Darian led him toward a broad counter tucked into the far corner of the hall. Behind it, a clerk in a neat uniform sat with a polished crystal terminal glowing faintly on the desk. A small line of merchants waited, most of them with ledgers and pouches of stones in hand.

When the clerk's eyes lifted and landed on Darian, their posture immediately straightened. "Young Master Velestra," he said respectfully. "How may I assist you today?"

"I'm here for some personal matters," Darian replied lightly, then placed a hand on Rowen's shoulder. "But first, I'd like you to open an account for my friend here."

Rowen stiffened under the sudden attention. The clerk's gaze flicked to him, surprise obvious at his plain clothes, but they quickly smoothed their expression. After all, anyone personally brought forward by a Velestra wasn't someone they could dismiss.

"Of course," the clerk said, already pulling a fresh crystal ledger forward. "We'll need some details and the initial deposit to begin."

Rowen swallowed once, glancing at Darian before stepping closer to the counter.

"There are four levels of accounts you can open," Darian explained, as though sensing his hesitation. "Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Bronze is the basic kind; common folk, low-ranked adventurers, and small merchants usually stick with that. It handles everyday deposits, withdrawals, and low-value stone exchanges."

The clerk nodded in agreement while preparing the ledger.

Rowen listened carefully, trying to process the tiers. The words "Bronze" and "basic" echoed in his head.

Rowen cleared his throat. "Um… what details do you need? And how much is the minimum deposit for a Bronze account?"

The clerk straightened, his tone professional. "For the Bronze level, we'll need your full name, age, and current place of residence. If you have no family name, that is acceptable; many merchants in the outer districts are the same. crystal will bind the account to you, ensuring that only you can access it unless you later authorize another."

Rowen nodded slightly, then pressed again, "And… the deposit?"

"The minimum to open a Bronze account is twenty-five low-grade mana stones," the clerk said evenly. "This ensures the account remains active for a full year. You may deposit more if you wish, and of course you can withdraw at any time. The system will also allow you to make and receive payments instantly through M-Net once the account is active."

Rowen blinked. Twenty-five wasn't a small number, but it was within reach. He still had more than enough stones left after buying the ring. He let out a small breath and glanced at Darian.

Darian gave him an encouraging nod. "It's a fair price. Think of it as an investment; you're setting yourself apart from most shopkeepers in the lower town."

The clerk pushed a smooth crystal ball across the counter.

"Place your hand on it," he instructed.

Rowen pressed his palm down. The surface rippled with light, and a moment later, a glowing barcode floated into the air above the ball.

"This," the clerk explained, "is your unique account imprint. You can scan it with any M-Net-linked device. The first time you scan, the system will automatically bring up the registration app. Fill in your details there, and your account will be linked to M-Net."

Rowen blinked at the floating pattern, the shifting lines almost mesmerizing. "And after that?" he asked.

"Once you complete the signup, you'll need to make the initial deposit of twenty-five low-grade mana stones," the clerk said. "That finalizes your account. After the payment is verified, your bronze-level card will be printed."

Rowen hesitated only a moment before reaching into his pocket. He pulled out the simple phone, its surface a little scratched from daily use. Holding it up, he pointed the camera at the floating barcode.

With a soft beep, the screen lit up, and an unfamiliar interface opened on its own. The clerk leaned forward slightly. "That's the M-Net registration app. Fill in your details there, and it will link your account to the system."

Rowen typed in his name, age, and residence. When he hit confirm, a new prompt appeared: Initial Deposit – 25 Low-Grade Mana Stones.

"Go ahead," the clerk said.

He gestured toward a slim, rune-lined machine at the side of the counter. Its faint hum suggested it was already active.

Rowen glanced once more at Darian, who gave him a faint nod. He reached into his storage ring, pulled out his old bag, and counted out twenty-five stones onto the counter. The clerk swept them neatly into a crystal basin set beside the terminal. A flash of blue light pulsed through the device, verifying the stones' grade and count.

