We arrived at the intended location
The building didn't look particularly complicated from the outside, but the real complexity lay within. Its interior was like a maze of departments and corridors.
After walking around for a while, I confirmed that only a few windows had been broken, and they could be repaired quickly. From what Morgana had told me, the windows had been reinforced with magic, which meant they had endured quite a lot before breaking.
Later, I should visit a glass workshop and see how glass is made in this world.
Just a passing curiosity.
Ah, right.
I forgot that it had been shut down as well.
I'll deal with that later.
This building only lacks one thing: a new emblem for the Pillar and a vault designed around a more advanced system. Once that's done, the place can be converted into the central bank.
"I wonder who built this place."
"Didn't you say you inherited all the memories of another soul?" Morgana looked at Ray curiously, wondering why he was asking about such a famous person.
"I can't find any information about him in my memories," Ray admitted.
"So who was he?"
"He was one of the most famous architects during the reign of the Fifth Emperor and the founder of the Builders' Guild. The profession flourished because of him during that era. He designed and constructed numerous government buildings and palaces, but then he suddenly became a traitor and fled with his family to the Holy Empire, where he eventually died."
"Is there any information about why?"
"No. At least none of the records I studied mentioned it. There might be something in the royal family's treasury archives, but I'm not sure."
"I see."
I had respected the Fifth Emperor for elevating the empire's reputation from continental fame to worldwide recognition, even if only temporarily.
But was I mistaken?
How could someone allow a talent like that to be lost?
I should investigate it when I return.
We left the building and took a short walk through the surrounding gardens. The site was officially approved for use as the future central bank.
Workers would be hired through the Labor Guild to clean and restore the place. Perhaps a few of them would prove worthy of employment as well.
The people of this world might be behind in certain areas, but they weren't stupid.
They possessed surprisingly advanced magical technologies: flying airships, functioning sewer systems, and excellent infrastructure.
Yet they lagged behind in other aspects.
Water, for example.
There was no sophisticated water distribution network, and most people still relied on wells.
Though there was probably a reason for that.
Perhaps it was because of their heavy reliance on rune inscriptions.
Runes were used to ignite fires, heat water, cook food, preserve cold temperatures, purify materials, and countless other functions.
The reason might also be related to monsters.
Or perhaps it had something to do with the empire's location on the continent.
More research would be necessary.
"Is this all you came here for?" Morgana asked curiously.
"We'll stop by the major banks as well. Are you bored? I could sing and entertain you."
"You can sing too?"
"I'm joking. If you're bored, remember that coming here was your idea."
The journey continued in a pleasant atmosphere.
Unlike the central building, the financial institutions operating under the name Treasury Bank were still managed by the Ministry of Finance.
According to the branch manager, roughly half of the employees had already left, but some remained simply because they had nowhere else to go.
It seemed the empire hadn't reached complete collapse quite yet.
There were still exits available.
At least as long as I was dealing with the nobility.
That didn't make the task any easier, however.
The second bank was followed by the third, and then the fourth and final one.
Neither Morgana nor I should be wandering around the capital too much right now, so we returned to the castle.
After entering the main palace, she headed off on her own.
Planning something?
Her mind seemed full of ideas.
I returned to my office as well.
Now that I had inspected the location personally, I could finalize the remaining details while the minister handled recruitment and Sysilin coordinated with everyone else.
More accurately, all that remained was refinement and a few additions based on what I had observed on site, along with some adjustments to the regulations.
The real reason I'd gone out in the first place was simply to take a short break.
"What do you think, Cube? Should I add another rule?"
I leaned back slightly.
"No chest is to be opened, no document is to be sealed, and no one is to enter the lower vaults unless at least two employees from different departments are present."
[Weren't the 104 rules and 21 laws you already established enough? Those regulations are clear and complement one another. Is this additional rule really necessary?]
"It's for when money is placed inside the vault."
[Then don't rush it. You can't activate the building's systems yet. Besides, concentrating too much wealth in a single location could create problems. Implement changes gradually.]
"I actually have another idea."
After visiting the building, my thoughts were a complete mess.
"Take the central bank vault as an example. Wouldn't it be better to eliminate the possibility of a black swan event entirely?"
[And what exactly is that?]
If fearing the appearance of a black swan only increases the chances of one appearing, then perhaps its appearance should become part of the design itself.
Let's start with the central bank vault.
"Cube, I'm going to throw out some theories. Help me design the vault's security system."
[Very well. What are you planning?]
"Let's build a vault that doesn't rely solely on strong materials and magical defensive arrays, but on impossibility itself."
I tapped the desk.
"Apply the theory of spatial encryption. I want a system that disrupts the flow of mana and aura within the secure zone while keeping that disruption completely isolated from the vault's defensive magical systems."
The true secret lay in combining technology this world had yet to understand with the complexity of its native magic.
Making error itself part of the process would make the entire system unpredictable.
Of course, the Pillar couldn't wait for all of that complexity before becoming operational.
The current budget wasn't enough to construct an underground fortress overnight.
So I would rely on layered defense.
Physical layer.
Magical layer.
Technological layer.
"With the option of simplifying the system for smaller banks."
There was still an overwhelming amount of work to do, and this was only the first Pillar.
Still, implementation could begin with the four major banks scattered throughout the capital.
First things first.
Fix the currency and spread its use.
The printing facility would require adjustments as well.
Its current location was too remote, making it difficult for imperial guards to respond quickly if something went wrong.
It would be better to construct a new facility closer to the central bank and take advantage of the ongoing restructuring.
Let's handle things slowly.
That had been my plan at the beginning of the second week.
Unfortunately, time had deceived me.
An entire week had passed in the blink of an eye.
This week, nearly every task had been delayed until work piled up endlessly.
Good news and bad news continued flowing in even after filtering.
Problems were everywhere.
There wasn't even enough empty space left on the office floor to store additional documents, forcing the opening of a separate room for them.
To establish this Pillar, more than one meeting had been held with the Minister of Finance regarding coordination and structural changes.
Among the good news was the announcement that the old currency remained accepted in certain villages and towns.
The announcement helped establish it as a pricing reference, reducing fraud in the process.
A new economic code was also issued to maintain market stability.
Ordinary people discovered that using currency was cheaper than relying on direct barter.
Through coordination with smaller guilds, distributors, and companies—and by protecting their interests—the currency that had lost its value was gradually returned to circulation.
As its scarcity in the market decreased, people once again treated it as money that could be exchanged whenever necessary.
Naturally, some individuals found ways to profit from that.
Under normal circumstances, none of this should have worked.
The public had already lost confidence in the currency.
However, it was now viewed primarily as a means of exchanging for the new currency, which was steadily gaining legitimacy thanks to the Church's promotion.
It seemed the advertising fees hadn't been wasted after all.
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End of chapter
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[Side Note: Rune Stones]
[During the reign of the Second Emperor, the continent was shaken by news of a remarkable discovery: magical rune stones. The achievement was credited to a craftsman from the Dwarf Kingdom, who gained immense fame and wealth from the invention that changed the world.]
[But behind that fame lay a dark secret. The craftsman was nothing more than a thief who had stolen another person's work. The true discoverer found himself hunted and burdened by injustice, forcing him to flee the kingdom while carrying the secrets of his craft. He spent the rest of his life trying to clear his name and was later known by the title: The Rune Lover.]