The Banker Who Sees Potential 070: The Doppelganger's Pact
The man who introduced himself as the legendary assassin Yohane—though even his gender as a male was questionable—signed the agreement right in front of the Vainaus couple and us.
The terms stated that he would never harm Adijen and Minoli, nor any customers or employees of the Dimensional Credit Vault, from that point forward.
The agreement was an artifact Elama always carried with him, imbued with magical binding power. Infused with the divine authority of the Dimensional Credit Vault's president, it was said that even most gods couldn't defy its terms. So, for now, we could breathe easy.
In truth, Yohane had signed only to protect his career. In exchange for his promise not to target anyone connected to the Dimensional Credit Vault, he demanded our silence. The reason? His unique ability.
The assassin Yohane was a member of the doppelganger race, on the brink of extinction. The legend that encountering a doppelganger meant certain death had been baseless nonsense before he appeared.
Doppelgangers could freely transform parts or their entire body to mimic other creatures. Crucially, this wasn't just superficial—their physiology and abilities were replicated perfectly.
Of course, once people learned of his power, they'd devise countermeasures. From Yohane's perspective, he couldn't afford to let us, who now knew his trade secret, live. But killing us would void his contract, so out of professional ethics as a top-tier operator, he'd accepted Elama's proposal: a resolution with minimal damage to both sides.
On our end, we'd paid only the minor price of having our nails pulled, ending the crisis. All things considered, it was a relief.
Honestly, I wanted to punch the jerk, but as an ordinary human, I lacked the guts or the strength.
"What a prick."
"Tell me about it."
"At least he was reasonable. Small mercies."
As you can see, trash-talking him behind his back was the limit of my revenge.
"Still, we're lucky to be alive without more injuries. Bishuti faced a tricky assassin and kept his head. Be grateful for that."
I nodded silently.
The newlyweds, who'd spent the day in anxiety, could finally sleep soundly now.
6:30 a.m. Having barely slept, I grabbed a smoke and headed to the resort's smoking area.
"…Kim Jian?"
Isaac was already there, puffing away.
"You too?"
He nodded glumly. From his expression, he was just as conflicted.
We stood there for a while, silently inhaling and exhaling smoke.
No need to combine Colossus's radar with my eye's power. With eyes attached to our faces, Isaac and I could plainly read the bitter defeat on each other.
"Haa…."
I couldn't even find words.
We hadn't really lost anything. No money embezzled from our loans, no clients harmed.
The assassin had backed off; we no longer feared for our lives.
Yet regardless, Isaac and I had been brutally confronted with our own powerlessness in this incident.
"Hey, Isaac. Maybe we shouldn't have come here."
"Hard to say. Without you, Colossus might not have blocked that rocket at the outpost."
Isaac cobbled together the words to console me.
"That was Colossus's doing, not mine."
"Bankers don't need physical prowess to fend off assassins."
"True, but…."
"They're like natural disasters. Those types. We can only do our best within our limits."
"……."
He was right. But I couldn't deny that our survival felt purely due to luck.
"What can we even do? Even the section chief and deputy manager were scrambling. We're just fresh deputies."
"Dunno. We can't fight like Bishuti, but we can stick to our banking duties. There's still work left, right?"
"Ah…."
Isaac's words jolted me awake.
Right. I wasn't a detective. I was a banker.
Caught up in the high-drama events, I'd nearly forgotten my true role.
I handled loan counters. My job was supporting clients to borrow what they needed from the bank and pursue their dreams.
So, the way I could help the Adijen-Minoli couple through this loan was—
The couple's loan was approved at HQ just days later. No board intervention—just a fair review of their potential, assets, and other factors.
The savings they'd amassed as managers of the Kiki and Wai flagship stores for the Vainaus and Leonibrand chocolate brands were substantial.
Combined with the Dimensional Credit Vault loan, it was enough for a modest three-story building housing home and shop in any populated area—except absurdly pricey spots like Dimension 12.
Thus, the couple was ready to break free from the ancient grudge chains binding their parents, siblings, and clans, forging a new path.
But preparations weren't over. I planned to apply the lesson learned facing the assassin immediately.
A week after that brutal night at the resort, I contacted Adijen in his new hideout.
"Are you ready?"
…Yes. We'll head out right away.
They said they'd come to the meeting spot at once.
