Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Con Artist
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Luna read the documents Aiden had given her reluctantly, her face full of interest.
She stood there for quite a while, slowly turning the pages as she tried to understand the contents, but it was difficult.
Aiden's writing was filled with economic terms that sounded like they came straight from Earth.
No matter how elite her education had been in this world, terms like GDP or disposable income, along with graphs showing tax revenue growth, left her puzzled.
'I've never seen words or graphs like these before?'
"What is this GDP you mentioned before, and what is disposable income?"
"Oh? It's nothing special. GDP is the total value of all goods produced in the territory. In other words, think of it as goods that have been produced and are ready to be sold."
Luna fell into thought for a moment after hearing his words.
"So, it's the target for taxation. Does that mean higher GDP leads to more tax revenue?"
"That's roughly the idea."
It wasn't a perfectly accurate answer, but seeing Aiden make a troubled face as he seemed annoyed to elaborate further, Luna felt a sense of déjà vu.
'It's just like that woodblock printing technique last time.'
"Then what is disposable income?"
Luna struggled to grasp Aiden's ideas, asking about unfamiliar terms as she looked over the documents.
"Disposable income refers to the money someone earns by making and selling goods or providing services—basically, it's taxable income."
With her inherently sharp intellect, Luna began piecing together Aiden's words and thoughts one by one.
"What does this graph mean?"
"Oh? The x-axis is price, and the y-axis is quantity. This represents supply and demand, so keep it in mind. If demand rises like this, prices go up, and if it falls, prices drop. And by the way..."
Aiden launched into a lengthy explanation of the graph's meaning.
Luna had initially suspected Aiden might be trying to scam her, but gradually, she started thinking it might not be the case.
'It's too plausible to be a con.'
In this world's national economics, she had learned that taxes couldn't be raised too high—30-40% was the sweet spot.
Anything more would impoverish the territory's people and drive them away.
Conversely, it was common sense here that setting rates below that would yield too little revenue.
But Aiden argued the opposite: lower taxes and deregulate merchants and guilds.
That way, merchants and guilds would naturally create jobs and draw population from surrounding territories into the Grand Duchy...
It sounded plausible—no, it had real merit. But Luna had never heard of anyone growing population this way...
A deep thrill and excitement stirred within her.
'Finally... can we achieve our family's long-cherished dream?'
Joy, anticipation, and longing made goosebumps rise along her spine, and she wondered if she was standing on clouds.
Having spent her life in political battles where she couldn't trust anyone, Luna had a mild case of paranoia.
But...
In the end, she recognized that Aiden's arguments were built on solid logic.
Seeing the ample evidence and rational policies, Luna spoke calmly without revealing her trembling heart.
Hiding her emotions was one of her specialties.
"Are you saying the economy can truly improve by lowering taxes? Without kidnappings or migration subsidies?"
"Yes, it's obvious. Abolish gate taxes and lower overall rates to attract major merchants and guilds. Population will grow naturally, production will increase, and the value of reclaimed land will rise even more."
Watching Aiden speak with such conviction, Luna's face flushed with excitement.
'No, it's just a faint glimmer of hope. Don't get your hopes up... Failure would hurt even more.'
She masked her pounding heart and excitement behind a veil of rationality, forcing a blank expression as she spoke.
"It does seem like a policy worth trying. Finish the draft quickly and present it yourself at this week's council meeting."
With that, Luna turned her head and hurriedly left Aiden's room.
'Don't expect anything. It hurts more if you do and it fails.'
But contrary to her wishes, Luna's heart raced wildly.
It was the anticipation that something she thought impossible might become reality.
Meanwhile, watching Luna leave in a rush, Aiden thought to himself.
"What's that about? Is she planning to humiliate me publicly?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few days passed, and as the time for the council meeting arrived, he headed to the conference room.
Making seven copies of the plan by hand had been exhausting.
In a place without computers or printers, copying documents by hand was no small feat of labor.
He had heard there was magic here... Couldn't someone invent a photocopier?
Anyway, he finished the seven copies in time and packed them into his document bag.
He didn't want to forget them and embarrass himself.
After walking for about five minutes, he finally arrived at the conference room.
A large round table sat in the center, with Luna and the ministers seated around it, while their secretaries sat in chairs behind them.
"Ahem... Secretary Aiden. Try to arrive a bit earlier next time."
"You've gotten arrogant since developing woodblock printing. Showing up late to a meeting like this."
The ministers scolded him.
Even though they had arrived before the scheduled time themselves.
If they were going to do this, why not set the meeting twenty minutes earlier? He couldn't understand why they were blaming him when they came early.
Just as he started feeling a bit annoyed inside...
