Paper Currency and the Flower of Democracy

Antwerp City, capital of the Lowland Republic.

In the Upper House, the true center of power in this country, all eighty upper house members had assembled.

Yet, as on every day for the past six months, it was difficult to find any smiles on the faces of these well-dressed big shots.

The streets outside bustled with people, and the economic order appeared to be gradually returning to normal. But only they knew that many things had already changed.

During the previous Tulip Bubble and the wave of bankruptcies caused by the subsequent "tightening of money supply," vast quantities of high-quality national assets—mines, plantations, shipyards, factories, and trading companies—had been snapped up at rock-bottom prices.

In particular, under Evan's lead, the well-prepared Tulip Alliance had devoured the largest and juiciest piece.

Seizing the opportunity, Faletis had even acquired the Lowlands' largest Haliburton Ironworks Company for barely one-twentieth of its original price.

The value these industries would generate afterward would by no means be less than the wealth Evan had directly harvested from the Lowlands.

Hype up a bubble, short aggressively, then buy at the absolute bottom—Evan's entire set of tactics had truly taught them a lesson.

The only consolation was that the great bankers and capitalists of the Eye of Wealth had industries spanning many nations. They were all powerful multinational capitalists.

Although they had bled heavily in the financial crisis, they would not be crippled by it.

Most importantly, their foundation—"credit"—had once again withstood the test. Their savings businesses across various nations had instead gradually risen, and half a year had allowed them to catch their breath somewhat.

Whether they could stage a comeback now depended on today's resolution.

Amid everyone's eager anticipation.

The Speaker of the Upper House, chairman of the executive committee of the Netherlands Banking Group, Saint