The Astral Hacker (Cryptopunk Revolution Book 1) Brian Terenna (best novels to read to improve english txt) 📖

Americus clears his throat. “I’m sure you learned about the pandemic and the Final World War, but those were just the pins that popped America’s huge debt and asset bubbles. The collapse was already in the cards due to the lack of sound money and monetary policy.”

“What do you mean by sound money?” I ask. “Money is money, isn’t it?”

Americus chuckles. “People got tricked into thinking that. Sound money is either backed by a commodity, like gold, so it can’t be printed endlessly or is a decentralized crypto with similar dynamics.”

“So they created so much money it became worthless?” I ask.

Americus nods. “You catch on quick.”

I take a sip of the sweet tea to hide my smile.

“When I taught English in Thailand, they went through hyperinflation since they were still using fiat currencies,” says Brandon. “It was wild to see prices rise so fast.”

Diablo. What hasn’t this guy done?

“Hyperinflation was brutal for our American ancestors too,” says Americus.

“I don’t get it, though,” I say. “Why would they have a system like that?”

“The Federal Reserve, which was owned by private banks that were owned by billionaires, was able to print unlimited money out of thin air. The more they printed, the more they profited. They made money when the other banks they owned sold bonds to the Fed. They also profited by forcing American citizens to pay them interest on the Fed’s reserves and a six percent dividend.”

“They really had it rigged,” I say.

He puts down his tea and faces me squarely. “It was the biggest scam in history. An unscrupulous way to funnel wealth from the general population to the billionaire shadow government bankers.” He pounds the table.

I flinch and pull back. His raven leaps up and flies across the room to land next to Alexander on the bench. Alexander takes something from his pocket and feeds the bird.

 “Sorry. I get agitated when I talk about it.”

“How did you get so involved?” I ask.

“My grandfather fought in the revolution under Navin himself. My father followed in his footsteps, joining the military and was a true American patriot. That’s why he named me Americus. And that’s why I served in the Marines.”

Oh. That makes sense.

Americus stands. “I have to go review our inventory reports, but think about what I told you.”

“I will.” I look around the warehouse, and my eyes land on Alexander. He leans back on a bench, cleaning the nine-millimeter that I just shot. His jaw muscle bunches up as he works.

Brandon walks up to Alexander. “Want to clean my guns too? You sure do it enough.”

“I don’t want to do anything for you, but you should clean them, or you’ll get a jam someday.”

Brandon scoffs. “I’m not worried about it,” he says and walks away.

Alexander’s green eyes meet mine. I jerk my gaze up to the right, pretending to look out the sunny window nearby.

Heavy footsteps sound behind me. I spin around on the couch to look.

Gabriel, powerful and imposing, strides over to Americus, holding two glasses of some golden-brown liquid. He hands one to Americus. “Everyone, gather around. I’ve got some news.”

I move to sit by Nav, deciding it’s time to stop avoiding her. She slowly opens her eyes from her meditation and nods to me. Alexander holsters his gun, then joins us. The other Knights and Loyalists shuffle over, excited energy in the air.

Gabriel takes a sip of his drink as all eyes focus on him. “The Republic of South America has surrendered after massive military losses. We’ve won!”

Cheers and whistles rise around me. Loyalists high-five, bump fists, and hug, while the Knights give thanks to God. Americus and Gabriel clink their glasses and drink in celebration.

Alexander pumps his fist. “U-S-A!”

A chant breaks out. “U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!”

I smile, getting swept up in the enthusiasm.

Gabriel motions his hands to quiet the crowd. “Wait, there’s more coming in,” he says, his elation dimming. His jaw drops as he reads. “The president and vice president were both killed during the attack before they could board Air Force One. The speaker of the house, Nathan Falk, has assumed the presidency.”

The mood crashes. Several people’s eyes go wide, and others gasp at the news. A few Loyalists look like they might even cry.

“Damn, she supported civil liberties more than any president in years,” says Americus. “We better have crushed the RSA for this.”

“I can’t believe Toscano is dead,” says Alexander. “She was the first president I voted for.”

Gabriel raises his hand to quiet everyone. “I’m getting a report about military losses. Fort Stroudsburg, which was the only base attacked in the first wave, is rubble. Several more bases were destroyed on the following attacks. Tens of thousands of troops are dead, and several generals have been assassinated.”

“Their poor families,” says Nav.

Americus makes a fist. “And the economic damage will make it even harder for them.”

“There’s more,” says Gabriel. “President Falk has already passed several laws using emergency powers. They’ve increased the military and NIA budgets and reversed the ban on space weapons with a huge contract rewarded to Trexstar.”

“Damn the NIA,” says Americus with a growl. “They’ll be an even larger threat to our liberties now.”

Gabriel shakes his head, then takes a long swallow from his glass. “As a Christian, this next part bothers me the most. They reversed the ban on genetically engineered humans.”

“This will create even more inequality,” says Nav.

Several of Gabriel’s Knights make the sign of the cross.

“The work of the Antichrist,” says Gabriel. “God made us in his image, and now we’re going to tamper with it?”

“There goes my genetic edge,” says Alexander, shaking his head.

Astrid scowls at him. “Alexander, be serious.”

I think about the implications. Eventually, it will lead to two types of humans. Limited human norms