Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1166: Tying up loose ends...

After clearing his intentions to the masses... the announcements didn’t stop.

Kahn also expressed his plan to utilize the nation’s criminals, binding them through the Blood-binding contract and expanding The Covenant army directly under his command.

He would then make them do all the dirty work that normal law enforcement officers and military personnel shouldn’t be doing in the public eye.

They would also be akin to his death squad. A group that would react to only his will and become a symbol of fear for those whom he deemed evil and found guilty of unforgivable crimes against the people of the nation.

By his estimation, the 2 million soldiers would expand as far as 40 million within the next 4 months after the procedure was done.

They would be given the training and the arms to do his bidding. For those who opposed and couldn’t prove their use... will be executed in public places.

"Yes! No need to feed those bastards for free!

They’ve destroyed so many lives. There’s no reason to keep them well fed and sheltered while we struggle to eat a single meal a day!" shouted one of the citizens.

Clap!

A thunderous applause was received to Kahn’s announcement. Because people were happy with the decision and welcomed it wholeheartedly.

Kahn had no intentions of wasting money on these rapists and murderers to mooch off of taxpayer money.

They would now spend their lives to make up for their crimes as long as they lived from here on.

And ironically, they would be the empire’s hunting dogs against the people who committed similar crimes to them.

With this... Kahn was finally done for the day.

******************

But why did Kahn publicly declare all of these on the very day of his coronation?

Because he wanted people to believe in him.

Grand speeches could make an effect only so far. People needed to see the real results with their eyes.

Announcing them on the day he wore the crown was more than enough to show the masses that he wasn’t a man of hollow promises but actual actions.

Besides, when else would the whole empire stand collectively together if not on the day of his coronation?

As for the results... soon, all of them would witness and experience with their own eyes.

Step!

Thud!

Step!

The newly appointed Royal Guards then brought the crown, marching in perfect rhythm.

Swoosh!

Kahn summoned his throne from the space ring. The very same throne he used to sit upon as the Sovereign of the Verlassen Fiefdom.

Step!

Omerga walked towards the crown and picked it up gently as the crowd turned silent.

With both grace and respect, he placed it on Kahn’s head.

It was then, the Royal Guards made a collective shout...

"For the Rakos Empire! For his majesty, Kahn Salvatore!"

And just a second later, the whole Rakos Empire shouted, their hearts and souls united...

"For his majesty, Kahn Salvatore! For his majesty, Kahn Salvatore!"

******************

Afterward, an afterparty took place in the premises of the now Imperial Headquarters.

Whether it was dancing, entertainment, feasting, or drinking while chatting with their peers, people started enjoying themselves.

Nobody bothered to care if all the noble clans and factions were gloomy and biting their tongues.

People simply no longer feared them as their new emperor held an invisible leash over their necks.

At the same time... The imperial forces also held a grand buffet across the empire.

The ginormous warships that arrived this morning weren’t just carrying personnel or decoration equipment... they carried all the goods, vegetables, meat, and drinks for the citizens of the empire.

Why?

As if having a leader they acknowledged and revered wasn’t already enough, they were getting delicious and savory food along with the booze for free as well.

It was the icing on top. For days to come, people would be talking about the ceremony, but now, they would also discuss how much they liked the food.

Besides... who didn’t love free food?

******************

The Next Day...

Kahn made many vital changes to the empire’s operational structure, whether it was the Senate, the Department of Justice, or the Ministry of Finance.

Also, the income decreased from 35% to 15%. Increased the taxation limit till those taxes could be applied. He also reduced the taxes on merchants as well as the service tax on goods by at least 10% on most of the categories.

It could be considered putting a hole in his own pockets, but Kahn intentionally planned it.

Because after 4 months, the Great War was coming and with no exceptions... Rakos Empire would have to partake in it.

In times of war, governments usually increased taxes on citizens by using the name of provisions and ammunition for the soldiers.

