The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

Chapter 101 High Court Ordinance

George returned to his room, placed the bird-and-ring figurine on the table, took out a small knife, and removed the third diamond from the base of the figurine.

The gemstone lay quietly in his palm, its fire swirling endlessly in the candlelight—exactly the same as the previous two.

He took a small velvet pouch from the deepest drawer of the wardrobe and placed the two diamonds on the table as well.

Three nearly identical diamonds lay on the dark oak table. George examined them closely, trying to find anything special about them, but to no avail.

He sighed, put them back into the bag, and tucked them into his inner pocket.

Next comes something more important.

His consciousness drifted to the card table, and George focused his attention on the few incomplete cards.

In particular, the [Heterogeneous String (Incomplete)] is marked with "Conditions for completion are currently unknown".

He tried to interact with them using his mind, attempting to combine them with various secret techniques and item cards, but there was no response.

Perhaps more relevant recipes or knowledge are needed—or perhaps it needs to be triggered in a specific situation?

George put the card aside for the moment and turned his attention to another card.

He remembered that Lieutenant Bates had not yet joined the Order, but now that the Order had been established, the conditions should be met.

George summoned the [Holy Light] guild card and attempted to interact with it.

A text of rules appeared:

[Community Recruitment: Requires a referral from an established believer, or the founder must personally contact and impart knowledge. Imparting knowledge will consume the corresponding [Reason] or [Passion] durability.]

George pondered for a moment.

Show Bates his extraordinary knowledge directly? I'll try that another day.

George noted this down and planned to execute it once resources were restored.

As I left the card table, it was already dark outside the window, and I could hear the distant chimes signaling the start of dinner preparation.

The atmosphere at dinner was unusually relaxed.

Although Mrs. Patmer had just recovered from a serious illness, she did her best to prepare a sumptuous dinner.

The main course is roast goose, accompanied by baked potatoes, cardamom squash and slow-cooked cabbage, and dessert is raspberry tart and cheese platter.

Finally, there was no one absent from the long dining table.

Everyone sat around the table, with Uncle Arthur, Inspector Douglas, and Attorney McGill taking the lead, and Uncle Albert and Miss Moore chiming in, making the scene more lively than ever before.

The Viscount changed back into his formal dark suit, occasionally responding to a few words of conversation, but mostly listening quietly.

A sense of relief and joy, like someone who had survived a disaster, filled the dining table.

Sybil glanced at Frederick several times, but he kept his head down and ate without reacting to her gaze.

George noticed the disappointment in his sister's eyes, but knew it was best not to say anything at that moment.

After dinner, the Viscount gently tapped the table.

"Gentlemen, we have important business to attend to."

The crowd quieted down, and several unrelated individuals left first, while the Viscount took the lead, guiding the remaining witnesses to the study.

Under the supervision of lawyer McGill, the Viscount signed several legal documents in the presence of Lady Celsa, the High Court representative, Inspector Douglas, Lady Violet, and Uncle Albert.

The document establishes George as the legal heir to the Viscount of the Deadlake and details the noble duties George will assume upon succession.

Obey the leadership of the Queen's government, safeguard the balance of spiritual forces in the area, and regularly report to the royal family on the fluctuations in the spiritual realm of the manor and its surroundings, etc.

The ceremony was brief yet formal.

When the final signature was made, Uncle Albert, the Inspector, and Ms. Celsa each put away five copies of the document—the lady took two.

The old lady sighed softly, while Albert patted George on the shoulder.

"Congratulations, George." His uncle's voice was filled with complex emotions. "The future fourth Viscount of the Lake of Decay, the rightful patriarch of the Delapor family."

The lawyer, the old lady, and the uncle then took their leave, while Ms. Celsa and the inspector remained in the living room.

The High Court representative took a thick document from a leather folder he was carrying and placed it in front of George.

"Your Excellency Viscount de la Porte, these are the full terms of the privileges you will receive upon inheriting the title, as well as the corresponding obligations."

The document was made of formal parchment, with the royal coat of arms printed at the top, and the content was dense, with precise and archaic wording.

Ms. Celsa read out each point clearly:

George will be authorized to handle "specific matters" in a designated area of ​​North Yorkshire, and may legally house no more than twenty superhumans as his subordinates. These superhumans must register with the Bureau of Counter-Strike, and their use of power must comply with Bureau of Counter-Strike regulations—ensuring that their power is used to maintain order and combat superhuman threats, rather than to create chaos or subvert the government.

George has special jurisdiction over Paradise Island in the center of the Decaying Lake: alchemical experiments and rituals conducted within this area do not require reporting to the Anti-Smuggling Bureau or the High Court; he also has the right to possess and dispose of special items containing supernatural powers, which are exempt from regular reporting.

Upon inheriting the title, George will automatically enter the High Court and receive a seat as a "sword-wielding observer".

This seat enjoys specific political rights: the right to vote on amendments and vetoes of bills, the passage and modification of laws, and the guidance of relevant decisions by the church and the military. However, due to its "observer" nature, it does not participate in the "second reading" or amendment of bills passed by the Worldly Court, does not participate in the veto of non-financial bills, and does not participate in questioning votes on financial bills.

The corresponding obligations are even more detailed:

Each year, a fixed quantity of alchemical products is submitted to the Royal Family. The formula and type are specified by the Royal Family, and the products are mostly used for specific needs of the Kingdom, such as military supplies, medical supplies, or special building maintenance materials.

After submitting an application to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and obtaining approval from the High Court, one must lead the supernatural beings under their command to assist the Anti-Corruption Bureau in handling supernatural incidents within its jurisdiction. During the assistance period, certain immunity is granted, but actions must strictly adhere to the Anti-Corruption Bureau's instructions and constraints.

When the royal family needs the nobles to "defend the homeland of the Kingdom of Britta" due to the safety of the kingdom or a major crisis, they must respond to the call and provide corresponding superhuman support, material support, or territorial opening.

She then began to add a whole host of supplementary regulations and explanations.

The terms and conditions are varied but fairly well-organized.

As George listened, it gradually became clear to him: this was essentially dividing the Viscount of Decay Lake's territory into a "regulated semi-independent principality," where the family could legally possess its own extraordinary power and enjoy a considerable degree of autonomy.

But all of this is predicated on the core mission of "maintaining the stability of the Seal of the Decaying Lake," accepting the monitoring and command of the royal family, and prohibiting the creation of large-scale supernatural events or threats to the kingdom's order.

After Ms. Celsa finished reading, she pushed the document in front of George.

"Please review this document. If you have no objections, please sign this confirmation form."

George quickly skimmed through the entire document, and it did indeed match what the lady had read aloud.

He picked up a pen and signed his name on the confirmation form.

Ms. Celsa retrieved the document and made a note.

"Therefore, the formal procedures for the succession of the title have been completed."

She stood up and nodded slightly to George and the Viscount: "Congratulations, Your Excellency the Viscount."