Cashless Vathria

"Mmmm..."King Adrian moaned a bit. "H-hey...can you just let me know the progress of the economy?" King Adrian said while touching the head of someone underneath him. He was currently sitting down on the desk of his study room where a woman was going down on him.

The woman had long black hair, which was very rare for a Vathrian, and tanned skin. She was someone you'd consider voluptuous.

The woman raised her head. "Adri...you've been working too hard lately. Let me relieve some of that stress for you..." The woman then continued what she was doing before.

--

Several hours passed in the study room. King Adrian and the woman were currently both putting on their clothes that were previously scattered throughout the floor.

'Lena Haider...she was previously an economics professor in the local university. I met her during the period when I was highly interested in learning about trade and the economy...little did I know she was a seductress and the woman who finally took my virginity.' King Adrian thought as he was seeing her getting dressed.

Lena Haider noticed the King's gaze. "Little Adri...do you want more?" She said with a seducing voice.

King Adrian was almost aroused again but coughed to get rid of the thoughts. "P-please. Let us get to the point. How goes the development for re-establishing the Vathrian economy." King Adrian sat down in the desk again.

"Of course, Adri..." Lena was using an old nickname of the King, which was extremely rude but she did not seem to care. "As you know, our previous economy utilized a free economy model with some degree of government intervention to deal with economic failure derived from negative externalities. The government ran mostly on taxes from ranging from income taxes to direct taxes for trading companies....but exports and imports were also a strong factor in our economy." Lena switched her attitude to her old, professor-like demeanor.

"Foreign trade...even I have thought of that, which is why I have been preparing some products that we could sell to nearby kingdoms." King Adrian replied.

"Yes...but I believe there should also be some degree of innovation and incentive given to the local citizens...encourage them to build businesses and make their own products...I suggest a tax exemption for companies for a certain period of time until we are able to stabilize the economy." Lena responded.

King Adrian stroke his chin to think. "I mean, yes, I agree. But we don't even have an economy running yet. We are still providing everything for the citizens for free in exchange for labor...which is good but to grow in the long-run we definitely need a stronger economic backbone. So I'm asking you what is the progress with the re-establishment of the national bank and our currency?" King Adrian asked.

King Adrian stood up and started to pace around the room. "And then there's a matter of coin production...I am not sure we would have materials to spare to create money instead of other commodities at the moment." He muttered.

Lena smiled. She approached the King and placed something in his hand. What she placed was a small card, the size of a palm.

"Wait! This is...." King Adrian was shocked to see what he was holding.

"The prototype coinless magic card I have been prototyping since my academic career as an economics professor. I have been developing it closely with Vaye Braithwaith, the head of mages." Lena said while smiling.

King Adrian looked and examined the card. The card was made out of metal with blue magical inscriptions on it. "The Haider Card....as the scholars call it. The hypothetical coinless card that would render physical money useless as the monetary value was replaced with numbers on a piece of cards....your peers were very critical of this..." King Adrian said.

"Dead peers! Your father was against it as well. But with you finally, on the throne, you understand the significance of this, correct? This device allows us to be even more economically advanced!" Lena said while flashing a bright smile.

King Adrian frowned, looking unsure. "I don't know about this...in our previous world we had some level of cushion to fall back on if we test the Haider card and fail...but in this new world, where the economy hasn't even started yet for our kingdom?" King Adrian replied.

"We'll do a test run, first! I guarantee it'll work! I have tested it extensively in my focus groups back in the previous world as well. The card allows the transfer of money between one card of another that need the full consent of the holder. The card is also tied to the person's magical signature which means even if the card is stolen, the monetary value will still be transferred to a new card!" Lena responded.

King Adrian jolted up in surprise. "Wait, how do the monetary value gets transferred if it's stolen?"

Lena smiled. She opened up her purse to reveal a blueprint. She opened it on the desk. The blueprint revealed a large crystal sitting on some sort of block.

"I call this the magical server! This crystal would be connected to every coinless card in existence and record the monetary value of the cards connected to the magical signature of each individual. We would also have multiple of these crystals...preferably scattered throughout various banks, in order to gain wider coverage. With this, a new level of economic height will be open! The only drawback is..." Lena said passionately but trailed off in the end.

"Security." King Adrian finished her sentence. "The security needed would be immense. The banks would need the security of a small castle to guard the magical server....if someone with enough knowledge break in, they would be able to take as much money as they want. Correct?" King Adrian said while frowning.

"Correct...But..."Lena's voice dropped down. She was becoming a bit discouraged again as that argument was always the final nail in the coffin whenever she proposed it to her fellow scholars or even the previous king.

"But you know what? Without risking anything, society wouldn't be able to grow. Security risks also exist on the traditional coin and cash system. I approve of the implementation of this. But you're going to work extra hard so that the implementation of it is perfect." King Adrian said while smiling.

Lena's face lit up in joy. She ran to the king and kissed him. "Adri! I knew you're different than the others!" She pushed the king down to the floor. "Let me reward you again. I'll be sure to do a good job with the coinless card." They continued their previous activity until sunrise.

--

"Tch. I hate working" Robert was now on the scene of the crime with Braum, Grant, and other military officials.

"We'll reward you. Please help us with this." Braum said.

"I don't see why we need this imbecile's help..." Grant muttered.

"Cut it out! We haven't found anything so far." Braum interjected Grant's complaint.

Robert's eyes were shining with a golden light which looked a bit like a spotlight.

"Found the tracks." He approached something.

"See? It's faster this way." Braum said to the displeased Grant before walking towards Robert.

"What did you find?" Braum asked beside Robert who was crouching down on the ground.

"Their shoes....are odd...it's imbued with magic...it seems their shoes are capable of erasing tracks on the ground after they step on it," Robert said while touching the soil.

"We have a special 'smell' agent here who are capable of smelling the presence of people and locate them and even he did not find anything. How do you explain that?" Grant said condescendingly to Robert.

"I guess that means they wore clothes that hide their tracks as well you bloody fool. My eyes are a bit more special than that...I see their ether..." Robert replied.

"Ether?" Grant asked while frowning at the man's insult.

"Soul energy...it's still a mystery to us but King Adrian's royal Ethereal sword is one form of this since it's capable of cutting through the very soul of the opponents," Braum replied.

Robert stood up. "Enough dilly-dallying. Follow me." He started walking in a certain direction within the forest.