Chapter 647: Eckstedtians

In the trial court, the two sides argued more and more fiercely. Baron Trent's face flushed red as he spoke.

"I demand that, according to tradition, the former public labor time be restored on the Trent family's land, and that this group of unruly people return to the land to farm! They have neglected and evaded service for far too long. This has truly harmed my interests, my territory's harvest, and in the end, it will harm the South Coast and even the kingdom's..."

Correspondingly, the defense counsel across from him, Srimanny, was unhurried, yet clear and orderly:

"...In year 661, Duke Leinster's Rest and Recovery Order exempted lords and the people on their lands from many physical services, including military service, public security patrol service, agricultural labor service, construction labor, and other forms of labor and work requiring every household's able-bodied adult men and women to participate at fixed times. For the losses caused by this, they were permitted to settle quarterly and pay in cash, making up the difference as part of the rent and taxes paid to the lord..."

"The cash they hand in, even including rent and taxes, is not enough to make up for my losses!"

Baron Trent roared and interrupted him. Old Judge Brennan had to strike the gavel several times, almost ordering Emerald Palace's guards to come forward and "help."

In the second-level box, the conversation between Thales and Zayen became increasingly serious.

"I hurried back to Eternal Star City, tried hard to grasp the direction of the wind, and attempted to ease the situation," Zayen said gravely. "But the king refused to see me."

"As court manager, Baron Quentin's reply was: His Majesty rarely reunites with his son and needs to enjoy family affection, so he will not receive outside guests."

Thales swallowed.

"Actually, his reunion with me... forget it. Not important."

Zayen ignored him.

"It was at that time that Anker Bayral came to me."

Thales frowned.

"So you gave him a sword and incited him to duel me at the royal banquet?"

Zayen did not deny it.

"I said, I had to do it."

"First, once the contradiction between the Western Desert and Renaissance Palace erupted, the South Coast would no longer be your father's priority," he narrowed his eyes and looked at the trial below. "Second, only when he was overwhelmed would my gift appear precious enough."

Thales frowned.

"Your gift?"

Zayen nodded.

"Before the royal banquet, I wrote the king a humble letter. In the letter, I supported the reform of the Royal Standing Army. Money if he wanted money, reputation if he wanted reputation, striking directly at what pleased him."

Zayen wrote a letter to the king supporting Standing Army reform...

That letter?

Thales narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling a bad premonition.

"Your father had refused to see me earlier," the Duke of the South Coast snorted coldly. "But once the Western Desert incident affected the kingdom and his plan was frustrated and stretched thin, the price and weight of that letter would become different."

"So," Thales could not help asking, "what was the result?"

"The result? The result?"

Zayen's gaze froze, and he sneered.

"After the royal banquet, the Western Desert people, who are always full of wicked schemes, neither protested nor made trouble. Led by Falkenhausen of Wasteland Ruins, they actually raised their hands and surrendered to Renaissance Palace cleanly and gladly."

He said disdainfully:

"More gladly than when the Free Alliance surrendered to the Eckstedtians."

Thales listened with complicated feelings.

"Actually, the Free Alliance did not surrender that gladly..."

But Zayen had no interest in his views on the war and shook his head on his own.

"I guess your father must have grasped some handle over the Western Desert people, leaving them unable to resist. As expected of Kessel the Fifth."

The Western Desert people's handle...

Thales spoke awkwardly:

"Actually, the reason the Western Desert compromised so quickly... forget it. Not important."

The two were silent for a while.

"Just like that, I failed to make the South Coast avoid disaster."

Zayen's expression was ugly.

"Not only that, my gift, the letter that might have changed your father's attitude, never received a reply. It entered Renaissance Palace like a stone sinking into the sea, without even a splash, as if it had never existed."

That letter...

Sinking like a stone...

Thales rubbed his hands with a strange expression.

"Yes. Why indeed..."

"There is only one explanation." At this moment, Zayen's gaze was sharp. "Renaissance Palace has already escaped its predicament, so its sights rose with the tide. His Majesty is no longer satisfied with the conditions I offered. He wants more."

Zayen gritted his teeth.

"More."

Thales held himself back for a very, very long time, but finally could not help speaking.

"Actually, Zayen, the reason your letter did not receive a reply was..."

Zayen's gaze shot toward him.

Thales's words stalled.

"Was... quite a pity. But forget it. Not important."

