Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

"Let's set an example!"

After a moment, Darkus spoke in an announcement-like tone. His tone wasn't one of discussion, but rather of declaring a decision that had already been made.

Marekis did not respond, nor did he ask "what" or "why".

He simply watched Dakos quietly, waiting to see Dakos perform.

One reason was that he didn't want to act like a straight man, just echoing what others said. After all, he was the Phoenix King, a witch king who had lived for over six thousand years; he still had that much dignity. Another reason was that he hadn't quite figured out how the topic had shifted from "Kazooin should change positions" to "setting an example."

This leap was too big, so big that he needed time to process it.

"After we get back, I'll discuss it with my clanswoman and the young master, and we'll decide what to do with the family fortune..."

Seeing that Malekith didn't react, Daxus continued speaking to himself. As he spoke, he rubbed his left index finger and thumb together—a gesture whose meaning couldn't be clearer in this context.

money.

Take out the family's money.

Malekith's eyes narrowed slightly. He saw the gesture and vaguely understood something, but not completely.

What does Dakota want with the Helban family's money? To invest it in a bank? How much? And why?
These questions swirled in his mind, but Dakotas offered no explanation, simply watching him quietly and waiting for him to piece together the answers himself.

If we were to rank the family systems of the elven society, it would be difficult to determine who would be third.

The Ruilen family of Finnubar? The Emerald Sea family of Marlene? The Qadra family of Elisendall? Or perhaps...

Because rankings are intricately linked to family wealth and influence, it's not something that can be explained in a single sentence.

But without a doubt, the Helban family, to which Darkus belongs, is ranked second.

In terms of wealth, there's no doubt that the Helban family has accumulated so much wealth over the years that it's beyond calculation.

In terms of influence, it goes without saying that Darkus is the second-in-command, his mother Anasara is the leader of the Arcane Academy, his young master Nykel is the leader of Tariendan, his uncle Dulias is the de facto leader of Therwyn Wave, his cousin Coronia is the leader of the Institute of Works, and his cousin Maranul is the Night Watchman of Krakarond.

Daculus's spouse, Drusara, is the head of the Academy of Knowledge, which is the Ministry of Education. Colonia's spouse, Torandil, is the head of the Academy of Propaganda.

These are just the most core ones.

Besides these important positions, the family has many descendants who are distributed across various industries, and the surname Helban can be found everywhere.

Even with such a strong and significant influence, it's still ranked second because the Marsanas family is above it.

Malekith, the Phoenix King; Estrel, the Eternal Queen; Marist, Queen Laurence Loren; and Prince Alasya—they are all members of House Marsanas, descendants and branches of the first Phoenix King, Ainarion.

This family doesn't rely on wealth or position, but on the inheritance bestowed by their bloodline—the belief that "we are descendants of Aenarion." Therefore, no matter how dazzling the Helban family may be, they can only ever be second.

“My family is not like yours.”

"It's all in the past," Marekis said sourly.

The tone carried an air of "easy talk, you're not the one suffering," implying that the Helban family, under the management of Darkus, Annasara, and Newkel, had entered a new era and was too dazzling. So dazzling that even he, the Phoenix King, found it somewhat blinding. His family? The Marsanas family was certainly not poor, but they were definitely not the kind of family that could casually pull out a large sum of money to "set an example."

Blood ties can't feed you, and orthodoxy can't be used as money.

To this, Darkus could only shrug, a gesture that conveyed both an innocence that said, "It's not my fault," and a frankness that said, "You may be sour, but I'm talking about serious matters."

“You…something…” Malekith hesitated, struggling to find the right words. The words stuck in his throat, neither coming up nor down, his expression twitching between “forget it, I won’t say it” and “I feel suffocated if I don’t say it.” Finally, he blurted it out, “You’re so bad.”

Dakous stretched his outstretched hand further. The gesture seemed to say: You've finally figured it out.

“But I like it!” Malekith laughed, pointing a finger at Darkus. Then, in a strange tone, he said, “Aren’t there still five?”

