Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Hardworking Pay-to-Win Knight
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[Let me see, the total tax owed is...]
It was a cold, cruel, and chilling voice.
[2,187,443,432,321 won.]
"...."
The tax laws of the 34th Earth are extremely simple.
When you earn, and when you spend.
The heaviest taxes on earnings come from unearned income like lotteries or gacha pulls, while the biggest hit on spending comes from gifts intended to transfer assets.
'Knowing just this much pretty much covers taxes.'
Unlike other civilizations' tax codes, there's no room for excuses here. With the God of Justice and the God of Truth watching with piercing eyes, illegal tax evasion is impossible on the 34th Earth.
'2 trillion.'
That's why people on the 34th Earth pay up no matter how much it is.
'2 trillion....'
The ground seems to shake. My mind reels, and strength drains from my body.
'No, how did it end up at 2 trillion?'
Confusion surges, but a quick think reveals it's not hard to guess why.
Income tax on the 34th Earth scales with income, maxing out at 55%.
'What the hell has the state done for me to take half?!'
...The complaint rises naturally, but honestly, they've done a lot. No world in the universe probably uses taxes as effectively as this one.
[Mr. Han Jaeyeon?]
"Ah... Yes. Understood. By when do I need to pay?"
[By the end of this month, please. Late payments incur 2.5% interest.]
2.5% is 50 billion.
"...."
After the call ends, I sit blankly in the empty room.
A truly petty thought crosses my mind.
'Ah... Should I ask the Five Dragons for it?'
It'd probably work.
Faced with a bombshell beauty radiating sexual appeal, they're not rational around me—like high school boys. If I act cute and ask, they'd pay not just 2 trillion, but 20 trillion.
But.
"No, even for an emperor, that's a bit much...."
It's not like I'm some kept man. I can't just take it without some kind of deal. Handouts hurt my pride.
'Plus, just because they act like they'd give me their livers and gallbladders doesn't make them fools.'
If they cover 2 trillion—not 200 million or 2 billion— it'll definitely strain our relationship. Relationships are relative, after all.
Sure, if I were broke, I'd have no choice.
But trembling like this doesn't mean I lack 2 trillion.
"2 trillion... yeah, honestly."
My chest aches, but there's no real way around it. In a place like the 34th Earth where illegal evasion is practically erased, dodging taxes is impossible.
Legal tax avoidance, though—that's possible.
'Like getting refunds for mercenary expenses....'
But I've never spent a single won on mercenary work. No Giggas purchases, maintenance, or magic items. No food or travel costs either, and even if there were, they'd barely scratch this massive tax bill.
'Or maybe donations....'
But donating just to avoid taxes won't be more efficient.
If I set up a charity and funnel money there to control it myself, the Justice priests and Truth priests would swarm in delight.
"In the end... there's only one answer."
Truthfully, no need to agonize.
I had a top-tier tax avoidance method so perfect I'd forgotten taxes existed.
-Finally ascending to transcendence, rising to the heavens in human form.
-God, forgive me.
[Praise be. The 36th myth has been born here today.]
[His name is Killians.]
[For the next 24 hours, all hunting grounds receive a 100% EXP buff.]
[Repeating: The 36th myth has been born here today.]
Dark clouds gather. Hunting players halt at the tolling bells.
Bold//⤷AppleCatPhone: What the? Why's it starting again?//
[The beauty is the form of God. The ecstatic voice is the voice of God.]
[Sing God's wrath in a voice of fury.]
[Grand Angel (Mythic)]
Bold//⤷BounceBouncePangPang: No way, another myth class? Aren't they all duplicates by now?
⤷SnackEatingGapdong: Who's this lunatic?
⤷HotBody: That is none other than Mr. Han Jaeyeon. The World Understander Atman, Absolute Expert, Perfect Extreme Will Body, and the charming man who bewitched the Five Dragons.
⤷HotBody: The god of Revenge itself. And I am the Godslayer who killed him.
⤷SnackEatingGapdong: And who's this other lunatic?//
[I shall be reborn from a handful of ashes.]
[This proves eternal immortality, guardian of the empire.]
[Phoenix Knight (Mythic)]
Bold//⤷AppleCatPhone: Duplicate again! Everyone! Money's exploding in the air!
⤷Poseidon: What the hell... And Mr. Han Jaeyeon isn't even a duplicate holder. Why burn diamonds like this?
⤷SubSubAlt: Saw it on a variety show once. That's his chakra training method? Or a side effect.
⤷Poseidon: What kind of insane side effect is that?!//
I pull like mad. No need for zero-sum plays. [Pay-to-Win Power] builds on spending and depletes when taking items to Ardenia or reality, so no need to risk probabilities.
But maybe because of that detached mindset?
The pulls are insanely good.
[When one sword cleaved heaven and earth.]
[I knew I had forged a myth with a single blade.]
[Sword God (Mythic)]
Bold//⤷Poseidon: Stop the duplicates!
⤷Alex: Stop!
⤷Standing: Holy crap. No end in sight... How much has he burned already?
⤷EnlistedArchmage: Probability-wise... about 300 billion?
⤷WindForestFireArrow: But this isn't free-to-play results? Even for a 26-year-old triple transcendent... Does he really have enough to burn 300 billion into the void?//
[Heaven's starlight falls, splitting mountains.]
