Everyone, except for Malron and Old Ford, was so stunned by Paul’s “progressive tax rates” that they were speechless.
‘Lord Grayman, are you sure you’re not just robbing people?’
“Ahem!” Hansel asked cautiously, “Your Lordship, this progressive tax rate… might you reconsider it?”
Paul replied with absolute certainty, “This is my final decision. The tax rates for each bracket are open for discussion, but the method of progressive taxation must be implemented.”
Seeing the unquestionable look on the lord’s face, everyone understood that there was no way to stop him.
Looking at the varied expressions on everyone’s faces, the Count of Baylding, Malron Ganard, stood up.
“To set a good example, Paul and I have decided to lead the way. Whether it’s the income tax or the progressive tax rates, once the official tax policy is enacted, collection will begin with the two of us. The specific details of each of our tax payments will be posted in the form of a public notice on the town hall notice boards in every city.”
It was from this moment that everyone finally realized that Count Grayman was truly trying to build a strong and sound system of public finance.
Paul asked, “Does anyone else have a different opinion?”
No one raised an objection.
Paul looked at his director of taxation. “Good. In that case, the specific details will be handed over to the Tax Bureau for research. I’ll summon everyone for another discussion once a draft is ready.”
Steve Fielding stood up and accepted the order, “As you command, Lord Grayman.”
Paul then turned to his chief justice, Thomas, and said, “After the new tax policy is implemented, there will certainly be people who try to conceal their true wealth and income through various means. The existing laws against tax evasion must be further improved.”
“The Lord’s Court will work closely with the Tax Department, Lord Grayman,” Thomas promised.
The meeting on tax reform lasted for more than two hours. Paul only declared it adjourned when it was close to the Administration Council’s official closing time.
Paul returned to his office and plopped down into the executive chair he had specially commissioned. The chair was not made of just hard wood; modeled after a design from his previous life, its back and seat were padded with soft sponge, making it very comfortable to sit in.
Since no one else was present, he comfortably propped his legs up on the desk in front of him, cradled his head in his hands, and leaned back lazily in the chair, imagining the scene after the new tax policy was implemented.
His secretary, Bernard, pushed open the office door and came in, but Paul did not change his posture. Bernard was not considered an “outsider”; like the old steward, Philip, he had long since become a part of the castle.
“Oh, Bernard, care for a glass of wine?”
“Thank you, Lord Grayman.”
The secretary walked over to the side table where the wine set was kept, picked up the bottle, poured two glasses, and carried them over to Paul, handing one to him.
Paul freed one hand to take it. The two glasses clinked lightly in mid-air, making a crisp sound.
They each took a small sip.
“Actually, Lord Grayman, I’ve had a question about you for a long time.”
“Oh, Bernard, if it’s been for a long time, why didn’t you ask sooner? You are my closest partner in my work. Feel free to ask anything.”
Bernard was very gratified to hear the Count call him a partner.
And so he posed the question that was on his mind: “Are you trying to be a [Saint]?”
“A saint?” Paul was slightly surprised. He didn’t understand why his secretary would ask such a thing. What part of his behavior resembled that of a saint?
“Yes, the kind of saint who is willing to devote and burn themselves for others.”
“Oh, Bernard, are you talking about an altruist?”
“Altruism? A saint is indeed altruistic.”
“Then I really don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such an evaluation from you.”
“Just look!” Bernard said with a matter-of-fact expression. “You so eagerly… [scrape together] wealth…please forgive me for using that term, but in many people’s eyes, you are indeed somewhat unscrupulous. But…”
Bernard emphasized the word “but.” ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
“Do you scrape together money for the sake of hoarding wealth? No, you are no miser. The money in the treasury is always spent completely clean by you.”
“Do you spend all your money for your own enjoyment? No, that’s not it either. Forgive my frankness, but your material circumstances can only be described as frugal among the nobility of Ordo.”
Bernard put down his wine glass and spread his hands.
“You pour vast sums of money into road construction, technological research and development, and the advancement of education. You even generously provide loans at extremely low interest rates to private merchants and factory owners. If this isn’t being a saint, what is? If this isn’t altruism, what is?”
Paul listened to his secretary’s words with a smile. He wagged a finger with his free hand.
“Oh, Bernard, you’re wrong. I am not nearly as noble as you imagine. A saint? Such a thing is truly too far removed from the essence of my soul.”
Bernard was taken aback. “You’re being modest.”
“Hoho, I am absolutely not being modest. Ab-so-lute-ly not!”
“Then there must be a deeper reason driving you to do this.”
“There is indeed a deeper reason driving me to do this.”
Paul answered him with a smile, “It is precisely for my own material enjoyment.”
For a moment, Bernard suspected the Count was toying with him.
Lord Grayman, looking at the various furnishings in this castle, are you sure you’re ‘enjoying’ yourself?
“I know you have your doubts, but… forgive me, I cannot completely answer your questions right now.”
Paul looked at Bernard with a sly, even somewhat mystifying, expression.
“However, the material enjoyment I look forward to is absolutely something that this current world cannot provide. Yes, as a lord, with a single command I can direct a large amount of manpower to work for me, and I can take any product from my domain as I please. But this quantitative change has not yet reached the point of causing a qualitative change.”
As Bernard’s gaze grew even more bewildered, Paul said, “The material life I look forward to can only be achieved by combining various conditions: science, technology, systems, ideas, manpower…high-quality manpower, of course. Not a single one can be missing. And it requires the continuous integration of these things to achieve the kind of qualitative change I anticipate.”
“That is why I am working so hard to change this world. For every minute I waste money indulging in the material life of this current level, the progress towards that qualitative change is delayed by one minute.”