The nobles' warning marker was originally just that—a marker, nothing more than a declaration: "I'm conducting business here. Keep out if you have nothing to do with it."
Normally, it was meant to intimidate commoners and reduce trouble. Other nobles who saw it might even come over to watch the show.
But later, a new practice emerged. When nobles put up a warning marker within their own fief, it meant that all investigation was forbidden.
If anyone ignored that warning, then sorry—whoever came would be attacked, and if they were killed, so be it. That fell under the extension of Fief Law.
Qu Jianlei had learned the Gustin Family's warning marker before this and had also received authorization to use it.
But he had never used it, because the thing itself was a double-edged sword.
The more powerful something was, the more obvious its drawbacks became. If warning markers were truly that useful, would the Gustin Family have needed to move away from Clear Source?
At its core, it was merely a defensive measure, ensuring that one's territory would not be disturbed for a short while.
Once a warning marker was put up, only an idiot would continue doing anything to the fief. They really could come down hard on you.
Stopping first was the sensible choice. But since they had already come looking, no one could simply call it off, could they? Your family has run into trouble, and I sympathize deeply and am willing to help, but if you're going to extend things this tyrannically, you have to give some explanation, right? So warning markers on noble fiefs were indeed very useful, but ultimately, they were only a short-term measure.
Qu Jianlei possessed such a method but had never used it mainly because it could not hold up