Blackwater Valley, in the castle's meeting hall.

Pastor Abraham sat upright, and the Glimmer Knight stood straight beside him.

Levi sat opposite Pastor Abraham, with Knight Fred protecting him. Levi looked a little restrained and afraid, and these subtle expressions were captured by Pastor Abraham, who was good at observing people's words and expressions.

"Sure enough, he is still just an immature teenager." The priest said to himself. Before he came here, he naturally did some investigation on the main nobles in the surrounding area, and he paid special attention to the Blackwater Valley where big figures like the Black Snake Knight had appeared.

I had heard before that the young baron was timid and cowardly, and now I see that it is indeed true.

After a cough, Pastor Abraham said seriously: "Baron Levi, I came here this time to buy Blackwater Valley." Pastor Abraham said bluntly.

During this era, the church itself was a super lord. Through various means of annexation, the area of ​​territory directly controlled by the church was second only to the royal family. Many local churches and monasteries directly or indirectly controlled a number of manors and lands.

One of the important ways of annexation is to purchase the territories of impoverished nobles.

Hearing this, Knight Fred's expression changed and he looked at Levi.

Levi was not in a hurry to refuse. If the other party offered a good price, it would not matter if he sold it. He just lowered his head and remained silent.

Pastor Abraham smiled slightly and continued, "Two thousand gold coins, this price is twice the price I gave to the heirs of the Rock Bear Family and the Frost Wolf Family. It is mainly out of the church's respect for the Black Snake Knight.

I also know that the annual fiscal revenue of Blackwater Valley in recent years is less than one hundred gold coins. This amount of money is enough for Baron Levi and Knight Fred to live a life of ease and comfort for the rest of their lives.

Baron Levi must also be aware that a remote and poor land like Blackwater Valley is destined to never develop into a fertile place, as the inherent natural conditions limit its development.

Instead of doing this, it would be better to sell it to us and let the church run it.”

After finishing speaking, Pastor Abraham looked at Levi with a smile, calm and confident.

He believed that this famous "coward" and "prodigal son" would not refuse such excellent conditions.

But Levi is no longer the same as he was before. With his own forging skills, he can earn back the 2,000 gold coins sooner or later. Why should he sell the land? It is easy to sell the land, but difficult to redeem it!

Generally speaking, the nobles of this world would not trade their territories, which are the foundation of their noble status, unless they were desperate, such as the heirs of Baron Frostwolf and Baron Rockbear.

Two thousand gold coins to buy Blackwater Valley is a bit low. Although Blackwater Valley is remote and backward, it is large. Although most of its area is steep mountains that cannot be reclaimed, it is a bit excessive for the church to want to buy it for two thousand.

The most important thing is that Levi has already established absolute prestige in this territory, which is an intangible value that can only be gained through long-term management. Even if he used the money given by the church to buy a new territory, it means that he has to start from scratch and start over, and the time cost is too high.

"I'm sorry, Pastor Abraham. Our Black Snake family has lived here for two hundred years. Every brick and tile here is poured with our family's emotions. Every citizen here regards us as their masters. As their lord, how can I abandon them?" Levi shook his head and refused, and Knight Fred looked relieved.

This is the backbone that the descendants of the Black Snake should have. They were unable to keep Tulip Territory and Storm Territory because those two territories involved too many interests, and with their strength, they really could not get involved. However, Blackwater Valley, as the ancestral land and last territory of the Black Snake Family, must not be lost.

Moreover, even in name, Levi is still the owner of the Tulip Territory and the Storm Territory, but he has no real power. However, if Levi becomes strong one day, he can take them back. With this title, it is legitimate to take them back.

But if all the deeds were sold and the ownership of the territory was transferred to the church, then it would completely belong to the church. If one wanted to take it back, one would either have to buy it back from the church or wage war against the church.

Both of these options are impossible.

"Oh, Baron Levi, won't you consider it again?" Pastor Abraham said with a smile, but his tone was unquestionable.