Zayen looked at him for a while, then sighed and nodded.

"Yes. Times change. Regret is useless. It is not important anymore."

In that instant, Thales and Zayen each had their own thoughts, and both fell silent.

Thud!

Brennan's gavel sounded again, drawing their attention back to the court.

"Judge, sir! In the past, after we paid what we owed in money and goods, we could still survive by doing some handicrafts on our own and gathering some firewood and such. But this year, the baron's steward said we should make more contributions..."

Beside the plaintiff's seat, a farmer wearing ill-fitting clothes spoke under the guidance of the defense counsel. Clearly, it was his first time entering Emerald Palace. He stammered and was extremely panicked.

"He would not let us pull grain to the market to sell for money. He said he would collect rent on the spot. If we were unwilling, he would impose more money or make us do more work for him. But I have a relative who is a traveling grain buyer. He said increasing taxes like this is wrong..."

"That is not increasing taxes!"

Baron Trent once again rose from his seat and spoke angrily.

"Prices rise every year. Even grain prices rose by twenty percent. Yet every year when they pay rent, the cash they give remains only that much. This is equivalent to me being robbed! These slippery cheats can then turn around and sell grain into the city, earning a full meal with those speculating profiteers. And I, I still have a large territory to govern! Of course they should add money to their rent, make up the losses, or return to the old way, paying grain or substituting labor service. Only that is fair!"

Amid the boiling voices of the observers, Judge Brennan was practically about to break his gavel.

Defense counsel Srimanny coughed and still stood gracefully.

"Respected judge, regarding the rent and taxes to be paid by each household, each person, and each fixed-size field, my clients are following the rules established over more than ten years. Lord Baron, your land has not increased, has not become more fertile, has not changed type or position. Therefore, this number should naturally remain the same, no more and no less.

"As for choosing to settle in cash, substitute in goods, or pay through labor service, as I stated earlier, this was already stipulated during Duke Leinster's reign. It is my clients' freedom and right."

Hearing this, Zayen snorted softly and whispered to Thales:

"You know, that fellow Srimanny was originally a clerk in the warning hall. He had not even gone out onto the streets. His best work was helping people write closing reports and quarterly summaries, especially for cases where the warning hall was responsible. Later, every year-end, each warning hall competed to borrow him."

"That... truly is not work an ordinary person can do. No wonder he later became a defense counsel," Thales shrugged.

"As far as I know, Your Honor," in court, defense counsel Srimanny continued, "there has been no war affecting the local area in recent years, no serious natural disaster, no plague, no large-scale church or castle project. The latest local bandit suppression was jointly carried out by the Jade Legion and the New Suburb District warning hall, but His Grace did not issue a conscription order. The cost and personnel for bandit suppression were independently borne by Jade City. In other words, Lord Baron has no higher-level lord tax and no mandatory labor service he must answer."

"And the kingdom has issued no new law involving Bountiful Village to increase taxes. As for living tax items, the baron's two sons are already adults and married, and his three daughters have also married. There has been no wedding in his castle within the year, no knightly investiture, no funeral. The only religious ceremony's tax item has already been paid by the villagers to the Sunset Church on their own. To summarize, Baron Trent has no reason or category to demand additional offerings. Without negotiation and the duke's approval, any demand outside custom, whether goods, cash, or labor, is illegal tax increase!"

"Bullshit!"

Baron Trent began shouting again. This time, Judge Brennan had no choice but to send guards to make him "calm down."

On the other side, Srimanny became braver the more he fought.

"Lord Baron Trent, the law allows exemption and substitution for service, yet you force additional service. The law encourages cash payment of rent, yet you privately prohibit it. Therefore, my clients no longer recognizing your authority as local lord, no longer fulfilling the sacred agreement with House Trent, no longer wishing to labor and produce on your land, and even relocating elsewhere with all their property, including this quarter's harvest, is only natural.

"Yet without a royal decree or ducal order, you restricted your subjects for absurd reasons. You detained their harvest, forbade them from moving, forbade them from trading, and forbade them from pursuing a better life. Your Honor, this is unlawful seizure and unreasonable detention."

When the defense counsel's words fell, thunderous applause rose from the observers' seats in the back. Many shouted cheers of "petitioning for the people."

The village elder beside him felt hope and showed joy.

The old judge had to maintain order again.

