Chapter 20
Currency.
In other words, it’s an item that can be called money.
Choi Yuna, looking puzzled, asked Lee Hyuna why she had brought up the subject of currency.
“Are you talking about money?”
“Yes. If by money, you mean something that can be exchanged for goods, then what I’m talking about also relates to money.”
It wasn’t much different from what Choi Yuna had understood.
Lee Hyuna was saying that the Balhut Cult needed money.
“If it’s money, isn’t there the Korean won we used before?”
“That… has already lost its value. Is there anyone here in Gyeongju who trades with Korean won? Among the officials here? I think not.”
“”””””……….””””””
“Of course, it’s the same in other regions. They’re using instant noodles or canned tuna as alternative currencies.”
It was a complete loss.
The Korean won had long since lost its value, and even using tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of Korean won, one couldn’t properly buy a single can of food.
Everyone in the meeting had experienced the devaluation of the won they used to use.
Virtual currencies, and even electronic payments, had also essentially lost their value.
Now, the most valuable alternative currencies were canned goods and instant noodles.
“The only currency that has retained some value is the US dollar, but even that is very little. According to external internet sources, even the US has fallen into a state of hyperinflation.”
“As expected of America.”
The only currency that had managed to retain some value was the US dollar.
But even the US dollar, according to the reports, had fallen into severe hyperinflation.
In other words, the value of the dollar had plummeted, while the value of goods had skyrocketed.
“They say that the US, aware of the situation, is deploying their national forces to try to manage the current crisis. It’s likely they’re in a better position than us, but no one knows when they will recover.”
“I see. Then, please explain why we need currency.”
Was she trying to make a point about the need for currency by using the example of a powerful country like the US?
Choi Yuna looked at Lee Hyuna with a troubled expression, and Hyuna, noticing her expression, smiled brightly and began to speak.
“It’s a simple matter. We currently lack appropriate rewards for the workers involved in the reconstruction efforts.”
“Rewards, you say.”
Rewards!
In other words, it meant that the Balhut Cult lacked enough goods to pay the survivors who had joined them.
“Of course, the cult seized the markets, department stores, and marts of Gyeongju as spoils of war, so we can distribute the preserved foods and supplies obtained from there as compensation. We’re actually running a rationing system right now.”
“We’ve become the wealthiest faction in Gyeongju, haven’t we? But it’s still not enough?”
The Balhut Cult was, without a doubt, the victor in Gyeongju.
Although they had borrowed power from Bahamut, the Balhut Cult had decisively wiped out all the zombies in Gyeongju and had the strength to assert their rights as the victors over all the surviving camps in the city.
Thus, the Balhut Cult had taken over the central markets, Seongdong Market, and the Gyeongju Department Store, along with the Gyeongju Mart, as their spoils of war.
Thanks to that, the cult became the wealthiest faction in Gyeongju and could provide satisfactory compensation to the workers involved in the reconstruction efforts.
“Indeed, we are the wealthiest in Gyeongju, but even our resources have limits. Moreover, some workers find the current rationing system inconvenient. I believe Administrative Official Lee Sua could elaborate further, as she handles civil complaints.”
“Yes. We are indeed experiencing many difficulties in distributing compensation. It takes manpower to transport the food, supplies, or energy resources given as daily wages, and perhaps it would be simpler to reform the compensation into vouchers or exchangeable tickets that can be used at our authorized stores.”
However, a considerable amount of manpower was needed to transport the goods for compensation.
Moreover, the workers receiving their compensation had to deal with the inconvenience of transporting the goods home.
Lee Hyuna, working with Lee Sua, who was managing the on-site administration, explained the various inconveniences occurring at the site and persuaded Choi Yuna and the officials of the need and justification for issuing currency.
‘…I didn’t understand any of that!’
Despite the detailed explanations from Lee Hyuna and Lee Sua, Yuna didn’t quite grasp it, but as the leader of the Balhut Cult, she maintained a dignified demeanour, glancing around subtly.
“If we look to the future, issuing a form of credit currency might be inevitable.”
