25 Don't push your luck!

The messenger, arrogant as usual, first went to accept taxes from the villagers. It was less than usual due to my little confrontation with the noble but the messenger didn't seem too concerned.

My ingots had always been the major source of income generated by this town and the harvest were just some additional crumbs in comparison. Just that he found this source of income wasn't there.

"Lord Eldar, where is the monthly tax?"

"I have evolved and can't produce any ingots for the time being. Furthermore, I have no intention to pay this nonsensical tax anymore. On the contrary, I think you should pay me for providing a safe area."

"Lord Eldar! This is treason to the sky kingdom. You must pay a tax for the protection you receive!"

"SAY THAT AGAIN! Protection? My child was murdered by one of you humans and you even had the gall to send someone to rescue that bastard! Tell me, WHAT ARE YOU PROTECTING ME FROM?"

"How dare you slander the kingdom!"

"Oh, I dare to do much more ;)."

The messenger was about to open his mouth to spout some more nonsense but my copper string wire arrived in a blink and penetrated his right thigh. He collapsed with a hollow whimper. I retracted my copper string, electrocution didn't seem necessary. Aldi walked forward and picked up the messenger's body with an ease that once again surprised me.

"You realize that they aren't going to let this slide."

He stated this like a fact he knew would come true for certain. I knew he was trying to warn me but since things had progressed to this point what should I do?

Should I run away? Real funny.

Aldi left with the messenger. This time Utgard's answer didn't let me wait for long. Seven days later, I had barely finished the blueprint for the tempest wolf, they arrived.

Led by a blond, two-meter colossus of a man the small group entered the town. There were just three of them but my magic perception was telling me that the two following the colossus were not to be underestimated.

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.

Both old men felt similar in power to the noble with his stone. However, I could tell that this was not some artifact giving them power, it was their own strength. And one of them felt familiar... yes, the powerful presence that day must have been him. Better be careful.

The trio directly approached me.

"Greetings lord Eldar, I am Völsung, the commander currently stationed in Utgard and these are my subordinates. I am here to address the issue of you attacking an official messenger and refusing to pay tax."

"I disagree lord Völsung. I have rectified a bastard without manners and refused to let myself be robbed by some greedy humans. I don't see any need for discussion."

"Calling us greedy robbers is a little over the top. We merely ask for the tax every citizen should pay."

"And what in goddess name makes me a citizen of a human kingdom? The land we stand on is my territory as it would be overrun by beasts if I wasn't here. The only thing you could offer in exchange for this tax is protection and judging by the fact that you let my child die horribly, I think calling you greedy robbers is quite adequate."

"It was a tree, surely you can grow another one."

"It was a SAPLING WITH A SOUL and it had developed a consciousness within hours. For reference, it took me three years to do that. And NO, I cannot JUST regrow it! In fact, I will need to evolve once again if I want another descendant and I already know that none of my future descendants will measure up to my first one. How would you feel if I just came into your kingdom, killed the best heirs to the throne and told you to just put a waste on the throne? Oh yeah, I should also demand money from you for protecting you from your peaceful lives."

"Please calm yourself. I'm sorry for your loss but there is no reason to act like this."

"You're right! We should just proceed to fight to the death!"