The group enjoyed a sumptuous dinner.

Duchess Olivia felt sorry for the Prime Minister, whose workload had doubled due to the launch of the "Western Advance." After greeting Her Majesty the Queen, she hurried out to assist her father with government affairs.

Others either worked overtime, studied, or practiced their skills.

Only Aiven and Liweina, the two monarchs, walked together into the intricately decorated small side chamber inside White Swan Castle.

Gurgle...gurgle...

Aiven skillfully brewed this year's new tea while organizing in his mind the exhilarating grand blueprint:

"There's been too much going on lately, so many things to handle. If it weren't for the bankers' little maneuvers reminding me, I nearly forgot about this profitable business.

As long as the two of us agree, and let allied nations follow suit, accomplishing this lucrative venture shouldn't be difficult."

Aiven had long established the policy of "crossing the river by feeling the Evil God," paying close attention to everything happening within the opponent's sphere of influence.

The intelligence about the "Lowland Republic" issuing paper currency due to the shortage of precious metal currency was reported back immediately.

As for how to subtly thwart those bankers, that could be discussed later. But a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had already presented itself before him and Liweina.

As Aiven spoke, he realized there was no response from the other side and looked up only to find himself laughing:

"I say... why are you sitting so far away from me? Has trust between people reached the point where even such trust no longer exists?"

With long legs crossed, Liweina sat far away on the other side of the small chamber, staring at Aiven with beautiful lake-green eyes, vigorously nodding:

"Yes, indeed!"

She added in her heart: 'Especially when you bring up money with me.'

But then, Aiven leisurely sipped his tea and said calmly:

"Ha, this time, it's not about spending money but making money, and big money at that!"

Liweina's expression grew more solemn as she gently lowered her crossed legs, a hint of doubt revealed in her eyes:

"Big money? How big?"

The "Tulip Alliance," which had established dominance, was no longer the struggling entity tightening its belt and chasing Hilus of previous years.

Even if the wealth from the successful raid of the "Great Treasure Fleet" were placed before her, it wouldn't impress the gradually entitled Her Majesty the Queen.

Aiven gave her a mysterious smile:

"Is plundering the world enough?"

With a flick of her skirt corner, Liweina was already seated across from Aiven with a fragrance, sitting properly like a student.

"Alrighty!"

Aiven: ...Reality!

"Just now, [Faceless Man] sent a message....."

After listening to Aiven's explanation of the bankers' actions and intentions behind them, Liweina's expression gradually grew solemn, pondering:

"So... should we also learn from them?"

Liweina agreed that issuing paper currency would be a major trend in the future.

Because the quantity of currency must correspond to goods.

However, with the continued advancement of the Steam Industrial Revolution, the economic volume of the human world gradually showed exponential growth, at which point the reserves of gold and silver might fail to meet the needs of economic life.

After all, the world's precious metals are limited, while the growth of industrial products, transaction scale, and frequency in human economic activities is limitless.

If all transactions were mediated by precious metals, one day many transactions would become impossible.

Furthermore.

Long ago, countries discovered that because precious metal currencies universally exhibited the phenomenon of "bad money drives out good," fully valued currencies were secretly hoarded, and most circulating precious metal currencies were undervalued.

Ultimately severely affecting economic life, leading to deflation and vicious cycles.

But paper currency is different.

It has both national credit and legal binding force, its value widely recognized, convenient for trading and carrying, and governments can print and issue it as needed.

Replacing precious metals seems historically inevitable.

However, like the Lowland Republic...

Liweina's expression turned somewhat peculiar.

Establishing a private central bank, with the government borrowing money from bankers in the form of national bonds while paying high interest, making the entire country work for the bankers, is simply absurd!

Even ordinary citizens can't grasp the subtleties, but perhaps only when bankers are the real rulers of the country would such a ridiculous situation occur.

Seeing Liweina had realized the key issue at hand, Aiven poured her another cup of tea and smiled, revealing his grand plan:

"Yes, and no. Paper currency does need to be promoted, but it cannot solely rely on government credit as the backbone; it must continue to bind with precious metals like gold tickets.

For now, we can call this circulating Tulip paper currency 'Gold Pound.'"

Currency supported by gold and silver is not "debt currency" that "overdraws the future," but "honest money" based on existing human labor achievements.

No need to fight; when the "Lowland Republic" introduces that kind of thing to encounter "honest money," there won't be a second possibility besides complete defeat.

But what Aiven wants to convey isn't just this, he stared into Liweina's eyes and slowly uttered a word:

"Do you have any concept of 'International Currency'?"

"International Currency? Gold and silver?"

