Castle Drawing Room.

Unlike the first meeting, which was full of gunpowder, this time Kroger changed his previous attitude and did not say anything back.

"Lord Lord, the Qingyuan Town you govern, to be honest, is diametrically opposed to the rumors outside, I apologize for your previous attitude."

As he spoke, Kroger bowed his head slightly and stroked his chest in apology.

"It's okay, you're from the perspective of the empire, I won't hold a grudge against such a trivial matter."

For Kroger's previous mean and tough attitude, Goodern did not take it to heart.

That was, of course, when Kroger wasn't specifically targeting him.

If he was also bribed and sent by Charleson, let alone the Parade Factory today, he would have to kick him out of Qingyuan Town after the meeting that day.

Anyway, it is not necessary for the tax collector to live in his own territory, and he can go to Jinyuan Castle.

"Thank you for your leniency." Kroger's face was solemn, and he went straight to the point.

"Lord Gooden, to be honest, I don't feel the need to deduct this tax for the development of your Qingyuan Town."

"At the same time, I also think that you are not the one who can do such a thing, plus the steward of Joseph has asked me about the whereabouts of Matthews these days."

"I think you're in trouble, can you tell me what happened?"

Entering the subject, Goodern nodded, sorting out the language slightly.

"In fact, the tax arrears are really wronged, and since I took the post of lord, the taxes have been arranged by Joseph Sr., and they have been paid truthfully every year."

"The excess tax collection is also returned to the construction of the town, and my expenses over the years have been funded by my family, so there is no need to be greedy for this tax."

"Now that something has gone so wrong, the only thing I can think of as a problem is Matthews, the former tax collector."

In just three sentences, Goodern told Kroger a simple series of causes and consequences.

"You mean, Matthews is hiding this tax from him?"

"Yes and no." Gooden nodded slightly, and then continued: "The cause behind it is a little complicated, but it is not ruled out that there is such a possibility in it. ”

"Originally, I wanted to find him to help do a tax check to see if there was a problem in that place."

"But now Matthews seems to have disappeared, and I can't find him at all, which makes me even more suspicious of him."

Speaking of this, Goodern's tone was also slightly helpless.

After all, being saddled with a debt of thousands of gold coins for no reason, no one can settle this exchange, right?

Kroger pondered for a moment before speaking.

"If it's really Matthews' problem, this tax will naturally not be paid by you."

"Later, I'll draw up an application and submit it to the Governor's Mansion in the North, and postpone your payment until we find Matthews to find out what is going on and make a decision."

"Thank you so much."

Being able to extend the deadline is the greatest help for Goodern.

Even if Matthews is not found, he will go to the arbitration office to appeal his grievances, and let the official people of the empire investigate the causes and consequences of this matter, which will definitely be solved.

And once the arbitration institute intervenes, the Charleson family will not be able to escape, although there is no real hammer for raising orc troops, but it has already been determined.

Previously, Gooden thought it was Roy's message that made the other party give up suing him.

But now judging from the information, the feelings are the other party's own momentary mouth.

If the arbitration court is really allowed to intervene, the 'fake' mine case is not worth mentioning in the face of such a red line as the 'orc army'.

By that time, none of his Charleson family could run.

"Besides......" Kroger scratched his head and paused.

"Speaking of which, I did know the whereabouts of Matthews before I came to Qingyuan Town, but now that so much time has passed, I don't know if he is still there."

"If the lord can draw up manpower, he can send someone to take a look."

Tracing the whereabouts of Matthews, Goodborn has not heard any news so far, and seeing that there is such a breakthrough, he hurriedly spoke up.

"It's naturally a good thing to have a whereabouts, and I sent people to search for dozens of days without finding any news."

Seeing that Goodern needed it so much, Kroger directly told him what he knew.

"Matthews was dropped to the east near the Northern Desert Golden Sea to collect taxes, the specific address is in the town of Nabao, if you send someone to stay in New Horn City to find out the news."

"Newhorn is also a transportation point, and Matthews will definitely pass through here if he goes, and assign tasks here and go to the town of Nebor."

Hearing the name of the place, Goodern quickly flashed through his memory.

The Golden Sea of the Northern Desert is a regional territory in the northeast of the empire, which is connected to the North Peak Frost Realm, that is, the northern border.

And his Qingyuan Snow Ridge, as the territory of the northwesternmost edge of the northern realm, if he wants to get close to the Northern Desert Golden Sea, it has to span nearly seven or eight hundred kilometers.

It's a distance that keeps people running, and it takes five or six days to get there.

It's no wonder that this is another reward order, and there is no clue to search the places where the other party has frequented.

Feelings run so far, huh?

Matthews was transferred so far away that Goodern had new doubts.

"Speaking of which, will this change of tax collector and inspector move the place of work so far?"

Kroger shook his head and said.

"It stands to reason that it will not, and the job transfer is also a small area of disruption, and it is rare for there to be an almost cross-district transfer, unless the other party applies for it himself."

"When I came, I also heard that he was transferred so far away, so I paid attention."

Listening to the explanation, Gooden also nodded suddenly.

After a brief chat between the two, Gooden proposed to be absent for the time being.

Kroger knew that the other party was going to arrange the search for Matthews, so he said that he would not bother again.

Sending Kroger away, Goodern made his way to the training ground in the backyard.

"Suspend training, assemble urgently."

Hearing the password of the emergency assembly, the crowd who were still fighting in two rounds hurriedly dispersed, and then lined up in three rows with the fastest speed and orderly rhythm.

Two teams of recruits, one team of 'instructor' soldiers, that's all he has in Gudern's hands.

Looking at the people who had completed the assembly and sorting in less than ten seconds, Gooden's eyes were full of satisfaction, but his face still showed a serious look.

"For urgent tasks, I will now select personnel to carry it out, and the top five recruits in training and the top five in instructor training will be listed."

"Bang-"

The ten people who reached the ranking stepped out of the queue at the same time.

"Among the remaining personnel, the liberal arts department is currently five out of the list."

After a few seconds of waiting, five qualified personnel also came out.

"The selected people line up, and I announce the mission."

"The former Imperial Tax Collector, Matthews, who collaborated with foreign enemies and embezzled taxes, has now fled to serve as a tax collector in the town of Nabao near the Golden Sea in the Northern Desert."

"At present, it is known that the other party may leave clues in Xinjiao City, you need to find out his whereabouts as quickly as possible, and 'invite' him back to Qingyuan Town."

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

The soldiers shouted in high spirits.

"This mission is very important, only success, not failure, now immediately go to change equipment, two horses per person, take turns to change horses, and set off!"

"Yes!"

……