731 Meeting of the Castle Town ② - As a People of the Kingdom

"Between now and today, the people by the woods have spread their hand in commerce in various ways. You were talking about the commerce of stalls by Asta in Fa's house, the commerce of stalls in Luu and Din, the sale of raw meat in the city of meat, the sale of raw meat and intestinal meat in the castle town - and also the sale of raw meat and giva dishes in some of the lodgings you are gracious about. It is a remarkable achievement that business begun with just one stall can bear such great fruit."

As he turned over the overlaid writing, Aug went on to overlap the words that way.

Aug, an aide to diplomat Fermes, is a magnificent man with a truly stubborn appearance. He has the stature of a bone too, like the people of the south, and always has a refreshing wrinkle on his forehead. Once dressed like a blacksmith at a masquerade, it was something that suited this Mitsujin style very well.

"It is, for one thing, in the wisdom of Asta in the house of Fa, and in the commodity value of Giva meat, that commerce by the people of the woods was achieved to that extent. I believe it is a sincere congratulation that the people of the woods, who were in poverty, are now able to secure the wealth to live as legitimate citizens. So - as a people of the kingdom, since we were able to secure commensurate wealth, shouldn't it be time to enter the next phase?

"Next stage?," Donda-Lou questions.

Org nodded loudly before looking back at you.

"That's about taxes. Today, we'd like to discuss one of those matters."

"Soi," he said, now repeating that word in his mouth, Donda-Lou sees Gazran-Rutim better.

Gazran-Rutim remarked all the time about gaining.

"I also remember hearing about that arrangement. People in town are paying their lords some of the copper coins they earn, and they keep themselves safe at that price."

"The operation of a legion to protect the people is just one of the many existing regimes. It is the role of the lord that guides the people, and it is the role of the people that supports the lord. Since you are a citizen of Genos with the people of the woods, can you not remain unconnected with your responsibilities forever?

Aug's eyes look at Gazran-Rutim as he shoots.

Fluffing through that gaze, Gazran-Rutim leaned to Donda-Rou's ear.

"This means that maintaining the town as a town will require something called enormous funding. The Lords are working to keep the town, and the Lords are paying the price for their work."

Gazran-Rutim's voice was not so lurking that I could only listen to him while he was haunting Ai-Fa.

"For example, the guards guarding the town. The guards will naturally need copper coins to live, but I hear it is paid for from the town of Genos itself, which is controlled by the Marquis of Genos. A people pays the Marquis Genos a copper coin, and the Marquis Genos receives the copper coin from the guards. Simply put, it seems to be something like that."

"Hmm..."

"Also, that's the business of the stalls the Astas are in. Where the stalls are located, the groves are cut open and flattened. It seems that the job was done by a man and wife hired by the town of Genos… but the price would have been paid by Genos in the same way. To create a place called the town, the nobles, headed by the Marquis Genos, are doing everything in their power. Taxes are the price paid to these nobles, and the money they need to maintain their towns."

I don't remember talking to Gazran-Rutim that far about taxes. So that must be the knowledge Gazran-Rutim gained as he deepened his interaction with the people of the town.

Donda-Lou, who was listening to the words, eventually raised his gaze "I see".

"I understood roughly. You mean we need a lot of copper coins to support a territory called Genos, and we need to pay the price for it, too, who are none other than the people of Genos?"

"Um. In the first place, the people by the woods were forbidden to harvest the grace of the woods or to make fields by the woods. Therefore, only a small amount of wealth was available that was not commensurate with a dangerous life, and thus tax exemption had been granted until now."

It was Malstein who responded accordingly.

What floats on its face is a smile that slightly reveals signs of bitterness.

"I had planned to have that agenda discussed with Melfried at my next meeting with the Trinity Chiefs. But Lord Aug said we should get rid of that story because of it."

"If we communicate the content of the agenda today, it will not be difficult to take a vote at the next meeting. As far as I'm concerned, I thought we should settle before Easter comes."

With his grumpy expression, Aug had freshly stated so.

"Besides, if the possibility arises of accepting four people, Michele, Mime, Barsha and Zida, as families by the woods, we should clear this agenda as soon as possible."

"You mentioned that earlier. I wonder how one of Michelle and others would relate to one of the tax cases?

To Malstein's inquiry, Aug deepens the wrinkles between his brows.

