Chapter 458: Chapter 380: Poor Miss Lin, Treats Su Yuan’s Manipulation as Common Sense!

Based on Captain Zhang’s understanding of Su Yuan, if this kid says he has a solution, then he probably truly has one.

It’s just that his so-called solution is somewhat abstract.

Let’s hope the landlords and powerful figures of Dragon City County won’t be too severely tricked by Su Yuan.

Following that, Captain Zhang mentioned the approximate arrival time of Chen Nuoyi to the Observation Law Ship.

Since this operation wasn’t particularly urgent, a conventional transmission method was used, and it should take about three days for Chen Nuoyi to arrive.

With a time expectation in place, Su Yuan could plan the setup of the Holy Sect Blood Sacrifice Array in advance.

After all, as the Celestial Law World considers itself the Righteous World, if a Demon Dao Array stands at the County Government Office for too long, it risks being discovered and attacked as a Demon Dao formation, resulting in worldwide pursuit.

Ending the communication, Su Yuan put away the communication earphone and lifted the room block.

After donning his official robes and hat, he walked out of the County Magistrate’s Mansion and went to the County Government Office.

His deputy Ying Ding, County Captain Qi Junxiang, Chief Clerk Liu, and other officials were working diligently. As they saw Su Yuan appear, they quickly put down their work and saluted.

"Junxiang, come here for a moment."

Su Yuan beckoned to the newly appointed County Captain with a brave appearance.

Qi Junxiang hurried over and respectfully asked:

"County Magistrate, what are your instructions?"

"Go to the Lin Family and bring the Lin Family’s head to me; I have something to say."

"Yes."

Qi Junxiang nodded without hesitation and quickly left the County Government Office.

The officials who heard this conversation made a show of not hearing anything, but their expressions involuntarily became somewhat grave.

They keenly sensed that County Magistrate Su was about to make a major move again.

Tax collection?

Hopefully, it is merely tax collection.

A quarter of an hour later, Su Yuan sat upright in the main seat of the public hall, watching as Qi Junxiang led Lin Yanluo quickly inside.

"Where is your father?"

Su Yuan looked at Lin Yanluo and asked with a frown.

Lin Yanluo didn’t dare delay and hurriedly knelt down, saying:

"In response to the County Magistrate, after entertaining the Transport Envoy Fan Zhiyun last time, my father occasionally felt unwell and is now in seclusion for recuperation. Please forgive us, County Magistrate." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Can you now take charge of Lin Family’s affairs?"

Su Yuan asked calmly.

Lin Yanluo nodded affirmatively.

Su Yuan did not say more, casually pointing to a freshly written jade scroll spread out on the table:

"Since you can take charge, come over and sign it."

Sign it?

Lin Yanluo’s delicate body reacted almost as if by reflex, trembling, and she looked up in fear.

Was this County Magistrate Su finally using fabricated charges to target their Lin Family?

Yet thinking of the other party’s recent formidable reputation, Lin Yanluo dared not resist and could only timidly move in front of Su Yuan, fixing her gaze on the wet ink of the jade scroll.

In charge of Lin Family’s commercial sector, she immediately recognized it as a tax contract.

Just a tax for Lin Family?

Lin Yanluo felt a fleeting sense of relief, but upon seeing the specific tax rate written in the contract, her heart that wasn’t completely at ease tightened once more.

"Nine... ninety-four percent?"

Disbelieving, she rubbed her eyes, repeatedly looking at the figure, yet still felt as if she were dreaming.

"County Magistrate Su, it seems the tax rate is written incorrectly..."

Lin Yanluo cautiously said.

Su Yuan chuckled and said:

"There’s no mistake. It’s indeed ninety-four percent... and this tax rate doesn’t only apply to commercial tax."

"It’s a personal income tax imposed on every high-income individual in the Lin Family with an annual income exceeding ten thousand spirit coins."

"And for those earning less than ten thousand spirit coins annually, like those earning five thousand or over eight thousand, an eighty or ninety percent tax will also apply."

"Don’t even think about evading taxes. Anyone who attempts that will be opposing me and the entire Court."

After listening to Su Yuan’s statement in such a breezy tone, Lin Yanluo felt dizzy, struggling to keep herself standing.

A tax rate of ninety-four percent! And it would apply precisely to each Lin Family member, with no chance to escape!

Never mind that Lin Yanluo was just a spokesperson pushed out by the Lin Family; even her own father wouldn’t dare sign such a thing.

Who would dare bear the burden of national ruin or family disgrace?

Standing by, Qi Junxiang was also stunned upon hearing the contract details.

His own County Magistrate is openly brandishing knives!

Wasn’t it agreed to split the taxes three-seven between the people, and the landlords would return everything?

It seems County Magistrate Su has transferred all the taxes collected from the people onto the landlords and powerful figures!

Wouldn’t the landlords rebel?

"I cannot sign."

Lin Yanluo took a deep breath, fighting to suppress her dizziness, and shook her head forcefully:

"County Magistrate, even if you place me on the Immortal Execution Platform now, I will not sign!"

This alluring socialite now appeared with a tragic face, seemingly ready to sacrifice herself for the family’s honor:

"If my life alone can ensure the safety of my entire Lin Family, then this humble woman willingly relinquishes this worthless life!"

A series of righteous and stern words made it seem like Su Yuan was a major villain oppressing the good and honest.

