Chapter 381: Capturing the Rebel

"Entering the city costs ten copper coins." At the somewhat dilapidated entrance of the city, more than twenty soldiers stood behind a roadblock, collecting fees from every adventurer, civilian, and merchant caravan entering the city.

"Huh? Is that all you have?" A soldier rummaged through a stack of furs carried by a hunter, looking impatient. This was a typical hunter from the surrounding villages, hunting ordinary beasts and selling their furs for a living. However, these items weren't worth much, naturally, he didn't have much to offer.

"Sir Knight, I'm just entering the city to sell these furs." The hunter, who fought wild beasts in the wilderness to support his family, smiled apologetically at the city guard. He had already paid the ten copper coin entry fee, but the soldier was not letting him through, seemingly looking to squeeze something extra out of him.

"Pauper." Upon realizing that the hunter really had nothing of value, the soldier muttered under his breath, then casually pulled a fine quality grey fox fur from the hunter's pack and tied it around his waist, before waving him away impatiently: "Go on in!"

"Thank you, sir!" With three claw marks across his face, which had scarred him severely, giving him a fierce look, the hunter walked gratefully into the city.

Being exploited by the city guard filled him with rage, yet he could only suppress it. He was just a physically strong ordinary hunter, with no significant abilities and a family to support. Settling scores was not a choice for middle-aged men like him burdened with responsibilities. He couldn't afford to be reckless.

"Next!" Having dismissed the hunter, the guard with the grey fox fur tied around his waist called out weakly, his voice lacking energy. He was dealing with dirt-poor farmers and low-level adventurers.

The civilians entering the city were mostly selling herbs and furs, which didn't offer much for extortion. The low-level adventurers, who had risked their lives fighting monsters for their spoils, would not hesitate to fight back if provoked.

Thus, the only real targets for extortion by the soldiers were the merchant caravans that came to their city. These caravans, lacking significant backing, were perfect victims for the city guards' exploitation...

"Why is it that they only pay ten copper coins to enter the city, but my caravan has to pay one silver per person?" A somewhat skinny merchant shouted angrily, "Last time I entered the city, I paid only ten copper coins, why has it increased so much this time?"

"Hehe, that was half a month ago," the soldier chuckled unscrupulously, "the lord said that merchants make more money than commoners, so it's only right that they should pay more to enter."

"The new orders from the lord are just that. If you have any complaints, take them up with the lord, but first, you have to pay the entry fee."

"What entry fee? Half a month ago, the newly appointed Grand Duke Muria of the kingdom issued an order abolishing all laws and taxes set by nobility on their own accord, stating that any tax not mandated by kingdom law could not be levied by any lord."

Standing at the city gate, the thin merchant spoke passionately about the new tax laws decreed by Muria,

"In the laws of the Lockman Kingdom, there is no such thing as an entry fee. The lords of the surrounding cities have all abolished it, and everyone can travel freely without anyone charging a fee.

What right does your lord have to impose an entry fee? Is he trying to rebel by ignoring the orders of the great Duke Muria?"

"Stop bothering me with this nonsense." The sergeant of the guards, his eyes widening, swung his heavy sword into the ground in front of the merchant, scattering small bits of dirt and grit onto him, causing slight pain.

"I don't know about any new tax laws, I just know the lord says we need to collect taxes to enter, you either pay or take your people and get out."

"Don't you even know about Grand Regent Muria?" the skinny merchant asked again.

"..." This time, the sergeant of the guards was silent. By now, apart from the villagers, who in the entire Lockman Kingdom did not know of Muria's existence? Obviously, pretending not to know Muria was a lie he couldn't utter.

"Duke Muria has abolished the nobility's right to legislate and impose private taxes. According to the kingdom's law, you have no right to charge me even a single copper coin for entry."

"I told you, stop spouting that nonsense, I don't know. Pay to enter, that's the lord's command." Pressed continuously by the merchant and appearing somewhat embarrassed, the sergeant, increasingly infuriated, swung his sheathed heavy sword at the merchant.

"How dare you!" Before the sheathed sword could hit the skinny merchant,

 a hand in heavy armor reached out and grabbed the sword, then in front of the shocked eyes of the sergeant, his treasured sword, still in its sheath, was twisted and deformed, rendered useless.

"Who are you?" This time, the sergeant knew he was in big trouble. His heavy sword, although not a top-tier weapon, had been forged with a dusting of supernatural metal ore, and was meant to easily break through ordinary steel weapons, yet here it was, twisted out of shape by bare hands. How could he not be terrified?

"Sir, the evidence is clear, the local lord has indeed not complied with the great Duke Muria's orders, nor has he implemented the new tax laws, instead, he has intensified his exploitation more than before. Please, sir, capture him."

"Hmm!" The burly man in the old-fashioned full-body armor nodded, agreeing with the proactive merchant's account.

"Who exactly are you?" Seeing the armor on the burly man, somewhat familiar, the sergeant of the guards instinctively stepped back, his voice tinged with fear. He seemed to have seen this armor before.

"By the command of Grand Duke Muria, I am here to capture a rebellious noble." The burly man responded in a deep, resonant voice as he strode into the city.

As he moved, his stature grew larger, and so did his armor. As he walked, the imperfectly sealed armor allowed the sergeant, now collapsed in fear on the ground, to see the giant's pure white skin.

"Cloud Giant! Direct legion of the Grand Regent."

At last, the sergeant understood why he found the armor familiar.

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