Mysteries: Arcana Wars

When Klein and Leonard arrived at the Backlund James Bank headquarters, the staff had just started business for the day.

As a bank with a long history, although it does not have a glorious thousand-year history like the Backlund Bank, it is still considered a veteran force in Backlund.

The head office still uses this old building that was built more than 700 years ago in the steam age. The huge sail arch and thick pillars support the entire wide and magnificent hall. The mechanical structure with the characteristics of the times grows up along the walls and arches, forming an ancient overall structure with the chandelier on the dome.

This is probably a mechanical structure that combined [armed defense] and [electrification system] when the steam age and the electrical age were combined. It was responsible for preventing possible accidents and integrating the wiring of electric lights, ventilation, etc. with the machinery. Different from the modern concept of suspended ceilings, this structure is like the [domino mist] in St. Hillran's Church, which is laid close to the deconstruction of the building, and combined with the dome, chandelier, and arch, forming a unique style with a sense of "steam punk" in the old days.

The antique hall looks more like a church than a modern bank building, with high ceilings and staff walking around in a disproportionate manner.

There are boxes built on the marble floor with exquisite patterns. These boxes are arranged in two rows on both sides of the hall. The upper part is transparent, the lower part is a solid wall, and the top is also made of bulletproof glass. It is tightly sealed. Except for the transaction port facing the guests, there is no opening.

In Klein's impression, this was very similar to an old bank from the Fifth Epoch, except that the counters at that time still used iron fences and did not have the strong security facilities of modern times.

Klein had seen some explanations of bank buildings in the early Sixth Epoch Electrical Age in some previous popular science posts online. This fortress-like counter can only be entered and exited from underground. The staff completed security checks, rhymes, and inventory in the inner layer of the underground, and then came to the glass box to work.

And at their feet, the mature and fast air pump capsules provided strong support for the tellers of that era, whether it was cash, gold, insurance custody, or... supporting ammunition. These air pump tracks could bring a strong sense of security to the tellers and provide the best protection for the guests' property.

With the development of modern technology, glass boxes have replaced the old iron cages, cameras have replaced the unstable electric guns and steam high-pressure guns on the top, and the safer and faster magnetic levitation tracks have replaced the backward air pump capsules.

As for the safe? Of course, they dug down. In who knows how many layers of the ground, there were countless treasures held in trust by the James Bank.

Since the Steam Age, humans who have embarked on a "technological explosion" have had a strong obsession with expanding space downwards, especially Backlund, otherwise there would not be such a messy underground city left now. Although compared with the old days, this technology tree is slower than a turtle and is stranded from time to time...

"It seems that the Ishdar Group does not have the resources to rent the hall here to hold the ceremony."

Klein looked at the orderly hall and spoke softly to Leonard.

As a Feynapotter force that had just established a foothold in Backlund, the powerful dragon was still no match for the local snake.

"With their current size, it's not even James Bank's turn to give him face."

Leonard walked forward with a stern face, and was immediately greeted by the lobby manager who was dressed in simple and decent clothes and bowed with a smile.

"Gentlemen, how can the James Bank be of any service to you?"

"Sivellas Field, investigating a case." Leonard showed his ID, "Please cooperate with us."

The lobby manager solemnly took the relevant documents and looked at them carefully.

Leonard went to the Sivilas Field early this morning, secretly picked a financial case as a cover, and asked Klein to use some illusions to make fake documents and bring them along. After receiving Geraldine's message, Gloria also cooperated and quickly signed a document for Leonard, and told him that the main force would be here soon.

I wonder if a demigod-level illusion can fool the machine inspection...

Klein and Leonard's original plan was to split up into two groups. Klein would search the safe, while Leonard would focus on the ground, questioning the lobby manager and collecting information.

The lobby manager who received feedback soon became a little strange.

"Sir, one of your documents is fine, but the other document has some intermittent problems..."

"Maybe your machine is out of repair." Klein added, "Just like your money detector, there are always a few bills that jump back and forth between real and fake."

The lobby manager hesitated for a moment. After all, the other document was perfect except for being a little rough, so he nodded in agreement.

"The Backlund James Bank Head Office will cooperate with the Sivellas Field investigation within the legal scope."

Soon, several bank employees and security personnel appeared from nowhere and led Klein to the underground vault. Leonard was taken to the VIP room by the lobby manager.

