Chapter 424: A Loan

Two golden domes, two sections .Kazi had always appreciated the artistry of the Imperial Bank of Umar’s interior, but today he had more pressing concerns than its beauty. He went to the right dome, the dome of the people.

Kazi flashed a card, requested the presence of the assistant head of operations, and, after some talk and back and forths, he was allowed in. The assistant head of operation, Farouk, and his office was tucked away at the end of a long, quiet corridor lined with thick, soundproof doors on the second floor. When Kazi pushed open the heavy door, he found Farouk seated behind an his desk, scribbling something onto a parchment. The assistant head looked up, his lips already in welcoming smile.

“Ah, Kazi Hossain,” Farouk said, setting down his pen. Whatever work he was doing was important. “It’s been a while since you graced my office. I’m glad to see your face.”

“Farouk,” Kazi replied, striding into the room with his signature confidence. “Always a pleasure to see you. And no, unfortunately, I’m here to talk business. Big business.”

Farouk briefly got up to shake his hand, smiling. His smile widened when they made contact. Kazi did this thing when he shook your hand, a gentle pressure between your thumb and index finger. And the way he looked directly at you.

Mesmerizing. It gave off a genuine warmth. It was the sort of handshake that instantly set a man at ease, making them feeling they were in good company and that they were genuinely happy for the encounter. Smiling as wide as he could, Farouk gestured to one of the high-backed chairs in front of his desk. “Go on, then. Is there something I can do for you?”

Kazi settled into the chair. “I need a loan. A big one.”

Farouk was already wowed.

“Ten million points.” Kazi eyed Farouk’s reaction carefully.

The banker steepled his fingers. “That…is a big loan,” he said slowly. “What is it for?”

Kazi smiled, the kind of smile that hinted he was about to tell a story worth listening to. “I’m at an open world type gate. There’s a creature—a Bake-kujira—off the coast of Matsue. Skeletal whale, breathes fire, summons swarms of monsters, spreads plagues. The works.”

Farouk frowned. “And you’re planning to fight it?”

“Fight it?” Kazi said. “I mean to kill it.”

“I can…vaguely see how this justifies a ten-million-point loan. You want a new weapon or something of that sort?”

Kazi crossed one leg over the other. “Let me paint you a picture, Farouk. Matsue is a city that desperately requires a saviour. The Bake-kujira is a threat not just to the city but to the entire region. If we take it down, we’re not just heroes—we’re saviors. And saviors, as you know, have leverage.”

“Ah, I see. But…when the gates open to the public, it is likely the Japanese Imperial Family will flex their authority and take over. They are fellow Japanese after all.”

“Lord Mosuke,” Kazi said, “is overlooking everything. He is known to be a saint. He does not judge on ethnicity but character and good will. In his world, the imperial family did not help. If Samantha—one of my partners—and I succeed, we’ll be in a prime position to negotiate with him. The plan is to take over the trade of a specific section of the city. A lucrative section.”

Farouk’s expression didn’t change, but Kazi could see the gears turning in his head. The man was calculating, weighing risks against rewards.

“Let’s say you do succeed,” Farouk said finally. “What kind of revenue are we talking about?”

Kazi grinned, pulling a folded piece of parchment from his coat. He spread it out on the desk, revealing a rough map of Matsue with certain areas circled. “This section here,” he said, pointing to a large district near the harbor. “It’s currently underutilized. But with the right investments and management, it could become the heart of the city’s trade network. Imports, exports, tariffs—we’re talking tens of thousands in profit months between Matsu and the Bazaar.”

Farouk’s sharp eyes darted across the lines and circles. “You write well.”

“Thank you.”

He asked further questions on the logistics. Kazi answered every little concern of his.

“This all hinges on victory. You’re confident you can make this happen?”

“Absolutely,” Kazi said. “I’ve already got a team in place—blacksmiths, bomb makers, strategists. We’re gearing up for the battle as we speak. Once the Bake-kujira is out of the way, the city will owe us everything. Lord Mosuke will have no choice but to cut a deal. I gain influence, I impose no taxes but a simple fee for helping rebuild, support the people, earn their goodwill, and the economy booms. And naturally, since the Bake-kujira will be dead, the people will be happy to spend and eventually pay taxes.”

Farouk grew thoughtful about his next question. “And what’s the timeline for all of this?”

“I kill it in three weeks, less in ideal conditions,” Kazi said. “The Bake-kujira is in hibernation right now, but it’s healing. If we wait too long, it’ll be at full strength. We strike soon, take it down, and then move straight into negotiations.”

The banker tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair, still calculating. “Ten million is a lot to risk on something like this. But this is not unprecedented either. It’s just…”

’Usually, the head of operations does it, not you, the assistant. Figures.’

“Farouk, use your own judgement. If you think this is stupid, then it’s stupid. If it’s smart, then it’s smart. Simple as that.”

“That’s….that’s true. In all honesty, I think it’s foolish to attack a Class Five entity but with ten million…”

“It’s not just talk either,” Kazi said. “If you take this risk, what will happen to you? How will people look at you?”

Regardless of failure, Farouk would gain greater influence. Everyone would be aware that he could give out big loans. This could be the start of something big.

“And of you? I should have asked during your previous visit but have you taken on any women?”

Any women?

What?

Oh, hell no. No, no, no. No way. He refused to let this nonsense be the deciding factor. “I am a player. My focus is on myself.”

“Hrm.” Farouk sat in silence for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the map. Then he reached for his pen, scribbling starting lines onto a blank parchment. “Quite honestly?” he said finally. “I like this plan. I’ll approve the loan.”

Kazi’s grin returned, wider this time.

The banker held up a hand. “Ah, but don’t thank me just yet. This is a fast-track approval, which means you’ll have the funds within the week. For the bank’s sake, I send someone to watch over the usage of the funds?”

“No issue! My blacksmith might be a bit annoyed, although, hey, maybe he could use an extra hand.”

When he left the office, Kazi couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. The pieces were falling into place, and the stakes had never been higher. But if there was one thing Kazi thrived on, it was high stakes. And this time, the rewards would be worth every risk.

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