The next afternoon, Aiden sat in his office, the Codex Anomos resting on the desk before him.
After dealing with most of the post-incident work, Aiden finally had time to carefully study his prize.
He placed his hand on the Codex, and immediately an impression of the surrounding space materialized in his mind, as if someone inside his head had arbitrarily pulled out a three-dimensional map to show him.
On this map, a spherical area was highlighted. This space perfectly enveloped the entirety of Rose Iron Prison.
This was the currently effective "domain" of the Codex Anomos, set by him.
After snatching the Codex from Navia yesterday, Aiden had already discovered some of its rules.
Firstly, just like a country's laws only apply within its territory, the rules on the Codex Anomos only function within a pre-designated domain.
This domain centered around the Codex. Its size could be adjusted, but at maximum, it could only cover about two or three city blocks.
A person could only inscribe three rules onto the Codex per day. The Codex could only sustain three rules simultaneously at any given time. Each rule could be repealed on the spot at any time—either by written declaration or simply by striking it through.
Within the designated domain, the Codex forced all people and objects to comply with the inscribed rules. If the development of events would affect a rule, the Codex would directly apply the rule to the event or object.
For example, when Navia wrote "Direct or indirect mutual harm is forbidden," traps in the prison designed to cause harm automatically deactivated. When he wrote "Restriction of personal liberty is forbidden," the cell doors were opened and couldn't be locked again.
If a person violated a rule, they would receive a "warning" from the Codex. If they continued to ignore the "warning," the Codex would directly strip the violator of their ability to act, preventing further action. If the rule also specified a penalty, the Codex would inflict it.
Upon touching the Codex Anomos, Aiden automatically understood the four types of punishments it possessed:
The first was corporal punishment: the violator would develop black, thorn-shaped tattoos on their body. The tattooed area would throb with unbearable pain, but cause no actual physical damage. This lasted about five minutes. If the violator persisted in breaking the rule, the punishment would continue.
The second was imprisonment: the Codex would create several invisible walls around the violator, confining the target within this "cell." These "invisible" walls only affected the rulebreaker, having no impact on others or objects. This lasted for about an hour.
The third was exile, or expulsion: the Codex would transport the rulebreaker within the domain to a dark space of "nothingness" for a period, then return the target to a random location just outside the domain's edge. Someone punished with "exile" could not re-enter the domain for one day; any forceful attempt would result in being ejected in the same manner.
And the fourth was the death penalty—self-explanatory. Violating the rule resulted in immediate death. Among the punishments, this was likely the only one capable of causing actual physical harm to the rulebreaker.
Aiden thought for a moment and tried writing on a blank page: "Suicide is forbidden. Violators shall suffer the death penalty."
This rule seemed somewhat ridiculous but was logically feasible. If someone attempted suicide within the prison and was capable of succeeding, the Codex's rule would take effect. The person would still die, but the cause of death would change from suicide to execution by the Codex.
However, after the rule was written, the characters quickly faded just like when repealed, devoured by the page without a trace.
Then, where the rule had been written, a line appeared in neat, print-like characters: "Insufficient Authority."
This artifact really recognizes its owner, Aiden mused.
Clearly, the Codex Anomos did not acknowledge his authority to use the death penalty.
Mephilia had mentioned that although Unique Authorities were objects, they possessed consciousness fused with their corresponding Dominator. They would call out to "Saints" qualified to become Dominators. The closer the holder was to the corresponding Authority, the more permissions the Unique Authority would grant them.
Presumably, a Saint of the "Order" Authority would have the permission to wield the death penalty.
Aiden thought again and tried writing a new rule: "Disobeying Aiden Gallard's orders is forbidden."
Similarly, the line was quickly absorbed, and "Insufficient Authority" reappeared.
"Prison inmates disobeying guards' orders is forbidden."
"Insufficient Authority."
"Aiden Gallard doing a handstand within the domain is forbidden."
"Insufficient Authority."
Within the domain of the Codex Anomos, even the holder enjoyed no special privileges and couldn't make rules apply only to specific targets—all because he, as the holder, lacked the corresponding authority.
In other words, possessing the appropriate authority might make it possible.
Perhaps only by becoming the Dominator of "Order," and fused with the Codex Anomos, could one freely command this power.
Aiden thought again and wrote another line: "The weather is nice today."
The words were absorbed again. This time, the reply was: "Invalid Clause."
"Walking east and west simultaneously is forbidden."
Also "Invalid Clause."
"Violating the Prison Management Regulations is forbidden."
Still "Invalid Clause."
...
Aiden experimented several times, discovering that rules that were meaningless, unclearly stated, self-contradictory, or objectively impossible were all deemed "Invalid Clause." Furthermore, each rule had to be independently interpretable; rules dependent on other rules were also rejected.
Although this Codex lacked independent consciousness, Aiden still sensed a certain "willfulness" from this artifact—it wasn't something he could easily master right now.
But in a way, this item could now serve as his life-saving talisman.
"Using the power of the Hatred Authority is forbidden. Violators shall suffer corporal punishment," Aiden wrote this line.
But soon, he received the reply: "Invalid Clause."
Aiden thought again and rewrote: "Taking detrimental actions against others for the purpose of revenge is forbidden. Violators shall suffer corporal punishment."
This time, the rule wasn't absorbed—Aiden realized rules inscribed couldn't directly interfere with Authority powers by name, but could target specific actions achievable by the Authority.
The hierarchical rank of a Unique Authority as a mere object was below a Dominator but above a Saint.
This Codex Anomos should be able to restrict Mr. Blood Robe. The only problem was... if the "Hatred" Unique Authority in Mr. Blood Robe's possession could break this rule, Aiden would still face certain death.
Thinking of this, he stood up and picked up the lantern from the bookshelf.
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