Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Wielding Others' Logic as a Weapon (2)
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The meeting resumed. After discussing a few minor agenda items, they had already reached the final one.
"Then, the next item."
At the aide's announcement, the lords showed tense expressions.
"It's regarding tax payments for the next session."
The aide continued in a businesslike tone, utterly unaffected by the atmosphere.
"Currently, taxes are calculated in proportion to the territory's size. The standard is 10,000 gold per hectare. If anyone has opinions on this item, please speak."
As soon as the aide finished speaking, the lords exchanged glances, wary of each other.
Taxes.
This was the money each lord paid to the imperial family every month. It also served as proof of loyalty from the families granted titles by the empire.
"......"
The lords hesitated to voice opinions, stealthily gauging each other.
Until now, whenever this item came up, they had naturally—and as if it were only right—agreed every time.
They feared drawing the emperor's wrath by suggesting anything else.
The vast conference hall was silent. Except for the sound of eyes darting around.
"This tax is money offered for the empire's peace and security."
A deep, steady voice broke the silence.
"I believe paying it is only natural."
It was Carlo Sud Ardante.
*Well, well.*
I snorted inwardly. Very, very loudly.
*Natural for the empire's peace?*
This had to be the high-level joke he was tossing out.
*From the man planning to swallow the empire whole?*
He spouted it without batting an eye. Of course, this from me, who had just lavished flattery on the emperor earlier.
"Moreover, it's only fair that larger territories collect more taxes, and those enjoying prosperous lives from it should repay the empire accordingly."
Carlo spoke smoothly without a hitch. It made me wonder if he'd eaten fried snacks earlier.
*What a carefree bastard.*
Explaining how unfair this system was would just tire my mouth.
Even the same one hectare yielded vastly different profits depending on the territory.
For example, one hectare on Sud Territory's coast was worth millions of gold. Thanks to their specialty product, blue pearls.
Blue pearls had a unique vibrant sheen and the rarity of being harvested only along the southern coast.
They were thus highly favored luxury items among nobles, easily fetching tens of thousands of gold each.
In contrast, Ovest Territory...
*Ugh. Headache.*
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
The profit from one hectare in Ovest Territory was at most tens of thousands of gold. And that was from the most lucrative land.
Most of the territory consisted of barren mountains, infested with monsters to boot.
*What value is there in such land?*
Carlo probably wouldn't trade even ten hectares of it for his own.
*Yet they tax by area equally. Does that make sense?*
Under this system, we'd have to scrape every coin from our territory just to pay up. Sud Territory could earn that strolling the beach once.
"Well said."
"As lords governing our territories, it's only proper."
While my insides boiled, someone poured oil on the fire from beside me.
The so-called pro-Ardante faction.
These lords aligned with the Ardante family distributed Sud Territory's specialties in the capital. They'd amassed vast wealth in the process, rising as new nobles in the capital.
It was natural for them to side with Carlo.
*I can't stand to watch.*
Elderly middle-aged men gazed at Carlo with sparkling eyes in fervent agreement, and the sight made my stomach churn.
"What do the rest of you think?"
Carlo surveyed the room leisurely.
Everyone shrank back as his gaze swept over them, as if a blade were at their throats. Few here would dare voice opposition right now.
One of those few, Mikel,
"Hmm."
slowly stroked his long beard.
As he showed signs of speaking, the other lords tensed and watched him.
I had to suppress a hollow laugh that slipped out.
*Following the original story to the letter.*
The item before the break, and this one now.
All exactly as in the original. Of course, from Cain's perspective overlooking from the second-floor gallery.
*Enjoying the view?*
Arms crossed, I glanced up subtly. From my seat, Cain opposite me was perfectly visible.
He clung to the outer edge of the gallery, watching below. His face showed deep admiration for his father.
*Yeah, enjoy it while you can.*
I wanted to see that handsome face twist again. Crushing him mercilessly earlier had been thrilling.
For that pleasure, now was the time to observe.
"Lately, the temperature in the snow mountains has been dropping steadily. Monsters are increasingly invading villages as a result."
Mikel finally spoke.
"And with autumn now, come winter, public sentiment will freeze over even more. I'm worried how we'll get through this one."
Benifer, who had been listening silently, raised her hand.
