Chapter 228

Chapter 220: The Bank

The center of Tivyán is the Tivyán Royal City, where the Moonflow River runs through the vast urban area, but here it makes a horseshoe bend. It is said that over five hundred years ago, King Prit “the Builder” Edward saw the terrain and envisioned using the surrounding Moonflow River as a natural moat to establish a great castle to protect his royal power. Thus, the Tivyán Royal City rose from the ground and became the beginning of Tivyán.

In the years that followed, Tivyán gradually urbanized. With an influx of residents, the city expanded rapidly around the Royal City, reaching a considerable scale today. Tivyán has become one of the most bustling metropolises in the world.

Today’s Tivyán, including the central Royal City, is divided into five districts, each with slightly different functions. The Royal City is the residence of the royal family, and its surroundings are home to many traditional aristocratic families. North Tivyán is where numerous government institutions such as courts, parliaments, and city halls are located, along with many prestigious schools and religious institutions including the Church District.

Unlike North Tivyán, East Tivyán, being by the sea, has a large port area and commercial district, making it the financial center of Tivyán. Many emerging noble capitalists also choose to live in East Tivyán.

West Tivyán and South Tivyán are much less developed. West Tivyán is an industrial zone, while South Tivyán has the largest slum area, with both security and pollution issues being quite severe.

At noon, in East Tivyán.

A thin haze still lingered in the sky. At a busy street corner in East Tivyán, countless pedestrians and carriages moved about. Shops lined the streets, and workers carried heavy goods on the sidewalks, struggling forward. Gentlemen with canes and top hats strolled and chatted with each other.

A carriage stopped at the roadside. Nephnis, wearing a long dress and sleeves, a headscarf, veil, and gloves, stepped down from the carriage. After paying the coachman, she walked onto the sidewalk and looked around at the bustling neighborhood.

‘This must be the address Sister Vania mentioned. So where is the society’s base?’

As she thought this, Nephnis began to carefully scan her surroundings. After just a brief glance, she locked onto her target.

It was at the intersection of two roads, a tall building stood. This stone structure was seven or eight stories high, adorned with various stone carvings on the walls. Stone pillars stood before the entrance, giving it a classical and elegant look.

Above the main door of the building hung a large sign, with big letters spelling out “Golden Contract Bank.” Below the large letters were smaller ones listing services such as “savings,” “credit,” “advisory,” “item storage,” “notarization,” and so on.

‘A bank… Is this the base of the White Stone Craftsmen Guild? Are they using the bank as a cover?’

As she looked at the building, Nephnis thought to herself, then slowly approached the bank’s entrance.

Due to matters within the church, Vania could not come with Nephnis. Facing this unfamiliar environment, Nephnis had to muster her courage.

‘As long as I follow what Sister Vania said, there shouldn’t be any problems.’

‘But she also mentioned that she usually has some convenience rights when coming here for church business. She hasn’t gone through the normal process for extraordinary transactions… I hope the difference isn’t too big.’

Nephnis thought, then took a deep breath and entered the bank. Inside, she saw a spacious hall paved with marble tiles. At the end of the hall was a row of counters separated by iron grilles, where many people were conducting business with the tellers behind the grilles.

While observing her surroundings, Nephnis walked forward. Soon, she reached an empty counter and sat down. The teller looked up at Vania and asked, “Miss, how may I assist you?”

“I need to exchange some old coins.”

Facing the teller, Nephnis calmly replied. Hearing this, the teller paused slightly, then continued to inquire.

“May I ask which era’s old coins you wish to exchange?”

“King Edward IV’s era.”

Nephnis answered with the password Vania had taught her. There was no King Edward IV in Prit’s history. Upon hearing Nephnis’s words, the teller’s expression changed. After scrutinizing Nephnis for a moment, he nodded.

“I understand. Coins from that era are very rare. Please follow our staff to another location to discuss. Do you know the way?”

“Well… I’m sorry, I don’t know the way.”

“Oh… It seems you’re new here.”

Saying this, the bank teller behind the iron grille picked up a small bell and rang it lightly. Shortly after, a door next to the grille opened, and a young man dressed as a waiter came out and walked toward Nephnis.

“Miss, please follow me.”

Hearing the waiter’s words, Nephnis stood up from her seat and, with a nervous heart, followed the waiter into the room. They navigated through the building, turning corners several times, until they arrived at a room.

This was a luxurious room slightly larger than a typical living room, with carpets, sofas, paintings, coffee tables, potted plants, and sculptures. At one end of the room was a tightly closed stone door, and on the sofas inside sat five or six people, all sitting quietly as if waiting for something.

“Your number is 027. Please enter the stone door when your number is called. Until then, please rest here.”

“Yes, I understand. Thank you.”

Nephnis replied to the waiter, who then turned and went back, closing the door behind him. Nephnis found a place to sit.

Just as the waiter brought her into the room, someone observed the entire scene.

After settling in, Nephnis curiously surveyed her surroundings, especially those in the same room with her.

Observing them, Nephnis noticed that they were both men and women. Some were formally dressed and masked, others wore cloaks hiding their faces in shadows, and some, like herself, were fully covered with veils…

None of them seemed willing to reveal their appearance. Each sat silently in their own seats, unwilling to communicate with others. Everyone sat quietly, heads unmoved, eyes unswerving, not looking around, creating a rather oppressive atmosphere.

Occasionally, the stone door would emit a steady call number, and the person whose number was called would immediately rise, open the stone door, and enter. After a long silence, the next number would be called, but no one seen entering had emerged yet.

‘That stone door leads to the trading location… These people are also here for extraordinary transactions, they must be related to the extraordinary. But they don’t speak at all, avoiding communication…’

Carefully observing the scene, Nephnis thought to herself. Just as she prepared to wait silently like the others, a figure slowly approached her.

Without realizing it, someone suddenly sat next to Nephnis. Startled, she turned and saw a smiling young man.

Unlike the others in the room, this young man was casually dressed, not hiding any of his features. He had short yellow hair and appeared to be in his twenties. Facing the surprised Nephnis, he smiled brightly and cheerfully.

“Hey, Miss, nice to meet you. You’re here for an extraordinary transaction, right? Are you an extraordinary being?”

The young man directly asked Nephnis with a smile, leaving her stunned.