"The perimeter is under construction, Victor," Joshua confirmed, the new Economic Insight (G-Rank) skill subtly changing how he viewed the market data on his screen. The complex charts no longer looked like simple price movements; they were now represented as the shifting troop deployments of global capital. "Now we prepare for the next deployment. What area of Terran economy offers the greatest opportunity for massive, yet predictable, conquest?"
Victor stood, his posture imposing. "My previous victory was chaotic but decisive. Now that our base of operations—The Citadel—is secure, we must bet on the one true constant of all species: The inevitability of conflict. We must invest in the source of all war."
Joshua smiled. This was exactly what his new skill had identified as the highest-probability path.
[ECONOMIC INSIGHT (G-RANK) ACTIVATED]
The skill instantly merged current geopolitical anxieties, long-term government defense spending projections, and manufacturing supply chain data. It highlighted the Industrial/Defense Sector as being fundamentally insulated from minor economic fluctuations—it was a growth market fueled by global distrust.
"You are correct, Victor," Joshua agreed, his voice infused with analytical authority. "The most powerful force in the Terran economy is not the Clan that fights the battle, but the one that profits from all battles. We call this the Forgemaster Strategy."
Joshua pulled up the Global Defense and Arms Manufacturing Index (G-DAM)—a grouping of the largest defense contractors.
"These Clans—the Forgemasters—are the suppliers of the conflict," Joshua explained. "They do not care if the green line or the red line wins a skirmish. They are paid by both sides to create and supply the weapons of war. Their strength is derived from sustained, reliable conflict."
Victor Stone studied the index, which showed a steady, upward trajectory of growth over the last decade, a stark contrast to the volatility of Eon-Flux.
"A brilliant strategy," Victor conceded. "It is a tactical position of pure resource flow, detached from the outcome of any single engagement. How do we acquire warrants of command over these Forgemasters?"
"We will deploy an aggressive sum of $8,000 into an Index Fund that tracks this entire sector," Joshua advised. "This gives you a fractional command over all major Forgemasters simultaneously, protecting you from a single Clan's defeat."
Joshua executed the trade, allocating $8,000 of Victor's $20,112 windfall into the specialized defense index.
For the next two weeks, the defense index performed exactly as Joshua's skill predicted: a slow, reliable creep upward, insulated from a minor market correction that crippled many other sectors. The $8,000 deployment quietly grew to $8,640.
[TASK COMPLETE: SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT INTO STRATEGIC RESOURCE SECTOR (FORGEMASTERS).]
[GOOD DEED ACHIEVED: ADVANCED WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINED CULTURAL ALIGNMENT.]
[SYSTEM POINTS (SP) AWARDED: +35]
[CURRENT SP: 85]
Victor was not euphoric this time. He was grimly satisfied. The victory was predictable, disciplined, and large.
"The Forgemasters are a necessary resource," Victor summarized during their next session. "But this passive accumulation does not satisfy the T-Rank directive. I have the capital, but I am merely observing the conflict from a distance. I must contribute to the war effort to truly earn my rank."
He looked at Joshua, his four eyes locking with a terrifying intensity.
"I have my Citadel and my Forgemaster supply lines secured. Now, Counselor, I require a Personal Conflict Zone. A way to utilize my T-Rank skills to further the acquisition of Victory Marks."