Chapter 13. Using other people’s logic as a weapon. (2)
The meeting resumed. After discussing several small items, we reached the final item.
“Then here’s the next item on the agenda.”
The lords looked nervous at the aide’s declaration.
“It’s about paying taxes for next session.”
The aide continued speaking in a businesslike tone, as if he was not affected by the atmosphere at all.
“Currently, taxes are calculated in proportion to the area of the territory. The standard is 10,000 gold per hectare. If you have any opinions on this agenda, please let us know.”
As soon as the aide finished speaking, the lords looked at each other.
tax.
This is money that each lord pays to the imperial family every month. This was also evidence of loyalty to the imperial family from families that had been granted titles in the empire.
“…….”
The lords were unable to express their opinions hastily and only observed secretly.
Until now, whenever this agenda was brought up, they had naturally and naturally agreed to it as if they should.
This was because he was afraid that if he expressed a different opinion, he might incur the emperor’s wrath.
The inside of the huge conference hall was quiet. Except for the sound of people rolling their eyes.
“This tax is money paid for the well-being of the empire.”
A deep and stable voice broke the silence.
“I think it is only natural to pay this.”
It was Carlo Sud Ardante.
‘What the hell.’
I snorted loudly to myself. Very, very loud.
‘It’s natural for the well-being of the empire?’
This could not have been a high-quality joke he made.
‘Are you planning to devour this empire?’
He was saying things like that without even putting any saliva in his mouth. Of course, this is not what I would say, having showered generous flattery on the emperor earlier.
“Also, it is natural that the larger the territory, the more taxes are collected. As much as you enjoy the rich life that comes from it, you should naturally repay the empire.”
Carlo blurted out the words without any hesitation. I was almost suspicious that there was fried food among the snacks I ate earlier.
‘You’re only saying things that make you feel comfortable.’
It would be painful to say how unreasonable this method is.
Even if it is the same 1 hectare, the benefits that can be obtained from each territory are very different.
For example, one hectare of coastal land in Sud territory is worth several million gold. This is thanks to blue pearls, a specialty product found only there.
Blue pearls have a unique bright color and are unique in that they are only harvested along the southern coast.
Therefore, it was an expensive luxury item highly preferred by nobles. Naturally, the price was easily quoted at tens of thousands of gold each.
In comparison, the Obest territory… … .
‘Ugh. It’s a pain.’
My eyebrows naturally furrow.
The profit from 1 hectare of Obest territory is at most a few tens of thousands of gold. Even so, it was a figure derived from selecting the land that yielded the most profit.
Most of the territory is made up of barren mountain ranges, and these are places where monsters appear.
‘What value is there in such land?’
Perhaps Carlo would not exchange 10 hectares of Ovest territory for his land even if given.
‘But does it make sense to calculate the tax per area equally?’
The amount calculated in this way can barely be paid without scraping all the money from our territory. This is the amount you can earn from Sud Territory after taking a walk on the beach.
“You are correct.”
“It is a natural virtue for a lord who rules a territory.”
While my stomach was boiling, oil was poured from the side.
The so-called pro-Ardante faction.
Those who lined up for the Ardante family distributed the special products of the Sud domain in the capital. In the process, he acquired enormous wealth and was rapidly emerging as an emerging aristocrat in the capital.
It was natural for them to agree with Carlo’s words.
‘I can’t open my eyes and see.’
The older middle-aged people were looking at Carlo with sparkling eyes, and looking at them made me feel sick.
“What do other people think?”
Carlo looked around leisurely.
When everyone caught his gaze, they all shrank their necks as if a knife had been pointed at them. There weren’t many people who could express their opinions against him right now.
Mikel, one of those few people,
“Hmm.”
He carefully stroked his long, flowing beard.
As he showed signs of saying something, the other lords looked at him nervously.
I had to hide the empty smile that was coming out of my mouth.
‘It follows the original exactly.’
The agenda that was carried out before the break, and this agenda that is going on now.
Everything was the same as the original. Of course, in the original, the story took place from Cain’s perspective, looking down from the audience seat on the second floor.
‘Are you seeing well?’
He crossed his arms and slightly raised his gaze. From my seat, I had a clear view of Cain sitting across from me.
He was standing close to the outside of the audience seat, looking down. He looked very impressed by my father’s appearance.
‘Okay, enjoy it while you can.’
I wanted to see that handsome face distort again. The moment I mercilessly crushed him earlier was truly thrilling.
For that enjoyment, now was the time to wait and see the situation.
“The temperature in the snowy mountains has been dropping lately. Perhaps because of this, the number of monsters invading private homes is increasing.”
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Mikel finally spoke.
“Furthermore, it is fall now, and when winter arrives, public sentiment will freeze even further. So I am worried about how I will survive this winter.”
Benifer, who had been listening silently, raised his hand.
“Certainly, the North is not a good environment for farming. So how about providing some grain support from the East?”
“Thank you for your words,”
Mikel slowly shook his head.
“That’s just a stopgap measure. I want to talk about a more fundamental plan.”
