No matter how hard I focus on making an orderly [Record] of what happened, I can not think straight. Each time I concentrate, I find that I just can't. Sometimes because of unexpected events, like the Sharagzian Kingdom and the human rules of Chubu problems. Other times, it is something different. A circumstance that hampers me from making an adequate recollection, something that could be called my awakening to this world.

And yet, I have to force myself to continue my [Record] precisely as I lived all of it. No matter if no one but me needs such memories, the timing and circumstances are equally important as their result.

***

Leaving [The Rich Miner] tavern, Aison guided me to one of the far-away warehouses of the Guild. Well, northeast from the inn, on the opposite end from the [Foreign District] gates, which I crossed twice a few hours ago.

There, just a few meters, as I could almost see them, from the gates to the [Miner District], we met with four people. The three men and single woman were in the upper average of martial ones and supposedly were guards under the employ of Maester Gudea, people of the [Cadowden Trade Guild], though they had no titles.

One of the men, Ferdar, assumed the role of commander for the others, as well as for us, as he explained Gudea's plan. Aison had discussed most of it during our last-night meeting, so nothing was new to me.

In short, we would move into two groups of three. The increased number to show awareness of the threat, but not so many as to not scare the attackers. Our task would be to receive the taxes, tariffs, rents, or whatever from a few farmlands owned by the Guild. In the last one for each, each team would receive an open cart with supplies and make a run for Chubu.

"The Maester said you two are very proficient fighters, so two of us will go with each, thus, taking both of the collecting routes with the best team possible." Ferdar's voice denoted a mix of nervousness and anger, and while I could attribute the former to the mission, the latter's only option was our presence.

"Seems wise, yet I would not want to risk Maester Rador, so, if you may, guard, Ferdar?" I can't say if Aison was worried about me or meant something else, but I ended with the two guards with higher martial stats. Well, if we excluded Ferdar, who was the only one with over-average [Strength] and [Slashing].

"Anyway, we have some [Magic Flare] items to use in case we meet danger, but our team will keep them. Is that all right, Maester Rador?" Ferdar asked as soon as he finished sending the woman and one of the men to my side of the unexpectedly divided street.

"I see no problem, as I do have the relevant spell. But, will the reinforcements catch up on it, with my range being just half a Primordial Step?" I deliberately lowered the range to avoid issues, as well as to check how well-informed they were. After all, the plate on the city's entrance did reveal my proficiency. So any mage or knowing person would say that it was above, even if slightly, of what I said, 800 meters.

"Our flares hardly reach a bit over that, and Maester Gudea asked a runner to follow us from the visible distance. A single person will not solicit unwanted attention, as for waiting for the more distant reinforcements, it will be up to us." Ferdar reported as if I was his superior, and only my improved hearing, plus facing him, allowed me to understand the follow-up words, "Or to you two, as Maester Gudea thinks."

I had more questions, especially the position of said reinforcements, but Aison won over me, talking first, "Understood. Then, Ferdar, while we may be of different standing, especially Maester Rador, you will decide if everything is prepared and give the order to set off."

And to my despair, Ferdar followed up that lead right away, confirming that, in his opinion, we were ready, and standing around would not help us in any way.

***

My leading team member, the sole woman of Ferdar's team, wasn't mindless, at least. When the command to set up sound, she looked at me, and only after I nodded did she point to the street I came from with Aison. From the bits I understood, we would be leaving through the main gates while Aison's team would take the Miner ones.

As we basically backtracked to the inn, from where I departed less than an hour ago, neither of the two members of my so-called team talked, so I took a chance at observing them.

The one who took the lead, Eithne, was average in stats and looks. While her [Slashing], [Quick], [Body], and [Strength] were on 10, or [Dexterity] at 9, all of her remaining skills hardly touched the introductory 5 or 6. Combined with her decent-looking yet plain face and figure, I couldn't think of her as anything but the average guard. And as she was dressed in the so-common leather clothes, with some slight chain-like chest cover, and armed with the usual shortsword (the blade below 70 cm as I saw it), it only reinforced the 'average' image.

The one who followed silently behind us was a man younger than me. Without being all-knowing, I will say that he looked in his early 20', was pretty skinny, even if his 10 [Strength] stat could disagree, and except for one [Piercing] on the trained 10, this Lutrin had no skills near, he also somehow looked inexperienced. The latter was more a feeling than something visible as enthusiasm poured from how he held his all-iron spear. Although, maybe that uncalled confidence was the basis for my inner doubt. After all, it was strange (even for me) for someone to carry a weapon as if he was about to fight while walking across a friendly, supposedly not dangerous city.

Anyway! Half an hour later, we neared the gates. The guards around it weren't the same, so except for a few questions that Eithne answered, we only were held up to check our badges. The fact that I bore an iron badge and one of Vruz's did generate some, but I stepped forward as soon as the questions started. When I took over, I related a small lie (or truth?) about Maester Gudea, who asked for my help with some stuff and how that would cover my stay.

