The plaza bustled with people, a stark contrast to the empty streets near Lando's Inn. As Lando observed the scene, he quickly understood the reason – soldiers were stationed at almost every corner. The new government aimed to provide a sense of comfort and safety to the people.

Many individuals anxiously searched for their loved ones, as a massive earth magic wall stood in the center where people could leave messages for their relatives and friends. The wall was even subdivided into different sections.

The first section was dedicated to people who were still missing. Some of the photographs and notes were removed as the searched person was found, but they quickly got replaced by new ones, leaving the contributors with tears in their eyes and concern etched on their faces.

The second section allowed people to indicate that they were alive and well or share similar statements. The individuals leaving these messages had the most sorrowful expressions, likely individuals who had lost everyone and were desperately searching for any signs of life.

Lando couldn't help but feel sympathy for them, realizing that they were in similar positions, except that Lando knew for certain that his loved ones would not be among those found.

The third part of the wall was filled with various requests. There were pleas for food and shelter, requests for assistance in rebuilding, and more. Many had lost their loved ones, while many others had lost their homes and possessions to robbers and thieves. Left with next to nothing, they hoped for a savior who could provide shelter or donate some food.

Lando was certain that the new government would take measures to address these needs and prevent desperate acts like theft. However, he also knew that these actions would not be enough to care for everyone in need.

Prominent declarations from the government were displayed, with the grandest one reading "Victory" etched in large letters for all to see, even from a distance. Below that, various proclamations were made, such as freeing themselves from the grip of nobility and entering a new era.

In Lando's mind, all of this seemed a little too much like propaganda. He believed that powerful individuals would follow the law if it benefited them, and if not, they would continue to act in their own interest, albeit perhaps not as openly.

Not far from the grand declaration, Lando's finally discovered the elusive stall he had been searching for. Though not as bustling as the rest, a steady stream of individuals made their way to purchase the new legal code from time to time. Determined, he skillfully navigated through the crowd, drawing closer to the stall. But as he approached, his steps came to an abrupt halt. His mind went momentarily blank as his gaze fell upon the symbol on the booth attendant's uniform. In a split second, recognition flooded his senses. How could he forget? It was the emblem of the space-time council!

The man sat with an air of superiority, as if he owned the entire place, with the clock in the three-dimensional cube emblazoned proudly on his chest for all to see. Lando's thoughts exploded into a frenzy of questions, his emotions heightening with each passing second. "What the hell! Is the new government in cahoots with the council? I thought the duke had made a deal with them. Were they secretly aligned with the revolutionaries from the very beginning?" His mind raced, the implications swirling like a tempest in his head.

For a few moments, Lando stood there, his gaze fixed upon the man. Uncertainty gripped him, paralyzing his next move. This discovery meant drastic changes to his plans, a sudden shift in the course he had charted. Even to purchase the legal codex without the council member recognizing his unique element was now an impossible task. Fear of the questions he may be forced to answer began to consume him.

With his thoughts still in turmoil, Lando thought of a solution right away. Making his way towards a bewildered teenager standing nearby, he spoke urgently, pressing ten silver coins into the boy's hand. "Hey buddy," he said, his voice laced with intensity. "Can you do me a favor? Buy one of these legal code books while I take a quick glance at the board for missing people. I'm in a hurry, but I'll be back in just a minute. You can keep the change." The confused young man could only nod in response as Lando hurried off to the board, his mind ablaze.

Barely registering the faces on the board before him, Lando took a moment to collect himself, to calm the whirlpool of thoughts raging within. "What does this change?" he mused with a sense of frustration. "Well, one thing for certain, I can no longer act as openly as before. But that won't stop me. I'll adapt and operate in the shadows, hidden from prying eyes. And I'll have to be more careful with who knows about my elements."

As Lando delved deeper into his thoughts, a glimmer of excitement washed over him. In reality, not everything was negative. "In fact," he realized, his voice tinged with anticipation, "this discovery makes it even easier to find the perfect target for interrogation. No longer reliant on luck, I can analyze the council members, study their powers, and uncover their habits. When the time is ripe, I'll strike, starting with the weakest amongst them." The prospect of his mission filled him with a renewed sense of determination.

From a distance, Lando spotted the boy he had sent to purchase the legal code, scanning the area with a massive book clutched in his hands. As the boy handed him the book, he thanked Lando and remarked, "Looks like you've got some good news over there."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Surprised by the boy's statement, Lando finally registered the shift in his own emotions and responded with a joyous laugh. "You could say that, indeed."

Eager to analyze the new laws alongside Ina, Lando wasted no time and set off for the Green Wanderer inn. Making his way through the bustling plaza, intriguing news reached his ears - the new governor would be delivering a victory speech in two days, formally announcing the establishment of the new republic. Lando knew he had to be present; understanding the direction the country's leaders intended to steer it, was always crucial.

