Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire-Chapter 796 - 445: Rivers of Blood, Sword Sweeps in Eight Directions (Part 2)

Chapter 796: Chapter 445: Rivers of Blood, Sword Sweeps in Eight Directions (Part 2)
As for the loss of family power, it can be recuperated later. Although the Augustus family has only a few hundred official members, if one truly wishes to replenish, there are plenty of people with Augustus blood, yet without the surname, scattered outside. Replenishing is not difficult; we don’t need to lower the entry threshold, just slightly relax the criteria.
"Besides, there’s one more thing."
"Grandmother, please speak."
Alexander spoke with respect. Although this grandmother had not shown her full strength yet, just a few sword moves allowed him to glimpse the power and fearfulness of this Nine Swords Master.
"What’s going on with the taxes from the Southern Province? Why has the tax allocation to Noah remained at thirty million for years without any change?"
Edith pointed directly to the core of the dispute, the unfair distribution of benefits, which aroused dissatisfaction among Noah’s favored ones.
If this grandson could distribute the taxes from the Southern Province in a more fair manner, even if the Dragon-men had complaints, it would not have escalated to the point where Fairies couldn’t contain it,
"You clearly know that without Noah’s help, you couldn’t conquer the Southern Province. So why can’t you reasonably distribute the family’s profits in the south?
Giving half of the taxes to Noah, do you think that’s too much, or are you unwilling?"
"Your suggestion is indeed reasonable, but..."
Alexander showed a look of shame. When he got to the bottom of it, he should indeed take the main responsibility for this matter. If he could give half of the taxes collected from the Southern Province to the favored ones of the Holy Dragon, today’s situation wouldn’t have occurred.
"To what extent has your Dragonification reached?"
Seeing his grandson fidget and stammer, Edith’s brow immediately furrowed, sensing something unusual,
"Just as you are seeing now!"
Alexander spread his arms, revealing his entire posture to this grandmother.
"Give me a Golden Dragon Coin."
Edith slightly frowned, then relaxed quickly. She opened her hand to the grandson, making a clear demand.
"What?"
"Get a Gold Coin and hand it to me."
The Nine Swords Master repeated the request.
"I don’t have any Gold Coins on me."
Alexander was puzzled.
"Then go fetch one for me."
"What do you want a Gold Coin for?"
"As expected."
Edith closely observed the micro-expressions on her grandson’s face, and then sighed,
"You have not only inherited Noah’s blood but also those bad habits of the Dragon Clan. You’re unwilling and unable to split the taxes from the Southern Province with Noah, even though Noah has given you everything you possess now."
"Grandmother, if Uncestor needs, I can offer all my current assets, including all the resources I now control!"
"But if Noah doesn’t specifically request, you’ll naturally seize and control the resources without voluntarily sharing them, won’t you?"
"..."
Alexander was speechless; which Monarch would willingly give up nearly half of the nation’s taxes?
He admitted he couldn’t do it, even without Dragon Clan blood. Neither his father nor his grandfather, in his view, could do something so absurd.
"The current Augustus family doesn’t need such immense wealth; wouldn’t you agree?"
Illia glanced at the corpses of the elders lying all over the hall and asked.
"Grandmother, what is your opinion?"
"Isn’t Noah planning to build a Floating City? Then put all this excess wealth and resources into it to aid Noah. If you’re not satisfied, you can discuss with Noah, naming the Floating City produced by Augustus family’s investment."
"Then these Floating Cities..."
"Noah’s Floating City will naturally be controlled by Noah, and personnel arrangement will also be decided by them. If you wish to gain a position there, wouldn’t he arrange that for you?"
"Grandmother’s lesson is received."
Alexander lowered his head completely. He admitted that the decision made by this grandmother at this moment was correct, but he couldn’t make such a decision.
It’s not that he couldn’t think of it, but some nature of his repressed such thoughts, especially placing huge assets into entities other than himself and not under his own control.
"Seems like you have no objections."
"Grandmother, your decision is correct, I naturally have no objections."
"I have one more suggestion; do you want to hear it?"
"Please, speak."
"After you, the next Monarch and Family Head should no longer be an Augustus with Dragon Clan blood. The nature of the Dragon Clan will hinder the continuation of Augustus!"
Upon hearing grandmother’s suggestion, Alexander immediately responded,
"I’ve met an exceptionally talented girl whose talents I am very pleased with, but I have some concerns about her bloodline.
If external factors are set aside, and only personal cultivation is considered, I am inclined to choose her over my offspring to inherit the throne."
"Are you talking about Astraea?"
"Yes, she is a descendant of Wayne!"
"She is indeed a very excellent child; as for her lineage, there’s no need for any worries. If you’re uneasy, you can go see Noah."
When her grandson mentioned this eight-generation Augustus, Edith also showed a satisfied expression. She may not intervene often, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care.
"I will."
"Hmm, next, I will take a trip to Elisium City, and matters in Uther City, you handle them."
"What are you doing in Elisium?"
"My swordsmanship has recently improved, and there’s no shortage of Legendary Dragon-men and Ancient Dragons in Elisium who can serve as opponents to test my sword edge!"
"Grandmother, this is something I should do."
Alexander instantly understood what this grandmother intended to do. While he agreed to relinquish benefit, that alone was not enough. It’s not just about simply giving up benefits, there also needs to be enough demonstration of force, at least not letting the Dragon-men in Elisium look down on the Augustus family.
"You are not suitable, no matter how strong you are, it merely underlines the strength of Noah, and no one will think the Augustus family is invincible."
"I wish you countless victories and triumphant return!"
Hearing these words, Alexander no longer stopped his grandmother but instead offered sincere blessings.
"I will."
Just like upon her arrival, this Nine Swords Master disappeared in front of Alexander’s eyes without leaving a trace, coming and going without a trace.
"Time stopped?"
Alexander barely managed to catch some traces but couldn’t see how his grandmother achieved it.
"Nine Swords Master~"
A whisper echoed in the blood-stained Thunder Hall, followed by a great purge beginning from the power core of this kingdom, sweeping into Royal City, and eventually impacting the entire Atlas Kingdom.
Every elder of the Augustus family not only represented themselves but also a vast complex of interests, with countless Nobles attached to them.
It was precisely for this reason that Alexander initially aimed to intimidate through force rather than take direct action because the influence was too significant, enough to destabilize the kingdom’s stability.
He had reviewed the family history; he knew that both his father and grandfather had purged the family, the former to stabilize the family, while the latter for personal gain.
However, how could the Augustus family at that time be compared to now? It’s completely incomparable; the circumstances both faced were different.
But once grandmother appeared and waved her sword, he had no path of retreat; he could either choose to stand with grandmother or oppose her to protect the family elders.
But how could that be possible? Thus, the moment Edith waved her sword, he no longer had a choice.
Still, the outcome now wasn’t one he disliked; clearing everything and starting afresh isn’t so bad.
Even if it fails, he can leave the problems for later generations, believing in the wisdom of successors.