"Fortunately, the [Major Environmental Destroyer] task was completed, otherwise the damn system would have popped up to nag me."

Su Yuan secretly complained, but on the surface, he calmly said:

"Miss Lin, I suppose your father never taught you a simple fact: landlords and powerful clans are supposed to pay ninety-four percent in taxes."

What kind of common sense is that, damn it.

Lin Yanluo cursed angrily in her heart and coldly said:

"County Magistrate Su, you’re joking. I’ve never heard of such a... common...."

Halfway through her sentence, Lin Yanluo’s words suddenly got stuck.

Standing beside Su Yuan, Qi Junxiang could clearly see Lin Yanluo’s clear, beautiful eyes growing dim and listless at a visible speed.

Just a few breaths later, she suddenly revealed a sweet smile, picked up the brush, and signed and stamped without hesitation.

As she wrote, she apologized to Su Yuan, saying:

"County Magistrate Su, look at my memory, I can’t believe I forgot such an important piece of common sense, I deserve to be punished, I deserve it!"

As she spoke, she quickly pressed her fingerprint on her name and earnestly said:

"County Magistrate, I will return home to prepare the Lin Family’s unpaid personal income taxes for the year and will deliver them to your residence within seven days at the latest."

"Hmm, go ahead."

Su Yuan casually waved his hand.

"County Magistrate, just now... what happened?"

Qi Junxiang watched Lin Yanluo leave the county government office with light steps, swallowed, and asked in a dry voice.

"I just used some standard rhetoric that officials employ when persuading the populace, reminding Miss Lin of a small piece of common sense. Is there a problem?"

Su Yuan turned his eyes to Qi Junxiang, eyes that should have been amiable now possessing an unsettling and unfamiliar sense of dread.

It was a kind of demon-like nature, as though this was the County Magistrate’s true nature!

For a moment, Qi Junxiang felt as though he had fallen into an icy cavern.

"No... no problem."

He instinctively shook his head.

In the next second, the terrifying sensation suddenly vanished, as if everything he just felt was merely an illusion.

At some point, Qi Junxiang’s back was already drenched in cold sweat, the moisture soaking through his green official robe and staining it with a deep shade, strikingly conspicuous.

He had a premonition that if he dared to speak out, certain common sense of his would surely undergo a change beyond anyone’s awareness.

Just like Lin Yanluo.

"County Magistrate, if there’s nothing else, I will take my leave now."

Qi Junxiang didn’t dare wipe the cold sweat on his forehead, striving to maintain a calm expression, he spoke respectfully.

"No rush, go and invite the heads of the other three great families in the city, as well as some of the next most prominent powerful clans and township landlords."

"After inviting this batch of people, go outside the city to invite the heads of the Six Great Sects. I need to talk to them individually about Dragon City County’s taxation issues."

Su Yuan said with a leisurely demeanor, as casually as talking about what to eat tonight.

Qi Junxiang opened his mouth but could only silently utter the words "At your command."

He predicted that all the powerful figures in Dragon City County would become puppets manipulated by County Magistrate Su.

However... thinking about what he had seen and heard in a month on the evil deeds of the local powerful figures, Qi Junxiang couldn’t help but find within himself an inexplicable thrill, a dangerous delight.

Because only by collecting ninety-four percent or more in taxes could one somewhat repay the crimes committed by these landlords and powerful families!

With this thought, Qi Junxiang’s fear and resistance greatly diminished.

However, he wasn’t sure if this was genuinely from his heart, or if County Magistrate Su had secretly altered his common sense.

In fact, Su Yuan hadn’t altered Qi Junxiang’s common sense.

Because as soon as the tax payments from the four great families, the Six Great Sects, and other families arrived, it would be impossible to cover up within the entire county government office, so brainwashing one person alone was meaningless.

Unless the common sense of everyone in the county government office was altered.

But the Demon Technique·Finger Technique (Level 3) only affects up to a hundred people at once, exceeding that would free the first person affected from control, regaining consciousness.

These hundred slots are stretched thin just with the influential figures of the major landlords, leaving no room to use on his own associates.

It would be more practical to give them a pile of bonuses as high as a bed afterward.

"Hmm, ever since coming to Dragon City County, I’ve only committed acts of justice."

Su Yuan reflected on his actions since his appointment and felt a sense of accomplishment.

...

In the Lin Family Mansion, Lin Yonghua sat upright in the ancestral hall, somewhat anxious as he awaited his daughter’s return.

The claim of closing off due to illness was naturally false, he was merely too fearful to face County Magistrate Su directly, worried about getting slapped in the face as he was last time.

"Alas, Su Youlin torments my Lin Family too much, just hope he doesn’t make any excessive demands this time."

Lin Yonghua sighed to himself.

At that moment, a series of clear footsteps sounded outside the ancestral hall.

Lin Yonghua’s spirits lifted as his obedient daughter had returned.

Sure enough, the next second, Lin Yanluo rushed into the ancestral hall like the wind, with a somewhat urgent expression.

"You’re back? Su Youlin didn’t do anything to you, did he!"

Lin Yonghua asked with concern.

Then, he saw Lin Yanluo frown and say:

"Father, how can you address the County Magistrate like that? Such disrespect!"

Lin Yonghua: "???"

Lin Yanluo: "I don’t have time to explain, Old Deng, quickly give me the treasury key! I need to get money!"