Chapter 195: Britannia’s Law 1230
Britannia’s Law 1230...
Known throughout the kingdom as the Law of Judgment.
Britannia stands as one of the strongest kingdoms/Nations in the world, and among the many things that made it different from other nations, one thing always stood out above the rest.
Its laws.
Not just written laws.
Enforced laws.
In a world where people could convert Essence into power, where Alchemists or Martial Artists could destroy buildings with a single attack and powerful individuals could level entire streets during a fight, maintaining order was far more difficult than most ordinary people could imagine.
Unlike Britannia, many kingdoms/Nations struggled with that problem.
Violence between People with powers happened frequently.
Personal grudges turned into battles.
Battles turned into disasters.
And disasters often left innocent civilians paying the price.
A fight between two ordinary people might leave behind bruises, but imagine a fight between Alchemists... could leave behind collapsed homes and burning streets.
Because of that reality, Britannia created strict laws to prevent reckless violence.
At first, the system worked well.
If two Alchemists fought publicly, whether the conflict ended in injuries, deaths, or large-scale destruction, both parties would be arrested.
Investigations would be conducted and punishments would be issued to both parties involved.
The greater the damage caused, the harsher the punishment.
For a time, the law successfully restrained many reckless nobles and rogue Alchemists.
But eventually...
A problem appeared.
The very people the law was meant to stop learned how to use it for their own benefit.
Rogue Alchemists began exploiting the rules.
Criminals would provoke fights knowing their victims would also be arrested.
Corrupt law enforcers started twisting investigations.
Some criminals even used the law as a shield, committing terrible acts while forcing innocent Alchemists into impossible situations.
Countless debates followed.
Arguments filled meeting halls.
Discussions stretched across years.
Until eventually...
Britannia’s Law 1230 was born.
The Law of Judgment.
If an Alchemist could prove they had been wronged...
If someone had attempted to kill them.
If a conspiracy had been formed against them.
If evidence existed proving the crime...
Then that Alchemist could receive authorization from a person of sufficient status within Britannia.
Once granted...
The victim would receive the right of judgment.
The right to pursue the offender personally and the right to settle the matter with their own hands.
This law is most commonly used during noble conflicts.
When one noble house secretly moved against another or when betrayal occurred within powerful families.
Or...
In situations exactly like Ezra’s.
***
"I don’t understand."
Portia sat across from Valentin inside his office, her brows remained tightly knitted together. Confusion and concern were visible on her face.
The office itself remained quiet.
Stacks of documents covered Valentin’s desk while three maids moved around the room carefully, organizing papers and records while keeping their footsteps almost silent.
The sound of pages turning occasionally broke the stillness.
"Why would you send him into what is practically a suicide mission?"
Portia leaned forward.
Her voice carried obvious dissatisfaction.
"Even if you wished to punish him, Baron Sterling is still a Meister Rank Alchemist."
She paused.
"And he isn’t alone. There are guards that are at least Novice rank Alchemist. The boy could die trying to take revenge."
Valentin calmly continued reading the document in his hand.
His expression barely changed.
Only after several seconds passed did he respond.
"Portia." He placed the paper down. "It was already his wish."
His tone remained calm, almost lazy.
Portia blinked.
"Vera told me how everything would play out, before it even began."
A faint smirk appeared at the corner of his lips.
"The incident at the party, the reactions of the Elders, the arguments that would occur and even the conclusion we would eventually reach."
Portia’s confusion only deepened.
While Valentin leaned back slightly, his dark eyes moved toward her.
"She also told me what my first thought would be."
His fingers lightly tapped the desk.
"And unfortunately..." The smirk deepened. "It was exactly what the boy wanted."
Portia stared at him.
For a moment she didn’t know what to say.
Valentin rarely complimented people.
Especially children.
Yet there was obvious interest in his eyes.
"Elder Portia."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"I am curious about that boy."
The room grew quieter.
Every maid instinctively slowed her movements, because they knew their Duke was speaking seriously.
"Every time I see him."
Valentin folded his hands together.
"He does something that captures my attention."
His voice remained calm.
Yet those words carried weight.
"I want to know what kind of result the Trial of Steel truly produced."
He looked through the large office window.
Snow continued falling outside.
The white landscape stretched across the estate.
"I want to see what the child who gained the most from that trial can actually do."
Outside the Council Hall.
The courtyard remained covered in snow.
The white stone buildings reflected the afternoon light.
Black decorative patterns lined the edges of the structures, making the place resemble a grand castle rather than a family headquarters.
A small black steam carriage rolled to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.
The door opened and Veda stepped out.
His boots crunched softly against the snow.
Cold air brushed against his face.
He adjusted his coat and climbed the stairs toward the entrance.
On the side of the doorway, a maid carefully watered several flower pots protected by heated glass coverings.
