The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 134 Where Did You Get So Much Money? (Please Subscribe)
"Mellad! Do you know what you're doing!?"

Seeing that his son was about to rebel against him, Mel could no longer contain his raging anger and pointed at his nose, shouting...

"Has lard blinded you, making you dare to disobey your own father?!"

"No, Father, you were so consumed by anger that you didn't even consider the consequences of your actions—"

Melard tried to face Mel with a calm mindset.
"This is Dragon Gold City, not our territory. We have no right to take liberties with them at Dragon Tail Pass—"

If we are truly dissatisfied with their practice of planting star plum trees, we should take it to court and defend our rights through legal means.

"Why make such a fuss over something that can be solved by paying a fine? We have plenty of money!"

"But money can't buy everything!"

Merard retorted at the top of his lungs,
"Just as you know very well that you cannot buy a judge's verdict with money—"

The court will never recognize that Xingmei belongs exclusively to you!
That's why you're considering using violence to solve the problem!

His words were like a merciless sword, easily piercing through Mel's carefully crafted pride.

But beneath that pride lies a strong sense of self-respect.

It is self-esteem built with money and accumulated with wealth.

Mel was deaf to any advice, and the violent heaving of his chest made Melard fear that his father might faint.

But even before he fainted, he still had to give his final orders:

"Two men, tie the young master up and put him in the car."

The rest of you, continue—

"stop!"

When you miss a good opportunity at the beginning, trouble will only follow.

When he saw a young man leading several black-robed guards hurriedly walking towards the orchard, Mel first spat inwardly, then was forced to wave to the mercenaries, signaling them to put away their weapons.

He then grabbed a rather heavy money bag from his waist and walked toward the guards.

Although the captain of the guard was not on duty today, he had still issued orders in the early morning—

"When you're on patrol, remember to check around the Golden Oak area often."

They understood, of course, the captain of the guard's unspoken meaning: he simply wanted them to take better care of the tavern.

This tavern is located southwest of Longwei Pass, only two streets away from the city gate.

Hogg ran very fast, and after asking for help, they didn't dare to delay any longer and rushed over.

However, it was still quite astonishing to see that the 'trouble' seemed to be related to a nobleman:
What happened?

“It’s nothing, sir, they were just disciplining some of my lowly people.”

As Mel swore their identities to each other, he handed the money bag to the other person.

Although he rarely encountered conflicts in Longjin City on ordinary days.

However, some special circumstances are inevitable.

For example, while stuck in traffic on Dragon Avenue, he collided with a caravan's carriage, and after a conflict broke out, he ordered his mercenaries to teach the other side a lesson...

This will inevitably attract the involvement of the "robes," but money can always make them favor themselves when enforcing the law and resolve the matter.

This time will be no exception—

"You've gone to all this trouble, but all you've done is teach a lesson to some lowly people. Please go back now."

The guards were also experts at accepting bribes; they only needed to weigh the money bag to know that it contained at least a hundred gold coins.

But they exchanged a glance, shook their heads, and returned the money pouch.

"Sir, please show me their slave contracts."

David and Hogg were both free farmers, so of course they had no slave contracts.

Mel thought she hadn't given enough money, so she handed over a ring from her finger as well.

“I am Mel Barry from Starplum Town. My contracts are all in my territory, but they have been taken over by orcs…”

"So you can't prove their subordinate relationship to you, right?"

"What more proof do I need? I am the lord, and they are my subjects!"

Just as Mel was getting angry, a shout interrupted his argument:

“No, sir, they are residents of Dragon Tail Pass—we all pay the residency tax of Dragon Gold City.”

Catherine arrived breathless.

The Friendship House isn't far from the Golden Oak, so it won't take her too long to get there.

"Please allow me to find the list of taxes and fees I need to pay."

"ASAP."

The guards would not openly offend a nobleman.

But the whole incident is actually quite clear—

The nobles simply abused their status and acted recklessly.

So, the fact that they handled matters officially also meant that they would not show favoritism towards the nobility.

After Catherine walked into the nearby golden oak tree and showed the guards the stationing certificates of the farmers, they apologized to Mel:
"I'm sorry, sir. Based on the evidence presented so far, they are indeed residents of Dragontail Pass. You have no right to punish them in the name of the lord—"

Of course, if they maliciously infringe upon your rights, such as through personal attacks, then that's a different story.

If possible, please describe the events in detail.

Mel never imagined that Catherine would have gotten involved with the city guard!

But since things had come to this, he could only grit his teeth and say:

"They planted my star plum seeds, infringing on my personal property!"

Can you prove your relationship to those seeds?

“Damn it—I’m Mel Barry, the Star Plum Tycoon! Who else in the entire Dragongold City would grow these plums!” “That’s hardly a reliable indicator. For example, did they ever go to Star Plum Town and purchase a batch of seeds?”

