Lord of the Truth
Chapter 1294 1294: Families and Behemoths

"The Destra Family?!" Robin came to an abrupt halt, his footsteps frozen mid-stride as he turned sharply to face the young man beside him, his eyes wide with disbelief. Of all the possible names he could have heard today—of all the whispers and rumors that could have floated into his ears—that name was the least expected.

That name was heavy. Ominous.

From what he remembered, both Neri and the All-Seeing God had mentioned this mysterious human family—the Destras. But… were they really considered allies of humanity now? That seemed utterly absurd.

A brief silence passed between them, filled with tension and unspoken questions. Then, after a hesitant moment, Robin exhaled and gently tugged on the boy's sleeve, signaling him to keep walking.

"...I know a few basic things about them," he admitted cautiously, his tone guarded. "You can go ahead and explain them in whatever way makes the most sense to you."

Pitsu nodded, his eyes brightening with a spark of approval.

"At least you've heard of them. That's a relief. I figured if you had managed to make it this far into the mid-belt region, then you would have at least come across their name once or twice. That makes explaining the family structure much easier."

He let out a long breath, and his pace slowed slightly, as though preparing to delve into something deep and layered.

"Let me backtrack for a moment—just to connect things. You remember what I said about clans, right? When you join a clan, it's not just a temporary alliance or some guild contract you can walk away from. It's for life. You're bound by blood, by oath, by shared destiny. If you happen to marry and have children, those children are sent to what's known as the Outer Clan—a kind of preparatory domain, where they train and live until they're ready to prove themselves. Only then can they return and officially join the core clan. This process repeats across generations."

He paused briefly and looked to the sky as if recalling old stories.

"All the major clans operate this way. Over time, they grow massive, complex… and within them, many distinct families form under the same banner."

He lowered his gaze, and his voice took on a more serious tone.

"But when you hear someone refer to a powerful family—like the Destras—it's something entirely different. These aren't just groups of related people under a larger structure. No… these families are the structure. The ruling class, the decision-makers, the power—they all descend from one central lineage. They've either stumbled upon some tremendously powerful martial art or possess a natural affinity to one of the higher laws… something potent enough to elevate them above the rest."

Pitsu's expression darkened slightly.

"Everyone beneath them are subordinate. Many are little more than glorified slaves."

He gestured around them as if painting a grand picture.

"These great families control vast swaths of land, entire star regions in some cases. They have standing armies, political arrangements with other powers, and enough influence to rival empires. But here's what truly sets them apart: all of that—the land, the military, the diplomacy—is expendable. Optional. All of it is like outer clothing that can be shed in a moment's notice."

His eyes narrowed.

"You could destroy their holdings, raze their cities, break their alliances… and they'd still remain—intact. Their true strength lies within the bloodline itself. As long as the core family survives, they can rebuild from nothing."

Robin tilted his head slightly, unconvinced.

"Honestly, I still don't see that big of a difference," he said with a shrug, lips pursed thoughtfully.

Pitsu chuckled lightly, raising a single finger.

"Ah, but that's because you're looking at the surface. The real difference lies in the details—the subtle nuances that define their very nature."

He lifted his index finger.

"Let's start with origins. An emperor—or a king—rises from among the people. He begins as one of them, grows stronger, earns their loyalty, and eventually gathers followers who crown him. He stands on the support of his people."

Then he raised a second finger.

"But a family? A family strengthens itself first—quietly, methodically, often in complete secrecy. And only when they are ready do they reveal themselves to the world, laying claim to any land or domain they choose. Their authority isn't acknowledged by the people. It's taken by force,"

He raised a third and final finger.

"Next, let's talk about what happens when things fall apart. If you destroy an Emperor's people—or worse, cause them to lose faith in him—then that emperor becomes just another man. Maybe a powerful one, yes, but still… dethroned. Forgotten. His strength was never really his own. It came from those who believed in him."

He paused for effect.

"But a family? You could tear down every piece of infrastructure around them, slaughter their soldiers, bankrupt their coffers, and they would still endure. Why? Because their power comes from within. From shared techniques, deep cultivation, inherited bloodlines, and unbreakable oaths. They don't need anyone else."

Robin let out a slow, low whistle, clearly impressed—and maybe a little disturbed.

The way Pitsu spoke of these families, they didn't sound like noble houses or ancient dynasties. No… they sounded more like warlords. Like bandit kings who had shackled entire towns and bent them into their will, forcing their people to labor and die for their legacy.

