After calming down, Merka took a few steps downstairs and found room 109 where the finance department was located.

Merka knocked on the door, only to find it slightly ajar.

Curiously, Merka pushed open the door and was dazzled by the golden light filling the room.

A gigantic golden tree stood silently in the center of the room, towering four to five meters high.

The dim yellow light of the lamps shone on the golden tree, instantly reflecting in every corner of the room, giving the whole space a luxurious and glorious feeling.

The immense amount of gold brought to mind the potential impact it could have on the Acadia market, possibly causing a small to moderate fluctuation in gold prices.

Beside the golden tree, there was a woman lying in a rocking chair, fast asleep with a wide-brimmed hat covering her face. She was Bordeaux, known as the "Gold Knight."

Bordeaux was straightforward and sincere, but also refined in her own way. With a background in herding, she had been by Maria's side for twenty years and was among Maria's earliest subordinates.

Despite her only work experience being as a shepherd, seemingly lacking the abilities required for a finance department minister, Maria still appointed her, going against popular opinion.

As it turned out, Maria was right.

The most effective restraint on money is reputation and loyalty. Otherwise, regardless of who comes, they might easily become unsteady in the face of such vast wealth.

"Merka, what brings you here?" Bordeaux asked.

Approaching Bordeaux, Merka had initially been worried that she might neglect her duty to guard the golden tree due to being asleep. However, it seemed unnecessary to worry now.

"I'm here to exchange some money...Nor." Putting the check given by Oedipus next to Bordeaux's delicate hands resting on her belly, Merka said irritably.

"Don't be so cold. It's been a long time, can't we discuss something else when we first meet?" Bordeaux held the check with one hand while gently lifting the brim of her hat with the other, looking at Merka.

Although Merka, who had been carefully dressed, wasn't wearing expensive clothes, every part of her was tightly composed. The simple and understated clothing projected a sense of silent sophistication.

Feeling a little uneasy under Bordeaux's gaze, Merka smiled helplessly, clenched a fist and placed it near her mouth, furrowing her brow before coughing lightly.

"You've grown more dashing. If my daughter were a few years older, I would definitely introduce her to you." Bordeaux, on the other hand, was completely at ease and continued teasing Merka.

Finally diverting her gaze back to the check, Bordeaux tilted her head and exclaimed in a low voice upon seeing the one million written on it.

"Wow, what could be worth one million?"

"Are you keeping a mistress?"

Seeing Merka's almost strained face, Bordeaux burst out laughing and stopped teasing her.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore."

"After all, you've seduced the Miss Altria."

"Once a fish explores the vast ocean, would it be willing to return to rivers, lakes, and seas?"

"It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality."

Stretching lazily, Bordeaux let out a startling yawn, laboriously stood up from the warm rocking chair, and tapped her stiff lumbar spine.

"Okay, since it's a million."

"Here's five kilograms of pure gold for you."

"These are all 99% pure gold. When you exchange it for money, remember to negotiate with the boss. The selling price can still be increased."

As Merka looked at the magician's hand extended by Bordeaux, she noticed that the magician's hand growing out of Bordeaux was as thin as a reed. Although it looked fragile, it was quite suitable for cutting.

Bordeaux plucked a golden twig from the soft golden tree without weighing it, and tossed it directly to Merka.

"Here, not more than a gram, not less than a gram."

"Come and play again next time."

Without saying anything else, the golden knight Bordeaux lay back in her gentle rocking chair as if in a tranquil place, covering her face with a hat. In an instant, she fell unconscious, leaving Merka feeling embarrassed.

——————————————————————————

"Hiss... Ha."

Dunkerque lay on the rocky ground, covered in wounds, with half of her face submerged in shallow water. Her entire body was covered in strange and distinctive scars.

Terrifying wounds continuously oozed black blood, staining the lake water around Dunkerque a dark color, as if ink had been dripped into it.

She had no strength left.

"Now... is this an illusion created by your backdrop, or am I really seriously injured?"

Turing had learned too quickly. In just two or three days, she had completely mastered the content of asides, which had taken Dunkerque four or five years to learn. She had even created many new extensions based on it.

Dunkerque felt both gratified and pained. Turing was her most outstanding student, but also the first one to beat her so badly, causing her such humiliation.

"I'm sorry, teacher. It's reality now."

"I'm sorry, I was too harsh. I still can't accurately control the strength of an angel."

Turing sighed and her complexion became pale.

But the reason for her pale complexion was different from Dunkerque's.

When Turing said she had been too harsh, she was not bragging; she really couldn't control her own power.

Now, sometimes she would tear the sheets apart when she turned over in bed at night, or crush a cup into powder when she tried to drink coffee.

These past few days, she had to be cautious and careful when bathing, eating, and drinking, or else she would create a mess of broken tiles and debris at home.

Ever since she realized her nature as an angel, it was as if she had suddenly opened up a new world.

Things that she knew were impossible to do before, now she could simply reach out and do them, leading to incorrect and strange perceptions of everyday life.

No wonder her mother never recited spells in her magic. Casting flame was like using a part of her own body, summoning and dismissing it at will.