System: Build My Own Territory

Chapter 817: Chapter 262: Extraordinary Temple Knight (10,000) Part 4

Semo seemed a bit inebriated; for a moment, he didn’t understand the meaning of Lynn’s words.

He continued the topic on his own, "If you refuse to pay the tithe, what should we..."

As soon as he spoke, Semo’s eyes instantly widened, filled with disbelief as he looked at Lynn.

"Lord Lynn, what do you mean by this?"

"The District Church collects the tithe on behalf of the God of Light!"

"Paying the tithe is a risk for the God of Light and a religious duty for everyone."

"Are you showing disrespect to the God of Light?"

Samuel, standing behind Semo, listened to the conversation between Semo and Lynn, his heart full of gravity.

Indeed.

The young Lord Lynn before them would not be as simple as other lords.

Lynn smiled slightly, speaking calmly.

"Bishop Semo, there’s no need to be so tense."

"I just want to know what I’ll face if I don’t pay the tithe!"

Semo had already sobered up from his earlier tipsiness.

He stared directly at Lynn, speaking with conviction.

"First, excommunication."

"You will not be protected by the Church, will be beyond redemption, and will be punished by God because of this!"

"Secondly, commercial boycott."

"No matter what goods are on your land, they will not be able to enter the market."

"All merchants will unite to boycott you!"

"Then, legal proceedings."

"The District Church will sue you according to church law."

"Finally, military sanctions!"

"If the situation is severe enough, the Church will dispatch the Holy Temple Knight Corps to conduct military sanctions on your territory."

"Or even reclaim the lordship of this land."

"Even if this land was granted to you by Marquis Duca!"

Listening to Semo’s account, Lynn remained unfazed.

He nodded and said, "Bishop Semo, the consequences you described might be severe for other lords..."

"But for me... they don’t pose any sense of crisis!"

Lynn continued, "Firstly, I am not a believer of your Church of Light, nor do I have faith in this so-called God of Light!"

"Since I don’t have a church membership in the first place, why would I worry about excommunication?"

Semo frowned deeply.

"Secondly, given the current scale of the towns on my territory, whether it’s the grain planted or items produced by handcraft, or even the gin you just drank..."

"We can achieve self-sufficiency without intentionally selling them outside!"

Semo was speechless.

Standing behind him, Samuel slightly nodded.

There is such a vast area of farmland, encompassing all the labor within the bounds of Morgan Town.

With advanced planting techniques, and even various advanced items he had never seen before...

Such a piece of territory can already be described as a country within a country!

Lynn leaned slightly backward, resting on the back of the wooden chair.

"Then, there’s the legal proceedings and military sanctions you mentioned, Bishop Semo..."

"Bishop Semo, would the Church really gather forces for a remote lord refusing to pay the tithe and conduct a large-scale crackdown?"

This is the advantage of having the territory located in a remote border area.

It also verifies the saying—when the general is in the field, he does not follow orders to the letter!

Not to mention the laws from the Church.

Even Marquis Duca, who conferred him the title of lord, could be ignored.

Both he and Semo across from him understood this very well.

The church spread across the Garonia Continent.

Whether in military strength, or economically, politically, culturally, educationally, or socially, it has powerful strength.

However.

This doesn’t mean the Church will dispatch forces and launch a massive assault on his territory for not paying the tithe.

One must know.

No matter how strong the Church’s capabilities are in every aspect,

it is still restricted by the military powers of the various empires on the Garonia Continent!

Otherwise.

The Church would have long controlled all the empires on the continent.

Most critically.

Deploying soldiers, waging war,

especially conducting expeditions, is extremely costly.

Recruiting soldiers, supply provision, soldier salaries, weapon manufacturing and maintenance, transportation costs, etc.!

Semo’s originally ruddy face turned livid.

He naturally understood that what Lynn said made sense.

Aside from anything else.

The outposts, the city walls he saw along the way,

and the heavy cavalry and soldiers this territory possesses.

To attack Lynn’s territory, how much Church force would be needed?

Five thousand?

Eight thousand?

Or ten thousand?

Even if he informed the Church Archbishop of the salt mine in this territory,

the Archbishop wouldn’t dispatch a massive Church army to suppress it just for a salt mine.

The legal proceedings and military sanctions he mentioned are often just used as threats.

For other lords, they have quite a good effect.

But for Lynn in front of him...

He’s clearly impenetrable like a rock.

With some military strength of his own,

he doesn’t care about such threats.

From what he just described,

if the Church wants to militarily sanction him, they might as well try sending soldiers!

It’s not just Semo.

Samuel, behind him, had a face full of gravity.

If Lynn truly doesn’t fear the Church,

then what does bringing the cavalry to Lynn’s territory to collect the tithe count as?

Walking into a trap?

Or seeking their own doom?

Samuel’s entire body became tense.

If Lynn decided to silence them, they wouldn’t even have a sliver of a chance to resist.