To be honest, Pastor Abraham felt a little impatient that a small baron dared to reject him, but he was very good at hiding his emotions.

"I'm sorry, if the purpose of the pastor's trip is to seize our family's last territory, I can't agree to it. Even if I agree, my people will not agree." Levi looked a little nervous, but his tone was firm.

Although he is still weak now, it does not mean that he still has to make unlimited concessions on issues related to his core interests.

The Wild Boar Gang kidnapped Old Toby, who was just a blacksmith. He could operate normally without a territory, but how could he practice breathing techniques without a territory? Without a territory, all his food, clothing, housing and transportation would require a lot of expenses, and he had no source of income. He couldn't go work for others as a blacksmith. Two thousand gold coins seemed like a lot, but in fact they were not enough to spend.

“Well, let’s not discuss this issue for now, but I welcome Baron Levi to come to Silver Moon Territory to discuss this matter with me at any time. Let’s talk about the second matter, which is the issue of Blackwater Valley’s unpaid taxes.

Baron Levi should know that you have three territories under your name, all of which need to pay taxes to the church.

Among them, after your father's death, in order to take care of the Black Snake Family, the church gave the Tulip Territory and the Storm Territory the maximum tax preferential policies. As for the Blackwater Valley, due to its remote location, the church has always turned a blind eye.

Baron Levi, you should know that according to the regulations, the church can impose taxes on all territories under the glory of the Heavenly Father without any retroactive period, regardless of whether the church has previously levied taxes on them. The church can decide whether to impose taxes retroactively.

In other words, the church has the right to collect taxes for the past two hundred years since your family took over Blackwater Valley, but it did not do so before.

Baron Levi, what do you plan to do with the taxes that Blackwater Valley owes you?"

Pastor Abraham asked in a calm tone, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"We will pay the taxes we should pay." Levi said. He sneered in his heart. He couldn't enjoy the tax benefits that the church provided to take care of the Black Snake Family. After all, the income from those two territories was not for him, right?

To put it bluntly, because of the death of my father, a top-level powerful man, in this chaotic and greedy era, all kinds of forces, big and small, want to divide up the last bit of things my father left behind.

It's a good thing that the church wants to buy the land, at least they have to pay. At that time, the situation in Tulip Territory and Storm Territory was much more serious than it is now. The minions of the Duke of Montenegro were making all kinds of threats in front of Levi, directly or indirectly threatening him.

“It’s really unpleasant to feel weak!”

No matter how unhappy they are, even if they are nobles, they cannot directly refuse to pay taxes.

If he rejected this as well, it would mean that Levi was completely rebelling against the authority of the church. Levi was not afraid of Abraham alone, a pastor.

What he feared was the huge Holy Light Church, which was composed of monasteries, churches, clergy and a complex network of relationships across the country, including the Holy Light Church's most powerful armed force: the Knights of Glory!

A powerful force composed of hundreds of official knights and seven great knights. The invincible sword of the church is enough to crush all forces in the kingdom that dare to resist the church.

Levi has a proficiency panel. It may be unknown whether he can become a wizard, but as long as he is alive, becoming a great knight or even a legendary knight is a foregone conclusion.

So he knew that some things should be endured. To be honest, Pastor Abraham changed the land purchase into tax payment, which was a very "merciful" act among the people in the church and gave Levi a way out.

"Well, thank you Baron Levi for your cooperation. This is the total amount of taxes owed by Blackwater Valley over the years that we calculated. In view of the Black Snake Knights' great contributions to the church's cause, we have waived the huge late payment fees for the unpaid taxes and will only collect the principal. I would like to trouble you, Baron, to pay it." Pastor Abraham handed over a tax bill, which he had obviously prepared long ago.

Let’s talk to Levi about buying the territory first. It would be best if he agrees.

If you don't agree, then fine, you must pay me the tax I owe immediately.

Levi took the tax bill and looked at the amount on it, his eyes couldn't help but twitch.

"1,000 gold coins."

Old man, this is really tracing the tax arrears back to a hundred years ago.