480. Start a Tax Regulations

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Danny nodded. He knew Sico was right. Winning the people over was one thing. Keeping their trust—proving they had made the right choice—was going to be the real challenge.

Danny took a deep breath, steadying himself as he prepared to deliver the next part of his speech. The energy in the square was still high, with murmurs of agreement rippling through the crowd after his declaration that Diamond City now belonged to its people. But he knew that what he was about to say wouldn't be met with the same enthusiasm.

"This city has been through a lot," Danny continued, his voice firm but even. "We've fought off the Institute, we've fought off corruption, and we've taken back control of our future. But if we want Diamond City to survive, if we want it to be more than just a settlement clinging to the ruins of the old world, then we need to start acting like a real city. And that means making sure we have the resources to protect and rebuild it."

He let his words hang in the air for a moment before pressing on.

"Starting next month, there will be a monthly tax of 15 caps per person for everyone living in Diamond City. This isn't about squeezing people for money—it's about making sure we can repair what's broken, reinforce our walls, keep our security force properly equipped, and pay the people who keep this city running."

The reaction was immediate. A low wave of murmuring spread through the crowd. Some people looked thoughtful, nodding slightly as they considered the idea. Others—especially those who had barely scraped by before—looked uneasy. Danny had expected this. He wasn't done yet.

"For traders coming into Diamond City," he went on, "there will be a new trading pass system. Any merchant who wants to set up shop inside our walls will need to purchase a pass at the main gate for 50 caps. That pass will last for a week. This isn't meant to push traders away—it's to make sure that the people benefiting from our protection are also contributing to keeping the city safe."

This sparked more mixed reactions. Some of the local shopkeepers looked relieved—it meant traveling merchants would have to pay in just like they did. But there were also murmurs of concern from people who relied on outside trade to get goods they couldn't find anywhere else.

"Before anyone starts worrying," Danny added, raising a hand, "these caps aren't going into anyone's pockets. Every cap collected will go toward the city—toward reconstruction, security, and making sure Diamond City is stronger than ever. No more corrupt politicians lining their own pockets. No more backroom deals. From now on, everything is out in the open."

Sico and Preston exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.

"The Minutemen support this," Sico said, stepping forward again. "This isn't some greedy tax scheme. This is how we make sure Diamond City can stand on its own. You want real protection? You want a city that can actually function, not just survive? Then this is the way we do it."

Preston crossed his arms, looking out over the crowd. "This is about fairness. It's about making sure the people who live here get what they need. We're not here to turn Diamond City into some kind of empire. We're here to make sure it doesn't fall apart."

Danny nodded and continued, shifting his focus to another important point. "Now, I know some of you are better off than others. There are people in this city who can afford to do more. That's why, for those who are wealthier, there will be a higher tax—100 caps per month per person. If you've been doing well, if you've got a business that's thriving because of the people who live here, then it's only fair that you contribute more."

This time, there was a sharper reaction. Some of the wealthier merchants and property owners in the crowd stiffened, exchanging uneasy glances. Harlan Finch, still standing near the front, scoffed.

"This is ridiculous," he said, shaking his head. "You're punishing success! What happens when people start leaving because they don't want to be taxed into the ground?"

Danny met his gaze, unflinching. "This isn't punishment. It's responsibility. The people who have the most in Diamond City built their wealth off the backs of the workers, the traders, the everyday citizens who make this place run. All we're asking is that you give back. You want a safe city? You want a thriving economy? Then you need to be willing to invest in it."

Another voice spoke up, this time from the crowd. "And what about people who can't pay?"

Danny turned toward the man who had asked the question, an older resident wearing a patched-up coat. His face was lined with years of hardship.

"No one's getting thrown out over this," Danny assured him. "If someone's struggling, we'll work something out. People can work for the city in exchange for their tax. Repairs, security, construction—there's always something that needs to be done. But the days of people living here without contributing at all? Those are over."

The old man nodded slowly, considering Danny's words. Others in the crowd were doing the same. There was still uncertainty, but there was also understanding.