As the name suggests, compared to the currency circulating domestically, "International Currency" naturally refers to currency recognized by various nations, used for international trade and international payments.

With the formation of the new world structure, transportation conditions are becoming increasingly convenient, and international exchanges are becoming more frequent. The birth of an "International Currency" for easy international settlement is becoming increasingly necessary.

Seeing that Liweina was not yet clear on the key behind it, Aiven did not continue to keep her in suspense, but directly pointed out:

"My intention is to use our paper-printed 'Gold Pound' pegged to gold and silver, turning this sovereign currency into 'International Currency', and making all international trade across all countries in the world settle in 'Gold Pound'!"

Currently, the "Tulip Alliance" is the most powerful national coalition in the entire Material World, having established its position as the "Sea Hegemon" through repeated wars, along with a seasoned and excellent navy.

The Tier 4 Peak Extraordinary below the Demigod is also not weaker than any national force.

Moreover, with the largest territory and colonies in the world, half of the Northern New Continent, a smaller portion of the Southern Continent, the entire Peacock Islands... creating a vast supply of raw materials and dumping markets.

After being the first to complete the Steam Industrial Revolution, they possess the richest industrial products, and any goods needed by the nations can be purchased from them.

Military, economy, and credit advancing together, have already cleared all obstacles for the "International Currency".

Of course.

To truly become "International Currency", it must be widely circulated, economically exported like the Lowlands so the world becomes dependent on the 'Gold Pound'.

At that time, possibly more than 60% of the currency will be circulated and used abroad.

Just the financial fees and service charges will give the "Tulip Alliance" a significant advantage in global resource allocation.

And the most ruthless move is to impose "seigniorage" on the world!

The income from the difference between the actual cost of minting currency and the face value of the currency falls to the minters. The income obtained by the minters is called "seigniorage".

Under the paper currency system, monetary authorities issue currency and obtain all the income!

By then, all the world's countries will only be able to curse: MMP, while having no choice but to continue using Gold Pound for settlements, using their own labor to add bricks and tiles for the Tulip.

"You can actually play like this?"

Liweina's expression had gradually become dazed, holding her bone china teacup without moving for a long time.

Aiven smiled, picked up his teacup and clinked it with hers:

"Civilized people like us, who have washed their feet and come ashore, disdain doing those fights and kills. Civilized people naturally have civilized ways, put away the pirate flag and elegantly... plunder the whole world."

Liweina instinctively took a sip of the cold tea soup, but it seemed like she had taken a sip of strong liquor, her complexion was rosy and she was somewhat intoxicated.

"Then...."

Body leaning slightly forward, she lowered her voice and whispered in Aiven's ear, completing a complete distribution plan, the two of them shoulder to shoulder, laughing like a geese.

Unconsciously.

These two rulers, who are thorough young people in the world, have grown to a level where they can stir up a fierce storm globally with just a light sneeze.

Moreover, this is a Twelfth-Level storm destined to affect the world for decades or even hundreds of years!

Also.

The "International Currency" plan isn't just for sustained economic growth and taxing the world, but also to firmly lock down the bankers' ambitions.

As long as this "International Currency" pegged to gold and silver exists, they can't quickly reap wealth through large-scale artificially manufactured financial crises.

"Monetary power," this invisible government has been completely legalized by bankers, Aiven could see at a glance what they wanted to do.

With the continuous development of finance, capital will increasingly favor the short cycle, quick-money speculative financial markets, rather than investing in the down-to-earth real economy.

And "inflation" is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of capital.

This method allows governments to secretly and imperceptibly confiscate people's wealth, with maybe only one in a million able to detect this theft.

But here, this function isn't performed by an "elected" government, but rather the hereditary "Eye of Wealth".

When "Gold Pound" is in vogue.

Financial games? Things that never create value, just honestly work within the realm of real industry!

Then, Liweina suddenly thought of a problem, gradually stopping her laughter:

"Then as the economy further develops, precious metals will eventually become inadequate, causing severe deflation, with some people exchanging gold and silver on a large scale, what then?"

She suddenly and cutely stuck out her pink tongue, answering herself:

"Default? Hahaha..."

"Gold and silver standards" certainly have inherent limitations, precious metals are still temporarily sufficient, but their total amount is finite, the rate of increase will definitely gradually fail to keep up with the growth in goods since the completion of the Steam Industrial Revolution.

This is clearly not a perfect system that will settle everything once and for all.

Snap—!

Aiven's fingertips burst out a blue and white dazzling electric light, speaking calmly with confidence:

"The wise always have ingenious solutions, it's simply a matter of changing the anchor point for currency.

With the advancement of the next 'Electrical Industry', the essential need of the world will be more than just gold."