Ethan knew that currency reform and market oversight were only two pillars of the new order. The third pillar the one that would shake the deepest foundations of noble privilege was tax reform. In the modern world he came from taxes were often debated argued studied and endlessly analyzed. But in this magic kingdom taxes were nothing more than personal decisions made by nobles acting as small monarchs over their lands. There were no written codes no consistent rates and certainly no transparency. Taxes changed by mood weather tradition rumor and the whims of whoever claimed authority

Ethan gathered the analysts and mages at the Bureau for an intensive review. They filled a long stone table with documents and testimonies from citizens across regions. These records were inconsistent some written with shimmering mana ink some scratched on wood some spoken memories preserved with echo stones. The chaos of formats mirrored the chaos of the entire system

Ethan pointed at the first scroll. This region taxes grain with an unpredictable harvest levy. Some years ten percent some years forty

He lifted another. Here citizens pay taxes through mana crystals but the nobles adjust the required purity without notice

Lira held up a third. And this region demands labor instead of coins two weeks per season but recently nobles increased it to four weeks

A young analyst added. And in this village nobles claim tax exemptions for themselves but apply triple taxes to merchants

Ethan listened carefully his expression calm but focused. This was the layer of inequality that quietly suffocated the kingdom. When taxes were unpredictable people could not plan. When nobles controlled taxes personally they became unchallengeable. When commoners could not understand the rules they lived in constant fear. This was not just poor governance. It was systemic instability

He finally spoke. We must write the kingdom’s first unified tax code

The room fell silent. The idea sounded impossible. The kingdom had existed for centuries without written laws that applied everywhere. But impossible ideas were exactly what Ethan specialized in

He continued. A transparent system changes everything. If taxes are written and consistent citizens can plan. If rates are known nobles cannot change them at will. If rules are public the system gains trust

One analyst hesitated. But professor what if nobles refuse to follow it

Ethan answered. Then we show the entire kingdom what they are refusing. Once the public understands the rules they will see who breaks them

Lira stepped beside him. We will need data professor more than ever before

Ethan nodded. Then gather it. Survey every region. Document every tax. Record every inconsistency. We cannot fix what we do not understand

For days the Bureau team worked tirelessly. They interviewed farmers in distant fields merchants at the market gate blacksmiths struggling under guild fees and even tax collectors who admitted they did not understand the rates they were told to enforce. Ethan read every testimony with unshakable focus

As he reviewed the data he began to see patterns. Regions with predictable taxes even if high avoided unrest. Regions where nobles treated taxes as personal income suffered constant instability. Areas with no clear rules had the highest level of flight as citizens abandoned their homes seeking more stable lands. It was all obvious once mapped out across the kingdom

Ethan drafted the first version of the Arcane Tax Code. Three sections formed the backbone

A predictable harvest levy with a fixed rate based on region wide mana fertility
A simple income levy for merchants and guild workers
A noble contribution requiring landowners to report their gains publicly

The last section was the most radical. Nobles had never been required to contribute anything consistently. Their wealth was considered a divine right. Asking them to report income was shocking. Asking them to pay taxes was heresy

As Ethan wrote he heard footsteps. Lira entered carrying a newly gathered set of scrolls. Professor these are reports from the outer villages. The nobles there increased taxes again to prepare resistance funds

Ethan read through the numbers. They were worse than expected. Some nobles were doubling taxes to buy private enforcers. Others forced citizens to donate mana crystals to finance political resistance. It was a desperate move one that proved the nobles were growing fearful

Lira watched Ethan closely. They are preparing for conflict

Ethan nodded. They are accelerating inequality to maintain power. That is the surest sign collapse is coming

He placed his hand on the tax code draft. But this time the collapse will not come. Not if we intervene with structure

The following day Ethan presented the draft to the high mages. He did not hold back

Your kingdom cannot survive unless taxes are predictable and fair. Without structure corruption grows. Without consistency trust dies. If people fear their rulers the kingdom fractures

The head mage studied the parchment for a long silent moment. Then he looked up. Professor Ethan Ward this is revolutionary. And because of that the nobles will try to destroy it

Ethan answered. Then we prepare

That afternoon the Bureau released the first public announcement in the kingdom’s history. A statement written in simple language displayed in every major square

A unified tax code is being drafted
It will be predictable
It will be fair
It will be public
Your rulers will no longer control taxes through personal whim

Citizens gathered around the glowing parchment reading every word. Confusion turned into curiosity. Curiosity into hope. Hope into courage. They began to realize that the structure they never had was finally being built

But as the sun set Ethan noticed something troubling. Shadows moved at the edges of the square. Guild enforcers watched carefully. Noble spies scribbled notes. Opposition was gathering in secret

Lira stood beside him. Professor do you see it. They are plotting something

Ethan nodded. They are threatened. This means we are making progress

But he also knew the next move would not be political. It would be dangerous

The battle over taxes would not be fought in council halls but in the streets in guild chambers and in noble estates. And he had to be ready for all of it