[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bear-school-astartes":3,"chapter-bear-school-astartes-bear-school-astartes-chapter-1023":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Bear School Astartes",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1620768,2087,"Chapter 1023 - 1005: Vivaldi Bank","bear-school-astartes-chapter-1023",1023,"\u003Cp>The following days were no longer busy, as Lann had already accomplished his primary goal upon arriving in Novigrad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——To find a shapeshifter in this ten-thousand-person city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dandelion originally planned to finish the script in one day and then hand it to Lady Irena’s theater troupe for review and performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, once Priscilla joined the script creation without any discussion, the two talented poets and playwrights initially didn’t get along well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like repelling forces of the same kind, they persistently used beautiful yet complex grammar to mock each other’s writing and ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This slowed down the creative process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But subsequently, they both came to genuinely appreciate each other’s literary talents, albeit reluctantly through their words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re almost friends now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geralt, who was staying with them at the Kingfisher Tavern, described their current relationship this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Dudu didn’t look too pleased, as he initially intended to pursue Priscilla.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those negative emotions soon disappeared, as he wasn’t really hung up on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the way he tried to attract Priscilla’s attention using Dandelion’s appearance and talents made one wonder if he truly cared for her at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Magic Middle Ages’ view on love, they generally distinguished strongly between lust and love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Geralt as an example: If Geralt wanted to merely satisfy his desires and slept with a woman, Yennefer, tangled with him for ages, might watch with great interest from the side, or even join in with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, they didn’t really mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Geralt happened to show genuine affection towards any woman, Yennefer definitely wouldn’t be in a good mood and might even zap Geralt with a lightning spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lust could be casual, but love needed seriousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Lann couldn’t fully separate the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as for Dudu, he chased girls under someone else’s face, which was likely not out of love; moreover, he hadn’t been in contact with Priscilla for long anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when he decided to give up, he seemed more laid-back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The script was still in creation, but Lann had already taken a step ahead, starting to handle his business handover issues with Dudu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Switching to a professional manager was not as simple as uttering a word and signing a document.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to give Dudu the authority to move funds in his accounts, provide him with ledgers, and offer stock information to show what his management entailed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All these involved complex financial operations, put simply: a trip to the bank was necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, the Kingfisher Tavern was very close to Master’s Square, where there was a large Dwarf Bank, the Vivaldi Bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dudu and Lann left the tavern, and after descending the stone steps at the entrance, it took them less than five minutes to walk to the bank’s vicinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing through the bustling Master’s Square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s one good thing about living here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dudu said as he quickened his pace, though his quickened steps only made Lann walk not like in slow motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann tugged at his hooded cloak, asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a new cloak, as the previous one had been ruined when chasing Dudu and bumping into a vendor, who was angered and slapped it with an eel. Once the eel’s body slime dried, it became quite disgusting, so Lann replaced it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At least there aren’t any Eternal Fire missionaries standing on boxes by the roadside, babbling nonsense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dudu said, scornfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They usually appear in the Bizi District or other southern poor areas of Novigrad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Standing on boxes, preaching to the gathered, struggling poor... preaching, but everyone knows what it really is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dudu made a deliberately exaggerated, compassionate expression, even extending a hand as if to soothe the world’s wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was probably the daily demeanor of those missionaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instead of persuading others to believe in the Eternal Fire, it’s more about making the already struggling poor think their miserable lives are all due to non-human races and monsters. Then, the Eternal Fire fights these entities, naturally gaining the poor’s belief.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sounds like you’ve had some bad experiences with missionaries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann raised a brow under his hood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely!