2240 - Counterplan
"...An unattainable dream." Blokan spoke firmly, then gestured toward Robin. "I mean no offense—I am weaker than that—but if an Executioner appeared now, they would destroy you, and then the entire universe."
"I understand you." Robin nodded. "There is undoubtedly a risk, but the Executioners aren't so numerous that one appears every day." Then he pointed at Blokan twice. "Do you remember the events of the first wave? Athena breaking off a galaxy-sized piece of the Shell?"
Blokan nodded.
"Back then, only one Executioner entered, and that Executioner didn't try to break the Shell and leave again. Even after his entire nest was exiled, those Reapers never returned with new Executioners, even though there must certainly be a way for Reapers and Executioners to communicate."
Then he continued, "This gave me hope that the number of Executioners isn't large—or, more precisely, that the territory they have to cover is so vast they can't attend to every detail. Or, as the All-seeing God said, they are lazy and don't pursue their tasks... This gives me hope that a plan to gain experience and power is possible."
"Hope... a dream..." Blokan smiled. "Two names for the same thing."
"Do you have a better suggestion?" Robin's expression showed annoyance. "Should I close the Gate and cut off all communication until they come and knock on our door when they're ready?"
"..." Blokan remained silent for a few moments. "I'll prepare a good number of Law Dominators to protect the Gate."
Blokan decided to rest his mind.
Arguing was pointless; no matter how much Robin's plan was built on dreams and hopes, if the Executioner arrived, he would be the one to fight him anyway.
Besides, he truly didn't have a better suggestion!
"...But I'll need a lot of funding in the coming period. A lot," Blokan continued.
"He's right, Your Majesty." Morgana returned with Zara by her side. "The number of Cosmic Academies is growing at a good pace, but not at the pace we currently need."
Then she furrowed her brows slightly as she reached Robin's side. "Our system is better, our information and technology are superior, our education is top-notch, and even the funding you provide us is good. But Qarun doesn't let us do anything in peace. The Cosmic Elder should deal with him soon."
Robin almost wept.
The Cosmic Elder deal with him? If the truth that the Cosmic Elder was missing spread, it would be the end of him, his empires, and the Cosmic Academies themselves!
"What makes the remaining Stellar Academies choose not to join us, in your opinion?" Robin asked.
"Interests," Blokan replied without hesitation. "The Lord of Thrones, Qarun, allows them to do as they please as long as they send him 80% of their profits and taxes. That means they're free with any extra money—money worth billions. It's usually said that this money is spent on the Peacekeeping Armies, but in practice, that doesn't happen. Half of the funds go to the Guild for mercenary armies, and the other half goes into the pockets of academy masters, senior elders, and teachers."
"And what about us?" Robin turned to Morgana.
"We leave them nothing." Morgana furrowed her brows. "All tax revenues and educational profits go into a single Public Treasury. We pay academy leaders and teachers large, fixed salaries, and we also provide a proper Peacekeeping Army and everything the academy needs... They have no need for personal money in anything."
"Hmm, I see." Robin nodded, then turned back to Blokan. "Why do people still pay them taxes? And why do they still have students?"
"Taxes at the Stellar Academies have decreased since we appeared. We need massive peacekeeping armies while they don't, and yet they claim to do the same job. Student fees have also dropped by at least half. You know how the educational materials at the Stellar Academies compare to ours—trash. But they're cheaper, so nobles still send their children there to say they're at a prestigious Stellar Academy, and to avoid paying more for better education without spending too much!"
"All the problems you've mentioned are directly related to money." Robin sighed. "The universe is divided and threatened by external forces, and we can't even unite... over money?!"
"For nobles, clan lords, small planetary kingdoms, and others, a difference of fifty thousand Pearl per year in taxes and educational fees is a staggering amount." Blokan nodded. "This is truly why the Cosmic Academies will never spread as we want. We can only target the multiple empires that own forty planets or more—they'll pay the taxes and ensure their children receive proper education... As for the rest, they're hopeless."
“…” Robin leaned back slightly. “The problem has always been money—it’s always been the key to rapid development. But this time… this time, the stage is far too vast.”
“Heh~” Robin sighed, then turned to the two of them. “Since the Council of Thrones plays dirty, we must do the same.”
“…?” Morgana and Blokan furrowed their brows deeply.
“Starting today, I want you two to cancel the salaries of the academy masters and all those in power. I also want you to reduce taxes to only 20% of their current value… That’s less than half the taxes of the Stellar Academies, right?” He then smiled. “From today onward, all tax profits will go directly to the academy leaders themselves to do with as they please. We can consider it their salaries.”
“…?” Blokan’s eyes widened. “Are you sure about this decision? With that massive amount of money, we should be the priority—the Peacekeeping Armies should be the priority!”
"Armies can be managed. What we need are the Law Dominators. If we give them all the tax profits, it would be an enormous increase in their wealth compared to what Qarun offers them, and a strong incentive to join us. It would also motivate them to go and subdue more kingdoms and clans to hand over taxes—meaning more power for the Cosmic Academies."
"This..." Blokan began moving slowly to the left, "this is undeniable, but what about the expenses of the academies and the armies? Where will we get those?"
Robin tilted his head slightly, "How much do you need, for example?"