A Chronometric Defect

So far, so good. Mostly. Despite my expectation that the people of Shridenia or Eritromi would screw it up, mass evacuations are not as uncommon as I'd once thought. They usually take longer, they're usually only one or two cities, but these people go through this regularly.

Monsters sometimes pop up just outside a city which didn't have a monster problem before. It could be bad management, a change in the leylines, the appearance of a Mana treasure— there's many reasons why. When this happens, the city guard can swiftly become overrun. So, most people tend to leave until things stabilize.

The other reason is war, and Eritromi makes for a great example. Powerful magic can cause mass destruction quite easily; a point I've proven personally. Anyone not willing to risk their lives should, um. Flee.

Which is why cities aren't usually run at their limits like Tengerii. The house where I found Parasite in the western slums of Achiton was vacant, so I'm told, for this exact reason. The King calls them 'state evacuation homes.'

"So, King. I get that you keep extra empty homes for evacuation. But how?"

"How, Chronomet? You mean, how does my Shridenia finance these properties?"

I nod my dragon head.

"Reah. It seems like a huge waste of money."

He tilts his head a little.

"Well, it IS costly to maintain empty houses and the surrounding infrastructure. Private owners don't want to do it. Thus, I step in. My Shridenia acts as a holding company for these empty homes."

"Then, do you rent the land when it's not in use?"

He looks at me with a mix of surprise and confusion. Indeed, why would a dragon know about property rental?

"No no. The government can't rent this land. It's not about land use or having the properties vacant for evacuees— though that is helpful. Simply put, a government renting land to its people is double taxation. That's one of the best possible ways to kill off an entire nation's economy."

Double taxation?

The practice where a government takes its normal tax, then imposes other 'fees' or perhaps another tax on top of that? I've never thought about public land rental from this perspective.

But he's right. Renting land from the government while also paying taxes... That IS double taxation.

Public land should be, well— public.

I'm surprised he's explaining this to a dragon. To me. He really is an open-minded king.

He continues.

"The state can't collect too much money because 'monetary velocity' will decline, which makes city treasuries and banks go bankrupt. That is, the cities and banks run out of money. Due to declining monetary velocity, any sort of bank rescue funding, also known as a bailout, is entirely futile."

Sorry, king. I don't understand. This dragon hasn't eaten enough economists.

"Hrah? Monetary velocity?"

"Hm. Say you have a hundred dollars. You give a single dollar to your friend. One dollar out of one hundred dollars is one percent of the total money shared between you two. Therefore, your monetary velocity is one percent. It's a complex way to explain a very simple concept! You see, bankers like to feel smart."

"Hraw! So, if you collect too much money through taxes..."

"Then it's held within my national coffers— people aren't spending that money. This causes the private banks to run out of hard cash. When these banks go bankrupt, the people living in nearby cities usually decide: 'it's not a good time to spend!' The city then can't collect as much tax, which makes the city also go bankrupt. If I rescue the city, then I must raise more taxes. I'd be filling my coffers yet again."

"So, double taxation is a downward spiral. It hurts the state even more than it hurts the common person."

"Precisely, lord Chronomet."

"Okay, but how does that involve state evacuation homes?"

"During a crisis, I put all available state evacuation homes up for sale at a regionally-reasonable price. Since the property is only on the market for a month or two, there usually isn't enough time for a substantial arbitrage to form between evacuation homes and local property values. This avoids price gouging, or the practice of wildly overcharging for a scarce item or commodity that's up for sale."

"Sorry, what— arbitrage?"

"Bankers, again, my lord. It means an opportunity to buy low and sell high."

Seriously?

"Can these bankers use fewer ridiculous words?"

"Can you stop being a dragon? The bankers' language is designed to help them hoard wealth. It's intentionally confusing."

I roll my eyes.

"Words mean nothing in front of my power! I can hoard as much wealth as I want, because I'mma dragon! Rawr."

"That's why banking is a job, not a species. Are you bored by my explanation, my lord?"

Oops. I nod sideways to admit my mistake.

"No. Words may be meaningless in front of power, but knowledge is itself power. Do continue."

The King stares at me blankly and shivers.

Then, he resumes talking.

"Only people who already own a threatened property can buy a state evacuation home. Straw purchases— where a new buyer sells the house to a wealthy landowner— result in that home being defaulted and retaken by the nation. This law stays in place until the evacuation is officially over."

"Why does it matter if the rich can pay fair market value?"

