Chapter 321: Ancient Nobles (2)

“And that’s just one example of the privileges the Ancient Nobles hold.”

“As far as I know, most of these nobles hide within cities. Ordinary people have no idea they exist, and they’re also unaware that many of the decisions affecting their lives are decided by their votes. But when it comes to their true privileges, those are things ordinary people can’t even begin to imagine. Even I only know the most basic ones…”

“Take the rank of Baron, for instance!”

She paused, then said in a low voice, “The ranks of the Ancient Nobles are Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron. Baron is the lowest of these ranks.”

“And the privilege this rank possesses is—secular immunity!”

“Simply put, no laws, customs, or morals can restrain a Baron. Even if he commits a crime and poses a great threat to those around him, or even to the world, the secular authorities cannot put him on trial. Only the internal council of the Ancient Nobles can sanction them, and only after a vote.”

…

‘And that’s just for the lowest rank?’

Han Su mulled over her words for a long time before asking in a low voice, “What about the higher ones?”

“The higher ranks are a bit beyond my pay grade.”

Wei Lan sighed softly and said, “I only know that Viscounts possess the power of an unbroken bloodline!”

Han Su was taken aback. “That is…”

“It’s been two thousand years since the Reconstruction Era,” Wei Lan said in a low voice. “Two thousand years is a very long time, long enough for many things to happen. A person or family that once held the highest status and wielded endless power at the start of the Reconstruction Era could have declined over generations. Perhaps their descendants encountered powerful enemies, or there was a shift in power, or they fell under a mysterious curse. It’s even possible that a descendant from some generation simply chose an unconventional path and decided against having descendants. The possibility of a bloodline being completely wiped out always exists.”

“In short, ensuring one’s bloodline continues to exist in this world is actually a very difficult and uncertain matter.”

“But the power of a Viscount is an unbroken bloodline. That is to say, as long as civilization exists, their bloodline is guaranteed to exist in this world.”

“This is written into the contents of Scroll 02; it is not bound by the laws of reality.”

“To some, the continuation of their bloodline represents their own form of immortality, so they value this power immensely.”

…

Secular immunity, an eternal bloodline…

Just by hearing those four words, Han Su began to grasp the transcendent nature of these Ancient Nobles.

He even recalled Ms. Shen’s memory in the Crystal Skull. When she approached those people in Qinggang, they had eagerly signed a contract of silence for the sole promise of being granted the title of Baron if the plan succeeded. They hadn’t even bothered to look at the plan’s details. Now, he was starting to understand why.

“So, what about higher up…”

“Higher than that are things I am truly not qualified to know about.”

Wei Lan gave a wry smile. “To be honest, the things I’m able to tell you now are only because of my status as an Empress.”

“In terms of their usual activities, the Ancient Nobles are scattered across various cities, keeping an incredibly low profile. They occasionally send people out to participate in political contests.”

“In the Western Continent, there are some public-facing nobles who participate directly in politics and the wars within the Mysterious Circle under their titles. The Eastern Continent, however, never speaks of them, as if such people don’t exist at all. But they do exist, living within the cities, forming a tripartite power structure with the Hidden Schools and the Mysterious Organizations. Together, they are the three great pillars that support the real world.”

“The Ancient Nobles Master secular power, the Hidden Schools pursue knowledge, and the Mysterious Organizations vent the emotions of the masses…”

“On the surface, these Ancient Nobles don’t flaunt their superiority. At times, their overt power might even seem weak.”

“However, the more powerful a Mysterious Organization or individual is, the more they understand just how terrifying the nobles are.”

“You still remember the Circulating Knight Order that appeared in Qinggang before, right?”

“That is the most visible of the nobles’ forces, but it’s only what’s on the surface. The truly frightening aspect of the nobles lies in their power to bestow honors and enfeoff titles. For example, here is a rule that’s most relevant to us:”

“Independent Investigators around the world who perform exceptionally well might be jointly recommended by local Ancient Nobles to serve in the Circulating Knight Order. Entering the Circulating Knight Order is equivalent to stepping through the gateway to the Ancient Nobles. After ten years of service, they can be accepted by the Ancient Nobles and be enfeoffed as a Baron, becoming a new noble themselves.”

“Furthermore, the Hidden Schools and Mysterious Organizations have similar policies, which hold a great attraction for many people!”

…

‘That alone is terrifying enough.’

‘Does this mean they have the ability to recruit every top elite in the world?’

Han Su nodded lightly. He said no more on the topic, asking directly, “In that case, what’s the situation with the master of this Skinning Manor?”

Wei Lan seemed to relax a little, grateful to move on from the topic. She shook her head and said, “I came in a hurry, only thinking about checking if you were okay, so I haven’t had time to do my homework on the local situation yet. But the Queen’s Organization in Giant Horn City should have detailed files on Skinning Manor and this Count. I can try to find out his background for you.”