Second-in-Command, You're Loaded

Chapter 252: And the Heavenly Tribute was no small sum, either—it ran into the hundreds of millions of Beli.

But the new Sorbet Kingdom had to rebuild almost everything. Where was it supposed to find that kind of money?

Everyone knew the problem. The Revolutionary Army was already poor, and now they had an annual payment to make. Refusing wasn't an option, either, or the kingdom would soon have another new king.

The World Government would never tolerate a disobedient king. Leaving its alliance of member nations was even less possible; otherwise, the World Government wouldn't have stayed out of their uprising.

Damn the World Government. Damn the Celestial Dragons.

Ginny cursed too. She knew how ruthlessly the king of Sorbet Kingdom had squeezed the common people to pay that enormous Heavenly Tribute. They couldn't do the same, but they couldn't refuse to pay it, either. That left them in a bind.

"Does anyone know how much Heavenly Tribute we have to pay?"

"And how often?"

Everyone lowered their heads helplessly. They had no idea what to do. Restoring production and earning enough money would take a long time.

Just then, Dragon gave Mu Chen a calculating look that made him distinctly uncomfortable.

"Hey, why are you looking at me? I don't have any money."

Mu Chen spoke up at once.

But Dragon wasn't buying it. He knew Mu Chen was worth a fair bit.

Dragon had served in the Marines himself. He knew Vice Admirals earned high salaries, received bonuses for missions, and even got a share of the bounties when they captured wanted pirates.

Determined not to let a possible source of money slip away, Dragon said, "Mu Chen, you're the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command. You can't just stand by!"

"I know you have money. Lend me a hundred