Currency Wars (Adventure Mission)

(Talk to Jade)

Jade: We meet again, (Trailblazer). I've been waiting for you for quite a while.

Jade, what are you doing here?

Jade: I'm here to discuss a lucrative partnership, naturally.

Since you're already here, how about lending me some money?

Jade: Oh? Have you finally decided to put your conductor up as collateral?

Jade: Let's cut to the chase. I've brought you a new business opportunity, or rather a special pawn deal.

Jade: Only this time, you're the one providing the funds. And as collateral, I'm willing to offer you generous returns, in the name of the IPC's Strategic Investment Department.

Nothing good ever comes from getting mixed up with the IPC.

Jade: Not to worry, you don't have to trust the IPC, but you can always trust money. Credits never lie.

Finally, it's time for the capitalists to come begging to me!

Jade: High-net-worth individuals like you have always been the ideal partners every investor eagerly pursues.

Jade: Hmm... while the IPC does have vast influence across the universe, we're dealing with a boundless cosmic market. There will always be hidden corners that even the invisible hand of capital cannot control.

Jade: And as a Nameless, you've landed on several perilous planets and successfully resolved major crises there, which is why the IPC thinks you're a perfect candidate.

Jade: Of course, I'm quite interested in you personally. Your performance in Penacony left quite an impression on me.

Uh... I need to think about it.

Jade: Of course. Hasty decisions are a cardinal sin in business.

To be honest, I still don't really trust you.

Jade: Don't worry, trust is built through cooperation.

Jade: This isn't the place to talk shop. Let us adjourn to someplace else.

(Transported to Penacony - Dewlight Pavilion

Follow Madam Jade to learn about the project details

Mission Description

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All the IPC executives have gathered. Looks like this project is a big deal to them.

Dewlight Pavilion

Jade: We're here. This place should be familiar to you, right?

Topaz: Hey Aventurine, what were you thinking last time? Did you even run the numbers?

Aventurine: Come on, didn't we end up making a profit anyway? As long as it's a net profit, it's all good~

Topaz: ...I doubt you'll get this lucky every time.

Jade: Aventurine, little Jelena, the post-mortem can wait. Our guest has arrived.

Aventurine: Well, well, if it isn't my old friend~

Topaz: Long time no see, (Trailblazer).

You're having a team-building session at Dewlight Pavilion?

Topaz: We're just temporarily leasing the Oak Family's assets as our interim office. The facilities here are well-equipped, the location is convenient, and it's perfect for our needs.

Aventurine: Besides, that friend who lived here won't be back anytime soon. Why not seize this chance to get a taste of his lifestyle?

I thought we were going to Pier Point.

Aventurine: Haha, what's the point of going there? It's full of workaholics like Topaz, with no sense of fun in life, and you can't even find a decent bottle of hair conditioner!

Topaz: Who are you trying to pick on? My hair is perfectly fine! Ahem... Pier Point's too crowded with prying eyes, not the place for big moves. We're better off sticking to our own turf where we can breathe easy.

Jade: Now that everyone's here, let's cut to the chase and talk about our collaboration.

Jade: We're developing the Project: Currency Wars here. I'm the project lead, and both Topaz and Aventurine are project members.

War!? We're going to war again!?

Topaz: Don't worry, I mean business warfare, and it's just a business simulator anyway.

I may not know economics, but warfare? That's my jam.

Aventurine: Haha, we have no doubt about that. However, in this business simulator, I'm afraid your "unembellished" tactics won't be of much use.

Jade: When I say war, I mean corporate warfare across the universe. As you know, the "Cancer of All Worlds" has swept through many planets, creating a lot of bad debt for the IPC, and it's quite a headache to clean up.

Topaz: Our opponents include local monopolistic tycoons, disciples of the Abundance, the Antimatter Legion, and more, none of them to be taken lightly. They've not only seized IPC's assets but have even used force to drive out IPC Workers.

Jade: In the past, due to lack of experience and intelligence, every operation by the Strategic Investment Department required massive investments in resources and manpower.

Jade: The Currency Wars system can simulate various scenarios, helping us prepare for different situations in advance. In essence, it's a massive "Bad Debt Settlement Simulator."

