Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 551

Amidst a flurry of reports about the "Golden Dawn" funds being stolen, Amon and I once again gathered the influential clans in the tribal chieftain's residence to inform them that there would be no changes to the "Five-Year Plan for the Reconstruction of the Fox People."

The clan leaders, led by Remos, frowned and raised their voices, asking, "But where do you intend to get the budget from?"

From the perspective of the clan leaders who opposed the plan, they had assumed that Amon and I would make some sort of compromise once we could no longer collect funds.

Naturally, they weren't pleased, and their reaction was to be expected.

However, I narrowed my eyes and smiled.

"There's no need to worry about that. The funds that were supposedly stolen from you all by the so-called 'Golden Dawn'—we will swiftly defeat the bandits and recover them. More importantly, starting tomorrow, we will announce the plan and put it into action."

"W-What did you say?!"

From the day after we informed the clan leaders, the Fox People were thrown into an uproar.

A notice was issued across the entire territory of the Fox People, declaring, "In the name of Amon Grandork, the tribal chieftain of the Fox People, we hereby announce that, for the sake of the reconstruction of the Fox People, the people's taxes will be exempt for the next five years, starting today."

Simultaneously, we began recruiting young people in their teens to early thirties from villages and towns scattered throughout the territory to relocate to industrial zones where their basic needs—food, clothing, and shelter—would be guaranteed.

For the villages and towns that sent out their young people, we promised support materials commensurate with the number and scale of those who left, ensuring that the impact of losing their youth would be minimized as much as possible.

If they had spouses or children, they were, of course, allowed to bring them along.

Originally, we had planned to use the existing production bases scattered throughout the Fox People's territory, but considering the distance from the Valdia territory, maintaining quality, providing technical education, and enabling efficient mass production, we decided to establish new industrial zones.

By having the existing production bases and the new industrial zones work in tandem, there was also the added benefit of stimulating the local economy.

It seemed that many of the people were pleased with Amon's announcement as the tribal chieftain, feeling that a light had finally been cast on the previously gloomy future of the Fox People.

However, there were also quite a few negative opinions, such as, "The new tribal chieftain is just a puppet of Valdia."

It wasn't just Valdia's knights who died in the battle at the Narrow Fortress.

Many of the Fox People's warriors also perished, so it was only natural that their families and friends would hold a grudge against Valdia.

No matter how logical or reasonable the benefits might be, as long as people have emotions, there will always be parts that are hard to accept.

Even so, to avoid leaving lingering resentment, this is a crucial period.

That's why we can no longer afford to let the "Golden Dawn" run rampant.

The initial goal of letting their leader, Marvellous, escape to uncover the enemy's tail had already been somewhat achieved, so in line with the execution of the plan, Amon made an announcement.

"Within our territory, a band of thieves calling themselves the 'Golden Dawn' has attacked some of the clan leaders, stealing funds necessary for the management of the territory and are currently on the run. Such despicable acts targeting the funds needed to brighten the future of the Fox People will absolutely not be tolerated. Therefore, we are offering a reward (approximately ten percent of the recovered funds) for any valuable information leading to the capture of the thieves."

There were several intentions behind this announcement.

The first was to prevent the "Golden Dawn" from becoming a vessel for anti-Valdia sentiment within the Fox People.

Governing a territory requires winning the hearts of the people.

Otherwise, there's a risk of anti-government organizations springing up everywhere.

The second was a subtle critique of the clan leaders who were attacked.

Since it was a staged event, we had no intention of defending them.

The clever ones would understand the true meaning behind the phrase "some clan leaders."

The third was to make people aware—or to make them think—that the "Golden Dawn" was a dark cloud over the future of the Fox People.

The fourth was to encourage information from the people while also setting a trap to sow discord among the "Golden Dawn" and the clan leaders associated with them.

After making this announcement across the entire territory of the Fox People, without delay, Amon and I deliberately conducted a grand and ostentatious land survey in the territories of the attacked clan leaders.

Of course, this was to shame them and cause the people to lose trust in them.

Well, even without that, these were clan leaders who had been lining their own pockets during the previous administration.

The land survey, which also aimed to expose the "Golden Dawn," revealed discrepancies in the ledgers and numbers that Rafa had been keeping.

The more we dug, the more dirt we found, and after the survey, we immediately conducted a forced search of the clan leaders' residences using Amon's authority as tribal chieftain.

We uncovered a multitude of crimes, starting with large-scale tax evasion that had been going on since the previous administration.

"While I was aware that some clan leaders were enriching themselves, I never imagined it was to this extent. As the tribal chieftain, I am deeply ashamed."

Amon was shocked as he examined the records found in the clan leaders' residences during the forced search.

The corruption of the clan leaders was truly staggering.

The clan leaders, whose various crimes had come to light, tried to justify themselves, saying, "Everyone was doing this during the previous administration. It's unfair to bring it up now."

Even I was dumbfounded, but Amon's veins were bulging on his forehead.

"I am well aware of how difficult things were during the previous administration. However, had we not come to this land, you would never have confessed or reformed. Do not try to justify your crimes."

With that stern rebuke, Amon, as the tribal chieftain, ordered the clan leaders to be stripped of their status, their family's social standing revoked, and their residences and assets seized.

He then announced this decision publicly across the entire territory.

This instantly struck fear into the clan leaders who had underestimated Amon and shocked the people who had been skeptical of his qualifications as tribal chieftain.

Clan leaders, including Remos, sent pleas for more lenient treatment and criticisms of the decision, but Amon and I responded by sending back documents detailing the crimes of the clan leaders who had been stripped of their status.

At the end of the documents, we wrote, "Where exactly is there room for leniency here? If anything, we'd like to know," and dismissed their pleas, continuing the strict land survey.

Some clan leaders even began to say, "We will confess all our crimes, so please show us leniency," but Amon shook his head with a stern expression.

"When I became tribal chief, I extended a hand to you as well. However, it was you who chose not to take it. Asking for leniency now is too late and sets a bad precedent. It's regrettable."

The clan leader who was told this hung his head in resignation.

Amon is naturally very kind, but this time, he had to suppress that kindness.

If we were to overlook the corruption of the clan leaders or show leniency now, as he said, it would set a bad precedent and make future corruption more likely.

For the reconstruction of the Fox People, this is an unavoidable path.

And so, to corner the main target, the Santos family, and the "Golden Dawn," Amon and I continued the land survey and meted out punishments to the clan leaders.