"Is this your idea?"
Standing atop the towering tower, overlooking the increasingly prosperous city below, Selena slightly turned her head and looked at her offspring who had just suggested the plan and explained it.
"It’s Noah’s idea."
Facing his mother’s gaze, Tidel, who ca alone, lowered his eyes, not daring to et her gaze,
"He didn’t want to co with ."
"Hmm, a very good suggestion. I will talk to your father about it and have him bring it up at the next family council."
"Are you willing to adopt and implent the ten percent land tax?"
The young man lifted his head in surprise. If his father were to raise the issue, it would be set in stone, and no one would oppose it.
"You’ve already ntioned that relying on slaves to replenish the population shouldn’t be a long-term policy."
Selena slowly turned around and looked at her only offspring, who was extrely diocre, and gently sighed,
"From today onward, this idea will be proposed jointly by you and Noah."
"Mother, these were all proposed by Noah. I rely conveyed them; it has nothing to do with !"
The young man widened his eyes, as if humiliated, and said loudly.
"Foolish, you think reducing taxes will only bring praise?"
Seeing her offspring in such a state, Selena furrowed her brows and scolded him, causing the young man to calm down imdiately,
"Why didn’t Noah co with you? Have you thought about it?"
"He said he didn’t want to repeat the sa thing a second ti."
Tidel answered honestly.
"And you believed him?"
The Duchess sneered,
"Once the ten percent tax is implented, the family’s land tax revenue will sharply decrease. Your father and I won’t mind the reduced taxes, but the family won’t share our sentint. Hence, this decree must be announced and implented by your father; no one will defy his will."
"Mother, are you suggesting that the family’s elders, they..."
The young man’s words trailed off, and an unimaginable expression filled his eyes, a state of incomprehension,
"Wouldn’t they dare?"
"You only heard the praise from the farrs in the fields, but you neglected the resentnt in the eyes of those whose interests are hard."
Selena shook her head,
"As for whether they have the courage, haha, don’t overestimate them, and never underestimate those blinded by greed and profits. They will do foolish things beyond your imagination for temporary gains."
"How could that be? If they dare to harm Noah..."
The young man’s hand unconsciously fell to the sword at his waist, and a hint of almost tangible killing intent appeared on his valiant face.
"If Noah were hard, what would you do?"
Seeing the young man’s instinctive reaction, a satisfied expression finally appeared on the woman’s face, and she asked.
"The family needs a cleansing, and foolish mbers should be stripped of the family na, no longer bearing the Augustus na. They only hinder the heritage and continuation of the family, tainting the family’s glory with indelible stains."
Tidel answered without any hesitation.
"You are right. At the next family council, carefully observe the reactions of those old guys. The family needs a cleansing, and the ignorant and decaying elders should not hinder the family’s progress."
Selena no longer concealed the coldness in her eyes. With her companion ascending to legend, certain individuals in the Augustus family also had their egos inflated, becoming increasingly arrogant and wanton.
So people think there’s no need to revere the Golden Dragon, treating it as a re family pet, and so don’t even hold her in regard. Such laughably foolish remarks made her consider cleansing the family.
But she ultimately bore not the Augustus surna. However, her offspring could shoulder this responsibility, seizing this opportunity to establish the prestige of the sole heir in the hearts of the family and the commoners in the territory.
"Yes."
Tidel gripped the sword hilt in his hand firmly, no longer letting go.
The farrs working in the fields were unaware of the passage of ti; only in a trance did the joyous news, like a mountain crying out and a sea roaring, suddenly sweep over, making everyone who heard it feel dizzy, as if they were in a dream.
The wise and valiant Duke officially issued a new tax decree in the na of Augustus. From the date of the new decree’s issuance, land-owning farrs only need to pay ten percent of their land’s yield as tax per year.
Although there are still other taxes to be paid, the promulgation of the new tax law made every farr unable to resist shouting Augustus’s na, though many also praised the Holy Dragon.
It is said that the original ten percent tax was proposed by the Holy Dragon, who transford into a golden cat. Although there is no conclusive evidence, only a few slaves vowed to have seen the Holy Dragon, but who cares?
The Holy Dragon’s rcy and grace are worth every farr’s rembrance; he should indeed be revered and worshipped.
While the farrs in the Duke Territory were cheering for the new tax law, in Elisium City, in certain hidden corners, commoners and minor nobles watched as the once high and mighty Augustus mbers fell into pools of blood one by one, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"I am your uncle, Tidel. How dare you commit patricide..."
"There is no mory of your face in mine. Who gave you the courage? To dare disrespect my mother and promise dragon blood to others, who do you think you are?"
"You!"
"You are unworthy of the Augustus na!"
The sword blade traced a silver arc, and a fountain of blood spurted out. The young man, expressionless, flicked his sword, sheathing it,
"Next!"
The scent of blood dispersed in unnoticed corners, but once the stench dissipates, the entire city will, unknowingly, take on a new look, displaying more vitality than ever before.
The Golden Dragon gazed down at the city beneath the mountains, unaware of the changes happening in Elisium City, though Tidel hadn’t visited him for so ti.
"Uncle!"
The mont the black-haired youth stepped into the flower garden, all the Little Flower Spirits quieted down involuntarily. Noah looked at his adoptive father, a mix of surprise and wonder,
"How do you have the ti to visit ?"
"I’m planning to go out for a break and ca to ask if you’re interested in joining ."
Casius answered; it was a suggestion from the lady. According to historical tradition, during such tis, as the family head, he should avoid involvent.
"Of course, I’m interested, but uncle, where are you planning to go?"
"Selena has gathered so information about the Cloud Giants. I’m taking you to have a look. If the information is accurate, you can try and see if you can form a pact with them."
"Ah?"
Upon hearing the man’s casual revelation, Noah was montarily stunned.
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