Thousand-Faced Dragon

Chapter 417 Prevention Measures
At different times, for the same thing, one can have completely different attitudes.

Previously, Rean could keep his distance from the dock district. However, with the establishment of the new church, the druid order, and the knights of the weavers, along with the establishment of various industries, factories, and even militia groups in the dock district, the prosperity of the town of Dania, and the explosive growth in the population and prosperity of the dock district, it is now meaningless to try to separate them.

"This assassination attempt served as a wake-up call for me."

Some things cannot be ignored just because you pretend they didn't happen. If an "ambitious and powerful minister" lives in a small house in a commoner's area without bodyguards or any hints, others will see it as self-deception and give your opponents an opportunity.

No matter how Rean explains, it's clear that he is the core of the "Dock District Power Group." Explanations are meaningless. Ask yourself honestly, if Rean dies, wouldn't everything disappear? That's the standard answer. Rean is known to a very few people, and the members of the "Heroic Souls Alumni Association" who are vaguely united around him are the clearest proof.

They come to this godforsaken place with their own resources, talents, and even the potential to become heroes. Ultimately, it's because of Rean himself. Once he disappears, everything will return to silence, and everything in Radiant City will return to the past.

This is also why Dania has been going crazy lately.

She made no attempt to hide it, even behaving in a way that was uncharacteristic of a politician's hysteria. First, she found a scapegoat and killed him, and then, not content with that, she had the kingdom's knights frantically checking up on them, investigating security, and searching for the dark elf assassins. Everyone knew why she did this, and she made no attempt to hide it either. The enormous bounty was actually her personal savings.

This behavior was extremely irrational, and even somewhat exposed his weaknesses, but it also made a very direct declaration—if anyone dares to touch Rean, they should prepare to fight the royal family to the death.

This "attention" will make some major powers more cautious about Rean, which will at least increase his survival rate in the short term. In fact, with proper protection, killing Rean may be more difficult than killing Dania.

Of course, it's hard to say whether it was because Hela passed on the news that Rean was in "poor condition".

"Isn't it a bit much for a Radiant Guard garrison?" The number of Radiant Guards is limited, so isn't it a waste to dedicate a small squad to them?

"Yes, we need to dispatch some more city guards." Dania came over specifically to present a generous gift upon meeting.

"Well, there aren't any city walls here, so that doesn't make sense."

The military strength of Radiant City is extremely limited. It can barely hold on by setting up garrisons in important places and guarding the city walls. The combat strength of these soldiers is quite unpredictable. Extortion is their main job, but they are not easily defeated if they encounter monsters or cults.

However, the Radiant Guard, which consists of small private squads built around the city lord's personal guards, is the true elite of the city.

This is actually quite normal. Feudal knightly territories are the private property of the lords, and the guards are also raised by the lords themselves. The closer they are, the better the resources. The furthest away, serving the entire city, has the worst treatment and the worst personnel.

Private soldiers are always the most capable fighters.

"Didn't you plan to build a plaza? Then build a lighthouse and defensive pillbox along the coast, and you'll have a reason to build a makeshift barracks."

After thinking it over, Rean nodded.

Generally speaking, dock areas have some defensive facilities. Radiant City doesn't, because it was just a small fishing village a decade or so ago, and the kingdom was too weak.

After all, the warships and watchtowers at the docks are nominally for defending against pirates, but in reality, they are mainly for various smuggling activities. Entering and leaving Radiant City is a very easy thing, and the level of smuggling has become so outrageous that it is impossible to control. When the Dark Elf Center was in full bloom, it was through the smuggling channels of their merchants.

Smuggling cannot be stopped on land, and there is no way to stop it at sea. The entire city does not actually have a "customs" or "smuggling investigation department" in the true sense.

Just like in the late stages of many dynasties, royal power and centralized rule weakened, and the tax revenue from powerful domestic forces and nobles could not be collected. Commercial taxes were subject to various forms of tax evasion and smuggling, and the main source of tax revenue gradually became the poll tax for ordinary people and the poor. This naturally led to the further weakening of royal power. Money is the foundation of an army, so it is difficult to say whether "lack of power" or "lack of taxes" came first.

"Are you planning to collect ship taxes? Build a customs house?"

“Not now,” Dania stated bluntly.

Now, Radiant City desperately wants the whole world to come and support them, and they've already decided to cut taxes. There's no need to go back on their word at this time.

But any monarch with ambition, once in power, will start focusing on their own purse strings. After weathering this crisis, she will sooner or later drastically alter the kingdom's tax system, and the most direct way to do this is through maritime trade. This is actually the main gateway for rare magical items and artifacts from underground ruins, but the kingdom had previously been powerless to control it.

In fact, as far as Rean knew, Radiant City was trying to collect taxes from the "underground ruins entrance." However, it was met with collective resistance from adventurers, and it was estimated that the plan would not be able to be implemented.

Dania definitely wants to collect customs duties, as that would theoretically be the city's first source of revenue, but she simply doesn't have the capacity to do so right now.

"Leave it to me, okay?"

Rean then realized that if he also built the "Customs" and "Fleet Base", then he would most likely be responsible for the future tax collection. Territories can be inherited, so is it really appropriate to hand over this right and responsibility and future benefits to himself or even his children?

"I have no one else I can trust more."

Dania said something that left people speechless, yet it was also a well-known fact.

"Even if your child is in a sense, they can be considered a relative of the royal family, so it's normal to entrust this responsibility to them."

"What about the city lord? Does he have any objections?"

"The old city lord wished he could hand over all his credentials, rejoin the legion, and find an opportunity to die on the battlefield. As for his children, there was no hope for them at all."

This surprised Rean a bit.

Aren't his adopted sons all famous and talented? I even know one of them quite well.

"I'm referring to his biological children and grandchildren. Those guys are causing trouble, and the old city lord is a bit sentimental, making it difficult for his adopted sons to take over. My current concern is that the first thing a new Earl of Radiant Light will do upon obtaining this position is to sell it off."

Believe it or not, this is actually quite possible.

These spoiled rich kids sell the "city" to a powerful country or force, and they get their life's wealth, which they can squander at will.

Such succession within a family within a territory is something even the kingdom would find difficult to interfere with. If the old city lord truly cherishes old feelings and gives the position to those useless biological sons, then it would be a difficult situation. On the contrary, this seems to be completely without problem in terms of law and morality.

Previously, it was rumored that the adopted son would take over, but it seems there have been some changes.

"Hasn't Radiant City been developing quite well lately? Those trash who fled to other wealthy places are coming back." Well, it seems that it really is a chain reaction caused by my own side.

"Well, let's just take it one step at a time. Let's hope the old city lord lives a few more years."

"Uh. Don't say that, you granted me this land, and actually carved out a piece of land in Radiant City, also as a precaution." In a sense, this was also taking advantage of the old city lord's life and the fact that he didn't care about his "assets" at all, to take away a key piece of land from his territory.

Turning around, Rean sensed something was amiss.

Even if the successor is unreliable, as long as Rean still has a large piece of land, the stability of the royal family can be guaranteed.

The outer docks and the passages leading to the underground ruins are still in the kingdom's hands. As long as tax revenue is stable and the underground ruins produce enough, this mechanism can continue to operate.

"Hehe." The princess, who was acting cute, rarely acted like her actual age.

Rean sighed. It seemed that he would have to continue expanding his army and preparing for war.

(End of this chapter)