The mouse nodded vigorously, his whiskers trembling with what seemed to be amusement.
"Right?" Finch continued while processing Zhao's withdrawal. "Though of course, some prefer gradual accumulation while others..." his memories drifted toward Ren, "surprise us with THREE HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND IN ONE MONTH AND IN IRON RANK."
Leopold choked on his own saliva. "What?"
"Oh, you didn't know?" Finch smiled while his mouse prepared a new book. "Some of our younger clients have rather... interesting numbers."
"Impossible," Leopold spat the word. "I'm a gold rank prodigy and barely..."
"Your withdrawal, professor," Finch interrupted, handing the money to Zhao who now watched the scene with amusement as he finally had his ten silver-glowing crystals.
"Thank you," the professor smiled.
Leopold flushed red. "I demand to see those records!"
"Sorry, that depositor's name is private unless they request otherwise," Finch shrugged. "Bank policy."
"But..." Leopold frowned, clearly upset by the lack of impression his deposit was making.
"Don't compare yourself to other magnates, Mister Leopold. You're also a winner who leaves Theodore and me drooling with envy, and quite an impressive one," Finch nodded politely. "Theodore, in fact, thinks it's extraordinary to achieve so much at your age."
The mouse looked up from his book and nodded vigorously.
"Then where's my funny dance?" Leopold smiled smugly. "If even your assistant recognizes my talent…"
"The rich humiliating the poor," Finch sighed dramatically. "Theodore and I are just obliged to observe and document. Although..." his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, "some are more considerate than others with our theatrical sensibilities... But it's fine, we'll do the dance just for you, young Leopold."
Ren's group approached to see Finch practically dancing around Leopold while Theodore wrote frantically in his little notebook.
"This offends me," Min declared with false indignation. "I thought those worship dances were exclusive to Ren."
"He seems to be doing them with even more enthusiasm today," Taro added, playing along. "Say goodbye, Ren… It's not worth it."
"Oh no," Finch murmured upon seeing the new visitors. "Theodore, prepare for more numbers!"
The mouse pulled out a new book, his whiskers trembling with anticipation.
"More numbers?" Leopold asked, his curiosity momentarily overcoming his arrogance.
"The mushroom magnate visits us," Finch explained. "Though I don't know if he'll be able to maintain his account when his friend reaches silver. Cultivation becomes SO expensive..."
"More of a magnate than me?" Leopold studied Ren with disdain. "This first-year child?"
"Not yet," Finch sighed dramatically. "But if he continues ..."
The mouse nodded solemnly while turning the page.
"Impossible," Leopold spat the word.
"Sorry," Finch shrugged. "It is what it is. Right, Theodore?"
The mouse nodded vigorously again.
"Though," Finch continued, "if you're interested in his exact impressive numbers, you could ask him yourself..."
"No... I don't want to hear more!" Leopold turned dramatically and left the bank.
"Well," Finch sighed. "It seems few appreciate good theater. Don't you think, Theodore?"
The mouse shook his head solemnly while turning the page.
"Did you see that?" Min smiled. "Totally unfaithful."
Lin observed everything with a mixture of amusement and confusion. "Is he always with you?"
"Oh no," Taro responded. "Usually it's worse. Just that some clients..." he looked meaningfully toward Zhao and back to Lin, "don't let his dramatic art emerge freely..."
"THEODORE!" Finch suddenly exclaimed, though with less intensity than before. "Do you have the special book ready? Our mushroom magnate honors us with his presence."
"There was nothing to worry about... See?" Liu elbowed Ren. "He's already coming back to you. True loves always return."
"Mushroom magnate?" Zhao turned, revealing a smile. "Is that your title now, Ren?"
"Professor," Ren greeted, ignoring his friends' giggles. "I'm glad to find you here. I wanted to give you your potion."
Zhao stopped short, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Finch and Theodore exchanged curious looks.
"About that," Zhao offered the million he had just withdrawn. "As I support my family, I can't give you more right now, but I'll keep paying the favor bit by bit and..."
"No," Ren shook his head while his mushrooms pulsed softly. "First use that money to cultivate your new beast. By the way, have you thought about which one you'll choose?"
Ren turned to Finch while Zhao scratched his chin. "I need twenty thousand crystals, please."
"THEODORE!" Finch straightened. "The special withdrawals book..."
"No," Lin put a hand on Ren's shoulder. "I already told you I wouldn't let you pay for the safeguarding."
"They're for my parents," Ren explained. "The two potions I'm going to store. So it's up to me to..."
"I insist," Lin tightened her grip slightly.
"Lin will be a double tamer too?" Zhao asked, observing the exchange with interest.
When both nodded, a smile of understanding crossed the professor's face.
"Ah," Zhao put away the money, as if having made a decision. "Then let her help, Ren. I myself feel a great debt to you that I'd like to reciprocate. At least allow her this much for now."
Ren's mushrooms pulsed with what seemed like resignation while Lin smiled triumphantly.
"Alright," he finally yielded. "But then tell me, professor, what kind of beast will your second one be?"
"I want something that increases my stealth," Zhao leaned on the counter, ignoring how Finch and Theodore discreetly leaned in to listen better. "Or that improves the speed and damage of my feather attacks."
"The school's gold beasts don't really serve you too well either then..." Lin commented while asking a distracted Finch to withdraw 200,000 crystals from her account for the safeguarding and her new egg.
"That's the problem," Zhao sighed. "None is really ideal for what I'm looking for. The Cockatrice would add damage to my feathers but not speed to my shots or help my camouflage, the gargoyle is resistant but slow..."
"And the pegasus has great mobility but is redundant for you," Ren completed thoughtfully.
"Exactly," Zhao nodded. "I need something more... specific... but it doesn't exist."
"Not necessarily," Ren's mushrooms pulsed while he thought. "There are some options..."
"Theodore..." Finch murmured. "Prepare the special knowledge page. I still don't understand what they're talking about but surely this is good research material."
The mouse pulled out a new notebook, his ears trembling with anticipation.
"Do you have any suggestions?" Zhao asked, ignoring how Finch practically vibrated with curiosity.
"Depends," Ren brought a hand to his chin. "Do you want to prioritize stealth or damage?"
"Ideally both," Zhao smiled. "Though I know I'm asking too much."
"Theodore..." Finch whispered dramatically. "He's thinking... Prepare to write!"
"Finch," Lin looked at him warningly while counting her crystals. "You're whispering too loudly..."
"Sorry, sorry," the banker adjusted his glasses. "The excitement of the moment."