Seven hours later, after flying from Kikiwai to Linden International Airport, we met in the arrivals lobby and moved to a nearby restaurant.
Seated at the pre-booked table for ten, we waited as the expected guests arrived one by one.
First came the head of House Leonibrand, chairman of Maison de Leonibrand—one of the twin peaks of luxury handmade chocolate. Aliga Leonibrand, Minoli's father.
"…It's been a while, Minoli."
"Father."
Aliga addressed his daughter with a gentle tone. At first glance, he seemed the epitome of refined upper-class gentry.
"Father-in-law."
"……."
But when Adijen spoke, Aliga completely ignored him.
He hadn't tailed us here. Adijen, Minoli, and I had devised this solution together.
Aliga had been summoned by none other than his youngest daughter, Minoli Leonibrand.
"You must be tired from the long trip."
Aliga exuded a prickly yet refined air, his trendy fashion defying his age and lending him an artistic vibe. Given the beauty of his chocolates, the label fit.
His temper, though, seemed formidable.
"From the Dimensional Credit Vault, huh."
"Yes."
"I have nothing to say to the likes of you. Leave before my patience runs out."
The seasoned chocolatier sat beside his daughter, glaring at Isaac and me across the table.
"So, you two lured my youngest into taking a loan? Quite bold. Fetch your superiors. I'll teach them manners from the start."
He opened with that aggression, so I just grinned in response.
"Afraid that's not possible. This was our solo initiative. Oh, not the loan—the setup for this meeting."
No other section chiefs or Elama today. Just Isaac and me as bankers.
On the surface, this gathering had zero ties to our bosses.
This was Isaac and my rogue operation, unsanctioned by higher-ups.
So even if they griped about calling superiors, it wouldn't touch the Dimensional Credit Vault.
Just two bankers going off-script. Naturally, neither Isaac nor I would face discipline for whatever we said here.
We'd gotten full approval from Elama and the board beforehand.
"Talking to you is a waste of time. Come, Minoli. Refuse, and you're no longer my daughter."
Aliga grabbed for his youngest's arm, but Adijen swiftly blocked him.
"The Vainaus bastard's gotten cocky. Knew you'd be here when Minoli called, came all this way, and now you act out. I'm here for my daughter. I won't acknowledge your son-in-law."
"Father-in-law, Minoli's uncomfortable. That's enough."
"It's okay, honey. Dad, sit down. We've got a lot to discuss; standing will tire you."
Despite her father's boiling rage, Minoli boldly said her piece. This side of his youngest—reminiscent of her own wife—left Aliga stunned momentarily. He cleared his throat awkwardly and sat back down.
"We're expecting someone besides Vault executives or board members. It should be an enjoyable gathering."
"……."
Aliga clamped his mouth shut, glaring murderously at me. With the cards in our hand, I didn't flinch.
His reaction to "someone else" suggested he'd half-guessed my scheme.
"They should be arriving any moment."
Before I finished, a sturdy middle-aged man with a cane strode in, opening the door from afar.
His tail from his waist pointed rigidly skyward in combat readiness. A beastly aura pulsed in his steps, yet he never lost elegance—exuding grave dignity.
Naper Vainaus. The very model of a classic Huuriten gentleman, a burly craftsman with the stern features and honed muscles of his trade.
Adijen was a relatively slender pretty boy, so I briefly doubted they were father and son.
"Father, you've arrived."
This time, Adijen rose and bowed. Not a full 90 degrees. As a man now shouldering a household, he faced his father more equally—man to man.
"…Dragging Leiga's spawn and me here—what plot is this? Ink the divorce papers now, and I won't punish you."
"Punish? Who are you to decide my daughter's fate?"
"Temper as fiery as ever."
"You're one to talk."
Aliga made no secret of his hatred. Naper stared back, tapping the floor with his cane tip.
Both had guards outside—pride keeping them from drawing first blood, but the air crackled with potential violence.
The newlyweds' fathers, heads of their houses, wielded their vast authority to tear the couple apart.
Treating their independent adult children like possessions.
But we couldn't let them dictate terms like that.
"We gathered you to talk, but with both insisting on your views, it's tricky. Time to request a mediator. Come on out."
The moment I spoke, a man materialized from thin air where nothing had been. Seeing his face, the patriarchs from both families froze like statues.