Hilda's face broke out in a cold sweat. Her legs trembled so violently she almost fell. She didn't dare look into Arvin's eyes.
Hilda's mind panicked. I'm dead... I was rude and underestimated him earlier. I never expected this student to be a son of the Duke Melvin Vedegra family! The strongest noble family known for being genius and ruthless towards their enemies. What should I do?
Arvin saw the fear. He snorted.
"I don't mind your way of speaking earlier, Hilda. Merchants must be skeptical." said Arvin, softening his voice slightly. "But if you cancel our transaction or slow it down after I brought out all these magic crystals, I will be really angry with you!"
Hilda, who had been struggling with her own thoughts, jolted in surprise.
"Y-Yes! Of course not, Young Master! I will carry it out right now!" Hilda exclaimed in panic.
Hilda turned and shouted at her employees in a shrill voice. "Quick! Open the main vault! Prepare 5 Large Platinums and one million Golds! Call everyone to pack these crystals! Don't scratch them even a bit! Quick!"
Panic swept through the entire guild staff.
While they were busy, Arvin turned to Yonna who was still frozen.
"Miss Yonna, I would like to request a few sheets of paper and a pen to write a letter," asked Arvin politely.
Yonna stammered, then immediately gave what Arvin wanted. Without saying much, Arvin walked to an empty table in the corner of the lobby.
He sat down and began writing something on the sheet of paper calmly.
While waiting for the transaction process, I better write a mandate letter for Rayand. Without an official letter from me stamped with the Vedegra family seal, my Father definitely won't trust a gang of armed men suddenly coming to our territory.
Ignoring the stares of everyone in the lobby who were still whispering fearfully, Arvin's eyes and hands remained focused dancing on the paper.
After ten minutes, the mandate letter for Rayand was finished. He folded it neatly, as was their transaction.
"Young Master Arvin, the transaction is complete!" Hilda exclaimed, panting.
Arvin got up and approached her. There, on the long table, was already presented a small velvet box containing 5 beautifully glittering Large Platinums, and several large chests containing piles of Golds.
"Good!" Arvin checked briefly. "Now, calculate the tax. How much royal tax do I have to pay for a transaction of this size?"
Hilda smiled awkwardly, trying to curry favor with Arvin. "According to the rules, the tax is 5% of the total transaction. But... because you are an Astoria Academy student, you have the Tax Exemption privilege. You will not be charged a single penny of tax from this transaction. Consider this our special service."
Arvin was stunned. He looked at Hilda in disbelief. "What? No tax?"
"Correct, Young Master. Zero percent."
Silence for a moment. Then...
BANG!
Arvin hit the reception desk so hard its surface cracked. The gold coins inside the chests clinked in shock.
"DON'T JOKE WITH ME!" Arvin snapped. His voice boomed through the room.
Everyone jumped in surprise. Hilda stepped back with a pale face. Why was he angry? Don't people like being taks-free?
"Do you think 5% of my transaction is a small amount? That's 75,000 Golds, you Fool! Take my transaction tax and don't protest!" Arvin raged.
Hilda was confused to death. "B-But, Young Master... this is a rule that has long been in effect in this kingdom to make it easier for nobles and students..."
"To hell with that rule!" cut Arvin harshly. "Just do what I say! Deduct 75,000 Golds from that chest and deposit it into the state treasury in my name! How much money do you think that is, huh? That amount of money could feed a village for more than 250 years! And the kingdom exempts it just because I have an academy status? Crazy!"
Hilda had no choice but to obey the will of this strange client. With trembling hands, she ordered the clerk to deduct the tax.
"And you!" Arvin pointed at Yonna. "Give me another sheet of paper! Now!"
"Y-Yes!"
"I will send a letter of protest to His Majesty!" growled Arvin while grabbing a quill.
Hilda and Yonna gaped. They didn't expect the academy student in front of them to be angry because he was given tax exemption relief and was now about to protest the King because of the policy that had been in effect for decades.
Arvin wrote with rough and fast movements. His quill scratched hard against the paper.
"Is the King stupid?" Arvin muttered loudly while writing, not caring who heard. "Then, what is the use of the kingdom's Minister of Finance? They are truly idiots! Making rules that spoil the rich and letting the state lose huge revenue!"
The rude words and blatant insults Arvin threw at the royal side and the King himself froze Hilda and everyone in the lobby. Cold sweat poured down their backs. This could be considered treason!
They dared not imagine what would happen if the royal side knew they allowed these words.
Hilda dared to ask in a whisper, "Young Master... Are you not afraid? The royal side might feel insulted by your words and letter which are... very blunt."
Arvin stopped writing. He looked at Hilda with a sharp gaze full of integrity.
"Why should I be afraid? If they feel insulted by my words which contain facts of truth, it means this kingdom is beyond saving! A good King needs criticism, not flattery!"
Not long after, Arvin finished writing. He folded the letter roughly.
"Send this letter immediately to His Majesty the King at the palace! Use the guild's express courier line!" ordered Arvin while handing the letter to Hilda.
Hilda accepted the letter like receiving a time bomb. She glanced at the opening sentence which did not use excessive honorifics. But the final part left the woman baffled by everything written in that letter.
"A-Are you sure, Young Master? This could trigger the palace's anger..." aaked Hilda in panic, her hands trembling.
"Just send it!" snapped Arvin. "If the King is angry, tell him to come see me at the dormitory!"
Like it or not, Hilda had to obey that crazy order. She sealed the letter using red liquid wax with the guild stamp, then handed it to the courier with a resigned face as if delivering her own death warrant.
In her heart, Hilda muttered in horror: A terrifying young man. He truly fears no one, even the King. Do all people born from the Vedegra family have crazy courage like him? Or is he indeed destined to change this kingdom?
Arvin stored the rest of his money, which was still a lot into his dimensional storage casually, then walked out of the guild without looking back, leaving the room still silent in fear and awe.