I managed to gather a reasonable amount of information at the True King Temple — the pyramid-like structure that practically screamed wealth.
Next, I decided to check out the Adventurer's Guild, which tends to be pretty sensitive to changes in the streets.
Maybe because I'd spent so long in the [Haus Teritory], it felt like it had been forever.
"Hey! Why the hell is the buyout price so low?! This is an Orichalcum-rank Crystal Turtle shell! I nearly died hunting this thing!"
An adventurer was berating the staff member at the buyout counter.
"Well, you see, the taxes from the kingdom have increased. We're truly sorry, but the tax rate has gone up fivefold, which means everyone's take-home pay has decreased. Yes."
The staff member was visibly pale while trying to handle the situation.
"How the hell am I supposed to accept that?! I'll be in the red every time I take a job! Get the Guild Master here!"
"Um, ah, well, the thing is, the Guild Master was also summoned by the kingdom... They told him to let adventurers earn more and bring in the taxes..."
"What the hell is wrong with this country?! If this keeps up, no one's going to take any jobs! Does anyone even realize we're the ones keeping the monster population in check?! I'm gonna leave this damn country!"
"Um, adventurers aren't allowed to leave the country right now. The king has prohibited it. Apparently, anyone who disobeys will be executed."
"What?! That's complete insanity! What the hell is the king thinking?!"
"Even if you say that to me..."
Similar exchanges could be heard from other buyout counters, and at the reception desk, a staff member was even in tears after being berated by a fierce-looking adventurer.
I quietly made an about-face.
◇◇◇
"Shaal, what's going on? I heard something about adventurer taxes being quintupled."
I asked Shaal, who was still working as the master of that run-down café.
"Where the hell have you been this whole time?! It's not just adventurer taxes — nearly all taxes have been quintupled. Apparently it's to fund the construction of the True King Temple. On top of that, only the nobles from the former Elector faction have had their tribute payments to the kingdom increased."
"Former Elector faction? Oh yeah, my instant buddy was saying something about the Electors being gone or whatever."
"The King declared the abolition of the Elector system right there at the Royal Council meeting, and the last Elector, Duke Kelrut, was executed on the spot. The nobles who opposed the unilateral abolition have rallied behind Kelrut's son, Yarut, splitting the country in two."
This was way too big.
"I'm gonna go check on Lord Harold real quick."
◇◇◇
Lord Harold — Lord Geese's son, basically held as a hostage in the Meigrant Kingdom on what was supposedly a study abroad program.
I teleported right in front of his manor.
"Oh, it's just a kid. Beat it — the exit to the noble district is over there. I'm busy right now."
I tried to speak to the gate guard, but he cut me off first.
Then another guard went pale and grabbed him by the arm.
"Hey, you idiot! That kid is a guest of the master! Let him through! I'm so sorry, Alan — I'll be sure to give this one a proper talking-to. Please, just forget that whole exchange ever happened!"
As he said that, the second guard bowed so low his head nearly touched the ground, and the first guard followed suit with a deep bow of his own.
"Oh, no, it's fine — I wasn't planning to make a big deal out of it. If you just let me through, I won't say a word to Lord Harold."
Just what exactly had Lord Harold told his subordinates about me?
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Harold: "Arrogant and domineering."
Shaal: "Haughty and insolent."
Gandor: "Unbelievably rude."
Storte: "A saintly gentleman."
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Fist God] [Spear God] [Blazing Magic] [Freezing Ice Magic] [Clear Gale Magic] [Rock Iron Magic] [Holy Magic] [Dark Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Thunder God Blade] [Phantom Thief Gentleman] [Ninja Master] [Seeker of Truth] [Supernatural Prowess] [Veda] [Pain Dulling] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Dark Spirit's Protection] [Super Intuition] [Heaven's Gate] [Abyss Contractee] [Magic Hand] [Treasure Search] [Seduction] [Incitement] [Telemesmerism] [Eloquence] [Extraordinary Luck] [Growth Speed x10] [Growth Limit Breakthrough]
Rank: Orichalcon
Thank you for reading!