"Those of you who michele are only guests of the settlements by the woods and remain in Turan. Therefore, even today, as a people of Turan, we still pay taxes. So there's no difference, right?

"Mm-hmm. Michel's identity is Turan's people, and he's supposed to be paying taxes as a charcoal griller worker."

"But if Michelle becomes a family member by the woods, she will be exempt from those taxes and headcount taxes. If those who hear about it wish to become a family by the woods from the next, let us not only shake Genos, but also the foundations of the kingdom?

Malstein smiled clearly this time.

"I don't think the Forestside Chiefs will accept such people as compatriots... but well, don't hear that the Yumi of the Inn Town could also be dowry by the woods. In the long run, Lord Aug's words are probably the best. In the meantime, let's keep talking."

Aug nodded "Yes," whilst turning a bunch of writing on hand.

"The first thing I would like to present concerns the commerce of stalls. In that regard, Lord Genos and we are divided."

"Hmm. Regardless of the sale of raw and intestinal meat, there is no law to impose taxes on the commerce of stalls. Does it make sense to impose taxes only on people by the woods?

"But the commerce of the stalls carried out by the people by the woods is disconnected from the other stalls and their size. Currently… the three families of Fa, Luu and Din divide up and a total of six stalls sell hundreds of dishes and confectionery every day, every business day, which is 25 days a month. Originally, we hear that the stalls in the Inn Town of Genos are only occasionally traded by innkeepers or pedestrians who come out of extra territory, with day sales of at most fifty meals. Can we say that the commerce of the stalls carried out by the people by the woods is no longer on a par with that of liquors and restaurants?

Showing a single step of enthusiasm, Aug said so.

Donda-Lou is stroking her mandible too hard.

"So how much copper do we have to pay Genos?

"With regard to the sale of perishable and intestinal meat, 20% of the income. When it comes to stall commerce, it's reasonable to make 10% of your income."

Aug walked himself out a long time.

In return, Donda-Lou says he "accepted".

"When we get back to the settlement, let all the families be notified. As far as raw meat and intestinal meat are concerned, all families are involved."

Org opens his eyes properly.

"Oh, no... so there's no difference?

"Do we have to have something different?

Donda-Lou looked around at the aristocrats who lived side by side as he frowned.

"We don't even know how many copper coins are reasonable. In accordance with the laws of Genos, I would ask you to offer me the amount of the price to be paid."

"As for fresh meat and intestinal meat, it's the same as Kimmus and Karon. But they are all the flesh of a bred beast."

Malstein was looking back at Donda-Lou with another grinning look.

"Those who spend their lives encouraging giva hunting jobs. It would be debatable whether we could treat it in the same row as the meat of Kimmus or Karon"

"When it comes to argument, we don't even have the option to argue about it. You set the price for Gibba's meat in the first place. Isn't it the role of the nobility to lay down such laws?

"When they say that, it's a painful place. But are they proud to encourage their giva hunting work? Don't you think a proud job requires a fair price?

Donda-Lou blinked a loose blue flame in his eyes.

"We've lived with the same pride since Giva's meat wasn't worth a single piece of copper coin. Even if they forbid us from selling Giva's meat in the future, it doesn't change our minds. Let's just say that the richness of life brought about by copper coins means a lot, but that doesn't dictate the hunter's pride."

"Right. No way. You seem to have misworded me. I only thought it would not be sneaky to take away wealth from those who were finally to get the riches they deserved for their work."

That said, Malstein smiled loosely.

"Besides, it hasn't been that long since we started selling raw and intestinal meats and such. At this stage, it may be premature to impose taxes that are no different from normal. I wanted to discuss those stories with them."

"Hmm. Seems like it's not my job to discuss that"

Donda-Lou fluttered, sending a strong gaze on the back of Gazran-Rutim and Ai-Fa.

I say yes to the chief's life.

"I still want to leave it up to you when it comes to tax rates and when to tax them. However, I secretly held the thought that it might be time to get along."

"Hmm. Why did Asta get caught up in that thought?

"I've also recently been invited to participate in something called an inn chamber of commerce drop by. So far, not everyone in the Chamber of Commerce is approximate, but they treat the people by the woods...... As Assistant Aug said, their stalls are beating up huge sales compared to other stalls. If you convert it into one stall at a time, I think it's about double the amount, because there are three Fa houses and two Lew houses out there. The disparity in net income would be considerable, as stall rents, location fees, etc. are modest. I was wondering if that would eventually cause everyone else to be neglected."

