Chapter 94. Civil Staff of the Homomorphic Tribunal
Less than an hour passed.
Logaris had already found the core of the problem.
The entire judicial system, from top to bottom, was a massive network of interests.
Local gentry, nobles, and wealthy rchants inserted their own people into judicial positions and manipulated the law at will.
For commoners, the outco of a case often depended entirely on who they had offended.
“A bunch of parasites.”
Logaris snorted coldly.
He had no intention of catching the parasites one by one.
That would be far too ti-consuming.
To solve a problem, one had to eliminate it at its root.
Logaris picked up his pen and quickly drafted his first provisional decree.
[Given the complexity of the current judicial environnt and in order to ensure the fairness of trials, from this day forward, any noble, rchant, or their agents who have a direct or indirect conflict of interest with a case are temporarily prohibited from serving as judicial advisers or attending court in the capacity of judges. Violators will be charged with obstruction of justice.]
The day the decree was issued, an uproar erupted throughout Winter City.
So representatives of the old powers were furious and declared that they would go to the Governor’s Residence to protest.
But when they passed the street where Herman had lived—where the scent of blood still lingered in the air—everyone silently stopped in their tracks and quietly returned ho.
No one dared to provoke trouble at such a mont.
The decree was implented smoothly.
The results appeared imdiately.
The next day, a baker falsely accused of theft by a wealthy rchant was acquitted in court on the spot.
A farr whose leg had been broken by a noble’s son—and who had then been demanded compensation for frightening the noble’s horse—finally received the compensation he deserved.
Although these were small matters, for ordinary citizens it was the first ti they truly felt that the law could actually protect them.
Public support began to gather around the Governor’s Residence in an unprecedented way.
However, Logaris felt no joy at all.
He knew perfectly well that he was only a temporary substitute.
Judicial reform was a systematic undertaking that required professionals to handle professional work.
He had no intention of wasting his valuable ti on such matters in the long term.
He needed to find a qualified successor.
A figure clad in black armor and holding a spear flashed through his mind.
Reynard.
That man possessed sharp and unique insights into the law.
“The Homomorphic Tribunal… the correctors of law…”
Logaris’s eyes flickered.
He rembered that Reynard was preparing to leave Winter City within the next couple of days.
He could not allow him to leave just like that.
With that thought, Logaris threw down his pen and hurried outside, not even bothering to tidy his judge’s robe.
In the guest quarters of the Governor’s Residence, he found Reynard packing his belongings.
The cold Judicator had already changed out of his iconic black armor and was wearing travel clothes. He was carefully wrapping a gleaming spear with strips of cloth.
Logaris did not waste ti and went straight to the point.
“Reynard, I need your help.”
Reynard paused in the middle of wrapping the spear and raised his eyes.
His golden gaze was as calm as an ancient well.
Logaris stated his purpose directly.
“Do you know soone… soone who understands the law, has a normal mind, and is willing to co work in the Northern Territory?”
Reynard fell silent for a mont, thinking.
A faint trace of nostalgia passed through his deep blue eyes.
“I do know soone very suitable.”
His voice was low and steady.
“His na is Cicero. He used to be our colleague, though he has already retired.”
Logaris was slightly surprised.
“The Homomorphic Tribunal actually has mbers who live to retire?”
In his understanding, the organization seed filled with justice-driven zealots who fought whenever provoked. Their mortality rate had to be absurdly high.
Reynard nodded.
“Cicero was not a combat mber. He was one of the rare civil staff within the tribunal, responsible for organizing internal legal doctrines and… ideological guidance.”
“Ideological guidance?”
Logaris grew even more curious.
“Yes,” Reynard explained.
“Most mbers of the tribunal carry deep blood feuds. It is easy for them to be consud by the desire for revenge. Cicero’s task was to ensure that we would not beco new demons while carrying out justice.”
He paused before adding another detail.
“However, he retired about seven years ago because he started a family and could no longer risk his life freely.”
“He sounds like an interesting person.”
Logaris beca genuinely intrigued.
“The most special thing about him,” Reynard continued, “is that he is a native scholar of the Astrelia Kingdom. But when he was young, he studied abroad across the sea in the United States of riga and obtained a master’s degree in law. After that, he traveled around the world and beca familiar with the legal systems of many nations.”
“The United States of riga!”
Logaris’s eyes lit up instantly.
He had long heard about that country.
A nation founded upon comrce, with no kings and no nobles, entirely controlled by capitalists and elite classes.
Their Magitech technology was extrely advanced. The world’s first Magitech train had been created there.
Their legal system was also completely different from a feudal kingdom like Astrelia.
It existed entirely to serve comrce and capital—rigorous, efficient, and filled with a cold beauty of rationality.
A talent who had received systematic legal education in the United States of riga?
This was the perfect successor.
“Where is he now?” Logaris asked quickly.
“After retiring, he settled in the eastern port city of the kingdom, Seabreeze City. He opened a small legal consulting office and lives a peaceful life.”
Reynard revealed.
“Help contact him.”
Logaris imdiately requested.
“I need him. The Northern Territory needs him.”
Reynard looked at Logaris’s eager expression.
For a brief mont, the corner of his mouth curved upward slightly before the expression disappeared.
“Very well.”
He nodded.
“But I should warn you. Cicero is extrely capable professionally, but his personality is sowhat… unusual.”
“In what way?”
“He is humorous, enjoys making jokes, and firmly believes that justice stands above everything.”
Reynard recalled.
“But he is also extrely fond of money, and he values his wife and daughter more than his own life. If you want to bring him out of retirent, you had better be prepared to pay a considerable price.”
“Money is not a problem.”
Logaris waved his hand carelessly.
“As long as soone has ability, personality is never an issue. I enjoy working with capable people.”
At that mont, all Logaris could think about was how to bring this man nad Cicero to the Northern Territory so he could finally escape the cursed position of Chief Judicial Officer.
Reynard said nothing further.
He took out a special sheet of black letter paper and a feather quill from his coat and began writing quickly.
He did not use any complex magical encryption.
Instead, he simply wrote using coded phrases and signals known only within the Homomorphic Tribunal.
The aning of the letter was very simple.
“Mister Cicero, I have a major job opportunity for you. The pay is excellent. Co quickly.”
After finishing, he folded the letter into a delicate paper crane and gently blew on it.
The paper crane seed to co alive.
It flapped its wings, instantly passed through the wall, and disappeared into the snowstorm.
“The letter has been sent.”
Reynard finished wrapping the final strip of cloth around his spear and slung it over his back.
“If he is interested, he will respond within three days.”
After saying that, Reynard looked at Logaris.
“My business here is finished. It is ti for to leave.”
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