“For example?”
Mikel’s eyes sank. He thought for a moment, then finally spoke out what was on his mind.
“I would like to reduce taxes a little.”
The sentence was short, but the aftermath of his remarks was not.
“…….”
The commotion spread like a wave among the lords from where Mikel was to the end of the conference hall.
“Of course, it wasn’t easy to bring this up.”
He sighed softly and said.
“But I think this problem is not limited to our territory.”
Mikel looked around and asked for agreement.
“Bio suggestions for the survival and development of each territory.”
After he finished speaking, the lords glanced towards the center of the conference hall. To examine the complexion of Emperor Theodore sitting there.
“Hmm.”
Emperor Theodore just rested his chin and snorted. He had an expressionless face whose intentions could not be understood at all.
However, I sensed a faint light passing through his red eyes.
‘There’s no way you’ll like it.’
The amount of money coming into my pocket is decreasing, and no monarch would like that.
There was no way Mikel didn’t know this. However, the situation did not seem to be so good that I had to take a risk and make that statement.
‘There is a different cause.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
The reason the temperature in the north is gradually dropping is because the sword of winter will soon descend there.
aria.
That was the name of the sword that trapped the world in ice.
‘Well, there’s no need to tell me this now.’
I looked ahead, hiding a faint smile. Now was the time to make good use of the board Mikel had laid out.
When Emperor Theodore said nothing, the lords began to secretly express their opinions.
“No, are you saying that we are now going to change this method that has been maintained for over 10 years?”
“Do you think Lord Mikel would have said anything? Speaking of which, honestly, the situation in our territory is not good either.”
“Isn’t it the case that it has been maintained until now because there was nothing more appropriate than this method in the first place?”
In fact, no one would truly oppose the idea of lowering taxes. The amount of money I can make in my territory is increasing. Isn’t that true?
But it wasn’t a situation where I could honestly say what was on my mind. Because Emperor Theodore is simply silent, it is not that he has closed his ears.
What put a wedge in the meaningless war of words that followed,
“This is truly pitiful.”
It was Carlo’s sombre voice.
“Everyone seems to have forgotten how these taxes are spent.”
All the lords’ mouths fell silent at once.
“Is the money you pay for the revival of the empire and movies such a waste?”
Carlo looked around the conference room and spoke in a powerful voice.
“Carlo, if it’s for the sake of the empire, I’ll be happy to pay any amount of taxes.”
Finally, his gaze turned to Mikel.
“Actually, I think even this discussion is unnecessary, considering the implications of this tax.”
A deep voice, a dignified tone, and even words that touch the listener’s heartstrings.
Carlo’s oratory was absolutely perfect. It seemed like no one could argue with him.
The conference room suddenly became dead quiet,
“I… agree. I think it would be better to keep the current issue.”
“As I said before, isn’t there a reason why this method has been maintained consistently?”
It was filled with opinions of sympathy that slowly broke out.
“…….”
Lord Mikel was still smiling faintly. But I did not miss the remorse and anger flashing across his wrinkled eyes.
“I think everyone has similar thoughts.”
Carlo said in a voice filled with laughter.
“What do you think, Lord Bennifer?”
He now began to turn his questions to the four great lords. The task was to hit the wedge completely with a hammer.
“It is my opinion that we cannot turn a blind eye to the difficulties of the Node Territory.”
Carlo and Mikel’s eyebrows rose at Benifer’s answer. Her expression seemed as if her words were unexpected.
I shook my head inwardly.
‘Don’t be fooled, you’re a double bitch.’
Eventually, Bennifer opened his mouth.
“But as Lord Carlo said, considering the significance of this tax, it seems impossible to even touch it.”
“How about maintaining the method but providing a different type of support to the North?”
Mikel’s complexion darkened.
Carlo smiled as if to say, “That’s right.”
“I think the decision has been roughly made….”
His gaze, which had been lengthening his speech, stopped on me. He twitched the corner of his mouth for a moment, but spoke with an expression of unwillingness.
“Abel… what do you think, Confucius?”
It was a title adopted because the expression “lord” could not be used.
“well.”
I clasped my hands together and placed them on the desk. He placed his chin on it and tilted his head slightly.
‘The opportunity has finally come.’
Contrary to his intentions, he asked back with an innocent face.
“Can I be honest with you?”
“Oh, of course. Everyone can express their opinions honestly here.”
Carlo spread his hands.
“Even if it’s not the lord, but the agent.”
His eyes flashed sinisterly. It seemed like he wanted to hear where and what he was going to say.
“Isn’t this the place we gathered for that purpose? Please don’t think too much about it and just say it.”
Next to him, Mikel was looking at me and slowly shaking his head.
‘Don’t do it.’
It was the look in his eyes that said.
Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to believe that Carlo’s words were true.
How many people live their lives saying exactly what they think? Everyone used to hide their true feelings by observing the situation around them, and lived by putting on a show.
However, here was a human who could commit such a foolish act.
“I think the current approach is unfair.”
It’s me.
fantasy,
