CHAPTER 473: CHAPTER 471: IQ TAX

"I’ve heard that in ancient times, possessing items that didn’t match one’s status would bring heavenly punishment. A child carrying gold coins while wandering through a bustling market would get robbed, and travelers who accidentally revealed their money pouches were more likely to be targeted."

In the silent conference room, Wei Weiwei suddenly spoke slowly, uttering a long speech, while the other teachers exchanged glances. In fact, they shared the same thoughts as Wei Weiwei, but due to moral considerations, they were embarrassed to openly express them.

— Since you all think Sea Wave Powder is so good, why don’t you go and grab it?

Jiu Jiujiao glanced at Wei Weiwei’s gray hair but quickly looked away: "From the day Sea Wave Powder appeared, the Patrol and Punishment Department, Statistical Department, and other departments swiftly dispatched personnel to investigate the production process of Sea Wave Powder." He paused: "We’ve even commissioned some private organizations."

"Yet even now, the production process of Sea Wave Powder remains a mystery to us. We’ve thoroughly analyzed Sea Wave Powder; although the ingredients are quite complex, the raw materials could never be purified to produce such effects. Different batches of Sea Wave Powder also vary greatly in composition, so we can be sure that the secret of making Sea Wave Powder does not lie in the materials."

"We’ve secretly interrogated several personnel involved in the production and transportation process of Sea Wave Powder, but they either claim complete ignorance or commit suicide immediately upon capture. We can’t even ascertain where Sea Wave Powder is made or how it’s transported to the warehouses of the eight major business associations."

Jiu Jiujiao looked at Cha Huan: "Director Xie mentioned that if Principal Cha could unravel the secrets of Sea Wave Powder, the National Relief Association would vanish the next day, and the other half of the list you provided a few days ago would also become dust in history along with the National Relief Association. You could even provide another list without issue."

Ling Qingyu added: "My uncle said the same thing."

Cha Huan snorted coldly: "If I knew how to make Sea Wave Powder, I’d first toy with Boss Ling and run amok to my heart’s content, then take this secret to the grave. Boss Ling is welcome to lie in here with me if he dares to cause trouble."

Though Cha Huan’s manner remained arrogant, his lack of violent threats already indicated his stance. Sea Wave Powder has been prevalent in Yanjing for over two years, and Cha Huan has remained silent, just as he turned a blind eye to the rise of the Yanjing Statistical Department, watching as this potentially highly dangerous drug conquered Yanjing’s upper circles.

Cha Huan doesn’t pursue absolute justice and even acknowledges necessary evils, or rather, he considers himself a part of the necessary evil. The rise of the Statistical Department was accompanied by the downfall of numerous distinguished scholars, though some innocent families were impacted; Cha Huan tacitly allowed their efficient but ruthless measures to eliminate the majority deemed corrupt, while trying to protect as many acquaintances as possible.

Sea Wave Powder is no different. Although it’s said not to be addictive, at best, it means that withdrawal won’t cause reactions. However, it provides such a strong, pleasurable sensation that’s the best kind of addiction.

Leyu has been studying Sea Wave Powder these days, discovering that most users refer to it as "transcending all beauty." Many impoverished individuals can’t afford Sea Wave Powder, leading to a life of aimlessness or resorting to criminal methods for quick money, hoping to relive old dreams.

The lack of addictiveness only means it won’t physically harm your brain; however, due to the sensation threshold increases from consuming Sea Wave Powder, it can still magically damage your spirit.

The Imperial Court isn’t without intelligent people, and Cha Huan isn’t a fool. So why do they allow Sea Wave Powder to spread?

Because the National Relief Association collaborates with the court to control Sea Wave Powder circulation.

Sea Wave Powder is exorbitantly priced and unavailable outside. It’s only offered in a few high-end luxury banquet halls, which have close ties to the court. Those who can afford such venues are mostly noble offspring and affluent merchants and landlords.

They generally possess vast fortunes, owning lands and factories, able to enjoy prosperity as long as they don’t gamble their entire fortune. They form alliances through marriage, hold close ties with the court, and include several martial pillars within their ranks. Their families flourish, with power deeply rooted.

They are the families of the nobility.

In peacetime, people may turn a blind eye, but with the nation in difficulty, the court naturally sets sights on them as the prime target. However, no one can move against them because the court officials also come from within.

Who would willingly sentence themselves to death?

