Changing the Rules

Chris was covered in wounds, yet a strange smile hung on his lips, as though he had found boundless pleasure.

"Pationa, you're here?"

In the past, Chris might have gone mad at the sight of Pationa approaching.

But things were different now.

When Pationa went out, Chris had already died inside. He had willingly fallen into depravity and exiled himself.

He used an extreme method to find pleasure and numb the pain in his heart.

As he was now, even calling him a human swine would have been generous.

"Father, the Bat of Eternal Night has begun to act."

"Good. Remember what I told you. For the family, kill that old bat."

"I remember."

Pationa looked at Chris with a perfect smile on her lips, but only she knew what lay behind it.

For at that moment, Chris breathed his last.

As for his soul?

Who knew? Perhaps it had long since been devoured by a daemon.

Early the next morning, Han Mingxuan and Curze both put on formal attire, a rare sight for either of them.

"Not bad. Clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse. Handsome," Han Mingxuan said with a smile as he looked at Curze.

"You flatter me, Father."

Han Mingxuan kicked Curze squarely in the backside without hesitation.

"It's just the two of us, father and son. You're still putting on an act for me?"

"Heh heh, it's a big occasion, after all. Don't hold it against me, Dad."

"Speaking of which, Dad, you're dressed so formally today. Aren't you afraid the nobles' wives will have their eyes on you?"

Bang!

"Mind your own business. Do you know what we're doing today?"

"I do. If you want to get rid of your opponents, the best way is to call them over for a meeting. You taught me that, Dad."

"That's right. Today's your chance to put what you've learned to use. Let's go."

Father and son brought their people to the newly built court. Meanwhile, the Night Haunter was also coaching Curze inside his head.

"Chest out, head up. Show them the bearing of a Grand Inquisitor. Today's meeting is important. Don't embarrass Father."

"I know, Night Haunter. You've said it hundreds of times since yesterday."

Curze hadn't had a decent night's sleep since last night.

That big bat in his head could nag like nobody's business.

He had also put Curze through more than ten crash courses last night.

As soon as they entered, they saw that all of Quintus's high-ranking nobles were present.

Their seating arrangements were carefully considered. Clearly, the woman was their leader.

"Ah, the Grand Inquisitor and the Father of Night are here. I hope we're reasonably on time."

Han Mingxuan looked at the woman.

Pationa Tenpatio.

The current de facto head of the Tempatio Family.

She looked... perfect.

Yes, perfect.

She had long white hair, purple eyes, and full red lips. One look was enough to tell that she was brimming with vitality.

She wore a purple-red noblewoman's gown and a sapphire necklace around her neck.

She wore no other adornments, but her bearing and beauty could not be concealed.

Alluring without being vulgar, a rare beauty.

Even before he got close, he could smell a pleasant scent.

It was the scent of fermenting fruit.

More precisely, the scent of fermenting oranges.

Han Mingxuan felt that even if the Phoenix stood here, she would look no better than this.

And judging by the way the other side was acting, they made it seem as though Han Mingxuan and Curze were the visitors.

"Be careful. There's something strange about this woman."

"Too perfect, is that it?"

"You're a perceptive Inquisitor."

In truth, there was something else the Night Haunter wanted to say even more.

In his timeline, there was no one named Pationa.

That made her origins all the more intriguing.

Han Mingxuan smiled and nodded, then sat down with Curze in the two chairs at the head of the room.

"This may be the first time many of you have met Curze. So that everyone can get to know one another,"

"I won't take the initiative to speak at today's meeting. Curze will handle all discussions with you. Please, go ahead."

What?

This old butcher wasn't going to get involved?

Then this was good news!

As long as the old bat kept his mouth shut, that left the Grand Inquisitor.

Heh, just a brute who hid behind his father and had done nothing of note except fight on the front lines. Nothing but a terrorist.

There was nothing to fear.

That was then, and this was now.

Now, they were the ones saying things should be done according to the law and the rules.

Then the nobles would have a good talk about the rules with this father and son.

"Hmph. A bunch of fat, brainless vermin, treating Father's mercy as though it were worthless. They deserve to die."

At that moment, the Night Haunter sat on the black throne in Curze's mind.

His eyes held an icy killing intent unlike any before.

"Your Excellency, Grand Inquisitor, we have a preliminary proposal for the future governance of the Hive City. Please take a look."

Curze glanced at the so-called proposal. In truth, it was simply a plan for dividing the spoils.

The proposal was not thick, only a few dozen pages long.

But beneath it lay another weapon.

That was the nobles' real blade.

Imperial law.

Yes, the laws of the Imperium of Man.

Curze opened the proposal and looked through it. It was indeed rather interesting.

The wording was mild, and the nobles were willing to bleed heavily to keep themselves safe.

"Let's set the proposal aside for now. First, let's talk about the rules."

The rules?

The rules were good. They loved talking about the rules.

"Your Excellency, Grand Inquisitor, according to Imperial law..."

"Imperial law?"

"Yes, Your Excellency, Grand Inquisitor. Under Imperial law, the rights we enjoy include..."

"Hehehehe. Imperial law. Earl Wendell, you really do have a sense of humor."

This was bad!

Hearing Curze say that, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Was this bat not planning to abide by Imperial law?

Then where could he find a complete legal system in such a short time?

As things stood, no ship had ever traveled to another planet.

"But... Your Excellency, Grand Inquisitor, as things stand, Imperial law is the most complete and systematic."

"If things are to be done according to the rules, there is no doubt that the Imperium's rules are the most suitable."

"Earl Wendell, you keep giving me something to laugh at with the same phrase."

"Imperial law? The Imperium's rules? Nostramo merely cooperates with the Adeptus Mechanicus. It does not belong to the Imperium of Man."

"Then, according to the relevant regulations of the Adeptus Mechanicus..."

"The Adeptus Mechanicus treats people as nothing but expendable resources. Whether it's Imperial law or the rules of the Adeptus Mechanicus, to Nostramo, they're toilet paper."

"Toi... toilet paper?!"

"Is there a problem? Neither the Imperium nor the Adeptus Mechanicus has any authority over Nostramo."

"Since you say that, Your Excellency, Grand Inquisitor, I assume you already have a well-developed plan in mind, correct?" Pationa looked at Curze.

Curze said nothing. He simply placed a hefty black-covered book on the table.

"The Evernight Code?"