In Switzerland, there are two things unmatched by most countries in the world: watches and banks.
Swiss banks, often dubbed the wealthiest in the world, hold nearly a quarter of global private wealth. Their clientele includes not only the richest elites but also political figures and entertainment industry heavyweights from around the globe.
There's a popular joke that illustrates the extravagant wealth of Swiss banks:
A customer once came in to open an account. The bank staff asked, "How much are you planning to deposit?"
The customer looked around and whispered, "Five million dollars."
The staff responded, "Sir, you can speak up—being poor isn't shameful in Switzerland…"
In other words, five million dollars is considered poor.
Swiss banks attract the world's top wealth for three major reasons:
First, their policy is "Don't ask where the money came from." It doesn't matter who you are or how you got your money—they'll gladly take it.
Second, Swiss banks are equipped with world-class security systems, offering unmatched protection for client funds. When it comes to security, they're truly global leaders.
Third, Swiss banks are bound by banking secrecy laws that strictly protect client confidentiality. Whether you're a notorious thief or a terrorist, once your money is deposited in a Swiss bank, no one—not even the U.S. government—can trace it.
Because of these reasons, current accounts at Swiss banks not only earn zero interest, but clients even have to pay hefty management fees. Yet, the wealthy still flock to deposit their money, securing Swiss banks their legendary status.
It may not be the world's largest bank, but in many ways, it's number one.
And the Nine-Star Black Card Ye Yun was set to receive? It was held at Swiss Bank Headquarters.
It took Ye Yun nearly an entire day to travel from faraway Hawaii to Switzerland in Europe.
Zurich, Switzerland—Zurich Airport.
"Finally here—"
Ye Yun stepped out of the airport terminal and took a long, deep breath.
Zurich, home to the Swiss Bank headquarters, is the most prosperous, expansive, and affluent city in the Swiss Confederation—a global financial hub rivaling New York and Washington, D.C.
The weather was chilly—unlike the year-round warmth of Hawaii—and Ye Yun was still dressed in short sleeves. Still, the cold didn't bother him much. Ignoring the curious and puzzled stares from passersby, he hailed a taxi and said:
"To UBS Headquarters."
Swiss Bank operates under the UBS Group, and its headquarters is also the headquarters of UBS.
"Sure thing, sir," the driver replied, starting the engine.
Just over twenty minutes later, Ye Yun arrived at the UBS Headquarters building.
"Keep the change as a tip."
Tossing a hundred-franc bill, Ye Yun stepped out of the car and walked into the main building.
The service at Swiss Bank Headquarters was impressively refined, with numerous windows and attendants to prevent long wait times.
As soon as Ye Yun entered the lobby, a receptionist with chestnut hair and blue eyes greeted him with a warm and friendly smile.
"Good day, sir. How may I help you?"
Though puzzled by his off-season attire, she didn't show the slightest trace of judgment.
"I'm here to activate my Black Card… but I think you'd better fetch your manager or someone higher-up. You likely don't have the clearance or authority."
Ye Yun glanced at the receptionist and spoke frankly.
Her brows furrowed slightly. Activate a Black Card, and I don't have the clearance?
At Swiss Bank HQ, receptionists often handled clients depositing hundreds of millions. She herself was the lobby manager, holding a Class-B clearance—enough to serve nearly any guest.
"Of course, sir. But first, please fill out this form."
Despite her inner skepticism, her professionalism didn't waver. She smiled and handed over the form, mentally tagging Ye Yun as another nouveau riche braggart—a common occurrence.
Ye Yun filled out the form quickly and handed it back. Then he sat on a plush sofa and sipped some coffee as he waited.
"Ugh… this coffee is awful… Why would Swiss Bank serve this garbage? A cup of green tea would be better."
He set the cup down after one sip and grumbled in dissatisfaction.
But truthfully, the coffee was top-tier. The problem was that Ye Yun had grown accustomed to drinking hand-ground beans selected by maids from his estate's own Kona Coffee Plantation, widely considered the finest in the world. His standards were absurdly high.
Meanwhile, the receptionist entered Ye Yun's details and card number into the system behind the counter.
But the screen instantly flashed four red characters: "INSUFFICIENT PERMISSION."
"What?"
She was stunned. Remembering what Ye Yun had just said, she suddenly felt uneasy and rushed straight to the deputy manager's office without hesitation.
Swiss Bank's clients often had powerful backgrounds. If a receptionist caused even slight offense, the consequences could be career-ending—being fired would be getting off easy.
She didn't even bother knocking politely and burst into the deputy manager's office in a panic.
"What are you doing?! What kind of behavior is this? Have you forgotten everything we've taught you?"
The deputy manager's expression darkened instantly as he scolded her harshly.
"I'm sorry… Sir, please look at this guest's profile. I used my Class-B clearance and still couldn't retrieve any information…"
Her voice was tense with anxiety.
"Class-B couldn't access it? Let me see."
Surprised, the deputy manager took the form and logged into the system using his Class-A clearance.
But the result was still the same—"INSUFFICIENT PERMISSION."
The moment those words appeared, the deputy manager spat out a mouthful of coffee all over the screen. But he didn't even bother to wipe it. Eyes wide, he stared at the screen in shock.
"This… this can't be real?!"
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