Re: Life - Business & Technology

Chapter 98 - National Currency

(Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)

While Vince was busy negotiating deals for Future Tech's new media platform, a group of Al-Qaeda forces led by Ashkan was also mediating an agreement between the Syrian government and Fawdaa.

President Bashar Al-Assad had been fighting rebels against his regime since mass protests started in 2011.

Though Russia assisted him politically and financially, most of his citizens were relentless in voicing their concerns regarding Al-Assad's policies.

"You vouch for these people, Ashkan?" one of the Syrian officers loyal to Al-Assad inquired in Arabic.

"Yes. Fawdaa were instrumental in my escape from our enemies' clutches." Ashkan replied honestly.

"Let's get down to business, then. We've heard about Fawdaa's capabilities and the many useful toys it's willing to sell for the right price." the officer stated.

The two masked Fawdaa members chose to show the officer a tablet which contained the list of goods and services available for purchase instead of speaking directly.

"Hmmm. We have plenty of Soviet-era chemical weapons in our stockpile, but reliability issues have been too common and what you're selling is much better than the ones we've developed so far. Can we get a discount if we also buy the missile system schematics?" the officer asked.

"Ten percent off. And we also sell different types of warheads such as blast and fragmentation." one of the masked men replied plainly.

[So these guys are Arabs, at least based on their accent.] the officer pondered.

"Does the system work properly in high-interference environments like around radio towers?" the officer inquired.

"You mean work properly in high-population dense areas with plenty of radio signals going simultaneously like a residential area. The system is unaffected by such things. So reliability is of no concern." the other masked man replied.

"So you're still going to sell it to us even though you know we'll be killing civilians with it?" the officer asked in confusion.

"Do we look like we care? As long as you can afford it, we'll deliver whatever you want." the Fawdaa leader stated.

"Well, if that's the case, my government will be ordering ten blast warheads, five Sarin gas warheads, and the missile system schematics." the officer replied.

"Aright. Fawdaa will expect half of the $500 million total costs today. The warheads should arrive at the Tartus port the following week." the Fawdaa leader replied.

"It was a pleasure doing business. My president will be very pleased." the officer said before he left the area with the rest of his men.

[Idiot pawns.] the Fawdaa leader, who was actually one of Hades' subordinates in disguise, pondered.

Towards the east, across Iran and Iraq, Director Price traveled to Kabul on an FT-05 Super Galaxy to discuss his strategy with the President of Afghanistan.

The capital city of Kabul showed signs of prosperity thanks to the growth of Kandahar's economy in the south.

The people of Kabul now regularly did business with their southern neighbors due to the lacking presence of the Taliban, which usually blockaded the highways.

Though AVs were now more common, the masses still relied heavily on road transport and logistics.

An African-American man wearing Future Security's newest light infantry armor and metal-matrix weaved overcoat entered the presidential palace with five operators also wearing the new standard equipment.

"How are things in Kandahar going, Director?" President Karzai inquired amicably.

"Well, Mr. President. Regular shipments of Super Galaxies have been delivering equipment for our mineral prospecting partnership which I wanted to discuss with you further." Director Price replied respectfully.

"Go on, Director. I'm open to your suggestions, considering how much good Future Tech has done for my people and me in Kandahar." Karzai stated.

"I feel like this new initiative will breathe new life into Afghanistan's economy though it won't be enough in achieving our shared goals in bringing this country into the 21st century." Price replied.

"Then what did you have in mind?" Karzai inquired.

"I'd like to expand the prospecting initiative to include rebuilding Afghanistan's highway infrastructure. It will be an expensive endeavor, especially if we decide in boring through the Hindu Kush Mountains, but it's the only way to unite the tribes culturally and economically." Director Price explained passionately.

"Considering the Taliban's recent defeat, now would be the best opportunity to finish building the national highway we've planned since the 90s." the President's adviser commented in agreement.