In the end, the common civilians of the country or empire bore the brunt of those decisions. That is bound to make the entire populace unhappy.

Since this could be considered his trial period as the new emperor, Kahn wanted to win people’s hearts first so they could understand that when the time came, he would have to increase taxes.

But Kahn had no intentions of robbing the people blindly either.

Because he already had many sources of income and funding, such as Seven Deadly Sins and wealth brought from the Misthios Mercenary Guild.

He just needed the taxes to turn that money white, put it into regulation so that funds could be allocated properly while justifying it as money coming from the tax surplus.

In his new Imperial Hall, all the subordinates were present, sitting across their respective luxurious chairs.

But two people stood in the middle of the hall, five meters away from Kahn.

Kahn then explains these changes to Mr. Rotich and Sirius.

Both were masters of handling such stuff. Rotich knew how to put the money into circulation legally, and Sirius was a professional at cooking the books.

"There is another matter we have to discuss. An important one that we can use to our advantage," said Kahn.

"Although I bound plenty of people in the government and business world to myself using the Stigmata of Bloodline... there is still a big portion that doesn’t answer me or them either.

These are the people who have no reason to stop their crimes, corruption, or misuse the authority of the positions they hold.

Even if you audit them or investigate them, many of them are good at hiding their skeletons inside the closet." stated Kahn.

Both Mr. Rotich and Sirius also nodded in response because they too knew the reality.

"Military... can be controlled due to a hierarchy system, as well as our own people managing the expenses...

What we can’t control are the government officials on the ground level, as well as those unrelated to either of the categories I can control.

So I was thinking about a way to circumvent this problem while gaining the massive favor of the citizens." iterated Kahn while placing his right hand under his chin.

"What is your plan, your majesty?" asked Rotich with a curious gaze, his slick gray hair and glasses rising as he squinted his eyes.

"How about we do this..."

Soon, Kahn elaborated a plan with a devious smirk as he laid down the steps one by one.

"This... it will shock the masses greatly, will probably impede the newly established imperial rule itself for like a month," spoke Mr. Rotich with furrowed brows.

But suddenly, it was Sirius who responded...

"But it will work. Flawlessly, if things go as we planned," said the green orc accountant.

"Better than setting up committees for investigation or auditing all the people in administrative positions one by one, right?" said Kahn with a visible grin.

"Yes, it will." responded the Minister of Finance.

"And you know what your part is after that announcement, Sirius?" asked Kahn.

"Do not worry, your majesty. I will be swift and effective before they can even prepare," responded Sirius and bowed his head.

"So when are you doing the announcement, your majesty?" asked the old minister in a business coat.

"Not me... it has to be you, Minister Rotich," said Kahn with a light smirk.

Gasp!

The gray-haired minister gasped with shock.

"Me? But why? You, the figurehead of the empire, should be making such an important announcement," spoke the old man, still baffled.

"Because in the empire’s eyes... You rose from the commoner class to become a minister under imperial rule.

Although noble houses have no administrative authority in my reign, people should be able to feel that they, too, could reach heights of success by working hard and living honorably.

They shouldn’t carry the notion that one needs to be a strong warrior or a saint to do so either.

People should feel that the world is finally becoming fair to them." said Kahn with a contented smile.

The new Minister of Finance nodded and smiled. He understood Kahn’s intentions very well.

The following evening, when most of the population had finished their daily work and returned to their homes or gathered in public places such as inns and restaurants... a major announcement was made across the empire.

"Greetings, my fellow citizens of the Rakos Empire. I’m the newly elected Minister of Finance," said Mr. Rotich as he began the announcement with a formal introduction.

His face was fresh in everyone’s minds, so people recognized him instantly.

"By the grace of his majesty, the Emperor of the Rakos Empire... I’m glad to announce that following next week..." said the old man with a proud tone.

"We’re opening 20 million posts for government positions across the whole empire!"