***

For some reason, I expected a lot of trouble to arise since we left inner Chubu. Maybe because of the unsafety, more learned than experienced, of outer Chubu, or just because I felt that the outer city was the one from where it was easy to follow any tax collectors, wait for them to accumulate money, and rob them.

Yet no trouble arose for the first part of our journey. A voyage from the inner gates, through the slum-like city, up to the first farmstead on our list.

Of that latter, I could be sure. I disguised a few [Life Radar] spells and found no one but a few people following us after we left the outer walls, and between the constant distance and previous instructions, it was clear that it was our escort, not robbers.

While I am not in the disposition to leave a lot of descriptions, with our journey end occupying most of my thoughts, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the farmstead we first visited.

A small village, not more than thirty or forty houses, just an hour's walk from the first turn after the one I had taken before, to [Swallowed Mine], less than a kilometer from the so-badly maintained [Chubu's Royal Tract]. Walled with a three-meter wooden wall, it looked more like an outpost, even with all the farmland in sight.

Its name was [Crystal Spring], and as we were invited inside by a couple of burly men, who looked more like fighters than farmers if one didn't check their skills, I found the name fitting. After all, a natural fountain, surrounded by a small stone fence, was present indeed, and the clear water, which was very tasty as I did take a sip, was clear as crystal. The village itself was also spotless, crystally so, not a single speck of dirt or dust, each plank-constructed house looking as recently polished, and the straw of the roofs gleaming under the sun.

A 50-year-or-so-old man, who limped with his left, approached us after a few minutes by the spring and greeted us while introducing himself but also questioning us, "I am the town's representative, Aronr. I do not recognize you, but probably, you came for the Guild taxations?"

Eithne took the lead, explaining that we were indeed from the Trade Guild, dropping a few commentaries on the demise of the last month's collectors and why the team now was of three experienced guards. Probably Gudea instructed to trust no one, as why would slip words like that into the usual tax collection?

"Mmm, we heard about that from one of the Guild's merchants. Such a shame! Herard was born near my old house in Blackwater, and he nearly grew up under my eye." Aronr's words or sorrow didn't seem fake. And I even doubt he could fake them correctly with nothing but labor skills. A few moments later, he continued, asking what anyone should do, "Have you caught the culprits? We have kept a few men looking around to have time to close the gate and call for help, but..."

"Maester Gudea considers that it was the deed of the bandits the Baron of Old Anear found the last week, but he still instructed us to be careful. I will ask one of the managers to send news if that is confirmed." Eithne continued an obviously prepared story, as otherwise, Gudea would not ask for our participation or asked the people of the Baron for help. Family or not, I doubt that he could request a lot of soldiers for free.

"I see. Hopefully, it is as you say. Please send my thanks to the Guild and Maester Gudea. We managed to sell everything without even leaving the village this month." Aronr nodded and motioned to one of the other villagers, who approached with a bag that sounded as if it was full of coins.

A couple of seconds later, the bag ended up in my hands, Eithne saying I should carry it, and we left the village after only a few words more.

***

"First time I see someone pay his taxes so willingly." I asked a hundred steps from the village just as we neared the major road. It was both for curiosity's sake and to discover more about Gudea and his dealings. And also - Who the hell gave up on money like that?

"There you have why Maester Gudea is so well-liked around here." Lutrin gave a carefree answer, which earned him a *Tch* from Eithne.

"Maester Rador, you work for the Guild, so you should understand the benefits of serving it, don't you?" After glaring at her fellow guard, Eithne asked.

"Only the martial ones, as it shames me to say." No way to hide it but to lie a bit, huh? In truth, I had nearly zero ideas about taxes and such, all the stuff solved by other people since my arrival.

"Oh, I see. In that case, you are familiar with the Kingdom taxes?" Yet, Eithne believed me right away, asking further.

"A bit, from my time working as a free blade." Well, let's go mercenary and dense.

"Mmm, then it will be easier. Allow me to explain..." Thankfully this time, Eithne did fix on explaining in place of questioning.

Eithne showed herself capable in the village, and her explanation was pretty comprehensive. Although, I will still choose to change it to something more of my liking, as the amount of 'tenths' and 'cuts' in place of numbers feel unsuitable, and her praise of Maester Gudea is even more so for my notes.

_______

The Kingdom of Neverc had a primary tax system consisting of 10% percent of any income or production that went to the Crown. But, that only applied to free people living on their own lands.

In the case of local suzerains, guilds, and different associations, it was the organization or the owner (be it noble or merchant), the one to pay this [Crown's Tenth] tax. Obviously, they would collect their own (set by themselves) tariffs from their dependents to cover the costs of their land (rent-like), personnel (guards and others), maintaining their buildings (especially for guilds and smaller businesses), etc., and from that amount, the Crown would receive its share.

A different system applied to the cities, where the assigned alderman (in the case of the New Cities) or lord (in the case of Noble controlled cities) would pay the [Crown's Tenth] from their income. As for the distinction, Cities had no percentage taxes but set up rigid sums paid yearly or monthly. That could appear better for shopkeepers, but all businesses were subject to a direct 10% to the Crown if they operated inside a city.

