Blessed by Abundance, Becoming a Scourge of Terra

So energetic!

Huang Cao's voice was exceptionally loud, clear but not grating, showing no fear at all.

Even Nizere marveled; he hadn't seen such an energetic and vibrant junior in a long time.

It was just a bit inappropriate to be so lively during such a serious meeting.

However, considering that the nominal colleague before them was likely less than a tenth of their age, no one was in a hurry to reprimand him.

Even Theresia wasn't too old at this time, as it hadn't even been twenty years since the war ended.

Even Kal'tsit's connection was severed by Teresis over a decade ago, so it wasn't surprising that this brother and sister were so inexperienced in managing the country.

After all, they were still very young, and the Lords of the Royal Court were willing to accompany them as they continued to grow.

Unless...

Seeing that the serious meeting was about to be overrun by countless meme-worthy expressions, Theresia coughed heavily, pulling the meeting back on track.

"What do you all think of the plan I just read? Please share any suggestions you have."

Dukare: "No objections."

Nizere: "With you here, our country is flourishing!"

Shapeshifter Collective: "If it's good, can you give me back some of my gold coins?"

Lamian: "You're absolutely right, this is exactly what we should do."

Huang Cao: "With a beautiful Demon King like you leading us, our Kazdel will surely create even greater glory!"

Teresis and Theresia: Are you all just here as spectators? Did you hear anything at all?

Theresia really wanted to be a teacher, wielding a pointer and making every Lord of the Royal Court present stand up and repeat what she had just said.

"Speaking of which, Your Highness Theresia, shouldn't you send out the meeting materials before the meeting? How could we possibly remember so many words?"

Huang Cao shared the fruit that had grown on his head with everyone, and by the way, he commented on his thoughts about this meeting.

Firstly, Theresia definitely didn't say many meaningful things; most of what she said were unrealistic ideas, otherwise, everyone wouldn't be slacking off on stage.

Besides, you've been looking at the script in your hands the whole time, couldn't you arrange for someone to distribute copies so we could read them ourselves?

You can't even remember it yourself!

Doesn't the Demon King's Palace have a printing press?

If Theresia had said she was going to reclaim all the management rights from the Lords of the Royal Court, then everyone present might have taken it more seriously, as that would be a form of action.

But what she said just now were all unrealistic empty words, which could be simply summarized as what Kazdel would do in the future, and what the people of Kazdel would do in the future?

Talk is talk, and action is action, but at least give us a method!

However, it was also possible that everyone present genuinely didn't know how to manage Kazdel, so all the Lords of the Royal Court remained silent.

Are you the Demon King or am I the Demon King?

The Demon King manages the country; I am managed by the Demon King!

The Royal Courts found a reason to comfort themselves, then continued to play dead.

"Since no one has any objections, I've decided to impose taxes on all the Royal Courts in Kazdel next year."

Theresia's declaration silenced the entire hall.

Everyone: My Demon King, are you lucid?

"I have an objection!" Nizere raised his hand to speak.

Theresia immediately turned around, looking at him with anticipation.

Finally, someone raised their hand to speak! It seems my teacher is quite wise!

"I don't object to the taxation itself, but do we really have any taxes to collect?" Nizere said.

Lamian and Huang Cao also chimed in.

Taxation? What taxes?

Neither of us has any industry at all; we live solely by farming!

The Banshee River Valley and Eden had formed a strategic partnership.

Huang Cao provided job opportunities and compensation to the Banshee River Valley, and the Banshees sewed clothes and manufactured some light industrial products for Eden.

Both sides were living quite comfortably.

It wasn't out of fear; Huang Cao had countless ways to falsify accounts, but he was mainly annoyed by the tax collectors dispatched by the Demon King.

However, Huang Cao had plenty of strength and means; if he wasn't afraid of the Demon King, why would he be afraid of these people?

It was mainly that Lamian's river valley region might not be so easy to fool, and she probably found it troublesome as well.

Theresia felt a bit awkward after hearing Nizere's reply.

As mentioned before, this brother and sister's proposal only detailed what needed to be done, but the most crucial part, how to do it, remained unwritten.

"The fruit tastes good." Dukare took a bite of the grapes Huang Cao offered and nodded with satisfaction.

The Blood Demon doesn't need to guzzle blood at every meal; it can eat normal food too, though it does have a preference for blood.

Similarly, the King of the Scavengers was very interested in the raw sweet potatoes Huang Cao brought, planning to roast them at home to try.

Nizere is hailed as the god of war, but when there's no provocation or war, he can also be a kind old man.

"Collect taxes? What taxes do we even have to collect? Are you expecting me to go work in Victoria's sweatshops, and then hand over my wages to you?"

The Shapeshifter Collective suddenly adopted a pitiful tone, crying while gnawing on an apple in the corner.

Which personality of the Shapeshifter had taken over this time?

That's not what I meant! I didn't want you to go work in a sweatshop!

Theresia couldn't help but touch her forehead, forcing a smile.

"Of course, that's not what I meant."

Huang Cao could barely watch. It was clear he couldn't expect Nizere to teach anything about governing a country.

Feeling dissed by someone, Nizere shifted uncomfortably and shrugged his shoulders.

Can I help it?