Aventurine: In simpler terms, it is a "Corporate Warfare Simulator." It's super fun, and you'll definitely love it.

Jade: Hmm, you could say that. So, (Trailblazer), would you be willing to take part in this project?

Then, let's work well together.

Well, since I'm already here...

Topaz: Great! Smart choice~ Let's cut to the chase and jump right into the beginner's test.

Topaz: See that machine powering up? That's the control console for the Currency Wars.

Jade: Don't worry, we'll start with the lowest difficulty level. Not only will we guide you through the system step by step, we'll also provide special assistance along the way.

Complete the beginner's test

Mission Description

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The beginner's test of Currency Wars has been initiated. Time to show what you're really made of.

Dewlight Pavilion

(Listen to the Stonehearts, optional)

Three of the Ten Stonehearts are engaged in a heated discussion. Sticky price models, vector autoregressive models, adverse selection, real options, endogenous variables, exogenous variables, liquidity trap... You hear many keywords, but you don't understand a single one.

Initial Test tutorial2

(After completing Initial Test)

Topaz: I knew I wasn't wrong about you, (Trailblazer). That was quite impressive.

Aventurine: Seriously, have you considered joining the Strategic Investment Department directly? With your talent, you could reach senior management in no time.

Jade: Although it was just a warm-up, your results were truly excellent for a first-time participant.

Jade: However, I'd still like to do a quick debrief. (Trailblazer), what do you think was the decisive factor in defeating your opponent during the test just now?

Your careful guidance.

Jade: Thanks for your praise.

The opponent is too weak.

Jade: Oh? From what I know, our opponent is quite the business veteran.

My brilliant leadership.

Jade: That's also a correct answer. Self-confidence is an essential quality for any excellent investor.

A great team.

Jade: That's right. That's an excellent answer.

Jade: The capital market is like a grand showcase in which all its participants are merely gems in the display case, waiting to be noticed. Whoever can draw the most attention will naturally seize the greatest gains.

Jade: But the most dazzling has never been a single gem. Only those who can set many gems into a unique piece of jewelry deserve to stand at the center of the showcase, gazing down at those who have faded into obscurity.

Jade: So choosing the right people and building the perfect team is the cornerstone of success.

Hold on, let me take some notes...

Jade: Hope that helps.

I didn't quite get that. Need to let it sink in.

Jade: Don't worry, you'll understand in the following tests.

I reserve judgment.

Jade: Looks like you prefer to work alone.

Topaz: People are the most valuable assets. That has definitely been Madam Jade's consistent philosophy on wealth.

Aventurine: Indeed. Wealth, schemes, and luck are merely tools in the end. If you want to achieve victory, the most crucial factor will always be the "power of people."

Jade: Just a bit of personal insight. Consider it a small gift to my partner.

Jade: Alright, (Trailblazer), you can take a break now. We need to organize the test data we just collected. After that, we'll need you to continue with the next round of test.

Complete the second test

Mission Description

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Madam Jade shared her investment philosophy. Why not put it to use right now?

Dewlight Pavilion

Advanced Test tutorials

(After completing Initial Test)

Jade: After two tests, you've become familiar with the basic mechanics of Currency Wars. You can explore more details in subsequent in-depth tests.

Jade: Of course, I'll keep my promise and pay you accordingly based on your test progress.

Aventurine: Now that you can work independently, Topaz and I can leave without any worries.

Leaving? You're not staying with me anymore?

Boohoo, you don't want me anymore!

Aventurine: As much as I'd love to continue running simulations with you, we've got way too much work on our hands. We apologize.

Topaz: Our data is stored in Currency Wars. You can borrow our abilities whenever you need them. See you next time~

Topaz and Aventurine left...

(Trailblazer): Aren't you going with them?

Jade: Don't worry, I'll stick around with you for now. I'll be here monitoring the test data while Currency Wars is running. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime.

Jade: Don't let your guard down. The real challenge is yet to come, and you're about to witness the brutality of the capital market firsthand. Your competitors will stop at nothing to strip you of every asset you own.