Chapter 1305: Swanson
Whether in the East or the West, the present structure was a typical dual system—the transcendent and the secular were separated.
This arrangement also solved a very practical issue—one of civilization and morality. As the world developed, expanding territory became increasingly difficult. Killing was often the easiest way to erase problems, yet indiscriminate slaughter not only invited moral condemnation but also left behind serious hidden dangers.
This dual structure helped address the problem of territorial expansion.
Take the Eastern world as an example. Although the Great Xuan Empire was the strongest and most central nation of the East, it did not annex smaller states such as Fenglin, the Yu Kingdom, or the Funan Kingdom. These states remained vassal states under the Great Xuan Empire, accepting its investiture while still governing themselves. The relationship belonged to a tributary system, and thus, the Great Xuan Empire could not truly be called an invader.
The Daoist Order served as the key that maintained this tributary system. Though the various states belonged to different nations and different ethnic groups, they all followed the Daoist faith and shared the same civilization. Bound together by culture and belief, the nations of the East were united within a tributary framework centered on the Daoist Order, collectively forming the Eastern Continent. Meanwhile, the Great Xuan Court served as the supporting pillar.
The Western Continent operated in much the same way. The Western nations were united under a framework centered on the Holy Court. The difference was that after the collapse of the Roman Empire, there was no dominant state capable of uniting the Western Continent. Thus, the Western nations frequently fell into chaotic wars among themselves.
At present, it seemed possible that the Lune Kingdom, which controlled the Northern New Continent, might become this new hegemon. However, the conflict between the Lune Kingdom and the Holy Court could not be ignored.
One must not forget that steam technology originated from the Lune Kingdom’s Arcane Council. The Steam Evangelical Sect maintained countless ties with the Arcane Council, almost like a rebellious child jointly produced by the traditional Holy Court and the Arcane Council. Even the city’s name came from the Lune Kingdom’s Duke of York.
From this perspective, both the clergy and the secular nobility were rulers. They merely occupied different positions and bore different responsibilities.
The archbishop’s name was Orvil Swanson.
According to Western custom, close friends addressed each other by their given names, while those less familiar used the last name with an honorific. Thus, Strauni called Qi Xuansu “Dutch” rather than “Mr. Vanderlind.” Likewise, Qi Xuansu addressed Strauni as “Josiah” rather than “Councilman Strauni,” since the two were supposedly childhood friends.
At this moment, Qi Xuansu addressed the archbishop as “Archbishop Swanson” rather than “Orvil.”