Word count: 2340
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-Lana Rose POV-
Lana Rose sat at her desk, her gaze distant as she let her thoughts swirl. 'That man, Nouflex... he's not what he pretends to be.' She couldn't shake the memory of Ayanokoji, calm, calculating, and far too familiar.
Nouflex's actions had been under her watchful eye, and she was beginning to see the cracks in his facade.
She recalled the rumors from the elemental forest, the devastating slash that cut through the land and river like it was nothing. Then there was Nouflex's claim when they had first met, he had said he had only Ayanokoji as a servant.
But Lana had been around long enough to know a lie when she heard one, on top of reports that prove otherwise.
She saw Fubuki's name in the guild register. The name had stood out immediately. Fubuki from One Punch Man... another anime character in Nouflex's party.
Lana's heart raced as she connected the dots. 'Could it be...? Is his power to summon anime characters?' She couldn't believe it at first. But the more she thought about it, the clearer it became. Nouflex had a terrifying power the ability to bring anime characters, complete with their powers and abilities, into this world.
'Why lie? What is he hiding?' Lana leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing as she considered the pieces of the puzzle. The summons, the power he wields... it didn't add up. And now, she had to figure out what he truly was. 'If I don't, who knows what he's planning?'
'This changes everything.' Lana thought, feeling a shiver run down her spine. The sheer gravity of such power was staggering. If he could summon beings like Ayanokoji and Fubuki... There was no telling what other characters or abilities he could wield.
It made him more dangerous, more unpredictable, and someone she needed to understand, fast.
Yet, despite the alarming realization of Nouflex's abilities, a huge excited grin spread across Lana's face. Her heart raced, not with fear or apprehension, but with exhilaration.
This... this was what she had always wanted. Chaos, destruction, the thrill of war, the surge of adrenaline as the world teetered on the edge of catastrophe.
It reminded her of the excitement she had once felt in her previous life, the one she had been robbed of when she was reincarnated into this world, everything became boring to her.
"Finally." She said, her grin widening. "A real challenge."
As she sat back, her mind began to whirl with possibilities. Nouflex was a wild card, but if she played her cards right, she could bend him to her will. She could let him create the chaos she craved while maintaining control from the shadows. He would be her puppet, powerful and unpredictable, but still on her strings.
She began to make plans. Ideas flowed through her mind like wildfire. If she could subtly guide him, manipulate him into thinking he was making his own choices, then he would be none the wiser.
She would hold the leash without him ever knowing it. 'I'll let him wreak havoc, bring those anime characters to life... But he'll be doing it under my watch.'
However, as thrilling as the thought was, a flicker of cold calculation entered her mind. She had seen power corrupt and grow uncontrollably before.
"If Nouflex's abilities grew to a point where he thought he could defy me... If his authority ever overshadowed my own, then I would not hesitate". The moment he became a threat to her reign, she would put an end to his new life.
'I'll be ready.' She thought, her grin fading into a steely resolve. 'I am always, two steps ahead.'
Lana sat back, satisfied. Chaos was coming, and she was going to be right in the middle of it exactly where she wanted to be.
.
.
.
*Three months time-skip*
Over the past three months, I decided to keep a low profile. No need to attract too much attention just yet.
I've been taking on missions, nothing too crazy, mostly B-rank, with the occasional A-rank thrown in. These have been enough to keep some gold flowing and to sharpen my skills.
Fubuki accompanied me on each mission, acting as both a teammate and a shield, though most of the time, her involvement was more for security and formality than necessity.
The dynamic between us remained strong, and as a team, we operated efficiently.
What is weird is that apart from the missions I already had, I did not receive any new missions at all during the period, the system would not even respond to me. But this did not affect me at all as I simply ignored it.
This quiet approach kept my growing reputation under wraps, and while whispers of "Shadow Monarch" occasionally floated around, it wasn't enough to cause too much disruption.
I've been making decent money from these tasks but it was never enough, luckily Felix was here.
Speaking about Felix, today is the day he is to report the bank results so I'm heading right now to the meetings room.
Opening the door, I entered the room, a space Felix had personally designed for discussions like this.
The room was grand, polished wood, towering bookshelves filled with volumes on commerce and magic, and the faint scent of old paper lingering in the air.
Felix sat at the head of the long table, his hands resting on a neat stack of documents, a grin of pure excitement plastered on his face. Ringo sat next to him, cool and collected as always, her gaze calm but attentive.
Felix looked up as I entered, practically bursting at the seams to start the report.
"Nouflex!" He exclaimed. "This is going better than I could have ever imagined. The bank... it's already making waves among the nobles. They can't get enough of it!"
He handed me a summary while Ringo prepared to dive into the specifics.
Ringo began without missing a beat. "The bank's initial deposits from nobles and other high-status individuals reached an impressive 100,000 gold coins in the first month alone. We've seen steady growth, and in just under three months, the total deposits have surged to 350,000 gold coins."
I leaned back in my chair, listening carefully.
"As for the loans," she continued, her voice calm but deliberate, "we've already issued 80,000 gold coins in credit. Interest rates were set at 5%, which was low enough to attract the elite but high enough to ensure profitable returns. To date, we've earned 12,000 gold coins purely in interest."
Felix chimed in, eyes gleaming, "And that's not all! Nobles are starting to use the bank for trade facilitation. They're using our notes to exchange goods rather than carrying large sums of gold. It's revolutionizing how they do business!"
