The sun hung low over Fort Bone, casting long shadows across the cobbled streets of the bustling town. Citizens gathered in small clusters, animatedly discussing the recent speech by Atlas. The air was thick with excitement, skepticism, and a hint of anxiety.

  “Did you hear him, we can get paid!” a woman exclaimed, clutching her war bond tightly. “Fifty coins for each bond! It’s a good deal, isn’t it? We could take that money and use it to buy a small house!”

  “I don’t know, Elara,” a man replied, shaking his head. “What’s the point in cashing in now? Atlas said if we hold onto them for just three more months, they’ll be worth seventy-five. That’s another twenty-five coin profit!”

  “But what if we don’t stick around that long?” another voice chimed in, a burly man with a weathered face. “A lot can happen in three months. Bandits could come pouring in from the wild, and we might need that coin sooner rather than later!”

  “What about the chance to invest in our empire?” a younger voice called out from the back. It was Mira, known for her keen business sense. “We’ve all seen how quickly things can change. We need to think bigger. If we reinvest in Fort Bone now, we can help secure our future!”

  “Reinvest?” the burly man scoffed. “And what if things go south? I’d rather take my coins and buy a new sword for myself. At least that’s something tangible!”

  Just then, a group of merchants, including Mohammed, edged closer, their expressions eager. “Listen, folks,” Mohammed began, his voice smooth and persuasive. “Why not take advantage of this moment? Sell your bonds to us for fifty five coins now, and we’ll turn them in later for seventy-five. It’s a guaranteed profit, and we’ll even throw in a few extra coins for your trouble!”

  The crowd murmured in consideration.

  “Extra coins?” one older woman asked, eyes narrowing. “What’s your angle, Mohammed? Are you trying to swindle us?”

  “Not at all!” Mohammed replied with a disarming smile. “Think of it as a partnership. I can provide you with immediate cash, and I’ll take the risk. You get your coins now, and I’ll reap the rewards later. It’s win-win, right?”

  “But what if they can’t deliver on that seventy-five?” another citizen questioned, crossing his arms. “You’d be losing out!”

  “Ah, but I’ve already calculated the risks,” Mohammed said, a glint of ambition in his eyes. “I’m willing to take the gamble because I believe in Fort Bone’s future. If you’re not ready to wait, why not turn your bonds into something more immediately useful?”

  The crowd buzzed with mixed reactions, some intrigued by Mohammed’s offer, while others remained wary.

  “I bought my war bonds at twenty-three coins.” a merchant in the back muttered. “If I sell them to Mohammed for fifty five, that’s still a twenty-nine coin profit. It’s not the full seventy-five, but it’s still a profit! I can’t afford to miss that opportunity!”

  “That’s true,” Mira interjected, her voice rising above the din. “Those of us who are savvy could form small alliances. If we pool our resources, we can collectively decide how to reinvest our coins while also keeping some liquidity for emergencies.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” another merchant agreed, nodding enthusiastically. “We could cover each other’s backs, ensuring we don’t take undue risks.”

  “Count me in!” the first merchant chimed, eyes gleaming at the prospect of turning a profit. “I’ll sell half my bonds to Mohammed and hold onto the rest for later!”

  As discussions heated up, more citizens began to warm to Mohammed’s proposal.

  “Think of it this way,” he continued, leaning in as if sharing a secret. “If we come together, we can build a more prosperous Fort Bone. By cashing in our bonds, we can ensure we have the means to defend ourselves against any lurking threats. And if we choose to reinvest, we’re securing our futures!”

  One by one, citizens began nodding in agreement, seeing the logic in forming alliances.

  “I like the sound of that,” Elara said slowly. “I’ll sell some of my bonds, but I want to keep a few, just in case.”

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  As the crowd began to organize, forming groups to negotiate their bonds, Mohammed stood back, satisfaction etched on his face. His vision of becoming the Shadow Emperor was within reach, and he knew that by rallying the merchants and citizens around him, he could strengthen his influence and secure his ambitions.

  The debate continued, excitement in the air as the citizens of Fort Bone forged their plans for the future, uncertain but still ready to seize the opportunities ahead.

  ‘‘‘

  In the grand hall of Fort Bone’s castle, the atmosphere buzzed with a mix of tension and determination. The walls, adorned with trophies and banners from past victories, echoed the significance of the moment. Olivia and Atlas sat at the long table, poring over Amber’s latest report.

  Amber, her brow furrowed in concentration, had just finished explaining the implications of their expanded territory. “Our finances are great right now. With the expanded territory, more adventurers can hunt in the wild, which means more taxes for us,” she stated, her voice steady.

