Chapter 396: Imperial Bank of Umar
The Islamic Imperial Bank of Umar—the bank of the Alhambra Guardians. It was well-regarded as the largest and wealthiest bank in the bazaar. Oh, sure, there were smaller Islamic banks sprinkled throughout the Nebulous Bazaar but this was the central piece of the Caliph and his first wife’s economic operations.
Pointed arches, mashrabiya windows, and atop were twin golden domes like the sun itself. A fortress of wealth and prestige. The strongest bank in the Nebulous Bazaar.
The two golden domes were sections with three floors. Left side for the uber wealthy and the right for the ordinary. Kazi was ordinary.
For now.
He hung out outside the first floor of the right dome. Through the window and with his sharp eyes, he witnessed rows of tellers standing behind counters and attending to the steady stream of people who traded points for gold coins, and vice versa. Line-ups consisted of those with ornate robes of guild leaders, others the plain garb of humble traders, but all were here for the same reason.
He had been to the bank before, though usually for smaller transactions—trading artifacts or exchanging gold for points. Today, however, was different. In Kazi Hossain’s hand was a letter sealed with the insignia of Prince Yuzin, the Finance Minister of the Imperial Sect.
But before he went...
"Hey there."
He walked up to a man that was exiting the bank. Kazi’s smile was blaring bright, completely unsuspicious and full of all things good, and he asked, "Is this the Bank of Umar?"
A tentative reply. Not out of fear but awe and a desire to be upstanding in front of this demigod. "Ah, yes it is."
Kazi looked into his eyes and the man’s eagerness to answer intensified oh-so subtly. "Just wanted to make sure. I hear rumours about it and—"