"Enough. That's not important right now. Aiden, take a seat."
As he headed toward the secretaries' chairs per Luna's instruction...
"Secretary Aiden. That's not your seat. Come here."
"Pardon?"
Luna pointed to the empty desk beside her, where a nameplate with his name sat. He felt bewildered.
Usually, secretaries sat in the chairs behind the round table.
All the other secretaries except him weren't at the table.
The round table was reserved for the Grand Duchess and ministers.
"We're starting the meeting, so sit down quickly."
Feeling puzzled at her words, he sat in the seat next to her.
Why was that? A pleasant fragrance wafted past his nose as he sat beside her...
Was she the heroine of a romance novel after all? The subtle scent from her body felt wonderfully soothing.
"Today, we're changing the agenda order due to an emergency item. Secretary Aiden?"
"Yes?"
"Present your plan."
At Luna's direction, he distributed the plans to the ministers and began reading from the first page.
"Beginning the presentation on the plan to reform the Grand Duchy's economic system."
Thus began his presentation.
Midway through, ministers interrupted with objections.
But...
"No way! Lowering tax rates obviously means less revenue! Is this what you call a plan?"
"Lower rates do mean less revenue per unit, that's true. But if the economy grows larger, even low rates will yield the necessary revenue. Ten percent of ten is one, but one percent of a hundred is also one."
"Abolishing gate taxes? Don't you know how much revenue they bring?!"
"Abolishing gate taxes will cause massive initial losses. But once the economy expands, taxes on produced goods will more than cover it."
"You think it'll work that smoothly?"
"Low taxes will attract merchants and guilds. Taxing them will yield more than gate taxes. And we need to cut not just gate taxes, but others too—like corporate and income taxes."
Fundamentally, processed goods from raw materials sell at much higher prices than the materials themselves.
So, encouraging artisans to produce goods here by abolishing gate taxes and moving their facilities to the Grand Duchy was a plausible argument.
Moreover, here, both rich and poor paid a flat 30-40% tax.
The wealthy might manage, but 30-40% on the poor was tantamount to driving them out, reducing the inflow of serfs—the main population source.
And... whether it would actually work this way, he didn't know.
He could always bolt before then anyway.
He was just bluffing hard to survive here.
So, he had to speak boldly and confidently!
Repeating that to himself inwardly, he put on a performance of overflowing confidence and leisure.
"Fine, say you're right. But merchants and guilds creating population growth? Impossible! Our Grand Duchy's history is full of efforts to grow our numbers, yet we've reached our limit! Even a whole nation pouring resources couldn't do more! You expect merchants and guilds to succeed? I can't believe it!"
"Please look at the table on page three. As you'll see, the wealth of guilds and merchants alone far exceeds our annual tax revenue. Combined private wealth easily surpasses the Grand Duchy's budget. Why? Because our taxes are just a fraction of their profits. If you add up the fortunes they've amassed over generations, even a three-year-old child knows it's more than our Grand Duchy—no, the entire Empire's taxes."
He didn't know if it was feasible, but armed with modern knowledge and smooth talk, no one here could beat him.
Just as he was shutting down the ministers one by one...
An unexpected question came.
"But... won't neighboring territories resent us for that?"
"Well... that is..."
At that moment, Luna answered in a calm voice.
"Don't worry about that. Our Grand Duchy's army is strong. If anyone attacks us, I'll repay them tenfold... a hundredfold."
As the icy woman spoke with red glint in her eyes, the room fell silent.
Definitely... she was a beauty.
Gazing at her cold, haughty face, he felt she was no ordinary romance novel heroine for nothing.
"But this is unprecedented. Your Grace. Governing a nation requires caution. No one can guarantee Secretary Aiden's method will work."
It was a valid point. But his life was on the line here... and he had been waiting for such words.
"I'll guarantee it. If it fails, I'll take responsibility and step down from this position."
The room went quiet at his words.
Refusing wouldn't be bad for them. It would clear him of any blasphemy charges. And if they went ahead, he could quit before results showed—also not bad.
This might even be better?
He could pocket a few months' salary.
After a long silence, Luna spoke up.
"What do you all think?"
At that, the Military Secretary stepped forward.
"For now, we must focus on stabilizing the northern fortress and the northern expedition. We can consider it calmly after that."
"I'm not planning to cancel scheduled plans on a whim. Very well. Are there other opinions?"
With no one responding to Luna's calm tone...
"As the Military Secretary said, we'll discuss Aiden's plan in depth after the fortress stabilization and expedition. That concludes the meeting. And... Aiden."
She looked at him.
"Stop by my office before you leave for the day."
With that, the meeting ended.