Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 546

"Well, if it were my father, he would probably say that."

When I suddenly let my expression falter, Remos's veins bulged.

"Lord Amon. Surely, you don't actually intend to carry out such a reckless policy, do you?"

"Ah, of course. I told you, didn't I? This plan was created with the wisdom of the Baldia family. To rebuild the Fox tribe  and achieve development like Baldia, we must break away from the old ways of operation."

"B-but, to suddenly halt the methods our predecessors have devised for the smooth management of the territory is utterly unconvincing. Everyone here would agree, wouldn't they?"

As Remos held up the documents and called out, the influential clansmen began to voice their agreement one after another.

Well, this reaction was expected.

Remos's statement about ensuring the smooth management of the territory was true, but it was also wrong.

The tax system used by the Foxkin race involves the clan leader's direct envoys and the local influential clansmen visiting the various villages scattered throughout the territory.

They then assess the village's fields and productivity to set the annual 'land tax' for each village.

It's similar to a 'tribute,' but taxes aren't limited to that.

To manage the lands entrusted to them, the influential clansmen also collect a 'poll tax' they set themselves from the villagers.

In other words, the Fox  people had to pay two taxes: the 'tribute' and the 'poll tax.'

The tribute is managed collectively by the  tribe leader and redistributed according to the scale of each influential clan.

However, in recent years, due to the push for military expansion, the taxes redistributed to the influential clans have been minimal.

As a result, the influential clans have been struggling, but a certain solution was proposed by Marbas Grandork, the second son of the Grandork family.

That solution was a general increase in the 'poll tax' collected by the influential clans.

At the time the poll tax was raised, some of the people strongly resisted.

However, they were suppressed one after another by the military force of Elba and Gales, executed as rebels to set an example.

In such a situation, it seems that Gleas Grandork, concerned for the future of the Foxkin race, gathered comrades and rose up, but his uprising failed.

What awaited the Fox people, who had lost their power to resist, was an even harsher tax collection.

Those who couldn't pay the poll tax were captured, and if they were men, they were forced to work from morning till night with the meager food provided by the influential clans.

If they were women or children, they were sold domestically and internationally through Elba and Marbas to Balst.

When I learned of the system Marbas had devised, I couldn't help but groan at how cunning it was.

The Grandork family had made sure not to touch too much of the tax revenue the influential clans gained from the 'poll tax' and the income from selling people domestically and internationally.

There's no doubt that the push for military expansion had certainly worsened the overall economy of the Foxkin race.

However, by oppressing the people and squeezing as much as possible from them without letting them live or die, tax revenues had significantly increased.

Furthermore, by concentrating the tax revenue on the clan leader and the influential clans, vested interests were strengthened.

As a result, only the lives of the clan leader and the influential clans remained unchanged from before the deterioration, or even became more luxurious.

The selfish influential clans must have been delighted by this.

Some influential clans, starting with Barbarossa, apparently kept the collection of the 'poll tax' as low as possible.

But then, the economic deterioration was unavoidable, and their power as influential clans weakened, inevitably reducing their influence within the Foxkin race.

Amon noticed the vicious cycle of suffering inflicted on the people and, after Gleas's death, quietly sought ways to improve the system.

Of course, openly opposing it would likely lead to condemnation, so he did so discreetly.

Eventually, his actions led to the 'Battle of the Narrow Fortress.'

"Lord Amon. Even after hearing so much opposition, do you still intend to carry out this reckless policy?"

Remos leaned forward as if representing the influential clans who were shouting in anger, a triumphant smile on his face.

Amon leaned forward to retort, but I reached out in front of him to stop him.

"By the way, everyone. There are two objective and undeniable pieces of information that indicate the development of a territory. Do you know what they are?"

"W-what? Out of nowhere. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just answer, anyone will do. If you can answer correctly, I might consider revising the plan as you all suggest."

Remos and the influential clans furrowed their brows, but their eyes changed at my statement that I might 'consider revising the plan.'

"You're not lying, are you?"

"No. I swear on the name of the Baldia family."

In response to Remos's pressing, I narrowed my eyes and smiled.

"Ah, but just saying anything won't do. You must also explain the reason. By the way, the first answer is something present here. The second is not here, but you probably see it every day somewhere. Now, think about it. Let's say, five minutes from now."

I took out my pocket watch from my chest, opened the lid, and placed it where everyone could see.

Soon after, Galiel snorted.

"Lord Lidd, it won't take five minutes to answer that. The first is a strong military, and the second is funds."

"I see. But how are those objective and undeniable?"

"Don't you even know that? If the territory isn't developed, you can't have a strong military. Also, maintaining a strong military requires abundant funds. Therefore, having a strong military is undeniable proof of the territory's development and an objective piece of information. Isn't that right?"

Galiel answered with a smug face, and most of the influential clans nodded in agreement.

I let out an admiring "Oh," then paused for a moment before smiling.

"Unfortunately, that's incorrect."

"W-what?! Then please tell us why it's wrong. Otherwise, no one here will be convinced!"

Galiel, wide-eyed, looked around at the influential clans and raised his voice.

"It's simple. 'Objective' means from a third-party perspective, in other words, something that can be understood even by other countries. As Galiel said, a military is indeed one indicator. However, is it possible for a country to disclose all of its military power to other countries?"

"T-that's..."

"And the second point, the financial power you mentioned, can only be calculated once the scale of the military is known. If the number of military forces is misrepresented, the calculation would be off. Therefore, it cannot be the 'undeniable objective information' I was asking for."

"Grrrr..."

Galiel's face turned red as he bit his lip and sat back deeply in his chair, crossing his arms.

It seems he understood that his answer wasn't what I was looking for.

After that, various answers came from Remos and the influential clans, but none were correct.

When the pocket watch's hand marked five minutes, I cleared my throat.

"Time's up. Now, I'll tell you the answer."