What Do You Mean, Gotham Bank?

Twenty minutes later, Downton haphazardly parked the borrowed car in front of the bank.

After straightening his clothes slightly, he gave the security guard at the entrance a faint smile and confidently walked inside.

The bank was not very large, with only three counters and an area no bigger than a shop.

But that was precisely why Downton had chosen it.

Downton had considered his own capabilities. On his own, he might die more than a dozen times and still fail to handle a major bank.

He truly could not die, but every death cost him time.

If things dragged on too long, even the most incompetent police officers would surround the bank he had borrowed money from.

He was here to withdraw money, not slaughter people. The bank needed to be small enough, with few enough guards, for him to take the money away.

A small bank like this was simply perfect.

As he thought, Downton walked up to the counter and joined the line.

In the bank lobby, after the manager sized up Downton's clothes, he immediately headed toward him.

People like them, who dealt with money and the wealthy, had especially sharp eyes. He recognized the brand of Downton's clothes and knew that outfit cost at least five thousand dollars.

What did five thousand dollars mean? That was a full six iPhones. Someone dressed like that might not be fabulously wealthy, but he was certainly well-off. He might even be a young dentist or lawyer.

As the financial manager of Atlanta Bank's Gotham East End branch, he liked customers like Downton the most.

In his view, customers with Downton's level of financial strength were the easiest to fool. They had some money, but not enough; some influence, but not enough; some connections, but not many.

Most importantly, they possessed a certain amount of information from the middle strata of society, yet still could not fundamentally break through the information cocoon woven by capital.

Taking advantage of information asymmetry, the manager could easily talk such people into investment paths with varying degrees of risk, funneling their money into the bank.

It was nothing like dealing with truly wealthy people. Their entourages alone made them impossible to approach.

"Hello. Please call me Ryan Bernard. I am this bank's vice president.

In my opinion, a gentleman like you does not need to wait in line with everyone else, unless you wish to experience a life unlike your usual one."

"Oh?"

Downton was momentarily stunned by Ryan's sudden appearance.

"No need to line up? Nice one, buddy. You've got a sharp eye!"

"You flatter me. An outstanding gentleman like yourself should stand out in any setting, just as you do now. I have merely done what I ought to do."

Faced with Downton's praise, Ryan gave a perfectly measured smile, then gestured for Downton to follow him toward the VIP lounge.

Downton followed Ryan and spoke as they walked.

"Your bank isn't very big, but it seems to have plenty of business. There are quite a lot of people in line."

"Indeed. Compared with Gotham's local Wayne Bank and Kane Bank, it is difficult for us to fully enter Gotham's financial market.

But precisely because the competition is fierce, our service attitude far surpasses that of Gotham's local flagship banks. That is also why a considerable number of local customers are willing to choose the financial assistance we provide.

We are more willing, and more skilled, than Gotham's local family banks at serving customers, sir."

As he spoke, Ryan led Downton into the lounge, made him a cup of coffee, and brought out several moderately sweet pastries.

Asians were often less fond of sugar than black or white people. Manager Ryan was a professional.

Sitting across from Downton and watching him sip his coffee, Manager Ryan continued with a smile.

"May I ask what business you would like to handle?"

"I came to withdraw some money."

"Is that so? Then you are already a loyal customer of Atlanta Bank. That is truly a pleasant surprise.

But you are not from Gotham, are you? It is not boasting on my part, but I would never forget a quality customer like you if I had served you before.

So you must have opened your savings account at one of our branches elsewhere. And you have not been in Gotham for very long, correct?"

"That's right!"

Downton gave Ryan an approving thumbs-up.

"Maybe my style suits Gotham too well, because until now, you're the only one who has recognized that I only just arrived in Gotham."

"Haha, you flatter me. May I ask how much cash you would like to withdraw? Please provide me with your account information.

Since you did not make an appointment, you may be unable to make a large withdrawal today. However, I will do my best to accommodate you and hope to meet your current spending needs."

Ryan smiled and nodded at Downton, then silently waited for him to state his account number.

But...

Under Manager Ryan's expectant gaze, Downton lightly shrugged.

"What account? What savings? Sorry, I don't have any of that stuff."

"What?"

Ryan froze slightly. Before he could react, Downton had already drawn a handgun from the back of his waistband.

The moment he entered the VIP lounge, Downton had identified the security camera's location. Holding the gun, he walked beneath it and shot the camera first.

The sudden gunshot froze the entire bank. Fortunately, this was the VIP lounge, and the people outside were still dazed.

Inside the lounge, Downton swung his gun toward Ryan, who was trying to draw his own weapon.

"Don't move, buddy. You said you'd accommodate me. A man should keep his word.

Oh, right, we weren't finished with our earlier conversation. What account? What savings? How could a bank be such an inconvenient thing!

If I have to deposit money before I can withdraw money, then why should I choose Atlanta Bank? And what would keep me loyal to your banking brand?

You bank presidents need to be flexible in your business practices. Otherwise, how can you continue to have quality customers like me?"

As he spoke, Downton moved behind Ryan and pressed the gun against his lower back.

Grabbing Ryan's collar with his other hand, Downton kicked open the lounge door and exposed the hostage manager to the stunned crowd.

"Shit!"

"It's a robber!"

"Damn it, robbers dress that well now?"

"He isn't even wearing a mask!"

The bank's customers fled in panic. Several customers near the entrance immediately ran outside, causing considerable trouble for the security guards.

There were only four guards in this not-too-big, not-too-small bank. With one still stationed outside, the other three raised their guns in unison at Downton.

Facing the guards' guns, Downton draped his left arm around Manager Ryan's shoulders and spoke to the guards.

"How much do you make a month? Why risk your lives over that little money?

Believe me, I am not here to rob the bank. I am here to make things convenient for your bank.

I'm only one person. How much money can I possibly take? A loss this small is nothing to a major bank like Atlanta Bank, with branches all across America.

My appearance will not only let you squeeze the insurance company for a little compensation, it can also help your bank deal with some bad debts. If you do not believe me, ask Manager Ryan here. He definitely understands what I mean."

Downton jabbed Ryan's head with the muzzle. Ryan hurriedly nodded.

Then Ryan quickly shouted at the security personnel.

"Didn't you hear him? The robber demands that all surveillance equipment be shut down, or my head will be blown apart!"

After saying that, Manager Ryan swallowed, then turned back and quietly said to Downton.

"Sir, you... Fine, even if it is for my life, I... have to admit that you make some sense.

But before that, it would be best not to let them hear our conversation."

After explaining himself, Manager Ryan once again acted like a madman and continued shouting at everyone around him.

"Are you idiots? Turn off the surveillance! Turn it off!"

"Uh..."

Faced with Ryan's urging, the security guards looked at one another before picking up their radios.

"Turner, shut down all surveillance!"

"Received. But the Family has no special business lately, right?"

The guard in the surveillance room answered over the radio, then completely shut down the cameras.

Once all the cameras in the lobby went dark and drooped down, Manager Ryan finally let out a heavy breath.

"Whose man are you?"

After relaxing, Manager Ryan suddenly spoke to Downton.

"Looks like you're working alone. No wonder you don't know.

This is Maroni Family territory. Our bank has a good, tacit partnership with the Maroni Family.

Buddy, take my advice. Robbing banks runs deep. You can't handle it.

The methods you mentioned are things we and the Maroni Family have been doing all along. Even the guards in our bank are Maroni Family enforcers. They will hunt you down until you die.

They are far more dangerous than the police!"