CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 741: Rings [Golden Gachapon Bonus - ]

William and his companions paid no mind to Asher and FatelessPen, becoming engrossed in the book's contents. The volume was remarkably thick, a testament to FatelessPen's detailed explanations covering almost every conceivable aspect.

"I have a question," Asher interjected, his gaze flitting between Finch, William, and finally settling back on FatelessPen.

"Feel free to ask," FatelessPen responded with a relaxed smile and a shrug. His easygoing nature was surprising, quite unlike what one might expect from a Crownstar Life Ranker, projecting an image of a carefree individual fully embracing life's pleasures.

"You appear remarkably knowledgeable about the Thalvorn Empire. Have you visited before?" Asher inquired. While he suspected the answer was yes, confirmation was necessary to avoid relying on mere assumptions.

"Your guess is correct," FatelessPen affirmed, leaning back in his seat as if lost in reflection.

"After achieving the Crownstar Life Rank several years ago and subsequently reaching the Radiant Sub-Life Rank nearly fifty years later, I felt compelled to explore beyond my own borders. The Thalvorn Empire was my first destination." He paused, seemingly reliving those past experiences. "I resided within the Thalvorn Empire for a full year before departing," he concluded.

Asher raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you subjected to any form of special attention?" His eyes remained keenly focused on FatelessPen.

FatelessPen chuckled softly, clearly understanding Asher's implication regarding "special attention."

Due to the perpetual minor conflicts, wars, and skirmishes between various Empires, it posed significant difficulties for a Crownstar Life Ranker to simply relocate or travel to another Empire for leisure.

It wasn't that other Empires completely barred foreign entry. Racism and xenophobia were virtually nonexistent within Crymora, but this did not translate to a warm welcome or unrestricted freedom for outsiders.

Every action would be scrutinized – consumption, interactions, and movements. Even a casual conversation with a bartender could involve an individual secretly working as a terrorist or planning treason against their own nation.

The level of surveillance was astonishingly rigorous. Yet, despite this intense scrutiny, the Empire itself would refrain from direct confrontation with the foreigner. Furthermore, this monitoring wasn't a brief phase; it endured for a minimum of a decade before any consideration was given to scaling back the observation.

After all, spies could meticulously plan and execute their missions over a century if the objective demanded it.

Nevertheless, individuals traveling to foreign Empires with no hidden agendas typically encountered no significant problems. Their intention was simply to live peacefully and enjoy their time, thus having nothing to fear from the indirect nature of the surveillance.

FatelessPen calmly relayed this information, prompting a sigh from Asher, who seemed to have anticipated such a scenario.

"With your Crownstar Life Rank perception, I'm sure you detected those following and observing you," Asher stated evenly.

"Not entirely," FatelessPen replied nonchalantly. "As an external Crownstar Life Ranker, I would naturally be assigned a counterpart, a Crownstar Life Ranker skilled in surveillance and adept at evasion and concealment." He elaborated, "While I did sense their presence occasionally, I eventually evaded them by creating a clone. This clone was then tracked by the surveillance team for the entire year, allowing me to eliminate a Thalvorn Empire citizen and assume his identity through my abilities." His delivery was so casual, one might believe he had merely pilfered a loaf of bread, not an entire life.

Asher simply nodded at his explanation, offering no further commentary on the matter.

The strategy was undeniably brilliant. He saw no need to question FatelessPen about the act of murdering an innocent and usurping his life and identity.

Asher surmised that if FatelessPen wished, he could likely impersonate any random individual. However, it appeared the Thalvorn Empire maintained meticulous records of its citizens, meaning any sudden, unexplained appearance without a traceable history would inevitably raise suspicion.

Just as Asher prepared to speak again, the vehicle began to decelerate.

Asher couldn't even begin to fathom the vast distance they had already covered in the short time spent within the vehicle; surely, it was easily in the thousands, perhaps even stretching into the millions of kilometers.

"Are we there yet?" Ryaen inquired, lifting her head as she detected a reduction in their speed.

"Not yet," FatelessPen responded instantly. "This is merely a security checkpoint. We have arrived at the borders of the Outer Rings."

"Outer Rings?" Vaelric echoed, a slight frown creasing his brow as he raised an eyebrow. He had never encountered any mention of such a concept within the annals of the Imperial Library.

"Unlike our Zarethorne Empire, where nobles hold individual territories and govern commoners within them, the Thalvorn Empire operates on a distinctly different system based on Rings," FatelessPen elucidated with composure, his gaze remaining fixed on the external scene.

Before long, the vehicles surged forward once more, accelerating rapidly.

"There are three distinct Rings in total," FatelessPen continued in his measured tone. "Specifically: the Outer Rings, which we have just departed; the Inner Rings, which we are now entering; and lastly, the Zero Rings."

"What distinguishes these Rings from one another?" William posed the question calmly, tearing his attention from the book held within his grasp.

FatelessPen let out a soft sigh, appearing at this juncture more like a history instructor than a formidable combatant.

"The Outer Rings are designated for individuals who did not succeed in their Awakening Ceremony. They are the sole populace legally permitted to reside there." He paused momentarily before proceeding. "And yes, before any of you voice your thoughts, I am aware that some of you sensed awakeners among them earlier. However, those individuals were present strictly for official duties and possessed the requisite clearance to even enter the Outer Rings. Furthermore, they face severe penalties for causing any disturbances whatsoever to the unawakened inhabitants there." He paused once more, allowing them ample time to fully process the information conveyed.

"The Inner Rings are predominantly allocated to individuals ranging from the Kindlestar Life Rank up to the Wavestar Life Rank. They are the only people legally sanctioned to inhabit this region, as any individual who achieves the Voidstar Life Rank or surpasses it is automatically mandated by law to relocate to the Zero Rings." He articulated these points evenly and without interruption.

"And finally, the Zero Rings," upon hearing these words, the group's collective attention intensified considerably.

"Voidstar Life Rankers make their residence there," FatelessPen explained. "But not exclusively them. Individuals holding positions of substantial influence, whose decisions directly impact the Empire, also dwell there, alongside their children and relatives even if those family members have not yet attained the Voidstar Life Rank themselves."

After all, it would be utterly preposterous to expect parents to give birth only to immediately dispatch their newborns to the Outer Rings.

FatelessPen concluded his discourse with practiced calmness as the vehicles maintained their swift trajectory, delving deeper into the core of the Thalvorn Empire.

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