Peter sat in his office wearing a silver-gray robe. On his desk lay economics books from Old Terra: The Nature of Money and Monetary Policy, A History of Human Currency, and Anecdotes from the History of Money.
He had spent several days and nights in his office, poring over those books and trying to find an answer to the problem.
At that very moment, he was holding a silver banknote in his massive hand and examining it over and over.
The banknote had been printed using Dark Mechanicus technology, with cotton, linen, chemical fibers, and a special printing process. Its silver ink depicted ornate patterns. The front bore the Arabic numeral 100, while the back displayed the iris shield and flame insignia of the Forged Steel Brethren War Band. In appearance, the banknote was practically a work of art.
Moreover, the banknote in Peter's hand was more than just a piece of paper. It represented the War Band's authority and strength, and its control over the planet. The Dark Mechanicus had crafted it so expertly that the planet's inhabitants could hardly forge it.
Yet even though his War Band ruled an entire star system, they still couldn't force the inhabitants to accept the banknote.
Peter had seen similar banknotes in circulation on other worlds, which was why he had ordered the Dark Mechanicus to make something like them. As a Space Marine, he had naively thought that all he needed to do was print banknotes and declare them valuable, and the ordinary people would listen.
But the reality was that the planet's inhabitants still preferred metal currency made from gold, silver, or even copper. The banknotes, despite being works of art, simply wouldn't catch on.
After reading extensively and learning that money's essence was trust, Peter found himself at a