Chapter 31: Hundred Year Tax


    ckwater Valley, in the castles meeting hall


    Pastor Abraham was sitting upright, and Knight Shimmer stood silently beside him.


    Levi sat opposite the priest as Knight Fred stood by him. Levi was on guard, and his trepidation was easily caught by the priest.


    Sure enough, he is just a boy, the pastor murmured to himself.


    Baron Levi! the priest greeted him grandly. I am here to purchase ckwater Valley.


    In this era, the Church rules over everything. The priests bluntness is no surprise; annexations like these weremon.


    One of the easiest ways for the Church to acquirend is to target weak nobles.


    Hearing this, Knight Fredsplexion changed as he nced at Levi.


    Levi remained silent as he stared straight at the priest.


    Two thousand gold coinstwice what I gave to the heirs of the Stone Bear and the Frost Wolves. The Church remembers your father, so it is only appropriate if I pay a greater amount.


    This amount of money is enough for both Levi and Knight Fred to livefortably for their entire lives.


    A remotend like this is destined to fail, frankly speaking, the priest continued. It is wiser to let the Church oversee thisnd.


    Pastor Abraham simply smiled as he finished. He was confident that the unknown, cowardly, prodigal son would not refuse his offer.


    However, Levi had no reason to ept the offer today either. He could easily get two thousand coins with his forging. He wasnt desperate; in fact, he was content.


    Besides, there is intangible value tied to ckwater Valleyhis people, his satisfaction, and his fathers only gift that was left.


    My apologies, Pastor Abraham, Levi shook his head. The Snyder family has lived here for over two hundred years. Every brick and tile in this ce is coated with our familys blood, sweat, and tears. What about my people? I cant possibly abandon my people.


    Knight Fred heaved a sigh of relief.


    His father has already lost the Land of Tulips and the Land of Storms. He absolutely cannot lose his ancestralnd.


    Moreover, if Levi were to be stronger one day, he could easily reim the Land of Tulips and the Land of Stormsit was under his name anyway. It was justified for him toe and reim hisnds.


    If he were to sell thisnd to the Church, it would belong to the Church. If he wanted it back, he had to buy it from them or start a war.


    Both options are unfeasible.


    Oh, are you sure? Pastor Abraham asked with a smile.


    Pastor Abraham tapped his foot under the desk repeatedly. He didnt expect the young baron to reject his offer.


    If your purpose is to take away my familys territory, then forgive me, but I refuse. My people will refuse as well.


    If he didnt have a territory to call his own, how could he function? How could he practise his breathing method? He wouldnt have a source of ie, nor would he have a ce to call home. Two thousand gold coins is simply an insult.


    Well, we can discuss that at ater date, the priest smirked. Now, the taxes owed by yournd


    you have three territories under your name, all of which are required to pay taxes to the Church. After your fathers death, we gave the Land of Tulips and the Land of Storms maximum tax incentives for his sake, but we have always turned a blind eye to the ckwater Valley


    Baron Levi: ording to regtions, the Church can collect taxes without a retrospective period for all territories that are under the light of the Loving Father, regardless of whether the Church has previously taxed them


    In short, even though the Church has not taxed ckwater Valley for the past two hundred years, we have the right toe and collect it, the priest smiled, his tone evident.


    Well pay the taxes, Levi smiled but sneered in his heart. No matter how great his father was, there would always be rats looking for scraps to eat.


    He couldnt refuse to pay taxes either; he wasnt strong enough to do so, and rebelling against the authority of the Church was a death sentence.


    The Church isposed of monasteries, churches, clergymen, and intricateworks scattered throughout the country, and they employ the Radiant Knights to defend the Church.


    A powerful forceposed of hundreds of qualified Knights and seven Great Knights: the invincible vanguards of the Church will crush everything that stands in the Churchs way.


    No matter, Levi calmed himself. I have a proficiency panel. As long as I am alive, bing strong is a certainty.


    Besides, he knew Pastor Abraham was showing him grace, no, mercy, by allowing him to pay taxes rather than let them annex hisnd.


    Oh? Well, here is the total amount of taxes owed by ckwater Valley. In view of your fathers great contribution to us, we have exempted a huge amount of taxes owed as well as thete payment fee. Hence, all you have to do is pay the principal amount, Pastor Abraham handed over a tax bill from his robe.


    Levi took the bill, and the corners of his eyes couldnt help but twitch on their own.


    1000 gold coins