(3rd Person POV)
The line of customers at the Hellfire Electronics Store had calmed into an orderly queue. Commoners who had credit cards clutched them tightly, their excitement palpable as they inched closer to the counters.
But the crowd was smaller than expected.
Most of the earlier chaos had come from people who didn't actually own a credit card — just hopefuls trying their luck. When it became clear that cash wasn't accepted, they left empty-handed, many of them cursing under their breath.
Meanwhile, the cardholders basked in a quiet, smug satisfaction.
"Well, fewer mouths to compete with," one man muttered, grinning to himself.
Another adjusted his collar proudly, glancing at the people watching from the sidelines. He gave them a look that said: 'This is what power looks like.'
'Damn it… I need to apply for a Hellfire credit card fast,' thought many of the bystanders, their envy nearly visible.
But that brief moment of pride didn't last long.
The soft click of heels echoed through the tiled floor. Attention shifted as the fox demon staffer — the same one who had singlehandedly handled the earlier commotion — turned with a practiced smile and a glint in her amber eyes.
"Oh? If it isn't the ladies," she said smoothly, bowing slightly.
A group of elegantly dressed noblewomen entered, led by a striking young woman with flowing blue hair. Angelica. Her hand casually held up a gold-tier credit card as if it were a fan, waving it for all to see.
The room stirred.
"Golden credit cards…" someone whispered from the line, wide-eyed.
Another added, "First time seeing one in person…"
"Yeah," a third said, leaning forward, "I heard those have limits in the hundreds of thousands. Thought that was just a rumor... but that glow? That's the real deal."
Angelica and her companions walked past the line without even sparing it a glance. Every step they took radiated entitlement.
'Hmph. Commoners… groveling at the gates like beggars,' Angelica scoffed inwardly, her heels clicking like punctuation with each thought.
Behind her, Anna Fellwing kept her head down, avoiding eye contact. Unlike Angelica, she didn't enjoy the stares — especially when she knew what the others were whispering behind their fans and smiles.
The commoners could only watch in silent resignation as the group of noblewomen was escorted past the lines and into a private room by the elegant fox demon staffer.
They knew what this meant—those noble ladies were skipping the queue and would be getting their Hellphones ahead of everyone else who'd been waiting patiently.
But no one protested.
Because in front of nobles, commoners had learned to lower their heads. Complaining only led to trouble—or worse, humiliation.
Some of them were even strangely delighted, whispering in awe at the golden credit cards they had seen, as if witnessing something rare and divine. But others felt deflated, their earlier sense of superiority from simply owning credit cards now crushed under the heels of true wealth.
"She really just walked in with that card like she owned the place…" someone muttered.
"Of course she did," another replied. "You saw the crest on her bag? That's the Darkspire heir's fiancée. She could buy the whole mall."
Meanwhile, inside the store, Angelica walked with the confidence of a queen, followed closely by the noble ladies—including a quiet and thoughtful Anna. As they trailed behind the fox demon woman, Angelica gave her a curious glance.
"You handled that thug earlier quite gracefully," Angelica remarked with a sly smile. "You don't strike me as just another retail employee."
The fox woman returned the smile, her amber eyes calm but sharp. "I've picked up a few skills over the years. Enough to handle myself, especially in situations like that."
She paused briefly, then added with a slight bow, "My name is Yamaha Fumiko. I'm the manager of this branch."
The noblewomen exchanged surprised looks.
"A manager?" one whispered.
Angelica raised an eyebrow in mild amusement, clearly impressed. "Quite the capable one."
But at the back of the group, Anna narrowed her eyes subtly. 'That name… why does it sound familiar? And her face too… Have we met before?'
Moments later, they stepped into an elegantly furnished showroom. At its center, encased behind shimmering enchanted glass, was a sleek device unlike the ones the commoners saw outside.
A Hellphone—but glimmering with gold accents, and a small sapphire embedded on the flip's edge.
The ladies gasped softly.
Fumiko gestured to the display with a graceful hand. "Allow me to introduce—Hellphone: Noble Edition."
The women leaned closer to the glass, eyes wide with admiration.
"There's a version made just for us nobles?" one asked excitedly.
Fumiko chuckled softly. "Indeed. Enhanced features, superior materials, and a refined design worthy of your status. The price: 1,000 Global Dollars… or 3,000 HKD."
The noblewomen's eyes sparkled. Even Angelica's usual smugness turned into sincere interest.
They didn't even flinch at the price. One by one, led by Angelica, they swiped their golden credit cards with pride—luxury was never a concern, only status.
All except one.
Anna remained still, lingering quietly at the back.
Pam, ever the viper, seized the moment. "Oh? Look who's hesitating. Lady Anna Fellwing, why are you hiding in the corner?" Her voice dripped with mock sympathy. "Don't tell me you're not getting one?"
Anna stiffened. She quickly forced a smile and replied, "I… I already have something similar at home. No need to get another one right now."
Pam's smirk widened. She wasn't fooled for a second. "Is that so? That's a shame. I did hear whispers about the Fellwing family's… financial difficulties. Perhaps I should be generous and buy you one?"
