(3rd Person POV)
The High Arbiter darted across continents in mere seconds, chasing the vanishing threads of Monetary Faith.
He had invoked his «Eyes of Currency» multiple times — eyes capable of tearing open the world's lifeblood veins — the mana channels that flowed beneath every civilization. These ancient, unseen roads allowed him to traverse vast distances instantly. Yet, despite all his divine sight, the source of the siphoning remained elusive.
Frustrated, he ascended to the highest point in the skies, high above even the stormclouds, where the mortal realm thinned and the Divine Atmos began. From there, he gazed down upon the world like a sovereign searching his empire.
"Who dares steal from me?" he murmured. His golden irises flickered with agitation and disbelief. "I am the Lord of Wealth — the only god in this world whose domain is money itself. What fool believes they can siphon my faith unnoticed?"
He briefly considered the possibility of another deity descending into the world — perhaps a foreign god incarnated into mortal flesh. But he dismissed the idea with a scoff. 'An avatar couldn't possibly touch my domain… unless…'
His eyes narrowed, sharp with suspicion.
"Could it be… the Foreign Gods have finally sent their Divine Ships to breach the Ozone Barrier set by the Three Known Gods? Did one of them manage to pierce it with sheer force…?"
He hovered in silence, watching the sky above. But after a moment, he shook his head, ruling out the thought.
"No. That kind of breach would've triggered every celestial alarm. I would've sensed the rupture the moment their weapons hit."
His gaze darkened.
"Then... could it be someone slipped through by other means?" he muttered. "A foreign god using a stealth artifact — one powerful enough to bypass the barrier's detection?"
His chest tightened.
"To bypass the Altair Layer without notice... such a relic shouldn't exist."
And yet, the missing faith said otherwise.
But just then—
Whooom!
A colossal shimmer rippled in the air above. A transparent mass revealed itself — a floating island suspended in the atmosphere. It was not mere land, but a shining kingdom in the sky, its towers bathed in golden light, inhabited by radiant figures with feathered white wings.
A gust of divine wind followed as five angels streaked from the sky-fortress, surrounding the High Arbiter in a flash of light.
One of them — tall, solemn, and clad in simple white robes — spoke first. His exposed chest bore the tattoo of a blazing sun.
"What is your purpose here, Lord Kaishi?" he asked coldly. "You've breached sacred altitude. This station lies above the mortal world — few are permitted to pass the Altair Layer without invitation."
Another angel, a statuesque woman with lustrous blonde hair and piercing crimson eyes, stepped forward. Her figure radiated divine allure, her blade shimmering at her side. "We detected your disruption the moment you crossed the veil. Speak, High Arbiter. Are you… rebelling?"
The other three angels hovered silently but watchfully, their auras sharp, divine pressure laced in every movement. Behind them, the floating city teemed with hundreds — perhaps thousands — of their kin.
'Solarus watchdogs,' Kaishi thought with disdain, recognizing the mark of the Sun Faith. But he kept his contempt hidden beneath a cordial mask. With a slight bow, he replied in measured tones:
"I meant no offense, noble guardians of the Altair Station. I did not break through lightly."
He straightened, his tone gaining weight. "I am here because something — or someone — has begun draining my Monetary Faith. As the Lord of Wealth, this is no trivial matter. I came only to survey the source."
The angels did not speak right away. They exchanged glances, measuring his words and intent.
But Kaishi's eyes, behind his calm demeanor, were searching — wondering whether this kingdom in the sky had anything to do with the theft…
The tall angel in a simple white robe, marked by a glowing sun tattoo across his chest — known throughout the Solarus Faith as one of its most powerful guardians — stepped forward. His name was Mithrael.
"What you've said is troubling," Mithrael said gravely. His gaze swept down toward the vast, glowing orb of the world beneath them. "Were you able to sense who it might be?"
Kaishi shook his head slowly. "I activated one of the deepest abilities of the Eyes of Currency — 'Let the Secret Be Seen' — but there was no trace left. No divine footprint, no echo of passage. As if the thief... never existed."
He turned to face the floating celestial city, its silver spires glinting above the clouds. "Have you observed anything unusual from the Divine Atmos? Any sign of breach in the Ozone Barrier?"
The other angels exchanged looks, their expressions darkening. Then Scarlet, the striking blonde angel with crimson eyes and a blade at her hip, stepped forward.
