Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest

Bank of El Dorado, in the office of the Vice President.

Gonzalo invited Luo Xiu and Intis to the office on the third floor of the bank, and personally took out the collection of red wine from the window.

After sobering up the wine, he took out a glass specially used for drinking red wine from among the many high-end glass wine glasses on the shelf next to his desk, and filled it one-third full.

"I heard from Miss Index that Mr. Luo Xiu also loves the red wine produced by the 'Roquetier' estate."

Gonzalo said with a smile, and at the same time walked up to Luo Xiu and handed him the wine glass.

"If you come to the bank again, you can send someone to inform me first. I am really unprepared this time. Please forgive me for my poor hospitality."

"Welcome, Mr. Luo Xiu. As always, we look forward to achieving better cooperation with you."

After hearing what Gonzalo said, Luo Xiu also stood up and took the glass of red wine from his hand.

It exuded a faint aroma of fruity wood. Luo Xiu held the handle of the glass and shook it gently, letting the light red wine hang all over the wall of the glass like mist.

Actually, I don't like drinking... Luo Xiu looked at Intis and guessed that when she met Gonzalo for the first time, she should have made up something suitable for the occasion.

He then nodded to Gonzalo, with a smile on his face and responded:

"Thank you, Mr. Gonzalo. I can feel that you are more enthusiastic than ever."

"You are joking, Mr. Luo Xiu. Several of your investments have given the bank a new lease of life. You are our most important customer and our most precious friend."

"Really?" Luo Xiu nodded and took a sip of the red wine in his glass, still keeping a smile on his face. "It is an honor for me to receive such a review."

…

Before getting down to business, they exchanged brief but necessary business blows.

After that, Luo Xiu sat back on the sofa in the guest seat, and Gonzalo also sat in the main seat and asked Luo Xiu:

"May I take the liberty of asking you something, Mr. Luo Xiu?"

He seemed to be hesitant to speak. Luo Xiu saw this and probably knew what question he wanted to ask.

"Please ask, Mr. Gonzalo." Luo Xiu responded with a gentle voice.

"This may be a little offensive..."

Gonzalo organized his words and said to Luo Xiu:

"As you know, it has been nearly half a year since the 'Trial War' broke out."

"Because the war situation has become more and more tense, the empire's control over foreign businessmen like us has gradually become stricter... Many of our investment projects have been greatly restricted, including some, um... …Grey industry stuff.”

"Therefore, the bank headquarters far away in the Golden Kingdom issued a new policy adjustment to us some time ago - [All customers who have signed a cooperation contract with the Golden Kingdom bank opened by the empire, if they have plans to further deepen cooperation, in principle, All must have identity certificates of imperial citizens, and have no other cooperative relations with the Principality of Darkness and the Holy Tower Theocracy]..."

"We have to understand the context behind the people we're working with to better ensure safety, for both of us."

Gonzalo said it tactfully, and he was also observing Luo Xiu's reaction.

"Yes, I understand." Luo Xiu nodded, "This is a reasonable decision."

After Gonzalo said these words, Luo Xiu fully understood what he wanted to ask. He then heard Gonzalo continue:

"I hope you don't misunderstand, Mr. Luo Xiu. You are still our important business partner, but we need to have a deeper and more detailed understanding of your background."

"You and Ms. Index both come from the 'Carlos Family'... But it seems that apart from you and Ms. Index, there is no longer a third outstanding elite of the 'Carlos' family in the Songyuan Territory. ”

"..."

"'Carlos', that is the name of the director of an orphanage that was in Sina City."

When Gonzalo stopped speaking, Luo Xiu answered him:

"Index and I grew up there. Later, we each had our own careers. We were both orphans and didn't know our original names, so we used the name 'Carlos' as our ’s surname.”

As Luo Xiu spoke, he took out his imperial citizenship certificate from his arms. At the same time, he reached out to Index, took the citizenship certificate that "Index" took out from the soft bag, and handed it to Gang. In front of Salo.

Most of what Luo Xiu said was true - when Luo Xiu had reached a certain status in the 'Holy Court' system, he had specifically investigated his original experience before becoming a priest. In the clergy files of Dawn Town Church and Sina City Church, there are records of the "Carlos Orphanage".

His original purpose was to investigate the relationship between the former bishop of the Sina City Church, "Alfonso Durant" and himself, but he accidentally learned about other things.

As for Intis also coming from the "Carlos Orphanage", that is a pure lie... But with the power of "Fallen Angel" Tatia, this level of "deception" will not be ignored by just ordinary people. Man's Gonzalo sees through or exposes.

"So that's it..." Gonzalo nodded.

His eyes fell on the two citizenship certificates on the table at the same time. The names, patterns, seals, etc. on them were all real and could indeed prove the identities of the two people.

After confirming that Luo Xiu and Index were indeed citizens of the empire, Gonzalo smiled and said:

"No wonder, when I heard the family name 'Carlos' for the first time, I felt strange. It turns out you have had such an experience."

