[Jules]

 In the world of the deep sea civilization, the concept of traditional currency does not exist. Instead, they engage in knowledge-based trade, where the level of knowledge one possesses determines their respect and authority within the society. Common knowledge is freely accessible to everyone, but the rights to use and share specific knowledge belong to its creator or the individuals who discovered it.

To put it in human terms, individuals like Archimedes, Newton, or Einstein would hold great wealth and influence in the deep sea civilization due to their profound knowledge and contributions. However, survival in their world requires someone who can effectively translate and communicate their ideas to others or utilize their knowledge for practical purposes.

The Deep Sea Exchange Company, being the first organization to establish trade between our worlds, aims to adapt their trade system to our monetary system. The closest approximation we have in our world is the concept of patents, where intellectual property holds significant value. In the deep sea civilization, money and numbers are not strongly attached to the value of knowledge. For instance, a denomination of 90 Jules could be more valuable than 300 Jules in certain situations. It is not possible to buy something for 9000 Jules using 100 bills of 90 Jules each. However, when a specific item or information is priced at 90 Jules, exact payment is required, and it cannot be exchanged for a larger bill.

The value of knowledge in their society is not solely determined by monetary means. It can also be acquired through precise inquiries, requests, compliments, or even jokes. The deep sea civilization operates on a nuanced understanding of trade and value, which makes it essential to have a skilled translator or interpreter to navigate their world effectively.

It's important to note that their perspective on currency differs greatly from our human world, where higher numbers generally represent greater value. In their world, the denomination of a bill might contain zeros instead of a specific numerical value. The way you formulate your questions and requests, as well as your understanding and representation of the process, holds immense importance to them. It is not enough to simply read a physics or mathematical analysis book to sell your knowledge. Their civilization places great emphasis on a comprehensive understanding and detailed representation of ideas.

For example, in early trading attempts, I was offered a mere 90 Jules for the process of basic thermodynamic reactions. However, I couldn't adequately illustrate the process in my mind, which led to some disappointment. On the other hand, I agreed to trade for the recipe for strawberry jam, which involved 300 300-Jules bills, 5 90-Jules bills, 28 10-Jules bills, and 88 00-Jules bills of a specific series. However, when I proposed the recipe for raspberry jam, it was met with strong emotional reactions bordering on human-like outrage. Fortunately, Private Collector N intervened in our correspondence, preventing any potential rupture in the delicate relationship between the deep sea civilization and my attempts to establish connections with the human civilization. In exchange for 600 Jules, I managed to acquire the design for the Deep Sea Explorer submarine from a younger member of their clan who, out of curiosity, proposed it as a concept for a mobile dwelling for terrestrial beings, along with the engine design.

Only a detailed description of the limited submersion ritual of the pollen collectors from the planet Miradox, offered as compensation by Private Collector N, managed to appease the deeply perturbed ambassador of the deep sea civilization.

This highlights the intricate nature of their civilization and the importance of precise understanding and respect for their customs and traditions when engaging in trade and knowledge exchange.