Collecting Taxes, but from Someone Else's Villages

"But it isn't time to collect taxes yet, my lord," a farmer pleaded miserably.

Wildcat said without expression, "There's been an invasion of Corpse Ghouls. Protecting you takes a lot of effort, and we need more supplies. If you have any objections, we can help send you to hell."

Field had tasked him with collecting taxes. Even if they were exposed, it didn't matter; they could simply loot the place.

These weren't people from their Nightfall Territory anyway. Who knew who here?

Of course, collecting taxes was still the safest option. The slaves were weak fighters, after all, and a clash with the militia could easily go wrong.

"Pay! Pay the taxes in full!" The village chief gritted his teeth and immediately ordered everyone to bring out their livestock and hand over their grain. At the same time, he put on a fawning expression. "I'll also present the girl the baron requested."

A girl?

Wildcat frowned. Baron Field hadn't mentioned anything about this. Clearly, it was something Baron Bull wanted.

A slave guard beside him was about to refuse, but Wildcat immediately stopped him. Wouldn't refusing give them away?

"All right. Bring everything back."

Soon, Bullhorn Village erupted into chaos, like an anthill doused with boiling water.

Two cattle, four sheep, assorted chickens and ducks, five large cartloads of grain, and currency totaling seven gold coins, twenty-three silver coins, and fifty copper coins. It was as though the entire village had been scraped to the bone. Sobbing and pleading filled the air. Most of the wealth they had saved over a year vanished overnight.

Nobles are terrifying. Wildcat inwardly marveled. He, too, had become a slave because he couldn't afford his taxes.

Whether the villagers had evaded any taxes didn't matter. This was a windfall anyway.

"Holy crap, that much livestock?"

Field was still directing the slaves to move weapons and magical items. In another bunker, he had discovered the Mist-Driving Lamps the bearded officer had been so desperate to find-three in total-as well as a large stock of magical potions, mostly for treating wounds. Their total value was impossible to estimate, but certainly no less than two hundred gold coins.

Even after such a rich haul, Field still cried out in surprise at the taxes Wildcat brought back.

Field himself had never expected such a small village to yield so much tax revenue. The tax rate had to be terrifyingly high. Wildcat had only stripped one village, yet even twenty men couldn't carry everything.

There were even cattle and sheep. It seemed he wouldn't have to worry about running out of meat in the Cursed Land for a while.

The only thing that made Field uncomfortable was that he had, in effect, looted a village.

"Stop trying to be a saint. Stay alive." Field tapped his own head. Huaguo's advanced moral values were of little use in a medieval world where the strong devoured the weak.

I can barely keep myself alive. Why worry about so much else? Only by surviving can I accomplish anything. Besides, Nightfall Territory lies in front of Bull Territory, serving as a buffer. I deserve this 'support.'

Keeping my people fed comes first!

"Excellent. Everyone will receive one silver coin." Field smiled as he praised Wildcat, generously giving away someone else's wealth without hesitation. "Once you save up a gold coin and hand it over to me, I'll grant you your freedom and make you Freemen of Nightfall Territory."

The slaves erupted in a tidal wave of cheers. They could truly feel hope within reach.

"My lord, let's collect taxes from the other villages!" After receiving Field's "incentive payment," Wildcat's enthusiasm surged. His eyes shone, and he firmly took Field's side, tossing all his earlier sympathy into the trash.

Why should we people of Nightfall Territory sympathize when Bull Territory's villagers get fleeced?

Field pumped his fist. "Of course! Squeeze every gold coin out of them! Try to finish by tomorrow morning. We're a little pressed for time, so get moving. Keep posing as Bull Territory's guards to collect taxes, and I'll reward you."

They would have to move quickly, though. The empire's other cities weren't run by cowards like Richard. They would soon notice the crisis in Bull Territory and send an army to wipe out the corruption. He couldn't afford to be caught red-handed.

"Uh, my lord, there's also this young girl." Wildcat brought over a little girl in a plain robe, around twelve years old.

Do I look like some creepy old guy? You actually abducted a little girl for me!

Field's brain froze for a second. He wanted to curse, but seeing Wildcat's frightened expression, he immediately suppressed his anger and asked, "What happened? Why did you bring back a child?"

"The villagers were offering her to Baron Bull. I suspected it was nothing good and didn't want to invite trouble. But to keep the villagers from becoming suspicious, I brought her back without permission. Please punish me, my lord."

"There's nothing to punish. You handled that cleverly, Wildcat. From now on, you'll lead the guards." Field was glad he had been patient enough.

There was nothing special about the little girl; she was simply rather pretty. Field asked her a couple of questions and took her in. She already knew the truth about him, so sending her back was out of the question. Besides, even if he did, she probably wouldn't fare well.

The next morning, gentle sunlight spilled down. Listening to the cries of the many chickens, ducks, and cattle outside, Ashina fluttered her lashes and gave a lazy yawn.

The exhaustion from yesterday's battle was gone. Ashina felt she had slept wonderfully. The cushion beneath her was soft, with a faint fragrance of gardenias-nothing like what she had experienced in that cold, damp iron cage.

"Ah, thank goodness my lord chose me to become a Chosen One. Lord Field really is the nicest person."

Her long, shapely legs rubbed together with an enticing rustle. She truly wanted another hour of sleep, but Ashina got up quickly anyway, because Field had said they would enter the Gray Fog this morning.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Seeing the young, mature beauty run toward him, her breasts bouncing mischievously, Field nearly lost his composure. "No need to rush. I'm still planning our route."

"I slept very well. Please carry on, my lord."

Ashina nodded, only half understanding, and stood obediently to one side to wait.

The Northern Frontier Province was vast. It had once held prosperous cities and villages, including those in Nightfall Territory, but now they had been corrupted and were teeming with monsters. At the heart of Nightfall Territory stood the once-thriving Grand Manor, which belonged to a baroness named Sophia Starrynight. Her Starry Night City lay within sight of the Grand Manor.

"With my current strength, building a castle from scratch is pure fantasy. The best option is to take the Grand Manor, then use it as a base to slowly reclaim Starry Night City."

The map in Field's hands was still the version from seven years ago.

Back then, many Pioneer Knights had dreamed of reclaiming the Northern Frontier Province. Brimming with confidence, they had set out with slaves and retainers to develop the land, but very few had escaped back alive. Those who had remained in the Northern Frontier forever had undoubtedly all become monsters.

"Some might even be bosses. Nothing but more trouble for me," Field muttered to himself. "So the strategic plan looks lovely, but the risks involved are absolutely hair-raising."