Although he didn't understand what relationship the elder had with the Si Family or why he would help him so much, in this situation, having someone experienced to unravel his puzzles was something Fang Ze naturally welcomed with joy.
So he quickly said respectfully, "Yes, sir."
The elder likely held the highest status among those present. When he sought a private conversation with Fang Ze, no one dared to stop him. They even hurried to prepare a room for the elder.
One minute later, Fang Ze and the elder arrived at a reception room.
After helping the elder to a sofa and ensuring he was comfortably seated, Fang Ze went to the door to close it from the outside, then returned to sit beside the elder. Only then did the elder nod in satisfaction and, with a chuckle, said, "Are you a child of Jiayou or a child of Jiashi?"
Having come to understand the Si Family quite well during this period, Fang Ze knew these two were both heads of the Si Family's third generation.
But Fang Ze didn't know whose child Miaomiao really was, so he remained silent.
Seeing Fang Ze , the elder obviously misunderstood, and he said somewhat regretfully, "Look at this old fool, bringing up something that makes you sad."
At this, he sighed softly, patted Fang Ze's shoulder lightly, and said, "No matter whose child you are, now you are the only one left in the Si Family. You are the future of the Si Family—the burden on your shoulders is going to be very heavy."
With that, he stretched out his hand, and several documents suddenly appeared in it. He handed the documents to Fang Ze and said, "Take a look. These are the things we have secured for you."
Fang Ze took the documents and started to read them carefully.
The contents were almost the same as what the Special Service Department had explained in advance.
Firstly, as a representative of the Si Family, Fang Ze had the right to choose any high-ranking city beyond the top 10 economically ranked cities in Xida State as his family's domain, and within that high-ranking city, he could choose one of its subordinate cities as the family's residence. Additionally, he could have a private army of no more than 1,000 Awakeners.
Secondly, as a recognized noble family by the federation, the Si Family was entitled to an annual federal fiscal reimbursement of 10 billion Lini, which could be used for the daily needs of all family members, including dining, travel, shopping, tourism, etc.
Lastly, and most importantly, was the rights held by the Si Family, or rather, Fang Ze within the federation. Indeed, the Si Family's seats in the State Council and the Eastern Regional Council had been restored, but it wasn't a straightforward process.
Since the positions in the State Council were rotated every two years, and there were still four months until the next rotation, Fang Ze's temporary position could only be that of an "alternate council member," allowing him only the rights to attend meetings and supervise the affairs of various departments.
In January of the next year, Fang Ze would formally be added as a "Council Member."
After becoming a "Council Member," in June of the same year, the Executive Councilor term would change, and at that time, Fang Ze could obtain the official position of an "Executive Councilor" of Xida State, elevating him to the core echelon of Xida State.
As for the positions in the Eastern Administrative Region, the situation was similar.
Although the Eastern Administrative Region and Xida State were in a hierarchical relationship, except in wartime, the Regional Council could not manage affairs within the state. Rather, both functioned in a parallel relationship. Thus, the council positions would not conflict.
While serving as an alternate council member in Xida State, Fang Ze had also secured the spot of an alternate council member for the Eastern Administrative Region, also gaining the right to "meddle" in the affairs of various departments of the Eastern Administrative Region.
Since the council of the Eastern Administrative Region changed every four years and there was more than a year until the next change, it would be some time before Fang Ze could be promoted to an official council member of the Eastern Administrative Region.
Thinking of this, Fang Ze calculated the days. It was now late August, soon to be September. His current temporary positions were as an alternate council member of Xida State and an alternate council member of the Eastern Administrative Region.
In three months, he would officially become a council member of the Xida State Council, in nine months he would become an Executive Councilor of Xida State, and in fifteen months, he would become an official council member of the Eastern Administrative Region's Council, officially stepping into the core layer of power of the Eastern Administrative Region.
Although the timeline was somewhat long, it matched Fang Ze's understanding: after all, the federation was a superpower governing billions of people, and if high-level managers could be appointed casually, it would be too careless.
Beyond these three provisions, a series of related privileges were detailed in the documents, including specifications for travel, etiquette, servants, clothing, and other minute details.
When he had first arrived in this world and was trapped in the Special Case Team for the eradication event, Fang Ze knew that there were nobles in this world who held various privileges and rights.
But at that time, his knowledge was limited. Now, having read this, he truly understood how terrifying the privileges of the world's nobility were....
While Fang Ze was engrossed in reading the documents, the elder had been silently watching him.
Only when Fang Ze finished reading did he slowly speak, saying, "I have heard that you have an eidetic memory. Thus, I won't discuss what's written on the paper. Next, let's talk about what's not included in the documents."
Hearing the elder's words, Fang Ze immediately sat up straight and said earnestly, "Yes, sir."
The elder pointed to the first item on the document, "Feudal lands, private army," and then started speaking, "Do you know why, in the list of noble privileges, this is written first?"
After a moment's thought, Fang Ze replied, "Because it is the foundation upon which a family establishes itself."