Baron Trent's hairstyle was no longer as neat as before. Seeing the situation turning bad, he took a deep breath, seeming to make some decision.

"Lord Zayen! Your Grace!"

In the next second, ignoring etiquette and rules, the baron lost control and shouted toward the second level.

"Service reduction and exemption, paying taxes in cash, these policies of the old duke were only temporary measures after the Bloody Year! But this is not the kingdom's tradition! Now that we have recovered from the war, as your vassal, I believe we have no reason..."

Zayen frowned.

"Silence!"

Thud!

The gavel was struck again.

"Forgive me for reminding you, Lord Baron," Judge Brennan looked very angry, but he still kept his tone steady. "The opinions of the two dukes are certainly important. However, I am the chief judge of this court and this case."

Under nearly everyone's gaze in the court, Thales secretly jabbed Zayen with his elbow.

"He is asking you. Aren't you going to respond?"

"As he said, we are only jurors." Zayen remained composed and only sat a little farther from Thales.

"Of course, your status is noble and unique, and you came from afar as a guest. If you want to express an opinion, I expect Judge Brennan will not stop you."

Thales chuckled.

"Trying to trap me again?"

The two looked at each other and both turned away.

On the other side, Baron Trent began arguing about kingdom tradition and South Coast law, tearfully explaining how difficult it had been to marry his three daughters down in order to get the money to knight his two sons.

"So, Thales, do you feel it?"

Zayen sneered.

"Since your return to the country, this series of changes between Eternal Star City and Jade City... It is as though someone in the unseen has exerted force at every critical point, disrupting every arrangement and pushing the situation in a direction unfavorable to me."

Someone in the unseen...

Thales sat increasingly upright.

"And also pushing your father to turn his gaze toward the South Coast, pushing him to send you here. What is wrong with you? Why do you look constipated?"

"Nothing. It is just..."

Thales held it in for a long while, then finally sighed.

"Forget it. None of that matters anymore. So, have you thought of how to oppose my father?"

Hearing this, Zayen paused for a while.

"The Arunde girl of Cold Castle and the little black lion of Heroic Spirit Castle. They are both in your party now, correct?"

"Yes?"

"Your father has just taken down the Northland and the Western Desert, and you have taken in the heirs of nobles from both places. The signal is very unfriendly. No wonder he dislikes you, even to the point of exiling you."

"Do you have an opinion?"

Zayen laughed softly and glanced at the prince.

"No. I am only thinking that if I were your father, I would simply secretly plan with you, have you put on a show and pretend to shelter them. Wouldn't that make it more convenient to catch political enemies and opponents all in one net?"

In that instant, Thales seemed to miss a heartbeat.

"That makes sense." But the battle-hardened prince's face did not change. He only gently rubbed the Kortaksa in his pocket, feeling the vicious spikes on it. "I almost cannot resist suggesting it to my father."

Thales and Zayen's gazes met in the air, as though they wanted to see through each other.

Several seconds later, Zayen smiled faintly.

"Unfortunately, you are not him."

Thales frowned.

"What?"

"I said, that Thales Jadestar who would cry injustice for an assassin who broke into a banquet, hesitate over his moves, and even personally risk entering the stage, overturning the table with me at all costs," Zayen revealed a mysterious smile, as though he had grasped him completely, "could never walk together with someone as cold and capable as the king."

Thales did not speak. He only held the "pact" tighter.

"He will never trust you."

Zayen looked at the chair he was sitting in, his words frosty.

"And you will never approve of him."

What an adorable father and son.

At that moment, Thales did not move.

He only watched the trial below without a ripple.

Zayen also did not turn his head.

He patiently stroked the expensive chair back.

The air around the two seemed frozen.

"Little Flower, let us make a deal."

"A deal?"

Zayen smiled, but his expression immediately changed.

"Fine... wait, little what?"

Thales suddenly reached out and clasped the Duke of the South Coast's hand on the back of the chair.

"You mention Anker Bayral less, and mention those things you used to do to trap me less," the prince said coldly. "And I will mention your sister less."

Zayen's expression instantly cooled.

"And you mention Little Flo... that title less?"

The two silently stared at each other. Their clasped palms exerted force against each other, neither yielding an inch. Amid the growing quarrel in the trial court, they crossed blades silently.

Several seconds later, as though by tacit understanding, both released each other's hand.

"Deal," Thales said unhappily.

