Chapter 382 - Preparing against a Disaster.

The new Crutal Castle is very close to being built, it requires just another month or two in order to give some finishing touches and perhaps another month to settle in with Furniture and fancy extras.

Chan and Arbella Nicia walked in the temporary Castle they have taken property over, he is in a rather calm mood although craving Beer a tad bit.

Chan walked over to his father and greeted, "Good morning."

"Back from your morning walk I see." King Xakro asked, forgetting to return the greeting due to the fact that there is a lot in his mind.

"Well Arbella has forced me in to so many walks that I've come to like them, I understand a bit of her points there." Chan explained in a little bit of detail, and in other terms wanted to show Gratitude. "Thank you for not cutting her Salary, she is indeed over qualified for her job."

"What are a few hundred Gold Coins compared to forging a worth future King? If it wasn't for our current Dilema, I would have doubled her salary." Xakro is tending to encourage them both here, and his words are sweeter than honey in many aspects. Who would know that the King would eventually speak at such a good intend?

"A King, as much as I want to be one, i feel like it will hang on a thread." With his wordplay, Chan is quoting the trouble of which the Grand King from the motherland brought.

"Yes that can be a problem, I never thought that my own motherland would turn against me. This is a big loss, because not only did we loose a tremendous financial support, we can easily be conquered considering the Soldier Count they have and can upgrade." Xakro did not beat around the bush here, he got directly to the point.

"Like how on Earth does he expect you to pile up 250 million Gold Coins in a span of 10 years?" Arbella spoke, making it obvious that she has done rather extensive research in this matter by adding. "I've seen the monthly income. Even with the recent changes, making 250 million is impossible!"

"I don't think he wants you to succeed, my thought is that he wants more power. So he first declared "independence" and afterwards gave you an impossible goal. Us failing, is an excuse for his forces to attack and claim all of Ignis." I'd like to say that it was Xakro who spoke these rather intelligent sentences, but no. It is all Stefan and his own merit. Even adding. "He wants to be the Grand King of Ignis, being one in just the motherland wasn't enough."

"I shared the same thought a while ago, but his words and his intentions did not link. He made it all about knowing what's best for the motherland, yet at the bottom sentence he threatens to invade which will only harm the population count of the motherland. I suppose he never cared about that anyway, it is obvious that he wants more power." King Xakro complimented his son's words, rather interesting for him to see Chan be this smart though.

Here Chan might be having a strong point, because when all of Meridionali Ignis dropped out of the Alliance, the income from the 10% tax faced a significant nudge down. What used to bring Crutal Kingdom 240,000 Gold Coins only brings 25,500 now!

The gap is indeed large, but the Kingdoms in Occidentis Ignis and Septemtrionis Ignis aren't exactly the richest. And what better way to defeat an enemy than cut down on their profits in such a crisis?

However, it is clear to see that with the 10% income from the taxes, Crutal Kingdom will never manage to pay 250 Million in a span of 10 years, it is simply impossible. So the King has ordered that after December ends, the tax will be increased to 30%.

It is a drastic measure, but it will help deal with some of the damage while King Xakro tries to figure out other ideas. In the meantime, the profit from the tax now bumps up to 76,500 Gold Coins a month. It sounds bigger indeed, but not much compared to the 240,000 they used to get just from 10%!

Furthermore, local business taxes here in Crutal Kingdom have been tripled! This won't make a significant difference in the profit, but now Crutal Kingdom will get 15,000 Gold Coins a month out of them instead of 5,000. Business men obviously aren't happy about it, but it won't damage their earnings in a large extend.

Housing Taxes have been doubled as well, Crutal Kingdom still has 300 houses after the destroyed ones were reconstructed, so all together now they will bring 30,000 Gold Coins. Paying a 100 Gold Coin tax just to live in a house is indeed big in these financial standards but considering the hundreds of people hired in this Domain, every house has at least two people bringing gold home so it is manageable.

In good news at least, Ratan has not stopped their orders and they continue to order in large quantities. Ratan is pretty much a super Continent so Ignis can never give them enough products, meaning that Crutal Kingdom will always have business there as long as it has the people to put in the work.

Ratan is keeping their orders continues, they have no deadlines. They have bought Iron, lumber and even animal products from Crutal Kingdom due to the fact that they can sell it more there thanks to the different economies.

But, regardless of this good fact it still isn't enough to pile up 250 million Gold Coins! Sure, Crutal Kingdom is managing to maintain a beautiful profit of 264,500 Gold Coins which is the biggest profit in Occidentis Ignis, this profit can only pile up around 31 million in a span of 10 years, perhaps 40 million with all the farming products included.

Clearly, it isn't enough so this opens up another topic. A topic about Dark Blue Ore! This is a rather sensitive topic, and only the highest officials of the Alliance knew, at least at the time before the Snow Ignites conquered Maleemia.

"In ten years we can never pile up 250 million, but what if we out source the Dark Blue Ores where Maleemia used to stand?" King Xakro pitched, leaving the two others in the room no doubt confused.

"What on earth are Dark Blue Ores?" Asked Chan in a mild but yet high pitched tone before Arbella could, although it is certain that they both had the same question.

"The reason why the Alliance is breaking apart, is because I refused to let the Snow Ignites horde these ores. Or else why would I care about a little revolt to the point of facing these many losses?" King Xakro specified as clearly as he could, adding a big piece to the puzzle and explaining why thousands of soldiers died to invade a little Kingdom.

"So this ore must be very valuable, I'm thinking that a piece can be sold for at least a thousand Gold Coins. That at least makes more sense behind your decision." Chan asked, trying to figure out more behind this story without pissing off his father.

"I'm not sure of the market price per piece." King Xakro added as he shook his head from left to right repeatedly but yet softly and afterwards continued to add. "An Ingot can go for a hundred Gold Coins here I guess, but that's not the point. These ores can grant us almost indestructible Armour, and we are the only ones in the world who can provide it if we get our hands on it. To Ratan, we can sell a full set of Armour for 2,000 Gold Coins."

"Not only will this help us pay the fine, but it will give us two options. With indestructible Armour on, even a small force can withstand whatever our motherland has to throw against us." Chan added, clear minded and actually bursting with ideas. Arbella for sure has molded him in to a man better than anyone ever could.

"That is a great option yes, but we need to get our hands on that Ore first. Now our Sources tell us that the previous Maleemian mines are nearly impossible to break through, that's why we will need someone who can help with the case and a lot of Miners as well." Thinking it through a bit more, the King added. "It is going to cost us no doubt, but this might be the only way to escape this trap."

Showing off that she is smart as well, Arbella pointed out a fact. "And Septemtrionis Ignis is still in our Alliance, meaning they are in your command. And since Meridionali Ignis is banned from entering your lands, no one will stop you from attaining those riches."

With these thoughts and plans in mind, they at least have set the base of attaining these riches, although it might take a while for them to succeed.