I Will Live for Your Death (20 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 162

Are you serious?

A wave of shock instantly surged through the members of ‘May.’ But soon, a flicker of hope replaced it.

Rosen’s tax collection contract would most likely be put up for auction—after all, that was the best way for the Imperial Household to secure the largest possible sum.

Paying such an enormous amount alone would be a heavy burden. But what if everyone joined forces?

“The other side is also highly likely to unite. Especially Marquess Geminia—he not only controls a powerful merchant guild but also owns vast mines and territories.”

“Count Diobe might also jump in. Given how rapidly the Gloria Foundation has grown, a considerable amount of assets must have flowed into the count’s coffers as well.”

From Alice’s lips, honorifics had long since been replaced by titles.

She should have realized back when her father suddenly started dabbling in charitable work that clearly didn’t suit him. A twinge of regret surfaced, but it was far too late now to beg, “Please take me back!”

“Then, shall our next goal be something for Rosen?”

Masha glanced subtly toward Cecilia. From Cecilia’s perspective, preventing the tax rights from falling into Marquess Geminia’s hands was absolutely essential.

It was said that regions under the marquess’s tax collection were bled dry to the bone.

Normally, tax collectors merely added a small commission to the amount set by the Imperial Court—provided, of course, that the collector possessed some semblance of conscience.

Marquess Geminia, however, was infamous for ruthlessly extracting taxes. In areas under his control, people were forced to pay several times the original required amount.

The people there were driven to the brink of death.

Because taxes always came first, many couldn’t even afford basic meals. Those who failed to pay on time faced punishments starting with flogging—penalties so severe they were beyond description.

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