Collecting Sewage Discharge Fees

Chapter 58 Collecting Sewage Discharge Fees (Please add to your favorites, please read on, please vote)

Baron Aldrich, however, understood the situation: in this study, he was like meat on a chopping block, and the knights around him could not protect him at all.

"I don't want anything. Since your dyeing workshop is going to discharge wastewater, I agree. But since that wastewater passes through my territory, you'll have to pay me a sewage discharge fee." Alphonse leaned back in his chair with a smile, crossing his legs. "That's reasonable, isn't it? If you're willing, you can avoid an unnecessary war."

"I will issue an order that dyeing workshops will no longer discharge wastewater into the river."

Baron Aldridge eventually made a concession, but that wasn't what Alphonse wanted.

He slowly shook his head. "It's been going on for so many years, hasn't it? Baron Aldrich, if you suddenly want to change it, can you guarantee that your workers won't make any mistakes? If they slack off one day and discharge the wastewater into the river again, I'll have to come to you again. It's too much trouble. I'm not in the mood to come back again."

In a past life, a certain country was able to launch a war using a bottle of laundry detergent as a pretext because they were powerful enough to distort the truth.

Alphonse could do that too, but it would just be a matter of finding an excuse.

It's possible that it doesn't exist, or it might exist.

Dyes are easy to find.

I believe Baron Aldridge understands this as well.

"How much do you want?" Baron Aldrich asked, his breath snorting like a bull in a fight.

"We're neighbors, so I'm embarrassed to charge you too much. How about five thousand gold coins a year?" Alphonse casually offered a price.

"This is impossible!" Baron Aldrich shouted. "Your sewage fee is outrageous! I'd rather shut down the dyehouse!"

Was it originally set too high?

Alphonse stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then tentatively asked again, "So, four thousand?"

"This is a price I can't accept! How much do you think a dye shop can make?!" Baron Aldrich was furious, his face flushed red and his beard bristling. "I'll give you two thousand gold coins at most!"

"That's not enough. Shall we add a little more?" Alphonse was unsure how many gold coins Baron Aldrich had in mind, and he didn't really know much about the dyeing industry.

"If you're not willing to accept this price, I'd rather go to war with you!" Baron Aldridge roared furiously.

"Alright then." Alphonse thought that since it was free money anyway, two thousand it was fine.

According to Captain Simon, the people had not experienced any problems with drinking water.

Judging from Baron Aldrich's exasperated state, he probably won't be able to knock off much more.

We can just raise the price next year; it's not a one-time charge.

With caution in mind, Alphonse followed Baron Aldrich to collect the money.

Baron Aldrich was reluctant, but he didn't try anything funny. He just didn't let Alphonse follow him into his vault, but he still brought out a box of gold coins.

Counting was not too troublesome; Baron Aldrich showed Alphonse another method of counting.

It is calculated based on the weight of the gold coins.

He brought out a balance scale and first weighed a gold coin.

Then place a large number of gold coins on one side, and place weights on the other side, weigh them together, and calculate the total quantity.

Considering the minting technology of that era, there might be inconsistencies. Alphonse picked up a few gold coins and weighed them separately. He didn't feel much difference, so he guessed they were accurate.

This is much faster than counting by hand.

As Alphonse left the castle with the chest of gold coins, he saw a large number of soldiers gathered outside, arrows and crossbows poised to strike.

This was to be expected.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

Baron Aldrich is still under Mia's control.

As the host, he should at least see his guests off.

That makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

With a handprint still visible on her face, Keberie roared angrily, "Alphonse! How dare you come to my house and humiliate me! You... today..."

"Shut up!" Baron Aldrich roared, interrupting Keberie.

Seeing his son act foolishly and even try to provoke Alphonse, he was furious.

Your father is being watched, and you still dare to cause trouble? Have you considered my safety?

"Make way! Let them go!"

The soldiers immediately made way for them.

Alphonse turned and smiled. "Baron Aldrich, you made a wise choice. I hope we can get along well from now on. Goodbye."

Having said that, he led Mia through the crowd, calmly mounted his horse, and rode away.

"Father," Keberie said, still somewhat unwilling.

"Go back!" Baron Aldrich snapped at his son, then waved for the soldiers to disperse.

Back in the castle, Baron Aldrich finally erupted in fury, roaring, "You brat! I'll show you the truth! You've messed with the wrong person! I'll take you to the Senate! I'll make you pay for my losses tenfold! You just wait!"

Once outside town, Mia finally couldn't help but speak up, "Isn't this just blatant robbery? This violates the code of knights."

"There is no violation."

Having spent so much time together, Alphonse already knew that Mia was a very methodical person who, although she was righteous, did not know how to be flexible.

"By coming to protect me, you have demonstrated your loyalty to your lord; it was Baron Aldrich and his men who committed the evil deeds first, polluting the river, and you bravely fought against injustice—that is courage; we speak up for our people, which is also an exercise of justice and protection of the weak; and you have indeed upheld the honor of House Tartarus—doesn't that perfectly conform to the code of knighthood?"

Alphonse's nonsensical reasoning made Mia roll her eyes. "Your personality is nothing like the old lord's."

"No matter what, I can make the Tartarus family thrive, isn't that enough? People shouldn't be bound by rules and regulations; they should always be more flexible and adaptable," Alphonse said with a nonchalant smile.

Mia breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Alphonse's methods were somewhat inappropriate, Baron Aldrich was the one who started the trouble first, and Alphonse did indeed achieve a good result using this rogue tactic.

The old lord had protested before, but in the end, the protests had no effect whatsoever, and the Five-Colored Flower Clan continued to discharge wastewater into the river.

If the old lord were still alive, he would never have used war as a means of coercion, and he would never have allowed the people of his territory to be drawn into the war.

but

Perhaps Alphonse is right?

But his behavior was completely different from the "him" of the past, as if he were a completely different person.

In the past, Alphonse would never have dared to act so recklessly.

He was tyrannical and domineering towards commoners in his territory, but he was like a quail when facing other nobles.

Even if someone becomes stronger, their personality shouldn't undergo such a drastic reversal.

(End of this chapter)