CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26- AEGIS BANK

Kaidren leapt down from a rooftop, landing with fluid silence into a narrow alleyway. The rough cement underfoot was still moist from a recent cleaning, and the walls on either side loomed high, stacked with neglected piping and patched electrical lines. He took a single step forward, then another, emerging from the shadows into the heart of Block D in District 3.

The shift was immediate. Lights—sharp, colorful, and vibrant—bathed the street in alternating hues of violet, sea green, and electric blue. Neon signs pulsed over storefronts, advertising late-night diners, VR lounges, and corner bars. The road itself shimmered faintly from a light drizzle earlier that night, and the smell of ozone, fuel, and grilled street food mixed in the air. A few cars drifted by on the damp asphalt, their tires slicing through small puddles. Pedestrians, some in sharp suits and others in baggy hoodies like Kaidren, moved past him, caught in their own business.

Kaidren’s steps were casual, but purposeful, his hands tucked loosely into the front pouch of his pink baggy hoodie. Despite the vivid chaos of the street, his eyes were fixed ahead—toward a compact white-and-blue building nestled between a rustic coffee shop and a sleek jewelry boutique. Above the modest structure glowed a large sign in sharp blocky font: Aegis Bank. The text was rendered in pristine white against a radiant blue background, a golden globe centered above it like a floating emblem of authority.

The building’s architecture was utilitarian. Whitewashed walls accented with a streak of indigo wrapped the exterior. The windows were thick and darkly tinted, hiding the bank’s inner workings from view. At the black-tinted glass door stood two imposing men, each dressed identically in tailored black tuxedos. Their muscular arms crossed over their broad chests, and identical silver badges glinted on their lapels, bearing the words: Registered Tier 3 Esper Guardian.

Both had short buzz cuts, square jaws, and mirrored frowns—as if copied from the same template. But Kaidren didn’t dwell on that. He didn’t care how many visual gags reality wanted to play on him. He was here to withdraw money, not to analyze how symmetrical two men could look.

He approached without hesitation.

The instant he reached the edge of the bank’s entrance, both guards lifted their heads in sync. One of them, the taller by maybe half an inch, raised a firm hand to halt him. His voice, when he spoke, was deep and filtered through a voice modulator, giving it a mechanical resonance.

"Halt. Identification and inspection required."

Kaidren exhaled softly, the barest sigh of acknowledgment. He removed his hands from the hoodie’s pocket and raised them slightly in a show of compliance.

The second man nodded in return, pulling on tight black rubber gloves with practiced ease. He stepped forward, his footsteps heavy against the wet pavement.

"We’ll be performing a physical check," he stated, voice rougher, but not aggressive. "Standard protocol. Please remain still."

Kaidren gave a quiet hum of assent, then turned slightly, allowing the man to begin the pat-down. The guard worked methodically, checking the seams of Kaidren’s hoodie, pants, and shoes, digging briefly into his pockets, though Kaidren’s expression remained neutral throughout.

Meanwhile, the taller guard reached into the inside pocket of his jacket, withdrawing a sleek silver device shaped like an elongated smartphone. Intricate patterns ran along its metal edges, glowing faintly in blue as he activated it.

"This scan will determine if you have any existing criminal records or bounties on your head," he explained.

Kaidren met the man’s eyes briefly, then nodded.

The device projected a thin green line, which slid horizontally across Kaidren’s face like a scanner in an old sci-fi film. The screen displayed live data analysis, decoding facial structure and biometric signatures in real-time.

After a moment, the man inspecting Kaidren’s body stepped back.

"He’s clear," he announced, tugging off his gloves and stuffing them back into his pocket.

The biometric scanner chimed, a soft electronic beep.

"No criminal records detected," the other confirmed.

They nodded to each other in sync.

Then, with no words exchanged, both turned and faced the bank door. Simultaneously, they lifted their right hands and pressed their palms against the black glass.

A moment later, an intricate blue pattern spread from their fingertips like a glowing vine, pulsating with energy. The veins of light slithered across the door in branching lines, forming elegant spirals and fractal patterns before dissipating entirely.

With a soft hydraulic hiss, the door slid open.

Kaidren watched the display with quiet interest. That’s new, he thought. But he didn’t dwell on it. There was no point lingering on technology or flair when there were more practical matters to deal with.

The guards stepped aside, one of them giving him a short nod.

"Welcome to Aegis Bank," the mechanical-voiced one said. "You may proceed."

Kaidren dipped his head slightly in return—a silent thanks—and stepped through the now-open entrance.

As soon as he passed the threshold, the glass door behind him slid shut with a gentle finality, sealing out the colors and sounds of Block D’s nightlife. Inside, the bank’s atmosphere was an entirely different world.

