(Some hours back, at the closed meeting in Queen palace)
"Huh? What are you saying, Zack?" Tool Guy asked in complete surprise, his eyes wide with disbelief. "If money is not involved, then what will replace it? You're practically breaking the whole system with this proposal!"
The others in the room also nodded in confusion, their faces showing varying degrees of shock and skepticism of his idea to ditch money.
Only a few people remained silent, thinking hard about what Zack had just proposed on removing the money system which controls the world: Chieftess Anihoa, 3rd Rock Leader Vali Sverrisson, Mother Isafold and her 3 husbands, Miss Eva, 2nd Rock Leader Remek Barret and some of Queen trusted associates were thinking hard on what can replace it, their mind was racing to the alternatives they have known over the years...…. Their expressions were serious and contemplative as they processed the what may seem a revolutionary idea on first thought, but they know it can be just a fleeting dream if not taken seriously.
Zack continued, speaking confidently. "The thing which will replace money is… well, I haven't decided on an official name yet, but let's call it EFFORT SYSTEM... based on your capability of doing something, your work, your skills... You get the point."
Zack quieted down after that statement, letting it sink in. Everyone fell silent, their minds racing as they tried to figure out whether such a radical system could possibly work.
........
The first one to break the silence was Chieftess Anihoa. She leaned forward, her temples frowning hard.
"It's impossible to get this Effort System working," she stated with full confidence. "Even if you somehow perfect this system, the people at the top don't want to lose their privileged positions. This will be disastrous for them, and we all know how they control the system. This will not work."
"Hmm, Chieftess, you may be right," 3rd Rock Leader Vali Sverrisson said thoughtfully. "But you're forgetting where we are right now. This is an island, and there are only a handful of major powers present here."
Leader Vali thinks for a bit and continued speaking
"The island is big, yes, but the population is still relatively small….. And among them, even fewer people are capable of controlling a major part of any industry. And if we take into account the rivalry between the powerful families then...…what I am saying is if Queen acts properly and strategically, then it is possible to put this system into effect, if it is effective that is….."
"My husband is right," Laoise Sverrisson added, nodding in agreement. "I can only count very few people in our rock district who could oppose strongly against this change."
Everyone looked at Queen Mother, who had been listening quietly to the entire discussion. She met their gazes with calm understanding and nodded slowly, confirming that she believed Zack's vision was genuinely possible. After that acknowledgment, she turned her attention warmly toward Zack, who also smiled in recognition. Their minds suddenly travelled backward through time to the day when everything started, when a small boy first discovered his impossible gift...
.
.
"Hmm... Hey there, my little cuties!!!!"
"OH, LITTLE KIDDOS! DID YOUR MOTHER VENY SEND YOU WITH SOME FOOD? HOHOH! COME, COME! LET'S EAT TOGETHER!!!"
Very young Mother Julia and Young Father Esjar spotted their little children coming toward them with food containers clutched carefully in their tiny hands. Father Esjar moved quickly to take everything away because an overly enthusiastic Mother Julia was already rushing forward to embrace them tightly!!!
"KKKKYYAA! MMYY CUTTIESS!! SO CUUTTEE!!!"
"GAH!! MOTHER, YOU STINK! GET AWAY FROM ME!"
"THAT'S RIGHT, MOTHER JULIA! GET AWAY!!!"
"MOTHER, YOUR BOOBS ARE SUFFOCATING ME!"
"WHY AM I EVEN HERE??"
Little Zack, Little Sasha, Little Fia, and Little Big Guy were nearly squeezed to death by her crushing hug. Their only potential savior, their father, was busy inspecting his food with far more interest than their plight deserved... Only after considerable struggling did they manage to push her away and prepare themselves to eat.
But suddenly a border troop force member came running and spoke loudly with panic coloring his voice.
"SIR, THERE IS AN EMERGENCY!! THE ANIMALS ARE GOING CRAZY!! AND MANY OF THEM ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE CITY!!"
