Chapter 98: Chapter 98
That single glance made Abel Norton's heartbeat involuntarily quicken.
But in the end, Loren still didn't do anything, nor did he say anything more. Instead, he turned his head back to continue watching the one-sided battle unfolding within the manor.
Both sides fell into silence once more.
After a while, while intently observing the fight, Loren suddenly uttered a seemingly inexplicable statement:
"In this era, there are no innocent people."
Hearing this, Abel Norton was first taken aback, then quickly realized the other party was answering his earlier question.
He lowered his head in contemplation for a moment, then looked up at Loren, who was still intently watching the battle, and asked:
"What about those living in humble obscurity?"
"It is precisely their weakness that has created the current situation."
Until the battle within the manor concluded, neither party spoke again.
Abel Norton had gotten the answer he wanted, but he wasn't particularly happy about it.
The condition Loren proposed was something he couldn't fulfill.
Just after learning that Loren had instantly killed over a hundred Superhumans, Abel Norton had once again felt the urge to try and recruit Loren into the Federation.
It was just a pity that the other's response exceeded his expectations.
Such a difficult problem was not something someone of his level could solve.
He completely abandoned his unrealistic notions about Loren in his heart.
Simultaneously, Abel Norton also formed a complete definition of Loren in his mind:
"This is a dangerous individual, both insane and somewhat contradictory in his thinking."
Fortunately, he had already devised a "crisis transfer" plan in advance...
Abel Norton felt a bit of relief in his heart.
Soon, the battle within the last manor concluded amidst the silent observation of Loren and Abel Norton.
Seeing the fight was over, Abel Norton gave Loren a nod, signaling for him to wait here a moment.
Abel Norton went to arrange for his subordinate agents to seize the assets of the three families.
Although the subordinates he brought this time suffered heavy losses during this "Bloody Judgment," the Security Department was never short on personnel.
After those sixteen elite agents arrived as reinforcements, over a hundred ordinary agents had also trickled in outside the manor.
These ordinary agents were all low-tier Superhumans.
Their function was not combat; their strength lay in calculating vast amounts of assets and legally seizing them.
As for the sixteen elite agents, after the battle ended, they exchanged greetings with Abel Norton and then departed.
They were professional combat personnel; their function was singular: to provide rapid support to Security Department agents at a disadvantage.
Seizing assets was not within their scope of duty.
After seeing off these sixteen elite agents and arranging the asset seizure, Abel Norton returned to Loren's side, then silently waited for his subordinate agents to report on the seizure progress.
"Sir! The Spirit Stone count across the three manors is 476,348. All have been tallied."
An agent came to report their work progress. At Abel Norton's indication, this agent deliberately spoke loudly, allowing Loren beside him to also hear this astonishing number.
"Mhm. After registering all assets, split everything into two portions for me."
Abel Norton took the spatial bracelet handed over by his subordinate agent and, right in front of Loren, issued an order to this agent.
After this agent left, Abel Norton casually tossed the spatial bracelet in his hand to Loren, who was watching him.
"Here, this is your payment, Mr. Loren. This much for now."
"The remainder mostly consists of some real estate, shares, and the usage rights to those few planets."
"Converting these things into Spirit Stones will require some time. You can give me an address first. After the Security Bureau completes the asset conversion, I'll have someone deliver them to you."
"If you don't wish to reveal your residence, you can also come to the Security Bureau to collect them yourself after some time."
After tossing the spatial bracelet filled with Spirit Stones to Loren, and fearing Loren might misunderstand, Abel Norton provided a detailed explanation.
At this moment, Loren was in no mood to listen to Abel Norton's explanation.
Instead, he looked down at the spatial bracelet in his hand, his expression somewhat odd and also somewhat manic.
How much?!?! Over 470,000 Spirit Stones?!?
Are these old nobles this rich??!!
Damn it! How much time have I wasted over the years in the Dusk Star Domain!! Loren roared internally.
No wonder every Interstellar Hunter who comes to the Jadeite Star Domain wants to pull off a big score...
Even Loren, faced with such wealth, took nearly 30 seconds to calm down.
Afterwards, reminded by Raven, he recalled what Abel Norton had just said. With an unchanged expression, he slowly stated:
"Deliver them to the Interstellar Hunter Association, the one with Sebastian Benjamin. I've been staying there recently."
Clearly, Loren didn't want to expose his lack of worldly experience.
"By the way, what's the estimated value of those remaining assets?" Loren asked, as if casually.
Hearing Loren's question, Abel Norton pondered for a moment before cautiously replying:
"Hard to say. The remaining assets, especially the various shares and planetary usage rights, their prices fluctuate frequently."
"However, these assets are estimated to be worth no less than over a million Spirit Stones. Conservatively, you'll probably receive around 500,000 Spirit Stones."
"But this is just an estimate; it might not be very accurate."
After listening, Loren revealed a dignified smile. Then, he seemingly casually asked Abel Norton another question:
"Are all old nobles this wealthy?"
"The vast majority are ," Abel Norton nodded gently.
Hearing Abel Norton's answer, Loren lowered his head, lost in thought.
Seems the Gambling King doesn't earn as much as a bandit...
And Abel Norton, as if knowing what Loren was thinking, spoke again in a voice like a devil's temptation, slowly and deliberately:
"Actually, within the Security Bureau, there's an unwritten rule. For any case involving old nobles being robbed, as long as no innocent Federation citizens are implicated..."
"We only conduct a symbolic investigation, enough to save face and satisfy the procedures for the Federation Courts. In reality, we stop pursuing it."
"I remember a few years back, there was a guy, also an Interstellar Hunter, who even had a few supernatural creatures with him."
"He robbed an old noble in the Jadeite Star Domain. After we secretly located him, we weren't interested in arresting him. On the surface, we continued a large-scale manhunt."
"But this guy, his guts were really huge. Not only did he not flee, he went and robbed an emerging wealthy individual."
"Emerging wealthy individuals are not like old nobles. They pay their taxes; they are absolutely legitimate citizens."
"That time, half the agents in Jadeite Main City took action."
"Then, that guy paid a rather heavy price. Besides being severely injured, two of the supernatural creatures he raised died."
"Although he ultimately escaped, we've forced him to hide in the Beastkin Star Domain now. He doesn't dare set a single foot outside that domain."
"For the rest of his life, unless he breaks through to the Legendary tier and manages to obtain a special pardon, he can forget about operating in any other star domain."
Abel Norton's intention was quite obvious, with no attempt at concealment.
He had already discerned that Loren had developed some... alternative ideas about the old nobles.
Thus, the first half of his words were hinting to Loren, and the second half were reminding Loren.
And after hearing Abel Norton's reminder, Loren's expression once again turned somewhat odd.
He felt like he might know that guy who raises supernatural creatures...