The interior of the Aegis Bank was far more unassuming than the exterior had hinted. A rush of cold air brushed against Kaidren’s face. The floor beneath his feet was polished white tile, so pristine it reflected the ceiling lights in long, sterile lines. The AC hummed gently, filling the air with an artificial chill that bit at the tips of his fingers through his thin cotton sleeves. The atmosphere inside was hushed, a sort of dignified stillness often reserved for libraries or old temples.

Lining the right wall were rows of pale wooden chairs, neatly spaced out for waiting customers. Despite the late hour, a few figures sat quietly, either lost in thought or idly scrolling through their phones. The far side of the room held a line of counters, each manned by a sharply dressed woman, all appearing to be in their late twenties to early thirties. Their hair was tied up in identical tight buns, no strands out of place. Each wore a modest, dark blue blazer over a white blouse, paired with matching skirts that ended just below the knee. There was nothing provocative or informal about their attire. It was all business.

At the two corners of the room stood ATMs, sleek and rectangular with a metallic sheen and smooth interfaces. One of them blinked with a soft blue light as Kaidren’s boots tapped across the tile. He passed several black-suited guards on his way—muscular men with grim faces and no smiles, stationed at each end of the bank like statues carved from stone. Their tuxedos were stiff, adorned with discreet earpieces and small silver badges denoting them as Tier 3 Registered Esper Guardians.

They glanced at Kaidren briefly as he passed but made no move. He wasn’t carrying anything suspicious. Just a pink hoodie, brown cotton pants, and a quiet presence that left no noise in its wake.

Kaidren didn’t look at the guards. His thoughts were elsewhere.

He approached the ATM with deliberate steps, stopping in front of the gleaming terminal. The machine, familiar in design, reminded him faintly of the ones from Earth. But this one had no slot for a card—just a polished black plate that shimmered faintly in the low light.

He lifted his right hand and pressed his thumb firmly against the plate.

A soft beep.

The screen blinked to life.

IDENTIFIED.

Kaidren’s expression remained passive. The options lit up in pale blue against a white background: Withdrawal, Deposit, Balance Inquiry.

He tapped on Withdrawal.

The screen changed again. His account balance appeared clearly at the top: 2,510 AUR. Exactly as the silver laptop had shown. Kaidren’s eyes hovered over the number only briefly. It wasn’t a fortune. But for now, it was everything.

Below the balance, the screen prompted him to input his withdrawal amount and his Aegis Key.

He entered 2500. Then, calmly, he keyed in the six-digit code: 162345. The same number he’d memorized back at the apartment.

Another soft beep.

Processing...

A small mechanical whir stirred inside the ATM. Kaidren waited, hands loosely resting at his sides. Behind him, a few curious glances came from the nearby desks, more from habit than suspicion. It wasn’t every day someone used the ATM at this hour. A young female teller lifted her gaze toward him, observing for a moment before returning to the document she had been sorting.

Finally, a faint ding, and the machine opened its lower compartment.

From within emerged five long, golden bills.

Each was imprinted with an elegant flower bloom at its center, delicate yet radiant in design. The corners were stamped with the value: 500 AUR. Kaidren reached forward and collected the stack with both hands. The bills felt sturdy—not made of paper, but of a flexible polymer that was both waterproof and fire-resistant. They were crisp, cool to the touch, and faintly scented with something clean and industrial.

He fanned them slightly, eyes scanning the shimmering surface.

Five hundred. Five hundred. Five hundred. Five hundred. Five hundred.

2,500 AUR.

A low breath left his nose.

To anyone else, it might have felt like wealth. A luxury to hold. For Kaidren, it was calculation. Nothing more. This wasn’t spending money. It was investment. Fuel for his gamble. Every aurum in his hand now was going into potion crafting—and that potion, if convincing enough, would be his ticket to the bet of a lifetime.

That Kessen match...

His thumb lightly brushed one of the flower crests on the bill.

It was a high-risk strategy. But Kaidren didn’t deal in low-risk anymore. He couldn’t afford to.

He folded the bills once, slid them deep into the left pocket of his hoodie, and placed his hand over the bulge, fingers curling slightly around the fabric.

His gaze swept once more across the room as he turned away from the ATM. The black-suited men stood unmoving, their presence more decorative than functional in his case. The tellers were focused, unfazed. The sound of paper, keyboards, and occasional soft whispers filled the background like ambient static.

Without a word, Kaidren walked toward the exit.

The glass door ahead shimmered faintly as he approached, picking up the faint reflection of the white ceiling lights above. When he neared, the twin guards at the door glanced back and nodded silently at him.

He didn’t return the gesture. Just passed through the space between them, pushing the door open with his free hand.

Outside, the neon lights of District 3 flickered against the humid air.

The door sealed behind him once more with a muted hiss.