"Aha! That's because evacuated homes are repossessed by the state until the evacuation ends. You see, those fleeing are getting fair compensation to buy a similar house elsewhere. Typically, they buy a state evacuation home, as mentioned, but they can go anywhere they want. Once the crisis is over? All buyers have a time-limited opportunity to trade their new home for their original home— with no money changing hands. Since the old home is now a state evacuation home, it can't be snapped up at a cheap price."

"So... This whole plan. This is this designed to keep the evacuated home out of someone else's hands, plus maintain the total number of landowners?"

"Exactly. Solid deduction, lord Chronomet. If I let the rich profit from every crisis, soon my kingdom will be one filled with many poor people ruled by a few rich landlords. Maybe those landlords won't like my rule and will depose me, hmm? Maybe they'll intentionally create a crisis and blame me!"

Hrr. That's pretty smart, actually.

"All of this merely to prevent the rich from rallying your people against you. It seems running a kingdom is difficult."

"If my people are happy? I needn't rule harshly. I keep the majority happy by making a select few unhappy. Those few can spend their vast wealth to keep themselves happy without my help. Besides, despite the common refrain: money CAN buy 'happiness.' That's the name of an expensive Mana drug sold openly in my Shridenia. I've decided to legalize it because it has few side effects. Aside from powerful addiction, unfortunately. Healing doesn't remove that aspect of drug use."

I roll my eyes at his drug policy. Well, at least he's not banning relatively harmless drugs for no reason. It's just mildly weird that he's okay with the upper class becoming filled with drug addicts.

"Alright, but this still doesn't answer my question. How do you pay for all this unused land?"

"Taxes. If I keep corruption low by preventing rich landlords from controlling everything, most of the tax money goes to me. It doesn't sit in THEIR coffers; it goes into mine."

"That's it? You prevent the wealthy from hoarding cash and the whole economic system fixes itself?"

"People often talk about free markets. They rarely understand that free markets MUST destroy themselves. Free markets ALWAYS become unfree. Every single market should thus be managed carefully, in order to remain efficient."

"What— why would economic freedom result in market capture? Freedom is good."

He looks a bit surprised again at my mention of 'market capture,' but then stares straight at me with a grim expression.

"Chronomet. Too much freedom is chaos. A free market has no penalty for making the poor into wage slaves. Eventually? Indentured slaves. Or worse."

I nearly drop my jaw in surprise. Holy crap!

"Are you saying a free market ends up creating slavery?"

"Always."

Slavery. Free markets create SLAVERY.

No wonder there's no slaves in Shridenia. The country doesn't even need to outlaw slavery, because... Shridenia's king knows his economic theory. Amazing!

"So, you're saying 'freedom' is also form of power. When one takes away economic freedom, they're not merely taking away a fundamental right; what they're taking away is power itself. Whether the taker is you or a rich merchant."

"Yes. That's why laws and law enforcement exist. My city guards, their job isn't merely to keep people safe and collect taxes. Safety and security are nice, but ultimately a guard's main role is to protect my peoples' freedoms."

He rolls his head, then continues.

"This goes for my royal guards, too. If any one individual living within my Shridenia becomes unfree— powerless, then my entire nation of Shridenia becomes precisely that much weaker."

I nod my dragon head in agreement.

King Shridenia is truly an inspiring leader. He understands the power of the people, despite leading a monarchy. He uses that concept to rule his people fairly and justly.

However.

"What about the slums? Those surely don't help with law enforcement. Homeless people and criminals thrive within all these empty homes."

King Shridenia sways his head side to side, then comes up with a fairly direct response.

"I avoid creating homelessness and crime. If they exist, my laws are to blame. People need not live on the streets, nor commit terrible acts, if they are never given a reason."

Dang! What a response. Still—

"That didn't work in Achiton."

He tilts his head back, looks up, and shrugs, hands out.

"The revolt in Achiton was funded by an enemy nation. What am I supposed to do? They have far more resources than my Shridenia. Besides, you crushed them."

Ragh. Okay, that's not exactly true, king.

Putting aside my involvement— I'm forced to mostly agree. Achiton's monster-hunting economy was in full swing, so nearly all of Achiton's criminals were traitors. Funded and led directly by The Purified Heavens, no less.

Plus, Achiton's guard was incredibly strong. The city had saved up a substantial amount and so could hire plenty more guards. Without my intervention, it's possible The Purified Heavens would've given up. Hruh, perhaps assassinating Yenim was a key part of a fallback plan? Even mind clamping her, the Achiton guard leader and sole Shridenian heiress, didn't work.

