Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 160

Gloria, visibly stressed, rushed into the Avon Branch of Unique Bank. She grabbed the arm of a passing employee, requesting they summon the branch manager immediately. Sensing her urgency, the employee nodded and disappeared inside, only to be replaced by a much younger man.

“It’s been a while, Ms. Gloria. Do you remember me?”

Gloria looked at him, puzzled. It was Amel, the chief loan consultant at the Avon Branch, who also held the title of Manager. While she hadn’t interacted with him directly, she recognized him from his frequent presence alongside the branch manager. She was confused as to why a lower-ranking employee was addressing her instead of the manager she’d requested. Nevertheless, seizing the opportunity to voice her concerns, she approached him, her tone sharp.

“Mr. Amel, where is the branch manager?”

“He’s been called to Serie City, to the headquarters, so he’s unavailable at the moment.”

Gloria’s face flushed as she raised her voice, trying to contain her anger within the bank’s walls.

“Don’t be ridiculous! How can someone who initiated a debt repayment request be absent at a time like this!”

Amel sighed, noticing the murmurs spreading among the bank’s customers. With reporters lurking outside and raised voices echoing within, attracting attention was unavoidable. Concerned about the potential damage to the bank’s reputation, he gestured towards a door inside.

“Let’s talk inside. I’ll explain everything in detail.”

“Fine. I want to know what’s going on.”

As Gloria and Amel headed towards the door marked ‘VIP Room,’ Beomseok and Lexter, who had been tailing her, followed closely behind. Gloria stopped just before entering.

“Beomseok, Lexter, why are you here?”

Beomseok scratched his head sheepishly.

“We want to hear the details too. We need to understand the situation to figure out how to help.”

Gloria shook her head. With Unique Bank demanding immediate debt repayment, there was nothing Beomseok and Lexter could do. Involving them would only drag them down with her. That was why she had refused their offer of 1.1 billion krang [Krang is the fictional currency] to help.

“Go back. There’s nothing you can do here.”

Lexter quickly stepped forward, trying to reason with her.

“Gloria, isn’t there a saying, ‘many hands make light work’? Beomseok here is pretty sharp; he might come up with a solution.”

Amel, already inside the room, spoke in a subdued tone.

“If you’re not reporters, please come in. I don’t mind.”

With permission granted, Beomseok and Lexter squeezed into the VIP room. Gloria stared at them, seated on the sofa opposite Amel, sighed, and reluctantly joined them. To dissuade them from getting involved, she needed to paint a clear picture of Rainbow Group’s dire situation. No matter how close they were, few would willingly board a sinking ship.

As she sat down, she addressed Amel directly.

“Mr. Amel, is the branch manager really not here?”

“You may not believe me, but he’s definitely not here. If you’re suspicious, I’ll gladly escort you to his office so you can see for yourself.”

Given his unwavering denial, Gloria abandoned the line of questioning. For all she knew, the branch manager might be hiding in some backroom gambling den, trying to escape the fallout.

“Okay, I’ll take your word for it. Then, tell me this: did the branch manager actually initiate a debt repayment request for Rainbow Group?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Amel nodded grimly.

“Yes, that is the case.”

Gloria’s body trembled. She had anticipated this, but hearing it confirmed ignited her anger. A full-scale debt repayment request was unthinkable, considering the long-standing relationship between Unique Bank and Rainbow Group.

“Why are you doing this! You know Rainbow Group’s finances are solid! That’s why you recommended we purchase the Onetz Building. Could it be… was that recommendation a setup for all of this?”

“That’s not true. We genuinely believed in Rainbow Group’s financial stability when we made that recommendation.”

“Then why! Why is this happening now!”

“Unfortunately, the instructions came from headquarters.”

Amel proceeded to explain the bank’s structure.

Unique Bank, a global financial powerhouse ranked fourth worldwide, maintained a vast network of branches and sub-branches. The Avon Branch in Lima City was one such branch. The head of the sub-branch, overseeing all branches within the local government, typically held an executive-level position, such as director or acting director.

However, while these branch managers wielded considerable influence locally, within the bank’s hierarchy, they were merely nominal executives – figureheads with limited power to challenge headquarters. They were essentially in place to manage the department-head-level branch managers, and could be removed at any time at the whim of headquarters.

Therefore, refusing orders from headquarters was virtually impossible. That was how the current situation had unfolded.

“So, you’re asking me to understand! You’re telling me that Rainbow Group is facing such a severe crisis that it’s on the verge of collapse! You’re saying this to my face!”

“I’m truly sorry. But please understand this: the branch manager remained loyal to Rainbow Group, even while acting against his own authority. That’s why he was summoned to headquarters earlier.”

Gloria stared at him, dumbfounded.

“The branch manager remained loyal? You expect me to believe that!”

“Yes, that’s right. You may not realize it, but he demonstrated his loyalty this morning.”

“Don’t be absurd! How can someone who declares a full-scale debt repayment request be considered loyal!”

Amel nodded calmly.

“That debt repayment request is precisely how he showed his loyalty. The original plan was to collect the bonds gradually during extension negotiations and then, without warning, dump them all at once on a specific date dictated by headquarters. By issuing the repayment request now, the branch manager gave you time to prepare, considering his past relationship with Rainbow Group.”

