Draiss shrugged. "I am still waiting to see if there is a trend before I decide. Once I have a definite answer, as always, you will be notified. That will be in about five months, once the merchants figure out that they can make trips out to the smaller towns to fiance the larger ones. They might even be making more, so you should have them... dare I say such a dirty word? Audited."<br/><br/>His own eyes danced with glee, realizing they were like two schoolkids planning mischief. "They clearly have been holding back on you lately, so a record check would not hurt. And if I am right, it has probably been a while since they had an independent and honest auditor check them over. And by the time they get done with them, they can over and check me out. Just to prevent anyone from accusing someone of favoritism.<br/><br/>And besides, all my town's profit is being sunk back into the town. I have a home already set up, from my adventuring funds, and require little else but that which I get from the approved draw for a town mayor. I am not a noble, and don't need to impress some of the inbred imbeciles that are in their ranks, present company excluded. I know who is important, who is respectable, and who is both. Those are who I am concerned about, though I do keep an eye on the ones not in either. Just to make sure they aren't doing something stupid.<br/><br/>Besides, I am powerful without my town. You can't do anything about that with a tax or a material request."<br/><br/>The last was almost delivered as a challenge, wondering what the Emperor was planning.