Will, Lawrence, and Holo were escorted out of the building by a detachment of guards. The Bearman lord ordered the guards to stay with the visitors until the fine was paid. Although Will did not like his new babysitters, he was happy to out of the cell and collar. Lawrence and Holo served as tour guilds.

Finally, out from the amphitheater, Will saw muted capital. The shops and houses were muted in dark brown colors. Even the roads were paved with rich brownstones. As opposed to Guidon that had many two-story white townhouses, in Rijilir most of the houses and shops were on story. The capital was surrounded by circular earthen walls. The center of the circular capital was the Tribunal Council.

After a brief walk, Lawrence and Holo stopped outside a large circular copper-colored building with a cone titled roof. Will saw rows of men sitting outside the building with a small table, and a rug underneath. On the table sat a scale and abacus.

"Lawrence and Holo, my old friends," said a man with uncertainty. "Why did you bring the city guards and his human to my stall? I sure you all I am reputable," he said nervously.

"We know Auguste relax. We need to exchange Fermion and tribal coin to pay off our fines," Lawrence said still upset over the event that just occurred.

"I'm sorry I don't help criminals," Auguste said nervously looking at the guards smiling.

"Really," said Holo grinning her eyebrows touching in seething anger.

Looking at Holo, he quickly changed his mind. "Well if the guards approve, I'd be willing to help out a friend for old time sake. Now, what coins would you like to exchange," he asked enthusiastically?

"I'd like to exchange 200 Fermion Gold for silver," said Will.

"Seriously," said Auguste jumping up and knocking his table over. "As you know the Beast Tribes don't use gold in their currency, silver is the largest denomination. Since you are a new customer, I'll explain the currency exchange rate. One Fermion gold weighs 12 grams, a silver weights grams, and a copper weighs 3grams. Simple right? On average a Fermion's currency is three-fourths gold, silver, copper, and one-fourth tin. On the other hand, a beast silver credit weighs 5.5 grams, a copper credit weighs 2.5, and a bronze credit weighs 2.25 grams.

You may or may not know, that clan economics mostly uses the barter system. Only the city and villages, which there aren't many, use credits. That means each clans' credit can way differently amounts. If you plan to stay in Rijilir, I suggest we trade Fermion gold for Bear credits. If you agree?" August saw Will nod in agreement. "Alright, I'll first convert Fermion gold to silver which equals 20,000 Fermion silver. The going exchange is 1.3 times the value, I'll give you the friends and family discount, let's say 1.5. That means I owe you 30,000 Bear credit, sound fair?" August said.

Will was certainly no stranger to trading precious metals. On Earth, he invested in mining companies, and held gold stocks, especially during recessions. He knew currencies were just agreed tender. Anything could be a currency as long as everyone agreed that thing had value.

In the medieval periods when people traded currency in other countries, currency was based on purity and weight. Usually, heavy coins meant there was greater purity in the coin, and when melted down, and re-coined there would be more gold silver, or copper. Money changers would not only check the purity and weight but also wear and tear. However, due to the difference in purity and weight, Will would gain coins when he exchanges Fermion currency for credits but lose money when reversed.

However, Will planned to leave any extra credits to Lawrence and Holo to agree to settle down in Rijilir and manage Will's properties.

After the exchange, Will, Lawrence, and Holo frequented five other money exchangers. Will quickly exchanged 1,000 gold for 150,000 Bear Credit.

With the windfall of credits, Will, Lawrence, and Holo were escorted inside. The building was drab, circular, with offices along the walls. Will noticed the cone roof, had skylights that let the sun illuminate the hall. When they approached the front desk, a dispassionate Bear woman in a loose brightly patterned one-shoulder dress greeted them.

"Hey Carl, these the criminals?" she said ignoring them.

"Yeah, these are them," he said in a grizzly rough voice.

"Alright, then lead them to the civil counter," she said pointing to the first office to her right.

The building was near empty. Besides the Bear people clerks, there were a handful of people present conducting business.

"Hello, a guest here to pay your fine. It's 7,000 Bear credits, please?" said the justice clerk.

Surprised Will asked, "I thought the fine came to less than 7,000 credits about 6,600 credits?"

"There is a processing fee of course! What kind of merchant are you, who doesn't know about the processing fee?" he snorted derisively.

Will handed them the credits. Each person received a receipt and letter saying their crimes were paid and returned to the guest in good standing.

"If you want to purchase property, you need to register with the Tribal Council first. Visit the stall next door on the right," he said, showing them out of his office.

They moved to the next stall, as the guards left carrying a copy of the receipt.