In any case, this is why I only had to build a single new city. Achiton's state evacuation homes are plenty for a good portion of city evacuees, while the towns and villages were given a stipend to rebuild wherever they want down south.

Tengerii is still well beyond maximum capacity, but since I destroyed Tengerii's city walls, they're already building new homes out in what I declared 'the suburbs.'

They were initially hesitant to build without any city wall, but I told them, 'I'mma dragon,' then rawred at the monsters. Which destroyed all the monsters.

I think the city leaders got my message. No monsters shall dare attack... And they'd better listen, too.

Okay, in all fairness, monsters might still attack.

Which is why I installed a whole slew of underground inscriptions. They explode creatures based on whether or not they have a monster core. I also made the inscription check their status for a name. If the monster has a name, it won't attack. That way, sapient monsters can enter without being killed.

I'm not sure whether there are any sapient monsters, but I'd hate to kill one.

Err... Well, maybe I do have some idea about that. When I didn't add said condition, my inscriptions attacked ME. But I'm not a monster! I'mma dragon.

Sheesh! Also rawr.

...

Seems my inscriptions disagree, though, seeing as they tried to make me combust.

I wasn't aware I had a monster core, but rehm, when I searched my body I did find something like one. It's not a physical object like the usual spherical orb. It's more like a void in space. I don't really know how to describe it.

I was able to determine that this... Non-thing was the reason my inscription reacted.

So, maybe my 'monster core' is somewhere else. Where? I have no freakin' clue. Mentally trying to probe that strange void doesn't give me any response. Hrem. Moving on.

Some Shridenians had previously begun to travel all the way to Tengerii to help with their rebuilding efforts. That's quite admirable! I gave those kind folks some of the leftover magic ca... Er, they're hovercraft, aren't they? Reah. I gave them all hovercraft for their kindness. So, they've arrived already. They haven't made much progress, yet, but it's something.

Though, I think Raiz was dismayed when he learned he had fewer workers to help build all those dragon statues. Now he'll have a lot more workers. I also gave him a huge amount of resources.

I LOVE the statues!

Surprisingly, so too do the people of Achiton. Or maybe they like being paid so well to build statues.

I dunno.

However, they're also venerating the statues built in my image. It makes me feel so incredibly pleased every time I go over to observe. I've even seen people posing against one of my statues with their kids. Which was weird, since I thought dragons were terrifying to the common person. Until Raiz told me he organized a group to extol my greatness. They were telling a story about how I'm the heroic dragon who liberated Achiton.

I guess, technically, I did? I'm not gonna argue.

Though, must I admit, after he showed me the murals and other art pieces he wants to add in addition to the statues... I try to imagine what they'd look like when completed. Hrem.

I'm getting a bit concerned we'll never get any infrastructure built. Won't everyone be kept busy making draconic artwork?

...

Mreh. I told him to do it— except he needs to focus on building homes until the evacuation is complete. I'll figure out some other method of getting the bigger infrastructure built. Oh, and taking care of the bulb's roots. Those are gonna be a pain for humans to deal with, but... They won't rot right away. Maybe I can make a lot of golems or something?

Reh. Raiz can build all the neat dragon decorations he wants.

It'll help me, too. If my people don't want to build art related to me, isn't that a good way of knowing the general public is unhappy with my leadership? Art quality and tone tends to sour long before public opinion. I want to be revered as a god— both in terms of my actual power and how well I rule.

My ultimate goal is an endless golden age.

Indeed, gold. Gold is a prized possession for any dragon. As my people are my hoard, their riches are also mine. They richer they are, the happier a dragon I shall become. Just the idea that each and every one of my people may one day shower themselves in gold...

That little daydream already makes me shiver in delight. I can't imagine how ecstatic I'll be once it becomes reality. My brain might get fried from all the happiness! But— this won't ever happen unless I lead my people responsibly.

Speaking of good leadership: I must praise King Shridenia.

"Your procedures explain why our Shridenia's mass evacuation is working out far better than I'd expected. In fact— we're way ahead of schedule. Good job, King."

He regally nods his head.

"Thank you, my lord."

I feel a stab in my chest again.

Weakness flows out to both my arms.

Gragh. This damn thing, though.

This thing isn't going nearly as well.

I've tried everything to block it.

It's not slowing down.

...

At all.