The tone carried a teasing undertone, as if to say, "You've come full circle." Aisha, Asati, Val, and Lema—that's already two. Add Asuyan, the 'fifth,' and that makes five, doesn't it?
Dakos and the number 'five' are indeed still linked.

“Yes, and no.” Darkus stopped shrugging and pointed at Malekith, a “you’ve guessed wrong this time” smile on his face. “Asuyan has no secrets!”

Marekis understood the subtext of those words. Dakous's meaning was clear enough; if he still didn't understand, he'd be a fool.

The core of the banking system is not Aisha-Asati, nor Val-Lama, but Asuyan!
That creator god, the oldest and greatest among the gods, endowed the elves with courage, leadership, and wise judgment. He wields the eternal flame, is the giver of life, the founder of elven civilization, and the most prestigious of all the elven gods.

Without him, there would be no Phoenix King; without him, there would be no elf race in the world.

Asuyan Bank—the name itself says it all. When people deposit money there, they are not depositing trust in a particular person, nor in a particular family, but in the God who has watched over the spirits since the beginning of the world.

This is the true meaning of Daculus's statement, "It is five, yet not five." Aisha and Asati govern agriculture and civil administration, Val and Lema govern heavy industry and transportation, but Asuyan—governs everything!
It's similar to the largest bank, existing at the highest level.

"Hahaha……"

Malekith was amused.

The laughter was loud and cheerful, carrying a complex emotion of "I've been outmaneuvered, but I'm still quite happy." He was genuinely curious about how Darkus's mind worked, how he came up with all these things.

If it were him... he probably wouldn't be able to come up with that.

It's not that I can't think of it, it's that I would never even consider it in this direction.

His way of thinking is linear: there's a problem, find the cause, and solve it. Darkus's way of thinking, on the other hand, is network-like: it connects unrelated things, molds incompatible concepts into a unified whole, and then tells you—this is all part of the same whole!
In short, it was too bad, too cruel, but also too brilliant.

He had fully understood what Dakotas meant.

The so-called "exemplary role model" meant that his family, the Marsanas family and the Helban family, would take the lead in depositing all their family wealth, important documents, and long-term contracts into the Asuyan Bank. One family was descended from the Phoenix King, and the other was the second-in-command of the new era. One represented six thousand years of legitimacy, and the other represented overwhelming power.

The moment they put things in together, the visual itself becomes the most powerful advertisement.

what is this?
This is an example, a signal, and something for all the nobles to see.

Those large families that have inherited their wealth for generations, those old nobles who have accumulated a lot of wealth in the old era, and those conservatives who are skeptical of this new thing called "money"—they may not believe in Daxus, they may not believe in Malekith, but they cannot not believe in Asuyan!
When even the Phoenix King himself entrusted his family fortune to Asuyan Bank, and when even the Helban family deposited their most valuable securities there, what are you still hesitating for? Do you know more than them? Are you more astute than them? Or do you think your meager assets deserve a special exception?
In political terms, this is tantamount to setting a precedent.

If the first two influential families have done this, what about the other families who want to continue their influence in elven politics? Shouldn't they show some appreciation?

Those who hope to get a share of the pie in the new era, and those who need the continued support of the Phoenix Royal Court, cannot fall behind.

It wasn't because anyone forced them, but because "everyone was doing it."

When a behavior becomes something that "everyone is doing," the one who doesn't do it becomes an outlier.

Dissidents don't need to be suppressed; they will wither away on their own.

Because in the political circles of elves, isolation is more terrifying than defeat.

Failure offers a chance to recover, but isolation...

These nobles had no choice; it wasn't about money, it was about attitude. The Phoenix King had taken the lead, and his followers couldn't even offer this much in return?

How are you going to survive in this industry?
How can you expect others to believe you're "one of us"?
So they will save, and not only save, but save a lot, or at least make it appear like a lot. Because this is a statement, a sign of allegiance, a way of telling everyone: I'm following the Phoenix King.

If everyone else saved theirs, but you didn't, you became the "exception".

In elven politics, being the "exceptional" is a dangerous position. It means being excluded from the mainstream, having no say in major decisions, and not even being able to get a piece of the pie when it's being divided.

