Westminster Bank

"What we need to worry about isn't how to handle them, but the conditions he might demand from Westminster in exchange for Constantine."

It was one of the few pieces of good news.

Hoover fell silent for a moment. "Howard mentioned earlier that aside from the Illusory Cocoon, most of Constantine's S-Level Taboo Items were from the Beowulf Family's collection."

Hearing this, the directors felt a sense of foreboding. The 9th Director asked, "Most of them, you mean…"

"All of them." Hoover clearly couldn't maintain his composure, his face twitching as he spoke.

"…"

The directors fell silent once more.

Myths always say that Dragons are a source of disaster. Now, faced with Dragon Knight Baron Constantin's brilliant track record, they felt that Dragon Knights should be added to that legend.

The 9th Director cleared his throat. "Mr. Constantine has a codename, if I recall… Why don't we use that for his official file at Westminster?"

Hoover coughed. "We can."

'On the one hand, it would conceal his identity. On the other… it would also protect Westminster.'

'It wasn't that he didn't want to help Constantine clean up his messes, but while it would normally be manageable, the price for doing so now was simply too high.'

'His hands were tied.'

"Next, I have another proposal," Hoover said. "I hope we can move that plan up on the agenda."

The 9th Director let out a heavy sigh. "I knew you'd bring this up. But we haven't fully assembled 'Mystery' yet. Launching the plan rashly might not have much of an effect on it."

"I've done the calculations. We only need to contain a few more S-Level Taboo Items and we should be able to complete a piece of 'Mystery,'" Hoover said. "I believe we can achieve this goal in about two years."

Two years…

The directors were stunned once more, apparently finding the number unbelievable.

The 9th Director said, "And who would execute this plan when the time comes? Constantine? Having drawn the Dragon Spear, his duty is to deal with Black Dragon Nidhogg and the Mad Dragon… 'It' has nothing to do with a Dragon Knight."

He continued, "And it can't be you, either. You made a pact with the Elf Race. If you die before the Black Dragon does, Westminster will be left to clean up your mess. The price we'd have to pay would be astronomically higher than whatever reward we got from the Elves in the first place."

"How cruel. And here I thought you were actually worried about this old man," Hoover chuckled.

The 9th Director said, "I know what you're thinking, Hoover, but now is not the time. First, let's focus on managing and protecting our dear Dragon Knight… Given his power and Destiny, I'm very much looking forward to his performance at Westminster."

With that, the 9th Director's misty form dissipated.

The other directors departed one by one, their exits identical. The scene was both bizarre and unsettling.

When only Hoover remained at the table, the seemingly irreverent governor waved a hand. His suit instantly transformed back into a Daoist robe, and his entire demeanor shifted from that of a Wall Street magnate to a venerable Daoist master of otherworldly grace.

'A bunch of old foxes, all of them… But looking at his case files, our Mr. Dragon Knight is quite the handful himself.'

Just as Hoover was about to leave, the Copper Bell in front of him suddenly chimed.

"Governor Hoover…" His personal secretary's voice sounded from the other side of the Copper Bell. "Breaking news. The Forest Elf Princess of Yafurheim has gone missing."

"Why are you telling me this? Does Westminster have an obligation to help Yafurheim find a missing person? The only contract we signed with them concerned the World Tree!"

"According to our intelligence agents, the Forest Elf Princess is carrying an S-Level Taboo Item belonging to the Forest Elf Race."

"It is Destiny! This is a matter of Destiny for Westminster!" Hoover declared, his tone firm as iron. "Find that Forest Elf Princess before anyone else does!"

————————

At that very moment, at Westminster Bank—or more precisely, at the various regional branches of Westminster People's Bank.

An invisible storm began to brew among the regional directors and senior executive officers as a work directive with a "SSS" security classification was distributed.

"The official appointment of SS-Level Specialist L… Westminster has a seventh S-Level Specialist, and in the United Kingdom, no less… Wait, this isn't S-Level, it's… SS-Level!!!"

"SS-Level?! Another SS-Level Specialist?! Are the board of directors sure this isn't a typo? Or are they talking about *that* legendary SS-Level Specialist? But the name is L… I've never heard that name. Is it a codename?"

"SS-Level… How is that possible? L, that name is so familiar… Isn't that from the betting pool in the Westminster Times?!"

"Another SS-Level… This means the title of SS-Level Specialist is no longer held by just one person… Is the board of directors grooming a new governor?"

The Arctic Ocean. On the desolate Arctic Icefield, dark clouds and white ice merged at the horizon, like a blank canvas.

A Greenland Shark burst through the ice, and in the instant it leaped from the water, it transformed into a snow-white owl. After circling once in the air, it swooped down to land on a young man's shoulder.

The young man took a newspaper from the owl's sharp beak. "'The Westminster Times'? No, this looks like the board's latest 'Official Announcement.'"

He unfolded the paper. 'SS-Level… Another one? Interesting. I didn't think anyone else's Destiny could catch up to my own.'

'But it's about time I headed back… After living with the Inuit for so long, I'm finally going to see 'it'… When I get back, I'll take a bath first, then shave this beard…'

He touched the Gentiana Pattern Ring on his finger, and a black stone covered in strange symbols materialized on the icefield.

He lit the black stone with a lighter, then performed an ancient god-worshipping dance he had learned from the Inuit around it. The runes on the stone began to glow.

The young man leaned in close to the glowing runes, memorized the location they revealed, and let out a long breath.

'The legendary S-Level Taboo Item, the Trident of the Sea God… I'm finally going to find you.'

.........

"L… I absolutely had no intention of making things difficult for you… Moscow welcomes you… I think you might consider a change of workplace. London may not welcome you, but Moscow does!"

The once arrogant Governor of Moscow, Malozov, had emerged from the board meeting a changed man, now fawning incessantly over Baron.

Howard's face darkened. Poaching someone right in front of him, the Deputy Governor of Westminster Bank and Governor of the European District—he couldn't stand it. "Malozov, you'd best go attend to your own affairs. I'm still waiting to see my statue in Moscow, you know…"

Malozov, however, was unfazed. "What statue? Those were just empty words. Do you have a contract?"

The governors produced by Westminster had nothing if not thick skins.

Especially a man from Moscow.

It was common knowledge in Europe that Moscow was synonymous with barbarism and faithlessness.

"I have a recording."

Howard took out a recording pen and pressed play. The terms of their bet were recited once more, in Malozov's own voice.

Another line item should be added to the summary: besides being thick-skinned, the governors produced by Westminster were also crafty old dogs.

On the way, Baron paid no mind to Malozov's sudden change from arrogance to deference. He felt that his value to Westminster had now been fully exposed, and in return, Westminster would have to offer something that would truly tempt him.

'He had joined Westminster to latch onto a powerful backer. But now, not only had he failed to secure that backing, he'd also accumulated a mountain of trouble.'

This was one of the reasons for his cold expression all this time.

It was only *one* of the reasons because, according to a secret message from Jack, the Westminster Times was apparently extremely bullish on him. Based on his three test results, an S-Level rating was considered a lock. What he had to do now was apply heavy pressure and state his terms. Ideally, he could get them to open the Taboo Chamber just for him, in exchange for the right to use one of its Taboo Items.