[AFYC] Chapter 24

Felphe. 

A city-state that, despite its small size and population, still retained the status of a kingdom. Felphe had managed to maintain its status as a kingdom despite the tumultuous history of the Norfolk continent, primarily due to one thing—the bank. 

The Royal Felphe Bank. 

Founded nearly four centuries ago as the first bank on the Norfolk continent, Felphe Bank was renowned for its strict confidentiality. The bank never disclosed the identity of its clients, no matter who they were. Even when foreign kings requested information, the bank remained tight-lipped. 

The bank accepted money without asking its source, and its clients’ identities were kept secret. 

Naturally, all black money from across the continent flowed into Felphe Bank. There were even rumours that the hidden wealth of the fallen Polia royal family had found its way into its vaults. 

Felphe had become the giant vault of Norfolk’s elite. These powerful individuals treated Felphe’s banking laws with utmost reverence to protect their secret funds. 

The most notable group among them was the Norfolk Royal Alliance. 

A century ago, the royal families of various nations, who had once fought like dogs over territorial disputes, now laughably banded together under the banner of an “alliance” to promote friendship. It was a clear sign that the era where status and land guaranteed power was over. 

But black money was always a motive for assassination. Before the banking laws were established, it was not uncommon for children to kill their parents and seize the contents of their vaults. 

Eventually, the powerful figures of the continent lobbied to ensure that Felphe’s banking laws were inviolable. 

Felphe’s banking laws were simple: there were few restrictions on depositing money but many restrictions on withdrawing it. 

Vaults could only be accessed by the person who had opened them or their legitimate heirs. Even someone who possessed the key could not open a vault if they were not the rightful owner. 

However, to account for the possibility that the vault owner might die without leaving proper instructions, the law allowed someone who had acquired the key to open the vault after 20 years. 

Vault 5555 fell into this category. 

To protect the keyholder, the bank issued a certificate confirming their status as the new owner of the vault. This certificate was a legal document that indicated the keyholder would become the rightful owner if the original owner did not appear. However, the certificate could only be issued once during a set period. 

The keyholder would then undergo a rigorous verification process and, during this time, would be recognized as the temporary owner of the vault. Though they couldn’t immediately access the vault, they were protected under Felphe’s banking laws. If something happened to the keyholder during this period, the vault would be sealed for another 20 years, regardless of who possessed the key. 

The girl had been issued the keyholder’s certificate, and this information had been reported to the king, who held Felphe’s banking laws as sacrosanct. 

In other words, the girl had become a living key. 

Simon held his breath as he stood next to Oscar. 

Oscar remained silent; his gaze fixed intently on one spot. 

The girl was unlucky. 

She was unlucky to have become Oscar’s target. She might have been lucky to have received the keyholder’s certificate before Oscar could do anything, but it would have been better if she had sold the key for a hefty sum rather than become his target. 

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, Oscar pushed himself off the tree. Simon instinctively looked up at the mansion. An agent clinging to the window directly above the girl’s room signalled to Oscar with a finger pointing downward. 

Oscar slipped into the darkness like a shadow in the moonlight, moving toward the mansion. The Wolves that had silently infiltrated the grounds watched him closely, ensuring that no obstacles lay in his path. 

Oscar climbed the stairs with a casual, almost lazy gait, rounded the landing, and went down the corridor. As he approached the girl’s room, the wolves quietly removed the men who had been guarding it. Two burly men were dragged away, leaving no trace of sound behind. 

Oscar passed by the dragged men and stopped in front of the door. 

He momentarily looked down at the doorknob before raising his eyes to the door. 

Beyond the thin wooden door, he could hear faint groans, the distinct smell of something unusual, and the sleazy laughter of someone excited.