Clang—clang—clang—
Three deep, solemn peals rang out from the bell tower of Southern Alliance City.
Inside a hall built entirely of marble, a few figures sat in arched council seats modeled after those of the Holy Hall. Every one of them was a councilor of high standing.
Katelina's father, the Violet Duke, was among them.
"Such a simple idea. Why did none of you ever think of it?"
An old man in the front row spoke. He wore a Deep Moonlight robe that seemed to drape the entire starry sky over his shoulders, with three Meteoric Iron badges pinned to its collar. His voice echoed through the empty hall.
The Gold Depository was booming and causing quite a stir. Even many Ancient Families had taken notice.
As far as they were concerned, Free City was taking their money.
The Gold Depository was different from the Commercial Street. Every transaction on the Commercial Street yielded taxes for those in power, but every coin the Gold Depository earned went into that young lord's pocket. He claimed it was not a for-profit institution, merely a convenience for depositors. Who believed that?
You kept people's money safe and paid them interest? What were you, the Holy Son of the Wealth Church?
Damn it. He actually was.
The councilors had their own thoughts, but each of them arrived at that same point. Their faces darkened.
If it had been any other Church, they could have used quiet pressure or outright force to seize the venture for themselves. The Churches were waning in the Year of Turmoil, and they had royal power behind them.
But the Wealth Church... Well, Lady of Wealth had deep roots among humanity. Nearly every one of them carried a Church Medal.
Officially, they would even have to greet Annan with the