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Vice Gang Leader Gongsun’s attitude toward him was quite polite, which was somewhat intriguing.

The two were meeting for the first time and had never dealt with each other before.

The Black Tiger Gang’s power structure was divided into two senior groups, both headed by the Gang Leader. One was the Elder Group and the other was the Vice Leader Group.

Theoretically, once ascended to an Elder, one could never vie for the position of Gang Leader again.

However, the Elder Group had the authority to join forces to dismiss the Gang Leader and Vice Leaders.

An Elder’s power was essentially limited to this, acting as an organization that balanced the high-tier members of the gang.

Those who truly held the reins of power within the gang were the Gang Leader and the Vice Leaders.

For instance, Vice Gang Leader Bai Xuezhu commanded an army, holding military power and being able to mobilize troops to attack cities and claim land. She could even deploy the forces to eliminate her enemies when necessary.

The Elders did not have this power.

Neither financial nor military power was within the Elders’ reach.

In terms of status, Vice Gang Leader Gongsun was half a rank higher than City Commandant Lu, but City Commandant Lu held great sway over the city guards, controlling all defense and public security of Black Tiger City, with all four city gates under his command.

Therefore, his actual power was not inferior to any of the Vice Leaders.

Vice Gang Leader Gongsun, whose real name was Gongsun Jin, held the Legal Authority Seal. Together with the Law Enforcement Elder, he could conduct ultimate trials. Dealing with the higher echelons of the Black Tiger Gang often required these two to join forces in judgment.

City Commandant Lu was in charge of criminal law, mainly targeting ordinary people and the middle and lower ranks of the Black Tiger Gang.

For example, Qin Niu ignored his command and killed He Jun right in front of him; City Commandant Lu was annoyed, but could do nothing to Qin Niu.

It seems he has now ‘invited’ Qin Niu to the court.

But after the trial, if the Law Enforcement Elder and Vice Gang Leader Gongsun find Qin Niu not guilty, then no matter how angry City Commandant Lu is, he can only release the man.

The high-ranking members of the Black Tiger Gang might regret having promoted Qin Niu to a first-ranked noble.

Ennoblement is easy, but now that Qin Niu has risen, it would be difficult to take him down.

From the current situation, it seems unlikely that even City Commandant Lu would want to strip Qin Niu of his first-ranked noble title.

It is likely that the clan elders would not agree either.

A newly ennobled first-ranked noble being deposed within days would be like child’s play.

“The Law Enforcement Elder has arrived!”

The guards at the door announced.

This too was a form of respect for the higher-ups.

A tall man with a thick, short beard entered.

As he walked, the ground beneath his feet seemed to shrink. He was strolling leisurely, yet his speed was astonishing.

He had just been at the door to the hall, and in the blink of an eye, he was already in front of it.

The distance of nearly thirty meters was covered in an instant.

“Elder Wen, your ‘Shortening Ground’ technique has become more and more masterful!” Gongsun Jin greeted the newcomer with a smile.

“Speaking of movement techniques, Vice Gang Leader Gongsun’s ‘Ascending Ladder’ is at least ten times stronger than my little skill. I heard that the newly ennobled first-ranked noble killed someone in the streets, challenging the laws of Black Tiger City. He’s got quite the audacity!”

Elder Wen’s gaze fixed on Qin Niu.

Suddenly, an invisible pressure made Qin Niu’s body tense up.

The gaze of the strong, as if it could transform into an invisible restraint.

“This junior, Qin Niu, has met Elder Wen! It really wasn’t my intention to provoke the law, but the He Family bullied me first. Left with no other choice, I killed in self-defense.”

Although Qin Niu had clearly wiped out the entire He Family, at that moment he assumed an expression of a victim wronged.

It made others feel that his killing was completely a move of helplessness.

“You kid, your words are quite pleasing,” said Elder Wen, his gaze softening somewhat, and the invisible pressure bearing down on Qin Niu also lessened a great deal. “Everyone has arrived; let’s begin! If the trial is over quickly, maybe I can still get home for a bit of extra sleep.”

“That’s exactly my wish,” Another voice chimed in, “I was sleeping so soundly in the middle of the night. What’s the point of convening a trial? Qin Niu doesn’t seem like the haughty and domineering type. It’s most likely the He Family bullying others on their seniority, picking on a newly ennobled first-class noble. Since they’re killed, they’re killed; it’s time for the local families to learn their lesson. The Legal Orders from our Black Tiger Gang are always distorted when implemented locally; it’s about time we set things right.”

Gongsun Jin was clearly helping Qin Niu find an excuse.

The trial hadn’t even started yet, but with a deputy gang leader covering him, Qin Niu became even more optimistic about the outcome.

“We are here today to try Qin Niu for killing within the city gates, other matters can be discussed on another day. Otherwise, Elder Wen’s desire for extra sleep might be in vain!”

Seeing the tide turning unfavorable, City Commandant Lu hurriedly steered the conversation back.

The matter at hand was about trying Qin Niu for murder, but Gongsun Jin had turned the subject to the untamed local families. How then could the trial proceed?

“I don’t mind; these local families stretch their hands too long, ignoring the gang’s Legal Orders—it’s indeed time to manage them. Last time I even heard that a local family leased over 760 acres of public land and only paid less than seventy silver in rent for ten years. If the roots are rotten, none of us at the top can rest easy.”

Elder Wen’s loyalty to his gang was extreme.

When the subject of the gang’s corruption came up, he naturally sided with Gang Leader Gongsun.

“Let’s judge the case first, one by one! To govern locally, we must also work together with the Household and Workshop divisions,” said City Commandant Lu, feeling dismayed.

With much fanfare, he had arranged a three-departmental trial, but the other two officials clearly weren’t taking the matter seriously, showing little intention to delve into the murder committed by Qin Niu.

He weighed inwardly whether he should continue to stand up for the He Family.

But as soon as he thought of the Dragon Elephant Skill and the Blood Silkworm Cocoon, his heart grew firm.

The rise of a great family might only require the emergence of a Spirit Qi Realm expert. However, to reach a higher level after becoming a prominent family in the city required accumulation in many aspects.

His position as City Commandant might seem prestigious, but the Lu Family was a recent riser, lacking a deep foundation, which was a sore point for City Commandant Lu.

Looking at the Fang Family, Gongsun Family, Bai Family… each of these top families was deeply founded and powerful.

As for the Lu Family, it was just him, the City Commandant, holding the fort. Without a family elder nor exceptional herbs or spiritual woods, they only had a decent mount to their name.

If he could obtain that Blood Silkworm Cocoon, even if he didn’t use it himself, he could exchange it for other high-level resources.

One should know that ordinary elixirs, herbs, and pets could be bought on the open market. But special top-tier cultivation resources, whether it be Cultivation Techniques or pets, or even elixirs and herbs, were impossible to purchase.

Any resource that could help a family grow stronger was something no one was willing to sell.

For any family, power was the most important.

Silver was just a pile of metal.

Without power, no amount of metal would prevent others from making free use of it.

The three big shots presided in court, and the trial officially began.

Qin Niu remained seated throughout the trial.

A first-class noble had such privileges, able to enjoy this treatment.