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The study was quiet.

Only the rustling sound of writing echoed.

It was Colin writing a letter to Marquis Dawson.

After being reminded by Knight Shar, Colin immediately realized that if he needed war horses and armor, it would be far better to seek help from Marquis Dawson than Marquis Garcia.

This Dwarf Marquis was actually the great steward of the Dark Cavalry, at least he used to be.

Colin didn’t know if Marquis Dawson would be willing to help him, but he had to give it a try.

After finishing a sincerely worded letter, Colin dripped sealing wax onto the envelope’s flap, pressed the Angler family’s emblem into the wax, and handed it to Shar: “Have someone deliver this letter to Ironforge Castle.”

“Yes, sir!”

After Knight Shar left, Colin couldn’t wait to pick up his water cup and drained the fresh blood in it.

Then, he waited patiently.

But, after waiting for quite a while, the familiar sensation of heat hadn’t occurred.

What was wrong?

Could it be, like the blood of a Blood Slave, Bloodline’s fresh blood couldn’t help him advance either?

Colin felt somewhat annoyed.

But soon, he remembered that there were two high-ranking knights in his ranks who were not from the Blood Clan. Moreover, Lyle was a third-order knight.

If he could use his blood…

In his study, Colin paced back and forth, pondering how to “borrow” some blood from this straightforward guy.

Soon, he came up with an idea.

Opening the door, Colin called over the guard at the entrance and instructed: “Go inform Knight Lyle that he will accompany me hunting in the suburbs tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, sir.”

After giving his orders, Colin returned to the study.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.

After all, he had already delegated everything and only needed to oversee the whole situation.

That was the advantage of being a leader.

Colin leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, eyes scanning around the study, eventually landing on the Blade of Judgment hanging on the wall.

With nothing else to do, Colin approached the wall and took down this treasured sword granted by the Duke, carefully examining it.

It was a typical knight sword.

The sword was about 80 centimeters long, entirely black with flame-like patterns engraved on the blade, being an Arcane Array that can cause a burning effect.

The blade was a sharp equilateral triangle, reflecting a chilling white light under sunlight.

The grip was designed for a one-hand hold, and it had significant weighting with impaling power in horse battles.

Looking at this knight’s sword, Colin suddenly remembered what Marquis Garcia said to him after the enfeoffment ceremony.

At that time, Colin had just been enfeoffed as Viscount by Duke St. Hilde, and granted the Blade of Judgment, he was the center of attention.

At that heated moment, Colin pledged his unconditional loyalty to the Duke.

This clearly upset Marquis Garcia, who was recently betrayed by his brother.

Now that he thought about it, Colin felt that Duke St. Hilde’s generosity toward himself, was likely an intentional attempt to sow discord between him and Marquis Garcia.

Of course, regretting it now doesn’t help him.

What Colin thought of was the final words Marquis Garcia said to him:

“Go home and learn the history of the Blade of Judgment in your hands, and rethink what true loyalty is!”

The history of the Blade of Judgment?

Colin suddenly became interested.

Sheathing the sword, Colin immediately left the study.

He remembered that there was a specialized library in this castle.

When the trolls sacked this place, they looted the Sudor Family’s wealth down to the last cent, but they didn’t touch the books in the library.

Obviously, books held no attraction for trolls.

“Viscount, sir!”

Once they arrived at the library, an old man with white hair and beard at the entrance immediately stood up and bowed.

“You are the administrator here?”

“Yes, you can call me Quincy. How may I assist you?”

Colin raised his knight sword and asked, “Do you have any books about the history of famous swords here?”

“The Blade of Judgment?”

“Oh? You recognize this sword?” Colin was quite surprised.

Quincy nodded, explaining, “Yes, I had the honor of seeing this sword in Winterfell City. Back then, it was the Duke St. Hilde’s sword.”

Colin squinted his eyes.

To recognize the Duke St. Hilde’s sword, one would not merely be a bystander among a crowd of observers, but instead must have been very close to it.

Colin did not believe that a mere administrator of a viscount’s castle library could get so close to Duke St. Hilde.

“You have always been the administrator here?”

“No, I was previously the tax commissioner for Ice Rock City.”

Colin now understood.

In this world, the most crucial task for nobles ruling their territories was to collect taxes.

Serving as the tax commissioner for Ice Rock City, Quincy was already considered a core retainer of the Sudor Family.

Of course, this was before he was reassigned here as the library administrator.

“So why were you transferred here?” “Because I offended Viscount Sudor.

“How did you offend him?”

Quincy hesitated for a moment, but answered honestly, “I once proposed to Viscount Sudor that the commercial tax of Ice Rock City should be lowered. Viscount Sudor got furious, stripped me of my position and transferred me here.”

“Lowering commercial tax?” Colin suddenly took an interest.

The aristocratic lords hated nothing more than reducing taxes, so it was not surprising that this former tax commissioner of Ice Rock City, who suggested a tax cut, was dismissed by Viscount Sudor.

However, Colin felt as though he might have discovered a treasure.

“Tell me then, why lower the commercial tax?” Colin asked.

Quincy’s eyes lit up with sparkles of hope, he eagerly said:

“My lord, if you look at the past tax records of Ice Rock City, you will realize that the biggest revenue does not come from the agricultural tax, but the commercial tax!

Ice Rock City is located in the northeastern corner of the North Territory, a large number of caravans traveling between the North Territory and the Sky Ice Plain would pass by here. This is the fundamental reason for Ice Rock City’s prosperity.

But Ice Rock City also has competitors.

There are a few other cities along the northern border that pose as competitive threats to us.

Hence, if you want more merchants to pass through here, you must propose better benefits for them.

In other words, lower the commercial tax!”

Colin questioned with a smile, “But in doing so, would my tax revenue decrease

“No! Though the tax rate might decrease, the tax base would increase, and the overall tax revenue might not necessarily decrease!

I have calculated that as long as it is executed correctly, you do not have to worry about a drop in tax revenue.

And more importantly, more caravans also mean that the Inns of Ice Rock City would be packed. Taverns would be bustling day and night; food, clothing, medicines and so on would be in high demand! Local merchants would make a huge profit from these passing caravans, making the whole city prosper even further!

Please believe me, there is not much more to dig up from the agricultural tax.

But when it comes to commercial tax, there is plenty of upside!

If I handle it, I am confident that I can double the commercial tax revenue of Ice Rock City within three years!

In ten years, this city will become the most dazzling jewel in the North Territory!”

Colin looked at the flushed face of Quincy without a word.

Quincy then gradually calmed down from his excitement.

Colin’s silence made him think that he had failed again.

But he had gotten used to it.

Asking the aristocratic lords for tax cuts was even more painful than killing them.

“I’m sorry, my lord. I’ll take you to find the books…”

Just when Quincy thought he had completely failed, Colin’s voice suddenly responded:

“Alright, I’ll give you that chance..”