As for the explanation about [Crystal Spring], I can resume it in two matters.

The Trade Guild had its own rules, like a portion for the [Cadowden Trade Guild] (the HQ) from any deal, and so on, but in general, each local branch was pretty free in its operations.

For example, the lands owned by the local branch were free to use, rent, and else under the condition of paying the Crown and Cadowden a 10% respectively. Thus, it was the Manager, Gudea, in Chubu's case, to decide on what he would rent and at what price.

And here is the first reason, Gudea chose to only take 20% from [Crystal Spring] and lands, as opposed to the 30% + the [Crown's Tenth] (so 40%!) that the Baron of Old Anear implemented in the villages built on his land. There were also no minimum payments, unlike on any noble-owned grounds, so a bad month was not a problem, at least in that aspect.

The second reason was that the Trade Guild, all of the branches, were far less inclined to take the village's production at its lowest but give a more market-like price.

And while merchants enjoyed profits, they would also manage more reasonable prices for the villagers' needs as it was a permanent source of income. Eithne even added that Gudea had ordered to give them base prices on all construction and similar materials. Thus, the better state of the village and higher living conditions.

There were other reasons, although they had nothing to do with Gudea. People living in lands of the Trade Guild were considered, partially, as members of it, so they were overall freer to move and wouldn't be drafted into random stuff of nobles. And merchants would often pass by, buying whatever the villagers produced freely, as opposed to the more controlled market-day system of all other lands.

Side notes;

With each city setting its own taxes, some crazily high as in Chubu's case, I can only imagine the amount of money that had to flow towards the capital!

And another one that I can not help but ponder on. How the hell do they track all the taxes? Couldn't people hide their income? What would stop, e.g., the inn owner from saying he was devoid of guests all year?

_______

By the end of the explanation, we had already reached our next destination. It wasn't a village like the one we visited, but an inn, just some 500 meters from the road. Somehow, when I passed here before, I didn't notice its existence, even if I was riding on the coach seat around that time.

"There are two villages on the lakeshore, and usually, we would have to walk there, but today we are lucky." Lutrin noticed my doubtful look and explained further, "See the carts near the wall? They are part of the market caravan they sent. And both village representatives requested to pass the Guild's money here before returning, to avoid risking the six primordial steps trek down to the lake with money that isn't theirs."

"Oh, I see." And indeed, I did see some simple and small carts, more like pushcarts than anything, parked near the fence-like wall surrounding the two-story stone structure, a sizeable yard, and some wooden utility buildings.

"Let's go in, meet with them, and leave quickly. This place is on the road, so I don't want to jingle coin. Be careful and keep it down. We don't want to meet some extra danger. There should be some of the Viscount or the Baron's guards, but who knows?" I am unsure if Eithne meant it for me, for Lutrin, or both of us, but in any case, I agreed with her. We were already waltzing around, expecting potential risk. So why add even more? And where, if not in a roadside inn, one could meet people that wouldn't refuse some extra coins?

The gate was wide open, and we met no one even as we crossed the fifty meters that separated them from the inn itself. Passing the similarly open door, we ended in a sizeable room with several long tables with benches on the sides, illuminated by the sunlight that entered through the door and the two square window-like openings.

"Welcome, welcome. Please sit anywhere. I will run by you in a whiff!" A young, plump woman nodded and greeted us as she passed by us, holding some wooden mugs.

"Lutrin, you have met one of them, right? See him?" Eithne scanned the room as she asked.

"No, but..." He looked around and then pointed to a few men and women sitting around the third, farthest table, "Oh, that's Sercia, the wife of Ilkor from the [Fish Garden], one of who we have to meet. I will go ask."

Sercia was bulky, all right. She occupied a third of the bench meant for some ten people, had a rosy complexion, and had her grayed hair tied into a knot. Another six people, all dressed in simple unpainted clothes, sat near her, four women on the other side of the table and two men on hers. As she noticed Lutrin, who walked towards her leaving us near the entrance, Sercia half stood up and loudly greeted him in a raspy and slightly blurred voice, "Haven't seen ya in a long time!"

"Sercia, nice to see that you still know how to have fun." Lutrin half-laughed as he pointed to the several cups and mugs on the table and sat on the spot offered by one of the men, who quickly moved away.

"Let's wait for him to find out where the representatives are. And-" Eithne sighed as she continued in a lower tone, "-hope they didn't drink all of their money by now. I have no wish to walk to that damned muddy town."

"Been there?" I asked to uphold the conversation as we took a spot near the doorway on a table where a pair of rough-looking men sat.

"Once as an escort for one of Maester Gudea's aides. Then had to spend half a day to wash off the mud and fish' stink." She explained while slowly examining the room as if taking the faces of everyone present.

"So bad, huh?" I somehow expected a 2nd [Crystal Spring] description, but it seems that not all towns can be so clean and pleasant, even with Gudea's policies.

"Mmm. It is not late, so I wonder how long our villager friends have been drinking?" She half-muttered in what I assumed was a professional question, but not having an answer, I chose to shrug and imitate her, taking a good look around, mine with [Status Screen].