Allen’s strategy of “raising a flag to scare tigers” had achieved unimaginable success.
With the official entry and endorsement of the Inquisition, his “Heaven’s Haven” finally acquired a truly solid and reliable security guarantee.
Not only would those elusive cultists find it hard to infiltrate again, but from now on, the secular forces of the Capital would also find it nearly impossible to penetrate this underground space now taken over by the Church’s power.
Perhaps, in the future, new Thieves’ Guilds would rise again in other corners of the city, but by then, these newborn dens of evil would discover with terror that they had already lost the soil in which to survive—
The umbrella of the old order had collapsed, and a new iron fist now hung overhead.
This was the true way to cut the ground from under one’s feet.
Now, only real “insiders” remained in “Heaven’s Haven.” At last, Allen could rest easy as he took inventory of the spoils and began to plan for the future.
Yet, after Allen finished leafing through the account books seized from the vault, he fell into a long silence.
Especially when he saw that single sum—amounting to millions of Livre, enough to shake the entire kingdom’s finances—he was instantly seized by an unprecedented sense of pressure and anxiety.
This money—was scalding hot to the extreme.
The Thieves’ Guild’s total assets, combined with the illicit funds taken from the guild leader’s private cache, came to nearly a million Livre.
This was the amount Allen could actually control at present.
Apart from that, most of the wealth listed in the books was clearly annotated with the names of various Sword-Bearing Nobles in the Capital.
That money could absolutely not be taken for oneself by force.
To cut off a man’s wealth is like killing his parents.
These huge hidden assets were, in truth, the lifeblood of those Noble Moneybags lurking in the shadows, and the fundamental reason they could band together to form a powerful political bloc.
Even Princess Charlotte herself might not realize that members of the “Moderate Faction” she represented were also among those who contributed to the kingdom’s financial crisis.
Whether it was Sword-Bearing Nobles amassing wealth through tax exemption privileges, or the robed Noble Moneybags hiding assets via gray methods to evade taxes, they all squeezed the lower classes in their own ways, shifting the heavy burden of taxation ever downward onto the ordinary people.
When the richest cannot be taxed, and the poorest must pay everyone’s share… in the long run, a massive Revolutionary Uprising in the kingdom was nearly a foregone conclusion.
For now, the kingdom’s machinery of state could still function, and its bloody power to suppress had not waned, so large-scale rebellion was temporarily held down.
But… if the economy continued to deteriorate, collapsing to the point where even the army’s pay could not be met… what would happen then?
The very army used to suppress the people might well be the first to turn their guns around.
If Allen dared to swallow the money that belonged to the robed Noble Moneybags, he’d be seeking an early grave.
So, was there a way to neither take this money nor leave it idle, but to use this “frozen” fortune to create sustained profits—so that all sides (even the robed Noble Moneybags themselves) could benefit?
The answer: Yes!
The silver coins might be dead, but the credit they represented was alive!
A groundbreaking, borderline-crazy idea instantly took shape in Allen’s mind.
If realized, this scheme would bring the Laval House unimaginable political allies, and could truly make them “wealthy enough to rival nations.”
He could open a bank! More accurately, not do it himself, but push his father, Bernard Viscount, to take the lead—integrating the kingdom’s scattered, traditional private banks to form a United Bank grounded in modern financial concepts.
Allen wouldn’t need to touch the massive wealth itself; all he had to do was make everyone believe in its existence, while keeping it firmly under his control.
This “frozen” treasure in the underground vault would become the ballast and ultimate guarantee of his new bank’s credit.
To the robed Noble Moneybags: Allen held the ironclad evidence of their tax evasion (the wealth itself).
Not only would they not dare to instigate a run on Allen’s bank, they’d have every incentive to maintain its stability.
Because if the bank collapsed, and this wealth was exposed to the world, they’d face the king’s wrath—forced to repay astronomical taxes, suffer huge fines, or even lose their titles!
To depositors and partners: The market would be filled with reassuring rumors—“Laval House’s bank is backed by some mysterious vault of limitless support.”
This air of mystery and confidence was worth more than silver coins stacked behind the counter. It was the modern bank’s guarantee of credit and capital adequacy.
