For Nobles Only

A golden, bat-shaped set of scales had been outlined in gold strokes on the black cover.

A sword rested on one side of the scales, and a heart was depicted on the other.

The book had no other decorations, but to the nobles, this black law code was their tombstone.

"My lo-"

"My what?"

"My lord, I'm afraid this goes against the rules, doesn't it?"

"Heh, this planet never had any rules to begin with. Now I'm setting the rules. Do you have a problem with that?"

"I..."

It wasn't that he had no problem with it. He didn't dare have one.

"My lord, please allow us to look through it first."

Curze said nothing, tacitly agreeing to Pationa's proposal.

At Pationa's gesture, a law code appeared before each of the others as well.

A core member of the Eternal Night Justiciar Legion stood behind each person.

Whenever these nobles raised questions, they explained everything down to the smallest detail, always from the most precise and professional perspective.

The nobles were surprised.

As they saw it, the people in this so-called Eternal Night Justiciar Legion were nothing more than gangsters in a different guise and a different organization.

Underneath, they still followed the same dark, bloody logic of Nostramo.

But as they studied the laws, the nobles gradually realized these people were different.

They truly understood the law.

Every one of them had even memorized the entire code by heart.

But that didn't make them feel particularly fortunate.

A tiger sitting down with people to discuss the law was no good thing.

They could be absolutely certain that the tiger was doing so because it had made every possible preparation.

Before, it had merely been a beast. Now it was a well-read beast, which only made it more terrifying.

"Lord Inquisitor, I have a few questions I would like to ask."

Pationa raised her hand and looked at Curze after reading part of the code.

"Go ahead."

Of all the nobles present, only Pationa had no one standing behind her.

Curze had deliberately arranged it that way.

According to the investigation, the information on this woman could only be described in four words.

Her virtues outweighed her flaws.

Yes, her virtues outweighed her flaws.

In a place like Nostramo, an assessment like that was a little too perfect.

It was no longer a question of whether it was normal. It was downright bizarre.

So Curze intended to meet the new head of the Tempatio Family himself.

That was why he hadn't assigned her an adviser from the start.

"There are some points about the specific punishments that I don't quite understand. What is dismemberment by chariots?"

"Dismemberment by chariots is the extreme penalty of being torn apart under Imperial law."

A sharp breath!

"But... as the code itself mentioned at the beginning, the law does not punish the multitude. Isn't the scope of this punishment a little too broad?"

"Then you can take another careful look at the detailed notes beneath that provision."

"It's precisely because of those notes, Lord Inquisitor."

At the beginning, the code said the law did not punish the multitude, but dismemberment by chariots applied to all nobles!

"Nobles and commoners are different, from the way they think to the way they live. In this damned Hive City, there is even reproductive isolation between nobles and commoners."

"To sum up, the extreme penalties mentioned in the code were all prepared specifically for nobles."

"Besides the relevant punishments, the same is true of the laws tailored specifically for nobles."

"They include, but are not limited to, public order management, criminal proceedings, civil disputes, tax fines, and so on."

"After all, there is a fundamental difference between noble aristocrats and those common rabble."

"Lord Grand Inquisitor! The law is no trifling matter!"

Heh.

"Look, everyone. Look at the head of the Tempatio Family. How brave."

"To dare speak like that before a terrorist like me, who kills without batting an eye. How bravely she stands alone."

"Just like a paladin walking alone into the darkness, haha!"

"Keep up the pressure, Grand Inquisitor."

Hum.

In Curze's mind, the Night Haunter sat calmly on his throne, his entire body radiating an icy authority.

That presence spread out through Curze's body, gently passing around Han Mingxuan before filling the room.

Everyone was dumbstruck, for they saw a figure behind the young Grand Inquisitor.

The figure wore an ornate black-and-red formal outfit, his eyes closed.

A bat with blood-red eyes perched on his shoulder, surveying everyone present.

Everyone in the Eternal Night Justiciar Legion looked at Curze with fanatical eyes.

They all moved in perfect unison.

They stepped back together and spread their arms, holding a law code in one hand and a longsword in the other.

"In the dark of night, only the law endures! Beneath the thunder, rebels meet their end!"

It was over.

Looking at the young man who seemed like a god descended to earth, all the nobles felt as though they had lost their parents.

But Pationa wasn't finished.

She knew she needed to change targets now.

Han Mingxuan.

Curze could remember every law, but she didn't believe this mortal could remember every legal provision.

As long as he got a single word wrong, they could turn the tables.

"Great Father of Night, the law is no trifling matter. If you indulge your offspring in interpreting the law this way, I'm afraid the Tempatio Family cannot obey."

"That's right, the law is not a puppet for anyone to manipulate!"

"If the Father of Night lets this go unchecked, then even if we must die, I'm afraid we cannot obey!"

"The law is the law because it is just and impartial. If it is manipulated at will, injustice will inevitably give rise to unrest!"

Today, Father had set the stage for them, and he should have remained behind the scenes.

But he had come anyway.

As the Night Haunter, Primarch of the Eighth Legion,

if he couldn't even protect his own father at a time like this, he might as well blow up this damned planet!

From the first moment he saw Pationa, the only possibility Curze had considered was the Warp.

And the conduct of the entire Tempatio Family was exactly like that of the followers of that Warp shemale ten thousand years later!

Now this heretic was actually trying to turn the fire on Father.

How insolent!

"This Warp creation! Kill her!"

The Night Haunter's voice echoed in Curze's mind.

Curze could feel waves of killing intent washing over him.

At the same time, the figure behind Curze opened his eyes.

They were pitch-black and indifferent, as though he were looking at ants.

"You're very clever, head of the Tempatio Family."

At last, the old bat who had been standing in the background ever since his opening remarks finally deigned to speak.

Han Mingxuan gave Curze a reassuring look.

Both Curze and the Night Haunter hesitated.

They knew full well that their father was only a well-read miner.

He was very likely to fall for the nobles' twists and turns.

"That's right, the law is not a puppet for anyone to manipulate."

"The code also says that the law does not punish the multitude. That is expressly stated."

"But... you've still overlooked something."