"You didn't come from a prominent family, but you have achieved what you have achieved today. This is really an example of starting from scratch, which is truly admirable!"

"only……"

He hesitated again, while Luo Xiu kept smiling, waiting for him to ask new questions.

The air seemed to suddenly become still. After a while, Gonzalo suddenly smiled and shook his head.

"……never mind."

"What I was thinking just now is a bit too far-fetched."

"I'm not afraid of your ridicule. Just a while ago, I heard that in the Red Maple City Fortress on the border and the church established by the Holy Court there, the name of the newly promoted bishop was also called 'Roxiu Carlos'..."

"I have always wanted to ask if there is any family connection between you and the bishop... But since you said that your name 'Carlos' comes from an orphanage, then, well, it should just be It’s just a coincidence that they have the same name.”

"..."

After Gonzalo finished speaking, he raised his head and glanced at Luo Xiu, with a somewhat embarrassed expression on his face.

But his expression soon froze.

Because he discovered that - when he said that the name of the bishop of the Red Maple City Church was also "Luo Xiu Carlos", the faces of the two people opposite him did not change, and Luo Xiu even had a subtle smile on his lips. meaning!

"We do have a relationship."

Looking directly into Gonzalo's eyes, Luo Xiu said slowly:

"Mr. Gonzalo. In fact, I did set out from Red Maple City and arrived here in the morning."

"..."

--ah?

Although Gonzalo didn't say anything, the expression on his face revealed his inner thoughts at this moment.

"You...you..."

His speech suddenly became stuttering, and his originally straight waist became a little bent unconsciously.

"You really are... you are the one..."

His eyes for verification met Luo Xiu's eyes, eager to get the answer from the distinguished guest opposite.

All he saw was that Luo Xiu just nodded calmly.

"Well, it's exactly what you think, Mr. Gonzalo."

Luo Xiu said in a gentle voice: "My name is 'Luo Xiu Carlos'. After leaving the orphanage, I was taken in and taught by the church, and I have since become a priest."

While speaking, Luo Xiu no longer suppressed his spirituality, but exuded a faint sacred aura, making Gonzalo feel a burning warmth.

At this point, Gonzalo finally fully believed that the distinguished guest opposite him, "Roseux Carlos", was really a [brilliant] transcendent!

As an ordinary person, Gonzalo could not distinguish the strength, richness or shallowness of spirituality. He only felt a warm air current gently lifting and surrounding him, making him feel that his body and mind were gradually relaxing.

While stimulating spiritual energy, Luo Xiu smiled at Gonzalo and said:

"I don't know if Mr. Alerdine has ever told you - the reason why I got acquainted with Mr. Alerdine was because I was on my way to Sina City as a 'priest'. en route."

"... We did ask for our opinion when you first wanted to establish cooperation with the bank."

Gonzalo sighed, "The eldest young master only told us that he did give you a family emblem. Other than that, he didn't reveal much to us."

"Mr. Alerdine is too busy, he may not remember me." Luo Xiu smiled.

While Gonzalo remained suspicious of his identity, Luo Xiu simply confessed his family history to him.

This is a matter of time anyway - with the new policy issued by the headquarters of the Bank of Gold, Gonzalo's doubts will be dispelled, and the "bishop's" identity will be revealed, which can help him obtain more benefits.

However, "disclosing" one's identity like this is passive to a certain extent, and Luo Xiu needs to take back chips of equal value.

The kind and gentle smile on his face gradually faded away.

"I have always established cooperation with you as a 'businessman', Mr. Gonzalo."

Luo Xiu said lightly:

"And when I discovered that, as a 'priest', the name 'Roshu Carlos' carried more and more weight, I gradually became less active in my true identity, and instead Leave the business matters to my sister."

"It's just... now that the headquarters of the Bank of Gold has moved out new policies, I need to think carefully about how we should carry out the next step of cooperation."

"What do you think, Mr. Gonzalo?"

Hearing what Luo Xiu said, Gonzalo's eyes also became cautious and respectful.

"You are right, Luo... No, Your Excellency the Bishop."

Gonzalo said: "Please allow me to use your honorific title. Your status deserves this respect."

Gonzalo understands very deeply that if their "El Dorado Bank" can have deeper cooperation with a "bishop", how much benefits and benefits will be generated behind it.

Deeper intelligence advantages, more cash flow, broader and higher-level connections...the benefits are countless, and Gonzalo gradually becomes excited.

In the past, banks did have business cooperation relationships with several [Supreme] and [Intellectual] high-ranking people, but most of those cooperations were shallow and not profound.

Because the rulers of the Nolan Empire - the high-ranking people in the [Supreme] destiny, actually established the empire's own banking system.

And most of the economic investment activities of the extraordinary beings with the three major destiny paths of [Supreme], [Intellect] and [Glory] are carried out in the Imperial Bank. This is essentially a two-way contract - the Empire It needs to be economically 'bound' to these high-ranking people, and at the same time, provide them with more stable returns.

