After the meeting on the winter night, the executives quickly dispersed, as if the ruthless wind had blown away the only excitement, and only the sound of footsteps echoed softly in the palace.
Winter in the solstice is no better than in Liyue, it is bone-chilling, as if falling into an ice cave.
Pantalone put away her smile, tightened the coat around her shoulders slightly, and came to the stairs outside the Winter Palace.
His carriage was waiting under the gleaming iron lamp.
Although Sandonne, working with craftsmen in Fontaine, had developed mechanical chariots driven by gears, tracks and steam, the wealthy still preferred these luxurious vehicles customized from Liyue.
According to him, there is no comparison between the industrial defective products created by Sandone and the exquisite ancient craftsmanship.
Just as the rich man was about to step off the last step, the heavy sound of military boots on the ground came from behind him.
"Pantarone."
Following closely was "Captain" Capitano, who blocked the rich man's way, quickly removed his gauntlets, pulled off his soft velvet-lined gloves, and took off the extremely ordinary silver rings on his fingers.
Using the light in the blizzard, Pantalone could see clearly the eyes under the mask, which were like the unchanging indifference of the snowfield.
"Help me bring this ring to the last king."
Capitano held onto the side armor of his face armor, the muscles on his arms undulating with the movements.
Very few people have seen the captain's appearance under the heavy armor. The mask also seems to hide his past, leaving only the long black hair hanging naturally on his shoulders.
The banker wearing half-rimmed glasses reached out and tightened his coat, letting the fluff at the collar stick to his face. He narrowed his eyes habitually and smiled as usual, but did not take the ring handed over by Capitano rashly.
"It's my pleasure, Captain."
"But you know... I'm a businessman, and I won't do anything without profit."
Pantalone's eyes and brows were filled with a smile, she gently turned the tail ring on her left hand and spoke slowly.
Of course, Capitano understood what the rich man wanted. After putting on his gauntlet again, he thought for a moment and then proposed the terms of the deal.
"I will apply to the city hall to replace the weapons and equipment of the Vanguard Army of Fools, so Northland Bank can get a loan list worth hundreds of millions of molas."
Hearing the captain's words, Pantalone's narrowed eyes couldn't help but widen slightly. She reached out her hands happily and took the ring from the other party's hand. The ends of her curled hair beside her ears swayed slightly with the shaking body. .
"Then... as an executive who represents the Ice Queen's grace, I think this kind of thing is just a piece of cake."
The engraved silver wrench fell into Pantalone's velvet gloves, looking particularly inconspicuous against his various rings.
Capitano obviously didn't want to talk to the rich man anymore, so he turned around alone and walked into the blizzard.
The rich man watched the captain walk away, playing with the Nata-style ring in his hand. The silver ring turned into flowers in his hand, was thrown into the air, and then fell into the palm of his hand.
"Russell, go to Northland Bank."
The old coachman known as Russell opened the curtain for Pantalone. After confirming that the master was seated firmly, he slowly pulled the rope.
Half an hour later, the carriage carrying Pantalone entered the snow-covered city and stopped in front of a complex of winter-style buildings.
Several gray spire towers stand on the high steps. The towers surround the main body of the building in the center. The main entrances all face the cloister staircase in the central hall. The top of the porch is decorated with galloping bronze horses and simple statues with complicated patterns.
The interior of the bank is supported by dark red velvet, with bright gold as the main tone. In the center of the dome is a huge crystal chandelier. The dome windows on both sides are made of stained glass. The dim light of the element lights penetrates the windows diagonally. , forming colorful shadows on the columns.
The receptionists who passed by all saluted the distinguished gentleman respectfully, and after Pantalone handed the cloak to the servant, he walked straight to the elevator and went to the study room on the top floor of the bank.
The floor of the study is covered with thick and luxurious carpets. Even the gold and silver threads are just ordinary decorations. The dark blue background is printed with mora patterns. The fireplace against the wall is calm and majestic, and further away is ebony. desk with many exquisite accessories placed on it.
