Chapter 65: Kindness and Cunning

“I say, High Priest Virginia, you really don’t care about keeping secrets. You actually said such a backstabbing method right in front of a group that includes the victim. I really don’t know what word to use to describe this right now.” Besides just being cunning, George was truly stunned by High Priest Virginia’s earlier behavior.

“Cunning? Yes, we are cunning. If we weren’t cunning, how could we complete our mission?” High Priest Virginia felt no shame at all for George’s words. He stroked the few prickly hairs on his chin and continued, “Unlike those who can do whatever they want, we are a kind group, so there are many things we cannot do. Plus, since Our Lord is the highest authority in the current Order realm, we must basically follow the order and rules wherever we go. Under all these restrictions, our struggle against evil organizations is like being shackled from birth. In such a situation, if we don’t use our brains, aren’t we just sticking our heads out to be chopped off?”

George thought back to the Lords and their Heirs he had seen during last year’s Autumn Hunt and found no one who could truly be called an evil villain. At most, some were just incompetent in ruling the country. “If you say it like that, it doesn’t seem wrong! But I don’t think the current Lords of the Duchy of Nohan are truly evil. And doing this kind of thing once or twice is fine, but if you keep doing it for a long time, who knows if it might leak out? Then will anyone still come back to cooperate with you?”

“It seems Lord Bolerum has misunderstood my explanation just now. Before the contract is signed, it is naturally a process of mutual testing. This is the time to test the strength and foundation of both sides. If you make a wrong judgment at this time, you can’t blame others.” Saying this, High Priest Virginia showed a noble expression like a saint. “And do you think any other organization is as honest as us when cooperating? Even the followers of the God of Trade and Wealth wouldn’t mind using some fraudulent means before signing a contract. Our kind of group, which never attacks first, is as rare as the flame of the Phoenix or the horn of a Heavenly Realm Unicorn!”

‘Well, this kind of business deception, even in the era of highly developed industrial civilization before I transmigrated, where goods circulated freely and the law was sound, was very common. Especially in this era where the social structure is almost primitive. But tampering with contracts, isn’t that the exclusive behavior of a Devil in this world?’ George found it hard to imagine that in such an environment, there were so many fraudulent contracts. At least in this life, he had signed quite a few contracts, and so far he hadn’t found any. “I can understand this kind of behavior during negotiations! But tampering with contracts seems to be the exclusive right of a Devil. I really doubt you won’t tamper with the contracts we sign with our Territory.”

“It’s different, it is very different. How should I put it? The tricks we play on the contracts are just for precaution. If a cooperating organization falls and becomes evil or implements tyranny within the Territory, we can calmly sever ties with them and won’t be bound by this piece of paper.”

“Then why not just state clearly in the initial contract that we won’t save them? Why bother with these crooked ways?”

“To some people, writing such a note in the contract is an insult or even a curse. So, to ensure our path, we had to do the above. But for someone like you who understands reason, you should understand our hard work. So this time, we will write it plainly in the contract.” High Priest Virginia hurriedly explained.

‘Wow, isn’t this just serving different dishes to different plates? Explaining it clearly to those who know, and bluffing those who don’t to leave a loose end. This is something a top-tier Church of Lawful Good and Righteous Camp does. When I get back to the Territory, I must review all the contracts signed before and investigate the background and current status of the partners. Otherwise, I might be fooled like a fool and help count the money for them.’ After the conversation just now, George made up his mind to review the previous contracts. At the same time, he felt a bit repelled by the direction of the discussion. “As two cooperating parties, talking about how one side tricks past partners like this feels so strange? I think we should get to the main topic quickly. We have spent enough time on this matter.”

“How can you say it is tricking? Our partners have always given us high praise. But since you want to get to the main topic quickly, I am of course welcome. The previous talks were just to talk with you thoroughly, putting aside other concerns. This helps deepen our understanding of each other and avoids unnecessary misunderstandings in the future.” In his words, High Priest Virginia seemed very proud.

