![canstockphoto33028279.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/internutter/23wqyZ4TTuY5y7ZJnJ75oM19gLQ8J7xuFmQQ8ZGydqfytNFews7x2Vf26cvrZBVm6i8P2.jpg)

> The other Deregger empires laughed. They were losing profits by the year, by year five of straight losses, they were the most mocked of Deregger empires, only their current wealth and ranked saved them from a hostile takeover. But year five, they broke even, year six they broke even, then year seven, they began to profit, year eight, year nine... soon their profits were skyrocketing exponentially, and the other empires were not laughing anymore.
> [https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-03064-h141-to-deal-with-reformed-devils](https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-03064-h141-to-deal-with-reformed-devils) -- [DaniAndShali](https://www.internutter.org/bb/user/daniandshali)

Greater Deregulation Upper South-Southwest largely viewed the Lodalute Brothers as having been driven mad by the corrupt influences of the Galactic Alliance. This is what happens when you gamble on learning the strategies of the enemy, they said. They come back and _employed_ them! Just _look_ at all those _losses_ they're taking. They're even trading off _trashworlds_. And looking after their worker's _health_. Disgusting.

For five years, the things the Lodalute Brothers were doing was a joke. Comedy routines made bank on the madness of Lodalute. Wagers were taken on what losses they would take in stride next. The confidence of both Nigel and Steve Lodalute was a profitable source of mockery. They'd never make Chief Executive CEO of the realm at that rate. Heck, they might be begging on the streets next. Haha. Then came the unthinkable. _Turnaround_.

Who could have ever guessed that healthy workers with free time and spending money could _stimulate_ an _economy_? The assembled CEOs vying for even more money and power reduced the jokes. They were just breaking even. It wasn't as if they were making a profit. They were barely treading-- oh no. They made a profit. A small, laughable, almost regrettable profit... but profit nonetheless. Then the profits started _growing_. Panic and mayhem were bound to ensue.

It was the end world as they knew it. Terrified, they doubled down on their old strategies as the Lodalute sector of the fiduciary empire began to _grow_. They attracted _tourists_. They began earning the much-coveted -but secretly derided- Alliance Time. This, when converted to their Grinbak, meant that the Lodalutes were suddenly financial geniuses capable of _buying them out_.

Worse, the human resources of non-Lodalute holdings were _seeking employ_ with the Lodalutes. Military re-enforcement of loyalty did nothing to stop them. Hell, the mecenaries they hired were going for the better pay options. They couldn't even own the media any more. They could no longer control the narrative. Suddenly the news was fair and balanced in their disfavour.

CEO Talan Stiilgip attempted to hold on to what he had. Reasoning that in order to raise the price of his holdings, standing firm for a higher price would get him some form of benefit. In order to hang on to his working class, he merely made it too expensive to change alliances. It was solid logic, given all that he already knew. And yet... those cursed Lodalutes _kept winning_.

He got to shake their hands at a charity soiree. Through a white-knuckle grip and clenched teeth he congratulated them on their strategies. "Of course you're never going to get your hands on _my_ business. No amount amount of foreign money is going to sway _me_ to betray the one true way of profit."

"That's fine," said Steve Lodalute. "You claim your holdings are worth whatever you like. We'll just wait until there's nobody left for you to borrow from... and nothing left to borrow against."

Nigel followed this up with, "Your profits have been declining for decades _before_ we began our slow burn strategy. Stack up your house of cards however you like... it only takes one little slip to crash."

"I'd rather die," said Talan.

"We can wait," said Steve. "Not exactly looking after your health there, are you?"

Smug gits. Talan went on to schmooze with other head CEOs who were also irritated with the way those insufferable Lodalutes kept _winning_.

"They're doing it all wrong," was the general consensus. "They don't even have a military arm to keep the populace under control."

"They let people say just _anything_ about them. It's like they don't care about projecting a strong image at all."

"Look at them. They're still married to their _first wives_..."

"Disgusting."

In a little more than five years, the Lodalutes would own them all.

[Image <a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com">(c) Can Stock Photo / kadmy</a>]

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