Lu Weite's kind gesture made Lin Rui feel obliged to accept; otherwise, it might seem like he had issues with the Lusen Chamber of Commerce.

So, Lin Rui nodded at Lu Weite's suggestion and said, "Then I'll trouble Director Lu Weite. I have something to discuss with you as well."

"Let's discuss as we walk," Lu Weite said promptly, bowing slightly and leading Lin Rui upstairs, explaining, "Due to the overlapping of two guild keys in one domain, our commercial guild has expanded exponentially in scale. Not only has the area doubled, but the floors have increased from three to six. Your Divine Seat Banquet is now moved to the topmost level."

"I see," Lin Rui nodded slightly and said, "I assumed you would take back Presto's guild key."

Lu Weite laughed and said, "How could we dare? The Dragon Flame is a Tier Eleven powerhouse and one of the most respected figures within the empire. Moreover, although the Dragon Flame has moved here, the wealth in its Dragon Nest hasn't vanished. That's a collection worth at least 400 billion Spirit Crystal Coins."

400 billion!

That figure was undoubtedly astonishing. Although it doesn't compare to the Demigod-level Golden Treasure Hall, which holds 1.6 trillion in liquid assets, it's still a considerable scale.

Lin Rui recalls Holy Knight mentioning that it had only recently been promoted. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

However, half of that wealth may soon end up in the pockets of the Golden Pansy Domain.

Caroline is currently setting up a wealth tax in accordance with Lin Rui's orders.

Initially, she intended to adopt the empire's regulations directly, but Lin Rui vetoed this plan.

Because the empire's taxation methods are too crude.

It's not that the empire isn't detailed enough in its governance, but rather its vastness makes vertical management impossible.

Hence, the empire only mandates a tithe tax, meaning the primary duty of each regional lord is ensuring their domain's tithes are remitted. Any domain daring to withhold tithes faces the empire's most brutal retaliation (loving beatings). Even the slightest violation (untimely payments, insufficient amounts, or low quality) empowers imperial officials to command local law enforcement to execute the noble lord immediately. However, as long as the lord diligently remits the domain's tithes, he can rule the area in any manner he deems fit.

This stipulates that the empire's control over each domain is somewhat weak. Beyond using force to ensure tithes are timely paid, there are no further demands on each domain, granting each lord considerable autonomy. In extreme cases, if a rebellion occurs, the empire won't intervene as long as the rebels pay the tithes timely, even if the rebel force is an Undead Army.

This is why the Blood Race becomes one of the world's twelve Electors—because the empire rarely concerns itself with whether taxpayers are human or ghosts. As long as the tithes are paid and imperial rule is acknowledged, even if the people within a domain are replaced with the undead, it doesn't matter. Conversely, even if everyone perishes, the tithe from that region must still be fully paid. Rebel forces and lords can engage in battle as they wish, as long as the tithe remains unaffected, the empire won't intervene or dispatch an army.

But if a lord is an esteemed hereditary noble with a millennium of tradition yet neglects the empire's tithes, the empire won't be lenient either.

However, since Lin Rui holds the Azure Badge, he is exempt from 10% taxation, which effectively exempts him from the tithe.

The empire's dominion doesn't reach Lin Rui, thereby granting him extensive autonomy.

Lin Rui now needs to revise the tax rate due to the empire's expansive territories.

Lin Rui can essentially be regarded as a planetary governor with high autonomy within the empire, with the ability to govern entirely according to his own ideas.

If tithes were imposed, how could one ensure a balance between taxation and autonomy while maintaining the ability to form a military?

Therefore, like other lords, Lin Rui must naturally increase taxes too.

Due to the empire's emphasis on tithes, there's even a grand celebration known as Tax Day within the domain.

Whether collecting, evading, or dodging taxes has become almost mandatory for the empire's people because whether waging war or Electors needing funds, they must pillage the common folk. Consequently, numerous unofficial tax collection companies reminiscent of rogue armed groups exist throughout the empire.

Fortunately, the Golden Pansy Domain hasn't reached that stage yet.

Currently, the issue is the Golden Pansy Domain needs a standardized taxation framework, abolishing various arbitrary traditional taxes.

For instance, head taxes, ear taxes, dinner taxes, window taxes, calf taxes, belt taxes, and so forth.

These miscellaneous taxes were temporary levies imposed by the empire to fill war shortages.

The belt tax, for example, was a tax imposed on the overweight during wartime until their belts slipped off; some wore women's lingerie, while most resorted to bribery.

The dinner tax was even more bizarre, entirely dependent on the lord's mood. Lords dispatched crowds into the cities to holler, beat gongs, and drums, threatening sleepless nights unless payments were made.

Looking at the empire's myriad taxes, Lin Rui felt it truly deserved to collapse.

It hasn't fallen for one reason only: fragmented territories limited the rebels' fury to the broken domains, preventing them from overwhelming the entire empire.