"I'm afraid that won't work!" Adam shook his head repeatedly. "Our mission is limited to protecting the town. Debt collection for others isn't legal..."
"Ahem! Big brother, shut up!"
George covered Adam's mouth with his hand, and his attitude toward Allen changed from nonchalant to a full-on smile.
"Brother! Tell me more about this armed tax collection!"
"Brother George, you're a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush." Allen held up three fingers. "After this is accomplished, you can get 30% of the tax revenue."
George stroked his bald head, his eyes darting around in thought.
"Ellen, isn't this inappropriate?" Lion Sister Maria took over. "I have two questions that I can't wrap my head around."
"First, the dwarves, pirates, and ogres were local residents long before you moved in. They weren't your subjects. What right do you have to tax them?"
"Second, even if you could steal money from them, or as you say, levy taxes, how would the money be divided? Do you have the final say? Don't you need the approval of the mayor and the council?"
"Sister Maria, these two questions are actually very simple."
Ellen explained to Lion Sister with a smile.
"It's true that we're latecomers, but we're legal citizens of New Gwent."
"We have a pioneering charter issued by the monastery. The monastery's endorsement ensures the legality of our local taxation!"
"Let me ask you, do the dwarves, pirates, and ogres have charters issued by the monastery?"
"No..." Maria shook her head and smiled bitterly.
"So, no matter how long they've been the local tyrants here, they don't have legal residency rights, am I right?"
Maria, Adam, and George looked at each other, then fell silent.
Dismissing Allen's argument would be tantamount to indirectly denying that all territorial rights of Silver Moon Island belonged to the Silver Moon Monastery, and denying the legitimacy and authority of the residency rights and charters issued by the Silver Moon Monastery!
They didn't dare deny the authority of the Silver Moon Monastery and could only concede that Allen's words made sense.
"Sister Maria, as for your second question."
Alan filled Sister Lion's glass with a faint smile.
"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm the chief tax collector of New Quint County. You can also think of me as a tax contractor.
"Apart from the share of taxes I pay to the town government, the rest is mine. I can divide it up however I wish."
"Okay, little fox, you're quite impressive!" Maria was convinced.
"It seems everyone has no doubts," George said. "Then let's talk about the division of the profits."
"Wait a minute!" Adam was infuriated. "What do you mean by no doubts? I haven't even spoken yet!"
"Even if Alan has the law to enforce the law and the right to collect taxes, our security team shouldn't be doing this!"
"We're here to maintain public order, not the private armies of a tax farmer. How can we help him collect taxes?"
"This is misappropriation of public resources! It's unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable!"
"Ahem! Big brother, that's where you're wrong."
George took over with a smile.
"It was the dwarves, pirates, and ogres who were the first to pick a fight. They were refusing to obey orders, bullying our brother Alan and destroying the public security environment in New Gwent!"
"How can we leave these bad apples alone?!" "
"If they dare to resist taxes today, they'll rebel tomorrow. What else will they do the day after tomorrow... I can't even imagine it!"
"Our security team must strike hard! Kill the chicken to scare the monkey, and severely crack down on this unhealthy trend!"
"This is not only about maintaining public order in New Quint, but also about defending the authority of our monastery!"
"Otherwise, who will take the monastery's license seriously in the future?"
"Brother, Third Sister, think about this carefully. Isn't that the truth?"
"Second Brother is absolutely right!" Sister Lion slapped her thigh. "I support Second Brother!"
Adam hesitated.
Alan filled his glass and asked with a smile, "Brother Adam, how is this wine? Is it to your liking?"
"Not bad. Very good!"
"I'll send you two more barrels tomorrow." "
"Uh, then that's fine... I don't feel comfortable doing that!"
Adam rubbed his hands, finally making up his mind.
"I'm not biased towards Alan. In this matter, to be fair... it's indeed the dwarves, pirates, and ogres who are at fault first!"
"As for me, as you all know, I've always valued peace."
"If the dwarves, pirates, and ogres are willing to pay taxes according to the law, then we can negotiate."
"If they're shameless after being given a chance, then it's no wonder we're resorting to violence. What do you think?"
"Big brother is right!" George nodded in agreement.
