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After finding the tools I needed, thanks to a Northstar terrorist (now deceased), I slit an over-inquisitive janitor, adjusted my blast goggles and, standing just to one side, blew the doors of the bank off their hinges. The sound was muffled just enough by the revellers downstairs so that Ivar didn't get wind of what I was up to. I watched streams of dust spiral their way down through the air, then emerged from the shadows and stepped into the bank.

As my eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, someone muttered words in a dialect I didn't recognise and my dagger fell to the floor. A short man was sat in the centre of the room, surrounded by a grey aura which flickered with static. He looked at me with a mixture of amusement and indignation.

"What is your business here, mortal?"

I just stood there. Could I escape? How would I be able to get my dagger back if I did?

"You'll be after the gold, I suppose. You're not the first. It's a pity that you mortals are so foolish but you provide diversion, so you are tolerated."

I sat down, and he started to laugh.

"This is the Immortal Bank of Midgaard. Our bank is not like your banks. In your primitive banks, depositors lend money to the bank, which in turn lends it on to creditors. Your banks must keep amounts in reserve, to allow depositors to withdraw it their money on demand.

"Our bank has no need of such reserves. Amounts that are deposited here are destroyed. When a mortal makes a withdrawal, we merely create more at will. You have wasted your time coming here."

As he smiled at me, my purse felt lighter.

"That will pay for the damage to the doors. Please do not try to steal from us again."

He clicked his fingers and I was back in Temple Square, my dagger in my bag. I checked my watch and it was quest time again. However I needed Jades, so I headed east to make a withdrawal, a legitimate one, this time...