"Indeed, the north isn't suited for farming. How about some grain aid from the east?"
"I appreciate the words, but"
Mikel slowly shook his head.
"That's just a stopgap. I want to propose a more fundamental solution."
"Such as?"
Mikel's eyes darkened. After a moment's thought, he voiced his true feelings.
"I'd like the taxes reduced a bit."
The sentence was short, but the ripple it caused was not.
"......"
From Mikel's position to the end of the hall, murmurs spread like waves among the lords.
"Of course, it wasn't easy to bring this up."
He let out a quiet sigh and continued.
"But I don't think this issue is unique to our territory."
Mikel cast seeking glances around for agreement.
"I'm proposing this for the survival and development of all territories."
As he finished, the lords furtively glanced at the center of the hall. To gauge Emperor Theodore's expression.
"Hmm."
Emperor Theodore merely hummed, chin propped, his face impassive and inscrutable.
But I caught a chill flicker in his red eyes.
*No way he'd like it.*
No sovereign would welcome less money flowing into their coffers.
Mikel surely knew that. Yet he risked it anyway, so things must be dire.
*The cause is something else.*
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
The dropping northern temperatures were because the Sword of Winter would soon descend there.
Aria.
The blade that would encase the world in ice.
*No need to mention that now.*
Hiding a sly smile, I looked ahead. Now was the time to make good use of the stage Mikel had set.
With Emperor Theodore silent, the lords began voicing opinions cautiously.
"What, change a system upheld for over ten years now?"
"Mikel must be desperate to bring it up. Speaking of which, our territory isn't faring well either."
"Wasn't it maintained because no better method existed?"
In truth, few would sincerely oppose lowering taxes. More money to run their territories? Who wouldn't want that.
But this wasn't the place to speak frankly. The emperor was silent, not deaf.
The pointless debate was nailed shut by,
"How regrettable."
Carlo's somber voice.
"You've all forgotten what these taxes are for."
Every lord's mouth snapped shut.
"Is the money for the empire's revival and glory so precious?"
Carlo swept the hall with a powerful voice.
"I, Carlo, would gladly pay any amount for the empire."
Finally, his gaze turned to Mikel.
"Frankly, I think even this discussion is unnecessary. If you consider what these taxes mean."
Deep voice, dignified tone, words that stirred the heart.
Carlo's oratory was flawless. No one could rebut him.
The deathly silent hall
"I... agree too. Better to maintain the status quo."
"As I said earlier, there's reason it's been steady."
gradually filled with voices of agreement.
"......"
Lord Mikel still wore a faint smile. But I didn't miss the regret and anger flashing in his wrinkled eyes.
"Seems we're mostly in accord."
Carlo said with a hint of amusement.
"What does Lady Benifer think?"
He now turned the arrows of questioning to the four great lords. Hammering the nail with a mallet.
"I can't ignore Nord Territory's hardships. That's my view."
At Benifer's response, Carlo and Mikel's brows rose slightly. Surprised expressions.
I shook my head inwardly.
*Don't fall for it, bitch.*
Benifer soon spoke.
"But as Lord Carlo said, considering the meaning of these taxes, we can't touch them."
"How about keeping the system but providing other aid to the north?"
Mikel's face clouded.
Carlo smiled as if to say, *Of course.*
"Looks like we've more or less decided..."
Drawing out his words, his gaze stopped on me. His lips twitched briefly, then he spoke unwillingly.
"Young Lord Abel... what do you think?"
Unable to use "lord," it was a makeshift title.
"Well."
I interlaced my fingers on the desk, resting my chin atop them, tilting my head slightly.
*Finally, my chance.*
Contrary to my thoughts, I replied with an innocent face.
"May I speak frankly?"
"Oh, of course. Anyone here can voice their honest opinion."
Carlo spread his arms.
"Even if they're just a proxy, not a lord."
His eyes gleamed slyly. Eager to hear what I'd say.
"Isn't that why we're gathered? Don't overthink—just speak."
Beside him, Mikel slowly shook his head at me.
*Don't do it.*
His eyes said.
Of course, I wasn't fool enough to believe Carlo meant it.
How many people live spilling every thought? Everyone gauges the room, hides their true feelings, wraps them prettily.
But here was someone who could pull off that folly.
"I think the current system is unfair."
Me.