The words stung like a slap. Anna lowered her gaze, unable to hide the flush of humiliation blooming in her cheeks. She opened her mouth, but no retort came. Because the truth was—she did want it.
Angelica, sensing a chance to shine, turned to Fumiko with a faux-concerned look. "That friend of mine seems a little short on funds. Why don't I buy one for her?" She reached for her card again, clearly enjoying the moment more than she should.
But Fumiko didn't swipe it.
Instead, she looked at Anna—her amber eyes unreadable—and gave a polite smile. "I'm sorry. The Noble Edition is limited to one per cardholder. It's part of the purchase policy."
She then added, "However, the Standard Hellphone is still available for purchase—"
"No need," Anna cut in abruptly. Her voice was strained, but firm. A flush crept down her neck as she avoided their eyes.
The room went quiet for a beat.
And then the noblewomen chuckled behind their gloved hands, pretending it wasn't cruel.
Anna simply stood there, her pride intact but her heart sinking.
---
Hours later, Anna returned to the Fellwing estate.
The moment she stepped inside, her father, Ferdinand, and his wife—Anna's mother—stood from the couch, clearly waiting for her return.
"My daughter," Ferdinand asked expectantly, "did you get the Hellphone?"
"If you have it, show it to us!" her mother added, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Anna didn't reply.
Instead, she stood still, fists clenched, trembling slightly. The tension in her body was unmistakable. A surge of raw magical energy suddenly burst from her, rattling the furniture and sweeping through the room like a gust of wind.
Ferdinand instantly raised a defensive spell, shielding the room. "What in the world—"
"Do you know how humiliated I was back there!?" Anna shouted, her voice cracking with fury. Her horns, usually subtle, had started to grow—pushed out by her surging emotions.
"They mocked me! Laughed at me like I was nothing!" Her voice trembled. "I've never felt so... worthless."
Tears welled in her eyes as she finally let it all out.
Ferdinand's expression shifted. The bluster faded. He approached her slowly. "Anna... what happened?"
And so, through sobs and clenched teeth, she told them everything.
How the other noblewomen flaunted their golden credit cards. How Pam mocked her. How Angelica offered to "generously" pay for her Hellphone, only to be blocked by store policy—one phone per cardholder. And how, without a paid-off credit line, she couldn't even qualify for a purchase.
She ended with a bitter laugh, "Even the Hellphone has a noble edition… and we couldn't even buy the standard."
Ferdinand stood frozen, jaw tight, fists slowly curling at his sides.
'This is how it's come to be,' he thought darkly. 'Even my daughter…'
His mind flashed back to a private council with the king, just a few days ago.
"The reach of that credit card is deeper than we imagined," the king had said. "Even my queen refuses to part with it."
And now, Arthur Pendragon had upped the ante—using the Hellphone as both carrot and whip.
Ferdinand's daughter was mocked.
His name was laughed at.
His pride was bleeding.
Then came her plea.
"Father, please…" Anna said softly. "Please settle the debt. If we don't… we'll be nobodies. They'll treat us like beggars."
Her voice broke. "I don't want to be looked down on anymore."
There was silence.
Then a long sigh.
Ferdinand finally spoke, "...Alright. I'll pay it."
Anna's eyes widened, shimmering with disbelief.
Even her mother gasped in surprise—relief flickering in her expression, knowing her own credit line was about to be rescued as well.
Ferdinand, however, was far from relieved.
He looked past them both, deep in thought.
'So that's your game, Arthur Pendragon. Tying prestige and power to a piece of plastic.' His eyes narrowed. 'Let's see how far you'll go.'
---
The next day, a line of grim-faced nobles arrived at the grand Hellfire Bank headquarters—each one reluctant, but with no choice left.
Among them was Ferdinand Fellwing, walking with heavy steps and a heavier heart. Like many of the others, he had once scoffed at the idea of submitting to Arthur's growing influence. Now, that pride had cost him dearly.
In their hands were deeds, contracts, and ornate cases filled with heirlooms—collateral to pay off their Hellfire Credit Card debts.
A count offered one of his family estates.
A baron brought forward a stable of rare-bloodline horses.
Another noble transferred ownership of land—fertile, tax-generating plots—directly to the Hellfire Bank.
Within hours, the paperwork piled up, growing into towers of documents stamped with the seal of surrender. Hellfire Bank—once just a bold new venture—was transforming into an unstoppable empire.
Behind the scenes, in his private office, Arthur Pendragon reviewed the reports with calm satisfaction.
"All proceeding well?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," replied one of his financial advisors. "Just today, over forty estates and properties were formally transferred. Our projected growth has doubled. Hellfire Bank's net worth is ballooning."
Arthur gave a nod, leaning back in his chair, fingers laced behind his head.
But he wasn't done.
He had already begun offering tailored business loans—especially to small and medium-sized companies—enticing them with low interest, flexible terms, and, of course, generous credit card bundles.