“Carrying home supplies received as daily wages after work is exhausting…”
Most of the officials were already convinced by the logic presented by the Lee sisters.
Having discreetly observed their reactions, Yuna cautiously opened her mouth.
“So, you’re saying that what Hyuna and Sua are suggesting is that we need a form of vouchers or exchange tickets that people can trust?”
“Yes. And it needs to have value. While we could temporarily distribute paper exchange tickets as daily wages, those could be easily counterfeited.”
“Simply put, it could be copied with a store-bought photocopier.”
Yuna asked a question based on what she understood, and Hyuna confirmed that she wasn’t wrong.
However, she also pointed out the potential issues, the most obvious being counterfeit money.
Vouchers made of simple paper could easily be counterfeited using photocopiers or document functions on computers.
“Even so, I strongly advise that a trusted commodity currency is necessary, at least here in Gyeongju, for all survivor camps.”
“Okay. I understand.”
Finally, Yuna Choi nodded as if she had understood.
Through Lee Hyuna’s explanation, she could see the need for a credit currency.
However, there were problems in the Balhut Cult creating a credit currency.
“But there’s a problem. Where can we find the trust that people can rely on, and where can we find something that can prove that value?”
It was about the credit and the value that could back the currency.
Trust wouldn’t just fall from the sky, and it was challenging to determine what could be used as a valuable item for currency.
“For now… regarding value, old coins were made by mixing pure copper or nickel. There is a method to melt those down at a foundry and mint new currency.”
Of course, Lee Hyuna seemed to have thought ahead about valuable items, suggesting the method of melting down the coins used during the days of Korea to mint new currency.
In the current Gyeongju, copper might not be considered valuable, but she thought that as time passed, the value of copper for making bullets for firearms would increase.
Thus, melting down copper to create valuable items was not a wrong judgment.
“But the biggest issue is whether people can trust the currency we issue.”
Yet, trust!
Trust was something even Lee Hyuna found challenging to resolve.
“Someone must provide a solid guarantee for that.”
“Then… I’ll seek advice directly from Bahamut regarding this matter.”
“Bahamut…”
At Yuna Choi’s mention of Bahamut, Lee Hyuna immediately recalled the image of the dragon revered by the Balhut Cult.
The image of him conversing calmly with Hwang Seung-man in a wise and gentle manner had left a strong impression on her.
“If it’s him, we can trust him.”
Lee Hyuna nodded in agreement with Choi Yuna’s response, saying that Bahamut could be trusted.
She believed that if it was him, he would surely provide a good answer.
***
Of course, there was no way that this foolish dragon would have a clear solution.
[Currency, huh.]
Upon receiving Yuna Choi’s report on the situation, Bahamut thought that they were doing their best with the policies they could implement at the moment, but he couldn’t help but grimace at the suggestion made by Lee Hyuna.
And in the Mirror of Perspective, he could see Yuna looking at him with expectant eyes, believing that Bahamut would effortlessly resolve the currency issue.
Yes, with the wisdom and power of Bahamut, they would surely overcome this difficult obstacle!
‘I can’t solve this! I’m just a shut-in who used to play games; why would I know anything about economics!’
…Of course, there was no way this guy would have a solution for the issue at hand.
If it was fighting zombies, he would be more confident than anyone, but when it came to economic issues or matters of currency, he knew absolutely nothing.
‘I do understand the importance of currency! But it’s too much to suddenly entrust me with such a significant national project!’
Of course, even this fool understood the importance of currency more than anyone.
But this task felt like an excessive burden for a former shut-in who enjoyed games!
“Bahamut?”
[Hmm….]
Even so, it was difficult to honestly say that this wasn’t something he could resolve.
Bahamut could feel the pressure from Choi Yuna’s expectant gaze directed at him.
Those eyes! That admiration! That reverence!
The belief that Bahamut would undoubtedly solve the problem was palpable.
[This is not a matter that I can resolve alone.]
“Then…?”
“I need to meet with Economic Official Lee Hyuna directly. Through discussions with her, we will find a detailed solution.”
