Chapter 105: I Won’t Deposit Anymore

Clementine was right, the swarm of wealthy merchants and nobles all came to deposit money!

“Lord Bloom, why did you suddenly decide to make a deposit?”

Clementine couldn’t help but ask Marquis Bloom.

“Princess, don’t you know? The Empire has changed the tribute method to online payments. The Empire just finished a great war, and as citizens, we naturally must support the Empire’s construction!”

Marquis Bloom looked righteous.

He didn’t mention that the Empire, besides changing the tribute method, encouraged early tributes with a 3% tribute fee reduction.

Upon receiving the Empire’s notice and seeing this reduction clause, Bloom jumped three feet high and hurried to pay the tribute.

Anyway, he couldn’t escape paying this money.

Especially after witnessing the Empire’s might, he dared not flee, as either early or late, he had to pay.

Since that was the case, why not pay early, showing loyalty and reducing tribute fees?

Saying that, Bloom looked proudly at the merchants lined up behind him.

“Old Tony, you greedy old fellow, why did you suddenly decide to make a deposit?”

Old Tony was the first burly merchant to arrive, but at the moment, he could only smile from behind.

He nodded and bowed, saying,

“Marquis, you might not know, I was planning to buy ores from the mine, but they suddenly sent a message requiring settlement on the Internet Bank, so I rushed here.”

“Mine? The Vinnie Fov Mine? That’s Duke Mallory’s private property!”

“Indeed, so I dare not delay, which is why I rushed here!”

“Me too! I was about to purchase a batch of magic gear, but the Felix Magic Academy requires settlement through the Internet Bank, so I had to come deposit.”

A baron next to them tried to join the conversation with a big smile.

His involvement startled everyone, who suddenly looked at Clementine.

That look left Clementine puzzled!

Why are they looking at me?

Do they think it has something to do with me?

My brother is almost enraged, would he help me?

Besides, our Quever Royal Family doesn’t have that much influence!

‘The Empire is…’ Bloom, being perceptive, suddenly sensed a certain trend from this series of events.

“Nevertheless, I think this is quite good. Before, to pay for the mines, I had to hire mercenaries to escort gold coins, and they got robbed along the way. Now, storing in the bank and paying is much more convenient and safe.”

Merchant Tony couldn’t help but sigh.

His words elicited understanding nods from the viscount.

Truth be told, when Internet Banking first appeared, as a merchant, Tony took notice.

But that was all he did.

He definitely wouldn’t deposit; he believed he could protect his own money.

As for cashless payments?

Honestly, he never thought about it.

A lifetime habit of cash payments doesn’t change overnight.

But the suppliers’ requirement left him with no choice.

When he complied, he suddenly realized, hey, this is quite convenient.

While Clementine counted the currency, listening to the conversation, she suddenly realized this might be Lord Ajef’s doing!

As a follower of the Internet God, Lord Ajef represents the Internet God managing Quever’s affairs; he wouldn’t watch Internet Bank get obstructed!

Thus, forcing Quever’s nobles to use Internet Bank for transactions is understandable.

The realization brought immense joy to Clementine’s heart.

If Ajef is pushing forward, and in the future everyone uses Internet Bank for transactions, Internet Bank’s status will inevitably rise.

And as a member of the first staff, she has much to look forward to!

In fact, she guessed right again!

Overnight, under Ajef’s influence, the Quever Empire issued a mandatory decree.

All monetary exchanges involving the Empire’s tributes, taxes, procurement, etc., must refuse cash and use Internet Bank’s cashless settlement.

Moreover, the Three Archmages’ influence demanded all followers’ business settlements also use Internet Bank’s cashless method.

What?

Worried about the safety of a string of numbers?

Just go to the nearby bank branch and withdraw it!

Would the Internet God even take those few copper coins?

Under the Empire’s mandatory decree, especially with the threat of its victorious power, most nobles, despite unwillingness, had to comply.

Once they did, the convenience of the bank immediately became apparent.

Especially for business-driven high-ranking nobles.

Business typically involved several hundred thousand gold coins, either transported via teleportation array or escorted by mercenaries.

Business hadn’t initiated, yet invisible expenses for payment logistics consumed substantial resources.

Now the bank takes care of currency transportation, making it simple!

Especially when people discovered payments confirmed across the bank could be immediately withdrawn, their distrust and reluctance towards new technologies gradually faded.

They treated the Internet Bank as a free transportation center.

Because of this, a doubt grew in Clementine’s heart.

— Can Internet Bank truly absorb savings just relying on nobles’ payment settlements?

…

The next day, bright and early, the Internet Bank branch just opened.

An Old Farmer, covered in patches and looking timid, approached. He seemed to come from afar, judging by the dew on his head.

Upon seeing Clementine’s beautiful face through the glass wall, he became more nervous and didn’t dare to approach.

“Hello, Internet Bank is pleased to serve you. Are you here to make a deposit?”

Yesterday, Clementine didn’t address Marquis Bloom with an honorific, but today she asked with a broad smile.

Mr. Ajef said the biggest clients of savings business are actually farmers. Individually, they might not have much money, but they are numerous.

Thus, they should show the best attitude to the farmers to display the aristocratic demeanor of Vis Els!

Maybe it was Clementine’s attitude that gave him courage; the farmer finally said, “I heard you can keep money here without charging any protection fee?”

“Yes! Not only we won’t charge protection fees, but we will also pay you some interest. Our bank offers an annual return rate of 1%. That means if you deposit 100 Quever copper coins, you can withdraw 101 Quever copper coins in a year.”

“Is… this true?”

“Of course!”

“Why? Why do you help us keep copper coins and even give us more?” The farmer looked puzzled.

Clementine thought for a moment and decided against explaining the complex economic principles taught by Ajef.

“This is the mercy of the Internet God!” she said with a smile, “Just like the magical knowledge he shares online, the Internet God is merciful, benevolent, and expects no return.”

The farmer was stunned.

With many questions still in his mind, he suddenly gritted his teeth, took out a cloth bag from his arms, and handed it over.

“I want to save this money.”

“Okay, please open the Internet, I need to verify your Soul ID Number.”

Clementine felt a little disdain as she picked up the bag—the bag was too dirty.

However, she suppressed her disgust and poured out the coins.

She was stunned when some silvery and gold coins rolled out.

A farmer’s property?

It’s beyond her imagination!

“This is my eldest son’s pension. I saw online that many people’s money got stolen. My youngest is still small, and everyone in the village knows we received a large pension, making me fearful, so I came to deposit it.”

The Old Farmer looked sorrowful, his speech slightly incoherent.

Clementine froze.

She said nothing, meticulously counted the money, confirmed twice with the farmer, then deposited it into his account.

Just as she was about to teach the Old Farmer how to check his account in the Internet Bank.

Suddenly, there was a clatter of horse hooves from Long Street.

When she looked up with surprise, Merchant Old Tony was galloping, and before the horse stopped, he jumped off and rushed in, shouting in shock,

“Princess, why did my bank account change? I, I, I didn’t touch it!”

Hearing this, the Old Farmer stared blankly, eyes moving towards the coins collected at the counter.

His old cheeks trembled, his voice filled with fear: “I, I won’t deposit it anymore. Please, give me the money back.”

“Congratulations to ‘kridlo’ for becoming the first head of this book! Thank you for the generous reward!”