4 Value

While in his living room, the baron ordered some food while the other guests were bidding away, at the auction floor. The baron took a small bite of bread and said, "How can a small mine make someone stronger than a king?"

Michael replied, "Because of the river, our people do not worry about food, and because of the wells around town water is not an issue. However, our troops still use arrows with wooden heads."

Michael paused and added, "I wish to mine so much iron, that the kingdom will use iron in everything. This kingdom shall have a new nickname, 'Iron blooded.'"

The baron rubbed his chin and added, "How is such a thing possible?"

"To such an extreme? How is that possible?"

"With changes to the payment system and work standard."

The baron smashed his fist into the desk. "Cutting spending won't help much even if you ignore the lack of workers."

Michael reached for the baron's fist and rubbed it. "Not less, but more. Rather than high profits for each worker, I want a high volume of workers which are decently paid. For there, the value of land and other businesses will expand."

The baron trembled. "Won't the commoners become powerful?"

"Baron do you know what gives gold its value?"

"Labor, and in turn," Michael reached for a loaf of bread and ripped off a small piece with his teeth. "What makes a nation powerful is how much labor it uses."

"But random labor has no value princess."

"Of course not, only with free trade, does labor have value. Gold is a tool that measures the value of labor."

The baron took another bite of bread and pinched his forehead. "What is the value in your eyes?"

Michael grinned when the baron asked him that question, "Human desire is what gives something value."

"Then what makes a nation strong."

"When it becomes a den of human desire, or better said, 'Once it has value.'"

"So you believe a brothel has value?"

Michael nodded, "Of course, anything where someone trades for it has value. Sex is one of those things, and an army falls into that."

"An army adds value?"

"Of course, anything which can be traded has value."

"How can an army be traded?"

Michael shook his head and sighed. "An army is a service, and the nation is the client."

"What if the nation does not need the army?"

"What do you mean? Even if an army is not moving, it is guarding."

"What is a service?"

"Action toward a certain goal."

Suddenly, the baron knelt before Michael and said, "I will support your claim to the throne."

The voice in his head yelled, "What! Me and my brother have been trying for years, but you got his support in a single meeting about buying some mines!"

"The throne? I only have desires for the mine."

While kneeling, the baron lifted his head and said, "Princess, once we make the mine productive, do you think you're brother will allow you to obtain so much wealth."

Michael adjusted his long hair and sighed, "Then I will turn this kingdom into a land with no rulers."

The baron gulped, "How is that possible princess?"

Michael smiled and said, "We start, by educating the masses so that they can rule themselves."

The baron's eyes opened wide. He took a deep breath and said, "Is that even possible?"

Michael grinned, "Of course it is, commoners are the same as nobles once educated."

"If you become the queen, will you destroy the noble faction?"

"Yes, in time, anyways do I pass your test?"

The baron stood up said, "Of course."

Michael smiled, "The fact that you are standing means you truly understand. Let's change the kingdom together."

"But Michelle, how will this happen?"

Michael took a deep breath and trembled. "Marriage baron, but you must know this will be a loveless and equal marriage. This is also for the kingdom woman will have equal status as men."

The baron trembled, "Why equal? With your status, you could oppress me."

Michael sighed, "Because I need allies if we are equal in marriage when we divorce, we will also split the value of our future assets equally."

With great interest, the baron questioned, "Future assets?"

"Of course, everything that you own before the marriage is yours."

"And everything that you currently own is forever yours."

Michael smiled, "You're a smart man." Michael took out his golden symbol and said, "This is your god now."

When he saw the symbol, the baron bowed and declared, "The house of White serves the god of free enterprise."

Michael grabbed the baron's hand and left his living room. "Once we marry, we will both own mines, there won't be infighting"

The baron clutched Michael's hand, "Many will say you sold yourself to me for the crown."

Michael raised his hand and teased, "My love, let them focus on that while we take their lands from them with useless metals."

Michael took out five golden notes worth a million gold coins each and added, "Considering our marriage, I want the town square."

"Princess, how did you amass such wealth?"

"Adventures value our skills and lands."

"You sold them our skills for gold? Are you not worried about them? After all, they cannot die."

"No, I am not, you can view them as strong people, but they are not united. In time, it will all balance out."

The baron shook his head. "But if they ever do."

Michael reached for the sky, "In a small kingdom, do the nobles fight each other over small things? In the royal family, will a princess fight for the crown with her brother? What makes you think they can unite the vast world?"

Michael paused and added, "Also once an adventurer becomes evil, do you not see how they never return?" (Banned players.)

"Are you talking about the missing immortals?"

Michael nodded.

Michael and the baron walked toward the mine and started their conquest of the nation.