"I'll listen to you, big brother!" Maria agreed.
Alan smiled and filled Brother Bear's glass. The cooperation agreement was reached, and now it was time to talk about money.
"Brother Alan, a 30/70 split is fine, but..." George smiled cunningly, "30% is yours, and 70% is ours!" "40% to 60%." Allen returned the money. "You split it 40% and I'll split it 60%!" "
After some bargaining, the two sides finally reached an agreement: after deducting the amount to be remitted to the town government, the remaining taxes would be split 50-50.
As for how much tax they would ultimately collect, it all depended on their own abilities.
The three monks were eager to get started, plotting how to squeeze oil from stone!
…
In life, two things are inevitable: death and taxes.
…
Alan, along with the Silvermoon Police and the town militia, began to fulfill his duties as "chief tax farmer."
The plan was to spend a month collecting taxes from the "wild monsters" in the territory.
The three toughest targets were the dwarves of Ironforge Valley, the ogre clans of the forest farm, and the pirate gangs of the Sweet Home.
Alan's account books were ready, and his abacus was clanking as he calculated the accounts one by one, ensuring no one escaped!
The dwarves' tempers were just as the legend said. It was just as fiery as he'd imagined.
As soon as Alan explained his purpose, the dwarves raised their forging hammers in anger.
It must be said that Brother Bear, Brother Pig, and Sister Lion, after receiving their money, actually delivered!
Adam took the lead, charging into the crowd and clashing fists.
Bang!
Blazing magic burst forth from his fingers, transforming into a massive ball of light that radiated intense light in all directions!
Silver Moon Style martial art—Sun Fist!
Within a twenty-meter radius, all the dwarves were blinded by the bright light, tears streaming down their cheeks. They covered their faces and screamed, their hammers clanging and clattering to the ground.
George's portly form floated upward like a balloon, gliding over thirty meters in midair before landing in front of the group of crossbow-wielding dwarves behind them.
The dwarf crossbowmen hurriedly released their arrows!
Countless steel-forged crossbow bolts pierced George, piercing his entire body like a fat hedgehog.
"Ha! "
George shouted, and all the arrows caught in his fat body bounced back, returning to their rightful owners!
The crossbow bolts had no edge, but they slammed into the dwarf crossbowman's body with such force that even with his chainmail, the pain was so intense that he almost fainted.
The next second, George stamped his foot, and the earth trembled!
The powerful shockwaves spread through the soles of his feet, creating a localized earthquake.
The entire dwarf workshop collapsed, its walls crumbling as the ground cracked.
Before the workshop collapsed, Allen escaped.
Seeing the ruins at the scene, he silently wiped a cold sweat from his forehead.
The stamp of George's foot that had caused the earthquake seemed to be the third-level martial art of the Silver Moon Monastery, "Earthquake Wave."
It was similar to the second-level "Earthquake Shock," but with greater power and a wider range, making it particularly suitable for destroying buildings.
In the valley, another group of dwarves hurried over.
Maria sneered and suddenly rushed over. Up she went, so fast she left an afterimage!
One second, her brilliant golden hair still swirled in the air.
The next, she had already rushed thirty meters away.
Bang, bang, bang!
From the crowd, a series of clinking sounds of metal armor being struck by blunt objects rang out.
A group of heavily armored dwarves were felled by Sister Lion in the blink of an eye.
Armor and shields, shattered by her fists!
"Two fists are no match for four hands!" Common sense didn't apply to her.
Anyone who approached her would be dealt a blow.
Fair and impartial, one-punch knockdown!
The three captains led the charge, and the warlocks of the Silvermoon Security Team, unwilling to be outdone, charged in and beat the dwarves.
Within ten minutes, all the hot-tempered dwarf brothers were beaten to the ground.
From the distant ironworks, a sudden rumbling roar echoed!
"Bandits! You're finished!"
A dwarf, kicked away by Maria, hung from a tree, a grim grin on his face.
"The Great Elder is here in his 'Iron Emperor'. He'll kill you all in no time!" "
The Iron Emperor...?"
Alan looked curiously toward the source of the roar.
He saw a gigantic iron figure striding toward him.