"HUH? WHAT!!"
And so everyone got busy responding to the crisis. The little kids were immediately sent to a designated safe place for their protection. But after a considerable amount of time passed, they somehow managed to escape their confinement and witnessed the chaotic mess everyone had become. They saw many people coming inside the medical area with heavy injuries covering their bodies.
"Zack, I want to help them!"
Little Sasha gently held Little Zack's arm, her small voice filled with determination despite her young age.
"But... Mother and Father said not to get involved!"
Zack looked around nervously, feeling something very terrible was happening outside the protected walls. His instincts screamed that it was very dangerous outside even though he couldn't articulate why.
"Big Sister Sasha, if you want to help, then just help! I will handle both of them!!"
Little Fia proudly patted her chest and smirked with confidence far beyond her years. But her hands were already pulling Little Big Guy forward, who just rubbed his chubby cheeks in confusion, not understanding why he was being moved forward in this dangerous situation.
"Hehe, thank you, Fia!"
Sasha happily dragged Zack from his arms while Fia dragged her brother in the same forceful manner. Both little boys looked at each other with matching expressions before sighing in resigned defeat...
Little Sasha's power wasn't really helpful for treatment purposes, but she threw herself into helping those with minor injuries anyway. She received lots of praise in return for her efforts, making her smile beam brightly as she continued helping them.
Zack assisted her while looking around the medical area with growing unease. He felt a weird sensation building inside his body, something he'd never experienced before. He scanned the room and saw specific people huddled in corners breathing hard with obvious difficulty. Their hands had turned completely black from energy overdose. Little Zack knew what that condition meant from his lessons, but he couldn't figure out why he was feeling something strange while looking at it. While he was lost in these troubled thoughts...
THAANGGG!!
"CALL THOSE ENERGY ABSORBERS RIGHT NOW!!!!! HELP HIM FAST!!!!!"
Suddenly Father Esjar came stumbling inside while breathing heavily, supported by Mother Julia, whose eyes showed nothing except pure panic.
"HUH?? FATHERRR!!!!"
All the little kids turned and saw Father Esjar struggling to breathe properly. His neck had turned completely black from energy overdose. Mother Julia pulled him inside a private room with urgent movements and gently helped him rest on a chair. The little kids immediately followed her inside, their earlier playfulness replaced with genuine fear.
"Huh? What are you guys doing here? I told you not to come outside, right???"
Mother Julia slowly frowned with anger building in her expression. The previously confident Little Fia immediately hid behind her brother and pushed him forward to face the coming storm.
COUGH COUGH!!
"Mother, we were just worried about you!"
Little Big Guy tried his absolute best to give his most charming smile, but Mother Julia just grew angrier as she processed their disobedience.
"Hmm, what are you doing, Little Zack?"
Father Esjar noticed Little Zack climbing the table in front of him with considerable effort. He slowly climbed and stood up in front of him, the small boy positioned himself directly in front of his father's seated form.
Little Zack moved as if in a daze, slowly raising his tiny palms upward toward Father Esjar's overdosed neck.
WHIRRLLL WHIRRLLLL
"HUH?"
Slowly, soft grey matter began gathering together in the air above his hands. It formed into a beautiful globe of light that gently illuminated the darkened room with ethereal radiance. Suddenly, very minute particles of the overdosed energy started leaving Father Esjar's body and flowing into the glowing sphere. The amount wasn't much at all. Only a few centimeters' worth of corruption was reduced from his neck. But it was enough to shock everyone present in that room into absolute silence.
Little Zack kept concentrating on his task, maintaining the flow of corrupted energy until...
TAKKK!
"ZACK!!!"
Little Zack suddenly collapsed unconscious, his small body falling limply. This made Sasha instantly burst into tears, which helped everyone wake up from their stunned trance. They looked at Zack, who now appeared to be sleeping peacefully despite what had just occurred.
...
"AGH, MY HEAD..."
"ZA..."
"HUH..."
