Chapter 32
32
Not long ago.
A noble had attempted to exchange a check issued by Winter Bank for cash at Litton Bank.
However, the teller at Litton had refused.
“Due to recent events, we can no longer guarantee the credit of the Winter family.”
With those words, they rejected the Winter Bank check.
‘Wow. Impressive.’
Dana, however, was struck with admiration.
That Litton Bank, the premier bank of the empire, would resort to such petty tactics meant only one thing.
‘It means Winter Bank is that much of a threat.’
It had been eight years since Viego Winzer started the banking business.
In just eight years, he had grown it to a level where it threatened Litton Bank, an institution with two hundred years of history.
“The staff has been protesting for days now, but they haven’t made much progress. So, in ten days, I plan to meet with the Marquis of Litton myself to negotiate.”
“So, you want me to resolve it before then?”
“If you can.”
“Fine. I’ll settle it within a week.”
Did he think she was bluffing?
A faint flicker of displeasure appeared in Viego’s eyes.
But Dana actually shook her head and changed her words.
“No, if it takes too long, it might actually be worse. Four days should be enough.”
“Four days?”
“Yes. Four days at most, but I think it’ll take about two or three if things go quickly.”
“You certainly have a lot of confidence.”
At his light sarcasm, Dana gave a bright smile.
“I just want to lighten the burden on your heart even a little, Brother.”
I have to get on his good side, get on his good side, get on his good side.
“I may never be your real sister, but I can at least be a useful person.”
It happened in that instant.
Viego straightened his posture from where he had been leaning against the carriage sofa’s backrest. Then, he pulled something out of his jacket’s inner pocket.
‘A gun?’
He pointed it at her.
Her heart plummeted for a moment.
What is this all of a sudden? Is he going to shoot me?
“Ah.”
Perhaps she was too flustered.
Only then did Dana realize that the silver muzzle was pointed the other way. Viego was holding out the handle of the gun toward her.
‘Why is he suddenly giving me a gun?’
Dana hesitantly took the weapon.
Viego leaned back against the seat again, his brow furrowed as if dissatisfied.
“Danae Winzer. Do you really go around with only a single secretary?”
“Pardon?”
“You should have realized by now that many people are after your fortune.”
“…….”
“If you’re kidnapped, use it.”
I see. He gave it to me for self-defense.
Dana felt a strange sensation as she toyed with the gun.
To think Viego was concerned for her safety. He even gave her a pistol for self-defense….
“Whether you shoot the kidnapper or your own head.”
Rustle. The sound of papers turning filled the air.
“Make sure you’re the only one who ends up in trouble. Understand?”
Dana slowly lifted her head.
His glass-like eyes were already back to chasing the black letters on the page.
And Dana….
‘Ah, right.’
She felt filthy.
Her mood was foul—extremely, terribly foul.
As if she had been shoved into a mire full of filth.
‘He’s basically telling me to just die.’
“You might as well die.”
Come to think of it, you did say that to me once.
That was your true feeling.
I almost forgot for a moment—just a brief moment.
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Dana smiled as she gripped the gun tightly.
I have to stay in his good graces.
Until I become the Vice Family Head.
Until this man needs me.
Until he considers me a lifelong companion and hands over that Sacred Artifact to me.
Just until then.
“Don’t worry, Brother.”
Because after that, it will be a permanent farewell anyway.
“This is preposterous!”
Viscount Manus protested.
“The negotiation with the Marquis of Litton is in ten days! If things go wrong, it could ruin everything!”
Viscount Manus, a vassal of the Winzer family.
He was also an executive at Winter Bank.
The recent friction with Litton Bank was his biggest headache. It was an issue that needed to be resolved as quickly as possible!
But then Danae Winzer suddenly stepped in!
“Please change your mind, Lady!”
Dana narrowed her eyes.
‘He couldn’t even say a word to Viego earlier.’
He had been all “Yes, yes, I’ll do as you say” and “Haha, have a safe trip,” but the moment Viego left, he started throwing a fit.
“That would be difficult. I promised Brother that I would resolve this within three days.”
“What? Three days?”
“Yes. Three days.”
“Oh, Ramun. My goodness.”
Viscount Manus clutched the back of his neck.
First Alice, and now Danae was running amok.
It had only been the other day that the Moonlight Flower business had utterly failed because of Alice!
“There’s no time for this, Viscount Manus. If you don’t think you can do it, go tell Brother Viego that you can’t.”
“…….”
Viscount Manus swallowed hard in silence.
“I can’t.” That was the phrase Viego Winzer hated most.
His employer didn’t even treat incompetent people as human beings.
Ultimately, Viscount Manus had no choice but to swallow his tears and speak.
“What shall we do first?”
“For starters.”
Dana smiled softly.
“Let’s go have a talk.”
Litton Bank, Capital Headquarters.
“It is not possible.”
Once again, they had asked to exchange a Winter Bank check for cash.
“Litton Bank does not accept checks issued by Winter Bank.”
What returned was the branch manager’s firm refusal.
“Why is that? Winter Bank’s credit is highly rated.”
“Haha, it seems the young lady isn’t well-informed. Credit isn’t something that can be evaluated so simply.”
“Then what do you evaluate it by?”
“Time. It is time.”
The branch manager spread his arms wide.
“Litton Bank boasts a long history of over two hundred years. We have kept our customers’ money safe for all that time. But how old is Winter Bank?”
“I believe it’s in its eighth year.”
“Exactly. A mere eight years.”
He held up eight fingers as if to emphasize the point.
“What is there to trust in a bank that was established only eight years ago? You might not know this, Lady, but Winter’s reputation among businessmen isn’t very good.”
In truth, that wasn’t the case.
If anything, their credit rating was rising higher and higher.
Especially after they perfectly handled the compensation for the recent Moonlight Flower incident.
They were being evaluated as having the capacity to handle any sudden situation flexibly.
However.
‘What would a young lady know?’
The branch manager laughed inwardly and decided to roughly coax her and send her away.
“Now then, please head back.”
“But.”
Dana let her shoulders droop as if troubled.
“Don’t be like that, please think about it one more time.”
“I am sorry, Lady. We do not accept Winter checks. This is company policy.”
“Still….”
Watching from the side, Viscount Manus stifled a sigh.
What on earth was she doing?
To think she was just repeating words like “But” and “Still”!
‘Anyone could do that!’
His five-year-old niece was better at whining than this.
‘I was a fool to expect anything for a second.’
To be honest, he’d had a flicker of hope.
Hadn’t Danae Winzer recently taken on the full burden of the Moonlight Flower compensation? He had thought she was a lady who understood the greater good.
Most of all, Viego Winzer, the Family Head himself, had assigned her the task!
However, her foolishness didn’t end there.
“Um, then I have another favor. Can you exchange this money for gold coins?”
Dana opened her handbag and pulled out all the banknotes she had.
Both the branch manager and Viscount Manus were startled by the thick stack of cash.
“It’s fifty million Fran.”
“Fifty million Fran?”
“Yes.”
The branch manager looked surprised.
No, why was she carrying this much cash in a handbag?
“Of course. Exchanging for gold coins is a primary function of the bank.”
“Is that so?”
“Gold coins are the very strength of a bank, are they not? Litton Bank is the empire’s finest bank, holding the largest amount of gold.”
Listening to the conversation, Viscount Manus felt his stomach churn.
‘Stupid girl. What is she doing!’
Why was she listening to that bragging?
She was a lady of the Winzer family, and she’d even come here to protest the check issue!
‘And why is she exchanging banknotes for gold at Litton Bank of all places!’