The method Bahamut chose after much deliberation was to consult with an expert.
After all, since Lee Hyuna had proposed the idea, he thought of using the solution she had in mind! It was a straightforward approach.
However, it was undeniably a better approach than struggling alone and failing.
Consulting with experts before making a policy decision is a common and highly effective method in modern society.
“Then, through the Mirror of Perspective?”
“No, summon her to the shrine.”
“It’s that important of an issue! Understood!”
While there was a way to communicate through the Mirror of Perspective, Bahamut judged that this matter was significant for the Balhut Cult.
If there was even a small mistake, it could turn into a major disaster, so he decided to meet and speak with Lee Hyuna directly.
“Has Bahamut called for me?”
Thus, when summoned by Bahamut, Lee Hyuna showed no signs of surprise.
“Yes. I have issued the command for you to come to the shrine.”
“As expected…!”
Rather, Lee Hyuna happily followed Bahamut’s order.
With a look that suggested she had anticipated this situation, she immediately began preparing to depart upon hearing Yuna Choi’s command.
Lee Sua, Hyuna’s younger sister, who observed this scene from the side, quickly realized her sister’s hidden intentions.
“Did you plan this?”
“What do you think?”
“I think you planned it.”
When Sua asked if she had been planning this situation, Lee Hyuna, with a smile on her face, asked what Sua thought, and Sua replied that it seemed things had unfolded just as Hyuna had intended.
Hyuna didn’t deny Sua’s observation; instead, she nodded in affirmation.
“Yes, I planned it to some extent. The Gyeongju Reconstruction Project hasn’t even properly started yet, and I made a rather demanding request.”
“There was already canned food that could be used as alternative currency. Especially ramen, which was a popular alternative currency even before the Balhut Cult emerged.”
Indeed, as mentioned during the meeting, there were items that could be used as currency.
From common canned tuna to ramen, they were functioning as effective alternative currencies.
One could argue that there was no urgent need to find a new currency.
“Yes, we still have plenty of supplies that can be given as wages. Honestly, if we can endure a bit of inconvenience, as I mentioned, we could use a barter system with ramen or alternative currencies. Everyone… understands this, both physically and mentally, as it’s a disaster situation.”
Hyuna believed that she had planned to some extent and had made an excessive request to the cult for that purpose.
In reality, while there was some inconvenience on the field, the workers did not complain openly about it.
Since it was a disaster situation like an apocalypse, everyone was willing to understand and accept a bit of inconvenience.
Moreover, it wasn’t as if there were no items that could be used as alternative currency.
“But I thought it was necessary.”
However, Lee Hyuna firmly believed that this was a necessary step.
“I wanted to prove that only the Balhut Cult could be the sole hope for the Gyeongju survivors.”
She wanted to prove that only the Balhut Cult could be the sole hope for the Gyeongju survivors.
Sua looked at her sister with a puzzled expression after hearing Hyuna’s words.
“Isn’t Bahamut enough? I was incredibly awed by his power.”
Both Lee Hyuna and Lee Sua were survivors who had witnessed the promised day Yuna spoke of.
That day, Bahamut displayed overwhelming power and strength to the citizens of Gyeongju.
That sight gave hope to the sisters, who had only been surviving powerlessly until then, through the Balhut Cult.
With Bahamut’s power, the Balhut Cult gave them the certainty that they could survive this apocalypse.
“But half accepted it, and half rejected it.”
“Is that what’s bothering you?”
However, there were those who rejected the protection of Bahamut.
“Yes. I couldn’t accept that. So, I intend to monopolize the currency that will be used in Gyeongju from now on, even if it means being excessive.”
And Lee Hyuna couldn’t accept that.
So, she planned to deliver the best retaliation she could.
“From now on, all transactions in Gyeongju… will be possible only with the currency we create.”
“U-Um…”
“Yes. In the name of God Bahamut.”
With eyes gleaming and speaking with an excited tone in the name of God Bahamut, Lee Sua thought her sister’s current demeanour was a bit intimidating.
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