I tried to be honest.

"I think the people by the woods have so far been forced to live an untimely life. Even if this one didn't consider it an affair, it would be true that it was a more regulated life than any other inhabitant. With that in mind, I wonder if you are exploring the right path… you think that if you get that wrong, you will create reverse discrimination"

"When it comes to reverse discrimination... do you give the thought that people by the woods are being unfairly favoured to other inhabitants?"

"Yes, but even the people of the woodland are building a somewhat special position to be invited to the feast of the castle town or to the feast of the woodland. I myself am sincerely delighted to be able to deepen my bonds with the people of Castle Town... and I hope that this is why I never want to lead to a strange misunderstanding."

"Mm-hmm. The next time we don't have Odifia invited to a feast by the woods, it doesn't fit in."

Mulstein pointed his gaze at his son, including laughter, but Melfried was bouncing it back with a cold, faceless look. Instead it was Polearth who raised his voice.

"I also take a favourable position with regard to the implementation of taxation. Because what the people want is equality, right? Measures such as favouring one side or the other seem inappropriate in order for the people of the woods and the other inhabitants to spin the right bond. Because the people of the woods are not taxed on land and people, I think we should impose a tax on business."

That being said, Polearth smiled frankly.

"It is also a sign that the business of Giva meat and Giva cuisine has borne fruit. The people of the woods have established such fine business that they should have the same duties and rights as the rest of the merchants."

"Lord Polearth was also in a position to agree."

When Fermes inquired along with a graceful smile, Polearth stretched his chest, "Of course it is," he said.

"However, it wasn't until around the end of the Yellow Moon that the forest folks started selling fresh meat. No, it hasn't been six months. Even if you levy a tax here, you should periodically consider whether that amount is appropriate. Meetings with the Trinity Chiefs are held roughly bi-monthly, so each time we should have a forum to discuss the appropriate tax rates."

"So, when it comes to stall commerce, what do you think?

"Hmm," Polearth lowered his brow butt slightly as Aug embarked on himself once more.

"When it comes to the commerce of stalls, it's somewhat troubling, isn't it? Because we asked the people on the forest side, including Lord Asta, to use as many different ingredients as possible to commit themselves to the dissemination of new ingredients. If you impose as much as 10% of the tax on it, it will cut the cost of the ingredients, and it may be harder to accomplish the requests we make."

It was Gazran-Rutim who raised his voice "I see".

"If other stalls are on the same terms, this one should follow suit. But you told me that other stalls don't have taxes on them."

"Yes, the majority of food stalls should be served by innkeepers... Taxes on accommodations are based on the size of the building, the number of rooms, etc., calculating the approximate profits and collecting the amount based on them, right? In such cases, the sales of stalls are neglected."

But the sales of food stalls are often assumed to be fifty meals a day. I guess it feels like a good extra income for the innkeepers.

"So how was the tax on stalls calculated to be 10% of what you earn?

When Gazran-Rutim asked, Aug ran his gaze lightly in writing before answering.

"The stalls run by the people by the woods make more than a hundred meals a day, which is seen as double the normal stalls and which sales. If so, I wondered if it would be reasonable not to tax 50 meals and to tax the remaining 50. If you flatten it out, it's a 10% tax on sales of 100 meals."

"I see. I don't care about business, but I'm sure it's a reasonable calculation."

After stating so, Gazran-Rutim brought a smile all the way.

"If it's Lou or Din's house, those taxes won't be a burden either. But... what about Fa's house?"

"Fa's house? It's Fa's house that's supposed to make the most sales."

"Yeah. But only Asta, the partitioner, is involved in business at Fa's house. Asta is asking for help at a price from the women in her neighborhood in order to do big business."

Gazran-Rutim's eyes stared at me in the eye.

"Even at the Conference of Parents, that story is on the agenda, isn't it? If you pay 10% of your earnings as taxes...... won't fa's house lose its earnings for the rest period?

"Lose your money?," Polearth rounded his eyes.

"What does that mean, Lord Gazran-Rutim? Lord Asta, who runs three stalls, should be earning ninety pieces of white copper coins per day, right?

"Yes, but we can't prepare our own giva meat for the rest period, so we're going to be able to buy meat from other families. Minus the cost to the women and the cost of the ingredients, I heard that Fa's house earned about eight white copper coins. 10% of the 90 white copper coins are 9 white copper coins, so instead of losing money, you lose money."