[One day, becoming a beam of light, ascending to the heavens.]
[Meteor Dragon]
Bold//⤷Poseidon: Oh my god. Even a pet?
⤷HotBody: Could today be... the day we witness that legendary 100% collection?
⤷CarlSpanic: Isn't that probabilistically impossible without dumping trillions...?//
[King of lightning. Thunder cleaving the skies.]
[Thunder God. Bird of bolts.]
[Thunderbird (Mythic)]
Bold//⤷Alex: Holy shit! Even a guardian spirit?
⤷Poseidon: This is trillions-pouring energy! I'm losing my mind! Losing my mind! Going out for lunch!//
The chat explodes around then.
Meow! Meow!
My Chedda buzzes with blocks again.
"Hello?"
[Hello, Mr. Han Jaeyeon. This is mid-level supervisor Cha Sangju from the Financial Supervisory Service. Just a few questions. Were today's Revenge payments made under duress or suggestion, or was it your own choice?]
"Yes. I'm spending because I need to."
[Ah... Thank you for confirming. This was mid-level supervisor Cha Sangju. Ha, happy spending.]
"Thank you."
Call ends.
Now, boxes.
[The great fragment of myth is complete.]
[A phase rivaling the world itself.]
[Kilnians has completed Plate Gauntlets. Space Gauntlet (Mythic)+9!]
Bold//⤷Poseidon: Box smashing... a mythic gear in one day? Not even his main weapon, gloves?
⤷Standing: Teacher. Do you even know what efficiency means?
⤷Alex: I'm scared...
⤷EnlistedArchmage: Money spent so far... over 300 billion...
⤷Chanoa: Whoa. EXP duplicate buffs for real? One monster kill and EXP's up nearly 0.1%.
⤷ChargingAuntie: Insane...//
I check balance amid the flood of chat.
Bold//Free Savings Deposit (G-Bank 1173-5511)
7,800 won.//
"About time?"
I tap Chedda.
Call connects instantly.
[...Yes. National Tax Service senior priest Cheong-ah speaking.]
"Hello. Sorry, but could you check how much tax I have left?"
[....]
Silence on the other end.
They're grasping the situation too.
Finally, a groan escapes.
[What the hell....]
"Yes? What was that?"
[No... Remaining tax is... 17 million won....]
"I see. One moment."
Even after spending everything, some tax remains—no issue.
Vrrr.
Door opens. Ruby, lounging nearby, beams and approaches.
"Jaeyeon! Wanna work out together?"
"Sure. Oh, right. Can you spot me 20 million won?"
"20 million? Why borrow? I'll just give it. What's up?"
"Ah. Taxes."
Big money from them risks the relationship, but pocket change is fine.
Lending a close friend 10 million risks losing both money and friend.
But a thousand won? Demanding it back makes you petty.
Unless they're not that close.
"Sent!"
"Thanks. Let me see... Done. Payment complete."
Turning back, trembling voice from Chedda trailing me.
[We... always appreciate... your diligent tax payments.]
End call with the dazed voice. Head to training room with Ruby.
"Legs today. Legs!"
"Sounds good."
I think as I say it.
'Stocks are a bust.'
The spending spree was exhilarating, but my plan's in ruins. Back to pauper—no Nemesis stock for a while.
And since that's the case.
'I need to pull more than that out.'
"Jaeyeon?"
"Ah, just lost in thought."
I finish fun training with Ruby, debate black arts and martial arts with Heukyo, same routine as always.
After our serious talk, the Five Dragons no longer charge in seductively. Just occasional meaningful glances.
That evening.
"Log in."
In Ardenia, office. Open inventory.
Pull out the item.
Space Gauntlet (Mythic)+9
Defense +45
Auto Defense +5
Crit Chance +15%
Skill Damage Amp +35%
"Stats are useless to me."
[Defense] corrections mean little in reality. Not percentage-based like in-game.
A thin barrier at best—useless to a transcendent like me. Crit and auto defense don't apply, skill amp irrelevant since I use real techniques over skills.
Why use skillbook ki when I generate my own aura?
Traits are different.
[Transcendent Sacred Gear]
[Free Interval]
[Transcendent-Preemptive Strike]
[Range Increase (Ultimate) (Passive)]
Material: True. Adamantium (Indestructible) (Holy)
"Ah, so beautiful...."
Shared mythic weapon trait Transcendent Sacred Gear is standard.
But [Free Interval] and [Transcendent-Preemptive Strike] on gloves—not a weapon—are luxurious.
Plus +9 [Range Increase], typically on magic staves, now on gloves.
"Yes. Now that's mythic gear."
Over 90% of Ardenia's mythic gear is [main weapons]. No full mythic sets possible. Only teased for future updates.
'Slow updates, but eventually possible.'
Someday, authority stats—1,000 stats—unlock, then emperor grade beyond transcendent.
A massive future even for current transcendent me.
Issue: Such [updates] need massive popularity to implement.
"That's why I wanted stocks..."
But that's bust. Need another way.
Pop!
Store Space Gauntlet. Pull class card. Add pet cards, guardian cards.
5 mythic class cards. 9 mythic pet cards. 5 mythic guardian cards.
I nod.
"Since it's come to this... all-in for 1,000 won."
Time to catch the Wraith Dragon and conquer the final duplicate.