Sico stepped forward again. "This city has survived on luck for too long," he said. "Now, we're making sure it has a future. That means fairness. That means security. And that means building something that lasts. The Institute isn't the only threat out there. Raiders, mutants, the Brotherhood of Steel—there are plenty of people who'd love to see Diamond City fall. This plan makes sure that doesn't happen."

A voice called out from the crowd. "And who decides how the caps are spent?"

Danny nodded. "Good question. There will be full transparency. Every month, we'll post reports on where the caps are going—publicly, for everyone to see. We'll hold meetings where people can ask questions and voice concerns. If something needs to change, we'll listen. Because this city belongs to all of us, not just a handful of people at the top."

That seemed to put some of the skeptics at ease. Harlan Finch still looked like he had swallowed something sour, but he didn't argue further.

For a long moment, the square was silent, the weight of Danny's words settling over the crowd. Then, slowly, a few people started nodding.

"Sounds fair," someone muttered.

"It's better than what we had before," another added.

Then, from the back of the crowd, a woman raised her voice. "You know what? I'm in."

Another voice: "Yeah. We need this."

More nods. More murmurs of agreement.

And then, applause.

It wasn't the roaring approval they had gotten earlier, but it was something more important—it was acceptance.

Danny let out a quiet breath, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction. He turned to Sico, who gave him an approving nod. Preston clapped him on the back.

"You handled that well," Preston said.

Danny managed a small smile. "Let's just hope it works."

Sico crossed his arms. "It will. Now comes the hard part—making sure it stays that way."

Danny knew he was right. Winning the people over had been just one step. Now, they had to prove that their new system could work. They had to show the people of Diamond City that this wasn't just another empty promise.

Piper had been watching from the edge of the crowd, her pen scribbling furiously in her worn-out notepad. She had seen a lot of speeches in her time, a lot of so-called leaders trying to win over the people of Diamond City, but this? This was something different. Danny wasn't just making empty promises—he was laying down a plan, a real one. And, somehow, he was actually getting people to listen.

As the applause faded and the crowd began to break into smaller discussions, Piper snapped her notepad shut and pushed her way forward.

"Alright, alright," she said, stepping up to where Danny, Sico, and Preston stood. "I gotta say, that was one hell of a speech. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been practicing in front of a mirror or something."

Danny huffed out a tired laugh. "Trust me, I didn't have time for that."

Piper grinned. "Well, either way, you just handed me the biggest news this city has seen in years. The fall of McDonough was huge, but this?" She tapped her notepad. "This is a whole new chapter for Diamond City."

Sico nodded. "That's the idea. No more secrets. No more corruption. Just a city that actually works for its people."

"Speaking of which," Piper said, turning back to Danny, "you mentioned transparency—posting reports so everyone knows where their caps are going. That's great and all, but let's be real. Not everyone's gonna have the time to stand around reading a notice board. Some folks are too busy running their shops, taking care of their families, or just trying to survive. So, I've got a suggestion."

Danny raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it."

"Let me publish the reports in *Publick Occurrences*," Piper said. "That way, people can get the information in a way that's easier to digest. I can break it down, make it clear, and make sure nobody gets left in the dark. Plus, you know me—I won't sugarcoat anything. If something looks shady, I'll call it out."

Danny considered that for a moment. It made sense. A lot of people already relied on Piper's newspaper to stay informed. And if the whole point of transparency was to make sure everyone had access to the truth, then this was a no-brainer.

"That's a good idea," he admitted. "I want people to know exactly what's going on, and this'll help make sure of that."

Piper smirked. "Of course it's a good idea. I came up with it."

Sico chuckled. "Careful, Danny. Give her an inch, and she'll take a mile."

"Damn right I will," Piper said, grinning. Then her expression turned serious. "Look, I know there are gonna be people who push back against this. Some of the wealthier folks aren't gonna like paying more, and some of the traders might gripe about the new system. But if this works? If you really pull this off? Diamond City might actually have a future."

Danny met her gaze. "That's the plan."