As Leyu once heard: "Don’t oppose the families, for tomorrow they may perish; oppose the families, and they perish today."

The emperor who secretly attempted to oppose the families already perished yesterday."

Yet, the court is truly short of funds. Plundering the lower class would only give the Backlight Organization an easier rise, and furthermore, they’ve already been plundered previously, leaving little remaining.

As clever minds ponder how to sacrifice others for national salvation, Sea Wave Powder emerged.

As a scythe, Sea Wave Powder is simply perfect: its victims don’t resist, willingly offering their throats to the blade. Those wielding the scythe are eager to share their gains with the court.

These feudal nobles, who tend to evade tax payments like vampires reacting to mosquito bites, are willing to bankrupt themselves for fleeting pleasure. Even if they become destitute and turn to crime, the Statistical Department helps contain and recycle them, keeping everything under control.

After a cycle like this, the court healthily grows equipped with divine gear, while the nobility self-destructs out of the game, ensuring a bright future for everyone.

In other words, the National Relief Association essentially helps the court collect taxes; Sea Wave Powder is just a tax category: an intellect tax.

This explains why the court condones it: the clever ones above are bent on conquering the eight districts at all costs, while those failing to pass tests naturally become the "cost" of "at all costs."

This also explains why Cha Huan condones it: from a poor background with deep-rooted resentment against the rich, he delights in watching those landlords and wealthy families self-destruct for bankruptcy. Sea Wave Powder isn’t a good thing, and there aren’t many good landlords either; a quick end of mutual destruction is ideal.

Nonetheless, there is a bottom line for everyone: Sea Wave Powder circulation is restricted, and ordinary people cannot purchase it.

Currently, it’s sold only to the "costs," while the National Relief Association gathers a formidable force around them. If they start selling to the populace, the court could soon become the ninth business association of the National Relief Association.

Salt, food, iron — these are monopoly-run by the court, forming the foundation of Yanjing’s stability. If Sea Wave Powder spreads, its importance to users would be no less than food, with infinite demand, meaning the National Relief Association could instantly raise a sizable force, and who wouldn’t fear that?

Of course, if Sea Wave Powder spreads, it would likely lead to civilians borrowing into bankruptcy, rising theft, worsening public order, etc., but these are minor issues. The court mainly fears the formidable growth of the National Relief Association.

This time, the appearance of Spirit Condensing Pill at the Imperial Academy triggered a response even more intense than Cha Huan’s. The Statistical Department was on full alert these days, and the Patrol and Punishment Department intensified patrols around the National Relief Association. Two martial pillars stationed at key points were urgently recalled... As long as you’re willing to share profits, everyone happily supports you earning money from fools. But if you dare reach for power, don’t blame everyone for cutting off your hand.

The court almost aligned with Cha Huan.

However, this trial from the National Relief Association placed the court in a difficult position: the Spirit Condensing Pill’s effects are weak, far less potent than Sea Wave Powder; it eradicates the crucial "instant pleasure" effect, meaning it really doesn’t become addictive. Its pleasure isn’t greater than winning a Battle Card game. If one even becomes addicted to this, then playing cards also leads to addiction.

This sensation is akin to a husband discovering his obedient wife occasionally peeking at the old tea they moved in next door; she’s hesitantly testing the green boundaries. Divorce upon impulse? The wife hasn’t gone green, yet she’s very good, efficiently managing the household, and losing her could lead to disaster. Not divorcing leaves a thorn in the side, feeling that coming home might reveal a wild old tea in your closet someday.

So, the court decided to resolve the problem with old tea.

"Principal Cha, although we can’t uncover the production techniques of Sea Wave Powder, we haven’t been completely fruitless." Jiu Jiujiao stated: "Apart from generating pleasure, Sea Wave Powder enhances users’ physical recovery speed and spiritual power, and provides strong analgesia, increasing response speed, among various benefits unrelated to its materials. Thus, we believe..."

"Divine Weapon," Cha Huan replied calmly.

"Presently, there are two suspected objects." Jiu Jiujiao nodded: "One is the Extreme Divine Weapon ’Sun Bottle.’ Reportedly it can pour out infinite potion as long as there’s light supplementation, with rapid recovery for physical and spiritual power. However, records of ’Sun Bottle’ history are dubious, mostly appearing in records of cult members misleading people, suggesting it might simply be fabricated rumors."

"The other is the Illusion Divine Weapon ’Blood Essence Stone.’ "