Chapter 386: Chapter 381: Capture the Rebel Chapter 386: Chapter 381: Capture the Rebel “The entrance fee to the city is ten coppers.” At the somewhat dilapidated entrance of a city, more than twenty soldiers stood behind the barricades, collecting fees from every adventurer, commoner, and merchant corps entering the city.

“Hmm? Just these few items?” A soldier rummaged through a pile of pelts carried by a hunter, looking rather impatient. This was just an ordinary hunter from a nearby village, who made a living by hunting ordinary beasts and selling their fur. However, these things weren’t worth much, so there wasn’t much advantage to be gained from him.

“Esteemed knight, I am only entering the city to sell these pelts.” The hunter, who had been wrestling with beasts in the wilderness to provide for his family, smiled at the city guard. He had already paid the ten copper entrance fee, but this soldier wouldn’t let him pass, still wanting to squeeze something out of him.

“Pauper.” The soldier, upon realizing the hunter truly had nothing of value, muttered under his breath. He casually pulled out a piece of good-quality gray fox fur from the hunter’s back and tied it to his waist. Afterward, he waved his hand impatiently, “Go in!”

“Thank you, sir!” The hunter, who had three visible claw marks on his face from a beast’s attack, and who had a strong, robust aura, walked into the city with a thankful smile plastered on his face.

Despite seething over the exploitation by the city guards, he could only hold back his anger. He was only a physically stronger common hunter with no special skills, struggling to provide for his family. As a middle-aged man with a burden to bear, he didn’t have the luxury of allowing his emotions to rule. He couldn’t afford to be capricious.

“Next!” Having dismissed the hunter, the guard wearing the gray fox fur around his waist called out dispiritedly. They were but common folk and low-grade adventurers who didn’t offer much to be exploited.

Commoners entering the city were selling things like herbs and furs, and there wasn’t much to extort from them. As for the low-level adventurers, charging them ten copper coins as an entrance fee was permissible.

However, if one tried to lay hands on their hard-won spoils from risking their lives battling monsters, these blood-thirsty fellows wouldn’t hesitate to risk their lives against these soldiers.

Thus, the only ones the soldiers could exploit were the merchant corps that came and went frequently. These merchant corps visiting their city usually were small operations without substantial backing, which made them the perfect targets for the city guards to exploit…

“Why does everyone else only have to pay ten copper coins to enter the city, and my merchant corps has to pay a silver coin per person?” A somewhat skinny merchant cried out angrily. “The last time I entered the city, I only paid ten coppers. Why is it so much more this time?”

“Heh heh, that was from half a month ago. The Lord said that merchants earn more than the commoners, so naturally, the taxes they should pay should be more than those peasants’.”

The city guard sneered unabashedly. “This is a new order from the Lord. If you have any objections, go argue with the Lord himself. But first, you have to pay the entrance fee.”

“What entrance fee? Half a month ago, the newly appointed Duke Mureya of the kingdom ordered the abolition of all private laws and tax edicts of the noble lords. According to the kingdom’s law, these lords have no right to collect any taxes not prescribed by the kingdom’s laws.”

The skinny merchant stood at the city gate, passionately speaking of Duke Mureya’s new tax laws.

“There is no entrance fee in the laws of the Lockman Kingdom. The lords of the surrounding cities have all canceled the entrance fee. Everyone has the freedom to travel without anyone charging any fees. On what grounds does your lord continue to impose an entrance fee? Is he trying to rebel by completely disregarding the noble orders from Duke Mureya himself?”

“Stop talking nonsense with me.” The sergeant of the city guard, with eyes wide open, slammed his heavy sword onto the ground in front of the merchant. The small fragments of earth splattered onto the merchant, causing some pain.

“I don’t know anything about any new tax laws. I only know that the Lord decreed there will be a tax for entering the city. Either pay to enter the city or take your men and get lost.”

“Don’t know about the new tax laws, but surely you do know about Duke Mureya?” The skinny merchant asked again.

“…” This time, the city guard’s sergeant fell silent. In the entire Lockman Kingdom, except for the bumpkins in the villages, who wouldn’t know about Duke Mureya? Clearly, he couldn’t bring himself to tell such a blatant lie.

“Duke Mureya has abolished the legislative rights and the rights to enact private tax laws of the lords. According to the laws of the kingdom, you have no right to collect even a single copper as an entrance fee from me.”

“Like I said, save your words. I wouldn’t know. You need to pay to enter the city; this is the Lord’s command.” Being repeatedly out-argued by the merchant, the slightly embarrassed sergeant was starting to get angry. He raised his heavy sword, still in its sheath, and swung it down towards the merchant.

“Presumptuous!” Before the heavy sword wrapped in its scabbard could land on the skinny merchant, a hand reached out and grabbed the sword, twisting and deforming the treasured heavy sword, along with its sheath, right before the horrified eyes of the sergeant. His precious sword was instantly reduced to a piece of scrap metal.

“Who are you?” This time, the sergeant knew he was in deep trouble. His heavy sword, although not a top-grade divine weapon,
was made with a touch of extraordinary metal ore powder when cast. It was firm enough to snap any fine steel weapon upon impact. Yet such a weapon was deformed by bare hands, causing him immense shock.

“My lord, the evidence is clear. The lord of this place indeed did not comply with the edicts of the great Duke Mureya. He has neither implemented the new tax law nor ceased his unjust taxation but has imposed heavier exploitations than before. Please arrest him.”

“Hmm!” The strong man that twisted the heavy sword, clad in an ancient full-body armor, gave a nod of approval to the argument presented by the cooperative merchant.

“Who exactly are you?” Seeing the somewhat familiar design of the armor, the city sergeant stepped back unconsciously. He asked in a terrified tone, sensing that he had seen this suit of armor somewhere before.

“Sent by His Majesty Prince Mureya to arrest rebellious nobles.” The burly man answered in a monotonous tone as he walked towards the city.

As he walked, his figure grew larger and larger. Along with his figure, the armor he was wearing also grew. Due to the gaps in his unsealed armor, the sergeant, who was sitting on the ground in shock, was able to see his pure white skin.

“Cloud Giant! Part of the directly affiliated legion under His Majesty, the Duke.”

This time, the sergeant finally understood why he thought the suit of armor looked so familiar.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read