"But as big as my earning, I think the earning of an entire Empire is much bigger than mine."
Edeline nodded. "The tax we got from merchants and nobles do sum up into a significant amount."
"I figure so. My companies paid a lot of taxes."
Edeline giggled. "Should I revoke the tax for your companies?"
"No need to do that. Besides, the money will be used for the improvement of the Empire anyway. How's our corruption rate anyway?"
"It should be low by now. But to keep things in control, a little corruption is necessary."
"How necessary?"
"Very necessary. Everyone only cared about themselves, Aldred. Who give a damn about the lives of peasants when you can enjoy expensive wine and huge mansion? This is what is in their mind. A lot of them don't have the interest of the Empire."
"Can't we remove this people?"
"Sadly, no. Although they are corrupt, they also had the competence to back it up. Think of the money they stole as bonuses for their skills instead."