Many Earthlings believed that aliens capable of freely soaring through the stars must belong to civilizations that were highly advanced in every respect and far beyond Earth. Peter and Doctor Otto were no exception.
But today, their fantasies were shattered.
Take the currency used by these aliens, "Star Coins," for example.
This was a currency commonly circulated throughout the galaxy. From the Nova Empire to the so-called Kree Empire, and even lawless places like The Wasteland, it had purchasing power everywhere.
Star Coins were an electronic currency, similar to Earth's electronic cryptocurrencies. They used a peculiar encryption technology, had no specific issuer, and nobody knew who had created them in the first place. Their creditworthiness was a mystery as well.
They could be used to trade for common goods such as starship fuel, energy batteries, and ordinary weapons. But when it came to cutting-edge technology and related items, merchants on the Black Market sometimes preferred bartering.
In other words, although Star Coins were currency, there was no proper official organization maintaining their creditworthiness. It all relied on voluntary recognition, yet they were unexpectedly "valuable."
It was like ancient humans using seashells as currency. If others refused to recognize them, there was nothing you could do. Yet strangely enough, for convenience's sake, most people accepted this currency.
The only difference was that humans collected shells from beaches, while Star Coins were like potatoes sprouting from the ground. Their "soil," however, was computer encryption technology—this stuff had appeared a very, very long time ago, long enough ago to form today's bizarre interstellar trade system.
The relationships between interstellar powers bearing the title of empire were more like the relationship between one tribe and another. If they wanted dominance, they could only go to war. Economic warfare did not exist. They were not