"Lord's Bill"

There is one provision.

Lords enjoy the sovereignty of their domains, excluding tax collection and military garrison. The current private lands of the lords cannot be bought or sold, only leased to local enterprises or individuals under Royal Court supervision.

It can be roughly understood as a way to corral the vassal lords, retaining nominal influence and making enough money to eliminate the possibility of rebellion and land annexation.

The process from drafting to implementation to execution are three completely different things.

But in a zero-sum game, even if land annexation is forcibly stopped, it will always take other forms, such as capital, means of production, armed forces, or "personal prestige."

Strong policies often bring strong risks.

The Emperor, born in turbulent times, faced periodic large-scale reactionary movements and ongoing small-scale reactions, choosing the latter.

Thus, in this seemingly powerful policy, a steady strategy also exists.

It led to Aran always having active anti-imperialists; although they couldn't cause much of a commotion, small disturbances were continuous, with the military government's absolute execution power able to swiftly respond with precise strikes each time.

However, local nobles also understood deeply that when the "Lord's Bill" was just drafted, if they didn't act irrationally then, it would be harder to overturn once it was truly implemented.

So when the bill was first introduced, to suppress the nobility who refused to assimilate into royal governance.

An absurd event occurred as it was needed.

That was...

The National Duel.

If one defeats the Emperor in a duel, and since the Emperor would be dead, the victor becomes king and immediately assumes the throne.

The Emperor personally fought, executed countless duelists sent by local nobles, blood splattering on the Golden Throne, none were a match.

To this day.

This tradition still exists.

But the rules have changed; not just any minor riffraff can come to duel for fun. One must first defeat a previous Continent Martial Arts Competition champion, now the Imperial Guard Captain, Lockhart, before the duel can be discussed.

Yet with Aran's national power at its peak, no one has mentioned it for years, and Lockhart has been idle for years.

Until the Holy Spirit Calendar 2690, Stargazing Festival, September 9, Continent Martial Arts Competition.

The champion's wish was...

To, launch, a, National, Duel.

When Gedre spoke, a pin drop could be heard.

Phoenix forgot everything he wanted to say, his breath caught in his throat.

The people in the military government seats froze in rows, their blood ran cold, and their eyes forgot to blink.

Everyone's scalp tingled, minds exploding into white noise, even the wind scraping past sounded piercing, senses suddenly became terrifyingly sharp. Although the sound was audible, the deathly silence of the venue seemed as if through thick glass.

It lasted several seconds, nearly ten, the crowd burst into uproar, expressions varied, foreign dignitaries' eyes shown with excitement, and the audience roared with an explosive uproar across the sky.

Gedre made the sixteenth Continent Martial Arts Competition become undoubtedly the most legendary one.

Even Augustus, who was unwavering before Zote, knowing Cicero could handle it, found his eyelid twitching, for Gedre dared to utter those four words, his monstrous eyes bloodshot.

And Phoenix, originally building momentum tonight, now lacked any princely aura, utterly lost.

Including Owl Dragon Sallet, the sixteen strong contestants all distanced from Gedre, this mad task was too over the top, they feared the blood would splatter onto them.

Kai Deng wanted nothing to do tonight, and sensibly backed off, distancing himself from Gedre, it was too damn terrifying, at this time one absolutely shouldn't provoke the Royal Court.

Gedre's gaze was deep as an abyss, his back straight as a blade, shoulders tense as iron, his shadow flickering so it made people tremble, his eyes pinned straight on Phoenix.

The ceremonial band abruptly halted, the machines controlling the falling flower petals and gold foil also stopped, leaving only a chilling murderous intent, and the oppressive rage of the sky about to collapse.

Beima's old king committed suicide after a defeat, back then Philip VI also came here to negotiate with the Emperor, only to be treacherously killed.

But Gedre didn't care about these patriots sacrificed for the nation.

He simply couldn't stand Aran's military police oppressing Beima, nothing more.

The reverse hatred split his mind into countless versions of himself wielding knives.

In the river of the past, in the cracks of time, countless hands longed to carve out that person's moment of cowardice.

It's just...

Now, at this very moment.

"Didn't you hear?"

Gedre tore off the Brave Cavalry cloak from his shoulder, pointing at Aran's Second Prince's head, wanting him to reply, "Call your father here, I demand a National Duel."

Fearing those Aran bastards didn't hear clearly and passed the wrong message, Gedre repeated it again.

Cicero was also somewhat frozen, this was a rule set by the Emperor, now as the Finance Officer, he found it difficult to intervene.

Only able to glance at Lockhart who was present on the stage.

Having blocked several duelists for the Emperor in past years, he knew how to deal with it.

Lockhart was also somewhat at a loss.

The reason the Emperor entrusted him with this important task was to sift out some of the nonentities, not just anyone could come to duel.

But the Continent Martial Arts Competition champion completely had the right to initiate a duel, bypassing his authority.

To use this rule to suppress someone now wouldn't convince the public, it would only lead to random speculation about whether the Emperor was seriously ill or unable to appear for other reasons.

It's an issue shaking the foundations of Aran's military-political structure.

Currently, there are two choices, directly going up to chop Gedre to pieces, but that's not feasible, Lockhart could only find another excuse.

"Even if you request a duel, it doesn't mean you can be disrespectful to the Royal Family."

Lockhart drew his sword, his gaze was compelling, intending to forcibly keep Gedre here, to die by his hand.

Gedre didn't bother to pretend, holding Lockhart in contempt.

"You relieved Mublaine Duchy from three years of taxes, which seemed a grand move, but it trapped the entire nation's ideology in the quagmire of Aran's rule, unable to overturn for a hundred years. A master's dog, and you dare to speak before me?"

Gedre amassed all his strength just for this moment.

He wanted the world, the Royal Court, to be speechless.

He drew the sword from beside Qiande, who didn't mind the trouble and didn't even try to stop him.

He directly slashed towards Lockhart.

It seemed as if innately dominant, his strength comparable to a Mountain Giant.

Even though Lockhart wore armor constructed with Magic Runes, although the internal circuits weren't operating, some physical functions were enhanced, yet in one clash, he was still shaken and retreated a step by Gedre.

Qiande's eyes gleamed, could tonight... truly overturn history?

Lockhart was truly enraged, since it's a duel, one cannot use armor, he activated the mechanism on his shoulder, the silver-white armor instantly scattered and was removed, revealing his plain attire.

An unthinkable scene, the sixteenth Continent Martial Arts Competition champion against the ninth Continent Martial Arts Competition champion.

But Gedre gave Lockhart no chance, humiliating him was enough, the oppressive tone gave no face to the Alan Royal Court.

"I am no nobody, I am the sixteenth Continent Martial Arts Competition champion, qualified to initiate a duel. Right now, I am in my prime state, don't use any excuses to avoid it, I'll say it one last time..."

Gedre pointed his sword toward the royal special seat, pausing for a moment.

No one dared to recklessly name the Emperor, fearing the fate's power in the shadows would harm them.

"Igphies Tartaros, come and meet your death!"

Gedre pronounced the name in full, this was indeed his burial place!

Different emotions rapidly spread through the crowd, forming a collective agitation, whispers rolled like thunder, discussions exploded into a buzz, gasps interconnected.

He was challenging, truly... the strongest person of this age.

At this point.

The situation spiraled out of control, unrecallable, racing explosively toward the peak.

And in the distance...

Also came the sound of Flying Dragons flapping wings across the sky.