"Hey, have you heard..."
Alexander Robin was in his office at the First Bank of Noah, organizing docunts.
At that mont, he heard his manager talking quietly with the employees outside the door.
...What were they discussing?
Alexander was curious.
He adjusted his tie, stood up from his desk, and walked over to open the door.
"What are you talking about?"
He tried to put on a friendly smile and asked in a deep voice.
Even so—his employees were startled when they saw him open the door.
But it wasn’t the surprise of seeing a leader appear suddenly; it was an instinctive fear of seeing a man with an exceptionally fierce aura approach.
You see, one of Alexander Robin’s occupations was that of a champion swordsman—which ans he had won a national championship in a sword-fighting competition.
He looked like a man in his fifties, but he was actually even older.
His skin was tan from being in the sun all year round, his hair was a neatly maintained reddish-brown. His face was square, and his eyes deep set, traces of sideburns visible... and various sized scars marked his face.
He was close to one hundred ninety centiters tall. Even in a suit-like attire, his shoulders bulged. There was even subtle wrinkling on his shoulders and arms—a phenonon that only occurred when muscles filled out a loose jacket completely.
To anyone, he might first appear to be an experienced rcenary captain—and a highly skilled one at that.
But sadly... Alexander was actually a bank entrepreneur and a well-known investor in Noah. He was the chairman of First Bank of Noah and also a director at the Second Bank of Noah and Iris Bank.
His investing insight was as sharp as his gaze.
Alexander’s golden-orange pupils often reminded one of a lion. With Noah’s average height... just standing near Alexander and feeling his shadow cast upon one would cause a strong, suffocating pressure.
"—Being so timid, what kind of look is that?"
Seeing everyone looking sowhat intimidated, Alexander didn’t hesitate to scold them, "If you’re scared seeing , what would you do if you t a giant, or a centaur? Would you be too scared to do business?
"Do you think you can serve the Silver Baron like that? Stand up straight! Don’t slouch... shoulders back! Where’s the smile on your face? Do you want to make custors beg you to do their work with that dead-faced expression?"
Alexander saw how the employees shrank under his intimidation and imdiately took to lecturing them without hesitation.
Having once been the captain of a knightly order, he really couldn’t stand to see young people like this.
—You see, the banks in Noah were actually the headquarters of the knightly order.
Those who appeared to be bank staff like "managers," "accountants," "clerks," and "security" could all instantly turn into Silver Knights if they picked up a sword.
If any foreign thieves unaware of the truth dared to rob the bank, the scene would definitely be very interesting.
Sadly, the vast majority of Silver Knights would almost never experience a bank robbery throughout their careers until retirent...
The Silver Barons did indeed have dedicated churches and clerical staff for handling various religious affairs... such as weddings, funerals, prayers, and ordinations of sacred orders.
But besides that.
All the banks and supermarkets were essentially churches of the Silver Barons... these places were the strongholds of the power of the Silver Barons.
Watching the forr captain of the knightly order discipline the young people, a chubby bishop who originally wanted to co over suddenly paused and shrank back into the corner in fear.
Although he had now beco round like a ball and couldn’t even fasten his buttons... he had once trained under Alexander. Later, he didn’t follow the path of knighthood but beca a bishop... busy with various social engagents, and ultimately ended up in this shape.
Though he was now a cardinal of the Silver Baron, he still felt a subconscious fear when faced with the fiery forr Commander Alexander.
He waited until Alexander had finished lecturing, watching as the young knights regained their spirit, and finally, the corpulent bishop slowly wobbled over.
"Ah, Cardinal Galen."
Alexander noticed the approaching figure and turned to respectfully ask, "What brings you here?"
"Ah... it’s about what these young n were discussing..."
Cardinal Galen, the corpulent bishop, drawled, "Your Excellency Alexander, if you have ti, you’d better go to the tro station.
"The Grand Duke of Winter, from Annan, is about to arrive. You’ve t the Duke once, and your status is not low. We think it would be better for the church, represented by you, to receive him."
"Annan, no, His Majesty Annan."
Alexander sighed, "He’s actually coming to Noah? What a significant day... I rember the last ti a foreign leader visited Noah was over two hundred years ago."
"But for His Majesty Annan himself, this is already his second trip to Noah, he, too, ca a few years ago. His attitude towards Noah and the Silver Baron church has been quite friendly."
The corpulent bishop leisurely said, "He personally holds the grace of the Silver Baron, undoubtedly he is the favorite of the Silver Baron. This interview, if successful, might even reopen trade with Winter... and even the rebuilding of Frostwater Harbor and the restoration of sea transportation is not impossible.
"And these matters, His Majesty Annan clearly cannot discuss with those princes."
There was an implicit aning in Galen’s words.
Alexander nodded solemnly.
He understood Galen’s implication.
Unlike the hastily ascended Grand Duke of Winter... they valued rules and procedures here more. And the three heirs have not yet fully distinguished themselves.
The Eldest Princess is currently the most advantageous, but that is rely an advantage, not a winning position. As ti pushed closer to May, other powers beca impatient and began to take sides one after another.
At such a ti, His Majesty Annan could not possibly have an open discussion with any heir.
In these tense monts, this would not only touch the sensitive nerves of others but could also inadvertently invite suspicion and hostility, detracting from the common goal of both nations—restoring cooperation from a century ago.
"So, His Majesty Annan can only talk with us. And this too is his wish..."
Galen stretched out his chubby four fingers.
This referred to the four princes—the strong contenders for the throne, the father of Kafney.
They knew of Kafney’s good relations with His Majesty Annan. But the closer they are, the more necessary it is for them to keep their distance... otherwise, it could beco a handle for Kafney’s political enemies.
"And you, who had once t His Majesty Annan, strictly speaking, belong not to the church but to the Knights. Thus, you stand on relatively neutral ground... It’s ideal for you to go with the three princes to receive His Majesty Annan, and eventually, it will be you who leaves with him. This is the only solution."
"Politics is truly troubleso..."
Alexander, holding his forehead, couldn’t help but remark, "That’s why I never entered the church in the first place."
"Ah, you shouldn’t say so."
Cardinal Galen smiled and said, "It’s troubleso, it’s really ssy, but soone has to do it. If you don’t, if I don’t... it ends up in the hands of those who would steal the nation, and that’s even more troubleso."
"I guess I have no choice, right?"
"Of course... Instructor Alexander."
The corpulent bishop said smilingly, "Your current role, as an advisor to the Hand of Silver Knights, Grand Instructor of the Pope’s Knights, and Commander of the Silver Knights, was a title given temporarily by unanimous decision of the cardinal council.
"—Please hurry and discuss business with His Majesty Annan, Instructor. Let the princes handle their feuds, and let us handle the real issues. We’ll continue making money, eating well; the state must keep running as usual."
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