It's the same old question: are you the Demon King, or am I the Demon King?!

But just as Huang Cao was about to say something, Lamian pulled him back.

"Don't speak. Theresia wants to find someone to manage the country's affairs."

How could she not know her best friend's thoughts?

To put it nicely, it was about selecting the capable. To put it bluntly, it was about offloading some of her own responsibilities onto others.

While it was understandable for the head of a nation to want a system for managing the country, this could potentially mean handing over all the Demon King's responsibilities.

Even a hands-off manager wouldn't do that.

Lamian: "I think, before we collect taxes, we need to know what we can tax. I believe you understand this too, Theresia."

Theresia nodded. "Of course, I know. So please, everyone, tell me what you can contribute in terms of tax revenue."

Huang Cao: "We have no industries. On my territory, it's hard enough just to survive. There's no surplus to squeeze, let alone any oil."

As the Lord of the Royal Court, who relied entirely on scavenging for income, Nizere proposed a surprising suggestion: "Hmm... do army salaries count? How about we collect a portion of them?"

Teresis wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "Let's forget about that. We haven't paid the troops in almost half a year. If we tried to collect anything, we wouldn't get anything."

Shapeshifter Collective: "In the end, you're still after the money I earned doing odd jobs, aren't you? Can I refuse to pay this tax?"

Please vote for me. Thank you, everyone! 2

Chapter 50: Teresis: Sir, you are truly talented!

You can't refuse to pay~

Besides, why are you out there doing odd jobs! I would never do that!

Theresia's expression finally broke, and she ended up shrugging helplessly.

"I'll be honest with you all. Our country needs income. It's impossible to rebuild Kazdel if we remain stagnant."

Huang Cao shook his head. "The key isn't what we have, but what we can do. The Sarkaz only follow your lead, Your Highness. Whatever you say we'll do."

Passing the problem to the leader is the essence of workplace dynamics, a lesson that must be learned.

Lamian: "How do we solve Leithania's problem? I don't think those goats will give up easily."

Nizere: "We strike first. Once we hurt them badly, they won't dare to encroach on Kazdel."

But can we win? All the Lords of the Royal Court present would likely say they can win, but that's only on their own territory.

If we were to attack first, on enemy soil, even if you counted all the Lords of the Royal Court, you still wouldn't be able to defeat their High Tower King.

Defense always has an advantage over offense.

If the current King of Leithania were to lead his entire army into Kazdel, the likely outcome would be complete annihilation.

Unless there is concrete intelligence and overwhelming combat power, a preemptive strike is never advantageous, unless you have incredible luck.

Kazdel cannot afford to gamble its fate right now.

"Perhaps we can seek external help and use the power of other countries to counterbalance Leithania," Huang Cao offered a plan that wasn't well-received.

This plan was, without exception, rejected by most.

After all, they had just fought with the other four nations not too long ago. Their deep-seated hatred was irreconcilable, so how could they cooperate with other countries?

Huang Cao knew his plan wouldn't be accepted, so he only said it to slack off.

However, Huang Cao still couldn't understand.

Why would the future Theresia want to fix all of Terra without first fixing her own country?

Who gave you the courage? Kal'tsit?

No matter how idealistic you are, there has to be a limit.

Ideals that are only discussed in abstract terms are just fantasies, lacking any process of gradual progress.

Kal'tsit is truly guilty of a heinous crime! For so many years, they've been causing trouble through the Sarkaz race.

It was so difficult to finally get a kind and normal Demon King, only for Kaitian Cat to ruin him shortly after.

Sometimes having too high a vision isn't a good thing. At least for the Sarkaz people, it would be better if their Demon King were more down-to-earth.

"Forget it, pretend I didn't say anything. I'm just an honorary member of the Royal Court and don't have the same power you do."

Theresia didn't pay attention to the young man's words; instead, Teresis noticed Huang Cao.

Compared to his sister, Teresis understood better how to utilize everything from the outside world.

Besides, what he was thinking was that since he wasn't the Demon King, there was no need to overly concern himself with the opinions of other Royal Courts.

Making the country better was what Teresis needed.

So, after the meeting ended, Teresis, without his sister's knowledge, personally approached Huang Cao.

"Mr. Huang, please wait. I'm very interested in the method you mentioned in the meeting about cooperating with other countries to counterbalance Leithanian. Could you tell me more about how it's done when you have time?"

Huang Cao was just about to go out for a stroll, with one foot already out the door, when a voice suddenly called out from behind him.

"Respected Your Highness Teresis, this concept originates from Yan Country: there are only eternal interests between nations, never eternal friends."

"How you choose between hatred and interests is up to the two of you. I cannot represent this country."

"However, as it stands, my plan is basically impossible to implement. For Kazdel, the ultimate outcome of trying to eliminate the barriers between nations often results in the destruction of the other party."

"Can hatred truly not be resolved?" Teresis asked.

"Hatred cannot be forgotten, nor can it be forgotten. Especially for the Sarkaz, who have been destroyed countless times, hatred has long been integrated into the bloodline of the race."

"The wails of the souls drive this nation forward into the abyss, unless they are eliminated..."

In the story, the reason the Sarkaz became less focused on hatred and began to develop peacefully was because Theresia took away the souls within Originium.