Wizard: Grinding experience starting with Knight's Breathing Technique

Chapter 31 Tracing Taxes Back a Hundred Years (Please Read On)

Inside the council chamber of the castle in Blackwater Valley.

Pastor Abraham sat upright, while the Knight of Light stood ramrod straight beside him.

Livy sat opposite Pastor Abraham, with Sir Frederick guarding his side. Livy looked somewhat restrained and afraid, subtle expressions that Pastor Abraham, who was adept at reading people, noticed.

"He's still just an immature boy," the priest thought to himself. Before he came, he had naturally done his research on the major nobles in the area, and he paid special attention to Blackwater Valley, where a great figure like the Black Serpent Knight had once appeared.

I had heard before that this young baron was timid and cowardly, and now that I see it, it is indeed true.

Clearing his throat, Reverend Abraham said solemnly, "Baron Levy, I have come here to purchase Blackwater Valley." Reverend Abraham stated directly.

In this era, the Church itself was a super-powerful lord. Through various means of annexation, the territory directly controlled by the Church was second only to the royal family. Many local churches and monasteries directly or indirectly controlled a considerable number of manors and lands.

One important way to annex was to acquire the territories of impoverished nobles.

Upon hearing this, Sir Fred's expression changed, and he looked at Levi.

Li Wei didn't rush to refuse. If the price offered was good, he wouldn't mind selling. He just lowered his head and remained silent.

Pastor Abraham smiled slightly and continued, "Two thousand gold coins. This price is twice what I offered to the heirs of the Rock Bear and Frostwolf families, mainly out of the church's respect for the Black Serpent Knights."

I also know that Blackwater Valley's annual revenue has been less than one hundred gold coins in recent years. This amount of money is enough for Baron Levi and Knight Fred to live a life free from financial worries for the rest of their lives.

Baron Levi must have known that a remote and impoverished place like Blackwater Valley was destined to never develop into a prosperous land; its inherent natural conditions limited its development.

Rather than that, it would be better to sell it to us and let the church run it.

After speaking, Pastor Abraham looked at Levi with a smile, calm and confident.

He believed that this famous "coward" and "spendthrift" would not refuse such a favorable offer.

But Li Wei is not the same person he used to be. With 2000 gold coins and his own forging skills, he can earn it back sooner or later. Why sell the land? Selling land is easy, but redeeming it is difficult!

Under normal circumstances, the nobles of this world will not trade their territories, which form the basis of their noble status, unless they are desperate and have no other choice, such as the heirs of Baron Frostwolf and Baron Rockbear.

Buying Blackwater Valley for two thousand gold coins is a bit low. Although Blackwater Valley is remote and underdeveloped, it is huge. Although most of its area is rugged mountainous land that cannot be cultivated, it is a bit excessive to buy it for two thousand.

Most importantly, Li Wei has already established absolute prestige in this territory. This is an intangible value that requires long-term cultivation. Even if he used the money given by the church to buy a new territory at a bargain price, it would mean that he would have to start from scratch and readjust, which would take too much time.

"I'm sorry, Pastor Abraham, but our Black Serpent family has lived here for two hundred years. Every brick and tile here is imbued with our family's emotions, and every citizen here regards us as their masters. As their lord, how can I abandon them?" Levi shook his head and refused, and Sir Fred breathed a sigh of relief.

This is the backbone that the Black Serpent descendants should have. They couldn't protect Tulip Territory and Storm Territory because those two territories involved too many interests, and with their strength, they really couldn't participate. However, Blackwater Valley, as the ancestral home and last territory of the Black Serpent family, absolutely cannot be lost.

Moreover, even in Tulip Territory and Storm Territory, Li Wei is still nominally the owner of those two territories, only without real power. However, if Li Wei ever becomes powerful enough, he can take them back. With that title, it would be perfectly legitimate for him to do so.

However, if the land deeds are sold and the ownership of the land is transferred to the church, then it will completely belong to the church. If you want to take it back, you either have to buy it back from the church or wage war against the church.

Both of these options are impossible.