"Good Afternoon."
Veda smiled politely.
The maid immediately turned around.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Greetings, Young Lord."
She bowed respectfully.
"Sorry to disturb your work."
Veda scratched his cheek lightly.
The maid hurriedly lowered herself further.
"It is my pleasure to assist you, Young Lord."
A warm smile appeared on her face.
Veda nodded, then he asked,
"Did a boy with black and white hair leave this place recently?"
The maid thought briefly, then nodded.
"Yes."
Her answer came almost immediately.
"He left very quickly."
She pointed toward the stairs.
"One moment he was standing there rubbing his hands together."
She laughed softly.
"The next moment he was gone."
Veda sighed.
That definitely sounded like Ezra.
"Thank you."
He bowed slightly.
The maid instantly lowered herself even more.
The Young Lord is truly kind.
She watched him enter the building. The smile on her face lingered, almost like a proud mother watching her son.
Veda walked through the corridor.
Historical portraits lined both walls.
Former Elders.
Past Heads.
Generations of Ashenlocke’s watched silently from painted frames.
"I wonder what made him leave so fast."
Veda rubbed the back of his head.
"Her parents were so eager to meet him that I rushed over to tell."
His footsteps echoed through the corridor as he continued walking deeper into the hall.
***
It took Ezra and Lucy an entire day to return to Obsidior.
Before that, however, there were several things Ezra needed to settle in the Capital City first.
The most important one was his identity.
After all, according to the official records of Britannia, Ezra Sterling was supposed to be dead.
The Financial Corps Main Office was crowded as usual.
People moved in and out of the large stone building carrying documents, finance cards, and identification papers. Clerks sat behind long counters, speaking to customers one after another while steam-powered clocks ticked loudly on the walls.
Ezra spent almost the entire afternoon there.
First, he had to process a new identification record.
Then he had to update the records declaring him deceased.
After that, he had to create a proper finance account so he could finally convert his Trial of Steel points into Dals.
The process was long.
Long enough for Ezra to nearly fall asleep while waiting, which of course he didn’t.
Blood samples had to be collected.
Identity verification had to be completed.
Several officials needed to sign different documents.
Then the records had to be updated again to officially remove the word "dead" from his profile.
Five hours disappeared just like that.
When everything was finally completed, a finance card rested quietly in Ezra’s hand.
He stared at it.
Then stared again, then looked at the numbers written on the document beside it.
His total points after entering the Top Ten, combined with the rewards he earned throughout the Trial of Steel and after deducting all the points he spent on materials...
Two hundred and fifty thousand points.
250,000.
The conversion rate was simple.
One point equaled 0.0025 Dals.
That left him with a total of 625 Dals.
And one Dal was worth ten thousand gold coins.
The moment Ezra finished calculating everything in his head, he remained silent for several seconds.
A dangerous silence.
Even the worker across the counter looked at him strangely.
That...
That’s a ridiculous amount of money.
Ezra blinked, then blinked again.
For someone who had spent almost all of his recent life worrying about resources, materials, and whether he could afford his next house rent or to even buy clothes, the amount felt unreal.
His fingers instinctively tightened around the finance card.
Maybe money really does solve happiness.
The thought appeared in his head immediately.
After receiving his card and documents, Ezra finally left the building.
The cold evening air greeted him outside.
Snow drifted gently through the sky.
Ezra frowned slightly with the cold creeping into his body.
I need to re-stock on Heat stimulants pills and other products like that.
He thought to himself.
His next destination was the Servants of Ash Branch Office.
Lucy was still there.
Just like him, she was undergoing her own disciplinary review.
The senior council of servants had summoned her to discuss her involvement during the Unveiling event and to determine her future placement within the organization.
When Ezra arrived, he found her exiting the building with a tired expression.
Her shoulders looked slightly drooped.
Not because she had received a severe punishment.
Quite the opposite.
Information regarding Valentin’s judgment had already spread.
Once the Servant Council learned that the punishment given to Ezra wasn’t as severe as expected, Lucy’s own punishment became lighter.
Even so, the council still considered the situation dangerous.
After all, a thirteen-year-old boy had been ordered to confront an entire branch of a Baron family.
As a result, Lucy received strict instructions.
She was forbidden from directly assisting Ezra during the execution of his Judgment Order.
Naturally, she wasn’t happy about that.
The moment she saw him, her cheeks puffed slightly.
Ezra simply pretended not to notice.
By the time they left the Capital City, the sky was already turning orange.
And another journey began.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a difficult one.
Like last time they boarded a Senior First-Class Streamliner.
Compared to the other first-class trains they had used before, this one felt like an entirely different world.
The seats were softer, the cabins were larger, the vibration was minimal and the speed was noticeably faster.
