A Circle of Trust
We'd successfully recovered all the money Felix Tonito had hidden in his personal driver's account. After expressing our gratitude to the Kolonin Bank tellers, we headed straight to the airport.
The fact that we hadn't realized the driver was Felix's lover during those two weeks wasn't just because he was dressing as a man. I'd used my Job Authority on every single employee of Apex Engineering, but the driver had been personally hired by Felix, so his name wasn't on the list. Well, we'd caught him in the end, so it didn't matter anymore.
The Kolonin Bank's help had been crucial in recovering that 1.5 billion gulden. Not only the office staff but even the driver banked there, which let us set the trap effectively.
'It's a bit risky, but we can't just let them run off with the money. If there's a way to catch them, we'll cooperate.'
My idea had gone through Del Monte to Kolonin's head office external cooperation team. Unwilling to lose 2 billion gulden to Felix, Kolonin had eagerly accepted the proposal.
Predicting Felix's moves wasn't hard. If his construction company went under, it would trigger a chain of bankruptcies among clients. No way he'd have the guts to strut around Podoks City after that. I figured they'd flee to another dimension or country soon.
'It's definite. I can see arrows of the same color between them.'
After Mira used her Job Authority on the pair at Linden Airport and confirmed it, we boarded the next flight to tail them. Felix and the driver flew to Larabia oblivious, spent the night, and we recovered the 1.5 billion without a hitch.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Huuriten Air flight HUR 808 to Linden will depart shortly. Interfering with crew duties, including electronic cigarettes—"
Business class on a dimensional flight gearing up for takeoff. Third week of December. With Christmas just a week away, the cabin was filled with carols rearranged in various genres.
Me, the branch manager, and Senior Fred sat in a row, wetting our whistles with welcome drinks.
"I never dreamed we'd recover every last gulden. If it had failed, it would've badly damaged the West Podoks Branch's reputation, but Team Leader Kim Jian saved the day."
The branch manager didn't hide his outright joy.
"Without Jian, we'd have eaten a 6.5 billion loss none the wiser, and the whole branch would've been fired."
Senior Fred nodded with a pleased smile.
"It was only possible because everyone at the branch helped. I owe the IT department and HR buddies big time... and Alicia and the folks at the other bank too."
1.5 billion wasn't a huge sum compared to the bank's total deposits, so failing to recover it might not have hurt our prestige much. But letting a con man walk off with it? Unacceptable for any banker.
Even though it wasn't my loan case, that's why I'd jumped in so aggressively. Simple as that.
"I'm sorry as branch manager for dragging a newbie around on busy experience-building time."
"No need for you to apologize, sir."
I said that, but it stung a little. I'd invested so much time and effort that my other performance had suffered. All I'd done was clean up a former employee's mess—turn a minus to zero, not generate profit on the bank's books.
What if I'd ignored it and hustled wrap accounts or other products at the counter? Maybe I'd have eyed that narrow door to fast promotion: the multidimensional outpost.
"......"
I didn't regret my choice, but I couldn't shake the feeling I'd missed an opportunity. I'd done the right thing, yet the human heart is so fickle.
Still, I was satisfied knowing I'd fulfilled my duty as a banker. Protecting clients' assets is my job. This story wouldn't reach the public, but I'd achieved something unimaginable when I first joined.
"Rest easy. I know exactly what Jian did for the bank and our clients."
Spotting my mood, Del Monte ordered champagne, pouring a glass for me and Agent Fred.
"I'll heavily factor Team Leader Kim Jian's feats in the contribution assessment. Expect good marks on your performance review and incentives."
"Thank you, sir."
"This is the least I can do. Helping you get fair evaluation is part of my job."
"I just did my duty."
Fred and the manager burst out laughing at that.
"Chasing debts with illegal means isn't banker work."
"Right? Investigating the affair partner too."
What? Were they teasing me?
"Don't get the wrong idea. I think Team Leader Kim Jian did the right thing. If issues arise, I'll take full responsibility."
The manager's smile faded to a calm expression.
"They broke the law first. And I needed to show scum who underestimate our bank what happens. That said."
His soft synthetic voice lowered.
"Don't get used to illegal methods. If unavoidable, make absolutely sure you're not caught."
"Is that something a sitting banker should say...?"
"I'm a pragmatist."
The manager chuckled. His cold alloy body and head somehow brimmed with humanity.
And then he'd drop something profound like this.
"Remember to always ask yourself how far you can go. Or you might cross the line someday."
"......"
"Even if you move to another branch, don't forget that."
"I'll keep it in mind."
He gave me a small wink and turned to the TV ahead.
He'd tuned to the eternal Christmas classic The Miracle Pizza Gift from 7th Street. Before the movie started, an ad played for Dimensional Credit Vault's new entertainer preferential loan, Flat Loan—the one featuring Flat Sharpendora.
"...Doesn't the VP's naming sense suck?"
"Totally agree."
They could've used the blockbuster star rising again better than this. Execs really lack flair.
But what did he mean by "another branch"?
"Hey Jian, when we were blackmailing that Felix punk earlier, shouldn't you have told him to pay the back child support to Alicia too?"
