Black Hearted Mage

Chapter 149 There Are Always Greedy People

The next morning, the Cavill family's carriage that delivered snacks to the inner city took Caesars to the large square in the outer city.

It is early spring now. The morning sunshine pours down, bringing some warmth but still mixed with a hint of chill.

The vast square was dotted with only a few stalls, scattered around like lonely stars twinkling in the night sky. Caesars didn't rush to set up his own stall, but instead wandered around the others. During this time, he not only chatted with the stall owners but also learned a lot of valuable information.

It's understood that many mercenaries will be heading to the Northern Plateau during this period. As a result, all kinds of weapons and equipment have become extremely popular, with market demand skyrocketing. Simultaneously, the prices of various alchemical potions have also skyrocketed. Items like Fire Crystals, Fire Flowers, and Blaze Mushrooms have seen their prices double.

Knowing the current market conditions, Kaisas, after careful consideration, decided to set up his stall at the entrance of the Mercenary Guild in order to sell his long-cherished items as quickly as possible. After all, this was the place with the highest daily traffic, greatly increasing the chances of his products attracting attention and being purchased.

Kaisas deftly removed a massive animal hide from the bundle and spread it flat on the ground. This hide, surprisingly, was made from the hide of an entire northern wild bull. While its texture might not be particularly tough, its size was significant. He then methodically began to arrange the merchandise for sale: first, he neatly displayed several pieces of finely crafted leather armor; then, he carefully selected two or three of each type of weapon and placed them aside; finally, he displayed three or five fire crystals, six or seven vibrant flame flowers, and vibrant flame mushrooms.

Then a wooden box was placed next to the animal skin, which contained a mess of potions, all of which were the spoils he had accumulated.

Finally, he threw the backpack on the animal skin and took out the black snake.

"Saint Paul, guard the stall well and don't let anyone steal our spoils. I'll give you a Flame Adder for lunch!"

Caesars took out the recliner, coffee table, and cast iron stove. When he took out the black tea, he remembered that Trudeau's body was still in the space ring and had not yet been traded with the Duchess.

The charcoal fire beneath the small cast iron stove ignited, and a few minutes later, boiling water poured into the teacup, the delicate aroma of Paton black tea wafting into the air. A plate of pastries was brought out, and one was tossed toward the hide. Just as the milky white pastry was about to fall from its highest point, the black "spring" leaped up and was firmly held in its mouth.

Kaisas drank his tea and enjoyed the warm spring sunshine. The square began to fill up with people, and the various shops along the square also opened for business.

Within the vast and prosperous Roland Empire, there existed a fearsome figure—the spy chief Carlos. His ruthlessness and brutality earned him the infamous nickname "The Jackal of the Empire." Meanwhile, another widespread nickname, "The Hounds of the Empire," referred to the tax collectors active within Fire Maple City. At this very moment, these "Hounds of the Empire" had already appeared in the Grand Square, collecting glittering gold coins one by one.

A middle-aged man wearing a tax collector's robe stood in the center of the square. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, scanning the vast area keenly.

According to the pre-planned plan, the entire Imperial City Plaza had been divided into eight equal sections using stones of different colors, and this tax officer was responsible for collecting and administering taxes for one-eighth of the area. Currently, within his area, there was only a single stall.

The tax collector first slowly straightened his slightly wrinkled clothing, then leisurely pulled a thick ledger from his pocket. With steady, powerful steps, he slowly walked towards the stall in front of the Mercenary Guild. Once he approached, he stopped, staring expressionlessly at the stall owner before him. In a tone filled with authority and unquestionable authority, he shouted, "Pay the tax you owe! One gold coin!"

However, faced with the tax collector's unwavering demands, the stall owner showed no fear. Instead, he sneered, his tone filled with sarcasm and disdain, "Did the Roland Empire suddenly change its laws? Or did I forget to polish my magic badge before leaving today, and I've fooled you, the tax collector, into thinking you're so audacious as to collect taxes from a magician!"

Magicians setting up stalls in the Grand Square are tax-free, while other people's stalls are charged one gold coin at a time. This is something everyone in the Roland Empire knows.

"A magician? Haha, you're such a joke! How dare you, a greenhorn like you, call yourself a magician? Don't think you can fool me by making a fake magic badge. You're definitely a fake!"

The tax collector stared at Caesar with an expressionless face, his eyes seeming to penetrate the soul, revealing a hint of coldness. It was obvious that he was determined to get the gold coin from Caesar.

Despite the tax collector's unyielding attitude, Caesars showed no sign of backing down. He curled his lips slightly, revealing a confident smile. "Since you don't trust my identity, I have no choice but to prove my strength with concrete actions!"

Before he finished speaking, Caesars suddenly extended his right hand and clenched it tightly. Instantly, a powerful wave of magical energy rapidly spread out from him. Then, an invisible hand formed from pure magic energy appeared out of thin air and rushed towards the tax collector like lightning.

With a "puff" sound, the giant wizard's hand grasped the defenseless tax collector accurately. Then, with a violent swing of the wizard's hand, he flung the tax collector away like a stone.

This middle-aged man, who held the position of tax collector in the bustling Fire Maple City, was naturally no ordinary man. While his own strength wasn't top-tier, he possessed a certain level of skill. Furthermore, having been operating in this city for many years, he likely possessed a number of connections. Yet, even so, after being struck and flung by Caesar's mage's hand, the middle-aged tax collector traced a long arc through the air, flying over ten meters before landing heavily on the ground.

