Chapter 93: Chapter 93
"You didn't mention your Nature Sect affiliation when introducing yourself. Clearly, you identify more with the 'Interstellar Hunter' identity in your heart."
Loren smiled and shook his head, then snapped his fingers.
Raven appeared, spreading its wings very naturally to greet the other party.
"Hello, Mr. Abel Norton. It seems you have some misunderstanding about nature."
Abel Norton's expression froze on his face. Had he guessed wrong? So it really is the Nature Sect...
"Apologies, I thought that was just your cover," Abel Norton voiced his apology.
"No matter, my way of doing things often leads to misunderstandings. I'm quite used to it," Loren replied with practiced ease.
Given that they would be cooperating soon, Loren "magnanimously" accepted the other's apology and forgave his probing.
Silence descended between them once more, the air inside the aircraft thick with undercurrents.
Abel Norton pondered for a moment before asking again, somewhat unwilling to let it go.
Loren looked calmly at Abel Norton sitting opposite him, the previous smile gone from his face.
You talk too much, Mr. Norton. I'm running out of ways to keep up this fabrication...
Seeing Loren's calm expression, Abel Norton realized the other had misunderstood his intention. He hurriedly added, "Don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to probe your background. What I mean is, Mr. Loren, would you like to become an informant for the Security Bureau?"
"You seem to be in need of Spirit Stones. Want to earn some extra income?"
"By the way, our Security Bureau's funding is quite substantial..."
Loren looked at the other with a faint, ambiguous smile, testing the waters as he asked, "Or rather, become the Federation's eyes and ears within the Nature Sect?"
How interesting, asking me to sell out the Nature Sect...
"No, intelligence on other organizations is fine too. Any valuable information will do. We'll pay you a rather handsome reward."
Abel Norton wasn't fixated on Nature Sect intelligence. In his view, a powerful Superhuman like Loren would always encounter relatively confidential matters.
And these hidden matters were far more valuable than intelligence on those nature-loving lunatics.
Most importantly, turning a dangerous individual like Loren into a half-ally through the informant system was the most cost-effective approach.
"For example? How handsome?" Loren asked.
"Some secret information can sell for over a hundred million Federation coins. Of course, we also accept paying informants' rewards with Spirit Stones of equivalent value."
In Loren's view, the other's confident tone was filled with temptation.
"Excellent. So how should I contact you in the future?" Loren asked with a smile.
Abel Norton then directly gave Loren his communicator number, telling him this number was reachable at any time and would not be monitored by anyone.
"Pleasure doing business, Mr. Loren."
After telling Loren how to contact him, Abel Norton let out a sigh of relief.
"Pleasure doing business, Agent Norton."
Loren also seemed to be in a good mood now. He had found a new way to earn Spirit Stones.
After settling the cooperation, the wariness and caution between the two lessened considerably.
Abel Norton even became quite familiar inside the aircraft, telling Loren about the pasts of the three great noble families and their complex networks of relationships.
The atmosphere between them became very harmonious, with none of the previous sense of distance from before boarding the aircraft.
Under Abel Norton's detailed and precise explanation, Loren understood exactly what kind of place the Old Nobles' District he was about to visit was.
Right at the moment Norton finished speaking, their destination for this trip had arrived.
Jadeite Star Domain, Main City, Old Nobles' District.
After the Federation entered the new era, various forces rapidly expanded their influence. Coupled with the liberation of thought among the Federation populace, the living space of these pioneering nobles from the late old era was constantly being squeezed.
If not for the planetary usage rights they held in their hands and the family foundations accumulated during the pioneering period, these decaying nobles would have long been buried by the tide of history.
As these nobles declined in the historical process, those wanting to survive and maintain their status began to band together for survival.
Even rival families with generational feuds from the past were forced by the tide of the times to shake hands and form an interest community.
Thus, the various major nobles began forming multi-faceted alliances in economy, politics, power, and territory.
This social stratum that had existed since the old era, after crossing historical cycles and patterns, formed a decaying yet massive force again in this interstellar age.
The Pioneering Nobles Alliance was thus established.
To deal with the covetous eyes of various forces, these nobles began cooperating on an unprecedented scale.
According to Security Department intelligence records, during the initial period when these decaying nobles formed their alliance, two unfamiliar nobles who had never met could immediately become comrades who could entrust their backs to each other on an external battlefield after identifying each other.
A rather exaggerated alliance.
Facts proved that death throes are effective.
Through the sincere cooperation of these nobles, they once again stepped onto the Federation's grand stage.
They became an extremely special social stratum, becoming what the populace called the "true Remnants from the Old Era."
They snatched the infamous title of "Remnants from the Old Era" from the Justice Party in Federation history.
And the "Old Nobles' District" also formed during that initial period of cooperation as a symbolic territory.
On any planet, or in any star domain's Main City, as long as there were pioneering nobles present, you could see all the noble estates gathered there.
These nobles, desperate for survival, insanely gathered all their family estates in one place.
According to Energy Department intelligence records, these nobles could conduct any business deal without even leaving this district, closing all deals right at their doorsteps.
Thus, the noble stratum survived through cooperation and barely managed to maintain their status.
As time developed, a powerful Superhuman emerged from within this struggling, banded-together noble stratum.
After this powerful Superhuman joined the Federation Council and became the 6th Councilor, upon taking office, he personally pushed for the passage of the "Pioneering Nobles Management Act."
From then on, the noble stratum finally truly maintained their status and power, becoming what they are today.
The noble stratum stands aloof and lofty, yet is often targeted by various forces.
Various Federation departments, even various Superhuman organizations, constantly want to take a bite out of this piece of fat meat.
Within the Federation, those who want to bury the noble stratum are countless.
But unfortunately, they still survive to this day.
That 6th Councilor of the Federation Council became their spokesperson, sheltering them from wind and rain.
As for Loren, aboard the aircraft, after listening to Abel Norton's account of this noble history, he yawned boredly.
"Then they must have a lot of Spirit Stones..."