"WWAHHH! ZACKKK!!!!"
"OWWW! OWWWW!!!"
Little Zack slowly opened his eyes and found himself in Little Natalia's room. Sasha and Natalia were both crying on top of him, their tears falling freely onto his chest.
"HEY, HEY! CALM DOWN! HE WILL BE FINE! GEEZ!"
"THESE KIDS..."
Everyone was present in the room. Apparently, Zack had been unconscious for some days now, so everyone had been worried about his condition. Seeing him finally waking up made them incredibly happy. After a long ordeal of calming the crying kids down and reassuring everyone of his recovery, the adults slowly left to give him space.
Day passed into evening, and now Zack sat up in bed with two little cute girls sleeping peacefully beside him. Behind him, Queen Mother gently helped massage his little body with her gentle hands.
"How are you feeling, Zack? Can you move better now?"
Queen Mother smiled sweetly while watching her precious kids resting in front of her.
"Hmm. I am fine, Queen Mother! Don't worry!"
Zack slowly moved his slim little arms to demonstrate that he was functioning properly. He then looked at Little Natalia sleeping beside him and fell into thinking mode for a while, his young mind processing something important...
"Queen Mother?"
"Hmm, yes?"
"Can I stand beside Natalia now? I have the power to treat overdosed people now! I can stand beside her properly, right?"
Zack looked behind him and spoke with hopeful eyes shining with innocent ambition. Queen Mother gently patted his head before explaining with unusual seriousness.
"Zack, the power you have... it's very dangerous!"
"Huh? How can helping people be dangerous?"
"It is dangerous. You will slowly understand how this world works, and your power... it can make some very powerful people extremely suspicious of you. So don't use it in front of others! Even if you absolutely have to, then take proper precautions!"
Queen Mother explained gently, making Zack's small body tremble with fear at the implications.
"But then... what should I do?"
Zack gently touched Little Natalia's hair with tender affection, his voice small with confusion.
"For now, why don't you figure out exactly what your power is capable of? Maybe in the future, you will discover something that could even rival all those Crown people! Then you can proudly stand beside her! And after that you can ward off those evil people who might try to harm your little Natalia!"
Queen Mother turned him around and hugged him warmly, enveloping him in maternal protection.
"Why are you worrying when the strongest lady of this island is with you?"
Queen Mother giggled, trying to lighten his mood.
"Are you really the strongest? But Uncle Esjar can easily beat you in a fight!"
Zack also giggled while teasing her, his fear momentarily forgotten.
"Heehh... I can easily beat him any day!"
"Mother Veny said lying is bad!"
"Don't listen to that stupid woman! Aren't I your favorite mother?"
"Hmmm... I love everyone equally, though!"
"HUMPH! Then forget about marrying my daughter!"
"GAHH!! QUEEN MOTHER, YOU ARE THE GREATEST MOTHER OF ALL TIME! YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, MOST STUNNING, MOST LOVELY MOTHER!!!"
"KKYYAAA!! SO CUTE!!"
"GAAAKK! SAV... MME!"
"HEHHEHE!"
.
.
TAAKK TAAAK
"COME IN... OH, ZACK! HOW DID IT GO?"
"HEHEH! I CAN EVEN TREAT ANIMALS!!"
"REALLY? YEAAAHHH!!!"
"YES BUT IT TAKES A LONG LONG TIME!"
"IT'S OKAY YOU DON'T EVEN REALIZE HOW AWESOME YOU ARE!!!"
Queen Mother happily ran forward and hugged a slightly older Zack, who was now approaching his teen years.
"Queen Mother, I am not a kid anymore!!"
"SHUT UP! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A KID TO ME!"
After happily spinning him around in circles despite his protests, they both settled down and talked about Zack's recent discoveries.
"So the animals subconsciously tend to be attracted toward you?"
"Yes, Queen Mother! I don't even do anything special, and they just observe me for a while before getting all cozy with me... Though there are many who don't react this way initially, but when I treat them, they tend to act like the others afterward!"
