The rest of the fucking trial went on with lethargy. Since the Carters didn't reappear, not that it was required, it was only Free Chains and me with my beasts.

We opened, and Free Chains brought up the video recordings of the fight as evidence of the assault. But it got thrown out since it didn't provide enough "context." Free Chains couldn't refute it.

Then the Ken family's lawyer brought up the "instigation" I did. Me using a detection skill, and the blood-stained gi I wore "confused" them.

They fought on the grounds of misunderstanding an official duel request. Kens' lawyer is the only one with enthusiasm or energy as the siblings sit quietly.

If the Kens win this one, only the lawyer will see any real benefits if he keeps his job after this.

I also was relatively fine after the confrontation, having no lasting injuries or significant changes to my life thanks to the attack. Free Chains fired back with statements like, "My client's skill to defend himself doesn't change anything," and, "The level differences between the two vs. one was excessive, and even with my client being a prodigy, your clients should have known their misdoing."

In the end, I had two choices. Drop the suit or persist. If I continue, I gain nothing and be open to a countersuit.

I want this trial to end soon, and I don't want to return another day, so we dropped it. This was never about an "assault." We got our revenge. We humiliated them.

They manage to lose to some commoners, peasants in their eyes. They are no longer invincible. I'm okay with dropping the suit since this case is only "civil" because the justice system isn't just.

"I want to thank the attorneys and all parties involved for their time and effort in this case. The court is adjourned."

The Ken family leaves before we do. I lean over to Free Chains and ask him, "Do you want to talk to the honorable judge since we have the chance?"

"That wouldn't be professional."

"Suit yourself. I'll catch up with you later."

"What?"

The "bailiff" had turned off the automatic stenographer and escorted Free Chains out of the courtroom, leaving my beasts and me behind. A confused look on his face grows as he gets kicked to the curb.

I look up at the judge.

"I need to hear more."

"I'm glad you decided to continue our talk," the judge responds with a completely emotionless voice. I wonder what would cause her to lash out and break this facade. If it's a facade.

"The Ken's lawyer. I didn't ask this in the bathroom because the case was technically ongoing, but what the fuck?"

"If you are referencing his line of questioning, I wanted to see the methods he would use to try and crawl back on top. It was sloppy, if anything, more like blind jabs rather than an actual attack. I apologize."

I don't ask if she apologizes for the attacks being sloppy or for letting it happen in the first place. The character assassination hasn't rubbed me the wrong way, but it doesn't feel good. It might have lessened the humiliation the Ken family rightfully should face.

"What do you get out of me joining? I've been thinking about it, and you don't seem like the person who would do this out of the kindness of your heart. Giving without receiving wouldn't be very 'Arbiter of Balance.'"

There is an uncomfortable amount of staring.

"Our group is not united. We have various factions that hold their own beliefs, motives, and agendas. However, I would like to extend an invitation to you to join my faction - the one I have led since its inception - known as The Order."

I stay silent as she speaks.

"I have reason to believe that you possess skills, knowledge, or resources that could prove to be valuable assets for our group's goals and operations. And if not now, then in due time. If you can even replicate a fraction of your grandfather's legendary ascent to power, it would be of immense worth to us.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you won't befall the same unknown fate as the rest of your kin did."

Knowledge? About my grandfather or something else? "Speaking of, did my grandfather have kids that I'm unaware of?"

"As far as I know, he didn't have any children beyond the one, but he did have six brothers and sisters who also had large families. They spread far and wide, but like him, one by one they disappeared without a trace."

"Hmm..."

"Six each. Thirteen children your great-grandfather had."

"Damn!"

"To my understanding, that number is low for nobles."

I recall Jerry and his family. Apparently, Jerry's father has 43 children with the same woman.

"You have piqued my curiosity. Could you elaborate on these various groups?"

"There are four distinct factions among the Firstborns: the Vanguards, the Arcanum, the Cabal, and the Order. Each has goals and values, which I would prefer not to disclose unless you express interest in joining my Order."

"The name "The Order" makes me think that I'd be joining some law-abiding, uppity, but morally corrupt assholes with egotistic tendencies."

The previously monotone and robotic atmosphere was abruptly shattered as a burst of energy permeated the area. The judge, who had up until now displayed no emotion, not even during her previous outbursts about courtroom disrespect, suddenly revealed a flicker of emotion. I had been frozen in place, not with ice, but with an invisible force.

"What made you think you could insult my Order to my face without expecting retaliation? I have no reason to tolerate disrespect from a mere welp."

"I only talked shit about the name, chill lady. If you want to educate me about what your illustrious Order does, feel free."

