The commissions he had seen in Jean's office were things like looking for lost cats and dogs, running errands, cleaning, and similar chores.
Leon had been furious at the time.
[Asking my girl to do tasks like these—these people of Mondstadt are really bold!]
[They're nothing but a bunch of undisciplined layabouts. You all deserve my punishment!]
Leon truly had been extremely irritated back then.
In his eyes, that city full of lazy drunks wasn't even worth a single strand of his beloved Jean's hair.
Of course, Jean had no idea what he was really thinking. Otherwise, she would have been flattered—and probably would have praised her own virtues and abilities in response.
"Your Highness, even if you issue such a strict decree, I don't think most people will comply."
"Haha, it's fine. Starting next month, the people of Mondstadt won't be able to do anything unless they work hard."
The three girls blinked in surprise. Next month? They didn't even know what would happen tomorrow, and this man was already predicting the situation a month ahead?
They saw Leon sitting on the luxurious sofa with his legs crossed, hands clasped over his knees, a calculating strategist's smile glinting in his eyes.
"I know no one will work hard this month, but the reason the people of Mondstadt still have money to spend right now is because of the urban reconstruction subsidies I approved some time ago."
"The subsidy allowed them to receive a sum of money every month. But now that the subsidy has been canceled, starting next month, the people of Mondstadt won't be able to get anything for free."
"At the same time…"
"They won't be able to pay the taxes."
Leon flicked a gold coin and rolled it across his fingers.
"Although ten times the tax sounds like a lot, if everyone worked seriously—even at the minimum wage—any idiot could afford it."
Even ten times the tax wasn't actually that much, provided people worked hard. Leon understood this very well.
"Question: how should people who have no money pay?"
Eula hesitated for a few seconds before speaking.
But soon she questioned it herself—who in this city would have the qualifications and ability to lend money to so many people?
Impossible. The Gunnhildr family was a family of knights with no private estates to their name. They had no way to lend money to millions of Mondstadt's citizens.
At that moment, Leon took out a banknote.
Printed on it was the official crest of the Kingdom of Palettia. On the reverse was a golden scale pattern symbolizing wealth and justice—along with the emblem of a certain woman.
The three women exclaimed when they saw it, and Leon smiled.
"That's right. The people of Mondstadt who can't pay will have to go to the Liyue Chamber of Commerce next month to apply for loans. I've already asked Ningguang to prepare the funds and make arrangements."
"I see—wait, wait! What does that mean?!"
"Hm? Are you very close to Ningguang? Are you friends?"
Eula and Barbara's eyes widened in shock.
They both swallowed hard, feeling as though they had uncovered something terrifying. Could it be that the famous Golden Empress and Prince Leon were allies?
Jean's expression became complicated. She had known this for a long time but had never told Barbara—it was confidential.
"Very close? Allies? Didn't I tell you?" Leon said calmly.
"Ningguang is my subordinate. I raised and trained her personally since childhood."
Who could have imagined that the woman who had amassed wealth frantically across the world—whose fortune numbered in the hundreds of millions, and whose personal assets were rumored to surpass the treasury of a great kingdom—was actually Prince Leon's subordinate?
That revelation alone would make countless jaws drop. Eula felt uneasy, thinking she might have learned too much.
If Ningguang was Leon's subordinate…
Then wouldn't the people of Mondstadt be in serious trouble?
Next month, the people of Mondstadt would borrow money from Ningguang because they couldn't pay their taxes—and Ningguang's money belonged to Leon.
Wouldn't that mean the money simply moved from his left pocket to his right?
And he could even earn interest in the process.
Moreover, it would put ninety percent of Mondstadt in debt.
The true master was the one who lent money to the entire world. When the time came, he could use Ningguang's name to force these lazy Mondstadt citizens to work.
Leon slightly lifted the corners of his mouth, revealing his signature capitalist smile.
Whoever had money held the power. That had already been true in his previous life.
In this world, those who lent money were the strongest. If a debt wasn't repaid within the agreed time, the creditor had the right to demand lawful labor from the debtor to settle it.
As a prince, he truly couldn't force people to work more than eight hours a day—after all, no one was a slave.
But if he acted as a creditor… that was a different story. Adult or elderly, man or woman—it wouldn't matter at all.
After hearing Leon's plan, Barbara, Jean, and Eula all shuddered inwardly, sighing in their hearts: the man they followed was truly dark to the very core!
How could this man come up with such a complete and terrifying plan in such a short amount of time?!
You're really good at scheming against people, you know that?
Even if his actions were exposed, there wouldn't be any real problem—because Leon's original intention was genuinely good.
He was there to help the lazy people of Mondstadt change their way of life. Aside from the small portion of money they needed to pay as taxes, the rest would still belong to them.
No matter how dissatisfied the citizens of Mondstadt might be, after a few months they would realize that they were, in fact, richer than before.
That would probably leave them with very mixed feelings.
Leon: "Of course, since I've personally stepped in, it's impossible for me to be satisfied with such a small profit. Ten times the tax isn't enough to satisfy my appetite."
Eula: "There's more?!"
Leon: "Of course. My real target is Mondstadt's wine merchants."
Jean / Barbara: "Even though we don't fully understand it, we can always tell how ingenious this is!"
He restricted alcohol consumption in Mondstadt and even implemented a curfew. Although this truly reduced and alleviated crimes caused by drinking, it also made the wine merchants extremely dissatisfied.
But how could disgruntled merchants deal with Leon, a prince?
Obviously, a single merchant wouldn't be enough.
However, if the majority united, they could represent the entire wine industry of the kingdom.
And then, as long as the leader could control the situation…
Now, in the city of Mondstadt, the only suitable candidates were the owners of the three taverns: [The Cat's Tail], [Liyue Tavern], and [Angel's Share].
But [The Cat's Tail] was absolutely impossible, for personal reasons.
[Angel's Share], although a good option, had already signed a long-term wine procurement cooperation agreement with Leon just yesterday. Naturally, the wine merchants wouldn't dare approach it.
That left only [Liyue Tavern].
Ningguang was rich, powerful, and influential.
Her businesses were spread across the entire world.
Even the Prince of Palettia had to give her some face—or at least, that was certainly what those wine merchants would think.
The leader on their side… was the enemy's woman.
How was this any different from surrender?
(End of Chapter)