71 This Door...

Leaving the knocked out Lester on the floor, Lisa guides the others to her office.

"Feel free to take a seat by the table," Lisa sits at her desk and opens a small lunch box, "So what can I do for you today?"

"I want the bank to open a branch in my city, Aeternum," Astur says.

"Aeternum? I think I might have heard the name somewhere, but I don't believe I'm familiar with it," Lisa says while cutting up a chicken breast.

Astur nudges Elizabeth's waist, pressing her to explain. With a small sigh, Elizabeth speak up, "Perhaps knowing our city is located within the Sea of Trees might help remind you."

"Ah, yes, I remember seeing something about it on the news. The city of monsters is what people were calling it. Since that's the case, you should know about your current geopolitical situation better than anyone. Although the Internation Bank of Vopal is a neutral entity in regards to the other nations, this doesn't mean we can simply establish a branch in a newly built city that was for all intents and purposes made illegally, as far as the Kingdom of Virpal is concerned."

"Regardless of the situation, a city is still a city, whether it remains in our hands or is occupied by the Kingdom, it will still need a branch of the bank," Astur says.

Taking a sip of water, Lisa continues, "That is very much so. And the Kingdom will likely propose that we build a branch in the event they occupy the city. However, I am willing to send a proposal to the higher-ups regarding your request, so long as the benefits are there."

"Lets not waste any time negotiating and haggling, we can provide the building material and cover the cost of construction. You'll be able to operate tax free for the first decade and will increase by 1.2% every decade after the first, going up to a max of 5%. All you need to do is send the employees, and in the event any needs training, we can cover the costs there as well. As a preference though, try to send Demon employees, or Mystics as you would call them," Astur says.

"I was not expecting that. That's a great deal. The low tax is already better than what we pay the other nations and we usually have to cover the cost of the construction ourselves whenever a new branch is built. I'd be a fool if I didn't accept these terms and send the proposal to those fogies at the top."

While Lisa is expressing her joy over the generous terms she was given, Elizabeth is just as surprised, but more than that, she's upset, however, a few quick jabs to her side from Astur shuts her up for a moment.

"I take it you agree?" Astur stands up and hangs Elizabeth over her shoulder while covering her mouth.

"Of course. I'll draft the proposal today and send it up later. It should take a couple of weeks before it gets processed though. I would say it's best to return in about three weeks, we can go over the final draft then and sign the contract."

Astur opens the door and points to Lester, still out cold, "You can contact us through him once everything is prepared. And when he wakes up, tell him that we're heading back to Aeternum."

"Alright, I'll look forward to seeing you again in a few weeks," Lisa says, finishing up her lunch before returning to work.

With their business with the bank finished for the moment, Astur, Elizabeth, Kretea, and Ystur return to their car and begin their road trip back to Aeternum.

After roughly two days, the group return to Aeternum with the moon high in the sky. During their return trip, Elizabeth had been complaining the whole time about how they could have negotiated a better deal and that Astur was too hasty in trying to settle the matter. Worn out from her two days of constant complaining about Astur being too lazy to properly negotiate and how this is going to consume more resources than needed, Elizabeth retires to bed as soon as they return to the island house. But the other three are still quite energetic.

"Since the pestering bat is gone, let's see what's under my house. You said there was some kind of ruins or something?" Astur asks.

"Yeah, it was.. umm… big and stuff," Ystur says, "Honestly, I don't remember it very well."

"I can tell," Astur says with a sigh while walking over to the high edge of the island, "Why does it need to be underwater? I hate diving."

"I'm also not fond of swimming, especially diving?" Kretea sighs.

"What's with the two of you? Swimming is fun."

"Getting water in my ears is annoying and it's a lot easier for me to be listless and float than to dive underwater," Astur says.

"I don't like the feeling of Water on my hair, it causes all sorts of problems if I have to fight before it dries.

"Will you two just suck it up and come down," Ystur says before jumping off the edge and diving beneath the water.

Astur and Kretea give each other an understanding look before they both release one last sigh and follow Ystur.

As Ystur leads them to the door, Astur triggers the same Quest that Ystur previously did when she first arrived.

[Quest: The Forgotten History of Antiquity - The Primeval Shrine - 1 (Rank S)]

[Description]: You have discovered an ancient site. Find a way to open the door.

[Rewards]: +500,000 EXP (Quest is only completed once all parts are completed)

[Failure Penalty]: The secrets of the past will forever remain buried.

Walking up to the large door, Astur begins to study its details. Based on the design of the door itself, it looks to be split vertically in the centre into two sections. Carved into the door in the centre seems to be some kind of giant figure. Surrounding the giant are six figures, each with a different symbol on them, being a flame, a tornado and lightning, a water droplet, a rock, an anvil, and the moon. Facing in the opposite direction of the other six figures is a seventh one with the sun on it.

"I can't believe it! This is…!"

"Do you know what this is, Mom?"

Slowly, Astur turns to face both Kretea and Ystur. She looks both of them in the eyes, and speaks slowly, "This door…"

Astur's pause causes Kretea and Ystur to look at her with anticipation, expecting some kind of big reveal, "I have no idea what this door is or what it means."

"..."

"..."