"So... earlier you mentioned you're from the Maizer family, huh?" Robin asked, raising an eyebrow with a mocking grin.

"That's kind of ironic, don't you think?"

"What's so funny about that?!" Pitsu raised a single eyebrow, clearly confused for a moment. Then, as if realizing something obvious, he slapped his palm against his forehead.

"Ah... I get it now. You think I'm trying to tarnish the image of the family system? You misunderstood me. What's so wrong with them being the power center themselves, or anything I just described? In a universe where strength dictates everything, people don't resent that—they crave it. They hope a family will rise to lead them."

He then pointed at his chest with pride.

"Take my family, for example—the Maizer family. We're a human bloodline, and we have close to seven thousand brothers who carry the family name. We currently govern a stretch of land on a nearby planet—if we boarded a ship right now, we'd be there within a single day."

"A portion of a planet?" Robin arched a skeptical eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his tone.

"Exactly. The entire planet is technically under the authority of a non-human empire, a completely different race," Pitsu explained, his tone turning a bit more serious.

"But they allow us to stay there as long as we abide by certain conditions. For instance, they impose reproductive limits—regulations on how many children we can have—and they also require us to fight alongside them if war ever breaks out."

He looked aside, scratching the back of his head with mild embarrassment.

"Not exactly a proud arrangement… but it's what we have to deal with."

Then he turned back to face Robin, his voice steadying.

"Still, don't underestimate what our families manage to protect and uphold. Under our care, there are nearly three hundred thousand human beings—men, women, children—all living their lives with some measure of peace and stability."

"You mean three hundred thousand laborers, craftsmen, soldiers, and farmers," Robin replied with a playful smirk, giving him a wink.

"Call them what you will," Pitsu replied calmly, unbothered.

"The reality remains the same. No one is being forced to stay. If someone wants to leave, they're free to do so. But almost no one chooses that path—because outside of a family, a clan, an academy, or a commercial entity, there is no future. No growth. No safety. Even if it's relative."

He held up two fingers, narrowing them for emphasis.

"Only a tiny, tiny fraction of humans live outside those four structures. And those who do? Most of them live scattered among other races, constantly facing discrimination, bullying, or worse—some are enslaved, sold off like merchandise for hard labor… or other, darker purposes."

His voice dropped slightly in tone.

"That's why the official human population only accounts for those within the four major structures. Because those are the ones who truly count."

"And here's something that might surprise you," he added, a glint of pride lighting up his face.

"Even if you combined the strength of the commercial entities, the clans, and the academies together… they couldn't even support a quarter of the human population that the families do. Those three structures tend to exist in distant, isolated places, or they operate under the thumb of non-human empires. Their resources and influence are limited—valuable, sure, but still limited."

Pitsu lifted his chin, pride radiating in his voice now.

"But families… families are on another level entirely. Take the Destra family, for instance. It all began with Father Helmor—a man who gained an innate affinity with destruction itself. He passed this trait on to several of his children. Each of those descendants built a legacy, and now He rule over a vast sector filled with not trillions upon trillions of humans!"

"...Sounds to me like they're some kind of saviors of humanity," Robin muttered, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"Well… not exactly," Bitsu said with a laugh, shaking his head.

"Their armies and workforces include all kinds of races. Everyone, regardless of their origin, serves equally—whether it's in combat, administration, or labor. But at the very least, humans aren't subjected to reproduction quotas in their territories."

He threw both hands wide open.

"And the same applies to most of the so-called Behemoths."

"What about them?" Robin asked, eyebrow raised again. "They all treat humans and non-humans the same?"

"Not all of them," Pitsu said, wagging a finger. "In case you don't know, 'Behemoth' is a nick name for the beings who have reached the seventh stage of law mastery—individuals of nearly unmatched power."

He let out a short laugh.

"And no, not all of them treat humans equally. In fact, some have completely wiped out humans from their Sectors."

Then Pitsu raised a single finger again, smiling.

"Only the Human Behemoths treat both humans and other races equally."

"Only the human ones?" Robin stopped walking, brows furrowing. "Are you saying there are more human Behemoths besides the Destra family?"

"Hahaha!" Bitsu laughed heartily and stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Robin's shoulder.

"Believe it or not… nearly half of all known Behemoths are human."