"I do not expect us to turn enemies into friends," Zayen restored his sitting posture. "But you are right. Your father sending you here may be using our grudges to make you and me sink into a death struggle, so he can make a feint, strike elsewhere, and profit from it."

"And we cannot let him succeed?"

Zayen nodded.

"So let us now sort out our grudges and make certain there is no reason that can create misunderstanding and make us go to war with each other."

"Then," he said cautiously, "during your time in Jade City, we must be open and honest with each other."

Thales exchanged a glance with him.

"Good. Although small, this is at least the first step."

Thales raised his brows.

"Can we end the hostile state now?"

Zayen smiled.

"No."

Thales's expression froze.

"Why?"

This time, Zayen answered quickly:

"Because we must be hostile."

"Since your father expects and hopes that we will be hostile," Duke Zayen snorted coldly, "it is best to let him continue thinking so."

Thales frowned.

Fine.

I understand.

But...

"So we keep everything as usual. By day, we continue killing each other and making trouble for each other," Thales's expression was strange. "At night, we hide in a bedroom and conspire together like villains?"

"To confuse our enemies, wait for them to jump out on their own, then catch them all in one net?"

Did this sound...

A little familiar?

Zayen revealed a mysterious smile.

"I demand an appeal to a higher level! Even all the way to the Noble Affairs Court in the capital!"

Baron Trent's shriek reached the roof of the hall and interrupted the conversation between the two dukes. Thales and Zayen frowned together.

But it went far beyond that.

"Your Highness Thales! You came from the capital. You are magnanimous and benevolent. You are the kingdom's hope. You are right here." Baron Trent stared fixedly at Thales. Ignoring the judge's gavel, he raised both hands. "Labor service, rent and taxes, the lord's rule, the old customs of the kingdom. This makes no sense! It makes no sense that my subjects become richer and richer while I become poorer and poorer!"

Thales sighed softly.

No way.

In the next second, the baron shouted with an almost fanatical posture:

"In the spirit of Stars' founding, with the rights granted to us by the Jadestar royal family, I demand arbitration from the juror noble! Now! Now!"

As soon as these words came out, the entire trial hall erupted in an uproar.

"This is a tradition within the Star Charter! It is my right! The judge has no authority to stop it!" the baron shouted.

"Silence! Silence!"

Judge Brennan was so angry his hands trembled, but he still diligently maintained order.

But this could not stop countless gazes from shooting toward the prince.

"You expected this long ago, didn't you?"

Thales looked at Zayen unhappily.

"This is also your scheme? Part of the show for my father?"

But the latter only smiled lightly.

"Rest assured, this was not planned, though it is still a good method."

Duke Zayen narrowed his eyes.

"But remember, today you owe me once."

The next moment, before Thales could react, Zayen's expression turned stern, and he abruptly stood up.

"Why, Baron Trent?"

The Duke of the South Coast spoke loudly, attracting everyone's attention.

Zayen stepped forward and leaned on the railing of the second level, blocking Thales behind him from everyone's gaze.

Baron Trent looked up in confusion.

"Land is so tight in Jade City, yet even in the suburbs, most land is not used for farming. We do not produce much grain." Zayen was expressionless. "Then why? Why must the fields, villages, and farmers and hunters outside Jade City, including the farmers on your territory, provide us with their crops, raw materials, and grain? Why must they feed Jade City's growing population year after year so we do not starve?"

If I push him from behind now...

Thales stared at Zayen's back before the railing and calculated the height from the second floor to the ground.

But he immediately shook his head.

No, no, no. Do not think too much.

How could that be possible?

"Your Grace..." Facing Zayen, Baron Trent seemed naturally weaker by one level. Before he could speak, he was interrupted again.

"Do we force them? Or rob them? Or do I use privilege and appeal to tradition to brainwash them all into slaves, obediently offering tribute to me?" Zayen's voice echoed in the hall.

"Because lords protect them! Lords like you and me, Your Grace," Trent recovered and said defiantly. "This is a sacred contract and tradition. Offering tribute to the lord is their duty..."

"Then why, Baron Trent!"

Zayen continued coldly:

"This coat you are wearing, what material is inside it? Woolen cloth? No, that is no longer important. Why does it have such good workmanship and form, both beautiful and convenient for warmth? Does your manor have such craft?"

Whether he did not understand or reacted slowly, the baron froze and looked at his coat.