Steam and black smoke billowed from his body, and the sound of gears turning echoed.
This iron giant looked like a dwarf magnified a hundred times over, holding a sledgehammer in his left hand and a massive pickaxe in his right.
Rivets covered his body, as if he had been pierced with iron patches.
Alan observed carefully and discovered a hatch on the chest of the constructed giant, as if someone were piloting it from within.
The "Iron Emperor" strode closer, its parts creaking and creaking with a piercing clamor.
The twelve-meter-tall bulk, like a building, cast a shadow that buried the tiny human...
"Haha! It's just a giant tin doll. Watch me dismantle it!" "
Maria sneered and leaped into the air.
Her slender figure soared a hundred feet into the air!
She reached a commanding height, stretched her arms, and flipped gracefully.
She launched a mid-air kick at the "Iron Emperor"!
The dwarf piloting the armored giant ignored her desperate attack and continued to stride forward.
Until Sister Lion landed a kick on the armored giant...
Bang!!
Maria, like a human meteor, shattered the giant's steel skull, sending billowing black smoke billowing from its neck.
The headless giant trembled violently, but ultimately, unable to withstand the devastating kick, collapsed.
Sister Lion landed gracefully, dusted off her trouser legs, and said calmly, "It's a piece of cake." "
"Cough, cough, cough…"
A cough echoed from the wreckage of the "Iron Emperor."
The hatch opened, and a bespectacled old dwarf climbed out.
His beard, drooping to his chest, had been singed by the fire in the "Iron Emperor" cabin.
Alan suppressed a smile and used a "Water Control Spell," creating artificial rain and extinguishing the flames on the old dwarf's body.
…
With the Silvermoon Security Team as his backup, Alan's first leg of his "tour tax collection" yielded fruitful results.
No matter how tough the dwarves were, they knew a good man wouldn't suffer a loss in front of him.
After being beaten up, they could only hold their noses and accept defeat. Alan collected a portion of the tax in cash, and the dwarves promised to offset the remaining share with steel, armor, and weapons.
The two parties signed the contract and sealed it.
Considering the dwarves' traditional emphasis on credibility, Alan believed they would honor their agreement without compromise.
With the Ironforge Dwarves under control, the town would have no shortage of steel.
The armor and weapons needed for the militia were also secured.
The armed tax collection team returned with a full load.
The initial victory satisfied Adam and Maria, though George, the fussy strategist, offered a few sarcastic remarks.
"Brother Alan, we'll do all the dirty work of the fight."
"You're just here to keep the accounts, and we'll make 50% of the net profits. What a bargain!"
"If we'd known this, we would have definitely asked for a higher percentage!" "
Alan smiled and didn't refute.
During the trip to Ironforge Valley, he really didn't get a chance to take action.
George looked down on him and mocked him, but he had nothing to say.
At the next stop on the tax collection tour, Alan decided to lend a hand and open George's eyes!
To save him from more sour words and looking down on others!
…
A week later, the armed tax collection team was dispatched again.
This time, the target was the ogre clan in the forest area.
Adult ogres had an average height of just over three meters.
The ogre chieftain, known as "Big Stick," He stood nearly five meters tall, his belly fat looking like he was wearing three layers of swimming rings.
The nickname "Big Stick" wasn't given for nothing; the Chief's Big Stick was made from an entire poplar tree.
In the entire ogre tribe, only the Chief could wield this "Big Stick" with ease.
Based on these rumors, Allen speculated that Chief Big Stick's physical attributes were no less than 26.
His overall strength was equivalent to that of an early-stage third-tier violent warlock.
Facing Allen's tax notice, Chief Big Stick picked his nose and loudly asked, "What's a tax? Can I eat it?" Ogres aren't very clever.
But they're not that stupid, either.
Of course, Alan could tell the chief was playing dumb.
This was the traditional way the ogres taunted their enemies.
So, Alan responded forcefully, in a manner consistent with ogre tradition.
He made a deeply insulting gesture toward the chief and roared in a deeply insulting manner:
"Fat shit!"
"You little rat! I'll beat you to a pulp!" "
The chief, truly enraged by Allen, charged forward, club raised high!
Alan remained calm, initiating his second-stage atavism.
