"I have a second task for you. Get full approval from the directorate for an at least annual adjustment of the exchange rate between Fee and Nitzia."

"You want to help Jena too?"

"No, I want to harm Delxawe. Their economy is not only literally built on sand. Because labor is so cheap, it's not worth moving with the times. The entire industry is technically outdated. What is here done by a crane is there done by muscle power. At the same time, the companies have hardly any reserves because the owners prefer to be paid off in order to put up some magnificent buildings in the desert. Many also live abroad. As long as they don't have to live with the rest of the population. I'm sure you've heard about the artificial islands. They are sinking. I'm sure you've also heard about the new capital. There's not even fresh water nearby. It's all unsustainable. If the price of labor rises because the citizens are fed up, then that's it for the export business, the aristocracy, the economy and the state. Everything will crumble like a cookie. Even the oil won't be able to save them. If they raise the value of the Nitzia far enough, the export business will collapse. People will have nothing to eat and when people have nothing to eat they will get really pissed off and join the resistance. The resistance will try to take the oil fields and refineries first, because they belong to the one who is to blame for everything, the emperor. As long as there is fighting, there will be no oil. The most important part of the state's income will be lost. The emperor really thinks that he is borrowing money from a bank. He will cut everything that can be cut and make it much worse. When they finally cut the soldiers' pay as well, it will be over. The revaluation of the Nitzia alone is enough to end Delxawe after almost 3000 years. But like the Reipe from the flag, it will rise again from the ashes with a new government."

"And as an exporting country, you benefit from the loss of competition?"

Marah just smiled again.

"Why would the emperor agree to the early revaluation?"

"If you announce it to him, he'll summon you. He will be in a bad mood, but he always is. If you explain to him that the revaluation will mean that the Nitzia will become more valuable and he can therefore buy raw materials more cheaply, he will agree. It doesn't matter if his advisors know better. He doesn't trust them. He only trusts himself. He may give the impression that he knows what he's doing, but he doesn't really. The fact that Delxawe got into this situation wasn't planned by him."

"Why do you think it wasn't his intention? He had labor unions smashed in the country and the loan to Jena was also his idea."

"I'm very sure of it. He only started making decisions that pushed Delxawe more in that direction a few years ago. I think one of his children is making the economic decisions and I have an assumption which one..."

Mr. Jens looked thoughtful for a moment, then he seemed to remember something.

"The night fairy controls the economy."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"So you already know?"

"It's just an hunch, but if it's the same for you, then it is probably true. What if the night fairy advises the emperor against it?"

"You had already mentioned Don Rigaz. The emperor had ordered her to subjugate the island. To only subjugate the land, but not the people, that was her interpretation of this order. The emperor originally wanted the workers to be fishermen, because the resistance was getting on his nerves. The prince is still fighting in the south. As punishment, the princess is not allowed to leave the island for the time being. Her own bodyguard keeps her under arrest in the mayor's house. It doesn't look as if she has any intention of escaping. But even if she has spent her punishment, she will not be returning to the capital for a long time. So the emperor is on his own for the next few months."

"Are you sure you know she's under arrest?"

"Unlike the rest of the world, I'm good friends with the aristocrats of Hylla. We exchange information and no one has more information than the information service of the harpies. There would be no motive to give me false information either. Nobody hates Delxawe more than Hylla. I guess you always hate your neighbor the most."

"I will take care of it. Anything else?"

"If you need to contact me directly, send a coded letter to Ms. Himmelblau. Make it sound like you're interested in her." Marah placed a small leather-bound book on the table and slid it over to him. "This is a cipher I've been working on. It should do the trick."

Mr. Jens picked up the book and looked inside. After a moment, he looked shocked and tilted the book in his hand so that Marah and Reyji could see the contents.

"This is my handwriting."

"Well, it's your book."

"Did you write this yourself?"

"Is that important?"

Mr. Jens probably understood that he would get no other answer. He briefly flicked through the pages and then closed the book.

There was only text on the pages he had shown. Reyji had not been able to make out what was written so quickly, but it seemed to be calendar dates, numbers and instructions.

"If someone decrypts a letter, then it looks like I'm sending information to Ms. Himmelblau."

"Then you better don't lose your book."

Mr. Jens did not seem pleased with this, but did not respond to it.

"Don't talk to Mrs. Himmelblau about it. There are a lot of ears around her."

"I will behave normally. Can I go now?"

"Yes, that would be everything. Don't forget your suitcase."

Mr. Jens stood up with a snort, as if he was annoyed and glad to be allowed to leave. He put the book in the inside pocket of his jacket, then picked up his bag and suitcase.

"You know, I don't like you either, but I'm sure you know that too."

Mr. Jens waited standing at the table and looked at Marah with scrutiny. He did not receive more than a smile from her. After a few seconds, he decided to leave.

At the same time, Reyji looked down into the blue outdoor area to call Claire. She spotted her immediately, but what she saw almost made her cigarette fall out of her mouth.

Claire was sitting with the boy on a bench under a willow tree. The two of them were sitting close together. Very close. Their heads were together. They were kissing intimately. Actually, it was more the boy kissing her and kneading her breast with one hand. Reyji waited briefly. But they did not stop.

Reyji quickly got tired of watching. "Claire!" she finally shouted downstairs.

Claire did not respond. Reyji had to call out again. At the second call, Claire startled and pushed the boy away from her with both hands on impulse. After they had discovered Reyji above, Claire said something to the boy and after a short back and forth they both stood up. Claire adjusted her uniform and they set off.

After opening the door, Mr. Jens stubbornly said goodbye with wordless nodding, then left the outdoor area.

.../ End Part