[ This is not precisely the attitude he expected from a fellow officer of the Enma, but then again... they really do employ all sorts here. And even van Zieks would be hard-pressed to say that an overeager sense of empathy is a bad quality to have.

He considers his next words a bit more carefully. ]

I wouldn't go that far. In an ideal situation, Stardust trade would not be lucrative to begin with. Working towards those ends, I consider it counterproductive to use up Enma funds to buy the material ourselves - but that doesn't mean that you have been worsening the situation either.

Paying back customers at the original price means that they come out of it completely even - there is no incentive to try and swindle you out of more Enma money unless there is an actual profit to be made from it. [ Which... tbf, people could have been lying about market price, but let's not go there right now. ]

Your method of going about this did prevent violent conflict, that remains commendable. It does not appear that Stardust is inherently dangerous to its consumers either - but any potentially addictive substance can be misused if left to those in the shadows.