"Massimo Ishtar's donation ceremony? It's held in our conference hall and will begin soon."

The lobby manager pondered for a moment and said seriously.

"If we are asked to protect Mr. Ishdar or Sheriff Hawke in advance, it will be difficult. The security of this event is required to be the responsibility of the Ishdar Group and the Sivellas Field. It is really difficult for us to focus on protecting Mr. Ishdar - wait a moment..."

The lobby manager noticed something was wrong and asked cautiously.

"Are you not going to attend this event at Sivellas Field?"

"We are parallel teams and we don't interact with each other on a regular basis. The donation ceremony has nothing to do with me, and I didn't ask you to watch that Ishdar. That was just a diversion by the robbers."

Leonard replied calmly.

"I think what you should be concerned about is how to protect your customers' safes?"

Before the lobby manager could answer, a scream came from his headphones.

"Alert! Level 1 alert!!"

******

"...But that's my dearest and most lovely little brother, our most lovable Jarod..."

Massimo Ishtar was on the stage, crying and delivering what he thought was a very moving speech, with several cameras flashing at him.

But he was actually very dissatisfied with James Bank today. After Garrod's accident, he had been negotiating with James Bank, requesting to hold the ceremony in the lobby of the head office, but even at the end, James Bank only agreed to rent the conference hall.

These small-time characters from Feynapotter were not worthy of the James Bank closing down for a day and clearing out its proud antique hall just to gild their reputation.

Ha, it seems that our Ishdar is not powerful enough in Backlund. Massimo sneered in his heart. If it were Feynaport, those congressmen would have to give some face to them when they did things...

Never mind... The most urgent task now is to open up a new situation in Backlund for the sake of the family.

"...This despicable criminal actually dared to do such a dirty thing in a great city like Backlund. How could he have the heart to attack a child who was only ten years old..."

To be honest, Massimo even wanted to thank the robber. If it weren't for this kidnapping case, he would never have gotten such a good opportunity to get close to Sivellas. Especially since the kidnapper was his younger brother Jarod, and the investigator was the legendary Leonard Mitchell, this opportunity was even better.

In fact, after Jarod got into trouble, Massimo, as the eldest brother, immediately began planning this donation ceremony with the police. As for whether Jarod could survive, it was actually not important to Massimo. If the kid was really killed, he could still have an extra share of his father's property after his death.

The most important thing is to make the people in Sivella Field accept this gift naturally, and even make it impossible for them to refuse and force them to get on the same pirate ship.

"...Now, please allow me to express my infinite gratitude and invite our Sheriff Nicolo Hawke to the stage..."

The fat Sheriff Hawke stood on the stage with a smug smile on his face, while Massimo's bright smile was full of contempt and disgust.

According to the original idea, Massimo originally wanted to win over Leonard Mitchell, the cold-faced detective of Backlund. According to Leonard's ability and reputation in solving cases, even if he was still young and perhaps not old enough to become a three-star detective and then the youngest police chief of Backlund, he should not be an ordinary detective without a star until now. It is obvious that he has been suppressed by his superiors.

Talented, oppressed, and born in an orphanage, this kind of talent is definitely the best choice to win over.

Unfortunately, Massimo's attempts to win over others were not successful, either in public or in private. He even went to great lengths to construct such a massive moral kidnapping, but in the end, the person who came to grab the credit was Niccolò Hawke.

They said it was a gift for the police department, but in fact the two knew very well that all the money ended up going into their own pockets.

Forget it, at least he is a sheriff who is easy to control.

Which of these Backlund people doesn't have an insider in the police station?

Amidst thunderous applause, the staff of Backlund James Bank dutifully escorted a heavy safe to the front of the stage. This box was taken out from a larger fixed safe in the basement not long ago. After combining the key with Massimo, a small statue of a jeweled woman was taken out.

The statue was clearly an antique, with the craftsman carving the woman's delicate face out of gold and inlaying her clothes with gems.

Nicolo Hawke eagerly took the antique statue.

"...Thank you for your generosity, Ishtar..."

Before he could finish his words, several small cans suddenly shattered the glass, and white smoke exploded in front of Sheriff Hawke's eyes!

"Don't fucking move! Hand over the Golden Lady to me!"