Chapter 162: A Factory (1/2)
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> The mayor?
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<Gray Whisles> Well, yeah. He heard about you from the Church and now he wants to personally congratulate you as well. It's just like with the 'Obsidian situation'. The mayor has always been first to praise people for their good deeds. He is respected by a lot of people because of that. On top of that, he's also a Local awarded with the Jade Honor Badge from the Pavilion. In levels, it would be the equivalent of a Lv.700 Host.
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> …what is his name? I haven't heard it yet.
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<Gray Whisles> Hybran Blacksteel. Anyhow, can you come now?
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> Give me half an hour. I have some stuff to do beforehand.
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<Gray Whisles> Hah! I guess only you would make three powerful figures wait like that right after arriving in the System. But fine, I'll tell them. You better not take longer than that though. The press will most likely storm into the situation and even the Throne of Glory has to give face to those guys from time to time.
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> I'll be there.
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<Gray Whisles> Good, I'll be waiting for you at Black Steel's Pavilion.
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Rakna furrowed his eyebrows after closing the chat window. ”Hybran Blacksteel, huh?”
”Is it something important?” Nyx asked him, having deducted already that he had been discussing with someone after stopping in front of the bank's door.
”Somewhat,” he replied and calmly opened the door in front of him.
”{Haha, of course, authority figures are just somewhat important to you,}” Higure remarked.
'Take it as me being young and rebellious if you want, but I will always refuse to bow to social cues and rules,' the therian responded as he looked around the room with Nyx following him. Unlike in the shop, several people could enter the bank since it didn't matter which attendant Hosts used to access their accounts.
”Seems like she's not here,” Rakna said as he saw the empty reception. ”Is she sleeping again?”
”Again?” Nyx tilted her head. ”It sounds like you have quite the interesting banker.”
”That doesn't even start to describe that girl,” he retorted with a tad of amusement. His ears then twitched and he caught the smell of Lana coming from his left. She walked in from the same room she had come out running in a panic last time.
This time, however, what had been preoccupying her seemed to be the pile of papers that she was carrying. It was huge enough to obstruct her view. Her arms were hugging the documents but her sword was still firmly held in her left hand.
”U-um? Is there someone?” She asked a bit flustered and struggled to look past the pile. When she saw Rakna watching her with his mirthful eyes, her face reddened beautifully. ”Ah! Please wait a moment!” She exclaimed and hastened her steps.
Nyx opened her mouth to offer her help but she was stopped by Rakna who raised his hand. She looked at him in confusion and her eyes widened instantly. For the first time, she could recognize genuine amusement on his face. It wasn't just how his tone would sometimes sound amused or how his eyes flashed in glee; it was more prominent. If she wasn't attentive, just the overall feeling he gave off would have given her the illusion that he was actually smiling.
She turned back toward Lana and wondered what kind of person could have possibly eroded that man's shell to this stage without even knowing him for that long. That's when she witnessed the sheep girl let out a yelp and trip on nothing but air.
She acted out of pure instinct and conjured a few strings of shadows to tie the documents so that they wouldn't scatter. At the same time, Lana fell on the floor and yelped again as her face hit the tiles.
Nyx blinked in a stupor and when the girl lifted her head, she saw the comically huge tears in the corners of her eyes and her glistening pupils as she hugged her sword tight. A metaphorical knife instantly stabbed her in the heart.
”Oh god…” The former goddess whispered and Rakna hummed agreeingly.
”I know right. She never fails to impress me by how she can do that every time,” he admitted and ultimately went to crouch next to the sheep who was rubbing her nose. ”Hey, you okay, Lana?”
”Y-yes! Of course!” She promptly replied and he helped her stand up. ”Thank you…”
”No problem.” He nodded. 'I can't tell her that I stopped Nyx so that I could see her fall...'
”{How mean,}” Higure chortled. ”{But I'm all about it.}”
”By the way, why didn't you put these in a storage instead of carrying them?” The therian asked a perfectly sensible question and the adorable girl froze. 'Though the fact that they even use physical records in here is even weirder…' He thought to himself.
She gaped and held her head pitifully. ”I forgot…”
Rakna snorted and picked up the papers bound by Nyx's constructs. He put them down on the counter of the reception and the strings were dispelled afterward. Their conjurer then approached Lanata with a small smile.
”Hi, I'm Nyx Nocta. You can freely call me Nyx,” she introduced herself.
Lana shyly returned the greeting. ”I-I'm Lanata Ovis Venera… You can call me Lana,” she stuttered out and Nyx really was unable to erase the smile on her face. Rakna nodded from the side; happy to have someone who understood him. ”So, um, are you here to deposit again?” The sheep girl asked once she was behind the reception, sorting the documents.
”No, I'm here to withdraw,” Rakna said and took the small pad that Lana was handing him. ”About this much should be enough…” He muttered to himself and once his code was accepted, a neat pile of Talys appeared on the counter.
Lana proof checked the amount on her screen then waved at the money. ”All right. You can cash them in now.”
”Thanks,” he said and his balance was instantly updated to 100k. He was about to turn around to leave when he suddenly thought of something. ”Lana, can I ask you a question?”
”Eh?” She cocked her head to the side. ”Sure. What is it?”
”Is there a way to hide one's status?” He inquired and she showed a perplexed look. ”Let me clarify; I just don't mean skills that counter scans or appraisals. I mean a way to make so that my status cannot be seen by anyone, regardless of their level.”
The sheep blinked a few times then put her hand on her chin. ”Hm… I don't think so… Unless it is some sort of very rare item or skill… But even then, most of those only allow you to hide from others up to a certain level. I have heard of some items that could alter information on your status too… but they have the same limitations.”
”I see…”
”I'm sorry if this couldn't help you…” She apologized dejectedly.