"Oh, because this was not produced by your manor or village," Zayen said as if suddenly enlightened. "You bought it from Jade City. Perhaps along with a great many things in your home, from the powder and jewelry on your wife to the grape wine prepared for your sons."

"Because Jade City produces more things, more commercial goods, more resources, more tools, and exchanges them back to them," Zayen snorted coldly. "They, the farmers on your territory, will then take the grain produced from the land, which originally only needed to be stored in warehouses to wait for winter, leave the village, come to town, attend markets, and finally sell it to us."

"So people in Jade City, 'lords' like me, do not have to rely solely on that bit of rent and taxes paid by one baron like you to survive, until in the end we either starve to death or increase taxes and force the people to rebel."

The baron opened his mouth but could not speak.

"We, Jade City, do not only protect them," Zayen clasped his hands behind his back, fully displaying his authority. "We also supply them in return, in exchange for their output. Only then can both sides profit from Jade City's development and allow the entire South Coast to benefit.

"My father exempted them from excess labor service, even regular military service? This way, they have more time and become more enthusiastic and efficient. Production from their own land increases year after year. Newborn population in your territory increases. More wasteland is opened. Their minds grow more active. Product types become richer. Only then can they sell more output to cities like Jade City and obtain higher and greater profits."

"But our rent and taxes..."

The baron seemed to want to argue.

"As for allowing taxes and rent to be paid in cash, yes, among the rent and taxes you receive, physical output decreased and money increased. But precisely in order to obtain the cash to pay rent, the people on your land need markets more, need transactions more, need to exchange goods for money to gather enough for rent and taxes."

Hearing this from behind, Thales frowned deeply.

Zayen's words made the originally noisy hall completely silent. Only his speech could be heard.

"More and more people will carry their produce toward towns, come to Jade City, and sell grain and other goods that can be exchanged for money, forming special products on a scale large enough to attract merchants from farther away. Their arrival can bring Jade City, even the South Coast and the Kingdom of Stars, things we cannot produce ourselves.

"Following this, countless grains, agricultural products, and raw materials flow, entering towns and supporting populations, thereby driving trade and connecting near and far. Only then can the goods carefully made by craftsmen in the city feed back to you and the people on your land, allowing you to enjoy the products of civilization and goods from distant places, instead of crouching in your castle manor, guarding ragged clothes, broken bowls, and rotten basins, knowing nothing of the Seven Seas or the four corners, sitting in a well and staring at the sky until you die of old age. Do I need to remind you again what raw materials this expensive coat contains, and where they were produced and made?"

Zayen rebuked:

"Baron, the service reduction and exemption you hate, the cash tax payment you are uninterested in, they connect city and countryside and maintain the economic operation of the entire South Coast. That is the meaning behind these decrees!"

"But... tradition..." Trent was sweating all over from Zayen's words, but still refused to give up. "It was not like this before... in my grandfather's time..."

Hearing this, Zayen did not immediately refute him like before.

He revealed hesitation and difficulty, stayed silent for a while, then sighed long.

"He can really fucking act," Thales said afterward.

"I know your difficulties, Baron. I also understand your plan. But Prince Thales's arrival is not a reason for you to seize the opportunity and attack."

Duke Zayen lifted his gaze, his words cold.

"Nor is he a tool for you to borrow the royal family's might and pressure others."

As soon as this was said, everyone in the trial hall shivered.

"But do not forget, Baron Trent. Your ancestor four generations ago was also only an ordinary manor laborer who worked and farmed on Emerald Palace's land." The master of the Iris gradually softened his tone. "Yes, I remember your family. In fact, I know the origins and past of every vassal under me."

Baron Trent stared at him blankly, trembling slightly.

"The Fourth Continental War gave your ancestor the opportunity to go to the battlefield and prove himself. He grasped it and earned the Trent surname and the title of lord. His descendants went further, winning fiefs and the responsibility to guard land, turning the title into hereditary family glory, until it was finally passed down to your generation.

"So compared with ordinary people, Baron Trent, you have more opportunities. You were born under the care of servants and wet nurses. Since childhood, you received an education ordinary people cannot imagine. You also have a large piece of land. You have your family's reputation. You have the savings left by your ancestors. You have connections and networks left by several generations. You have a castle that still possesses military meaning."

Zayen stared at him, his gaze complicated, seeming both pitying and angry.

