Will's summer was slipping away. Today, marked his last day of summer vacation, and he had yet to achieve his goal: expanding his economic empire in the Tribal Lands. Worse still, was the increasing inflation. Will's once dominating coin purse which stood like a mighty oak tree, was not being hacked away as construction prices soared. The variability in construction from week to week was the culprit.

Worst of all the rice riots were giving way to a labor movement in Rijilir. The rice riots showed people the instability and hardship of working-class families.

Will was fine with labor unions and guilds; he had dealt with them in the past. However, he was not fine with dealing with labor in their infantry, it brought too much drama and delay. Will wanted to get these buildings finished and staff!

The one saving grace for Will was his purchase of a general store. Instead of starting a new general store, it is a better economic decision to buy an existing store that already has a positive reputation, customer base, a trade contract. After purchasing the store, Will sent a letter to Mr. Murray to buy large quantities of brown rice. The imported brown rice was shipped to his parent's barony, stored in one of the finished warehouses, and then carted to Rijilir on a weekly business.

Within two weeks Will became the largest importer of rice in the Tribal Lands. Thankfully, Will could use the infrastructure in barony to store the rice, and the weekly shipments to Rijilir were highly lucrative. The downside was the time and danger. To import the rice from the distant empire, took a month. That meant this was the first week, Will was able to sell rice.

Lawrence and Holo would pick up the rice, and after crossing the river were met with a detachment of Wolfmen soldiers. The travel through the Wolf Clan territory was smooth. They would first stop at the no-longer vacant village they passed, which was now overpopulated with former rioters, and unload ten kilograms of rice.

The dangerous part was entering Rijilir. Thankfully, Bearmen soldiers also provided a detachment of guards to accompany the wagon to the general store. Between the Wolfmen and Bearmen soldiers, they were cautiously able to walk to the general store. The long lines outside the general store would salivate watching the wagon move to the rear of the store to unload the weekly supply of 125 kilograms of rice.

Given the rise of inflation, Will set the price of rice at two silver credits for a half kilogram. The actual market price was probably around one silver, but with the unpredictability in the market, enforced rations, and the City Lord's enacted price to control it made sense to the price of rice at the price cap.

Truth be told, the citizens did not particularly like the imported brown rice. However, they bought it all the same. Ironically, the Tribunal Council discouraged imports is now encouraging people to try it. Will's brown rice and the illegal black rice (which was white in color) were the two most distributed. Comparatively, Will's rice was less expensive and could be bought in greater quantities.

Several people complained about the imported rice, 'it did not fluff right,' or 'it smells bad." For Will, the Tribunal Council became his public relationship machine. The Tribunal Council, clan leaders sent recipes, cooking tips, and touted its healthiness. The free advice and tribal support slowly changed public sentiment towards accepting this inferior rice for the moment.

Other merchants began importing the rice as well, until the fall harvest. However, their shipments, like Will's, took a month to import. That meant for one month, Will would be the largest importer of rice in the entire Tribal Lands. In addition, Will offered to let them use his warehouse in the barony, for a small fee of course. This fact was not lost on the Tribal Council, who was not happy to see a human profit from their misfortune.

Yet, the Wolf Clan would continuously veto any sanctions brought against Will, Holo, or Lawrence. Stalking Wolf was quick to point out all three belonged to the Wolf Clan, any sanctions against the three, were sanctions against the Wolf Clan, and no one had a stomach for any more wars or infighting. The Tribunal Council slowly devolved into another detente to leave the rice import alone.

The silver lining for Will was the price of rice creates a net gain on his part, even factoring in construction losses. While Will was not satisfied with his profit, it was a profit nonetheless. Will had weathered worst storms, recessions, depressions, loss of infrastructure to nature, etc. This was simply another test, that set immortal from moral merchants. And Will had the willpower, resources, infrastructure, and partners to come out better on the other end.

In the evening, Will was invited to Song Yefang's house. The mansion was located near Will's, and it was a short carriage ride. Even though he could have walked, Will chose to ride to emphasize his Fermion nobility, even if it was not recognized in the Tribal Lands.

Will was greeted by a Tiger woman in a maid uniform. She escorted Will to a dining hall, where he saw a bearded tiger with grayish-white hair, playing reversi with a bearded wolf with white and silver hair.

"Greeting Sun Yefang and grandfather," acknowledging both elders with a slight bow.

"What nice etiquette, eh Osamu Shimomura? I can't believe you make this human call you grandfather," Sun Yefang.

"We may not be blood relatives, but he is an obedient filial grandson," said Striking Wolf.

"I thought your name was Stalking Wolf?" Will asked in confusion.

"Ah Holo never told you?" Said Stalking Wolf, rubbing his head. "In the Tribal Lands, honorifics are earned in battles. In my youth, I was a fierce warrior and earned the title Stalking Wolf."

"I fought against this scoundrel, he got the better of me on that day, but I won the war!" Sun Yefang beat his chest proudly, before coughing and forced to take a sip of water.

