Host Aquino folded his arms and tucked them against his chest, his tuxedo fitting his well-formed body tightly. As he stood there, he had regained his charm as the one presiding over a grand and auspicious occasion - one that many were hoping would be a turning over of a new leaf for Gorun City and the surrounding regions.

And as he stood there silently and smiling, the audience members began to whisper in hushed voices, discussing their bidding strategy and how they would approach this item. Some key aspects had to first be discussed before going in, such as target price, stop-loss price and increment approaches.

Also included was whether they would have to contend with the whale from the Wiarno Kingdom, Duke Moron - as well as his challenger from the last round or any other submerged whales who were yet to surface! After all, a longevity-extending treasure was a rare find even in the capitols of great nations, much less this area of the Leez continent which was pretty much a third-world backwater.

"Where did they get that from..."

"No matter! As long as the price is not too abnormally high, the ancestor will definitely want this item!"

"Let us pray that we manage to get our hands on this... Alas, our funds are just too low, else we could surely secure this and save you, Isabel..." A middle-aged gentleman accompanied by a young la.s.s clenched his fists tightly as he shook his head in dismay. The girl at his side was seated on a separate stool and was dressed immaculately, if not luxuriously. Her blonde tresses were combed in a functional manner, simple and efficient in the arrangement.

However, this could not detract from her otherworldly beauty! Still, the girl's pretty and teardrop shaped face was stoic, expressionless, like one who had gone through too heavy a blow in recent days and would not - or could not - open up her heart any longer.

At the same time, Duke Moron was standing near the ledge of his viewing area and pondering over the item on offer. He thought carefully for awhile as he waited to see how people would react. This item was no longer a bargain-bin catch, and had to be considered carefully before committing to a bid.

He stroked his chin and had a thoughtful look on his face when he heard a condescending voice whisper from behind him, so soft that he nearly could not hear it.

But he still could, whether or not that was the speaker's intentions.

"No wonder our nation is in such a dire state... With fools such as this at the helm... Such incapable people in charge of my father's resources..." The male speaker sighed at this point, pausing. The young sounding voice carried a note of condescencion but also a clear sense of self-superiority as he spoke.

Duke Moron turned around naturally, as if he had not heard what was just said. However, he was smiling as he walked over to the side of the young brunette man in his twenties who had spoken. The man was dressed in a grand robe of many colours; perhaps gaudy to some but clearly a mark of the wearer being of at least high n.o.bility, if not royalty. The red and purple dyes were outlined and highlighted by gold and silver linings that showed the status of the boy...

As the heir of the entire Wiarno Kingdom!

Duke Moron stopped by the prince's side as he seemed to be lost in thought and pondering something of great importance. Then he postulated a rhetorical question almost as if to himself.

"...In the study of a sovereign economy... Oftentimes what is treated as the most important is the liquidity available to the nation... Followed by the fiscal deficit, then the growth quantum over the past years. This then needs to be offset by a corresponding level of inflation - or deflation - to lead to a nation's continued prosperity...!"

The prince's gaze remained unperturbed, glancing past Duke Moron, acting as if he had not spoken those disdainful words about the Duke, and also as if he had not heard his uncle's rhetoric.

He merely retained an idyllic gaze, like a traveller basking in the warmth of sunlight under a pleasant evening breeze, lying by a beach-side relaxedly...

Ignoring his uncle.

"But what the cla.s.sic economists do not recognise... Is that apart from the cla.s.sical physical resources of a nation... There are two equally if not more important resources to a nation... It's people and their neighbours!"

Duke Moron's eyes closed slowly with a smile on his lips as he continued, "...Or rather, the beliefs and perception of the people within a nation and the stance of their neighbours, which is ALSO based on what they see and believe about a country!"

At these words, there was a slight flicker in the boy's expression, his lids trembling less than a millimetre - what was his uncle saying...? This was in complete opposition to everything that he had learned - no, in complete opposition to everything that the entire country of Wiarno and the entire Leez continent taught!

Why, even the Overmind Collegiate a.s.sociation of more than 80 of the greatest inst.i.tutions of higher learning had unanimously agreed on the latest version of economics based on Samson La Farge's treatise, "A Study of Economics in the Post-Planetary Age - Third Revision"!

