Blood Holy Scripture: True Ancestor Charlotte de Castel
Chapter 152: -140- Financial Status of the Territory

Chapter 152: -140- Financial Status of the Territory

"Five hundred thousand... too little?"

Charlotte could not help raising her voice.

Casimodo nodded:

"Indeed..."

"Master, you might not be aware, but ten years ago when I was still involved in the manor’s operations, the domain used to send over at least one million and five hundred thousand gold tanas every month."

Charlotte: ...

Good heavens!

One million five hundred thousand a month...

Annual income of tens of millions?

This isn’t Blue Star’s RMB!

If we were to compare the purchasing power, one gold tana is roughly equivalent to a thousand to two thousand pieces on Blue Star, rounding it up, that’s about over twenty billion a month...

And this isn’t revenue, this is actual money delivered to the manor.

Unbelievable!

Such income, if on Blue Star’s Heavenly Dynasty, would certainly be among the top magnates of the country!

Of course, the world of Mireya possesses transcendent powers.

The currency system here is different from that of Blue Star.

But even so, the Castel family indeed qualifies as rich enough to rival nations!

Of course, money isn’t everything.

For a first-tier Transcendent of Starry, money is still very important, but after the second-tier of Silver Moon, money turns into mere numbers.

They have too many ways to make money, they become less concerned about money and instead focus on transcendent objects far more precious than money.

Many transcendent objects cannot be measured in monetary value.

Even if they could, they are often priceless.

"Master... I was already quite shocked that someone had managed to spend all the family’s treasury over the years, and now it seems, it might not just be because that person outrageously bought all kinds of magic materials for an evil ritual, but also because the funds arriving at the manor have been decreasing in recent years."

Casimodo said solemnly.

Listening to him, Charlotte nodded slightly.

Although the five hundred thousand gold tanas had already surprised and satisfied her, as a lord, no one would complain about having less gold tanas in their pocket.

After all, everything requires money, and even nurturing Transcendents needs money.

"Let’s not rush, we will discuss this after returning to the manor."

Charlotte glanced at Baron Shalon who had been silent and seemingly preoccupied since meeting her, and mused.

The carriage grandly made its way back to Castel Manor.

Upon entering the manor, the silent Baron Shalon looked around and could not help speaking again:

"Miss Charlotte, I heard on the way that something happened to the family? The old lady... is no longer with us?"

Charlotte was not surprised that Baron Shalon knew about the matters inside the manor.

The changes in Castel had been big news in Bold as well. Though this convoy surely left Castel over a month ago, it was very possible to hear about matters in the manor from other merchants or locals during stops.

However, it was clear that the other party’s knowledge was quite limited, probably just hearsay.

Thinking of this, Charlotte’s face dimmed slightly, displaying a sorrowful expression:

"Yes, grandmother... has passed away. She was misled by the Blood Demon Church and eventually died in an evil sacrifice."

"The old lady really fell? She became a Blood Demon? Miss Charlotte... I know bringing up this matter pains you, but as a noble of the domain, I still need to clearly inquire about what exactly happened in the manor,"

Baron Shalon solemnly pursued.

Charlotte glanced at Sebastian beside her, and Sebastian nodded, stepped forward elegantly and said:

"Lord Shalon, it’s a long story about what happened..."

With that, Sebastian informed the other party about everything concerning Countess Castel.

Listening to Sebastian’s account, Baron Shalon’s expression gradually grew solemn.

After a long silence, he sighed deeply:

"I can’t believe such an incident occurred. Lord Charlotte, please accept my condolences..."

He naturally changed how he addressed Charlotte to ’Lord’.

After speaking, he turned his gaze back to Sebastian’s typical elf appearance, and couldn’t help but ask:

"I was quite curious before, I don’t seem to recall seeing you by Lord Charlotte’s side previously, may I ask who you are?"

"I am Sebastian, the butler of Castel Manor, Miss Charlotte’s faithful servant,"

Sebastian smiled.

"Sebastian?"

Baron Shalon was stunned.

Quickly, his eyes widened, almost instinctively jumping up:

"Wait? Sebastian? The Flame Elf? Are you the president of the Rose Association?!"

Sebastian smiled faintly:

"That is indeed me."