Gloria’s face darkened. The debt repayment request, which had dealt a crippling blow to Rainbow Group, was a favor, a risk the branch manager had taken, knowing it would lead to his summons to headquarters. This meant that Unique Bank, a trusted partner, had become an enemy.

Her lips trembling, she asked.

“W-Why did Unique Bank headquarters issue such an order?”

“We want to know the reason too. I’ve worked at this bank for fifteen years, and I’ve never seen such a baffling order. Even the branch manager, who has dedicated his entire career to this bank, couldn’t understand it.”

Speechless, Gloria stood up. There was no point in pleading with those who were determined to destroy her. While the branch manager and Amel seemed sympathetic, they were merely insignificant branches on the massive tree that was Unique Bank. The moment they offered assistance, they would be pruned and discarded, replaced by ruthless individuals eager to tear her apart.

She could confront them, vent her anger, but it would be futile. The branch manager and Amel were powerless to help Rainbow Group.

“I see. So, Unique Bank is now our enemy.”

“Perhaps it’s best for Rainbow Group’s future to view it that way. We can’t do anything for you, Ms. Gloria.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. And tell the branch manager not to go to great lengths for us. It would be better for us if he remained in his position.”

“That’s a wise decision. While we are bound by the organization, we can postpone the debt request for a day or two for business reasons. Please let us know if you need it.”

Gloria offered a faint, almost disbelieving smile. It was like a cat offering to protect a mouse. This crisis couldn’t be resolved by delaying debt collection for a mere day or two.

“Thank you for the thought, but I doubt it will make a difference.”

Amel stood up, bowed deeply, and said.

“I’m truly sorry. I don’t know how else to apologize.”

“If you’re sorry, ensure that others don’t become victims like me. Climb the ladder and make a difference.”

Gloria maintained her composure until the end. She, who had built Rainbow Group from the ground up, wouldn’t succumb to tears. Now wasn’t the time for resentment and bitterness, but for finding a way to survive. Yet, Gloria was still human. Each step she took felt heavy, pathetic.

Beomseok quickly approached her.

“Gloria, don’t worry too much. It’s not like Rainbow Group is beyond saving.”

Gloria, emerging from the bank, stared blankly at the distant sky.

“I wonder… is there really a way? Now, all the banks will turn their backs on us.”

“It doesn’t matter. I have connections with a powerful group, and if they help Rainbow Group, we can definitely overcome this crisis.”

Hoping against hope, Gloria turned to him.

“R-Really? Who are they?”

“It’s an organization called Black Society. They owe me a significant debt, so they won’t ignore my request.”

Her expression brightened. Black Society, a group of over 100 free modification recipients [Individuals who have received extensive body modifications], produced annually, was a powerful vested interest group with considerable influence on the world’s economy and politics. Even a small amount of support from them could be enough to turn things around.

However, she found it hard to believe that he, the chairman of a professional gladiator team, had cultivated a relationship with such an organization.

“H-Honestly, are you talking about the Black Society?”

“Yes, that’s right. We initially intended to handle this ourselves, but we realized we lacked the necessary resources. So, we need to ask for their help. Don’t lose hope.”

Still skeptical, Gloria pressed him.

“R-Really?”

“Yes. The reason I was able to get Karen to participate in the WBS broadcasting music program was because the president of WBS broadcasting station was a member of the Black Society.”

At this point, she began to believe Beomseok. The president of WBS broadcasting station was indeed a member of the Black Society.

Gloria felt a weight lift from her chest. She wasn’t certain she would receive their support, but the mere possibility offered a glimmer of hope.

She straightened her shoulders and asked.

“But this will require a lot of money. Will they be willing to help?”

“Well, it’s a substantial amount, but we’re not asking for a handout, right? They’ll invest in the bonds, and it’s reasonable to ask them to help Rainbow Group by returning some of the profits. If we clearly demonstrate our current financial stability and offer a high interest rate, it might be possible.”

The help Gloria needed was enough capital to last until the Onetz Building was sold, roughly 10 billion krang. She could cover a significant portion with her existing funds, needing to borrow only a few billion. Given the current financial climate, she could offer up to 25% annual interest on these bonds, making it an attractive investment for the financially powerful Black Society.

“Okay, then please introduce me. I’ll prepare a detailed briefing and secure their support.”

Seeing Gloria’s renewed energy, Beomseok felt a surge of pride. It wasn’t his own power, but he was happy to be able to help his lover in her time of crisis.

“Okay, shall we go right now?”

“No, give me a few days. This is an important meeting, and I need to prepare a lot of materials.”

Beomseok nodded. Presenting compelling data and financial information was far more effective than relying on persuasive words alone. Even with his connections to the Black Society, the funds he was requesting were substantial, at least several billion krang. As this was their last hope, thorough preparation was essential.

“Yes, that’s probably best. It would be unreasonable to simply show up and ask for that much money without proper documentation.”

Gloria, noticing her flying car arriving, said goodbye.

“Then, Beomseok, I have a lot to do, so I’ll head back now. I’ll contact you as soon as I’m ready.”

“Yes. See you later.”

Beomseok waved to Gloria as her flying car sped towards the company. After a brief conversation with Lexter, he returned to the training camp. It wasn’t lunchtime yet, so he was able to participate in the afternoon training session.