Darkstone Code

On one side, it's seventy-eight Nagariel; on the other, it's a hundred and twenty-one Nagariel. With the mind of a Nagarielian, they simply cannot comprehend why the Federation people claim these two entirely different numbers are the same.

The young man doesn't understand either; seventy-eight is seventy-eight, a hundred and twenty-one is a hundred and twenty-one. What does appreciation or depreciation have to do with him?

He clenched the money in his hand tightly, looked at the overseers around him with fierce faces, holding sticks and cursing. His instinct told him, don't resist, silently endure; at least he still has money to take now.

But a movement that broke out not long ago, and some ideas spreading rapidly among the young people, made him want to take back the money he deserved!

He wasn't a lazy bum; he worked hard and should reap rewards!

He hesitated for a moment, then said powerfully, though not loudly, "I just want to take back my money."

The accountant looked at him, neither of them wavered. After a moment, the accountant nodded and beckoned him, "Put the money on the table, and I'll give you what's due."

The young man placed the crumpled money he held on the table, staring at the accountant. If the accountant intended to snatch his money, he would certainly resist.

The accountant didn't do that. Instead, he took out a coin from somewhere in his pocket, one the young man had never seen before, and placed it into his hand: "That's your wage for today, one Federation Sol."

He shook his head as he spoke and swept the spare change off the table back into the drawer.

He looked at the others, "Who else wishes to change money?"

Everyone had actually heard stories of the one Federation Sol wage, they had signed an employment contract, and some had repeatedly been told their wage was one Federation Sol.

But now, when this one Federation Sol was truly placed in their hands, they felt at a loss because this one Federation Sol wasn't as heavy as they imagined it to be.

Just like... like a mere dollar, without much weight, incapable of bearing much value.

"Anyone else want to change money?" The accountant asked again, some young people came to exchange; the accountant exchanged for them too. Compared to the thoughts and actions of these young people, the older Nagarielians silently endured.

They had experienced too much; they learned to silently endure, not to resist. Even when things infringed upon their interests, they remained silent.

This isn't a country where people hold power; speaking out, complaining, dissatisfaction will only bring greater misfortune.

After asking once more with no one requesting to change money, the accountant nodded satisfyingly and pointed to those who had exchanged money, telling the overseers, "Don't let them into the site starting tomorrow..." then he looked at those people, "You've been fired!"

As he spoke, he packed the items in the drawer into his carry bag. There wasn't much, just some worthless Nagariels, but his decision prompted the young people to erupt rapidly after a brief moment of confusion.

Some of them had been working here for two months; if they could work for a hundred days, they could receive weekly wages, and their salary would increase significantly!

Although looking at it now, even if they got weekly wages, it would be similar to what they got with daily wages, but their rank would eventually increase.

To earn more money and enjoy better treatment, they must have a higher rank.

Now, their two months of effort were in vain, how could one not be angry?

The young people began shouting discontentedly again; this time, even when the overseers waved sticks at them, they didn't give up. Until a few armed personnel raised their guns, fate poured over them like a basin of cold water.

"We don't accept workers with violent tendencies; you people will bring us unforeseeable risks!" The accountant said, standing amongst armed guards, "If you have problems, you can talk to me privately, we can resolve issues amicably without affecting you."

"But here, before many people, trying to incite more people to stand against us, then you are dangerous."

"And I need to tell you, throughout this city and the entire Province, you'll not get any work from others; you've been permanently excluded by us!"

After speaking, the accountant shook his head and left; what happened here was merely a microcosm in the process of the Nagariel appreciation. Even on the same day of Nagariel's appreciation, when the exchange rate fluctuated rapidly, merchants in other Provinces had already changed the payment amounts.

Back then, it directly sparked a conflict, reportedly killing several people.

Those who died were for nothing; the official report stated these people grew greedy while collecting wages, trying to snatch the accountant's salary payment, and were directly shot dead by armed guards.

Whether it was true or not, countless similar situations erupted everywhere; people began getting discontent, but felt helpless, and it all stemmed from United Development Company.

They spurred the Nagariel exchange rate to skyrocket, reaping massive profits directly!

Essentially, after Nagariel appreciated, indeed workers received wages with no change from before; they previously took a wage equivalent to one Federation Sol, and now it's still valued at one Federation Sol, which is absolutely correct.

But ordinary people can't conduct international trade and frequent currency exchanges, and Nagariel domestic goods can't lower in value because of Nagariel's appreciation. For example, something originally selling for a hundred Nagariel won't suddenly drop to fifty Nagariel.

Nagariel's domestic monetary system is relatively independent from the international monetary system, but now forcibly introducing an external currency into a closed local economic society is enough to cause tremendous changes.

This change doesn't directly reflect in the domestic economic system's value establishment, but the money people hold indeed decreases; it's a blatant harvest!

In just three months, the Federation in Nagariel already amassed millions of people working for United Development Company or for Federation merchants.

Everyone's daily wage decreased by fifty Nagariel, equating to the Federation merchants saving fifty million or more Nagariel daily, and according to the current exchange rate, that's an astonishing number!

The capital from highly developed countries wielded its scythe here with vigor, while bureaucrats and rulers who should stand with Nagariel frantically transferred assets.

Using Nagariel's appreciation opportunity, they could gain more foreign exchange through currency exchange than before!

When hot money flooded into Nagariel from the entire international market, naturally some special people wandered around.

These people would often appear together at bank entrances, each time someone prepared to enter the bank, they'd actively approach and accost, "Friend, have any foreign exchange?"

If the person ignored them, they'd change topics, "Wanna exchange some foreign exchange? We can chat..." As they spoke, they'd display various foreign currencies.

Amidst changes in the international financial background during this period, Nagariel is heading to an unknown place.

"I don't quite understand..." the short young man looked at the coin in his hand, his mind stumbled.

"I've read the contract; it indeed matches what those Federation people say, but why don't I feel any positive impact from Nagariel's appreciation?"

Around him stood several others, all with confused expressions too, and recent exchange rate fluctuations prompted them to decide temporarily to gather here.

Many seemed puzzled and annoyed, wanting to do something, hence these people hoped their leader could provide some insight.

However, the short young man himself was also perplexed; he read numerous newspapers and materials coming from the Royal Capital, aware of the cause.

Precisely because he knew, he was more bewildered, why was it like this?

"Why don't we organize something and make a fuss?", asked the hot-tempered cadre beside him, provocatively.

Rather than learning to drive at the base, leading everyone to create trouble seemed more interesting, and he genuinely liked being relied upon and watched by many.

Only at that moment did he sense his existence's value.

The short young man hesitated, looking at the old Federation coin with a layer of grime in his hand, finally nodding slowly.

"This time, the purpose of our action isn't like before; we need an explanation, a reasonable explanation, a solution. We can't accept these incomprehensible reasons to dock our salary; they must give a sufficient explanation!"

"And!" The short young man emphasized, "Try not to use any violent means; the current situation isn't like before, those Federation people are hard to deal with..."

In the past, those local police might have been fierce, but they'd at most beat the troublesome young people, detain them for a few days, then release them.

But now, the Federation's armed guards would truly shoot. If they believed those they protect faced enough threat, they'd fire without hesitation, this has dealt a major setback to the Nagariel Youth Party's movements!

Not everyone facing a gun barrel, which may inevitably eject bullets to take lives, has the courage to shout slogans and stand for their stance.

The impulsive young man grinned, "No problem, rest assured!"