Chapter 1421 1393. Taxation
"First of all, I want to know if there are any letters from me during this time?"
Taking his eyes away from the familiar and interesting interaction between Lan En and Ciri, Yennefer turned to ask the dwarf banker.
"No. It seems that you are really good friends, Yennefer. We used to talk about this in private."
Molnar took out several glasses from his cabinet and lined them up in a row, then poured the red wine into them one by one and distributed them to the adults in the office.
He first confirmed Yennefer's attitude, and after receiving a positive nod, he continued.
"There have been no new letters recently. As for the last few letters, I sent them through the old channels."
"But there is no letter. People who are interested in your letter are angry at me at the Vivaldi Bank branch in Vengerberg." The dwarf banker tugged on his big gold chain.
"They said that someone is checking your fund flow and the whereabouts of your letters. There is a teller there who has dirty hands and feet. As you know, we work in banks, and it is inevitable that problems will arise among our staff."
"It's not surprising, but where is the teller now?"
Yennefer took a sip from her wine glass and asked calmly.
"He was drunk on a rainy day and broke his neck in a drainage ditch. What a tragedy." Molnar lamented, "He died too quickly and too hastily."
Siledon took the wine glass handed over by his uncle and said indifferently.
"But we can't criticize anything. After all, who knows if the teller knows some other things inside Vivaldi Bank?"
"It's reasonable for people to deal with it early."
Although the red-bearded dwarf has left the family bank for his own career and joined the Valyrian Chamber of Commerce.
But after all, he comes from a banking family. Even now, when he, the head of the Valyrian Chamber of Commerce, goes to Giancardi Bank, it feels like he is going home.
Just now, he came into Giancardi Bank without warning, wanting to use a parlor as a place to receive guests, so he could chat with Lan En.
So Schillerton knew all the twists and turns in the banking world that Molnar talked about.
"But it's not important." Lan En first stepped over Ciri's small bench, reached out to take a wine glass that was turned around by Siloden, and then returned to his original position, standing relaxed against the wall.
There was an unexpected smile on his face.
"I can probably guess who the person is who wants to track your letter. Even if the bank is a little slow, they probably won't be able to find out anything."
Yennefer's voluptuous waist twisted into a graceful arc on the armchair and looked at the Witcher behind her.
Lan En raised his glass to her.
"Even Triss told me that she was annoyed a lot. I think you will definitely receive more attention and entanglement in this matter."
"Triss?" Yennefer raised her eyebrows in surprise, "So the rumors between you two are true? Oh, this is really big news."
Lan En's originally calm expression froze, and Ciri underneath him turned her face to Yennefer, then raised her head and looked at Lan En with an unspoken smile.
This expression gave a young girl like her the air of a gossipy aunt.
"I don't want to be an old man dwarf who talks all the time and just makes people annoying."
Lan En didn't say anything more, he just raised his glass to the old dwarf: "Continue, Molnar."
"Poll tax, winter camp tax, these taxes levied directly by the military are directly doubled. Every businessman and entrepreneur also pays the 'Glot Tithe', which is a new tax item: every time one earns For every Noble, you have to pay a Glot.”
There are many currencies among the northern countries, and the exchange ratio is troublesome and changeable.
But there is no other way. It is good to unify the market and currency, but if a country gives up its right to mint money and regulate its currency, then their domestic market will basically be owned by others.
Nobles and gloats are obviously another common northern currency that is different from orons and krona coins.
This tax entry is temporarily established based on this currency.
Ciri, who grew up playing around in the palace, was educated by a few rough-and-tumble demon hunters when she grew up, and was later taken over by a sorceress, was confused at the moment.
Lan En glanced at her, guessing that the girl had forgotten what she heard two seconds ago.
However, she still stubbornly pretended to be a strong person who 'listened carefully and participated in thinking'.
And what Molnar calls the "weird fluctuations in tax policy" continue.
"The head tax and chimney tax for dwarves, gnomes, elves, and halflings have also been further increased. If they participate in production and trade, they will also be forced to levy a 'non-human race tax', which is charged at one-tenth of their income."
"In this way, 60% of my income will be paid to the royal family. Giancardi Bank and all branches must pay at least 600 marks to the four kingdoms every year."
Worried that these complicated currency conversions would overwhelm his audience, Molnar put it another way.
"Let's put it this way, this is equivalent to three times the tax a wealthy duke would pay on all his estates and still have to pay a fortune."
"This is really," Lan En said in admiration, "breathtaking. A guy like me who only has an empty reputation may never be able to live up to the title of 'Rich Duke' in his lifetime."
"That's because you are not a duke who relies on traditional real estate to support his family, my friend." At this point, Siledon became energetic. "To **** with high real estate taxes! We are an emerging industry! Long live the emerging industry!"
The red-bearded dwarf raised his wine glass high, in sharp contrast to his gloomy uncle across the table.
"I didn't care much about taxes before." Lan En said doubtfully, "How is my tax rate calculated? Are demon hunters considered a non-human race? Are those properties taxed in my name?"
"You don't have to worry about that at all." Siledon said happily as before.
He nodded apologetically to Yennefer beside him, and then excitedly moved the chairs to an angle, facing Lan En.
"The Valyria Chamber of Commerce has used your name to jointly hold shares with Arethusa. Since two years ago, it has enjoyed the noble tax reduction policy and the exclusive tax exemption policy of the Sorceress Academy."
"It's very cheap when added up. Although I don't know how your personal industry operates now, as long as the person who takes over is not stupid, there are really many ways to avoid taxes reasonably."
Lan En thought of Dudu, the shapeshifter who managed his own industry.
If he wanted to, it would be easy for him to use his human identity to avoid the "non-human race tax".
You really found the right one when you were looking for a shapeshifter.
Lan En nodded a little proudly.