"Are you sincerely trying to protect these lowly people?"

"I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand what you mean—if you believe our enforcement methods are incorrect, please report us to the city guard."

"What kind of attitude is that?! I'm a nobleman!"

"Yes, sir. We have always remained humble before you."

"Then don't bother me while I teach these lowly people a lesson!"

Can you prove their subordinate relationship to you?

"..."

As Melard stated, once the matter escalates to the legal level, none of his arguments will stand up.

This is a group of free farmers.

The reason I was able to buy Star Plum from them at a low price was simply because the eerie Dawn and Dusk Forest blocked their way out of Star Plum Town.

Now that damned bard has led them all out of the territory, it also means he has lost control over these people.

They are free to choose whether to continue accepting their own rule or to embrace the laws of Longjin City.

This is a choice that requires no thought.

Mel glanced at the silent Catherine and snorted coldly:
“Catherine Monte Carlo, you have failed me in the kindness I showed to you and your daughter.”

Catherine remained neither humble nor arrogant.
"This is just a transaction. You lease your land, and we pay the corresponding rent."

If you have ever shown us any kindness, let it be offset by the years your caravans have spent roaming the taverns, eating and drinking for free.

Even nobles cannot defy the law; this is an unchanging rule in Dragon Gold City.

[Lion Lionheart], their public lord cares a lot about this.

Realizing that violence was not an option, Mel gradually calmed down:

"Name your price, how much will you sell me these seeds for?"

"Not for sale."

"Is that so? You should think it over carefully—"

"Once your land expires, I'll lease it back at a higher price and evict you and your tavern."

Mel sneered, his scrutinizing gaze making him seem as if he were looking at a pauper.
"How long can your savings from Xingmei Town be enough to rent land?"
Three months, or six months? It won't be longer.

Longjincheng implements a system of public ownership of land, where all land belongs to Longjincheng and citizens only have the right to use it.

Land rents are deposited into the treasury and used for urban development, and even for subsidies and welfare.

Since Catherine can lease the land, he can certainly pay a higher price to seize it.

Seeing the old wild boar's confident expression, Catherine couldn't help but laugh.
“I’m sorry, Lord Mel. Of course you could do that—”

After all, my land lease will need to be renewed in ten years, and you can try leasing it at a higher price then.

"How many!?"

Mel's smile faded.
"Ten years—where did you get so much money?"

He was certain that even if he ran a tavern in Xingmei Town for his entire life, he could never earn such a high profit.

"No comment."

Catherine gambled everything on this land, believing it would bring her tenfold, even a hundredfold, profit.

"So do you have any other questions?"

"..."

Mel suddenly realized that, at least for today, he could no longer inflict any punishment on the Golden Oak.

This tavern was under the protection of the city guards, which meant that even a nobleman like him could only abide by the law.

"That's all? Great, then I have a question—"

Seeing that he remained silent, Catherine continued,
"You instructed your mercenaries to attempt to physically harm my orchard and my workers, violating Article 3 of the Longjincheng Laws on Offenses Against Citizens, namely Extortion or Threatening of Citizens, and Article 5 on Damage to Property or Livestock."

According to the law, you should pay damages equal to the cost of repair or reconstruction, plus 500 gold coins as compensation.

In addition, my employees should be paid corresponding compensation for emotional distress.

She turned around and looked at the stunned men in black robes:

"That should be it, right?"

"Ah, oh, yes, that's right."

The men in black robes nodded.

You can recite it perfectly, so why are you asking us?
"Losing money? I have plenty of money!"

Mel hadn't anticipated that he would arrive here intending to mock Tang Qi, only to find himself consumed by rage because of the provocation of these lowly people...

Wait, Tang Qi?
Yes, Tang Qi!

He suddenly realized that there was only one way to save face—

He still holds Tang Qi's publishing channels in his own hands!
Clearly, both Catherine and these commoners trusted the bard implicitly.

He could use this as leverage to blackmail Tang Qi and force these lowly people to bow down and admit their mistakes!
Who says money can't buy respect?
Superficial respect is still respect!
Thinking of this, his resentment finally eased somewhat:
"Let you be smug for a while."

Mel accepted his loss, took off his purse and jewelry, and threw them to Catherine, followed by a cold snort.
"Anyway, you'll all have to pay it back with interest later."

The thought of what would happen when Tang Qi returned to the Golden Oak almost made Mel burst out laughing.

As if he had heard his call, the sound of carriage wheels rolling could be heard in the distance.

The carriage wasn't particularly luxurious, but the mithril shield on the roof, engraved with dragon patterns, testified to its considerable status.

Mel recognized the owner of the carriage at a glance:
"The Silver Shield family?"
What are they doing here?

(End of this chapter)