Ringo nodded. "We've also introduced a lending system for high-value assets, such as estates and businesses. We've already processed 15 transactions with collateral valued at 200,000 gold coins."
It was all coming together, faster than expected.
"And with the short-term credits we've provided," Felix added. "People are talking about expanding into neighboring kingdoms. Daloria and Mayorca traders are already approaching us to join in."
Ringo then presented the projection, "Given our growth, we expect total deposits to hit half a million gold coins within the next month. Our credit system will only grow more popular, increasing our profits exponentially. In short, the business has bloomed far quicker than anticipated."
I listened intently, impressed with their progress, but remained composed. These numbers were exactly what I needed. Ringo had delivered, as I expected. Felix, too, had worked hard to make this project flourish.
Still, this was only the beginning.
'I am still going to introduce new stuff in the bank thing, such as replacing gold with paper and printing unlimited wealth, but this is for later, when everyone becomes a slave to the bank...' I thought in my mind.
Felix, still radiating excitement, leaned forward as the conversation shifted to the broader impacts of the project.
"This bank, Nouflex... it's not just about the gold anymore." Felix said, his voice full of pride. "Yes, we're making a substantial profit, but the influence we've gained, especially with the king is where the true value lies."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean that." Prompting him to elaborate.
"Exactly! You see, when we first pitched this idea to the king, he was skeptical. He saw it as a way to support the economy, but now, after seeing these numbers, after seeing how nobles and merchants are coming to us first for loans and transactions he's fully invested.
He even summoned me personally last week to express his satisfaction with the results."
Ringo nodded, silently validating Felix's words.
"He told me that because of how we've managed this project, Daloria is starting to thrive in ways it hasn't in decades. Trade has increased, and merchants are willing to take greater risks because they know there's a safety net. This bank has become a pillar of stability, and the king knows it. He's promised me a promotion, a significant one if we keep delivering these kinds of results."
Felix's grin widened as he continued, "In fact, I've been told I'll likely be appointed to oversee financial affairs for the entire southern region if this momentum continues. The king is that pleased. And with that kind of backing, we'll have even more sway not only in this kingdom but in surrounding territories."
Ringo chimed in with her analytical approach, "The king's support also acts as a shield. Other institutions that might have seen us as competition now see us as part of the royal fabric. They can't move against us without going against the crown itself."
"Great, these are the results I wanted. Now we should on the bank first. After that, I still have good ideas to make even more money. I will keep those for later."
'How did I even get here?' Felix thought to himself as his eyes flicked towards Nouflex, who was seated calmly, listening to his words. 'If someone had told me months ago that I'd be leading a revolutionary financial venture with the backing of the king... I would've called them mad.'
His mind drifted back to that fateful day, the day bandits had ambushed him on the road. He had been on his way to the capital, as a result of his hard work. But that day, his life had nearly ended. He had been prepared for the worst until Nouflex appeared.
'If I hadn't met him... if he hadn't saved me...' Felix shuddered internally. 'I would've been dead on that road, nothing but a forgotten name. But instead, here I am, sitting at the center of one of the kingdom's most powerful institutions.'
The memory of their first conversation replayed in his mind. Nouflex had spoken with such clarity and confidence about the bank. Felix, skeptical at first, had considered dismissing the idea altogether.
But something about Nouflex... his vision, his presence, had drawn Felix in. And now, looking back, he knew he had made the right choice.
'I would've regretted it my whole life if I hadn't trusted him. I almost missed the opportunity of a lifetime... no, a hundred lifetimes. That day, when I was attacked by those bandits... as crazy as it sounds, it might've been the luckiest day of my life.'
He glanced at Nouflex again, the man who had not only saved his life but transformed it entirely. 'Nouflex... Now I truly believe you. If you stay on your world I will be serving you with my whole soul.'
With these thoughts cleared from Felix's mind, as the silence was about to fall into the room. Ringo stood up straight.
In her hand, she held a sleek, metallic card with an elegant design. It shimmered slightly, embedded with fine engravings and a subtle glow that indicated its high status. She stepped forward and presented it to Nouflex, bowing her head respectfully as she did.
"Master Nouflex." Ringo began, her voice even and professional. "This is your bank card, the highest tier available, reserved exclusively for you. We've named it the 'Sovereign Card.' As it symbolizes total authority and control within the banking system."
Nouflex took the card from her hand, inspecting it briefly. The card was not just a symbol of wealth but of power. Its dark obsidian color, interwoven with faint silver lines, conveyed the exclusivity behind it.
Ringo continued, "All of the profits generated from the bank project have been deposited into this account. As of now, your balance stands at 700,000 gold coins, with more profits expected to flow in regularly as the bank continues to grow. This is an amount for your personal use and future investments."
She took a step back, allowing Nouflex a moment to absorb the information. "From now on, Master, your earnings from all of your projects will be deposited here automatically. The card gives you access to all of your funds at any time, and should the bank expand, further benefits will be added to your account."
Nouflex looked at the card again, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips. 'Seven hundred thousand already? That's crazy...'
"Good work, Ringo," Nouflex said, pocketing the card smoothly. "I expected nothing less."
As he said that, a sudden system notification alarmed him.
*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*
[Congratulations on finishing the mission!]
[You have been granted a random S rank summon]
[Upon finishing the first phase, the system will undergo an update!]
[Update started! Time till update finish: 10 hours]
TO BE CONTINUED --->
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