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Meanwhile, the <span class="mu-i">Consortium</span> have also gained ground. While your DanboMark was once a competitor in the money market, at least as far as economic value was concerned, the Consortium's economic stability and popularity, as well as advancements in their cryptology and computer tech, has given rise to the new Consortium Credit, or just Credit. This new form of currency is incredibly well encrypted and protected by an advanced blockchain system, making it a type of digital currency immune to being duplicated or stolen freely from accounts- even by your Threemind. Before, the Consortium was very weary of allowing the Hegemony to access its digital treasuries and networks due to your AI technology, but now, that is no longer a problem. You could still force people to willingly give up their currency, but AI can no longer be hacked to steal it. The coins are also untraceable and leave no digital signature on their own, making them the new trading currency of pirates and the galactic underground. While it may seem illogical for the Consortium to not put in such security features; it appears their capitalist perversion is strong enough to even override their sense of authority and keeping bad actors away from using their money.
The Credit has become <span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-s">the</span></span> defacto currency among the galactic powers for trade and transaction among the various alien races, factions, and businesses of your chunk of the galaxy. It is ratified in a small economic council of species, and the vote is unanimous. You were, naturally, not invited.
At the same time, the Aristocrats have gained a foothold among the many races in terms of <span class="mu-i">cultural and societal development</span>, creating new advancements in entertainment and social capital. It seems the Aristocrats, and the lifestyle of their various social classes, have quickly become the new envy of the galaxy. The elites of the Consortium, Esaal, and even some less principled Hegemonic higher ups want nothing more then to join the wild parties, opera, and occasional inter-species orgy held in the palaces and lush estates of the Aristocrats. Recordings of their dances and songs have become a bit of a sensation among the Hegemony's citizens. Many lament the fact they will never be able to visit the Gardens of Osk'Tluath, to attend the Symphonies of Ully'Andule, or experience the pampering and worship commonplace at the bathhouses of Jom'Sulithy. Given how much more connected the galaxy has become, and the value in your diplomacy especially in your weakened state, you cannot justify enforcing a total information embargo between your culture and the rest of the galactic community. You might cringe when you hear a young Jaxtian using a term common among the Aristocrats, but your spartan and utilitarian worship of the Supreme Ruler is simply not as flashy...