"And with Future Tech's assistance, there's an actual chance of success, unlike in the past decades of continuous wars in the region. The boring machine had been tried and tested in the US, upgrading the utility grid infrastructure, which we could also tackle here in Afghanistan." Director Price added.

"How expensive are we talking?" Karzai inquired.

"Frankly, too expensive for your government to afford right now. But that could change in the near future once national unity is established, allowing your government to collect much more tax revenue. If Afghanistan wishes to be an independent nation, then it will have to be self-sustainable." Price explained.

"That's all and good, but how will my government pay Future Tech to begin this new initiative?" Karzai asked in confusion.

"Favorable tax breaks and a few radical ideas my boss wants to implement here in Afghanistan." Price stated.

"Vince Dalton would like to introduce Bitcash as Afghanistan's new official currency with its value backed by Bitcoin and US Dollars. I understand your apprehension because the idea is quite out there, but let's face it. The Afghan Afghani is barely worth anything, and counting on the local economy to boost its value is a pipedream." Director Price said honestly.

"The people of Kandahar have been using Bitcash as the standard mode of payment within their city for more than half a year now. Our accounting department had noted the effectiveness of Future Tech's monetary system and the positive impacts it had brought to the economy at large." the presidential adviser explained.

"That's true. All of our employees working for Future Tech here in Afghanistan are paid in Bitcash, and I bet they pay the most taxes compared to everyone else. And of course, Future Tech will provide the network infrastructure, free of charge, until Afghanistan can afford its own Bitcoin Bank satellites." Director Price added.

President Karzai spent a good few minutes thinking deeply about Price's fair offer.

"Your young CEO is putting me in a tight spot, Director. The tribal chiefs will not be happy about suddenly changing our national currency." Karzai stated.

"The chiefs will come to appreciate the nation Afghanistan will become. A safe haven for moderate Muslims who only want the chance to live a decent and fulfilling life without conflict." Price replied.

President Karzai deliberated with almost everyone within his administration regarding Price's offer. The economists had plenty of positives to say about changing the financial system, but a few generals were completely against the proposition.

The skeptical President launched an investigation on each of the generals, who provided vague reasons why it was a bad idea. After a few days, evidence came to light regarding the corruption going on in the Afghan Army.

High-ranking officers like generals and colonels were systematically skimming money from the budget meant to pay for the hardworking soldiers protecting Afghanistan's citizens.

Their illegal activities would cease if a new method of compensating the troops were to be introduced.

He quickly replaced all of the incompetent army officers with trusted and capable soldiers, mostly ones from Kandahar trained by Future Security.

Karzai finally understood why Future Tech was adamant about changing the monetary system before investing further in Afghanistan's development.

[This can't go on for any longer.] Karzai pondered while assembling officers working at each branch of Da Afghanistan Bank.

"We'll be purchasing all the Afghanis in circulation in exchange for US Dollars and Bitcash while providing everyone one free Bitcash wallet, courtesy of Future Tech. Any questions?" President Karzai stated with authority.

"Rais, with all due respect, I'm familiar with hardware wallets, but what if a citizen accidentally loses or destroys theirs? Will their accrued wealth also be lost?" an officer of the Jalalabad bank inquired.

"Future Tech isn't that dumb. All the Bitcash is stored within their satellites, and the wallet is just for ease of use. So our citizens' Bitcash wealth will always be connected to their identity, rather than a small gadget." Karzai explained.

[Educating the populace on the use of hardware wallets may be the most challenging aspect of this initiative.] Karzai pondered before allocating work amongst the national bank's officers.

It will be very costly for Future Tech to provide free Bitcash services to the entire country of Afghanistan. Still, Vince Dalton understood that a more productive populace would be more profitable in the long run.

Stats last time checked: 

Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion 

15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000) 

$14.5 Billion cash in Future Tech 

105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg) 

20,000+ operators under Future Security 

Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga

Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney) 

Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)