Even the attendants looked more professional and they had Alchemists Guards protecting the train.
When they finally arrived in Obsidior, night had already settled over the city.
Snow covered the streets.
Steam lamps illuminated the roads.
The cold wind drifted through the city in waves.
Ezra immediately brought Lucy to a hotel.
A good one.
Four-star quality.
Truthfully, he wanted the five-star option.
His eyes had lingered on the more luxurious building for almost thirty seconds before he reluctantly turned away.
Unfortunately, he still had many things to spend money on, after he settled his task first.
As painful as it felt, he decided to be responsible.
The four-star hotel was already impressive enough.
After checking in and settling their luggage, the two washed up and changed into fresh clothes.
Then Ezra immediately got to work, since there was no time to waste.
The Judgment Order wasn’t something he intended to approach carelessly, especially when this was everything he had been preparing for since he left the Trial base.
The large hotel room quickly transformed into a workshop.
Several tables were pushed together.
Equipment covered the surface.
Lucy watched with a helpless expression knowing she was about to work her ass off yet again.
Then she quietly joined him.
The first thing Ezra removed from his Space Bag was the pair of Desert Eagles he had used against Wallace.
The black steel pistols reflected the room’s warm light.
One by one, he disassembled them.
Every part was carefully arranged across the table.
The springs.
The barrels.
The slides.
The magazines.
Everything was organized neatly.
The hotel room itself was surprisingly large.
The furniture looked expensive.
The carpet felt soft beneath his feet.
Decorative lamps lined the walls.
A fireplace burned steadily in the corner.
In his previous life, Ezra had never stayed in a hotel.
Not once.
So, he couldn’t compare it properly.
Still...
He had a feeling that even many four-star hotels from his old world wouldn’t compare to what he was currently seeing.
After finishing with the Desert Eagles, Ezra turned his attention toward the Barrett M107.
He carefully removed the silencer.
The weapon still carried traces of the battle against Wallace.
A faint smile appeared on Ezra’s face.
That shot had been satisfying.
Very satisfying.
Soon, several Alchemy circles appeared across the special crafting area provided by the hotel.
The establishment specifically maintained such sections for Alchemists wishing to work on projects during their stay.
Normal steel bars were stacked beside the circles.
Under Ezra’s control, Him and Lucy performed Joint Alchemy.
The steels melted, then shifted, they compressed in numerous parts and reshaped.
Magazine after magazine began taking form.
Desert Eagle magazines.
Barrett M107 magazines.
The process continued without interruption.
Hours passed.
The room gradually became warmer from the repeated use of Alchemy.
Lucy assisted him for as long as she could.
But eventually her Cognis reserves dropped too low.
Combined with the exhaustion from traveling, training, and several sleepless nights since leaving Rogers’ workshop...
Her body finally gave up.
Thud.
She collapsed onto the floor.
Fast asleep.
Ezra looked over, then sighed.
Without saying anything, he carried her carefully to the bed.
He adjusted the blanket making sure she was covered properly, then returned to work.
The night was still young and he still had many things left to create.
One Kel-Tec PMR-30.
One Big-4 Barrel Revolver.
One Acu-Vector Mk.I.
One AA-12 Shotgun.
Each weapon was created using Black Steel making each weapon reach Ninth Grade quality.
Additional magazines followed;
Drum magazines for the AA-12.
Extra magazines for the PMR-30.
The floor slowly filled with equipment.
Before leaving Metallica, Ezra had also purchased several stick grenades.
Soon the room looked less like a hotel and more like an armory.
Weapons lined the tables.
Daggers.
Thin steel ropes.
A long slender sword.
Alchemy accessories.
Magazines.
Grenades.
Guns.
Everything was arranged neatly for inspection.
Ezra moved from one item to another.
Checking, inspecting and testing.
Making sure every single piece functioned correctly.
Only after he finished did he place everything back inside his Space Bag.
Finally, he picked up the Desert Eagles once more.
The disassembled components lay before him.
One by one.
Piece by piece.
The pistols returned to their complete form.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The final piece locked into place.
Silence filled the room.
Ezra stared at the completed handgun resting in his palm.
For several moments, he said nothing.
Then he released a long breath.
"Finally..."
His voice sounded tired.
"It ends."
The weapon disappeared into his Space Bag.
Afterward, Ezra moved to the center of the room and sat down cross-legged.
The warmth of the fireplace illuminated half his face.
Outside the window, snow continued falling quietly over Obsidior.
Inside the room, only the sound of Lucy’s breathing and the crackling fire remained.
Ezra slowly closed his eyes.
Cognis began circulating through his stars and veins.
His exhausted reserves gradually recovered.
His breathing slowed.
His mind calmed.
Tomorrow...It will finally be time to cut all ties for good.
