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Chapter 919 - 919 98 Follow-Up Request for Monthly Pass_3

919: Chapter 98: Follow-Up (Request for Monthly Pass)_3 919: Chapter 98: Follow-Up (Request for Monthly Pass)_3 As the leader, suppressing potential threats in advance could only be considered a standard operation.

“The Chancellor is right, the situation has already changed.

The Kingdom’s previous foreign policies also need to adapt to the times.

Order down, let all departments increase their offensive strength.

I hope we can defeat the Half-Orc Kingdom within three months and completely eradicate them within a year!”

Charles III declared assertively.

…

In the Black Forest Kingdom, hearing about Shelter VII breaking through the Sanctuary initially startled Alexander V.

It was impossible not to panic, as one of the participants who kicked the Church Fleet when it was down, sooner or later, the Church could expose them if they investigated deeply.

Directly confronting the Church still made Alexander V’s heart beat rapidly.

However, this anxiety quickly disappeared.

“The Church actually backed off?

Shelter VII has at least three Divine Artifacts that are specifically effective against Ghost Ships.

With such a great opportunity to assert his authority, he chose to give it up, there must be other reasons behind this decision,”

Alexander V said, frowning.

The same event, seen through different eyes, naturally revealed different issues.

Among his contemporaries, Alexander V was not one who sought the limelight.

He usually thought carefully before acting, a typical moderate representative among the monarchs.

Even though he despised the Church, Alexander V never directly confronted it, preferring to subtly sabotage them in retaliation if wronged.

For example, attacking the survivors of the Church Fleet under the guise of being Pirates, which left enough room for maneuver.

“Your Majesty, the Pope didn’t seize the chance to counterattack after breaking into the Sanctuary, perhaps not due to the fear of Ghost Ships, but because of the Alpha Kingdom.

Having been burned once, if they were to act again, they definitely couldn’t move with the fleet.

Without an army for protection, just a group of experts causing trouble in the territorial waters of the Alpha Kingdom would be extremely dangerous.

If the Alpha People suddenly turned hostile, their escape would become difficult.

Aside from other factors, just the three Inherited Artifacts in Shelter VII’s hands are worth the Alpha People making a move in the dark.

Even if they couldn’t handle it alone, they could seek help from the Franks, who are equally hostile towards the Church.

There are plenty of powers coveting the Inherited Artifacts, so there is no shortage of allies.

Taking those Artifacts out is easy for Shelter VII, but bringing them back would be difficult,”

Duke Milton analyzed with a chuckle.

Not to mention Alpha and Frank, two kingdoms hostile towards the Church, even countries with good relations with the Church would probably be tempted.

This was the Church’s juridical tradition, whoever obtained it would gain the initiative.

Whether it’s through negotiating with the Church, striving for more benefits; or establishing a new power, these are the most important bargaining chips.

“It’s just as the Chancellor said.

If Shelter VII dares to flaunt those Artifacts, I’d be tempted to make a move myself.

Forget it, such an opportunity is unlikely to occur.

Shelter VII was not foolish— if he came with a Divine Artifact, he would do so openly and honorably.

“We can’t get our hands on the Divine Artifacts, so let’s consider how many benefits we can reap from the destruction of the Church Fleet!”

Alexander V shook his head and said.

It was not disappointment but relief that was real.

If the Inherited Artifacts of the Church were truly delivered right under his nose, that would pose a real dilemma.

As a country in the Central Continent, the Black Forest Kingdom inevitably became a battleground.

While other nations treasured their Divine Artifacts, those same artifacts turned into curses for them.

When it came to Divine Artifacts of legal inheritance, it wasn’t just about seizing the artifact.

One must also prove the legitimacy of the artifact’s origin.

Any reason could be fabricated to obtain an artifact, but one must never openly steal it.

Once something is in the public eye, it becomes impossible to act on it.

“Your Majesty, with the destruction of the Church Fleet, their international influence has drastically declined, which is a significant boon to the Kingdom’s overseas trade development.

However, these are long-term benefits.

In the short term, the main benefit we can secure is the further reduction in the tithe ratio.

How much it can be reduced still needs to be negotiated with the Clergy.

If the Kingdom maintains a firm stance, they would likely compromise no matter how much we propose to lower it.”

Count Baxter said enthusiastically.

Before the war, the Black Forest Kingdom’s finances had always been favorable.

As long as there were no major natural disasters, the treasury would maintain a surplus.

Once the war broke out, the situation changed dramatically.

Years of financial accumulation amounted to little in the face of this war, a gold-eating beast.

Although not heavily indebted yet, the Black Forest Kingdom’s fiscal deficit had indeed arisen and was expanding rapidly.

With an opportunity to cut from the Church to make up for its own fiscal inadequacies, the Treasury naturally pushed hard for it.

“As it stands, there are likely more than one or two countries requesting to lower the tithe.

The Kingdom doesn’t need to rush to push forward.

First, use the war as an excuse to withhold this year’s tithe.

By the time the war ends, the results of negotiations between the Church and various parties should be available.

Then, we can use the results of other countries’ negotiations as a reference when we talk with the Church next, which should improve their receptiveness significantly,”

Alexander V said calmly.

He avoided mentioning what to do with the withheld “Tithe” during the war, clearly planning to default on it.

Resuming negotiations after the war seems full of sincerity, but it essentially waits for an excuse to reduce the “Tithe.”

Warfare inevitably brings damage.

Exaggerating the losses becomes the perfect reason to reduce taxes.

After all, these wars against Different Races could always be framed as fighting for the Human Race’s survival, instantly enhancing their prestige.

If the Church continued to decline during the war, then in future negotiations, Black Forest Kingdom could gain even more leverage.

Even following the example of Kingdom of Alpha and the Kingdom of Frank, symbolically paying one Gold Coin a year was not out of the question.

To be precise, the two countries hadn’t even paid that one Gold Coin.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to give that final Gold Coin, but the Church felt insulted and refused to accept it.

As for the missing “Tithe,” it was naturally spent by the local churches under various pretenses.

Today repairing a church, tomorrow giving charity, the day after launching a public welfare initiative…

It was just a set of accounts; the Church lacked the capability to verify them.

These superficial projects were fundamentally about the ruling class maintaining their legal authority.

…