After taking off his robe, Pantalone picked up the hair tie on the table, tied up his slightly curly hair, held the hot pot on the fireplace, opened the desk drawer, and took out the tea imported by Qiao Yingzhuang, with a focused expression. Make tea.
In the drawer filled with documents and bills, there was also a blue bracelet. Judging from the size of the wrist and the style of the pattern, it obviously belonged to a certain Liyue woman.
"Irina, it's about to enter the polar night. Has the shipment been delivered?"
Pantalone picked up the white jade porcelain cup with her fingertips, took a sip of tea with her lips parted, tucked her soft gray-black hair behind her ears, and asked the empty room.
"We have already set off from the Port of Ormos. Sir, we can sew it right away after you choose the style."
"These are new design drawings, please take a look."
The glistening water light refracted, forming a flowing sea-blue mirror. A lady from the winter country walked out of it with a dignified posture as if she were serving a god. She held a stack of drawings in her hands and bowed to answer the rich man's questions.
Pantalone took several drawings presented by the lady and read them one by one.
These are the styles of cloaks that the best costume designers of the solstice have sketched for their Majesty the Queen.
The design will be sent to Mr. Pantalone, who will personally select it, sew it with the best materials, and present it to Her Majesty the Queen.
Her Majesty the Queen's food and clothing expenses, of course, must be of the best quality and cannot be careless at all.
After reading all the design drawings, Pantalone selected one of them and commented: "This one looks pretty good, but the decoration on the cuffs does not suit the Queen's taste. The gems here were changed to light metal, and the pendant was used last time. Among the batch of old stones sent, choose the ones with the best color and luster.”
"Yes, my subordinates will let them change it."
Irina lowered her head and was about to leave when she was stopped by a smiling Pantalone: "Don't let anyone intercept this batch of goods again."
"Ah! Yes...I understand..."
"I promise you...those who are disrespectful will definitely be punished!"
Of course Irina understood what the rich man was referring to, and she did not dare to feel dissatisfied at all, so she called out the water mirror and left.
As the executive who controls Solstice's economy, Pantalone's wealth has reached countless levels.
But his wealth has never made him give up his precious trait of caution. Although he was occasionally at a temporary disadvantage in business wars, he was able to escape unscathed every time.
Apart from Ning Guang, only the woman named Ye Lan gave him a headache.
A few months ago, a hidden trade route secretly set up by Pantalone was infiltrated by Yelan, and the goods were intercepted.
Although the Fools' Vanguard Army snatched away the opponent's ancestral jade bracelet [Youqi Wristband], the rarest exotic monster fur among the goods was also taken away by this mysterious person, and a message was left behind that it was used as a jade bracelet. compensation.
This kind of magical beast is powerful. Although it died hundreds of years ago, its bones and remains have not decayed for many years, and its fur has a fragrant fragrance. It is an excellent material for making cloaks, and it can be said to be priceless.
Not only that, Yelan, who got the fur, also rejected the style carefully chosen by the rich for Her Majesty the Queen, directly took off the animal skin, mixed it with Liyue ramie, and made a new style of sleeved Xiapei called [White Band Feilian].
Pantalone had to find new materials and design clothing drawings for Her Majesty the Queen.
"Yelan, Ningguang..."
The feeling of meeting an opponent in chess made Pantalone look forward to this trip to Liyue even more. The rich man with a smile on his face took out a letter cutter from the open drawer, elegantly cut open the intelligence letter given by the clown, and pulled out the paper read.
But when she saw the changed contract in the intelligence, the unsuspecting Pantalone was stunned. The smile on her face gradually disappeared, replaced by suddenly shrinking pupils and a distorted face.
"...compensate for the repair costs of damaged buildings, forgive the debts of the victims' families with the bank, and issue temporary interest-free loan assistance..."
The usually gentle and elegant rich man almost lost his composure at this moment, and the final sound of his gritted teeth revealed a chilling anger.
"Dadalia..."
"You really deserve to die..."