His body suddenly ballooned to four meters in height!
His massive, muscular muscles burst through his shirt, gleaming metallically in the setting sun.
Bang!!
The massive wooden stake crashed down hard!
Alan's forehead bore the club firmly, his expression unwavering.
The club, however, could not withstand the pressure and, using Allen's head as a fulcrum, snapped in two with a crack!
Alan casually brushed the wood chips from his head and twisted his neck, his joints cracking like the sound of gears clacking in a machine.
Even after taking the blow, not even his scalp was injured, leaving Allen with a sense of esteem for the Chief's strength.
"Not bad! A full-strength club managed to mess up my hairstyle." "
Chief Bigstick's face flushed with rage. He dropped the stump, opened his arms, and lunged at the opponent with a roar!
Alan took the blow, not just to show off, but more importantly to test his opponent's strength using the system.
Chief Bigstick's Physical statistic was approximately 27, the same as before his atavism.
Including the bonus from his atavism transformation, Alan's current Physical statistic was 31, easily crushing Chief Bigstick.
Furthermore, his speed was superior. Even more powerful!
Alan didn't even need to use his hound steps, easily dodging the opponent's grasp.
He grabbed the chief's arm with one hand and threw him over his shoulder!
BANG!
The earth shook!
The giant stick chief slammed his head into the ground!
He fell, his head bleeding and his eyes dazed, yet he still tried to get up.
Alan strode forward and, from behind, locked the chief's throat with his arm!
He used the "naked choke" technique to completely subdue him.
"Answer now."
"Is the tax tasty?"
"No... it's not tasty..."
"Do you want to pay the tax?"
"Yes... I will..." The chief gasped, "But we don't have the money..."
"It's okay, you can cut down trees to offset the tax."
Alan replied with a smile.
He had already carefully considered the ogres' needs and made clear arrangements.
Of course, the chief could only accept his kindness.
Everyone around him, including the ogres and the monks, fell silent.
The ogres and the security guards looked at Alan with awe.
Adam, George, and Maria were, after all, a realm above him, so they didn't make a fuss.
Among the three of them... The shock was entirely due to the demonic leopard-man bloodline that Allen displayed during his atavistic transformation!
The majestic image of the leopard-headed giant captivated the three of them.
Ogre bloodline isn't uncommon.
Black panther bloodline isn't particularly rare either.
The fusion of the two is truly exceptional!
A beast-like ogre, a unique bloodline!
He's definitely a rare talent!
"Brother, your bloodline... wow, you have a bright future!" George put his arm around Allen's shoulders, a beaming smile on his face. "When you become successful, don't forget to look after your old friend!" "
Alan was worried about not having a chance to get close to the three, so he took advantage of George's sudden change in attitude and proposed sworn brotherhood with them.
Adam was the eldest brother, George was the second, and Maria was the third. Alan was the youngest and therefore the fourth brother.
It was already dark when they left the Ogre Forest.
The armed tax collectors were camped by a nearby river.
Alan was tidying up the tent when she suddenly smelled a familiar fragrance.
Looking back, she saw Sister Lion leaning against the tent, her arms folded, smiling at her.
Her plump bosom, held high by her arms, looked particularly magnificent.
Alan could sense that Maria had applied the perfume he had given her, so he stepped forward and offered a few compliments.
Maria smiled softly and said, "Fourth brother, can you do me a favor?"
"Third sister, please tell me. I'll do my best." "I really like the perfume you gave me, but there's one place I can't spray it myself..."
Alan understood and followed Sister Lion into her tent.
Maria let him hold the perfume bottle while she turned her back to him and removed her top and bra, revealing her tanned back.
The tight leather pants accentuated her voluptuous waist and hips, and her long, round, straight legs.
Alan shook the perfume bottle and sprayed it onto Sister Lion's gracefully shaped back.
"Wow! So cool!" Maria shuddered and turned around.
Her lips pursed slightly, a shy smile playing. Alan and her were face to face, their breathing inaudible.
The air in the dim tent was intensely hot.
Alan set down his perfume bottle and stepped forward to help Lion Sister disarm her lower body, allowing him to fully appreciate her beauty.