"Deposit confirmed," the clerk announced. He turned slightly and tapped a rune on the side of the machine. With a faint hum, it whirred to life, etching runes into a thin bronze card. A moment later, it slid out onto the tray.

The clerk picked it up carefully and handed it over. "This is your Bronze Account Card. It's tied to your imprint and M-Net ID. Use it when dealing with customers or merchants who are set up for M-Net transactions."

Rowen took the card with both hands, the bronze surface cool against his fingers. Runes shimmered faintly along the edges, but what caught his attention most was the front. His name, Rowen, was etched cleanly beneath a small, rune-stamped picture of his face. Below that, his residence was listed: Border Town.

He blinked at it, almost startled. He hadn't posed for any picture, yet the imprint from the crystal ball had clearly captured him. It felt strangely official; more than just a piece of metal, it was proof that he existed in the federal system now.

For the first time, Rowen was holding something that tied him directly to the broader world beyond the border town.

Darian caught the look on his face and smiled faintly. "Feels different, doesn't it? That card means you're no longer just some nameless shopkeeper in the border town. You're recognized now as part of the system."

The moment the bag disappeared, he felt it the heavy, constant strain of carrying the bag was gone. No strap digging into his shoulder, no shifting weight at his side. For the first time in days, he walked freely, almost as if he had been carrying nothing at all.

A small smile tugged at his lips.

After the purchase, he counted in his mind. With the storage ring secured, he now had around seventy-seven low-grade mana stones remaining outside the ring. Enough for small experiments or purchases.

Shade padded beside him, tail flicking as if sharing in his quiet triumph. Rowen let out a small chuckle. Today had been a good day.

With a small, satisfied smile, he stepped out of Arcane Craft. The bustle of the upper district surrounded him again, with merchants calling out, students hurrying by, and the occasional shimmer of enchantment from nearby shops.

After walking a short distance, Rowen paused and thought for a moment. He didn't want to handle payments offline anymore too risky, too cumbersome. An online transaction system for his shop would make everything simpler.

He knew that in the border town, most people hadn't even heard of the Federal Bank. Some had, but didn't have enough low-grade mana stones to open an account. His own shop, tucked away in the border town, had started small, but word of his magical vegetables and fruits had spread.

Now, with the shop growing more popular, especially with customers coming from the upper district, he realized something. If his produce could help border town residents earn more income, eventually they too might be able to open accounts.

After thinking it through, Rowen made up his mind. He would open an account as a merchant. It was a practical step, and one that would make his business smoother while helping him stay ahead.

Rowen glanced around, spotting a few well-dressed passersby. "Excuse me," he asked, "which way is the Federal Bank?"

A young man pointed to the street. "Just near the Cornerstone building."

"Thanks," Rowen said, nodding.

With the directions clear, he set off again, Shade trotting faithfully at his side. The street narrowed slightly as they approached the upper district's administrative area, the hum of the busy marketplace fading into the more official, orderly atmosphere. Soon, the familiar spire of the Cornerstone building came into view, and just beyond it, the Federal Bank's six- to seven-story building façade gleamed in the afternoon sun.

As Rowen approached, he slowed his pace. The Federal Bank stood in sharp contrast to the rough-cut stone and timber of the border town. Its walls were smooth, pale marble, with gold inlays forming the federal crest above the wide entrance. Two guards in polished armor flanked the doors, their stances relaxed but authoritative.

Rowen tilted his head back slightly, taking it all in. Compared to the crooked rooftops and worn cobbles of his own district, this place radiated wealth and order. Even Shade gave a soft "mrrp," tail swishing as if sensing the difference.

For a moment, Rowen felt the distance between his small shop and this grand façade, but then he straightened. He had a reason to be here now.

Rowen stepped toward the tall doors, but before he could pass through, a guard shifted his spear across the entrance.

"Hold it."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.