"You have your surname... and the privileges it represents. Tax collection, conscription, judgment... too many privileges, some visible, some invisible."

"Yet you have fallen to such a state, financially embarrassed, your household bare, even needing illegal means to squeeze your people," he changed direction. "And you claim it is my father's decrees and Jade City's development that reduced you to this?"

"No."

The Duke of Iris spoke firmly.

"The reason you are like this, Baron Trent, is because you are unwilling to open your eyes, accept reality, and make changes."

As he spoke, he suddenly extended his arm and gestured toward the entire hall.

"This is my family's Emerald Palace, but it is also Jade City's trial hall."

"But you, Baron, cannot leave your castle, cannot leave your manor, cannot leave your steward," Zayen said coldly, making the baron ashamed beyond measure. "You cannot leave the farmers whose status is lower than yours and who must call you master, not only because you rely on their labor and output to feed yourself, but also because you need their status to be lower than yours. You need people to look at you with obedience and fear."

"You cannot leave the feeling of shouting orders at everyone around you from childhood to adulthood. You cannot leave praise, flattery, tribute, bowed heads, and the superiority of having people obey your every gesture."

Zayen said coldly:

"That is the true thing obstructing your survival."

The trial hall was utterly silent. Everyone was thinking about the duke's words.

Only Thales frowned tightly.

"But we are the Kingdom of Stars! We are descendants of the empire!" the baron said sadly. "My ancestor protected his people, and his people submitted to his rule. From king to commoner, each of us performs our duty. From knight to merchant, each has their proper place. That is rule..."

"I am also proud of my surname and bloodline, proud of my family's long history," Zayen quickly interrupted him. "But I would rather keep this feeling in my heart, not impose it on others, using self-intoxication to cover substance while only inviting disgust and willing degeneration."

"No matter whether you are a family of four generations," the Duke of the South Coast said softly, intentionally or not taking a step to the side and revealing Thales's figure, "or a descendant of the imperial house."

Thales immediately felt many gazes cast over.

Fucking hell.

"Speaking of bloodline, in this hall, this palace, even this city, no one is nobler than His Highness Thales beside me. That is the Jadestar royal family that once witnessed the empire's glory."

As Zayen spoke, he reached into his pocket and flicked a silver coin downstairs, which the baron caught.

"Yet when you take out a silver coin, you will know that even they clearly understand this: A king does not gain respect by virtue of his bloodline."

Baron Trent looked at the silver coin, then at Thales.

The prince unhappily pursed his lips.

"The Jadestar royal family abides by law and reason and follows rules. They rule the kingdom wisely and with restraint. They come here with etiquette and respect, to our land, to our city. They do not rashly interfere in the lives of subordinate subjects, nor do they crudely interfere with Jade City's internal affairs, whether our method of rule or our actual interests, because they deeply understand their responsibility. But what about you? When you claim to appeal to Stars' orthodoxy and thereby disrespect Judge Brennan?"

The old judge coughed and sat straighter.

"Jade City is a city of justice and law. This is not merely boastful praise we give ourselves," Zayen raised his voice. "Jade City believes in justice, believes there is no gain without labor, believes effort must receive reward. To ensure this, Jade City also believes in law, believes rule should not be chaotic and arbitrary, and rules ought to be public and clear."

"You think you are appealing to tradition, using the privileges granted by status to discipline the territory and population under your jurisdiction. But if I support your appeal and lean toward you in arbitration, that would permit you to challenge the foundation of rule of the entire Jade City and even the South Coast. That would be truly irresponsible."

Zayen slowed and sighed.

"I know the relationship between tradition and law is quite complicated, and sometimes they even cause each other. But there is one point: law cannot be arbitrarily changed because of the will of those above, because we believe that within the scope visible to this city, there are some rules that even I, the hereditary ruler surnamed Covendier, cannot break. No secrets, no hidden dealings, no exceptions!"

"Only in this way can rules recognized and followed by everyone promote everyone's welfare in return."

The duke came back to himself, righteous and stern.

"Therefore, I cannot arbitrate for you, Baron Trent."

"I also advise you to withdraw your plan of forcing the prince to arbitrate for you in public. He has been forced to do far too many things in his life. You cannot get in line."

Thales's small face darkened.

The baron trembled all over and fell back into his seat.

Zayen smiled faintly and also sat back down, receiving Thales's eye-roll.

