Chapter 65: CH 64

He’s not the kind of person who’d defer to Reina’s stance. Well, that is unless Paul or the others would come forward and take her side.

“No… You don’t have to apologize.”

As soon as Reina said this, Lehman likewise took a sip of his juice and calmly replied.

“Then, Reina. What do you think should be done?”

“About what?”

“Truthfully, policies can’t always strive for perfection. And it’s easy to just find loopholes in such policies by pointing out those imperfections.”

Ah… Now Reina gets what Lehman’s getting at now. He’s definitely trying to say this:

Anyone can be a critic. But offering an alternative is a different story.

“Anyone can be a critic. But suggesting a working alternative is a different matter altogether, isn’t it?”

And the same moment Lehman said that, goosebumps rose on Reina’s skin.

‘Ohhh… I’m in this position right now, but should I really get thrilled like this?’

A fleeting thought passed through Reina’s mind—after studying a bit for the purpose of capturing Ethan, it seemed almost like she’d become proficient in psychology, too.

“That’s true.”

Reina nodded, sweeping down the goosebumps on her arm.

Meanwhile, Fran looked to and fro between them, completely immersed in the discussion.

As though to meet his expectations, Reina muttered seemingly to herself.

“I’ve actually thought of an alternative, but…”

Of course, it wasn’t really a mutter to herself. With just how much she’d been beaten down by Lehman before, who was she to pass up on this amazing opportunity?

“But I don’t know if you’ll be able to understand it…”

Lehman’s eyebrows crumpled ever so slightly.

Reina immediately threw the next line.

“Oh, I don’t mean to look down on you. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”

She repeated Lehman’s favorite words, which he repeated time and again before. At this, Lehman’s expression became more distorted.

“It’s just a concept that I thought of myself… I don’t think it’s only you who would find it difficult to understand.”

A vein popped out on Lehman’s jawline for a moment, however it soon subsided.

‘You’re mad now because you got hit with a counterattack, yeah?’

Inwardly smirking massively, Reina sipped her juice leisurely.

“It’s only because it’s such a difficult concept… And I’m just being honest, you know. But sometimes, I get misunderstood and people think that I’m looking down on them.”

Eventually, Lehman’s expression fully cracked.

“So I hope you’re not offended.”

And so, Reina smiled, as if she had just finished saying the ending line of a film’s climax.

However, Fran over there urged Reina as though he couldn’t wait any longer.

“Then, then what is it!”

His excitement could be heard from his voice. After all, he had the blood of merchants in his veins, and it’s inevitable that he’s also crazy about money.

“Hmm…”

Humming as though to contemplate—even though she didn’t need to—Reina looked at Lehman once, and then spoke up as though she’s left with no choice.

“First of all, silver coins and cheques are currently being used as currency. If it’s changed up a little, I thought maybe it could be called the ‘silver exchange standard’.”

Technically speaking, it’s not her who thought of this, but rather Earth’s economists.

But these people had no way of knowing that, so she decided to be a little more brazen.

“It’s a system in which we’ll use something called ‘fiat money’.”

After Reina first explained the concept, sounding as if it was her own concept, she went on to add that last thing with a controlled speed to her words. And thereafter, curiosity fluttered on the faces of all those inside this dining hall.

“Fiat money?”

“Silver exchange standard?”

Perhaps intrigued by the unfamiliar terms, the other young lords—except Douglas, Jeremy and Lehman—were visibly entranced.

“Can you explain that with more detail, Reina?”

Luke, who had been quiet until now, joined in.

“Well… Let me see… Fiat money, the currency that will be used, is kind of like a cheque… And the government will guarantee that a certain amount of silver can be exchanged for one bill.”

“Wait, wait… Then, you’re saying that silver will not be used as a direct currency as it’s being done now…”

It’s still an unfamiliar concept to him, so he continued to knit and unknit his brows as if he couldn’t understand just yet.

Reina explained a bit more so that he could comprehend the concept.

“If this system is used, in other words, ‘currency exchange’ will guarantee that silver will be distributed, but it will exist only at the core of the currency. It won’t be in circulation.”

After this brief explanation, Fran then quickly understood what ‘silver conversion standard’ was. He pondered for a moment.

“To do that, absolute trust in the issuing authority is mandatory… So, you mean to say that in the end, the Imperial Government’s firm credibility will be the basis of it all?”

Just as she expected of him, a growing aspirant in the field of economics was different but not so different.

“Exactly. And as we all know, our Empire already… well.”

Right now, the people of the empire had absolute trust in the imperial family because the country’s era of peace began when the dragonfolk started their reign.

Fran adjusted his posture and fixed his glasses.

“Then if the bills are made of paper… Extensive studies in technology to prevent forgery should be in place.”

‘Wow… This guy’s kinda amazing?’

It’s true that he’s the heir to House Carter, but even so, he figured out this key point on his own.

At that time, Eli—who was sitting quietly next to Reina—suddenly jumped into the conversation.

“The economy will be revived even more as the convenience of money exchange will increase.”

Fran responded to Eli at once and added a cover to a certain loophole.

“Of course, we will still need to follow the amount of silver reserves on hand… There will be a limit when it comes to issuing banknotes.”

‘You reached that far?’

Reina belatedly scanned her eyes over the other people inside the dining hall.

‘And it looks like these guys are getting excited?’

Even Jeremy, who was turned away from them earlier, looked like he was focused on listening to the conversation now as he adjusted his posture.

Only two people now.

Only Lehman and Douglas were not enjoying this discussion.