So they will save money, gritting their teeth and saving even if they are a hundred times unwilling.

There are also families who have no political ambitions and don't want to compete for positions in the political arena. They just want to live a peaceful life and pass on their family business.

But it is precisely these people who need Asuyan Bank the most.

Because they don't have that many political resources to squander, nor that many networks of connections to rely on. What they need is a reliable, sustainable place, blessed by the gods, to store what they've accumulated over generations.

And Asuyan Bank is that place!
Of course, some families will choose to wait and see.

Not many, but there are definitely some.

They wanted to see how the first batch of depositors fared, to see if the bank was reliable, and to see if banknotes could actually be used as money. No problem, by the time they figured it out, the best spots were already taken, the preferential terms had been withdrawn, and the most lucrative interest rates had been claimed by the first batch of depositors.

That's politics.

Those who move first eat meat, those who move later drink soup, and those who don't move watch others clear away their plates.

Malekith thought about it more and more and felt that this move was brilliant, so brilliant that he wanted to curse.

If the existence of the Weavers of Fate is to reshuffle the common people of Asur, making them follow the Phoenix Royal Court instead of the local nobles as before, then the bank is...

Darkus wasn't running a bank; he was using it to reshuffle the upper echelons of elven society. He was making everyone automatically align themselves, categorize themselves, and choose between "following the crowd" or "not following the crowd" based on the simple act of "whether to deposit money."

No meetings, no votes, no public pressure needed.

If you save it, you're one of us; if you don't, it's up to you.

And Asuyan's brand makes all of this seem natural.

No one was forced, no one was unwilling. Everyone did it "voluntarily," out of faith in the Creator God, and willingly handed over their wealth to Asuyan.

How wonderful, how dignified, how fitting for an elf...

“Your brain…” Malekith finally spoke, his tone carrying a resigned, helpless, but not entirely negative, sigh, “How did it get so big?”

Darkus shrugged, his gesture as innocent and as infuriating as ever.

Malekith shook his head, then shook it again. Then he smiled. Not the loud laugh from before, but a softer, gentler, yet more genuine smile.

“Then it’s settled,” he said, not in doubt, but in confirmation.

Then, he changed the subject.

"So... Kaczorne?"

“Asuyan Bank is the core management institution of the financial system, so…” Dakous didn’t finish his sentence, but the second half was no longer needed to be said.

Malekith nodded; he understood, he accepted, he agreed.

“At the administrative level, the Asuyan Bank and the Ministry of Finance are on the same level.” Dakos began to dismantle the framework of this system. “It is responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy, preventing and resolving financial risks, maintaining financial stability, and implementing financial supervision. It is also responsible for analyzing the macroeconomic situation, discussing monetary policy matters and making recommendations, but the final decision-making and issuance of monetary policy power is in your hands.”

Kaczor may not understand finance.

That's true. He's not an accountant, not an actuary, not someone like Marlene who can sit in front of numbers all day. But this position must be his, because he is the Anointed One of Asuyan, the new leader of the Phoenix Guard.

He doesn't need to understand finance; he just needs to sit there and let everyone know: this bank is watched by God, and is the will of Asuyan.

If you don't know how, you can learn.

Daxus didn't say those words, but the meaning was clear.

“A unit of equal rank?” Malekith raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Darkus said firmly, “separate, independent.”

He began to explain the difference between the two, not using those obscure technical terms, but in the most straightforward way. The Ministry of Finance manages the purse strings; all the money in and out of the royal court passes through the Ministry of Finance. Taxes collected go to the Ministry of Finance first; military salaries are paid out through the Ministry of Finance; every public expenditure—building railways, ports, subsidizing agriculture—goes through the Ministry of Finance.

It's in charge of 'flowers'.

Asuyan Bank manages the issuance and circulation of currency. What the money looks like, its face value, anti-counterfeiting measures, and the number of notes printed are all the bank's responsibility. How the money circulates in the market, who has more money and who has less, and which transactions are legitimate and which are suspicious are also the bank's responsibility.

It manages "money itself".

