If the focus in early January had been the establishment of the Australasian Empire and Arthur's coronation, then the focus in late January was Arthur's rewarding of all those who had rendered meritorious service before the empire was established.
Because so many people were involved, and because some of them could not conveniently appear in public, only a small number of representatives attended the on-site awards ceremony.
Even so, the ceremony was still grand. This round of rewards added several new counts to Australasia, while the number of barons increased by dozens.
After the ceremony ended, the number of nobles in Australasia officially surpassed 500, reaching a total of 558.
The lowest rank, also known as the honorary nobility—the Knight Title—had 438 holders in total.
The Knight Title made up the majority of the noble titles, and it also represented how difficult it was for nobles to climb higher.
Aside from those who had rendered truly outstanding service to the country, most people who hoped to accumulate merit through seniority could only obtain the lowest Knight Title.
The Knight Title could not be inherited, which doomed it to be the lowest rank. It could only be held for one generation.
That was why the vast majority of people wanted to climb higher and obtain at least a baronial title.
Only by becoming a distinguished baron could one enter the true noble system and make one's family an honored part of Australasia's nobility.
More precisely, anyone above the rank of baron could, so long as they did not break the law and lived an honest, upright life, ensure that their title would endure as long as the Australasian Empire.
Under such circumstances, these nobles would rack their brains to extend the empire's lifespan, thereby extending the lifespan of their own noble