"ya, Master ya, something terrible has happened!!!"


    As ya was searching for Lynn within the manor, he suddenly heard the frantic voice of a maiding from behind him.


    Looking at the maid''s rushed appearance, ya felt puzzled.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Upon hearing this, the maid stopped in her tracks, gasping for breath: "Master Lynn and... and over thirty of the practice field''s trusted aides, they... they''ve started fighting!!!"


    "Do the trusted aides have any problems?"


    ya was stunned and subconsciously asked.


    After all, given that guy''s character, he would never make a move unless he was sure he couldpletely outwit them.


    Thus, the first thing he worried about was his own family''s guards.


    The maid shook her head repeatedly.


    Seeing this, ya''s heart sank.


    "Master Lynn, he... he beat up the trusted aides, beat... beat... beat..."


    Beaten to death?


    ya''s scalp tingled.


    Damn it, Lynn, what on earth have you done?!


    Looking at the breathless maid, ya instinctively prepared to rush to the scene of the incident.


    "He... he made them cry!"


    "?"


    ...


    Five minutester.


    "Ow, it hurts, damn it!!!"


    "It really hurts so much; I can''t take it anymore!!!"


    "Help!!! Help!!!"


    Looking at the muscle-bound brutes rolling on the ground in the practice field, wailing and weeping, ya''s expression was rigid.


    What on earth has happened here?


    He turned his gaze to Lynn, who was standing beside them.


    However, Lynn just shrugged: "To be honest, I only punched each of them once; your family''s aides need to be reced."


    I don''t believe you for a second!


    Looking at Lynn''s innocent appearance, ya was filled with exasperation.


    "By the way, I was actually looking for you for a reason," Lynn said, patting his shoulder and signaling not to fuss over such trivial matters, "I''m set to attend a dinner with the Princess soon. Tell me about Bai Leier Tierus."


    Although ya was puzzled, he still put the matter at hand out of mind and rolled his eyes: "That''s actually why I was looking for you."


    "For some unknown reason, my father suddenly sent me to represent the Augusta Family at the dinner, suggesting we go together."


    "As for Duke Tierus... he''s a legend in the military. There are so many things to tell about him that it would take days and nights to finish. What specifically would you like to know?"


    ya rambled on.


    Lynn pondered for a moment: "Do you know what he hase to Orn City for this time?"


    "Of course, it''s for money," ya said, shaking his head, "Recently, the Demon n battlefield has been somewhat unstable, and the south is likely to go to war again."


    "And what is most needed for war is supplies. So right now, Duke Tierus needs to raise arge sum of money to prepare for a winter offensive that mighte in a few months."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lynn was surprised: "How does he n to raise funds? Just through this charity dinner?"


    Since the original text did not mention this part of the plot, his understanding was still somewhat limited.


    Although the dinner had invited many nobles and celebrities from Orn City and nearby cities, and some had even traveled thousands of miles from the Imperial Capital to get a chance to meet with Duke Tierus.


    But in the end, the amount that could be raised was nothing more than a drop in the bucket.


    ya answered without hesitation: "Of course not."


    "The dinner is just feeling out the stony ground. The real purpose is to get a clear understanding of the attitude of the nobility and the church towards his next move."


    "What move?"


    "Taxation." ya identified the core of the issue, "Since Orn City and the surrounding cities are too far from the Imperial Capital and there are constant wars, the Empire''s control over this area is very low."


    "One can see the signs from one thing, and that is taxes."


    "As far as I know, the Empire hasn''t received full taxes from these cities for several years. Most of it has been embezzled by the local church and officials, and they gloss over it with all sorts of excuses."


    "For example, certainrge churches have tax reduction policies exclusively for themselves. They clearly scrape off themon people''s fat, but they don''t contribute a penny."


    "Yet these powers are entrenched and have deep ties with the Imperial Capital. You can''t just recklessly cut them down."


    Hearing this long piece of dialogue, Lynn considered thoughtfully, "So that''s why Duke Tierus is so troubled and has toe here in person?"


    "Exactly."


    ya nodded.


    The two walked together, falling into brief silence.


    After a moment, Lynn asked out of curiosity, "In your opinion, among the many local churches, which one is the most insatiable?"


    "It''s definitely the Heavenly Principle Church," ya replied without hesitation. "If you ask me, these people preach doctrine all day long, but they don''t do a single good deed. Sixty to seventy percent of the people''s money ends up in their bellies."


    Heavenly Principle Church?


    Isn''t that a coincidence?


    Hearing his answer, Lynn''s eyes lit up slightly.


    He had been worried about not having a breakthrough point for the trial of the Doomsday Witch, and now it suddenly appeared before him.


    It was like someone serving a pillow to a sleepy person!


    Noticing the familiar glint suddenly shing in his eyes, ya shuddered a little.


    Although they hadn''t been acquainted for long, he knew from his understanding of Lynn that the guy was probably scheming against someone again.


    "If... I mean if," Lynn suddenly began after a moment, "if a heavenly handsome guy could help Duke Tierus raise thisrge sum of money and crush the Heavenly Principle Church''s arrogance, what could he get?"


    ya looked at him, "He could gain the friendship of the Tierus family and the favor of the Princess."


    "After all, the Princess has long sought the support of an elector."


    ...


    North Orn City, Bartleion Mansion.


    At this moment, a luxurious ck carriage was parked on the wide road in front of the mansion''s entrance.


    A richly dressed middle-aged man stood in front of the carriage, watching the well-arranged line of servants at the mansion''s entrance.


    "Still no word from that boy?"


    "No, Butler Sherlock," the leading manservant nced at him cautiously, "Lynn... that boy hasn''t been back since he left the manorst time. Even after searching all over Orn City, there''s been no trace of him."


    "Keep looking. They said, ''alive, we want to see the person; dead, we want to see the corpse.''" The man known as Butler Sherlock snorted coldly, "Also, have you forgotten what I said before?"


    "Don''t call me butler. In this city, I am the spokesman of the Bartleion Mansion. Call me master!"


    "Sorry, Master Sherlock!"


    "Let it go, but don''t let it happen again," Sherlock said with an annoyed wave of his hand, "How is that other matter progressing?"


    "Most of the Bartleion family''s assets in Orn City, including real estate, have been mostly ounted for. Over the years, they have also gradually beenundered into your personal assets."


    Sherlock frowned, "Not my personal assets, the Mos family''s private assets... Remember, after tonight this mansion will wee its new master."


    "Understood!"


    The manservant wiped the sweat from his face.


    Seeing that the time was about right, Sherlock spoke up again,


    "Duke Tierus has also sent an invitation to the Bartleion family. I''ll go and see, and by the way, wee that distinguished person from the Mos family. Make sure you look after the house well."


    "Yes, master... What if that boyes back?"


    Upon hearing this, Sherlock said indifferently, "Beat him severely, then lock him up."


    The manservant''s face showed a hint of hesitation, "But after all, he is from the Bartleion family..."


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    "The Bartleion family? What Bartleion family is there now?" Sherlock sneered coldly, "An old man in aa, a waste expelled from the Imperial Capital... Oh right, there''s also a minor miss far away in the Imperial Capital, currently missing, dead or alive."


    "Do you really think they can stir up any trouble?"


    Recalling the boy who arrived like a walking dead,pletely broken, he couldn''t help shaking his head.


    The Bartleion family was in decline, without any hope of turning the tables.


    If the boy knew what was good for him, he would be best off dying quietly somewhere out of sight.


    It was just that his own foresight was advanced, having pledged allegiance to the right power early.


    Otherwise, he might also face reckoning.