Piper studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'll get started on my article. You better make sure your first transparency report is ready soon, or else I'm coming after you."

Danny smirked. "Noted."

As Piper walked off, already muttering to herself about headlines and article drafts, Sico turned to Danny. "She's right, you know. This is going to ruffle some feathers. Not everyone's going to fall in line immediately."

Danny sighed. "Yeah, I figured. But I also know this city can't keep running the way it has been. If we don't start taking things seriously, we're just waiting for the next disaster to hit."

Preston nodded. "You're doing the right thing. Now, we just have to make sure it actually works."

Danny ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of the moment settling onto his shoulders. The speech had gone better than he had expected, but this was just the beginning. Now came the real challenge—putting all of these ideas into action.

Sico watched as Piper scribbled a few more notes in her notepad before she could disappear into the crowd. He stepped forward, calling out, "Hold on a second, Piper."

She stopped mid-step and turned back, raising an eyebrow. "What? You got another grand announcement for me?"

Sico crossed his arms. "Not quite, but it's important. Make sure people know—the tax payments start in a week. First payment is due then, and the next one will be the following month. We don't want anyone caught off guard."

Piper tilted her head slightly, considering his words, then nodded. "Alright, I'll make sure it's clear in *Publick Occurrences*. The last thing we need is a bunch of angry people showing up at your door claiming they didn't know."

"That's exactly what we're trying to avoid," Sico said. "People need time to prepare, but they also need to know we're serious about this."

Piper smirked. "You're sounding more and more like a politician."

Sico scoffed. "Bite your tongue."

Piper laughed, tucking her notepad under her arm. "Alright, I'll get to work on it. I'll make sure people understand what's coming." With that, she turned and disappeared into the dispersing crowd, already muttering possible headlines under her breath.

Danny exhaled, his hands on his hips as he surveyed what was left of the gathering. The initial shock of his announcement had settled, and now the real work was about to begin. People were talking in small groups, some looking hopeful, others still wary. There were going to be problems, no doubt about that. The wealthy merchants and property owners wouldn't accept the new tax system without a fight, and even the average citizens might struggle at first. But Diamond City needed this.

Preston, who had been quietly watching the crowd, finally spoke up. "I think that went as well as it could have."

Danny nodded. "Yeah, but the hard part starts now."

Sico clapped a hand on Danny's shoulder. "We'll make it work. We've come too far to let this fall apart now."

Danny let out a tired chuckle. "You sound pretty sure about that."

Sico smirked. "Confidence is half the battle."

Preston nodded in agreement. "And preparation is the other half. We need to be ready for pushback, from inside and out."

Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. The next few days are gonna be interesting, that's for sure."

As the last few people drifted away, Diamond City slowly returned to its usual rhythm. The market stalls reopened, traders resumed their haggling, and the guards returned to their posts. But something felt different. There was a new energy in the air—an uncertainty, sure, but also something else. A sense of possibility.

Danny, Sico, and Preston stood together for a moment, taking it all in. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the city.

"So," Sico said, crossing his arms, "where do we start?"

Danny exhaled sharply. "We make sure people actually have a way to pay. If we're taking caps from them, we need to give them ways to earn more. Jobs, repairs, security work—whatever keeps this city running and puts caps in their pockets."

Sico nodded. "That makes sense. We don't want people feeling like we're just squeezing them dry. If they see the results—actual improvements—they'll be more willing to keep this going."

Preston added, "We should also get ahead of any resistance. The wealthier folks won't be happy about paying more. We need to make sure they don't try to stir up trouble."

Danny frowned. "You think they will?"

Preston shrugged. "People don't like giving up money. And some of them have influence. If they decide to fight this, they'll do it in ways we might not expect."

Danny nodded slowly. "Then we need to stay ahead of them."

They stood in silence for a moment, letting the weight of their task settle over them. Then, with a final glance at the city around them, they got to work.

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• Name: Sico

• Stats :

S: 8,44

P: 7,44

E: 8,44

C: 8,44

I: 9,44

A: 7,45

L: 7

• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills

• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint.

• Active Quest:-