So I decided to speak up in a hurry.

"You know, it's been about four months since the parents' conference, and in the meantime, there's been a slight increase in stall sales. And if you think about it, it's probably going to be a deficit."

"Is it a slight increase? So, will you make some money?

"Yes, well, for as long as you're not in deficit... and if it's not a rest period, you can make a whole bunch of money for about twelve white copper coins that are the price of giva meat"

Polearths thought "hmm".

"With the sale of ninety white copper coins, only twelve remain in the hands of Lord Asta? Besides, there's too much deficit in the rest period... uh, we were talking about the rest period being three times a year and half a month, right?

"Yes, we've been getting a little farther lately thanks to the hounds, but that's roughly it"

"So a month and a half of the year is going to be too much of a deficit. I knew it wouldn't fall."

Then Malstein spoke for the first time.

"You said that the houses of Luu and Din were less burdensome even if they were taxed 10%. Is that, after all, due to the number of families?

"Yes, the Lew family shares their earnings with the blood families involved in street work, so if you earn 10% less, you earn 10% less per person. Din's house, that would be the same thing. But in Asta's case, because she's paying a fixed price to the rest of the family, the house of Fa will bear all the costs of making less money from taxes."

"After all, I'm not convinced. If it was too much of a deficit, the cost of food and living would be too much of a deficit. I am not convinced that Lord Asta, who has contributed so much to the distribution of ingredients and the revitalization of the outdoor area, would have such a loss."

It is only if Polearth speaks to me personally that he will stop using polite language. But as far as I'm concerned, it was an unanswerable call.

On my behalf like that, Ai-Fa returns her words with fortitude.

"Even if you don't make any more money in the rest period, if you make 12 white copper coins on any other day, you won't suffer from poverty. Originally, the people of the woods assumed that if they had twelve red copper coins, they could live ten days healthily. If they earned twelve white copper coins a day, they would earn ten times more than twelve red copper coins... and because it's a day, not ten days... there would be a hundred times more. It's not like I'm complaining."

Even for me, 12 white copper coins were roughly 24,000 yen in the sense of Japanese yen, so I have the idea that it is a lot of money.

but a month and a half a year is too much of a deficit has led me to wonder if moderation is needed somewhat.

(Well, moderation doesn't mean I'm wasting it right now. At best, the ingredients to be used in the study group should be discouraged.)

As I went through my thoughts like that, I could only hear the "I see."

If you look at the voice, Aug is arming himself with a face that is harder than that voice.

"If so… we should review the amount of the tax."

"Well, how is that?

Malstein also looked back at you with an interesting face.

"Right......" said Aug, deepening the wrinkles between his forehead and brow.

"Neither did I think that the way management varied from family to family. If we value fairness only, we can't even give unequal feelings to the clans by the woods."

"Hmm. I agree with that idea."

"If so... how about in the form of collecting 10% from net income rather than total sales when it comes to the commerce of stalls in Fa's house?

"Hmm!" he embarked on, Polearthly.

"So instead of imposing a tax on nine white copper coins on 90 total sales white copper coins, you impose twelve red copper coins on twelve white copper coins, the net profit of Fa's house?

"Twelve net profits on Fa's house should have been the usual amount when you deducted 10% of the tax. We talked about a possible deficit if taxes were collected during the rest period, so there should also be a net profit of around nine white copper coins in that period. If so, which net profit would normally result from having 21 white copper coins? Whatever it is, we collect 10% tax from it. If the net profit for the rest period is nine white copper coins, the tax is nine red copper coins."

With a grumpy face, Aug looked back at me.

"But when it comes to collecting taxes from net income, you need something called a close book. Wouldn't I ever prepare that for you, Asta at Fa's house?

"Yes, I keep books today to keep track of my income and expenditure. But if you do, now only Fa's house will be given preferential treatment?

"If Lou or Din's house is dissatisfied with that, you just have to do business in the same format as Fa's. Someone becomes a business owner and pays a flat rate to the person who helps. What do you say, chief Donda-Lou?

"We share misery in all of our lineage. I'm not even going to leave the partitioner to one of my daughters, Rayna. He's going to take his son-in-law and leave the partitioner."

"Then it would be reasonable for the Lew family stalls to collect taxes from their net income net of all expenses, using only food and place fees. If you are able to buy meat from other family members during the rest period, it will also be an expense. So extreme income fluctuations will be contained."