One sound, two sounds, three sounds. Countless claps rose one after another from the observers. Zayen waved back modestly.

Thud!

"Silence."

The judge expressionlessly pulled order in the court back.

"Apologies, Judge Brennan." Zayen smiled apologetically toward the old judge. "I overstepped and led your case astray. In fact, perhaps I should have focused on the case itself."

"Not only that, boy," Brennan said without politeness. "You also turned the trial hall into a place for you to expound your political ideas, show off, and even contend with the royal family."

Zayen's face stiffened.

Thales's brows relaxed.

"Therefore, this court will fine you three hundred Tomond gold coins, Lord Zayen," Judge Brennan said coldly. "Do you object or wish to appeal?"

Zayen frowned hard.

Wait, how much?

Thales froze.

The master of Iris sighed long.

"No. I respect the judge's decision."

Judge Brennan stroked his beard and nodded with satisfaction.

"Three hundred..." With this number, which would probably cause Logistics Officer Stour to have a heart attack, Thales lowered his voice and asked in surprise, "You just accept the fine? Is it that you really do not want to appeal, or are you so rich you do not care?"

Zayen's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Because I do not want him to fine me more."

"How do you know he would fine more?"

"Experience," Zayen said unhappily.

Thales immediately became delighted at his misfortune.

Three hundred gold coins, haha...

"Also," unfortunately, the duke's next sentence extinguished Thales's interest, "I truly am very rich."

"But besides this, I must say..."

Judge Brennan's words drew the attention of the entire trial hall.

"Although you did not cite specific legal provisions, Lord Zayen, and did not provide a practical solution, you stood at the unique height of a ruler and described to us the way Jade City survives. Why taxes are paid this way, why service can be exempted, why towns need not farm, why commercial goods must circulate like this, and why decrees and legal provisions are arranged this way. You expounded an entire operating method of rule and the spirit and principles upheld behind it. You spoke of what we believe in on this land and what we strive to obtain."

The judge was somewhat wistful.

"In the imperial era, a scholar once said: Tradition creates law, and law responds to tradition. On this point alone, you surpass many of my colleagues at Dragon Kiss Academy who studied law only to become legal craftsmen, who only know how to read from the book and rigidly pick at clauses while completely ignoring the spirit behind them, ignoring the foundation of our legislation and law enforcement, knowing what is so but not why it is so."

Thales's gaze toward Zayen became strange.

"You praise me too highly, Judge Brennan."

Zayen rose and bowed at the right moment.

"When my father was alive, he often mentioned your learning and character to me, praising your experience and professionalism. You judged cases, established rules, and pointed the direction for everyone in Jade City and even the South Coast. Compared with a troublesome duke like me, you are the true treasure of Jade City."

Brennan nodded, clearly pleased.

"I will add another hundred gold coins to your fine," but the judge's next words were far less friendly, "because in the trial court, under the sacred duty of noble arbitration, you flattered the judge and tried to pull on relationships."

Zayen's smile froze.

Thales suddenly felt that judge was very pleasing to the eye.

"Baron Trent, Defense Counsel Srimanny, and Village Elder Molina," the judge returned to the current matter, "because of the baron's special request, we have now gone through this process twice, so I believe you should have no more evidence or arguments. This case will be judged on a selected date. Of course, Lord Baron, you are a noble, so you may also exercise the noble right of review and appeal for a third time. But that will be the last time."

He removed his glasses.

"Before that, I suggest you hire a defense counsel. Their guild is in the Glory District. It would be better than coming all the way from your castle and shouting loudly in Emerald Palace before His Highness the prince."

Baron Trent trembled all over.

"Hiring a defense counsel costs money again?"

"Yes, costs money again," Judge Brennan sighed. "But it will mean fewer troubles."

He struck the gavel.

"Court adjourned."

Discussions rose again in the trial hall.

"But judge, sirs, lords," the village elder's trembling voice rang out. "Our grain is still being withheld. If he appeals again and delays again... if we miss the market, winter will come in a few months. We cannot drag this out..."

Srimanny, beside him, reached out and tugged him, stopping the village elder from continuing.

"I sympathize with you, Village Elder Molina, but since you accepted the advice of your backers and brought this matter to appeal, you should have expected the risks within it." Brennan looked at Srimanny, then at the observers in the back, his gaze unfriendly. "And perhaps you should think about this: those who funded you to come to court, do they truly care about your grain and your interests, or do they care about what they can obtain from a group of poor people driven to a dead end and a piece of declining land once this is dragged into a long trial process?"

