89: Chapter 89 Your Honor, this is called macroeconomic regulation.

The moment her fingertips touched the cover, a cool, delicate texture, almost metallic, traveled through her skin.

Soraka did not hesitate for a moment as she opened the book titled "Outline of the Five-Year Development Plan for Blackstone Territory."

She had originally expected to see legal rebuttals citing classics or impassioned political speeches, but what met her eyes was a cold and unfamiliar world she had never seen before.

Not a single word on the pages was in defense of Levi.

Instead, there were dense data tables annotated with extremely precise Common Tongue and Dwarven numerals.

Beside them were numerous complex, beautiful, yet scalp-tingling magic model diagrams; countless fine lines of energy flow intertwined and spiraled on the charts, forming dynamic nebula-like images that seemed to possess a life of their own.

Levi's stomach tightened slightly, but his face remained calm.

This document was the crystallization of the immense effort put in by his and Sylvie's intelligence department, as well as Evelyn's commercial team.

Every piece of data inside came from real market feedback; every model had undergone the most rigorous logical deduction by Dwarven and Goblin engineers.

This was the ultimate product of combining his past life's project management experience with the power system of this world.

In Soraka's deep blue eyes, those jumping numbers and shimmering lines were reflected.

She read very slowly and very carefully.

Her fingers traced across the pages almost line by line, word by word.

Part One: Deconstruction and Efficiency Analysis of Blackstone Territory's Existing Industrial Chains.

From the primary shearing of wool to weaving it into cloth, then to the blueprints of Elven designers, and finally to the assembly line production by human tailors—the cost, time consumption, and manpower ratio of every single process were quantified into precise numbers down to two decimal places.

This surgical level of precision caused Soraka, a Chief Justice known for her own rigor, to feel a shock originating from the depths of her soul.

Part Two: Analysis of Business Model Replicability and Promotion.

Using three provinces in the Empire's Western Region as examples, the book used magic models to simulate scenarios after the Blackstone Territory model was promoted locally.

The models clearly demonstrated how much raw material waste would be reduced, how many times production efficiency would increase, how much labor would be released as a result, and how many new jobs would be created when Blackstone Territory's standardized production lines replaced the backward local small workshops.

Levi could feel the surrounding air seemingly freeze.

Though those noble councilors couldn't understand the specific content of the book, they could understand the unprecedented focus on Soraka's face.

The clamor had completely subsided without anyone noticing; everyone's breathing had subconsciously lightened, for fear of disturbing the female judge who decided the future of their purses.

Soraka turned to Part Three: Imperial Fiscal Gain Projections.

The content of this chapter was no longer just simple data and models, but a future derived from those cold numbers that was enough to make any ruler's heart race.

Her fingertips finally stopped on a conclusion specially highlighted in red ink.

"...In summary, if this model is promoted in its first phase across the entire Empire and enters deep cooperation with the Imperial Central Bank system, it is estimated that within the next five years, the annual revenue of the Imperial Central Treasury will achieve a stable growth of no less than thirty-seven percent based on existing levels."

Thirty-seven percent.

This number was like a thunderclap exploding in Soraka's normally tranquil heart.

Her pupils suddenly contracted at that moment, becoming like pinpricks.

As the Empire's Chief Justice, she knew the Empire's fiscal distress better than anyone present.

Military expenses for the Northern Defense Line were tight year-round, water conservancy project funds for the Eastern Provinces had been delayed for ten years, and His Majesty the Emperor even had to cut his own court expenses to fill the deficits.

Thirty-seven percent—this was not just a number. It meant millions of Gold Lion Coins in extra income; it meant the old war machine of the Empire could be re-lubricated; it meant His Majesty the Emperor could put all his pending great visions into practice.

She jerked her head up, her blue eyes, which were like a frozen lake, shooting straight toward Levi in the center of the court with an emotion other than scrutiny for the first time.

Levi met her gaze calmly, that same gentle smile still on his face.