Most importantly, Allen’s financial thinking and innovative plans, far ahead of their time, could win over other savvy private bankers with a flawless, breathtaking proposal.
This was a true dimensional strike!
Currently, the so-called “banks” of the Lorraine Kingdom were little more than traditional money houses, handling drafts, deposits, and limited loans.
Their business was narrow (mainly lending to the royal family and a handful of major merchants), their credit based on personal connections (loans assessed by blood, family, and favors), funds lay idle (mountains of gold and silver collecting dust in vaults), accounts were opaque (confused ledgers, no separation of public and private funds), their clientele limited, risks highly concentrated, and payment was incredibly inconvenient (heavily reliant on the physical transport of precious metals).
All these drawbacks severely stifled capital flow and killed off any spirit of investment or further production. Enormous social wealth couldn’t be effectively put into developing society at all!
The United Bank Allen envisioned would completely upend these traditional money houses!
He would introduce an entire set of modern financial concepts:
Market segmentation and product innovation: Different departments to serve different clientele, developing diverse financial products.
Risk-based pricing and asset assessment: Accepting factories’ future profits, commercial bills, even invention patents as collateral—not just land deeds and noble titles.
Monetary multiplier effect (fractional reserve banking): Only keep a portion of deposits as reserves, lending out the rest and earning the interest spread—truly making money “circulate”!
Financial transparency and scientific management: Using advanced double-entry bookkeeping for clear ledgers—making management, auditing, and attracting investors easier.
Expanded service targets: Not only absorbing deposits from nobles and major merchants, but also, innovatively, from wealthy citizens, craft guilds, and even overseas traders—paying interest on small deposits.
Issuing credit currency: Using the strength of the “mysterious vault” as backing, issuing paper “banknotes” convertible to precious metals. This was the key step toward modern paper currency and would vastly facilitate commerce.
All of this would get the sleeping wealth truly circulating—and might greatly boost social productive forces!
Private bankers were sharp and profit-driven; ideals alone wouldn’t move them. Only with real, tangible benefits and assurances would they agree to join as partners in the United Bank.
Of course, Allen had ways to keep them in line:
First, channel sharing: All members of the United Bank could use each other’s branches in various cities for settlements and business—sharing customer resources and slashing expansion costs. (Much like a correspondent bank system.)
Second, “syndicated loans”: For instance, in Laval House’s lucrative cultural entertainment development plans, a single bank might not be able to finance the project alone, but with joint loans, each would share the risk and interest according to their share. Even small banks could participate in big projects, and risks were controlled. (Bernard had already done similar things before.)
Finally, Allen’s trump card. His United Bank could privately hint to core partners: “Your bank is our crucial ally. In extreme situations (such as a run), we can, through certain mechanisms (meaning the underground vault), provide emergency liquidity to help you through the crisis.”
This was essentially the prototype of a lender of last resort. The greatest fear of all bankers was a run; Allen’s promise to back them with “frozen” wealth in a crisis was an irresistible temptation.
Besides, Allen held crucial political leverage.
He could use his grip on the Noble Moneybags’ secrets to force them to issue decrees granting the bank certain privileges (such as priority in handling bankruptcy assets, or exclusive operating rights).
In exchange, the bank’s stability would guarantee their secrets would remain buried forever.
Most critically, for the robed Noble Moneybags, their money was hard to retrieve—but if left in Allen’s bank, earning legal interest, it was the safest choice of all.
They wouldn’t dare take it back themselves—exposure meant ruin. Letting Allen’s bank “launder” it was a godsend!
Other bankers, seeing Allen win privileges and political cover, would rush to join for protection.
Thinking this far, Allen could no longer suppress the “wicked” grin tugging at his lips.
His core subordinates shivered at the sight, thinking he really planned to swallow that vast sum in one gulp.
But apart from Marianne, who already knew all about the vault, even Finn, Worner, and the others gulped nervously at the astronomical number—this was money one could take, but never live to spend!
To prevent this immense fortune from causing division or dangerous thoughts within the organization, Allen gathered everyone and openly, fairly announced the full harvest of this operation.
He specifically emphasized that the money belonging to the robed Noble Moneybags was an absolute “live wire”—touch it and you die.
Everyone expressed understanding.
