They call me the richest citizen of a shrinking republic, as if wealth were an apology. It is not. Ascendant Toolforge holds forty-three percent of YAMListan and I am done being taxed to feed the timid. Cut the levy, pour the treasury into capacity, and every forge in this valley grows. Quist counts coins in a museum. Mholt sells velvet daydreams. I build. Elect the builder or explain to your children why the smoke left.