One is in charge of the 'accounts,' and the other is in charge of the 'money.' Accounts can be falsified, but money cannot be falsified, at least not under Asuyan's watchful eye.

Malekith nodded, beginning to understand the brilliance of the design.

Separation is for mutual restraint.

The Ministry of Finance cannot print money, and banks cannot spend money.

Want to spend more?
Yes, you can talk to the bank and see if they are willing to print more.

Want to print more?
Sure, we can talk to the Ministry of Finance and see if they have enough material to print.

The two families are watching each other closely; neither can avoid the other.

Independence is for everyone to perform their respective duties.

The Ministry of Finance manages the royal budget, deciding whether and how much money should be spent. That's politics, decision-making, "what we should do."

Banks manage monetary stability—whether money is valuable and whether it can be spent. That involves technology, execution, and "can we do it?"

Politics should not supersede technology, nor should technology hijack politics.

The two lines diverge, but converge at the very top—in the hands of Malekith.

“So,” Malekith began slowly, “the Treasury is in charge of how the money is spent. The banks are in charge of how the money itself is transferred.”

"Correct."

"The Ministry of Finance is in charge of revenue and expenditure, while the Bank is in charge of issuance and circulation."

"Correct!"

"The Ministry of Finance's money is on the books, while the banks' money is real money."

Dakos thought for a moment.

"Yes, but not entirely. The Ministry of Finance's money is also real, but it's 'real that has already been collected.' The bank's money is 'real that is being used.' One is grain in the warehouse, and the other is rice in the pot. How much is in the warehouse is the Ministry of Finance's business; how to cook the rice in the pot, whether there is enough to eat, and whether it will burn is the bank's business."

Malekith fell silent, digesting this logic he had never encountered before.

This time, his silence was longer and deeper.

Then he laughed, not the loud laugh from before, but a lighter, fainter, but more genuine smile.

"Then it's settled." He said it again, and this time, it was really settled.

then.

What about the major banks?

“Are the major banks…corporations? Or can they be understood as religious orders?” Dakous carefully chose his words, trying to find a suitable analogy in this world without ‘company law’. “They are not in the administrative hierarchy of the Ministry of Finance, nor are they public institutions under the Ministry of Finance. They are independent, self-financing economic entities with deposit and loan business as their core business.”

He paused, allowing Malekith to process the concept.

"However, the Ministry of Finance has an important role in relation to major banks: it is the investor in Wangting Capital. For major banks, the Ministry of Finance fulfills its investor responsibilities through the Financial Department, which is responsible for basic capital management, operating budgets, property registration, equity management, performance evaluation, and so on. Simply put, the money comes from Wangting, so Wangting is responsible for ensuring that the money is not misused or wasted."

Yes, a bank disguised as a cult.

They wear the cloak of faith while working in finance.

Believers come to deposit money not because of the high interest rates, but because Aisha says it's safe here; businesses come to take out loans not because the procedures are simple, but because Val says it's a worthwhile business opportunity.

Asuyan is the supreme administrator of these religious orders, the bank above banks, and the eyes of the god among gods.

At the same time, this is also a group of interested parties. If someone like Lyma wants to cause trouble...

“And Asuyan Bank…” Dakous’s voice slowed down a bit, “is more like a financial regulatory body, overseeing the entry of major banks, their operational standards, and whether they have engaged in any illegal operations. If any bank engages in reckless lending, printing of bills indiscriminately, or creating unnecessary risks, Asuyan Bank has the right to stop it, the right to punish it, and the right to arrest the people involved.”

His speech slowed down, and eventually he spoke almost word by word.

"If you need... Kaczoline is also available..."

The conversation ended abruptly there.

Malekith waited a moment, but there was nothing more to say. He didn't press for details because he had already figured out what Dakota hadn't expressed.

Kadjohn's authority was very great.

The head of Asuyan Bank is in charge of currency issuance, circulation stability, and the value of money.

The person in charge of financial supervision and management oversees major banks, regulates entry requirements, imposes penalties, and determines who is qualified to work in the industry.

