Mission in another world with my transformed best friend

Over the past two weeks, the seemingly harmonious and peaceful "return home" life has been masking a brewing crisis that is slowly creeping in.

As Rumia previously mentioned, the "Earth Warrior" accepted the "tax-paying job" that originally belonged to Angel, the Water Warrior.

As for the village of Cosimo, the sudden "tax increase order" was initially thought by many villagers to be a joke.

But soon after, when the village chief of Cosimo brought back the news that "the other party wouldn't give any room for negotiation," the festive atmosphere of the year-end instantly dropped several notches...

However, the impact on the "Kyle family" wasn't that significant. After all, with the dozen or so gold coins Zhang Lan gave them as a "homecoming bonus," the extra 20% tax per household had virtually no effect.

But that doesn't apply to everyone.

As per regulations, the tax collectors belonging to the Earth Warriors arrived in Cosimo Village on the appointed day.

That day, after Wang Kai paid his taxes at the village's tax office on behalf of his family, he heard the other villagers sighing and discussing. Suddenly, a small hand tugged at his clothes from the crowd.

Upon closer inspection, it was Ilya.

"Brother Kyle, Sister Alice asked me to pass on a message to you..."

"What's wrong? Haven't she and her mother been doing something secretive these past few days?"

"I don't know, but my sister told me today to make sure you behave yourself and don't cause any trouble!"

What trouble have you gotten yourself into?

"I don't know... but her admonition was—'Hero!'"

Wang Kai was taken aback. It turned out that Zhang Lan was afraid that he would go looking for trouble with the hero in a muddle, just like when he left Merck Town last time.

Although, that time it was mostly because I wanted to help Joanna.

This time, it's just the Earth Hero's tax collector coming to the village to carry out official business. There's no need to provoke him.

"Don't worry, you go and tell her. This time, I'll just be a spectator..."

"It's settled then... wait a minute, those people have already arrived at the village entrance."

As they spoke, the noise near the tax payment point quieted down, and everyone turned their attention to the village entrance.

At first glance, they looked more like a small cavalry unit than tax collectors.

Although their clothing was uniform, their armor and weapons made them look like an army.

Rather than resembling an army, their unkempt appearance and uneven uniforms made them look like a band of bandits at first glance...

This group of people, accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves pounding the ground, walked straight toward the tax payment point after entering the village with an arrogant and disdainful attitude.

A bald, seemingly leading man jumped off his horse, walked up to the village chief at the tax collection point, and coldly asked him a question.

"How's it going? Have you met the village's tax quota?"

"This..." The village chief avoided eye contact. "There are still more than a dozen households... After all, this 'tax increase order' was issued too hastily. So, could you please give the Hero a reply?"

"Screw you! Orders are ruthless; the full amount of tax must be submitted! Otherwise, don't blame me, Lord Eun, for being impolite..."

Ewan's tone instantly returned to "fierce," perhaps because, combined with his bald head and the scar on his forehead, "evil" was his true appearance.

The village chief trembled violently, frozen in place, unable to utter a word...

At this point, some villagers couldn't hold back any longer and started shouting at once.

"Hey, you guys are really going too far, demanding an extra 20% in taxes without even a word..."

"Yes, yes, this year's tax revenue was already bad. Our family saved up by living frugally, but we were told that we would have to pay more. What will we eat for the New Year?"

"Are you cannibals? Besides, our village was inexplicably transferred from the territory of the Water Hero to the territory of the Earth Hero without any official announcement. And you guys who came from afar are already asking for exorbitant prices... Let me tell you, we don't have any extra money."

……

Ewan seemed to have expected this, and with a slight smile, he took out the axe from his waist and chopped the table next to him in half.

After quelling the public outrage, he also instilled a sense of terror in the surrounding villagers through a show of force.

The villagers who witnessed this scene all understood what the consequences would be if that axe had struck someone.

After seeing that the desired effect had been achieved, Eun looked around and said.

"What's wrong? Keep going... I'm tired of hearing this nonsense. But you're in luck, I'm in a pretty good mood right now, so I'll respond to you all at once. Listen up!"

"The order to increase taxes was personally given by the Hero..."

"This old village chief must have met other tax officials and knows that this is the amount of tax revenue in the area under the jurisdiction of the Earth Hero."

"And you should also know that if it weren't for the hero and the others risking their lives to defeat the Demon King more than ten years ago, you wouldn't be standing here all alive and kicking, shouting like that now."

"You ungrateful wretch! The Hero knows your village has only recently come under his jurisdiction, so the tax rate is only increased by the minimum standard of 20%, just 20%..."

"If you can't even do this, maybe next year it will be 30% or 40%..."

"Because only through 'punishment' can disobedient and ungrateful people be made to obey, understand?"

……

What a ruthless, cunning, and opportunistic attitude! They sell you out and expect you to smile and help them count the money.

They're no different from those bosses at big companies who cut your salary while demanding that you share the company's hardships and expect "mutual understanding," while constantly making empty promises...

Originally, it had nothing to do with him, but Wang Kai, who had once been a corporate slave, couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

He knew that this guy named Eun was just a barking and biting dog under the command of the Earth Warrior.

He's a minor character, similar in status to Brad, one of Murong Tian's subordinates.

However, these annoying guys shouldn't be taken to the point of resorting to knives and guns.

Wang Kai's idea was somewhat naive. After all, this group of people stepped into a small village fully armed, clearly showing that they were not afraid of causing trouble.

Seeing that the "warning" had been issued, Eun tucked the axe back into his waistband and turned his gaze back to the village chief.

"Alright, old man, I'm sure I've made myself clear to you and the villagers. Now you know what to do, right?"

"I...this old man really doesn't..."

"Do you want me to help you figure it out?"

"No, I really wouldn't dare..."

"It will take some time, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes? I humbly request that you grant me some more time, Your Excellency Tax Official. I will have the villagers..."

"Hmph! No amount of time will help someone who doesn't follow the rules. Let me teach you a lesson!"

After saying that, Eun's gaze fell on a villager standing next to him. He flashed close and reached into the villager's waist, whereupon a money bag appeared in his hand.

"Wow, that's the money I saved to buy medicine for my wife..."

Eun completely ignored all of this, turned around and walked over, tossing the money bag in his hand up and down, then stared at the village chief.

"Old man, do you see now? If you want to quickly collect the tax amount, this is the fastest method..."

"Give it back to me, you robber!"

The villagers, their eyes red with rage, rushed over and grabbed Eun's arm holding the money bag, refusing to let go...