What... What nonsense was he spouting?!? Was it just to elicit a reaction from him? No! I-it... Didn't seem like it, but somehow...

Somehow what Duke Moron was saying seemed to resonate with his heart and mind...?

'No! I refuse to accept it!' The prince's brows slowly furrowed as he shook his head tersely and smiled in mock appreciation, but his curiousity had been piqued and he couldn't help but wait and listen to what His Grace had to say to support his beliefs.

"The citizens beliefs, perspectives and views... Though this is not the point I believe you are in contention with me on... Firstly, the people's engagement levels and motivations are key; an extremely, extremely important factor in the continued growth of a nation! For whether a country advances strongly and quickly or languishes in its state as a poor and floundering nation depends entirely on it's people!"

"Before you reject this... Don't you know that once upon a time, even our ancestors of the royal family were but common people...? Citizens who had a dream and endeavoured to achieve greater things in with their lives, for their children...? Therefore the people's beliefs and dreams are greatly key, the greatest and most important resource of a nation!"

"Followed by their perspectives and views... Both towards the outside, whether xenophobic or ethnocentric, whether racist or despising... Or whether mingling well and receiving guests, visitors and the corresponding trade and exchange of knowledge with open arms! Our nation has always been strong on this point, thus your education which has been based on the learnings of the Leez continent."

"But even more important... Is the people's perspectives towards the well-being of their country, and their well-being under their current rulers! For this one point, this one sole cause results in the rise and fall of entire nations! Whether a country's populace loves and supports their ruler..."

"Or rebels and burns down all that he has built!"

The young man's eyes dilated and his lower lip trembled as he heard words expounding a concept that had never crossed his mind before - that the lower people, the ma.s.ses and what they perceived was so important; important enough to determine the rise and fall of a nation and whether it prospered or collapsed!

Then his eyes refocused again as his face turned red with embarra.s.sment and anger at being rebuked and confused by his uncle's sophistries.

"I can admit that the people and their beliefs are important... B-but! But! That doesn't mean you should squander our wealth uselessly buying... Trinkets!!" He roared in outrage, still keeping his voice low enough so as not to be overheard by eavesdroppers.

At this, Duke Moron's eyes closed slightly as he shook his head in disappointment and sighed, turning away.

Then he stopped, standing straight as an arrow with his hands clasped behind his back as he asked his nephew a short question.

"Young child... And what do you think would happen if other countries perceived our Wiarno Kingdom as weakening, poor... Or as a prey to be snapped up...?"

Prince Lyam's mouth opened and closed as his mind struggled and tussled with the new thoughts, unable to accept it and his heart rejecting it...

But he could not help but admit - what his uncle said all made sense! Completely made sense.

And he thought back to the countless times he had ridiculed his father's younger brother, disparaging him and endlessly pleading with his father the king to remove Duke Moron and arrest his spendthrift ways; especially in the recent lean seasons of the national coffers...

And he realised, sometimes there was so much more wisdom that could not be found in the books or in the lecture halls of an academy... But could only be discovered by living a life, meeting people and...

Living!

He looked stunned and listless as his uncle walked over and clasped him on the shoulder. When he felt his uncle's grasp, he regained his spirit and shook off his confused expression and smiled at his uncle with apologetic eyes.

"Uncle Moron, I'm sor--"

"No matter, child! No matter... It's all part of growing up...! Now, let us enjoy the rest of the auction. And, you know what? I could really use some of your encyclopaedic knowledge in evaluating which items we should bid on... What do you think of that Cryo Core...? How much should we spend on it...? Or should we jack up the price to improve the standing of our nation's perceived wealth...? How about..."

An uncle and his nephew walked warmly, one with his arm around the other's shoulder, looking every bit the part of a newly forged relations.h.i.+p between mentor and his ward.

And in many years to come, Lars' masterful advisor Prince Lyam would tell of the days when he was tutored under the wing of his late uncle, Duke Moron - who had an unfortunate name, but was great in wisdom and experiences that books could never teach!