Unable to steady himself upon landing, the middle-aged tax official collapsed to the ground in a disastrous manner. Worse still, due to inertia, his body slid forward along the rough ground for another four or five meters before coming to a stop. The once arrogant and conceited tax official was now covered in dust and tattered clothing. The ornate robe, a symbol of his status, was now worn and torn in many places, appearing tattered and tattered.

The middle-aged tax collector stood up, looked down at his own horrible state, and instantly became furious, his face turning blue and his whole body shaking. He pointed at Caesars, his eyes wide with anger, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "You ignorant fellow, how dare you openly assault an imperial tax collector! Just wait, this isn't over yet. I'll make you pay dearly!"

The tax collector's face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his forehead. He quickly pulled a metal whistle from his belt, took a deep breath, and, gathering all his strength, blew it with all his might. Instantly, a piercing, piercing whistle, a blast that seemed to pierce the sky, resounded throughout the square, echoing relentlessly in the air.

The once bustling square suddenly quieted down. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked towards the entrance of the Mercenary Guild. They saw the disheveled tax collector standing there, tightly clutching the still-screaming metal whistle. He looked utterly disheveled.

At the same time, the Imperial City Guards patrolling the edge of the Grand Square also heard the sudden whistle. Their well-trained demeanor swiftly sprang into action, like a startled swarm of bees, sprinting towards the whistle's location. Each of these guards was massive, clad in thick, magic steel armor. As they ran, their armor clanged against each other, creating a clanging sound like the beating of war drums.

In the blink of an eye, a patrol of dozens of city guards arrived at the entrance of the Mercenary Guild. The leading officer, a tall and imposing figure, stared sternly at the slightly embarrassed tax collector before him and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, why did you blow the whistle?"

The tax collector gasped and pointed at Caesars who was not far away, shouting angrily: "He not only refused to pay taxes, but even beat up the imperial tax collector!"

The captain of the city guards stepped forward, straightened his body, and angrily retorted, "Are you blind? Don't you know that imperial law clearly stipulates that magicians enjoy tax exemption in the Grand Plaza?"

The captain of the city guard had a gloomy expression, his brow furrowed, his face full of displeasure. His eyes widened as he unleashed a barrage of abuse at the tax collector, his words so vulgar they made everyone look askance.

After cursing, the captain turned his gaze towards Caesar's stall. A quick glance revealed the tax collector's true intentions. While the items on display were few in number, each one was of considerable value. To dare so brazenly challenge a powerful magician, this tax collector must be either completely out of his mind or backed by some incredibly powerful individual.

Thinking of this, the captain of the city guard knew that this matter was of great importance and that he must not get involved lightly, lest he get himself into trouble. So, he made a quick decision, waved his hand, and led the patrol team hurriedly away from the square, as if some terrifying monster was chasing them.

Caesar was also filled with suspicion, baffled by the scene unfolding before him. This tax collector didn't look foolish at all, and judging by his attire, he certainly didn't seem like someone who would go toe-to-toe over a single gold coin. Caesar mused to himself that this man must have ulterior motives. However, at this moment, he could only remain silent, quietly observing the situation and trying to figure out what the tax collector was up to.

"If the city guards can't control the magicians, there are naturally people who can control you!"

The tax collector bolted towards the edge of the square like a frightened rabbit. As he ran, he kept glancing back, as if worried about Caesars, who was setting up his stall. His nervousness suggested his supporters were in the nearby magic guild, and his biggest fear at the moment was that Caesars would suddenly close his stall and leave.

Caesars appeared remarkably calm and composed. He silently pulled out a photo stone from his pocket, then took out several blank photo stones. He then expertly cast a spell, successfully replicating the image in the original photo stone three or four times, and then stored the photo stones away.

Time passed minute by minute, and soon, several magicians dressed in gorgeous robes, emitting magical fluctuations, came out one after another. Each of their faces was filled with an arrogant and domineering expression, as if the whole world should submit to them.

The tax collector, who had just come running, now followed closely behind the magicians, nodding and bowing as he guided them along the way. Clearly, he had become their follower and guide. Thus, the group marched in a mighty procession towards the entrance of the Mercenary Guild.

These magicians were no ordinary men. Their eyes were as sharp as hawks. With just a casual glance, they immediately noticed Caesar standing at the entrance of the mercenary guild. Especially when they saw the shining magic badge on Caesar's chest, they couldn't help but narrow their eyes slightly.

That wasn't just any badge; it symbolized the high-ranking magician of the Northland Tower, a symbol of supreme honor and strength. Unlike other magical factions, the Northland Tower seemed somewhat eccentric. It didn't delve into in-depth magic research, but rather focused on its practical application. Instead of delving into profound magical theory, it focused on increasing the attack power of its spells—in other words, its lethality.

Although the number of magicians in the North Tower is not as large as that of the Magic Guild, the magicians' combat effectiveness is very strong and can crush the magicians of the same level in the Magic Guild.

"He was the one who brought Laudno's body. I saw it in the hall yesterday evening!"

One of the magicians suddenly said something, and the other magicians were stunned.

"you sure?"

"Sure, the vice president was chatting and laughing with him at the time!"

"Go, go back!"

The tax collector overheard the magicians' conversation and watched them immediately turn and leave. When he looked back at Caesars, he couldn't help but shudder. He wasn't targeting a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered, but a ferocious beast ready to devour people at any moment.