He didn't have the slightest bit of a defendant's nervousness or trepidation; his gaze was calm, confident, and even held a hint of... anticipation.

That was not the gaze of someone waiting for judgment.

Soraka understood instantly.

That was the gaze of someone waiting for a business decision, a partner holding staggering chips asking the other party if they were in.

A chill rose up Soraka's spine.

From start to finish, this young man had never treated this place as a courtroom.

This was his roadshow venue, and she, the Chief Justice of the Empire, was his most important target investor.

The entire assembly hall fell into a deathly silence, where even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.

Time passed minute by minute, each second feeling as long as a century.

Those nobles who were shouting slogans just moments ago now also felt the gravity of the atmosphere, each one as quiet as a cicada in winter.

Levi could hear the steady and powerful beat of his own heart.

He was gambling—gambling that the ruling class of this world ultimately could not refuse the sweetest poison called "profit."

Especially when that profit was packaged so beautifully and titled in the name of "Imperial Prosperity."

Finally, after a long silence that could have caused an ordinary person's mental breakdown, Soraka moved.

*Snap.*

She closed the outline, making a crisp, decisive sound.

She stood up, looking down over the entire courtroom, her cold and majestic voice echoing in every corner of the hall without a hint of emotion.

"Upon deliberation, this court finds that all commercial activities of Blackstone Territory are, in essence, exploration and construction in uncultivated commercial fields, and belong to 'Pioneering Economic Activities.'"

"Pioneering Economic Activities"? Levi was slightly taken aback; he had never heard this term before.

"According to the supplementary regulations of Article 7, Volume 3 of the 'Imperial Land Reclamation Act,'" Soraka's voice was as precise and ruthless as the code itself, "any pioneering activity aimed at improving the overall welfare of the Empire is protected by the Supreme Act of the Empire. All commercial disputes and traditional conflicts arising therein shall be adjudicated with 'promoting social development' as the highest priority principle."

She picked up her gavel, her gaze sweeping over the deathly pale Victor August.

"Therefore, this court rules: all charges against Levi Byron, Lord of Blackstone Territory, are dismissed. The complaint of the plaintiff, Victor August, is hereby rejected in court, effective immediately!"

*Thud!*

The gavel fell with a sound as heavy as a mountain, a finality.

When he walked out of the Supreme Court, the sunlight outside was a bit blinding.

Levi subconsciously squinted his eyes and let out a long breath.

The air was filled with the unique scent of the Royal Capital—a mix of floral fragrance and dust—which felt exceptionally fresh at this moment.

Behind him were the feverish crowds and flattery of the nobles, but they were all quietly kept at a distance by Sylvie and her guards.

Princess Ella followed at his side, a trace of lingering shock still on her exquisite face. The look she gave Levi was full of complexity and confusion.

Just as they were about to board the carriage, a figure blocked their path.

It was a middle-aged man, about forty years old, with an ordinary appearance and medium build, wearing a dark grey uniform without any crests.

But the way he stood was like a ruler driven into the ground—straight and stable.

His gaze was sharp as a hawk's, scanning over Levi without any emotion, as if evaluating the value of an object.

"Lord Levi Byron." The man spoke, his voice as flat as a line stretched to its limit, without any fluctuation. "I am Sorenson, Chief Investigator of the Empire."

Levi's pupils contracted slightly.

He knew of this agency; it was independent of all departments and reported directly to the Emperor himself.

They were the Emperor's eyes and ears, the most mysterious supervisory force in the Empire.

Sorenson took out an official document with the Emperor's wax seal from his breast, displayed it briefly, and then put it away.

"By order of His Majesty, my mission is to conduct an on-site assessment of Blackstone Territory's business model, military potential, and the Lord himself, regarding their true impact on the stability of the Empire. From this moment on, I will be stationed in Blackstone Territory for an indefinite period of on-site inspection."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air instantly turned three degrees colder.

Sylvie's hand on her sword hilt subconsciously tightened, and Princess Ella's expression changed even more.