‘The reason for the high praise must be picking a tall one from a group of short people!’ George couldn’t help but complain in his heart. Of course, such words that would obviously affect future cooperation could not be said directly. Because of the strange atmosphere caused by the nearly off-topic discussion just now, George didn’t know what language to use to communicate. He could only hold a cup in his hand, taking intermittent sips of water, while thinking about how to deal with the upcoming negotiations.

Time slipped away bit by bit. After all, the strange content of the conversation just now, although it greatly reduced the suspicion between the two cooperating parties, also made it hard to know how to start the formal negotiations.

Ginger is spicier when old, High Priest Virginia put down his cup first and asked, “Regarding the construction of the Court, do you need a simple Noble Tribunal, or the relatively complex procedural Court found in the Southern Commercial City-States?”

“No! I don’t think someone else’s choice must be suitable for my own Territory. I have my own plans here. Of course, saying it in a few words might not be clear enough. I think these written documents in my hand should be able to explain the details to you.” Saying this, George took out a booklet bound with fine yarn from the pouch he carried on his back. This booklet was made of Alchemy paper. He placed the 32-page size book with a yellowish-brown Parchment Scroll as the cover on the table in front of him, and then started playing a riddle.

High Priest Virginia looked back and forth at George and the book on the table with a confused look. Then he grabbed the latter and started reading. The situation later fell completely into George’s previous plan. High Priest Virginia seemed to be attracted by the content of the booklet at once. His eyes stared fixedly at the content, almost treating George, who was sitting directly opposite him, as air.

George, who found the situation developing according to his will, was also happy for a moment of leisure. At the same time, he couldn’t help feeling a bit proud in his heart. ‘It was worth the time I spent on this for the past few years. I attracted this Church member who focuses on the research and application of law at once. I think there should be some other benefits to ask for in the upcoming negotiations.’

The content recorded in the booklet was actually not much, after all, it was just a plan outline. But High Priest Virginia spent a very long time on it. Every time he read a page, he had to stop and think for a while. This serious spirit and that focused expression were nothing like what a man over sixty years old, as he claimed, should have.

Time passed for a long time, long enough that George thought the food in his stomach had been digested. Of course, this was a complete illusion of George. With his constitution, there would be nothing left in his stomach within half an hour after a meal. The reason for this illusion was that it was almost time for the usual lunch.

“I want to ask, why are there two completely different court judgment methods in here?” High Priest Virginia put down the booklet, raised his head, and asked about the key point of this plan he thought was crucial.

‘Here, it uses parts of the Continental Law System and the Maritime Law System from the world before I transmigrated. But I don’t understand these two aspects very well myself. It is completely pieced together like hitting with a hammer here and there. But I think it is enough to bluff the people of this era. For example, in the Continental Law System, when a judge tries a case, he first considers how the written law stipulates, and then makes a judgment according to the relevant regulations and the case facts. But a judge of the Maritime Law System first considers previous similar precedents, compares the facts of this case with the facts of previous cases, and then generalizes the legal rules applicable to this case.’ After recalling what he looked like when he first made this plan, George began to explain. “At the beginning, I was planning to arrange personnel to compile a relatively complete code of laws. Clearly stating what can or cannot be done. Listing what can be done, if you do it, it’s fine. Listing what cannot be done, don’t do it; if you do, it’s a crime. And the sentencing after conviction will be executed completely according to the articles in the code. This can maximize the reduction of human factors interfering with legal justice. Because the judges responsible for judgment will judge according to the law, this may maintain procedural justice to a certain extent.”

“Then why is there the jury system and the trial method where the judge only maintains legal procedures that appeared later?” High Priest Virginia asked next.

George smiled bitterly and continued, “After all, a code of laws cannot be perfect. Content not listed is a loophole in the law. If such a situation occurs, should we not pursue it according to the law? What if it is a very serious malicious event? Letting such a person go would seriously shake the prestige of the Bolerum family as the Lord. But if the Lord convicts directly, it might destroy the authority established by the law. So in this situation, whether the criminal is guilty is decided by a random jury composed of the people. During this period, the judge’s role is only to provide some guidance and maintain court order. Afterwards, we will further revise the existing laws according to the situation to make them more perfect.”