"Welcome visitors," said the civil clerk. Looking at Lawrence and Will. "Planning to register with the Tribunal Council?" Will displayed his Wolf Clan identification to the man. "Well, then I guess it's just you young man. To register with the Tribal Council you'll need to pay a fee and have the support of a clan." Holo handed him rolled parchment. "Very good, it seems you earned the favor of the Wolf Clan. Now you need to back 5,000 silver credit," the civil clerk said.

"Wait, I only have to pay 100 credits, why does he have to pay so much?" Lawrence said.

"Well you married into and reside in the Wolf Clan; this man is a human merchant who wants to do business. The Tribal Council is hesitant to let human merchants open stores. However, the Bear Lord gave his blessing to this young man, which is rare considering how he dislikes humans so much. However, to discourage other humans we keep the price of entry high," he said rubbing his round furry ears in awkwardness.

"It's fine, here are the 5,000 silvers," said Will.

"Oh and another 500 silver credits for the processing fee," he said.

After he said that Will sighed, he felt the processing fees were frivolous graft.

"Thank you, thank you, dear boy. Here is your paperwork showing you have citizenship, please make sure you follow your clan's laws, from now they are responsible for your punishment. The Lord said you want to register as a merchant, that office is two offices to the right," he said.

"Hello Mr. William vont Ballard welcome to the merchant office's," said the mercantile clerk. "The Lord said you wished to register as a merchant. For humans to become a merchant, you need a letter of good standing from the justice clerk, a letter of citizenship from the civil clerk, and a reference from an existing register merchant or peddler," he finished.

Before the mercantile clerk finished speaking, Lawrences gave him parchment and presented the documents.

"Very good, very good, everything seems to be in order. It will 5,000 silver credits to register," he said. Will gave him 6,000 silver credits and received 200 silver in change.

Lawrence started twitching in anger. "This is outrageous, I only had to pay a tenth of that to register."

"Yes, but you married into the Wolf Clan, and the Clan sponsored your registration human," he said sneering.

It was obvious, this merchant thought 'human' was a racial slur. Lawrence balled his fist, but Will simply smiled. Will's new money was a tool, he could use to overcome obstacles. That was a difference between the rich and the poor. The rich saw money as a tool, but the poor saw money as a god.

"Here you go, Mr. vont Ballard. You are now an official merchant in Bear Country, you are also a registered merchant with the Wolf Clan. Selling merchants anywhere else is illegal! Please try not to get arrested anymore," he said smiling.

"The Lord said you wished to purchase property, that would be the office to your right," he said pointing.

"Hello Mr. William vont Ballard, the Lord said you wish to purchase property in Bear County. To purchase business property, I need your citizenship papers and merchant registration card," said the land clerk.

"Here is a map of Bear Country with building available to purchase," she said.

Will, Lawrence, and Holo examined the map, but there were not many buildings available for purchase. Even worse the buildings available were spread through the capital. They finally agreed on six properties facing the Tribunal Council's front gate.

"You wish to purchase these buildings? These buildings are quite expensive, these four were recently listed on the market, these two were recently remodeled, this building isn't for sale. Of the five buildings you selected for sale, the combined price is 60,000 silver credit," he said frightened by the cost.

"I want all six buildings, here are 100,000 silver credits. This should cover the money," Will said smiling. This was his retribution. Since arriving in Rijilir people had abused, spoken down to him, and cheated him. But now he would wield his purse like a sledgehammer. He would pound his adversaries into submission.

The land clerk accepted the money stuttering, "Ttthank Yyyou."

After leaving the land clerk, Will visited the crafter clerk, employment clerk, and realtor clerk. Time and time again, he would toss out silver credits like they were used tea leaves. Will returned to the money exchanger to get more credits. He made sure the crafters would build a beautiful building, he had the best sales clerks and bought the largest mansion for sale in the city.

Each time, the clerks' voices stammered, and their hands shook. When Will left, all the clerks were amazed, how much money had this young man spent in one day, how endless were his pockets. Immediately, rumors of Will circulated the capital.

Will made sure his buildings would be remolded to his standards, he wanted to employ the best staff, and wanted to own the nicest house on the market. These people would know they imprisoned someone who was not afraid to spend money. And for some people that was the scariest thing. People asked themselves if Will had this much money what couldn't he own?

Outside the Administration Building, the realtor clerk called a carriage and escorted them to their new mansion. As the rumors spread, beastmen and women were up in arms, trying to learn who was this young man. They learned about his trial, his apology, how he was taken of advantage but never complained, and rose above it all with the heart and strength of a beastman.

This also brought infamy to the Wolf Clan, as other clans were jealous and nervous of their new tribesman.