I don't feel intimidated by this woman. Why would I? I can't change the situation, regardless. However, I doubt she can kill me here without consequence. I'd wager all my credits that she can't break the law and still maintain her lofty titles. "Nobles" value their titles too much.

But I am excited. Anxious? I don't understand the feelings I am processing besides curiosity. One of the TOP dogs of our nation, a nation residing in the plot of land procured by my grandfather during a time of strife and war, is asking ME to join their "Order."

I wonder if she can actually kill me. I haven't gotten into a life or death fight since I prestiged my vigor.

Direct invitation from the bossman themselves? From any perspective, my worth is apparent... and that's why I'm skeptical. Either I fundamentally misunderstood my value up to this point, or I am being scammed... and those two situations aren't mutually exclusive.

"The basic idea is that the Order is responsible for preventing other factions from becoming too extreme and enforcing some guidelines about their conflicts. Not only from the Firstborns but from the various masters and major guilds."

Oh.

I don't like that.

I hate authority unless it's my own. I'm not a hypocrite. I just hate being told what to do. I'll be a hypocrite once I start abusing my powers against others without rhyme or reason, but until then, becoming a cop isn't on my list of things to do.

Almost like she could read my mind, the judge says, "We are more like mediators and lawyers rather than simple enforcers. Although we do have the power to back our enforcement, we tend to keep ourselves civil. Most of our members are a part of the judicial system of this fine country."

"I need time to think."

"I would prefer an answer today."

Why does the judge, and by proxy, the Order want me? She said I'm a valuable asset...

Why does the judge, and by proxy, the Order want *me? She wants a second Silver Conqueror. But what will a bunch of lawyers and mediators do with a tyrant?

Authority? Power? Those two could be seen as synonymous. She hasn't asked or looked at my beasts. My "skills" as a tamer are not the focus.

Who would a faction known as the "Order" need power and authority over? The other factions? Unifying would be a waste of time since new groups would appear.

What is the motive? Regardless... Why do I have to join a faction to complete it? Why do I have to bow my head to someone who isn't my parents or one of my masters? Why is she so stingy with information? Why the privacy violation in the bathroom?

Why do I care?

...

Why should I care? I have other things to care about.

"Can I even join your faction if I'm the representative of the human race?"

The question seems random, but I do have obligations. I notice a change in expression on the judge's face like she doesn't want to say what comes next. It's slight, but glaring compared to her normal expression.

"...we would need you to graduate first regardless and meet a few other criteria to join the Order. We make exceptions for none. At that point, that title and its responsibilities can be easily transferred or removed."

A few things clicked, and I walked out of the room.

She needed an answer today, but it would be a year or two before I could "join." She wanted to either monopolize me or scam the shit out of me one way or another. Those types love their contracts.

She doesn't call after me. Either I am not that valuable, or it's beneath her. Regardless I'm out of there.

I recall a few words said to me, a rare moment praising the enforcers. "There is a reason enforcers follow the goddess of justice, not the faceless god of order." We are lucky that most enforcers worship the god of Justice, so I wonder what that type of enforcer would look like.

Looks like I won't find out.

~~~

My phone buzzes. It's Free Chains questioning what the judge wanted from me, but I don't respond.

My phone buzzes. It's my assistant.

[Ellis, you now represent the common man. Text me back.].

Neat.

[Neat. What does that mean?]

[You committed a momentous feat showcasing that a "commoner" can bite back using the system. The bigshots will hold themselves accountable, or the people they trample on will do it for them. You're a hot topic! People are talking about you across the entire Prime Territories. You have a fan club of six people, two of them are in your family.]

[Which two? Actually, it doesn't matter. A fan club?]

[Rankers have them... More accurately, celebrities do. The amount of non-ranker celebs is abysmal, so those two words are synonymous.]

[I know nothing about this.]

[How do you want to continue?]

[What?]

[Mr. Palmer, your DEAN, has assigned me to you as a PR manager. You don't do anything requiring a PR manager until now. Clear some fractures, create a guild, start a revolt... just do something. If you want to file another suit, I'll inform Free Chains.]

[I wanted to train my beasts. I also need to work on my class advancement.]

She doesn't respond for some time.

If I ask the instructors I've been neglecting, the ones training the other students for the trip to the Elven lands for some leadership training, I wonder if that would help.

I wish I could clone myself. One for each of my tamed beasts would be all I need. I don't have enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do.

First, Prometheus should be power leveled since he doesn't own skills with levels. Yeah, I could train him anyways and aim from ranking up the skills regardless, but levels...

I text my assistant.

[Why would I need a PR manager to enter a fracture?]

[I'm glad you asked.]