"But as the president of the underground Rose Association, why would you become Miss Charlotte’s butler?"

Baron Shalon furrowed his brow, his expression carrying a hint of alertness and hostility.

Nobles always despised the underworld, and although Sebastian was powerful, Shalon did not like him, and this only heightened his wariness.

"Of course, it is because the Rose Association has always been an external force of the Castel family, and I have always been a covert servant of the family. It’s only after the incident involving the Countess that I came to the manor to serve the master closely."

Sebastian said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"The Rose Association is an external force of the family?"

Baron Shalon’s frown deepened.

Clearly, the news of the Holy Judgment from two days ago hadn’t spread far. Baron Shalon was still unaware, probably also due to the Holy Royal Court’s deliberate downplaying of the news, after all... a failed judgment wasn’t something worth broadcasting.

Baron Shalon looked towards Charlotte, and Charlotte slightly nodded in approval. The Baron, hesitant for a moment, eventually frowned and nodded to Sebastian:

"I... understand."

After informing him of the latest situation at the manor, Charlotte subtly began to inquire about the state of the domain, trying to see if he would voluntarily speak about the transfer of funds.

However, what she got in return was his formal response that "everything was fine in the domain."

Charlotte glanced at Casimodo, who immediately understood.

He stepped forward and respectfully asked:

"Lord Shalon, I noticed that the amount of funds delivered to the manor this month... is it significantly less than before?"

"Significantly less?"

Shalon was startled.

He picked up the list and looked it over, then shook his head and said:

"No, it has been this same amount for the past two years."

"But I remember, in the past, the monthly funds sent from the domain were around one million five hundred thousand gold tanas, and sometimes it could even surpass two million."

Casimodo said with a frown.

Shalon was silent for a moment, then sighed:

"That was many years ago, things are different now."

"Why? What happened in the domain?"

Casimodo pressed.

Shalon gave him a look, not answering, but instead turned to Charlotte and said:

"Lord Charlotte, may we... talk privately?"

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, her gaze swiftly moving over Casimodo and Sebastian, then gently nodded her head:

"Of course."

...

One after the other, Charlotte and Baron Shalon entered the manor’s study.

And just as they entered, Baron Shalon couldn’t help but ask:

"Lord Charlotte, has the domain been informed of the family’s situation?"

"Casimodo has already sent messages to the domain, and even summoned a few Viscounts and Barons to Bold."

Charlotte replied.

As she spoke, she glanced again at Baron Shalon:

"However... we have yet to receive any reply."

Baron Shalon’s expression suddenly became somewhat awkward.

He coughed lightly and explained:

"Lord Charlotte, what you don’t know is, last month there were several conflicts between Castel Domain and Vlad Duchy, and the Magic Tower that handles communication was damaged and has not yet been repaired."

The Vlad Duchy?

Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat.

The Vlad Duchy was one of the twelve duchies of the New Moon Kingdom and a neighbor to the Count Castel Domain, and it had always had a delicate relationship with the Bold Duchy.

The ongoing conflicts between Castel Count Domain, an exclave of the Bold Duchy, and Vlad Duchy over commercial competition and territorial disputes were incessant.

"The Magic Tower for messaging is broken? You mean, the domain might not have received the message yet?"

Charlotte asked, frowning.

"Quite possibly."

Baron Shalon thought for a moment, then answered.

Such a coincidence?

Charlotte’s frown deepened further.

She continued, pressing on:

"Setting aside the messaging, what about the monthly funds that Casimodo spoke of? I’ve heard that in recent years the commerce in the domain has been thriving, and the silver mine has been consistently producing. Why then is the income now less than before?"

Looking at Charlotte’s youthful and naive appearance, Baron Shalon sighed and said:

"Lord Charlotte, you may not fully understand the composition of the domain’s income."

"I know some of it. Seventy percent of the income is from Castel silver mines, ten percent from vassal taxes, and twenty percent from taxes and commercial income from the directly administered domain."

Charlotte stated.

Hearing her response, Baron Shalon let out a long sigh:

"Yes... Seventy percent of the domain’s income comes from the silver mines, especially from the accompanying Mithril mine, which accounts for the vast majority of the income."

"But the portion of the accompanying Mithril mine that goes to the family... has nearly been depleted."