Chapter 170: Baron Luke’s Petty Revenge?
The old merchant respectfully cupped his fists. "My greetings once again, Baron Luke."
Luke acknowledged him with a slight nod. "Go on."
A courteous smile appeared on the old man’s face.
"My name is Percival Langdon."
"I am a timber merchant."
"For more than five decades, my family has dealt in the transportation and trade of every kind of wood."
He calmly began listing them.
"Oak."
"Pine."
"Cedar."
"Exotic hardwoods."
"Lumber."
"And many other varieties."
Luke listened quietly, giving an occasional nod.
Meanwhile...
Several merchants seated nearby narrowed their eyes.
’Percival Langdon.’ They naturally recognized him.
The Langdon Family had operated in the timber trade for over fifty years.
Throughout the kingdom, they had earned an excellent reputation for both quality and reliability.
In the timber business. They were considered one of the established names.
Percival took a slow breath before revealing his true purpose.
"Sir Luke."
"I would like to establish a Branch within the Blackstone Highlands."
"If you are willing to permit it." The moment those words left his mouth—
The entire hall fell silent. Many merchants’ eyes widened.
Several even turned toward Percival in astonishment.
’A Branch?!’
’He isn’t here just to negotiate the toll fees?’
The hall stirred with whispers.
Several merchants exchanged puzzled looks. Some even frowned.
After all, Building a Branch inside another lord’s territory was no small decision.
It meant investing heavily in land, buildings, workers, and supplies.
More importantly...
It meant placing a significant portion of one’s business under someone else’s authority.
If relations ever turned hostile. Everything inside that Branch could be seized overnight.
And there would be very little the merchant could do about it. It was undoubtedly a risky gamble.
However...
The rewards were equally tempting.
A permanent Branch meant faster transportation. Safer storage. Direct access to Blackstone’s growing market.
And most importantly. It would earn Baron Luke’s goodwill.
With his Mid-Golden Knight combat power protecting the territory, caravans would no longer have to constantly fear attacks from bandits.
’Idiots.’
Percival caught the some mocking expressions directed at him. Several of them belonged to his longtime competitors.
Inwardly, he merely sneered.
’Keep laughing.’
’You’ll understand soon enough.’
Unlike the others. Percival had carefully observed the Blackstone Highlands.
For ten long years. The territory had remained almost unchanged.
Poor. Quiet. Almost forgotten.
Yet within merely fourteen days. Everything had transformed.
New construction projects appeared one after another. The population had increased.
The military had expanded at an unbelievable pace.
Trade had begun flourishing. The entire territory radiated vitality.
And all of it. Had happened because of a single person.
Percival slowly lifted his gaze toward the elevated throne.
There Baron Luke sat calmly.
A faint smile rested on his face as he looked back at him.
’This man...’
’He’s the reason behind all of it.’
That was precisely why Percival had made his decision.
He was willing to bet his family’s future on Luke.
After all for years, his caravans had suffered repeated attacks from bandit groups during transportation.
He wasn’t naive enough to believe those attacks were mere coincidence.
In fact...
He strongly suspected that several of his own business rivals had been secretly funding those bandits to weaken the Langdon Family’s trade.
If establishing a Branch in the Blackstone Highlands meant gaining Luke’s protection.
Then, in Percival’s eyes it was a gamble worth taking.
"I approve." Luke’s answer came without the slightest hesitation.
The moment those two words echoed through the hall. A huge smile of relief spread across Percival’s face.
He respectfully bowed. "Thank you, Baron Luke!"
Luke gave a slight nod before shifting his gaze across the entire gathering.
His expression gradually became serious.
"Now there’s something else I wish to announce."
Instantly every merchant straightened in their seats.
Luke calmly continued.
"As for the previous toll system." He paused for a brief moment.
"I am removing it."
A wave of confusion spread throughout the hall.
"Because I’m replacing it with a completely new one." His calm voice reached every corner of the room.
Immediately the merchants frowned. Whispers quietly spread among them.
’Why?’
’Is Baron Luke trying to squeeze more money from us?’
’Is this his way of getting back at us because we never supported Blackstone when it was struggling?’
’Are we about to pay for the mistakes of the previous merchants?’
Many expressions gradually turned ugly. Even several newly arrived merchants looked uneasy.
After all they hadn’t done anything wrong.
Yet now, they feared they would suffer the consequences of others past actions.
Still not a single person dared interrupt Luke.
Instead they quietly waited for him to finish.
Luke calmly rested one hand on the armrest of his chair. Then spoke again.
"From today onward. Every merchant caravan passing through the Blackstone Highlands."
"Will pay toll based on the total value of the goods they are transporting."
He deliberately added another sentence. "However small merchants are exempt from this rule."
The atmosphere immediately became even heavier. Still, everyone waited for the most important part.
*The price.*
Luke slowly swept his gaze across the hall.
Then he revealed the new toll rates.
***
TOLL TAX RATES
Category: Toll Rate | Goods Type
Essential Goods: 3% | Food, medicine, raw materials
Standard Goods: 5% | Tools, cloth, common trade items
Luxury Goods: 7% | Wine, jewelry, rare metals, exotic goods
Small Merchant (Low Value): 3 Silver | Local traders with low-value goods (per cart)
***
The moment the proposed rates were announced. The expressions of many merchants immediately darkened.
Their uneasy premonitions had seemingly come true.
’Baron Luke is being petty.’ That thought flashed through everyone minds.
Previously...
They had only needed to pay a fixed amount to cross the Blackstone Highlands.
The fee was predictable. Simple. Easy to calculate.
But now a percentage-based toll would directly scale with the value of their cargo.
For many merchants. That sounded far worse.
Whispers instantly spread throughout the hall.
"This is too much."
"My profits will shrink."
"How are we supposed to make money like this?"
Several merchants frowned deeply.
Others quietly began calculating the numbers in their heads.