So there was a man who gave a tickle and a laugh. It is Fermes, who was showing a veil of stillness next to the Aug.

"You're a perfectly reliable aide, aren't you? I'm also going to have a lot of experience as a diplomat... but I can't really be very good at copper accounts."

"It's not just about copper coins. The aim is to remedy what is nothing more than a special state of the kingdom where no taxes are levied."

Aug smiled beautifully at Fermez with a glaring eye.

"Of course, it was on the side of Genos that we left such a state, and not so much a sinful story to the people by the woods. In addition, until last year, we were not in a position to receive proper asylum as a people of the kingdom, so we cannot just push for duty immediately. If you think about the unfair poverty you've been facing, it seems that for some time now, building a stable life is a prerequisite, free of taxes on land and people."

This aug is the blood of the Baron Berry family, just like Talon, who once conspired against Genos and the people of the woods.

But like the once tall on, I guess there's a disturbing prospect and I didn't bring up the tax story. What he weighs in is surely only the laws and ethics of the kingdom.

"That's a whole heartache story. We want to do everything in our power to keep going the right way."

Malstein proclaimed so that he could turn the venue for the meeting.

"Then I would also like to bring my previous stories back to the woodside and have them discussed with the other chiefs. The next meeting was the head of the purple moon, wasn't it, Mel Fried?

"Yes, I plan to."

"Now let's discuss one of Michelle et al's and one of the taxes in advance that day. If there's nothing else to talk about, I'm going to end today's meeting, but what do you say?

Gazran-Rutim then spoke reluctantly.

"I just want to ask you this as my personal question...... I heard that something called a traveler is being treated as a lower bitch by people in town. Is that still a factor in not paying taxes?

"Hmm? Well, you're probably right. There is no way to collect taxes from people who are not rooted in any territory. And once all of the people of the kingdom have become wanderers, the kingdom will be disintegrated. Travelers are out of the realm."

"I see... so you're not guilty of slaughtering and abandoning travelers outside of town"

"Hmm. I have not fulfilled my responsibilities as a people of the Kingdom, so I will not be abided by the laws of the Kingdom. Thus, although most travelers are equipped with the power to defend themselves… those young children have a reliable swordsman named Van-Deiro. It will be better to live well in the future."

That being said, Malstein smiled heavily.

"Nor can I, in my position, welcome all the more the presence of the traveller, but I have no reason to be angry or hateful. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of puppet play they can play."

Gazran-Rutim also responded "Yes" with a gentle smile.

"Then," said Malstein, correct his residence.

"This concludes today's meeting. Everyone, you were very brave."

After the nobles left the room, we were also led out of the room by our first name.

Outside the door, Rud-Lew and Rico face each other. They would have offered to refrain in a separate room, but they were allowed to stay on the spot.

"Good luck, everyone!... Nothing bothered you?

Rico asked me in a whisper, so I said, "Yeah."

"This one wasn't a problem. I'm glad Rico was allowed to make puppet plays, too."

"Yes! When I return to the woodland, I would like to speak to all the other families again!

I'll be joining the Yun-Sudra of Inn Town like this, and I'll be in the stall business. The ii-fa's are giva hunting jobs, and Mim - the stall business was also closed today, so I guess he's going back to the Lew family with Michelle. Its face had a dark colour of confusion, but the anxious look it was showing on the way had been dispelled.

(I wonder what Michelles will do. The Balshas...... don't really look like they want to go back to Masala mountain, but do they want to be a family by the woods)

And so do we, the people by the woods.

I wasn't thinking about taxes at all, either. I expected this kind of story to hold up one day, and I also had a strong idea that it should be.

As has been eliminated many times, the people of the woods are the people of Genos and the people of the kingdom. I suppose we should discharge our responsibilities as the people of the Kingdom and join hands with all our compatriots.

(But I'm sure... people by the woods won't lose their pride as people by the woods)

That's what I thought as I looked at the riddled side of I-Fa.

Really, Ai-Fa is coming back this way.

"What? If you want to tell me something, tell me."

"No, nothing.... Glad you didn't make a strange offer from Fermes"

"Hmm. If there was a gap, I'd be watching Asta."

He wrinkled cutely around his nose, and Ai-Fa abandoned him that way.

That's how we ended up after Castle Town with so many different challenges in mind.