Chapter 1455: Half-Step Third Crown, Collection of Mint Tax_3

Reward and punishment, the great authority of the country!

The authority of a Supreme lies in the words ‘reward and punishment’. What I see now are standards collectively set by humans.

Golden light strips represent contribution, which can be rewarded; red light strips represent sins, which can be punished.

The Pope can pay a price to impose excommunication on an emperor, remove them from church membership, strip away the right to use the law, and essentially deprive them of human citizenship, which is essentially such a reward and punishment authority.

This is the fundamental authority by which the Church ruled the Silver Continent for an entire era.”

“I cannot yet perform excommunication like the Pope; I can only temporarily leverage the sins of the opponent to enhance my attack power. And it can only be for humans, ineffective against those fallen Kin. It is especially noteworthy that from now on, the Pope’s excommunication will also be ineffective on me!”

Byron confirmed this point, feeling exceptionally pleasant.

No matter what schemes the Pope may have, or if he’s willing to pay a painful price, at least the Sword of Damocles hanging above his head has finally shattered.

He will absolutely not suffer the “Humiliation of Canossa” like Emperor Henry IV of the Sacred Silver Empire did in the past.

He glanced again at his Flower Mountain Celestial Kingdom.

The soul of this [Lord of Two Seas and Two Lands] Heroic Ruler was not wasted.

Already washed in the Angel Reincarnation Pool, reshaped into a [Storm Angel], currently under the leadership of the female Archangel, also the first Storm Angel Andrea, familiarizing with the new environment.

The golden light strip above his head is similarly long.

Byron nodded satisfied:

“The Faith Anchor Chain is only slightly inferior to Bayezid, but it counts as having sold himself into a devout believer. Once you’re in my bowl, you need not think about climbing out again. At that time, let you give Bayezid a dream to urge him; as long as he doesn’t do well, I’ll let you, Former King, reascend the throne.”

Having solved the issue between this father and son, Byron had only one last matter left on the West Coast and asked the girl beside him with interest:

“Amita, does your Fire Worship Empire use Water Fire?”

Upon hearing this, Amita shook her head:

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, our Fire Worship Empire doesn’t have it. ‘Water Fire’ was initially invented by the West Silver Empire, a powerful weapon that transformed ordinary soldiers into Fire Mages, gaining an advantage in naval battles. Also known as: ‘Sea Fire’, ‘Flowing Fire’, ‘Liquid Flame’, ‘Artificial Fire’ and ‘Defensive Fire’. Later, only the Star Moon Empire acquired this technology, and when the West Silver Empire perished, only they could use this weapon.”

Byron waved his hand, indicating Amita need not apologize.

It was not the weapon he was interested in, but the raw materials for this weapon, which in his eyes might not be of less value than [Caliph].

One should know that in the international power system, wealth is the foundation of all national power.

Each country attempts to enhance its power by seeking more wealth.

However, the source of wealth varies considerably between different periods and production methods.

From a historical perspective, the human society’s economic structural changes have undergone three revolutionary transformations:

“The first was a simple small commodity economy model, from which a localized social-political system derived; The second was a traditional commodity economy based on agricultural surplus and household handicrafts, corresponding to a more extensive empire-style social-political structure; The third is the industrialization large-scale production Byron is preparing to advance.”

The final industrialization large-scale production also caused a fundamental change in the national wealth perspective:

“The real gold mine in this world is not a gold mine in the natural sense, but manufacturing.”

Money is just a general equivalent; if there are no corresponding goods, mere inflation from money being more than goods can shake the ground of a country.

The Empire Where the Sun Never Sets maintained its world power status for two centuries due to its initial industrialization achieved through capital primitive accumulation.

On the contrary, countries that did not industrialize could only exchange low value-added agricultural products and various primary materials for high value-added industrial products from developed countries.

This seemingly fair, but actually unfair, free trade eventually caused wealth to continuously flow towards industrialized countries.

Making industrial countries increasingly wealthy, agricultural countries increasingly poor, causing a significant income divergence between different regions of the world.

The three forms of countries in the world: Financial Country, Industrial Country, Resource Country, Financial Countries exploit Industrial Countries and Industrial Countries exploit Resource Countries together.

Most countries dare open their borders, only to fall helplessly into the third tier.

However, positions in the specific industrial ecological chain are limited, wanting to climb up requires Heavenly Time, advantageous geography, and harmonious people.

Byron knows only half can defy heaven and change destiny, at least during his lifetime, which is not yet completed.

In this situation, the West Coast did not establish a global colonial system, nor did it have vast material supply areas and markets.

To join the North Sea Empire-led industrial system in the Demigod Promotion Ceremony [World Transformation] one must seek other paths.

“Water Fire” has the potential to make them the “richest” resource-exporting country.

When doing large purchases in Industrial Countries, one can even boldly rent a hall, place nothing inside, and wait to display one’s purchase results after the procurement ends.

Then boastfully say to the organizer: “Take your money and leave my exhibition!”

Resources underground on the West Coast might also become a crucial part of the industrial system or even the financial system under Byron’s command.