Upon his return to the inn, Lando headed straight to Ina's room and knocked on the door a few times.

"Boss, you're back already? What's the situation out there?" Ina inquired, her curiosity evident.

Lando simply raised the book, its cover boldly displaying the words 'New Age Republic - Statute Book.' Ina's eyes gleamed like a child receiving a birthday gift as she swiftly grabbed the book from Lando's hands.

Deciding to let Ina dive into the pages first, Lando explained the overall state of the city, patiently awaiting her reaction. Unfazed by his summary as she already expected something like this, Ina continued to read.

With time on his hands, Lando chose to meditate, finding solace in the silence as he awaited Ina's analysis. Grateful that he didn't have to decipher the tome of paragraphs himself, he trusted Ina to extract the most crucial information and present the things important to him.

Hours later, the sound of a loud snap jolted Lando from his meditative state. Opening his eyes, Ina spoke, "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"

Without hesitation, Lando opted to hear the bad news first.

"Alright. I suppose you already know, but just in case you don't, the space-time council has formed a partnership with the new republic, which means their set of laws applies here as well." Ina glanced at Lando, noticing his nod of acknowledgement, and proceeded, "The key points you should pay attention to are as follows:

- Any space or time resources or products discovered in the wilderness must be reported and sold to the council.

- The purchase of space or time resources and products is restricted to authorized retailers or the council itself.

- Every official court must be comprised of one space, one time, and one republican judge. The republican judge holds the primary authority and can only be overruled if both other judges vote against their decisions.

- Any space or time magician can only be judged by the council.

- The council has its own enforcers to uphold the space-time laws and possesses the full right to enforce these laws independently, without any prior agreements, if they are violated.

- The council will provide support to the local law enforcers in cases where they lack the necessary resources or manpower."

"Damn! I was aware of the first few points, but the rest essentially means that the council holds absolute jurisdiction over the republic now. It's no wonder kingdoms and empires typically clash with them." Lando commented, astounded that any ruler would relinquish such immense power over their own country.

This revelation meant that the council had the authority to do whatever they pleased. Differing opinions or dissenting voices could be swiftly silenced, with dissenters thrown into their prisons. The promised New Age Republic now appeared nothing more than a puppet state under the control of the council.

"Yep, they're rapidly becoming the council's lapdogs, that's for sure. Initially, there might be some resistance from the people, but the longer the council holds power, the more challenging it becomes to wrest it away from them. I can only imagine that those who support the council will receive greater benefits, rising in rank and influence, gradually replacing any opposition until only loyalists remain." Ina, fully aware of the unfolding power dynamic, spoke with understanding.

As Lando's frustration grew, a throbbing headache overwhelmed him. Holding his head in his hands, he implored, "Please, continue with the good news."

Ina's lips curled upward as she began to explain, "Aside from some crowd-pleaser laws like equality among civilians, I didn't find anything that particularly caught my interest. That is until I stumbled upon something called a 'patent'. Apparently, if you invent something completely new that no one else has invented before, you can now file a piece of paper, pay a small fee, and prevent others from selling copies of your invention without your permission."

At first, Lando couldn't comprehend why this would be intriguing to them, but then he remembered the elderly man, Archibald, and his inventions. Archibald could only sell the blueprints of his creations for a sum that was less than what his competitors would invest in researching it on their own, using his machines as an example.

However, with the new patent system, if Archibald secured a patent for his inventions, none of his competitors would be allowed to reproduce and sell or use his machines without his authorization. This revelation was a goldmine for someone like Archibald, who enjoyed researching and inventing new things.

As Lando contemplated the countless possibilities this presented, a wide grin formed on his face. Ina quickly picked up on his excitement and remarked, "Are you finally grasping what this means? It opens up an entirely new approach to the manufacturing sector. If you create one successful invention and hold the patent for it, you can live comfortably for the rest of your life if you’re lucky, swimming in a sea of gold from royalties."

Understanding the implications, Lando took it a step further. "I already have the perfect partner in mind for this venture..."

He recounted his experience at Archibald's engineering workshop and proposed that they recruit him into their company.

Although initially surprised by Lando's quick thinking regarding a potential partnership, Ina soon became ecstatic. It seemed like the perfect opportunity.

For the remainder of the day, they meticulously went over the details and finalized their plans. They knew they had to act swiftly since only the first applicant for the so-called patent would secure it.

The following day, signs of recovery were evident in the city as more and more people began to venture out onto the streets. It was far from normal, but the new government was doing its utmost to restore a sense of normalcy as quickly as possible.

While many still remained in hiding, some brave souls ventured out to resume their lives, determined to regain what they had lost in the chaos.

Lando's first priority was to recruit Archibald, which led him to stand in front of the still-closed shop, hoping that the old man would be willing to collaborate with them.