Jurda parem symbolizes greed for wealth and power. Originally, Kuwei and his father sought to develop a chemical to protect Grisha’s health and anonymity. Their government valued profit and power over human lives and turned their invention into a deadly drug that forces Grisha into servitude. The Shu compel parem-dosed Fabrikators to turn lead into gold and to develop soldiers with superhuman abilities. Besides facilitating such oppression, the drug also deepens the divisions between countries. Other nations recognize the economic and military power they stand to gain by acquiring the secret of parem and converge on Ketterdam. The threat of war hangs over the city, showing that greed for wealth and power motivates human conflict on the world stage.

Greed also corrupts people on the individual level. Kaz tricks Van Eck and the other members of the Kerch Merchant Council into investing millions in a fictitious jurda consortium by using their insatiable greed against them. The Merchant Council already enjoys great prosperity and influence, but individuals ruled by avarice can always justify wanting more. However, not everyone can be bought. Kaz’s crew help Kuwei escape to Ravka and protect the world’s Grisha from the spread of parem even when they believe that Kaz sacrificed their fortunes to incriminate Van Eck.