"Wow, Zack! Aren't you really an amazing young man!"
"Hehe, thank you, Queen Mother..."
His smile faded slightly as sadness crept into his voice.
"But... it's still not enough!! Where is Natalia?"
"She... She is working hard right now. You already knows that today is her birthday, and also the first time she will appear in front of Crown people as Princess, so she has been quite busy....."
"Hehe, that's great, Queen Mother! I will make sure everything is absolutely perfect for her!!"
"Sighhh... my Zack is such an amazing lad. Come here and let me give you a kiss!"
"GAHHH!! DON'T COME NEAR ME!! I AM GOING! BYEEEE!!!"
Queen Mother pouted cutely while watching Young Zack running away from her affections, his laughter echoing down the hallway.
...
"QUEEN MOTHER, WHERE ARE YOUUU!!!! QUEEN MOTHER!!!"
"OWW, OWWW! MY EARS!! WAIT A BIT! I AM TAKING A BATH!"
"QUEEN MOTHER! FAST, FAST! I WANT YOUR OPINION ON AN IDEA!!! PLEASE COME FAST!!"
"GEEZZ, I UNDERSTAND! WAIT FOR A BIT!"
Queen Mother shouted from inside the bathroom as grown-up Zack rustled around the outer room, pacing back and forth. He couldn't seem to contain his excitement inside his chest, energy practically radiating from his movements.
After some time, Queen Mother emerged still slightly drenched from her interrupted bath.
"Geez, Zack! What happened that's so urgent?"
Queen Mother slowly sat down and began wringing her hair out, soaking the remaining water into a towel.
"Queen Mother, I AM THINKING ABOUT A NEW ECONOMIC MODEL!! THE EFFORT SYSTEM!!!"
Zack jumped around excitedly while speaking rapidly about all the things he'd learned and researched. He explained how various ideas had come together into this revolutionary concept.
Queen Mother's expression shifted from casual interest to serious attention. She listened carefully before her face became grave.
"Zack, don't speak of this to ANYONE!!!!!"
"HUH? NOT EVEN NATALIA?"
"NO, NOT EVEN HER!!! SHE... SHE IS STILL NOT QUITE READY FOR THIS KNOWLEDGE... HER OWN PROBLEMS ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT RIGHT NOW... WE CAN'T LET HER KNOW ABOUT THIS AND GET HER ALL EXCITED! SHE WILL FOR SURE SLIP IT OUT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER... AND THIS CONCEPT NEEDS A LOT OF CAREFUL WORK!!!... ZACK... IF THIS CAN ACTUALLY WORK, THEN... YOUR NAME ALONE WILL BE ENOUGH TO OVERSHADOW EVERYONE!!!"
"REALLYYY!!!!"
"YES!!"
"HEHEH, QUEEN MOTHER, I AM SO HAPPY!!!"
Zack suddenly hugged Queen Mother with such force that he nearly made her fall backward. She felt his genuine happiness radiating through the embrace, which made her own happiness grow tremendously in response. After lots of celebration and laughter, they sat down seriously and started discussing the groundwork needed to make his vision perfect. Queen Mother herself contributed many refinements to add to the foundation. Slowly, a simple idea seemed to be taking a much better shape through their collaboration.
"Queen Mother, can't we hire a professional expert in this field?"
"No, we can't risk it... This concept is still completely new and will need many years of research plus careful planning just to create proper support for it... This system will not work correctly if other necessary things are not in place first... Perfecting this system can wait, but before that, we have to work hard on establishing other foundations... Zack, are you ready for this long journey?"
"Heheh, of course, Queen Mother!!!"
"YEAHHH!! HEHEHEHHEH!!"
Queen Mother and Zack joined hands and gave an evilly delighted laugh together. The sound made the night corridor walls shiver outside from the intensity of their shared ambition.
------------------------------------------------------------------
End Of Chapter 143 Part 1
------------------------------------------------------------------