The rivalry between the Holy Empire and the Zenith Empire continued on but after some decades the Zenith Empire started to decline while the Holy Empire flourished. Soon the Holy Empire had influenced on most of the kingdoms, and even Empires making it the strongest Empire in all Humanity.
Feeling threatened Zenith Empire had no choice but to propose an alliance with the Dragon Empire and soon the alliance was formed but it was too late the Holy Empire had grown too strong, and they could barely stop the influence of the Holy Empire.
Wang Chen took a sip of the tea and continued to read.
The Vertex Empire was one such Empire even though it was an Empire, it was the weakest Empire among all the Empire. As such it didn't have much prestige, but it still was an Empire and could contend against other normal Empires but Wang Chen knew it was only matter of time until the Empire falls.
If so, he is needed to strengthen the power of the Lionheart family to continue on legacy of the Lionheart family to repay the real owner of the body. The body he was possessing belonged to the man named Raven Lionheart, a marquis, and the head of the Lionheart family.
He was very young to be the head of the Lionheart family but circumstances made him.
His father was known for his lavish spending and for being a bootlicker. While his father was known for being bootlicker his grandfather on the other hand was known as a one of the War heroes. His grandfather was originally a leader of a Mercenary group and when the war began his group was hastily recruited when they were short on men.
In the war he fought bravely and even earned a nick name the Iron Bull for his furiously. In the war he even saved the previous Emperor when he was trapped by the enemy. As such after the war he a Mercenary was awarded the rank of Marquis, treasures and lands.
Although he had become a part of the noble other nobles despised him because he was too loyal to the previous Emperor and when the previous Emperor died the new Emperor started to despise him.
His grandfather on the other hand didn't care and fulfilled all of his duty, even though he had become a noble he didn't care about his status, and treated everybody equal no matter their status which was one of the reasons nobles despised him.
When his grandfather died his father succeeded him. Unlike his grandfather he was arrogant, prideful and spent massive money on luxury. This was one of the reasons the owner of the body despised his own father. He didn't treat everybody equal and favored the people with higher status as such he was despised by the common people. He also increased the taxes on commoners which enraged them, previously they had to a relatively low tax, but after his father increased the tax they had to pay more than seventh-tenth of their income just to pay the taxes.
As a noble they could charge as much as tax they want but suddenly increasing the tax made it difficult for the people. The tax money instead of improving the lives of people went into his spending in lavish parties. Surprisingly his father only had one wife, but it was even more surprising the wife was a commoner. When his father took a commoner as his wife the nobles started to despise and ridicule him.
There weren't any rumors about him cheating on her though which Wang Chen found it unusual, but he didn't care.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Come in"
A old man came with massive about amounts of papers and documents in his hand. The old man was Sebastian a man who had served the family from the beginning. He kept the papers, and documents in his desk and stood like pillar.
Note: From now on I am going to use Raven as his name.
Raven picked up a paper and was instantly shocked, "Just how much money did my father spend??."
Sebastian said, "My lord, He has spent more than twelve million gold coins my lord"
Raven sighed and closed his eyes, "Tell me how much tax rate do our people have to pay"
Sebastian replied "Our tax rate for commoner is 50% my lord while the tax on goods is 30% tax my lord"
Raven was not too much shocked and immediately ordered, "Set the tax rate on commoner to 14% and set the tax on goods to 10%. Immediately bring me the Alferd"
Sebastian bowed and left.
Raven started to check on other papers and documents. Shortly after Alferd came.
Alferd was taller than six feet and his face had more than two scars. He looked pretty scary, and his body was well-built. Alferd was an ex member of the mercenary group his grandfather led. Alferd immediately half knelt and bowed.
Raven looked at him and asked, "How many soldiers do you fully trust??"
Alferd immediately replied, "My lord I trust little more than twenty people"
Raven gave him a list of name and ordered "Prepare those soldiers and arrest each one of them. You can now go and call Sebastian"
Alferd looked at the people, and immediately reconsigned their names he seems to be happy, but he controlled his happiness, and he bowed and left immediately.
Sebastian came and asked "Did you call me my lord??"
Raven nodded, "Sell the useless jewelries, ornaments and gather money."
***
In the streets, a forty years man smashed althe door and shouted "You haven't paid your taxes." People noticed him and immediately reconsigned him. He was Brent who was mostly known for using violence to collect high amount of taxes.
An old women came out and panicked, "Haven't we paid the taxes in previous week??"
Brent laughed and said, "If you don't pay up the tax you can me pay me by other way. I heard you have a beautiful daughter, why don't you send her to work at my house??"
The people who were watching them didn't dare to say anything and only watched but in their eyes it was disgust, anger, and hatred. Inside the house a girl was looking through the window watching the man shouting at his grandmother and cried.
Brent didn't care what the people thought about him since they couldn't do anything against him. He violently grabbed the hand of the weak old woman and fiercely glared at her eyes, "If you don't pay by evening, you know what I am going to do." The old women didn't know what she should do, but she noticed guards approaching towards them. She was happy for a moment, but she realized how corrupted the people was.
Brent glanced towards the soldiers and laughed "Do you think they are going to protect you??." Brent could just bribe them money, and they would leave, so, he had no fear what so ever.
One of the guards stood and asked "Are you Brent??"
Brent threw them a pouch filled with golds and replied, "Yes I am Brent."
The guard put the pouch of gold in his pocket and the people who were watching were absolutely disgusted and were enraged while some of them bit their lips trying to hold the anger.
The guard turned back and said, "Boys take him to his Uncle's house." Other guards nodded and immediately captured Brent. Brent obviously didn't know what the guards were doing and shouted "I can give you more please release me." One of the guards couldn't take it anymore and punched him. It was clear the guard who punched him hated Brent so much he didn't even care if he would get demoted and punished
The guard turned towards the people and shouted, "Under the accusation of corruption Lord Raven has ordered the arrest of Brent so please don't cause commotion" and left.
The people were stunned and asked did the sun rose from the West??.
Note: I meant Jail when I said Uncle's house. In Nepal, we often refer jail as Mama Ghar or in English Uncle's home and I find it quite funny.