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The latest addition among their ranks is a blind man. He always had a hunch ever since the Ninth's inaguration day, but that silver-framed clear glasses made him doubtful. Not to mention that Pantalone always plaster that trademark sweet smile on his face, eyes closed and walks perfectly fine without any assistance and never knocked his toes to any table's edges all this time. No HUMAN who's deprived of their sight can achieve such a feat.
"My, I must praise my own acting skills for it took the smartest human alive two years to finally realize my...condition." Pantalone sits on the soft-cushioned armchair, his manner always full of elegance, as if he's born and raised a noble. His wooden cane rests by his side like a loyal dog. Ah, Pantalone acted so flawlessly that he thought of it as a mere fashion item, a sign of status only those from nobility can understand.
"Hmph, praise yourself too much and your head is going to pop like an overinflated balloon." Dottore retorts as he rummages his drawer for something. Silence hangs between them for a couple of moments. "...Was it natural occurance?"
Pantalone shakes his head, still smiling, "No, I was targeted during my time as a Branch Manager in Liyue. I survived the attempt, but suffered a severe head trauma from the attack."
"How unfortunate." Dottore pulls out a book. "They should've succeed, I could've gotten more funding than what our current Head Banker provides."
"Ah, in your dreams." An amused chuckle, as if Dottore just humor him with a funny joke. "In reality, if it were someone else but the current Head Banker who handled this nation's economy, I can guarantee you're not going to get any funding at all, dear Doctor."
Dottore clicks his tongue as he walks closer. "And I don't understand of why instead of being demoted, you got promoted instead." He sits nearby. "You can't see and read, how are you able to manage what you do. Curious.."
Scholars are always the curious type as they tirelessly strive for new knowledge, but this time, it's...personal. Like between two people who only wishes to know more about each other after a handshake. Despite having known Pantalone for two years, they are both strangers to each other. Perhaps, today marks the day of the beginning of their new dynamic.
Dottore waits, patiently, as if waiting for the flower to bloom by itself, unraveling its beautiful petals.
"It's no easy feat for sure." Pantalone reaches for his cup, taking a sip of warm tea. "I had to prove the Bank that my vision impairment will not hinder its operation. They gave me a month to prove my usefulness."
"Reports are unreadable by my eyes. But I can still hear and feel. So, I decided to change how to make the reports...'readable'."
Dottore listens as Pantalone continues. "I had a loyal craftsman craft a set of special type of blocks with engravings that punctures the paper and cloth with arranged little holes, I designed these new 'alphabets' and 'numbers'. I taught my trusted assistant this new writing. That was not the end of my struggle, rather, it's my start."
"I could only rely on my assistant's honesty and loyalty, which thankfully, he had. The trial month went by and I passed the test, so they decided to keep me. However, my blindness can only be known by my higherups and my assistant only, if this information is leaked outside the circle, it could jeopardize the bank's operation. An assistant once tried to embezzle the bank's funds right in front of my 'eyes'. But they messed with the wrong Branch Manager indeed."
"I honed my other fuctioning senses so that I can walk without hitting anything, to be able to tell people's true heart just from their speech and voice, to feel the slightest tremor of earth and vibration on the water, my sense of scent to catch a whiff of potential poison." Pantalone turns his face towards the window, as if he's enjoying the view of freezing land outside.
"...Is it tiring?" Dottore asks.
"It is. But," Pantalone sets down the cup, "eventually, I get used to it and it becomes my natural instinct...as if I was born with it."
"Now then, my dear Doctor. I'm sure you're not summoning me down into your den just for you to hear my sob story," the Banker tilts his head.
"So, what will it be? Do you need help in your financing again?"
Dottore snorts. "No, you taught Eta well. He might as well change career into an expert financer." He places the book on Pantalone's lap, then directing the Banker's right hand onto its hard cover.
Pantalone moves his fingers around the object, feeling the smoothness of leather and bumps of stacked papers. "...A book?"
"You told me that there's a light novel that you didn't manage to finish before you turned blind. I managed to 'translate' it."
Pantalone opens the first page, caressing the raised dots. It's the title of said novel.
"Well, happy second anniversary for your Harbinger career, Banker."
A chuckle escapes the Regrator's lips, and it sends a vibration down the Doctor's beating, mechanical heart.
"Cheesy, but...thank you. I'll be sure to finish it in my spare time, Dottore."
— The End