesar's plan was doomed to fail here from the start."

A long silence stretched between them.

And yet…

Theo's brows suddenly furrowed, a flicker of something sharp and dangerous passing through his eyes.

"But…" His voice dropped slightly. "Richard succeeded… somehow?"