There's another unmentioned role: the one in charge of auditing. Not just any audit, but the kind that says, "I suspect you have something going on, so I'm going to investigate you." It's the kind of audit where "no matter your family, background, or connections, you have to cooperate once I'm here."

Yes, the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads, Aisha is the one who deals with money, Asu is the one who deals with money.

In another world, this would require three departments.

One person is enough here.

Because he is the anointed one of Asuyan, he doesn't need to write reports, attend meetings, or go through layers of approval. He only needs to know, and then obtain the Phoenix King's approval before he acts.

This is the State Planning Commission!
More primal, more direct, and more in line with the logic of this world—the eyes of God are fixed on the ledgers of mortals.

As for those like Shang Yang, who brought about their own downfall through their own efforts...

nonexistent!

Malekith was silent for a moment, then he asked his last question.

"What about the other two banks?"

His tone was calm, but his eyes held a scrutinizing look that seemed to say, "Don't tell me you haven't thought this through."

Dakos did not avoid that look.

“Hos-Hecate Bank,” he began, his tone as flat as if he were reading a prepared list, “grants of funds for magical education, chemical engineering, medicine, and special funds for technological research.”

He paused.

"The last one..."

He shrugged and looked at Malekith. The gesture and expression were perfectly coordinated.

It's not that I don't know, it's that "you do know."

Malekith didn't respond immediately. His gaze lingered on Darkus's face for a long time, as if confirming something, or perhaps processing something. Then he nodded. The nod wasn't large, but it was deep, like a stone thrown into water, sinking to the bottom.

The last one is self-evident.

Matheran Adrezier.

Army and Navy.

The navy is Matheran's territory, while the army is the traditional domain of Adrezer.

Putting the army and navy together was not Dakota's idea, but a practical choice.

Malekith snorted, a soft sound squeezed from his nose, carrying a certain "I knew it" certainty. It wasn't an accident, not a surprise, but a resigned acceptance of "I knew you'd do this."

“So, five?” He counted on his fingers, “Asuyan, Aisha-Asati, Val-Lima, Hos-Hekati, Matheran-Adrezer.”

His fingers paused there, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Eight? No, it's nine!"

Daculus did not correct him, because Malekith was right; if counted by the number of gods, there were indeed nine. Aisha, Asati, Val, Lyma, Asuyan, Hos, Hecate, Matheran, and Adrezer.

Nine gods, five banks.

Some banks are like two gods sharing one roof, while others are like a single god running a business all by himself.

It wasn't that Darkus wanted to divide it this way; it was simply how the priesthood was divided.

"Correct."

"What about Loik?" Malekith suddenly asked. "Through Asuyan Bank?"

Dakos shrugged, a gesture that conveyed a sense of helplessness, as if to say, "You've hit the nail on the head."

It's not easy.

There's nothing we can do about it; the divine duties and domains of these gods are what they are.

Some gods have naturally complementary divine roles, making things easier when they are together. Other gods have inherently independent divine roles, and forcing them together will only hinder each other.

According to the previous classification, Loyke and Adrezer could be grouped together for correspondence, since there are also some Loyke followers in the army, but it doesn't make much sense.

To put it bluntly, it's just transferring money from one hand to the other, a fictitious transfer.

Money was scarce; most of the time, the goods had clearly marked prices.

Gods like the Pale Queen Ers Hai'ai and Nisu, the gatekeeper of the Ultimate Gate, cannot be protected even if they wanted to.

To draw an analogy, these two are like the underworld...

We can't just release a set of items that can only be spent in the underworld.

Wouldn't that become ghost money?
Malekith didn't say anything sarcastic; in his view, Dakota had handled things quite well. Nine gods, five banks—each in its proper place, each fulfilling its duty. What could be arranged had been arranged; what couldn't be arranged was a problem for the gods, not for humans.

At that moment, Ryan appeared from a distance. Seeing that both of them were there, he raised his hand and waved to them.

“Let’s go.” Malekith withdrew his gaze, dusted off non-existent dust from his clothes, and strode toward Renn.

Darkus followed behind him, his pace neither hurried nor slow. (End of Chapter)