This was blatant surveillance.

Although the Emperor recognized the value of Blackstone Territory, he also held the deepest wariness toward this uncontrolled new force.

Sorenson was a sharp blade the Emperor was thrusting into the heart of Blackstone Territory.

However, to everyone's surprise, Levi did not show any resentment or vigilance on his face.

Instead, he broke into an enthusiastic smile, as if meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in years.

"Lord Sorenson, you are most welcome!" He took a step forward proactively and enthusiastically extended his hand. "You've come at just the right time! I was just worrying about not being able to find a witness of sufficient weight and impartiality!"

For the first time, a slight ripple appeared on Sorenson's eternal poker face.

He did not shake Levi's hand, only looked at him, waiting for the rest.

Levi withdrew his hand nonchalantly and took a pre-prepared invitation, written in ink made of obsidian powder and mithril, from Sylvie's hand, handing it over personally.

"Blackstone Territory is about to host a grand 'Winter Victory Banquet' to commend the partners who have made outstanding contributions to the territory over the past year." Levi's tone was impeccably sincere. "I hereby, in the name of the Byron Family, formally invite you to be the chief guest of this banquet. At that time, I will arrange the best 'observation seat' for you, so you can witness firsthand the 'efficient governance model' that Blackstone Territory is so proud of."

Sorenson silently took the slightly heavy invitation, his cold gaze lingering on Levi's sincere smiling face for several seconds, seemingly trying to find even a trace of pretense.

In the end, he just nodded and said in a formulaic tone, "I will attend on time."

With that, he turned and left, his figure quickly blending into the crowd on the street as if he had never appeared.

Back at the Duke's residence where they were staying, as soon as the study door was closed, Princess Ella could no longer hold it in.

"Have you gone mad, Levi?" She walked quickly to him, her beautiful face full of anxiety and confusion. "Sorenson is the Emperor's eyes! Letting him stay in Blackstone Territory is equivalent to laying out all our secrets for him to see! You even invited him to your banquet? You're inviting the wolf into the house!"

Levi did not answer immediately.

He walked to the window and watched a few withered leaves starting to fall in the courtyard; the chill of late autumn had already seeped into the marrow of the Imperial Capital.

He turned and picked up an encrypted document that had just been delivered by a magic messenger from the table and handed it to Ella.

Ella took it suspiciously and broke the wax seal.

The content of the document was very short, a secret report written by Evelyn in code.

The more she read, the paler her face became, and her fingers holding the paper turned white from the force.

"...The remnants of the 'Grey Hand' organization have secretly allied with several die-hard elders within the Byron Family... They have spent a fortune to hire the continent's top assassin organization, 'Shadow Warriors'... The chief assassin codenamed 'Zero' has accepted the commission... Target: To carry out the final judgment on the Lord during the Winter Victory Banquet..."

"The wolves are already in the house."

Levi's voice was as calm as if he were talking about something unrelated to him. "And more than one."

He walked to Ella's side, took the secret report from her trembling hand, and tossed it into the fireplace.

The orange flames instantly swallowed the paper, turning it into a wisp of blue smoke.

"Sorenson isn't a wolf I've invited in, Ella." Levi's gaze turned toward the dancing flames, his eyes flickering with a cold and sharp light, like he was sharpening a blade about to be unsheathed.

"He is the 'notary' I've specifically invited."

He turned his head and looked at the shocked Ella, a cruel smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"After all, the upcoming 'violent layoffs' might get a bit bloody. It's always a good thing to have an irrefutable official report from the Emperor's secret agent as a footnote, isn't it?"

That afternoon, hundreds of invitations of the same material and specifications as the one in Sorenson's hand were carried into the sky by Blackstone Territory's griffon messengers. They cut through the clouds above the Imperial Capital like a flock of black birds, flying toward all directions of the Terrarium continent, delivering the news of winter's arrival along with a coming storm to every corner of the Empire.