A few hundred or thousand Livre might be tempting, but such a fortune—equal to the kingdom’s annual revenue—was not something anyone dared lay a finger on.
Seizing the moment, Allen distributed rewards according to merit.
For the “Lily Guard” PMC employees, they had signed modern employment contracts from the start—no share of the spoils for them.
But when Allen announced the generous bonuses and high-risk allowances for this mission, everyone was stunned by his unbelievable generosity!
Allen was no soft-hearted woman, nor one for petty tricks—he handed out wealth on a scale they could never have imagined.
“Everyone,” Allen reminded, “this money is your bonus and dividend for joining at the very beginning. But I don’t want you to take the money and start slacking off or losing your drive!”
“Now, you have two choices:
First, join the ‘Dawn’s Children,’ replace those eliminated gang bosses, and use this money as startup capital to run and reform the former gang territories—transforming them into militia groups under the Workers’ Patrol. The neighborhoods where you once collected protection money will now become your zones for maintaining order—you will be the people’s guardians!
Second, become middle management for the ‘Lily Guard.’ Your future task is to expand the company, set up branches, recruit more mercenaries, and grow the business worldwide—building a massive, legitimate mercenary market!”
“As long as you don’t slack off, either choice is fine. Your benefits remain unchanged, for life! All your future operating costs will be reimbursed by ‘Dawn’s Children.’ Any questions?”
“Report! No questions!”
“Loyal! Ty!”
The employees roared with passion.
As chairman of the “Lily Guard,” Allen was on a different level than those greedy, exploitative bosses who only cared for money.
If anyone else had gotten such a windfall, there’d probably have been a bloodbath over the spoils.
Allen’s transparency and massive rewards won over everyone’s hearts in one stroke.
With hard cash in hand, the employees grinned from ear to ear, swearing eternal loyalty to their leader.
They would become the backbone, rapidly expanding the “Lily Guard’s” military might.
At the same time, Allen completed another crucial task—he thoroughly broke up the original War Hound member structure, dispersing them into new management posts to nip any future regional cliques or factional issues in the bud.
They would become managers, and future rivals, not close-knit comrades.
Worner keenly sensed Allen’s intention, but as a co-founder, he was already deeply bound to Allen.
Not only did he not mind, but he also thought Allen’s foresight in managing even potential risks showed he was a true leader worth following.
For the “Dawn’s Children” members, the rewards were more focused on honor and spirit.
Allen promised that in the future, each would be awarded a gold “Heaven’s Haven Founder’s Medal”—the highest honor of the founders and the symbol of first-generation “Dawn’s Children.”
Moreover, after this joint operation, every “Dawn’s Children” member, regardless of age or gender, was promoted from “Spark” to “Candelabrum.”
Now, supported by “Heaven’s Haven’s” wealth, they could independently go out into all professions, every corner of the nation, even the Empire, developing their own “Candlewick” teams.
Of course, their cultural education was not yet over. They would need to study and “intern” at the same time, blending education and practice.
With the support of immense funding, “Dawn’s Children” would rapidly balloon into a massive organization.
For first-generation members, this honor and seniority was the best way to secure their loyalty.
After all, “Heaven’s Haven” was the base and backbone of the “Dawn’s Children.”
Its members would never lack food or clothing—their sole purpose in life would be to carry the revolution through to the end.
Giving them money would only sap their fighting spirit.
To officially establish the core leadership, Allen held a formal democratic vote.
To ensure the United Bank concept progressed smoothly and to sustain “Dawn’s Children” and the “Lily Guard” long-term, the key position of “Treasurer,” managing all funds and materials in the highest committee, would temporarily be held by Allen himself as the spiritual leader—the Child of the Dawn.
Everyone believed Allen was the most impartial and best-suited handler, so the proposal passed unanimously.
Allen named Marianne as “Torchbearer”—that, too, passed without objection.
Only the roles of “Guardian” and “Preacher” sparked rounds of heated discussion and self-nomination.
In the end, Shadow Luca was elected “Guardian,” while Finn became “Preacher.”
Thus, the highest committee was officially formed, and the core leadership of “Dawn’s Children” established.
The Brotherhood of the Children of Dawn had entered a new era of historic development—and Allen could finally hand off responsibilities and fulfill his dream of slacking off!
…Or could he?
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