Senior Fred's sudden question snapped me out of it.
"That's... a family matter to settle."
"Fair point, but she helped a ton this time. Isn't that a bit cold?"
"She did help, but would she really be thrilled if I squeezed child support from her ex instead?"
"Well..."
Fred trailed off. He knew intuitively she wouldn't rejoice at us extorting it via threats.
Still, feeling indebted to her for the key evidence, he'd said it. I felt the same.
"We can repay her another way without that."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
I planned to help Alicia. But the debt was to Dimensional Credit Vault, not me personally.
So—
"When crushing bad guys, we can brawl outside the ring, but helping law-abiding citizens? That stays within the law."
Repayment should come from the bank, as bankers. Everyone would be satisfied.
48 hours later. We met Alicia Navoli again at a cafe in central Podoks City.
"Thanks to the clues you provided, we safely recovered 1.5 billion gulden."
Del Monte and I bowed in thanks. Alicia waved it off with a wistful smile.
"Just did what anyone would. Dad always said never trouble banks or clients—business starts with trust."
"You had a fine father."
She nodded deeply.
"He was good—to family, to colleagues."
"He'd be proud of what you've done."
I pulled her financial statements and ledger from my bag and returned them.
"Bit awkward saying this now it's over, but you said an insider helped?"
"Yes. It was Dad's company. I'd worked there long too."
Now I got why she'd brought evidence of her ex's crimes. Guilt over troubling the bank, sure, but seeing her father's legacy crumble from embezzlement sparked responsibility.
"Never thought he'd turn like this when we married, let alone this... Sorry for the unintended trouble."
She bowed deeply. No need for her to apologize, but she felt it more than that trash Felix.
"...Any plans ahead?"
Del Monte asked. Alicia dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, calm.
"For now, rebuild trust with clients till operations normalize. I'll take unpaid CEO role."
"Hands-on management?"
"Yes. Board unanimously supports—grateful. I know the work; 20 years in ops and management."
Her eyes gleamed with confidence. The gaze of someone who knew exactly what to do. Like first seeing Flat.
After all that, shouldering her father's company to revive it. Not everyone has that grit.
"I'll sue him properly. He'll hide in another dimension out of fear for a while."
Her ex was scum, but she'd be a proud mom to her daughter. No hesitation.
Reviving a firm that defaulted and lost credit? Not for the faint-hearted. I fully supported her resolve. Del Monte too, probably.
"One thing I don't get."
She glanced at us slyly.
"Once you knew the affair was with the driver, voiding fraudulent conveyance would've been faster. Why lure to Larabia?"
Del Monte answered.
"It's like a reset. Canceling completed deals looks bad to outsiders. Other firms might shy from loans fearing us."
"Plus, airing it all in court means Felix does time."
Alicia nodded in understanding.
"To spare your daughter the 'criminal's kid' stigma."
"We weighed what was best for you."
Originally wanted full revenge, but our slogan—customer-first service—held me back. Dimensional Credit Vault's core value. I trusted my banker judgment.
Watching her civilly pummel Felix to groggy would sate revenge nicely.
"Thank you for the consideration."
"We're grateful for your cooperation."
We thanked her, but I just felt sorry. Apex's default froze overdraft accounts—no bills or checks.
They'd paid Kolonin 1.5B and us 2B within 30 days, so liftable, but lost trust meant Alicia bowing to clients awhile.
And Kolonin, former main bank, wouldn't lend easily. Thorny path ahead.
So as her banker, I'd help smooth it.
"With that in mind, Apex Engineering CEO Navoli. How about making us your main bank?"
"...Pardon?"
Caught off-guard, her eyes widened.
"Unlike Kolonin, everyone here—from West Podoks manager to HQ execs—knows you helped recover debts."
Del Monte nodded slowly beside me.
"Working unpaid to revive? No reason we wouldn't help."
"Daughter's tuition loans, personal credit, Apex working capital—consult anytime."
"Partner with us, and we'll support your boundless growth."
Banks can't exist without client trust. We repay that faith with our own.
Even if others cut ties doubting Alicia and Apex, Dimensional Credit Vault must extend hands repeatedly to one who trusted us.
"Thank you... thank you."
Alicia finally broke, tears flowing.
The circle of loans and repayments isn't just money. Receive trust, give trust back. Deposits and lending define bank-client bonds.
"We're the grateful ones."
Sentimental aside, snagging a prime client from rivals? Win for Dimensional Credit Vault.
"No matter what, I'll revive the company."
Dabbing tears, she bowed repeatedly and left the cafe.
"Rough road ahead. Wonder if CEO Navoli can pull it off."
Del Monte watched her go through the window, worried.
"I think she can."
Not me. Gazing at her back, I activated Job Authority—not on Alicia, but mid-tier builder Apex Engineering.
The scale above tilted further right than before, the orb on the plate gleaming pure white again.
"She'll definitely succeed."
The firm's future amid adversity—its potential—was worth betting on. I'd help people like her anytime.
A banker must.
"Wanna bet?"
Loans. The surest proof of faith I could offer.
I'd keep lending to them. Always.