  Atlas grumbled unhappily, crossing his arms over his chest. “Yeah, but we’re losing a thousand coins a month to the Celestial Emperor.”

  Olivia, leaning forward, met Atlas’s gaze. “Atlas, you’ve got to let that go. You know as well as I do that unless we attack the Celestial Emperor, he deserves some spoils from taking America United. We got the land; he should get the coin. And it’s only three months—does it really matter?”

  Atlas shook his head, frustration gnawing at him. ‘Why is it so hard to let this go?’

  He thought back to their battles, how every little detail had seemed monumental at the time. “You’re right,” he finally admitted. “Why am I so concerned about coins? It’s like when we were fighting in the SFB finals—some things just sneak into your head, and you think they’re important. Months later, you realize they don’t matter at all.”

  “Exactly,” Olivia encouraged, her tone warm and supportive.

  “Thanks for putting that in perspective. Sometimes I get so caught up in being the war leader that I forget this is all about returning to Earth. We need to unify the wasteland, not lose sight of our goals over a few coins.”

  “On that note,” Atlas said, shifting gears, “how many war bonds have been turned in?”

  Olivia’s eyes brightened as she consulted the report. “We made a lot of sales of war bonds in the first wave. We sold a thousand of them for 25,000 coins, which means we’re in debt for 50,000 coins now. However, it turns out only 15,000 war bonds have been redeemed.”

  “That’s good,” Atlas replied, relief washing over him. “So we still have 35,000 in war bonds floating around that the citizens are holding for redemption at the end of the year.”

  “Interestingly enough,” Olivia continued, “I don’t think it’s so much private citizens redeeming them. It seems like groups of merchants have been buying them up.”

  “Oh? That’s interesting,” Atlas said, his curiosity piqued. “Are we missing Mohammed again?”

  Olivia raised an eyebrow. “We didn’t invite him. This is official empire stuff.”

  Atlas frowned. “We should call him right now.” He raised a hand, summoning the mini faeries flitting around the room.

  Meanwhile, outside in the courtyard, Mohammed stood with Victoria and Mrs. Harrington, excitement brimming in the air as he counted his stack of war bonds. “Look at that! We now own 5,000 mana coins worth of war bonds. That’s quite a bit,” he said, grinning widely.

  “Absolutely,” Victoria replied, her eyes sparkling with ambition. “We could turn this into something even bigger.”

  As they stacked and reshuffled the bonds, revelling in their newfound wealth like children playing a game, the mini faeries approached, their wings shimmering in the sunlight.

  “Mohammed, Mohammed, Mohammed!” they chimed in unison. “Come to the council meeting!”

  Mohammed beamed, knowing that the council meeting was likely about his significant stake in the war bonds. “Ladies, shall we go?” He waved a hand, and the trio rose, carefully tucking their precious war bonds away as they made their way to the castle.

  As they entered the grand hall, the atmosphere shifted slightly. Atlas and Olivia paused mid-discussion, their expressions transitioning from serious to curious.

  “Ah, Mohammed! Just in time,” Atlas said, a welcoming smile breaking through the tension. “We were just talking about the war bonds and how they’re being circulated among the merchants.”

  Mohammed nodded, his confidence radiating. “I believe I’ve become the largest holder of war bonds in the Empire,” he declared proudly, glancing at Victoria and Mrs. Harrington, who smiled in agreement.

  “Interesting. What’s your plan now?” Olivia asked, intrigued.

  “Well,” Mohammed said, his tone shifting to a more strategic note, “with the current structure, I could either cash in now or wait for the redemption at the end of the year. But I think there’s more potential if I leverage this position. With my partnerships, we can create a network that benefits us all. Imagine pooling our resources, expanding our influence even further!”

  Atlas leaned back in his chair, impressed. “You’re thinking bigger than just cashing in. I like that.”

  “Exactly,” Mohammed replied, his enthusiasm spilling out. “We can reinvest in the Empire, strengthen our trading routes, and solidify our control over the newly acquired territories.”

  Amber chimed in, “If we can maintain a strong economy, it’ll help us secure more power in the wasteland.”

  Olivia nodded, her eyes gleaming with approval. “It sounds like we have a solid plan forming here. We should discuss the details further.”

  As the council delved into discussions about the future of their war bonds, the mood in the room shifted from tension to excitement. The blending of their ideas brought forth a wave of optimism, one that could potentially shape the Empire into something greater than any of them had imagined. The road ahead was still fraught with challenges, but together, they felt ready to navigate whatever lay ahead.