Morality and ethics are recurring ideas in the story. "Vengeful Creditor" explores the relationship between public ethics and private actions. A cynical government establishes a program of free education as a means of currying favor with the poor, but then withdraws it a few months later because it is too successful The only way to maintain the program would be to raise taxes, which the officials are unwilling to do because It would adversely affect their chances of remaining in office. As for the poor children who must leave school, the Finance Minister is unconcerned about their situation. They are expendable.