"Two old pervert giants, whose glory days are long since passed," said what Will could only guess was an Orca Woman, with long blonde hair and deep ocean blue eyes.

"Ah, why did you invite this Sea Bitch?" said Stalking Wolf.

"Sea Witch, you impotent wolf! I thought you were dead until I heard you conned this human to join your clan," said the orca woman. "You can call me grandmother and I'll happily help you more than this old fox."

"Fox! You slander me to my face. Sea Witch is too nice an honorific for you old hag." Stalking Wolf stood up and put his cane in the Orca woman's chest.

"This is quite an exciting dinner party," said an avian man as he gracefully walked into the room smiling.

"Are we to call you Heavenly Eagle now?" said the Sun Yefang.

"You may address me how you like, but as a deity, I may more not respond," he chuckled as he sat down next to Stalking Wolf and across the table from Sea Witch.

"We are waiting on one more guest," said old Tiger.

Just then the grumpy City Lord entered, "my grandfather sends his respects he isn't feeling well and can not get out of bed. I have come as his replacement."

"Welcome Striking Bear," said the Tiger.

"Greeting Swift Tiger and elders," he said bowing.

The old tiger rang a bell and the servants brought out a seven-course meal. For dinner was roasted pheasant on a brown rice pilaf with carrots and cabbage.

"I called an elder meeting to discuss how we'll get ourselves out of this mess. I invited Mr. William vont Ballard as my guest to get his perspective. Sir. Striking Bear, I know you don't care for Mr. vont Ballard, but I feel his insight may be the key," said Sun Yefang. "But let us enjoy this food first!

The elders, City Lord, and Will ate slowly. Will politely conversed; he was mainly asked about his construction progress. After dessert, Sun Yefang gaveled in the meeting. Mr. vont Ballard, what do you suggest we do to solve this problem?

Will stood, "great elders, City Lord as you may know the problem is inflation. The cost of items is outpacing production. The solve the problem the government needs to inject more money into the economy to speed up production. Importing is fine, but the government needs to find a way to stimulate the economy."

The City Lord interrupted, "We don't have the kind of money. Each tribe is responsible for its own economy and governance. Tribunal Council meets only to discuss matters that threaten the two tribes or matters concerning the entire Tribal Lands. The Tribunal Council does not have any funds unless it taxes clans. However, that has never passed the council!"

"Let him finish young one," said Sun Yefang admonishing the City Lord for interrupting.

"Yes, I was leading there. The Tribunal Council needs to raise funds by selling government bonds," Will paused.

"Are we talking about slave bonds? I know you are human, but we would never stand so low as to sell off our kin for-profit young man?" the Sea Witch looked at Will murderously.

"I'm sorry let me clarify, a government bond is a tool used to control inflation. This is done, by taking money off the streets and which lowers the cost of goods on the markets. Government bonds safely allow the drop of credits over time to stabilize the market. Governments usually sell these bonds, with interest, to banks or wealthy investors. Governments slowly pay back bonds over time earning investors a secure dividend. As long as the Tribunal Council doesn't spend the money all at once, the inflation rate should steadily decline over time. However you will need to levy a small tax to pay back the bonds," Will finished.

"I like your idea; I believe this will help develop our market economy. But, will it help rural clans, where there is little money, to begin with? Remember most of the Tribal Lands are rural. Very few cities exist," said Sun Yefang.

"If you want to then yes, it's your money spend it where and how you want. You can use government bonds as a wealth distribution mechanism. Where you take money out of the city and target investment in rural areas and infant industries. We can create development and job opportunities. We can offer tax breaks targeted to the reconstruction effort from the damage caused by the riots," said Will

"We'll say the Wolf Clan agrees with my blessed grandson," said Stalking Wolf rubbing his beard.

"All I care about if this will help my Clan rebuild," said the dispassionate Sea Witch.

"Same, here! My clan needs cash badly to militarize and industrialize, or we won't be able to the capital on our land grab," said Heavenly Eagle.

"I hope you don't, we'll be coming for our territory. Those sea cliffs belong to us!" said the Sea Witch her mana aura was so strong; Will knew she was a grandmaster mage.

"Come down, there will be no fighting in my house! Neither one of you want to piss off the Tiger Clan now do you?" he said smiling, realizing his own aura, which was equal to the Orca woman.

"Alright, Swift Tiger, I will show deference in your house, but this crow may not preen his wings in front of me!"

"Crow! Preen! If not for Swift Tiger, I'd have your head," said Heavenly Eagle.

Before this fracas went out of control, the old tiger roared, bared his fangs, and unleashed his full aura which was several magnitudes higher than the Sea Witch.

"You will show me respect, or I'll execute you both," Sun Yefang said.

The City Lord looked visibly uncomfortable, looking at Sun Yefang clearly put him at unease. Stalking Wolf smiled contently. And Will was dispassionate he thought 'politics will be the death of us all.'

There was a brief conversation considering Will's and the City Lord's plans, but it wasn't much longer before the meeting ended. To the chagrin of the City Lord, there was not much time to address his plan, which was for the Tribal Council to nationalize the rice paddy farms.