Chapter 430: Karak Gold Bank

The twelve faith-spreaders went off to select their treasures, full of confidence. Sinuoli watched their retreating backs and pondered to himself; pinning his hopes on others had never been his style, and cooking the meat in the pot of the Southlands until it was tender and devouring it was a more important task.

"Congratulations to you all for demonstrating the qualities I require. We depart in half a month. Those with families can take this time to bring them over to join me in heading to the Southlands."

Sinuoli wasted no time in meeting with the "Second Dwarf" potential stocks. These lower-to-middle-class intellectuals who were struggling in the Old World were desperate to switch employers for a promotion and a raise.

Sinuoli had nothing to say to them; he would arrange their positions and let them struggle for power with the existing Human managers themselves. As long as the first wave made the excellent benefits of the Southlands known, he would not have to worry about the quality of the next wave of applicants.

"Father, I have a concept that I hope to receive your support for." After finishing his own business, Sinuoli requested a meeting with Thorgrim Grudgebearer, and he handed a document beneath the Dragon Crown.

"Taking deposits, issuing loans—it seems there are sporadic instances of this below the mountains as well. Nina mentioned it once before, but I felt the profits were too limited and did not look into it deeply. You are actually interested in this? Is it related to ascending to godhood?"

The High King understood it after a brief glance. Sinuoli did not understand high-level financial knowledge either; the concept he wrote down only included the basic functions of a bank from his past life. Since this world had even produced Steam Tanks, it was not strange to have some rudimentary prototypes.

"Yes. If it can be promoted, it will be a small help to the spread of my faith, and it can also increase the influence of the Dwarf Realms. Revitalizing your mountains should be multifaceted."

"Don't explain, all his decisions will be supported. By the way, do you need me to abdicate the position of High King to him? It is not as if there is no such precedent." Thorgrim interrupted Sinuoli's analysis, his hands gently taking off the Dragon Crown and pressing it onto the document.

"Hiss, it is too early. At the very least, I must manage the Southlands until it is solid as a rock before I can spare the energy. Before that, you sitting at the Everpeak is my most important support and my final backing."

"Gold Bank? Is that some jewelry store? Why are even the guys carrying hammers coming here! In the tavern, the bearded friends are blowing these warriors up to be just like Knight lords!"

The plaque of the bank was personally carved by Master Oudongwai, the vice-president of the Rune Smith Guild. Under the blessing of the Wealth Authority, the molten gold Dwarf Rune could evoke all of people's imaginations regarding the wealth behind the great gates.

Thorgrim and Sinuoli went out together to unveil the Everpeak branch and headquarters of the "Karak Gold Bank." They did not have to rack their brains to decide on the name; no other term could represent the Dwarf race better than "Karak," which meant a fortress in the mountains.

"Hmph hmph, if that little brat dares to borrow money and not pay it back, he will witness her wrath!"

"I don't know, perhaps it is the generous King of the Southlands; he pushed for the establishment of the bank."

Before the Dwarf employees went on duty, they had been sternly instructed by the Lord Elders. Even if more than ten plausible explanations had emerged in the taverns, they could never directly admit that this was the Ancestor Chosen who had stepped into the realm of a Demigod.

The clever merchants instantly realized what this represented. Any deposit slip from a Karak Gold Bank could be cashed at other branches, which meant the safety of funds was greatly improved.

Without a doubt, this struck a pain point in Human society. Previously, their financial activities were limited to currency exchange and private usury. Even the great merchants of Marienburg were a drop in the bucket compared to the Dwarfs in terms of scale, and they could not handle large-scale business.

Sinuoli's answer had been carefully considered. The envoys who came to congratulate him on his promotion to Demigod were divided: half were obscure in their attempts to persuade him to step down, while the other half were very blunt. Since the Great Earthquake, it had been too long since a Demigod High King had led the mountains.

As long as there was sufficient capital, opening a bank was a very easy matter—just set up a counter in the guard room at the entrance of the vault. The Mountain Kingdom was not its main battlefield; ancient Dwarf Clans might lack many things, but treasures deep underground were not among them.

"The annual interest rate for depositing gold is five percent, and if the amount is large enough, it might even go higher. The interest on loans is only five percent. By Sigmar, that's practically giving it away!"

However, Sinuoli still

needed to run the process through before expanding it into Human society. Of course, anyone could make a deposit, but issuing loans required credit checks or the inspection of sufficient collateral.

And due to the heartbreaking bad debt rate, private lending where nine were borrowed and thirteen were returned was the norm; five percent was practically charity. To accelerate the speed of market capture, Sinuoli made huge concessions.

Thorgrim Grudgebearer pricked his finger and publicly wrote the two most important terms of the bank in blood in the Book of Grudges—the Mountain Kingdom would guarantee all wealth deposited in the bank, and anyone who defaulted on their debts would suffer the vengeance of the Dwarfs for generations to come; fleeing to the territory of the pointy-ears would be no exception.

The persuaders were rejected one by one—besides being a Demigod who was the Ancestor Chosen, the current High King was his own father, and the other Demigod was his master; his influence in the Dwarf Realms could not be increased any further. Being crowned High King would not be of much help to domestic affairs, and instead, it would greatly affect his flexibility in diplomacy.

Sinuoli did not want to let the competition reach a fever pitch right away. The bank itself was a great thing to boost development vitality; there was no need to get involved in the struggle of faiths. After ascending to Demigod, Sinuoli's first call was responded to by all his clansmen, and branches were opened one after another in various fortresses and large settlements in important Human cities.

"Who is that?"

"How do you read that word? It seems to mean castle?"

"Lord Borok and his wife of Karak-Huangwu Bao will be touring the various settlements around the Baise-shanhai to inspect the bank's business operations!"

Everyone who finished their business at the bank could not help but ask that question. Whether on the indoor walls or on the receipts issued, a relief of a Dwarf was sculpted; his face was blurred, and his body language seemed to be looking out into the distance from a high place.

"What Ranald? These friends in the mountains are the true gods of wealth!"

"The Elder said that is the Ancestor God who presides over wealth and oaths!"

"How did the Dwarfs change their nature? In the past, unless the Duke himself went to beg, they wouldn't spit out a single copper coin."

As the King of the Southlands, sailing to Zhendan or flirting with the pointy-ears would only lead to some murmurs in the taverns, but if he sat on the throne of power and held the Book of Grudges, those things could be called betraying the ancestors.

"As you wish. Once Agam is subdued, you won't even have a theoretical competitor. I will keep this body for you for a few more years."