"Oh, Baron Levy, won't you reconsider?" Reverend Abraham said with a smile, but his tone left no room for argument.

To be honest, the fact that a mere baron dared to refuse him made Pastor Abraham somewhat impatient, but he was an excellent man at hiding his emotions.

"I'm sorry, but if the priest's purpose in coming here is to seize our family's last territory, I cannot agree. Even if I did, my people would not agree." Levi looked a little nervous, but his tone was very firm.

Although he is still weak now, it does not mean that he will continue to make unlimited concessions on issues that concern his core interests.

The Wild Boar Gang kidnapped Old Toby, who was just a blacksmith. He could still function normally without territory, but without territory, how could he practice his breathing techniques? Without territory, he would have to spend a lot of money on all his needs, and he would have no source of income. He couldn't very well work for someone else as a blacksmith. Two thousand gold coins seemed like a lot, but in reality, they would not last long.

"Alright, let's leave that issue aside for now. However, I welcome Baron Levi to come to Silvermoon Territory to discuss this matter with me at any time. Let's move on to the second issue, which concerns the tax arrears of Blackwater Valley."

Baron Levy should know that you own three estates, all of which are subject to taxes paid to the church.

Among them, Tulip Territory and Storm Territory received maximum tax breaks from the Church after your father's death in order to take care of the Black Serpent family. As for Blackwater Valley, the Church has always turned a blind eye because of its remote location.

Baron Levy, you should know that, according to regulations, the Church can levy taxes on all territories under the radiance of the Father without retroactive effect, regardless of whether the Church has previously levied taxes on them. The Church can decide whether to apply the taxes retroactively.

In other words, the church has the right to collect taxes for the past two hundred years since your family took control of Blackwater Valley, but it just hasn't done so before.

Baron Levi, what are your plans regarding the taxes owed by Blackwater Valley?

Pastor Abraham asked calmly, the implication of which was self-evident.

"We will pay the taxes that are due," Li Wei said, inwardly sneering. He knew he wouldn't benefit from the tax breaks the church offered to those who cared for the Black Serpent family, since the income from those two territories wasn't going to him anyway.

To put it bluntly, because of the death of their father, a top-tier expert, in this chaotic and greedy era, all sorts of forces, large and small, wanted to divide up the last things their father left behind.

It's good that the church wants to buy land; at least they're offering money. Back then, the situation in Tulip Territory and Storm Territory was much more dire than it is now. The minions from the Duke of Black Mountain were baring their teeth and claws at Livy, directly or indirectly threatening him.

"It's really unpleasant to feel weak!"

Despite their displeasure, even nobles couldn't simply refuse to pay taxes.

If he refused this too, it would mean that Livy had completely rebelled against the authority of the church, and he was not afraid of just one pastor, Abraham.

What he feared was the Holy Light Church, a vast force comprised of monasteries, churches, clergy, and a complex network of relationships across the country, including the Holy Light Church's most powerful armed force: the Radiant Knights!

A supreme force composed of hundreds of official knights and seven grand knights, the Church's invincible sword, capable of crushing any force in the kingdom that dares to resist the Church.

Li Wei has a proficiency panel. Becoming a wizard might be uncertain, but becoming a great knight or even a legendary knight is a certainty as long as he lives.

So he knew that some things had to be tolerated. Pastor Abraham's decision to turn the land purchase into a tax payment was, frankly, a very "merciful" move among the church members, giving Livy a way out.

"Very well, thank you for your cooperation, Baron Levi. This is the total amount of taxes owed by Blackwater Valley over the years, which we have calculated. In view of the Black Serpent Knight's great contributions to the church, we have waived the huge late payment fees for the unpaid taxes and only charge the principal. Please make the payment, Baron." Pastor Abraham handed over a tax bill, which he had obviously prepared in advance.

First, talk to Li Wei about buying the territory; it would be best if he agrees.

If you disagree, then you'd better pay the taxes you owe me right now.

Li Wei took the tax bill, looked at the amount on it, and his eye twitched involuntarily.

"1000 gold coins".

Old man, this is really tracing back to a hundred years ago when it comes to tax arrears.

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(End of this chapter)