Lier had indeed never heard of this thing. It sounded like some kind of street rumor, and not a very credible one at that.
But as everyone knew, terrifying street legends were often based on real events, like Arasaka's Soulkiller.
So he decided to hear what Bryce had to say.
Today, Europe was a place that cared deeply about class, and in 2076, an age of advanced technology, the retro word "nobility" had somehow gained even more weight.
If he had to say, perhaps Britain, one of Europe's major powers, had played an important role in the "revolution" of the previous century.
Simply put, because of the corporate wars and financial crises, Britain had fractured badly at the start of the century and been swept by plague.
These problems had led to massive protests and even armed conflicts.
To resolve them, the state established an organization called the Martial Law Bureau, which brutally suppressed the country. Before long, it had killed off all the rebels who had planned an armed uprising.
After that, the Martial Law Bureau reorganized the police force into a militarized police organization, using force and high-tech means to control and surveil the population.
This terrifying surveillance and control had even exceeded 100 percent, because they were also adept at using the media to distort facts and promote certain narratives. Even showing signs of opposition was enough to get you dealt with.
In other words, thought crimes were punishable too.
And this totalitarianism didn't just target the common people; it targeted the royal family as well. They purged the royal family and executed King Charles.
After the execution, the media portrayed their unjustified act as follows: the glorious Martial Law Bureau had swept away the last vestiges of feudalism from British soil.
But in truth, the British