As for the difference between the "El Dorado Bank" and the "Imperial Bank", it is like 'stocks' and 'treasury bonds' - the former has high risks and high returns, while the latter has stable returns but is difficult to qualify for admission.

In the eyes of those in high positions in the empire, the Bank of El Dorado itself was actually considered an "invasion of foreign capital." If it had not indeed brought considerable profits and vitality to the empire's economic market, the empire would not have allowed the Bank of El Dorado to develop to this day.

But even so, the situation of the Bank of El Dorado was still somewhat difficult - this can be easily seen from the empire's series of controls and restrictions on banks.

but.

Now, the person who can help Songyuan City-El Dorado Bank get out of trouble to a certain extent is sitting in front of Gonzalo!

"I sincerely look forward to establishing a deeper cooperative relationship with you." Gonzalo said respectfully to Luo Xiu.

Compared with before, his attitude became much more humble... Luo Xiu felt the subtle changes in Gonzalo, and the smile that had been restrained resurfaced again, and he said with a smile:

"You don't have to be nervous, Mr. Gonzalo. Regardless of my status as a 'bishop,' we are still very good friends."

"I will continue to cooperate with you, but we really need to have a good chat about our new direction of cooperation."

He comforted Gonzalo like this.

After all, the "Golden Country Bank" means to Luo Xiu the same as the "Swiss Bank" in his previous life... All benign and bad assets can be invested or stored in it, just in case the "Holy Abyss" incident comes to light, and the empire After breaking up, he can still retain this asset to the maximum extent.

Gonzalo nodded, straightened his sitting posture, and asked Luo Xiu respectfully:

"So, Lord Luo Xiu, what is your proposal?"

"..."

"My deposits in the Bank of El Dorado, my status as a 'bishop', and the first-hand information I have obtained, these are my bargaining chips."

Luo Xiu said lightly:

"As 'Businessman' Rossio Carlos."

"I hope to increase investment in the fields of 'military employment', 'refugee accommodation' and 'general-purpose construction', etc., and use all the deposits I have in the bank - two-thirds of 120,000 gold coins, that is, Eighty thousand gold coins to invest in them.”

“And on top of that, I need financing—a lot of financing.”

"Mr. Gonzalo, I am planning to establish a chamber of commerce. It will be under the name of the Bank of El Dorado and managed by my sister Index. I hope you can help me with site selection and planning."

"There's no problem with that, my friend." Gonzalo nodded, "I'm happy to do this for you."

"As for other cooperation..."

After a pause, Luo Xiu looked into Gonzalo's eyes and said:

"As 'Bishop' Rossio Carlos."

"I want to get the profits of 5% of the shares of Songyuan City-El Dorado Bank, and as a shareholder, participate in the bank's decision-making and management."

"If you want to further cooperate with me as the 'Bishop', these are the prices I will offer——"

"Agree to my conditions and I will give you the opportunity to establish cooperation with my 'church'."

"..."

A profit of 5% of the shares... Gonzalo's pupils narrowed.

That's a pretty huge amount - even though it's only 5%, it's still a monthly profit of tens of thousands!

As the vice president, Gonzalo actually held only 10% of the bank's shares. When Luo Xiu made such a proposal, he couldn't help but squint his eyes.

"Please forgive me, I can't make a decision on such a big matter..."

Gonzalo showed an apologetic expression and said, "I am just the 'Vice President.' If such a change in equity is not voluntarily donated by shareholders, more than half of the shareholders will need to convene a meeting to make relevant resolutions..."

"I know, Mr. Gonzalo." Luo Xiu nodded and didn't care.

"I understand that you don't have the power to make decisions, Mr. Gonzalo... but the person I want to negotiate with is actually not you."

Then, Luo Xiu suddenly raised his head and looked at the white wall behind Gonzalo's seat.

"——President Qiao Devin, I think we can meet."

Luo Xiu said loudly:

"I have confessed my true identity, should you also be honest with me?"

"...?" When Luo Xiu said this, Gonzalo was stunned.

He heard the name of his teacher—heard the name of President "Qiao Devin."

That bishop...that "Rosio Carlos", why did he know the name of the president?

Obviously they have not seen each other, and...the teacher is not in this room either!

Just when Gonzalo was thinking this.

He followed Luo Xiu's gaze towards the wall and suddenly tightened his gaze.

Just on the surface of the wall, a burst of gray light and shadow floated one after another, showing the outline of a thin human figure.

"...How did you tell?"

The human figure made a voice belonging to "President Qiao Dewen", "Ha, I thought I hid well enough..."

"Your spirituality is not completely hidden, Mr. President." Luo Xiu smiled, "I noticed you a long time ago, it turns out that you also have a hobby of eavesdropping."

"...Hey, I just don't like heavy work, but I enjoy the feeling of being behind the scenes."

Qiao Dewen's figure became clearer and clearer. Under Gonzalo's stunned gaze, Qiao Dewen said to him:

"You go out first, Gonzalo."

"Remember to close the door."

"The Bishop and I also have some topics to talk about."

...