CHAPTER 307: PILLARS OF THE WOLD COUNCIL

The shuttle glided smoothly along its track, a gentle hum resonating through the sleek seats and tempered windows.

Outside, the skyline of PWC unfolded like a vibrant mural,steel, glass, and marble rising in harmonious layers against the pale blue sky.

With each passing moment, the PWC revealed its intricate veins: wide thoroughfares, looping transit lines, and clusters of towers designed to impress not just citizens but history itself.

Charlotte sat slightly angled toward Victor, her legs crossed and hands folded neatly in her lap.

A faint smile played on her lips, yet her eyes remained sharp and focused,never drifting without purpose.

To an observer, she might have seemed casually curious but beneath that surface lay questions that probed deeper than they appeared.

"So," Charlotte began, tilting her head as if engaging in light conversation, "the International Court Division... it sounds quite expansive! Are there other divisions as well? It must be a complex structure to manage."

Victor’s lips twitched but didn’t quite form a smile. He leaned back into his seat with a soft creak of leather beneath him.

His gaze drifted outside for a moment before returning to meet hers.

"Yes. The International Court Division is merely one pillar among several others. Each serves its own purpose while balancing the others."

Charlotte’s brows lifted in intrigue. "Pillars? That’s an interesting choice of words! What other divisions are there?"

Victor shifted slightly, fingers brushing along his knee as he weighed how much to reveal.

"There’s the Security and Defence Division that oversees global peacekeeping forces, authorizes military interventions under "collective security",the Economic Oversight Division that regulates trade, finance, global banking systems; then there’s the Technological Regulation Division.."

He paused for a moment, narrowing his eyes slightly..."Energy Stabilization Division (ESD),Territorial Integrity Division (TID),Diplomatic Mediation Division (DMD),Health and Human Preservation Division (HHPD),Cultural and Information Division (CID),Resource Management Division (RMD)".

Charlotte’s smile widened just enough to mask the spark of interest igniting in her eyes. "Security and Defence ... I see! And are these divisions equal in authority?"

Victor let out a low chuckle devoid of warmth. "Equal in name only but not in practice. Some divisions have real power while others remain ornamental."

Charlotte tilted her head thoughtfully as if contemplating this revelation. "So there are factions at play,some stronger than others with ambitions beyond their intended scope?"

Victor met her gaze steadily, unblinking,a heartbeat passed where tension filled the air between them like static electricity before he replied softly but firmly:

"Every institution has its ambitions, Lady Charlotte. But those ambitions are contained, for now."

She hummed softly as if satisfied with his answer while noting the subtle tension lacing his voice away for later consideration.

Shifting gears seamlessly, she asked lightly: "And who leads the Court itself? A council or perhaps a singular figure?"

Victor raised an eyebrow, a hint of intrigue flickering in his gaze. "A Chief Magistrate," he began, "and beneath them, the High Council of Twelve,each division sends two representatives to maintain balance. In theory."

"In theory," Charlotte echoed softly, leaning back as if conceding the point.

Yet her eyes remained fixed on Victor’s hand, which rested casually on the armrest.

Something caught her attention,a mark that initially appeared to be a mere shadow.

But as light filtered through the shuttle’s window, it transformed into something more defined: ink.

A tattoo sprawled across the back of Victor’s hand with such intricate detail that it demanded notice,a ladder with meticulously etched rungs rising from a globe drawn with cartographer’s precision.

The top of the ladder faded into an indistinct haze of ink, suggesting it vanished into nothingness.

Charlotte tilted her chin toward it, maintaining her calm demeanor. "That’s quite an unusual tattoo,a ladder and a globe. Symbolic, perhaps?"

Victor glanced down at his hand before meeting her gaze again, his expression inscrutable.

He flexed his fingers, causing the ink to ripple like a living entity. "Old thing," he replied flatly. "Means nothing now."

Charlotte’s smile widened just slightly,an invitation for deeper conversation. "Hmm... Such detail for something you deem meaningless."

Victor offered no response; his eyes remained steady on hers,his face carved from stone.

The silence lingered long enough to close off that line of questioning for now; she chose not to press further,at least not yet.

As the shuttle curved along its elevated track, a central spire began to dominate the skyline ahead of them.

Charlotte shifted closer to the window, her eyes widening in awe despite herself.

Before them loomed a structure unlike any other,a towering edifice crafted from black marble and white stone that exuded both grandeur and severity.

Its façade was adorned with carvings of scales, books, and chains,each etched with almost divine precision.

At its base stood a colossal statue: a blindfolded woman holding a scale in one hand and a thick book in the other,her concealed expression radiating an eternal presence of judgment.

The International Court Division Headquarters.

People streamed in and out of vast staircases leading up to its gates,robes mingling with uniforms and business attire in a rush akin to a river of authority flowing ceaselessly onward.

Above them fluttered banners bearing the sigil of balance,each snapping sharply against the wind.

Leaning slightly toward Charlotte, Victor spoke in low but clear tones: "This is where judgment reigns supreme,the heart of authority itself. The Court oversees matters no other body dares touch: cross-border disputes, corruption among elites... crimes too vast for local tribunals to handle."

He paused momentarily before continuing with gravity in his voice, "When nations fail, this is where justice steps in,their word can strip dynasties bare or raise it higher than it dreamed."

Charlotte’s gaze was drawn to the imposing statue as their shuttle glided down toward the reception concourse.

The building loomed large, its sheer size swallowing up the view outside, while its windows mirrored the city in a kaleidoscope of fractured glass.

Victor’s voice broke through her thoughts, steady and unwavering.

"But don’t let its grandeur fool you into thinking there’s unity here. The Court is a battleground,divided, just like everything else. Each case isn’t just about law; it’s a clash of ideologies, a tug-of-war between the old guard and the new wave. What awaits you inside, Lady Charlotte, is not simply justice,it’s a struggle."

As the shuttle slid smoothly into its docking bay with a soft hiss, the doors opened to reveal a rush of footsteps, murmurs, and distant proclamations flooding in like an eager tide.

The air carried hints of parchment, stone, and iron,a sensory reminder of history and power.

Victor rose first, his tall figure catching the eyes of nearby officials waiting to board. With a courteous gesture, he extended his hand to Charlotte.

She accepted it gracefully and stepped into the bright light pouring from the Court’s entrance.

For just a fleeting moment, as she gazed up at that towering statue above her head, Charlotte felt an overwhelming weight pressing down on her,a reminder that this place was more than mere stone and mortar.

It was a grand theater where every player had already chosen their role,even Victor himself bore his own story etched in ink upon his skin.

With a slight adjustment of her posture and a smile that masked any inner turmoil she felt stirring within her chest, she asked softly, "Shall we?"

Victor inclined his head slightly; his expression had returned to its unreadable state once more. "We shall."