"High Arbiter," she said sharply. "Are you implying we've grown lax? That we've failed in our duty to guard the skies from intrusion?"
Kaishi raised both hands, quickly bowing. "Not at all, Lady Scarlet. I meant no offense. I'm merely considering the possibility that a foreign deity — perhaps one who shares my dominion — may have slipped in unnoticed. One who's now siphoning what's mine."
Mithrael studied Kaishi for a moment before responding. "No divine presence has crossed the Altair Layer without my knowledge. You have my word." He glanced to his comrades. "Still, we'll re-inspect the barrier — in case someone breached it under stealth."
"My thanks, Mithrael," Kaishi said with genuine respect.
Scarlet crossed her arms, her tone cooler. "Then for now, remain alert. Monitor the flow of faith closely — any fluctuation, any vanishing essence, and you may yet find the trail." Her crimson eyes narrowed. "Even gods leave footprints... if you know where to look."
Kaishi nodded. "Wise advice." With that, his form shimmered, vanishing from the skies.
—
Descending back to the mortal world, Kaishi immediately cast his senses outward — but the thread of stolen faith was gone.
'No trace... not even a flicker of echo,' he thought grimly.
His jaw tightened.
'Whoever took it... converted the Monetary Faith into Divine Energy almost instantly. No leakage. No waste. No trail.'
His golden pupils dimmed slightly.
'To refine and absorb faith that swiftly… that shouldn't be possible. Not even for me.'
His fists clenched at his sides, the weight of this mystery settling over him like a stormcloud.
'Who are you…? And how did you take what's mine?'
Another day passed. High in the clouds, the High Arbiter continued sensing traces of missing Monetary Faith. Little did he know — in the heart of Horn City's New District, at an upscale restaurant glittering with chandeliers and velvet walls — the true culprit was enjoying a quiet meal.
Arthur.
Lounging like a monarch in silk shadows, Arthur leaned back into the cushioned booth. Firfel sat beside him, pouring a glass of wine with practiced grace.
Seated across the table were the four most powerful men in the Horn Kingdom's financial world — the heads of the Big Four banks. Yet in this moment, they looked less like titans of industry and more like students before a master.
Arthur took a sip, then calmly asked, "So... you want your banks to have the same advanced technology as Hellfire Bank?"
His tone was smooth, but his eyes gleamed with depth.
Salarie, Junco Reeks, Andy Soap, and Mirtan Vale exchanged brief glances — and then came the flattery.
"Arthur, your vision truly transcends ours," Junco began, hands folded respectfully.
"Indeed," added Mirtan, adjusting his collar, "The infrastructure you built... it's a miracle in motion."
Andy nodded eagerly. "We were too proud to admit it before, but your system... it's the future. Please, incorporate your technology into ours."
Salarie, the most prideful of the four, even gave a short bow of the head. "We're prepared to follow your lead."
Arthur smiled faintly, amused. He set the wine glass down with a gentle clink.
"I figured you'd come around. But I should warn you—it won't be cheap."
Their expressions stiffened.
"If you want what I have," Arthur continued, "then you must accept what comes with it."
He leaned forward, voice steady and low.
"You'll acknowledge Hellfire Bank as the number one in the Horn Kingdom. You'll pay the appropriate price for the tech. And above all—" he paused, eyes flickering with sovereign weight, "—you'll follow the will of the crown."
The room fell silent.
Junco gulped.
Mirtan's fingers tightened.
Andy looked down, conflicted.
And Salarie... slowly nodded. "We accept."
Arthur sat back again, uncaring. "If you have no more business with me, you may excuse yourselves."
He turned his gaze to Firfel instead. "I do have business here."
Dismissed, the four men stood. They exchanged puzzled looks as they exited the room.
"…Did it feel strange to anyone else?" Junco asked quietly.
"What do you mean?" Andy blinked.
"I mean... the way he treated us. I should be angry — but I felt... honored."
"Same here," muttered Mirtan. "It felt like… reverence."
Even Salarie, normally too proud to admit such feelings, looked unsettled. "He talked down to us like we were peasants… but for some reason, I felt grateful."
None of them realized it, but a subtle divine influence was already in effect — the Power of Money stirring beneath Arthur's will.