Victor Stone stood in the newly sterile, perfectly organized Stone Forge—his Permanent Settlement. The metallic clang of Dr. Thorne overseeing the MOP-compliant assembly line was music to his ears. His T-Rank dominance was now absolute across both finance and production.
"The territory is secure, Counselor," Victor stated, turning to Joshua. "But the Terran system is flawed. Even perfect efficiency is hampered by external, unpredictable forces: Bureaucracy and Territorial Limitations."
Victor pointed to a spreadsheet detailing the cost of various city permits and border tariffs. "These are unnecessary friction points—Systemic Drag. My next campaign must address this dual threat."
Phase One: Political Acquisition (The Systemic Cleanser)
"The first enemy is the Swamp of Inefficiency—the local political structure that creates unnecessary barriers to resource flow," Joshua translated, activating his Economic Insight (G-Rank) skill.
The skill immediately highlighted the local municipal council race, specifically the candidate who managed infrastructure and zoning—the permits Victor needed to expand Stone Forge and run Stone Logistics' vans without interference.
Joshua identified a candidate, Ms. Eleanor Vance, who preached efficiency and deregulation but was woefully underfunded. She was an ideal Systemic Cleanser.
"We will not purchase the office, Victor," Joshua explained. "We will invest in the idea of efficiency. We will fund the campaign of a compliant political asset."
Victor reviewed the financial proposal. "We are purchasing legislative dominance by supporting the candidate whose goals align with T-Rank principles. The acquisition is approved. Deploy $50,000 to this asset immediately, ensuring the transaction is untraceable and fully legal."
Joshua executed the donation, channeling the funds through several compliant shell organizations. In return, the candidate, Eleanor Vance, signed a legally binding (if vague) agreement to "streamline and simplify all regulatory burdens" on industrial logistics within the city limits. Victor had successfully weaponized capital to eliminate bureaucratic friction.
Phase Two: Global Expansion (Scouting New Territories)
"The second campaign must address the limitations of Terran territory," Victor continued, bringing up a map of the globe. "Stone Logistics is optimized, but material costs and external regulations limit profit. We require a new Forging Territory—a satellite settlement where resources are abundant and the regulatory burden is minimal."
Joshua agreed. The next step was going international. This was not simple trade; this was an acquisition of foreign territory and production capabilities.
"The most volatile and rewarding territories for production currently lie in Southeast Asia and parts of Eastern Europe," Joshua advised, based on his insight skill. "We are looking for a state that prioritizes resource flow over worker regulation. A place to build a new Forge."
Victor issued his command: "Deploy a Global Scouting Team—a small group of Terran specialists—to identify the optimal location for Stone Forge International. Their mandate is to find the territory with the lowest operational drag and the most compliant government."
[TASK COMPLETE: LAUNCH OF DUAL GLOBAL CAMPAIGN.]
[EPIC GOOD DEED ACHIEVED: MAXIMIZED CORPORATE REACH VIA POLITICAL AND GEOGRAPHIC DOMINANCE.]
[SYSTEM POINTS (SP) AWARDED: +125]
[CURRENT SP: 225]
Joshua had now propelled Victor onto the international stage, a transition that introduced an exponentially higher level of legal and financial complexity. He needed a skill to manage global affairs.
Acquire International Law & Trade (A-Rank), Joshua commanded mentally.
[SKILL ACQUISITION INTERFACE (SAI)]
[Current SP: 225]
[LEGAL UTILITY]
International Law & Trade (A-Rank) [Cost: 150 SP]
Description: Provides comprehensive knowledge of international corporate law, trade tariffs, bilateral investment treaties, and foreign labor regulations, allowing the user to construct legally flawless offshore subsidiaries and optimize global supply chains.
[ACQUISITION CONFIRMED. COST: 150 SP. BALANCE: 75 SP.]
[INSTALLING: INTERNATIONAL LAW & TRADE (A-RANK)...]
A massive influx of treaties, tariff codes, and foreign labor practices flooded Joshua's mind. He was now equipped to lead Victor's war on global inefficiency.
"The political barrier is neutralized, Victor, and the scouting team is deployed," Joshua confirmed, feeling the immense weight of the new skill.