Pirate Kingship-Chapter 700 - 472: Begging on My Knees? Mad Hunt Returns (6200)!_2

If you want to levy taxes in full, the Governor must send troops for armed tax collection.

Just like the "Armed Tax Inspection Division" of the Pioneer Guiding Colonial Trading Company, active on the east-west trade route.

However, the latter mainly targets foreign merchant ships, which is part of privateering activities that allow everyone in the local powers to share the benefits through consumption diversion.

The former is different, collecting three years' worth of taxes at once is bound to offend everyone to the bone.

Even decades later, it will be remembered.

Moreover, many industries in the colony have domestic dignitaries backing them. If you tax them as well, you will lose the grassroots support and be isolated by all the upper nobility.

At that point.

Edward IV might just say, I wasn't aware, this is all temporary... Ahem, something the Count of Torrentfort did behind my back, and wash his hands clean of responsibility.

For Byron, whichever choice he makes is a loss.

Even while a civil war breaks out at home, Edward IV still finds time in his busy schedule to dig a big pit for him, just waiting for him to fall in.

Who told him to have people, money, territory, and high prestige?

No matter how loyal he is, if Edward doesn't trip him up a bit, he won't sleep soundly.

Now the choice seemingly left for Byron is only one.

——Self-defamation! And mingle with the big shots!

Byron stroked his chin and murmured:

"The Governor takes office, fabricates excuses, woos gentry, collects taxes and donations.

They pay, ordinary citizens follow suit, and after the money is obtained, the gentry's money is returned in full, and the citizens' money is split seventy-thirty.

Oh no, it's ninety-ten. One-tenth is still an investment, but ultimately all of it is someone else's.

More ruthless than bandits.

I'm too familiar with this playbook. It's a pity..."

He tapped his knee with his hand, but it was harder than iron.

Want me to kneel and beg?

These knees are too hard, can't kneel down.

"No taxation without representation", "Boston Tea Party", "Intolerable Acts", "Colonial Independence", "Left Thunder Right Fire, Iris Assists Me", "Please Britain Go to Hell", "White Rose is Dead, Red Rose Shall Stand"...

A series of countermeasures and even ready-made scripts flashed through Byron's mind.

But he ended up rejecting them one by one.

He looked north, eyes blazing:

"Currently, the York Party is so unscrupulous because in Edward IV's perception, the Lancaster Party led by Saranthe and Sam Leopold of the [Preempting the Enemy] and [Unbreakable Fortress] had been completely annihilated.

The [Blue Dragon King] carrying the undead of Lancaster was also thoroughly defeated.

Now, except for the Earl's Party, they have no foreign enemies.

As long as they defeat the opponent, this mere colony can be flattened and rounded as they wish? No trouble at all."

"But do not forget.

There is still one person who can threaten their position – the last Lancaster of the [Son of the Devil] and the [Mad Hunt]!

If appearing separately they may not weigh much, but what if the two identities merge and combine righteousness and power?

It's time to actively peel off a layer of disguise and give Edward IV a little shock from an old foe, '[Wild Hunt] Byron Lancaster'.

If the only qualified contender for the throne, Byron Lancaster, attacks the colony, seizing tax money, will you guard your head or your ass?

This money, I not only won't give you, but you also have to pay me an additional 'bandit suppression' military fee!"

The most comfortable days for White Eagle Industries workers were when the Polar Bear had not yet fallen.

People can't be too idle; there must be an enemy.

If there is no enemy, one must be manufactured. This is the supreme business in "military-industrial complex".

Byron made up his mind quickly and decisively, ready to take action.

"Taking this opportunity to let the legend of the [Mad Hunt] with a fame level of 27 return to the public eye isn't entirely a bad thing.

However, besides Bruh, the [Guardian Knight] also on the wanted list to act as the arm of the Mad Hunt, another reliable third-order unfamiliar to outsiders needs to be found to play the enforcer.

Otherwise, when I return as a king to Black Sails Harbor, dealing with blind lackeys on my own would be too degrading."

Just as he was pondering which pirate officer would be the best choice.

Clang!

Something shiny suddenly fell to the ground from somewhere, right under his feet on the second floor.

"Huh? Looks kind of familiar."

It was a blue metal shard the length of a dagger, seemingly part of some weapon.

The Sailing Logbook immediately displayed its information.

[Zero-Level Sacred Relic: Sea King's Trident] (Fragment):

"The Halberd Blade representing gas: allows the holder to undergo Myriad Transformations, change into different marine species, and command other marine creatures.

Mandate of Heaven: Must be a 'Sea King' in every sense of the meaning, love the entire marine ecosystem, and enhance the holder's fertility, occasionally causing a disturbance among Demon Monsters within a certain range."

Byron had just seen the solid-state trident in his mother's hands, no wonder it felt somewhat familiar.

"Shouldn't this be the Zero-Level Sacred Relic from little brother Saranthe?

Can something this important just fall to the ground casually?

From this angle, is someone trying to ambush me while I pick up soap... no, no, no, pick up the trident?"

When he utilized [Divine Sight] and indeed noticed a silhouette lurking sneakily in the corner of the wall, peeking this way.