With the launch of the Hellphone, the Hellfire Bank's influence exploded overnight. Applications surged. Over 40,000 people applied for a Hellfire account within a single day of the Hellphone's release.
Even more impressive, dozens of corporations began updating their payroll systems, now listing "Hellfire Bank" as their official salary distributor.
The heads of the Big Four banks, once complacent, now sat in tense silence. The Hellphone's release had changed everything.
Salarie, head of Gold of Wales—the largest among them—broke the silence. "It's… unexpected. But Arthur turned the tide."
One of the other heads grumbled, "Who could've predicted that damn Arthur would release something like that?"
"With the Hellphone limited to credit card purchases for two weeks, Hellfire Bank's customer base will explode," another muttered, rubbing his temple.
A heavy silence fell over the room. They were staring at a tidal wave too large to stop.
Then Junco Reeks, chairman of Horn Coins, spoke up. "It's not just consumers. Companies are adapting to Hellfire Bank too. Small businesses are flocking to it for loans. Their infrastructure—computers, internet—makes payment systems faster and easier than anything we offer."
He leaned forward, his voice low. "We thought Hellfire would crash under the weight of unpaid credit cards… but nobles are actually paying. Some even offered estates to clear their debts. If this keeps up, Hellfire won't just compete with us… it'll devour us."
Eyebrows raised around the table. Nobody argued.
Salarie exhaled slowly. "Then it's clear. To survive, we need what Hellfire has: advanced tech."
Junco nodded grimly. "And to get it, we'll have to go through them."
A sharp silence followed.
Andy Soap, head of Solarus Security Bank, narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying we throw in the towel? Let Arthur lead?"
Junco shrugged. "What other option do we have? We got lazy. We let our guard down. Now? We adapt or die."
He added, "There's no sense in fighting a beast we can't kill. Better to ride its back."
The room went still again, all eyes turning to Salarie. As the leader of the Four, his stance would dictate theirs.
He looked down for a moment, then sighed. "Junco's right. If we keep resisting, we'll fall alone. But if we align with Hellfire—if we support Arthur's rise—we might survive this shift."
The other heads exchanged looks. Just days ago, they mocked Hellfire Bank.
Now, they were preparing to kneel before it.
One reason loomed above all: the Hellphone. A revolutionary device… backed by a system they could no longer laugh at.
They had lost the first battle.
But maybe, by surrendering early, they could still win the war.
~~~
In Arthur's office, as he reviewed the latest reports from Hellfire Bank, a notification rang in his system panel:
[Congratulations! Mission Complete: You have successfully established your bank in the Horn Kingdom and defeated the Big Four.]
[Reward: Divine Power — Lucreon: Power of Money]
Arthur blinked. "Huh? I defeated the Big Four already?"
He sat up straighter, frowning. As far as he knew, Gold of Wales was still the top player.
'Wait… what even is this Power of Money?'
A second notification chimed:
[New Title Acquired!]
Title:Lord of Wealth
Your name shall be etched in gold and whispered in the minds of merchants, bankers, and dreamers.
Arthur stared at it, speechless.
'Seriously? Lord of Wealth now? What's next—Lord of Taxes?'
Still, his curiosity overtook his sarcasm. He tapped on the new power to check the details.
[Power of Money — Lucreon]
Divine Authority of the God of Currency Acquired
You have inherited the dormant domain of Lucreon, god of money, faith, and the belief in wealth.
As mortals work, earn, spend, and strive for prosperity, you passively absorb their Monetary Faith — the spiritual weight behind every coin and transaction.
Effect:Converts up to 80% of the Monetary Faith generated within the coverage and influence of Hellfire Bank into Divine Energy.
▸ Passive – always active
▸ Faith flows with every salary, every business deal, every coin flipped in your name.
[Hidden Effect:]
If mortals begin to view your bank as the source of stability, fortune, and prosperity, you may unlock deeper levels of the Lord of Wealth's authority.
Arthur's eyes slowly widened.
'...Did I just ascend into something beyond the Lord of Entertainment?'
'Am I seriously the Lord of Wealth now too?'
He leaned back with a sigh, lips twitching into a smirk.
'Well, it's not like I'll refuse becoming the god of money. I'll take it.'
---
Elsewhere — on the Evros Continent…
A man sat alone at a café, sipping a steaming cup of mortal-brewed tea. He looked ordinary — young, well-dressed, charming. But he was anything but mortal.
The High Arbiter paused, gaze lifting to the sky. His smile faded.
"...Why do I feel like something was just stolen from me?" he muttered.
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a leather wallet. Not just any wallet — his Divine Storage.
With calm precision, he flipped through the crisp bills.
Then stopped.
His brows furrowed.
'...Some are missing?'
His casual demeanor dropped. This wasn't just paper. This was the divine metric of Monetary Faith — the invisible currency of belief that flowed from mortals.
And now, it was leaking.
The High Arbiter stood up slowly, his tone darkening.
"…Someone's drawing faith from my domain."
He vanished without another word — leaving behind only the faint scent of divine tension in the air.