[Author note : New KoSP chapter. I don't really know what else to say today, so…
If you're interested in my stories or want to encourage me, please check out my Patréon : https://www.patréon.com/user?u=66371596 (replace the é by a normal e) or look for Cathbel on their website
KoSP : 2 advanced chapters
The Squib who became Iron Lad... In DC : 3 advanced chapters
AoH : Prologue + 6 chapters (exclusive)
MoH : 8 chapters (Exclusive)
VOG : 6 chapters (exclusive)
Enjoy and please tell me what you think of it !]
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« Now, what am I supposed to do ? » Simon muttered, discontent. He gazed at the unconscious form of the madwoman who seemed to like frying people with her powers… magic. It was called magic, here. And perhaps it was… He wondered sometimes if his own powers were magical in nature too.
It wasn't the time to think about that however. He had come here for one thing and one thing only ! Open a bank account under his phony ID. And it all went to shit because, of course, robbers would want to come at this point ! In his time on Earth, banks didn't even have money and it still was a staple of fiction… This bank too, didn't have much in the way of money. Sure, it had a vault but it only secured the safety deposit boxes of their clients. All the money was kept online. At least, as far as he understood how it worked.
What he told the robber, that this economic model was garbage… He believed it. As the son of a middle class family, the way he perceived it, this only helped the rich get richer while the poor… They stayed poor. Some even got poorer. And could it not be ? When a minority of people, held the money of the majority in their establishments ?
A lot of economic problems had been caused because some bastard had decided to become richer by using money that didn't belong to him… only to lose it. They were other reasons and factors, but mostly, this is how it was. This system was extremely flawed ! The problem was, however, it was the only system he knew and he had no idea on how to change or improve it. Oversight was only good in theory. But since it was done by people, they could be bribed, corrupted, intimidated, threatened or simply killed. When you had money, you had power. Almost an absolute power. And as they say… Absolute power and all that. It was a given they would do everything they could in order to keep living their lives in luxury.
This wasn't his problem. Or rather, it kind of was. If he wanted to live a semblance of a life on this planet, he needed a bank account. It gave credence to his identity and it allowed him to be lawfully employed.
Of course, he always had the possibility of working on the fringes of the Law. Either as an undeclared worker, a criminal or some other way.
« Maybe that's what I should do ? » Simon asked himself and his bond-mate.
« Or maybe you should come back another day. Or better yet, go to another bank. »
Simon sighed :
« They've seen my face and my powers. I really doubt my identity will remain a secret… » Again, he sighed. « Let's think about it later. »
After tying the woman up with some kind of power cord, Simon left the room. When he reached the lobby, countless eyes zeroed in on his form, giving him goosebumps and making him uncomfortable. The robbers had all their weapons trained on him and he instinctively raised his hands… Before he dropped them, pointing out :
« This isn't gonna work, you know ? Just… Let me leave. I'm tired and annoyed. »
The robbers seemed to tense but their leader tried another tactic, pointing her sidearm to a young woman's head.
« We can't risk letting you leave. Not right now, anyway… Let us finish what we have to accomplish and you'll leave along with everyone. Otherwise… » She pushed the barrel of her gun against the side of the woman's head, making her whimper in fear.
Seeing this, Simon sighed. This was a good tactic. An annoying one for him, but for the robbers and whatever objective they had, it was an effective one. Since although Simon was powerful, he couldn't be sure he'd be able to save the young woman.
Then, he thought of something and started to talk :
« At first, I thought this heist was to somehow disrupt the Terran economic model. But stealing administrative codes… I don't think it'd be enough for that. I assume there's a more personal reason for all this. » He shook his head. « I don't want to know but… The woman over there… » He pointed his thumb over his shoulder, toward the door he just came from. « I'm guessing someone higher up the food chain sent her, so… Do you think the codes will be useable ? Changing them would be the first thing I'd do if I was in their place. »
The woman smirked and said assuredly :
« They can't ! It's a random code generated and sent every 12 hours. Every bank manager has a device to access it using their biometrics. The manager had hidden his… But now we have it. He just needs to unlock it. This shouldn't take long and you can all go back to your lives. Or… » She glanced at Simon. « … Someone decides to play the hero and gets everyone killed ? »
« Nope ! » He said, popping the P before falling on a chair. Putting his hands on his knees, he asked : « I'll behave so… Can you not threaten the poor woman ? I think she'll faint… »
She scoffed :
« And lose my leverage against someone like you ? Yeah… No ! » Turning her head to her men, she ordered : « Hurry up, guys ! »
Simon noticed that one of the robbers had the most twitchy attitude and refused to lower his gun. It was the one that hit Simon earlier.
« Don't worry, man ! You didn't hurt me, nor did you anger me so… Get back to robbing the place, will you ? Your boss' gonna get pissed ! »
So, he did. Reluctantly and not without several fearful glances back at his sitting form, but he did nonetheless.
* * * * *
Later that day, the bank heist was revealing to the authorities who quickly secured the scene and tended to the witnesses and victims.
However, neither Simon nor the eye in the sky, Crys were there. They really didn't need the hassle.
Meanwhile, among the victims, one of them was relieved that the plan had gone off without a hitch. He'd taken the job in this bank precisely to reveal the exactions of its director. His family and friends had lost everything and now… Now maybe, at least justice would be done.
He was also relieved that the visiting arcanist hadn't foiled their plans. In fact, it was safe to say that the arcanist had helped them, though perhaps not voluntarily. If the Lightning mage had her way, everyone in the bank that day would have died.
The middle-aged man sighed as the paramedic checked on his vitals. He didn't need the man telling him that his heart rate was a little up : he could feel it, all the way into his ears. A rhythmic and somewhat frantic beat that echoed the excitement and joy he felt.
He smiled, finally hopeful…