After Levi left the store, he went back to the studio. He sat on the bed and brought out a couple of dimensional screens, planning to further his research on House Zen... the first option was the Black Slime Syndicate.
He started by searching for House Targon to see whether the store was worth the trouble... Levi had already figured out that House Targon must be prioritizing the Zen Relic Store in their conquest attempts of House Zen.
A store at such a prime location was worth hundreds of territories in the Boundless Void, even if it wasn’t the biggest out there.
After purchasing in-depth folders on House Targon and reading the details, Levi couldn’t help but raise a brow in surprise.
’Hmmm... they sure are on the rise.’
He found out that House Targon was a rising Noble House founded four decades ago... the founder was called Silas Targon, or, infamously, known in the network as... The Soul Weaver.
He was a Baron-ranked Rifter, who had been making his name pop more and more due to his fast climb in such a cut-throat rank... he was a mere game away from promoting to Viscount rank, which spoke volumes of his strength.
’Soul Weaver... his combat style is pure agony for those without a tough subconsciousness barrier.’
Levi kept nodding in intrigue as he watched some of his clips in the Ring... even his dominion made Levi quiver in dread at the thought of getting caught inside on his level.
Still, this was the Boundless Expanse, and things were done differently here.
Levi soon found out that ever since House Targon purchased a territory in the Eight Sky Province next to House Zen, they had been really shitty neighbors... terrorizing townfolks, assassinations, economic pressure, extortions using hired lovers, and the list went on and on.
Of course, everything was done in the shadows to avoid backfiring on them... still, it didn’t take a genius to know it was them.
’In their current situation, House Zen is like sheep neighbored by an impatient wolf under the radar...’ Ash’Kral interjected lazily, ’Without a genuine noble in the family, their omnipotence on their territory is at the bottom, leaving them unprotected by the system.’
Levi nodded in agreement.
He knew that the Boundless Expanse’s Noble System was more complex than it showed... first, a Noble House without a ranked Rifter to represent the bloodline was called an Honorary Noble House.
All Honorary Noble Houses kept the earned privileges except one... the Omnipotence level on the territory since it was related to the Rifter more than the territory itself.
For example, Levi could be an O7 Rifter and own no territory if he didn’t want it... still, all the privileges of the Omnipotence level were maintained.
That’s why Noble Houses at the kingdom or empire levels placed immense pressure on their bloodline heirs to climb the Nocturnal Ring as seriously as it could get... most Noble Houses place the heirs on a Throne Race based on their results in the ring.
The Heir with the highest Omnipotence level would be deemed as the next king or queen to lead the nation.
’No wonder House Zen was sold out by one of theirs... with no omnipotence, Targonian goons can run amok in their territory, and they could do nothing but leave it to their hired guards and troops... that’s if they still could afford them.’ Levi shook his head.
The traitor realized that his house was a sinking ship, and if he stuck by it, he would find himself kicked out of the Boundless Expanse sooner or later... Levi didn’t know what House Targon offered him to sabotage their business, but he could imagine a legit contract that ensured his safety and a life of lavishness under their wing.
Without omnipotence or resources to hire protection, House Zen was under constant threat even on Boundless Expanse’s soil... after all, just being in Boundless Expanse didn’t guarantee one’s safety or protection; the realm was never a utopia that ensured everyone’s safety. It protected only those deemed worthy of their citizenship.
Of course, this didn’t mean that it was lawless... that’s why House Targon never dared to act in the light or use their own troops. The moment they were caught as having relations to terrorizing their neighbors, House Zen could sue them for everything.
"This is really a tricky situation..." Levi held his chin thoughtfully.
After reading every piece of leaked information between these two, he realized two indisputable facts.
House Zen had nowhere to retreat since their original planet had already been consumed by the Primordial Tree of Death... their race, the Runehoof, had been turned into Boundless Expanse refugees.
Of course, these were just the surviving ones... the majority of their race had gone down with their planet.
Currently, the entire House Zen estate was filled with Runehoof’s next generation; most of the old guard had already died either to old age, depression, or suicide.
Levi had experienced the frightening scenario of the planet’s devourment... he knew that if his home were to fall under the same fate, his emotions would go to a very, very dark place.
On the other hand, House Targon knew all of this and was still pushing for the ownership of House Zen’s territories and other properties.
This made Levi understand that Baron Silas Targon wasn’t going to let anything or anyone mess with his prey.
"House Zen has only three solutions to save their people... cultivate a Baron noble in three months, liquidate most of their assets before their demotion to garner enough money to relocate their citizens... or, obtain evidence over House Targon’s multiple transgressions," Levi murmured.
He knew that the first option was already dead since they needed a noble to emerge from their bloodline... it ain’t happening in three months.
As for liquidation? It was the last move since it implied the fall of House Zen.
"If I am correct, House Zen must be working on a case against House Targon... if they managed to find evidence and sue them, the Administration will reconsider the demotion, given the circumstances."
Levi understood that if House Zen proved in court that the Targonians had been assassinating their talents to sabotage the birth of a nobleman, the System would show them leniency and grant them another grace period.
"Given the current situation, I assume that their case folder holds no weight." The Titan said calmly.
Levi nodded in support, believing that House Zen wouldn’t have risked activating the Final Demotion Timer if they had something concrete to back up their claims.
"So... what’s your next move?" The Titan asked, "Are you going to join the liquidation auction once hosted, or drop the matter entirely?"
Levi went silent, thinking thoroughly about the situation... previously, he wanted to take advantage of the situation and snag the store at a lower price.
However, with this much information about the conflict, he was certain that House Targon was going to fight him tooth and nail over the store, which might even end up exceeding its legitimate price.
As for giving up? Levi had no intentions.
"Neither... this is a fine opportunity that goes beyond a single store." Levi muttered, many thoughts coursing through his mind.
"Oho?" Ash’Kral smirked immediately, figuring out what he had in mind. "It’s going to be challenging... are you sure?"
"It has to be done... if we win, we will strike five birds with one rock."