Chapter 19: Bank Cashout

Old Tang Mu, unaware that he had narrowly escaped disaster, took Henry to a white wall, snapped a few photos with a click-click-click, then safely delivered him to the bank.

First National Bank of Alaska, the most common bank in Alasijiazhou and one of the top-performing banks in the United States, long holding a five-star rating.

Founded in 1922 by Old Winfield Elvin, it established a solid foundation during the 1920s railroad boom in Alasijiazhou.

Such a bank naturally offered a wide range of services, and its manager knew how to treat every kind of customer.

At least when Tang Mu led Henry through the door, the bank manager immediately stepped out to greet them from his office.

"Hey, Mr. Tang Mu, you're as handsome as ever today." The bank manager extended his hand in greeting.

But Old Tang Mu gave no quarter, saying: "You might as well say Franklin is still Franklin—it won't change in another hundred years. Right?"

"Haha, Franklin's been around as long as our bank, of course it won't change." The bank manager chuckled at his own joke, then asked: "And this gentleman is?"

"Henry. George's crewman. He's here to cash a check."

"Welcome, welcome to our bank. We boast the best reputation in the United States and the most convenient service. Will you be depositing into another bank's account, or opening a new one here?"

Tang Mu answered for Henry: "Cash. He wants direct cash."

"For cashing out, the fee is six per thousand. The standard cashing fee is four per thousand. If you open an account here, I can reduce the check-cashing fee to two per thousand. Not considering opening an account?"

"He's missing some documents," Tang Mu said tactfully. "If you're willing to make an exception, other options aren't out of the question." He turned to Henry: "Henry, what do you plan to do?"

Some people would haggle over the difference in fees, so Tang Mu had no intention of deciding for Henry. Of course, he revealed this much to let the bank manager know there would be some non-compliant "difficulties"—he should be prepared.

"No, I'll just take the cash," Henry said without hesitation.

Understanding Tang Mu's hint, the bank manager naturally said nothing more about Henry's choice. After all, performing non-compliant procedures carried some risk.

Though doing so might earn him an extra bribe on the side, since the client had made his decision, it was simpler for everyone to follow the rules—no one needed extra trouble.

The bank manager kept his smile, sliding a polished wooden tray before Henry: "Please remove the check you wish to cash. I'll process it immediately."

The speed of his action surprised Henry. He had expected such a large cash withdrawal to be met with delays or excuses.

Seeing Henry's slightly startled expression, Tang Mu didn't need to ask to know what these newcomers were thinking, and explained:

"During crab season, plenty of fresh greens just take cash and vanish. So during this period, we always keep extra cash on hand—nothing unusual."

This also explained why, despite its modest size, this small-town bank had more than its fair share of armed guards, as Henry had observed.

Following the principle that if you have a legitimate way to earn money, there's no need to invite trouble, bank robbery was never an option. Henry placed George's signed check onto the tray.

The bank manager retrieved the tray, studied the check's amount, and confirmed: "You wish to cash this check for eighty thousand Niu, correct?"

"Yes."

"Alright, please wait a moment." Rising with the tray, the bank manager went to process the cashing.

At the same time, a young lady with long legs in black silk entered the office and politely asked: "Gentlemen, coffee or tea?"

No third option? Henry thought sadly. Out loud he said: "Coffee, thank you."

Tang Mu asked for nothing, dismissed the receptionist, then walked over to the manager's liquor cabinet, poured himself a whiskey, and asked: "Kid, are you of age?"

"Hmm, what's the legal drinking age here?" Henry asked, unsure if the world's rules matched his memories, so he added the question.

"Twenty-one."

"Then that's too bad—I'll stick with coffee. Too bad there's no milk."

"Tsk, then you've missed half of life's pleasures."

Returning to the sofa with his whiskey glass, Tang Mu settled in comfortably and asked: "Tell me—how did you end up on George's ship?"

"I didn't know you did background checks here? Who are you? CIA undercover?"

"Hah, we've got time to wait. Shall we chat, or just stare at each other? Or admire this office with zero taste? I can assure you—every painting and decoration here costs less than a hundred Niu."

Henry gave no reply to the office's cheapness or lack of taste, and answered Tang Mu's question instead.

"The Pole got me on board. I met him at Old John's bar. You know that little town up north?"

"Ah, that old stubborn relic from WWII, right? I know him—a whole family of patriots, now only the oldest one's left."

Henry didn't bother refuting the slightly rude teasing.

Old Tang Mu pressed: "It's not just that, kid. George rarely pays attention to a fresh green. What else did you do?"

"Well, there was a small accident on the ship—I helped fix it. Then I figured I learn fast and work hard. The rest, you'll have to ask George. I don't know what he's thinking."

"Oh, a small accident," Tang Mu said offhandedly, but didn't press further.

Their idle chat ended as the bank manager returned, carrying a larger tray stacked with bundles of cash, placing it before Henry.

"After deducting our cashing fee of 480 Niu, you have 79,520 Niu total. Each bundle of one hundred Niu bills contains one hundred notes—seven bundles here. The remainder, I've converted into smaller bills for you. All here—please count."

The same bank lady who brought the coffee reappeared, now pushing a bank-grade bill counter. She efficiently counted every bill before Henry, added the total on a calculator, and confirmed accuracy.

When the lady finished, Henry counted too. He had no intention of recounting manually—just holding a few bundles of cash, he felt oddly numb.

Seeing this, the bank manager had someone bring a small tote bag, packed all the cash inside, and smiled: "This bag is complimentary."

New book seeking follows, collections, and recommendations—thank you~~

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(End of Chapter)