The Mid Sector 99 — Dawn light Stellar Academy.

Bzzt—

The main portal shimmered with rippling light as its activation runes flared to life, and from within the radiance, two figures emerged — Robin and Jabba.

"Welcome back, Professor Robin."

The two gatekeepers bowed slightly, their expressions glowing with sincere smiles.

"Haaah~ it's been around a hundred and forty years, hasn't it?" Robin spread his arms wide, lifting his gaze to the sky above. The multiple moons hung there in perfect harmony, painting the heavens with silvery hues. Yet, even with such beauty before him, he didn't feel the same awe as he once did — the skies of Nihari had grown far more magnificent in his memory.

But Jabba wasn't distracted by the scenery or the nostalgia in his master's eyes. "Incredible…" he whispered.

It was his first time stepping into the Mid Sector, and the difference struck him like thunder. He closed his eyes, extending his senses as if to drink in the ambient energy itself — the thick, flowing essence of cosmic laws and the layered density of starlight power. Every shift, every vibration in the air felt alive to him.

Robin, noticing his disciple's focus, didn't interrupt. A faint smile crossed his lips — he remembered being exactly the same when he'd first arrived at Planet Azakhra so long ago.

After a moment, he lightly tossed two space rings toward the gatekeepers, one to the left and the other to the right.

"Anything new, boys?"

"Haha, thank you, Professor Robin!" the guards caught the rings with surprised delight, replying in unison.

Robin was one of the very few professors generous enough to give them anything at all — and his gifts were always worth more than their pay. The last time he had done so was a hundred and forty years ago, when he rewarded them for cleaning up Substitute Teacher Morgana's… unexpected mess. Even then, his payment had been extravagant. But now—each of the rings carried a thousand full Pearls, not to mention the value of the rings themselves!

After a quick glance at each other, the guards' cheerful faces turned more serious. One of them stepped forward.

"Actually, there's something you should know, Professor Robin. Several powerful factions have been searching for you. They've been trying every possible way to find your location."

The other added immediately, "They've been scanning the entire sector, looking for someone with your name and description. So far, they've found nothing. Still, they keep their representatives stationed here at all times. They even promised a reward — one hundred Pearls — to anyone who reports your return."

Robin's brows lifted. "A hundred Pearls? That's… quite generous." His tone was calm, yet his mind spun with quiet calculation. "If they have representatives stationed here openly, then they can't be criminal groups, right?"

"Correct, Professor. They're all reputable forces, known for their good standing," one guard replied quickly. "There's no reason to ban their envoys from the servant dorms or guard barracks. Besides, some of their students are part of the Academy."

He paused, his voice lowering. "What will you do, sir? If you want, we'll pretend we never saw you. But you should move cautiously — many students and workers are chasing the same reward."

"Oh?" Robin rubbed his chin, then chuckled softly. "No need. I don't intend to hide. I'll be staying here for a while. So—go ahead, report it. Better you get the reward than someone else."

"Thank you, Professor Robin!!" Both guards answered with genuine excitement — their respect for him soaring even higher.

They couldn't help but wonder… why did everyone in the Academy claim that Professor Robin was cold and disliked others? To them, he seemed genuinely kind.

"Hey, enough daydreaming," Robin said suddenly, giving Jabba a light slap on the back. "You can continue your meditations later." Then he strode down the stairs ahead.

"Wait—!" Jabba hurried after him. "Teacher, is the entire Mid Belt like this, or is this Academy some sort of special case?"

"In terms of the maturity of the laws you're feeling around you," Robin began with his usual calm and gentle tone, "that's something you'll find across nearly all the planets within the Mid Belt. The entire region resonates with deeper cosmic harmony—its elemental laws are sharper, more stable, and more responsive. But when it comes to the elegance of the architecture, the purity of the energy, and the luxury of the materials used here, that's something you'll only find in this Academy. They've poured centuries of effort and countless resources into shaping this place into the perfect nexus of research and power. It would be unfair not to give them credit where it's due."

The air itself felt alive—vibrating faintly with tranquil cosmic hums. For Robin, the serenity of the environment was soothing, but what truly warmed his spirit was answering the endless curiosity of a student who had stopped existing for more than five centuries. Watching Jabba rediscover the universe felt almost nostalgic.

"...Be careful," Jabba murmured suddenly, his instincts tightening like a coiled spring. "That person over there... he feels incredibly strong."

His eyes—or rather, his perception—focused on an elderly man standing before a massive, marble-white structure that radiated subtle ripples of energy. Even though Jabba had only managed to build a single stable foundation over the past three days, his body still recognized the unmistakable chill of danger. The man's presence alone felt like an entire storm compressed into a human shape.

Robin followed his gaze and smiled knowingly. "Oh, of course he looks strong," he said, his tone casual as if commenting on the weather. "He's in a Nexus State." Then he waved a hand toward the old man, calling out cheerfully, "Hello there!"

"Hm?" The elder turned toward them, his brows knitting in annoyance at what he assumed was a disrespectful interruption. But the moment he recognized who stood before him, his entire demeanor shifted. The sternness melted into warmth. He offered a respectful nod and even a faint smile. "Professor Robin."

"...A Nexus State?!" Jabba froze, whispering the words as though they burned. His pulse pounded in his ears as they continued walking, and only after they crossed the street did he find the courage to speak again. "You mean like… the same level as…?"

"Yes," Robin confirmed with a simple nod. "Like the Overlord of the Great Serpent Empire. Those who reach that level of existence are merely teachers here." He smiled faintly, as if discussing something completely ordinary. "And not every Nexus State can earn the right to teach either. Only those with revolutionary research, immense contributions, and names that carry weight across Mid Sector 99 are accepted."

"The guards… they called you Professor earlier!" Jabba blurted, disbelief flooding his tone. "Then that means—you're that strong too?! You have a reputation that wide across Mid Sector 99? And—wait—what even is Mid Sector 99 supposed to mean?!"

Three days. Only three days had passed since Jabba had awoken and set foot in the Imperial Palace of Jura alongside Robin, and yet those days had felt like lifetimes.

From the moment he entered that enormous palace—its walls breathing and shifting as though alive, its gardens filled with Treant beings playing under the suns—his mind had been caught between awe and disbelief.

He had met Zara, Kristan, and the other great figures of the Empire. He had learned of the terrifying scale of the True Begining Empire's influence now—its armies spanning galaxies, its research pushing the boundaries that couldn't comprehend fully. Every hour that passed brought new discoveries, and yet, deep down, he knew he was only brushing the surface of something far greater.

All that wonder combined still couldn't compare to what he felt when Robin took him beyond Jura—when they arrived at Planet S-1000 and used its colossal gate to ascend toward the Mid Belt.

A thousand planets.

A thousand! Before Jabba's long slumber, Robin had owned only three!

"You'll understand everything soon," Robin said with a soft laugh, his voice both comforting and mysterious. "Don't rush it. The universe rewards patience." He then turned left, his cloak swaying gently with each step, and gestured toward a towering complex gleaming under the morning stars.

"We've arrived," he said proudly, his eyes glimmering with nostalgia. "This… is my academic building."

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