\" Dudu spoke frankly, \"I was just passing by, and that missionary saw me. He openly claimed right in front of me that I, a Half-Elf trader, cheated humans out of their money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the time, I didn’t dare say anything, even when he pointed at my nose and cursed. Because the crowd surrounding him... the way they looked at me, made me think I was back surviving in the wilderness. Honestly, I was terrified. Almost escaped to get away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But here, at Master’s Square, Novigrad’s most upscale and profitable market, the Eternal Fire Church, for the sake of city finances, at least wouldn’t station obnoxious missionaries here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well then, gentlemen, follow me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann and Dudu had reached the other side of Master’s Square, where Vimo Vivaldi called to them loudly and welcomed them into the bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a typical dwarf banker, adorned in gold and silver, unlike his rugged, free-spirited, and dirty peers known for their forging skills and ore mining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only his stout body and the lush white beard that drops to his chest are the universal traits of a dwarf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Lann has considerable assets and was prearranged by Dudu, this branch manager of Vivaldi Bank in Novigrad came out to welcome him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking into the bank, there were many long tables with people working intently beside them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were young humans and dwarves whose ages were difficult to discern, all busy transcribing rows of figures and symbols onto parchment, each with their heads down, lips slightly parted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The work looks intensely monotonous, yet everyone is fully absorbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead banker walked into his office, carefully closed the door, smoothed his white beard, and adjusted the silk coat that barely covered his large belly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome, Duke Lann, and my old friend, Dudu Bieberwitt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat behind a mahogany desk groaning under the weight of mountain-like piles of scrolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You may remove your hood, Duke. Shilton has briefed me and given the heads up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are three major dwarf banking families: Giancardi, Vivaldi, and Zion Fanreni.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Competition is rare among them; after all, holding such a significant share in a human-dominated financial world is no small feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann obediently removed his hood and sat more comfortably in the chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shilton, that young fellow, left a deep impression on me. When he wanted to venture out from his family bank, I told him he had guts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vimo Vivaldi first used their mutual acquaintance to strengthen their relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please don’t blame him, Duke. After all, he’s just a young dwarf, not yet thirty. Investing is uncertain for anyone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann thought of Shilton and his big red beard, scratching his chin silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I don’t blame him. In fact, he was overly sensitive and insisted on resigning from my position as professional manager.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, that’s good to hear. Shilton’s uncle went through a lot of effort to reach out to me, asking me to explain things on his behalf.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vimo Vivaldi nodded, then struggled to pull out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses from his tight coat pocket and put them on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began searching the mountain of scrolls on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, he pulled out a thick scroll of several dozen sheets of parchment bound together like a flimsy book and handed it across the table to Lann.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are the equity transfer documents and banking information Shilton handed over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann skimmed through it, and Mentos quickly recalled the information from the account books, matching perfectly with the thick scroll’s contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivaldi Bank had fully transferred this information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann rotated the thick scroll a quarter turn in his hands and directed it to Dudu beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, this is your job.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\" Dudu took the thick scroll without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Great, great.\" Vimo Vivaldi removed his glasses. \"Dudu, I’ve always admired you. The last venture’s failure was nothing; see, now you’re back up again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now you’re getting involved in some real big deals, and who knows, it might take you even higher.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for your blessing, old Vimo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dudu responded while browsing through the information in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I must say, my predecessor indeed had a vision. The equities and assets he acquired were excellent. If he hadn’t been too hasty, they would’ve surely profited.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I always said, that kid from the Giancardi family had guts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf banker adjusted his beard and commented with a hint of satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned his attention to the Demon Hunter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honorable Duke, the rupture in your financial chain isn’t a major issue. Given these premium assets, our Vivaldi Bank can easily patch up the gap for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll give you the lowest friendship rate on interest. Trust me, even the Vizimir Royal Capital would envy these loan terms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His financial chain rupture seemed perilous, and within a few days, he would essentially be bankrupt. Yet, many were eager to offer him loans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some beg and plead at banks just to get a little money, but for valuable clients, banks hope to be the ones they borrow from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because that’s the source of a bank’s influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lann didn’t want to be entangled in the complex web of banking and financial forces, so he took a bill of exchange from the Alchemy Pouch at his back waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed the bill on the table, pushing it towards Vimo Vivaldi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I appreciate your kind offer, but I’m not accustomed to owing money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1588,"2026-06-06T10:40:38.499Z",1,"novelbin.me","ca5c5c011a25e490305e7aec0bf78ae75d758efa009e7f6df2f3fc74711dd360","bear-school-astartes-chapter-966","bear-school-astartes-chapter-965",1043,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbear-school-astartes-cover.jpg"]