These words made Thales's gaze move.

The village elder listened in confusion, but was quickly pulled away by Srimanny.

Judge Brennan seemed hesitant. He turned back and sighed to the whole hall.

"To be honest, as a judge, I am not pleased to see this trial."

"As a judge, I should try to repair justice, restrain the strong, and protect the weak. But the fact is that in this trial, the true strong are instead hiding in the dark and continuing to benefit, while both sides on the surface have suffered heavy losses."

Thales and Zayen exchanged a glance.

The old judge looked at the baron and village elder on the two sides.

"But since the rules are like this... forgive me for adding one more sentence. Laws and regulations are only dead words. What flows outside the words is the true power. If you continue to be confined by the former while ignoring the latter..."

Judge Brennan sighed long and said no more.

Zayen, in his seat, frowned and summoned a subordinate.

"Pass the order. Allocate a portion from this year's disaster response funds to make up the loss in grain sale prices suffered by those farmers."

His gaze turned cold.

"At the same time, bring a message to the Grain Merchants' Guild: I am watching."

Thales, who had fallen into thought, snorted softly.

"Unexpected."

Zayen glanced at him.

Thud.

"Next case, number 680-10-0882," Judge Brennan put his glasses back on. "Three merchants of the Wool Guild sue Lord Bedren for debt default..."

Halfway through his words, he looked toward the second level.

"Why are you still here? You two dukes?"

Ah?

Thales and Zayen froze.

"Do you not know that the arrival of important people seriously diverts attention, steals my authority, and affects the trial court's work?"

Brennan's tone was poor.

"Or do you think the fine was not enough?"

In the next second, Thales and Zayen sprang from their seats with a whoosh and vanished from everyone's sight.

Thales and Zayen both walked out of the trial hall.

"Good. At least now we know," Zayen smiled coldly, "this trial was only some brainless noble throwing medicine at a crisis."

He glanced at Thales.

"And not a tool for someone to extend his hand toward Jade City."

Thales frowned. Was the acting beginning already?

After returning to the public eye, Zayen was cold toward Thales. He did not even exchange simple courtesies before leaving. Ashford bowed to Thales with a smile and followed his master away.

Thales watched Zayen's back, then looked at the trial hall, and finally toward Emerald Palace built on Ancestor Rock, sinking into thought.

"My heart is cluttered," he said faintly.

Miranda, who had been waiting at the door, came beside Thales and tilted her chin toward the departing Zayen.

"He still does not like you?"

Thales shook his head, but his expression became grave.

"Mira, do you know why, after the Eckstedtians invaded Stars during the Bloody Year, they could not stay behind and continue occupying the Northland?"

Miranda froze at once.

"The Northlanders had long bathed under the king's rule," the Winterless Blade of the Fortress reacted extremely quickly, "and also respected Cold Castle's rule. Resistance was constant, and uprisings never ceased."

Thales smiled.

"That is certainly one reason."

"But when I used to attend lessons, there was another explanation. The Eckstedtians' administrative and ruling ability was insufficient. They only knew how, and only could, take care of their own small patch of land. Any more, and their strength failed. Any farther, and they could not connect head and tail. Any more complicated, and they lost sight of one thing while attending to another."

Miranda's gaze moved.

"So once there was no army suppressing things, they would either make heaven angry and people resentful, forcing rebellions, or manage things miserably and withdraw in disgrace. In short, Eckstedtian rule has its limits. They cannot understand, and cannot adapt to, the ruling and living methods that Stars has long been used to."

The limits of rule.

Thales said silently, thinking of that long-absent classmate from Dragon Clouds City.

"Your Highness, what do you mean?" Miranda asked carefully.

Thales exhaled and revealed a bitter smile.

"My father has favored Jade City for a very long time. That is why we came here from the capital. But look around, Mira. Look around."

Thales turned. His gaze swept over the Covendier family's Ancestor Rock, swept over the trial hall that was still sending out the sound of the gavel. Miranda followed him in confusion and turned as well.

Finally, they faced the direction of Jade City's districts and felt the bustle outside Emerald Palace.

He spoke calmly:

"Now, we are the Eckstedtians."

Looking at the troubled prince, Miranda was instantly stunned.