Ethan nodded, his heart pounding loudly in his ears as he followed the bank manager down a grand hallway.

The walls were painted in beautiful colors and adorned with drawings, yet they seemed to close in on him as they walked.

He couldn't stop thinking about how he got here—the unexpected windfall, the shocking account balance, and the request for a large cash withdrawal. It all felt like a dream.

At the end of the hallway, the manager stopped in front of an impressive door and opened it, motioning for Ethan to go inside.

The room was vast and luxurious, fitting for someone in the manager's position.

However, a single light flickered overhead to Ethan, casting a dim yellow light over a simple desk and two chairs. It seemed like a place designed to keep secrets rather than share them.

"Please, have a seat, Mr. Cole," said the manager, gently closing the door behind him. The sound of the door clicking shut seemed overly serious to Ethan.

Ethan took a seat, immediately noticing how uncomfortably hard the chair was. He tried to appear relaxed, lightly tapping his knee with his fingers.

The manager, a middle-aged man with beginning-to-thin hair and a barely noticeable smirk, sat down across from him. He clasped his hands together on the desk and leaned in a bit.

"We're in an unusual situation here, Mr. Cole," the manager started, speaking slowly as though explaining something complex to a child. "You see, having a billion dollars in your account and then wanting to take out $500,000 in cash... well, it's a bit concerning."

Ethan's expression shifted slightly, a crack appearing in his otherwise calm demeanor. He had expected the bank staff to be impressed, respectful, or even slightly intimidated by the massive sum in his account.

Ethan faced a challenging situation with the bank manager, whose tone was condescending. This made it clear that not everyone was swayed by money.

“I don’t quite follow what you’re trying to say here,” Ethan responded, trying to keep his voice calm.

He was becoming increasingly anxious, worried that the situation might escalate. “It’s my money, and I need it,” he stated plainly.

The manager, however, seemed almost amused by Ethan’s response, his smirk growing wider. “No, no, Mr. Cole,” he said, leaning back comfortably in his chair. “It doesn’t work that way. When a large amount of money suddenly appears in someone’s account, especially without any previous signs of wealth, it’s a cause for concern. It raises red flags.”

Ethan clenched his fists in his lap, though he managed to maintain a neutral face. “Red flags?” he echoed, struggling to keep his voice free of annoyance.

He could feel his frustration mounting, upset over being treated like he had done something wrong.

The manager sighed as if he was explaining something very basic to Ethan. “We need to check a few things, Mr. Cole. This situation could be related to money laundering, fraud, or other illegal activities. You surely understand why we have to be cautious.”

There it was. The accusation. There were thinly veiled, but they're all the same. Ethan’s heart skipped a beat, his pulse quickening.

This was precisely what he had feared when he’d requested such a large withdrawal.

Ethan had once thought that his new wealth would make life easier and act as a key to unlock all doors effortlessly. Yet, here he was, being accused of criminal activity.

“Listen,” Ethan started, trying to keep his voice steady, though he could feel a tremble beginning to take over. “Don’t accuse me of something I haven’t done. I might not look the part, but I know my rights. I can sue you for defamation if you continue this.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Speaking these words felt awkward to Ethan as if he was reciting lines from a movie rather than speaking from his own conviction. Internally, he was desperately hoping for some intervention, anything to pull him out of this nightmare.

The manager, who had been smirking, seemed to pause momentarily, his expression changing slightly as he leaned closer.

“Mr. Cole, there’s no need to be defensive,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of sharpness that made Ethan uneasy.

He added, “We’ve already contacted the corporation that supposedly sent you the funds to verify their validity. Everything will be fine, but we must stick to our procedures. You understand, right?”

While the manager was speaking, Ethan felt increasingly anxious. His hands were clammy with sweat, and he felt the moment's weight pressing heavily on him.

He worried about what might happen if they discovered something. Had the system hidden its tracks well enough?

Ethan's mind was a whirlwind of possible outcomes, each more worrying than the last. He was about to respond when the manager's phone vibrated on the desk.

The noise sharply pierced the room's tense atmosphere.

The manager looked at his phone, his smirk disappearing as he became curious.

"This is interesting," he said quietly, opening his phone and typing quickly. A moment later, he showed Ethan the phone screen, showing an email thread.

Ethan's heart raced as he read the message.

"The funds are legitimate. We support our investment in Mr. Cole. No further verification is needed."

Ethan was stunned. He hadn't sent that email. He hadn't even reached out to the corporation himself.

The only explanation was that the system had foreseen this situation and intervened to protect him from what could have been a disastrous outcome.

Realizing the extent to which the system controlled events in his life to keep him safe left Ethan covered in a cold sweat.

The manager looked utterly baffled. He obviously couldn't figure out how the confirmation had come through so quickly, or even at all.

His eyes went back and forth between Ethan and the phone's screen, his suspicion clearly not gone.

After a moment of silence, the manager finally spoke. "Well, it appears everything is in order. I'm not sure how, but... the funds are confirmed."

Ethan let out a sigh of relief he didn't even realize he was holding. He felt relieved but knew he wasn't out of the danger zone yet. He had to keep his cool and act as if he expected this all along.

"So," Ethan said, now with a more stable voice, "can I get the money?"

The manager took a moment, looking skeptical as if he sensed something was off.

But then, he gave a nod. "Yes. We'll proceed with the withdrawal. However, Mr. Cole, I strongly advise you to consider a wire transfer in the future. It's quite unusual—and risky—to carry such a large amount of cash."

Standing up, Ethan felt the tension start to dissipate. "I'll remember that," he said with a polite but strained smile. "Thank you."

As Ethan headed for the door, the manager called out to him. "Mr. Cole, one more thing."

Ethan stopped and turned, his hand on the door handle. The manager was on his feet, offering his hand. "I apologize for the confusion earlier. My name is Charles Weston. And, if you're interested... I'd like to offer you the chance to become one of our Premier clients at Novan Bank."

"Premier?" Ethan responded, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice.

Charles smiled, his eyes lighting up with the prospect of a new opportunity. “Yes, our exclusive Premier services are available to individuals with at least $100 million accounts. Given the size of your assets, Mr. Cole, you more than qualify. You’ll have access to personalized banking services, unique investment opportunities, and more. I’ll send the details over to your email.”

Ethan paused for a moment. The offer was tempting, especially considering it aligned with his goals of expanding his influence. He knew that networking and having the right status were vital in his quest.

“That sounds interesting,” Ethan finally responded with a nod. “Please, send me the details.”

Leaving the office, Ethan noticed a notification pop up on his phone.

=====

[Number of connections (1/2)]

=====

A smile played across Ethan’s lips. It seemed Charles Weston was exactly the type of connection he sought.

'It appears this man is already considered a significant asset for my current status.'

While waiting for the bank staff to finalize his withdrawal, Ethan marveled at the system's effectiveness.

Despite others' attempts to delve deeper, they seemed to be one step behind, unknowingly safeguarding him. With $500,000 in cash about to be in his possession, Ethan felt ready to launch his plans into action.