219: Chapter 219 Trillions in High-Interest Loans Due! I Use Debt to Fight Back

Seventy-one seconds after the 51% capital control of the Kindling Project was received, the creditors came knocking.

It wasn't through communication or a bill; they directly tore through dimensions and appeared in the Creation Hall of the Underworld Group's headquarters—three figures clad in pure black robes, their faces shrouded in shadow, radiating a pressure that seemed to freeze space itself.

"Lin Chen," the Black-Robed Figure in the center spoke, his voice sounding like the harsh echo of countless clashing gold coins. "The 1 trillion usury loan you borrowed from us has accrued interest for 23 hours. The total principal and interest is 2.3 trillion."

He raised his hand, and a contract glowing with a bloody light manifested in the air:

[Borrower: Lin Chen]

[Loan Amount: 1 trillion dimension points]

[Interest Rate: 10% per hour (Compound Interest)]

[Current Amount Due: 2.3 trillion]

[Due Time: 23 hours ago]

"You are already in default," the Black-Robed Figure on the left added. "According to Article 7 of the contract, for every hour of overdue payment after default, the debt doubles. It has now been overdue for 23 hours, so..."

He paused before uttering that astronomical figure:

"You actually owe us 9.2 trillion dimension points."

Everyone in the hall gasped.

Zhang Hao said with a trembling voice, "Boss, this... this interest calculation isn't right, is it? At 10% per hour, how could 1 trillion roll up to 9.2 trillion in 23 hours?"

"Because of the 'doubling after default' clause," Lin Xiao stared at the fine print on the contract. "From the moment of default, interest is no longer calculated at 10%; instead, the total debt doubles every hour. 1 trillion becomes 2 trillion in 1 hour, 4 trillion in 2 hours... 23 hours is indeed 9.2 trillion."

"Smart," the Black-Robed Figure on the right chuckled. "So Lin Chen, pay up. Now, immediately."

Lin Chen sat in the main seat, looking at the three of them calmly. "And if I say no?"

"Then we have the right to seize the collateral." The middle Black-Robed Figure pointed at Lin Xiao. "What you pledged when you borrowed was 'all assets under the name of the Earth clone Lin Xiao'—that physical wealth worth 500 billion dimension points. But according to cross-dimensional pledge rules, when the value of the collateral is insufficient to cover the debt, the creditor has the right to pursue the borrower's other assets."

He pulled up Lin Chen's asset list: "The 51% capital control of the Kindling Project you just obtained is valued at approximately 45 trillion dimension points. We are applying to the court to freeze 9.2 trillion of it to settle the debt."

As the words fell, the virtual badge of the Cross-Dimensional Financial Court appeared above the hall—a universal management agency at a higher level than the Platform.

"Application accepted," a mechanical court voice rang out. "Verifying the authenticity of the debt..."

"Wait," Lin Chen suddenly interrupted. "I want to ask the three of you a question—has your 'Void Usury Company' registered with the Universal Financial Regulatory Bureau?"

The three Black-Robed Figures were stunned simultaneously.

"According to Article 3 of the 'Administrative Measures for Cross-Dimensional Private Lending'," Lin Chen pulled up the regulation, "any lending activity with an interest rate exceeding 36% APR must apply for a 'High-Risk Financial License' from the Universal Financial Regulatory Bureau. And your hourly rate of 10%, converted to an annual rate, is... let me calculate."

He calculated quickly: "10% per hour, 24 hours is... 792%. The APR is about 1.9 million times."

"With this kind of interest rate, if you don't have a license, it's illegal usury, and the contract is void."

The court's verification process suddenly paused.

"We..." The Black-Robed Figure on the left grit his teeth. "Of course we have a license!"

"Then show it." Lin Chen smiled. "Regulatory Bureau licenses have quantum anti-counterfeiting codes; one check will tell all."

The three Black-Robed Figures fell silent.

Clearly, they didn't have one.

Because it was impossible for such an interest rate to be approved for a license.

"So," Lin Chen stood up, "you are operating an illegal usury business. According to Article 47 of the Universal Financial Law, illegal usury contracts are void from the beginning. The borrower only needs to return the principal and does not need to pay any interest."

He pulled up the litigation documents he had prepared in advance: "Furthermore, since you engaged in this business knowing it was illegal, the court can order you to pay 'punitive damages' to the borrower—an amount equal to three times the interest already accrued."

"Over the past 23 hours, although I haven't paid back the money, according to the logic of a void contract, your 'deserved interest' was 1.3 trillion. Triple compensation is 3.9 trillion."

"So," Lin Chen looked at the three, "it's not that I owe you 9.2 trillion; it's that you owe me 3.9 trillion."

"Please pay now."

Dead silence.

The shadows on the three Black-Robed Figures fluctuated violently; they were clearly exploding with rage.

"You think you can default like this?!" the middle Black-Robed Figure roared. "We are members of the Void Creditors Alliance! We have three thousand members and control 80% of the entire universe's underground finance! If you dare play us, we will..."

"Will what?" Lin Chen interrupted. "Report me to the Financial Regulatory Bureau? But you're the ones in violation."

"Or use force?" Lin Chen pointed to the court badge overhead. "The Financial Court's notarization process is still running. Any violent act will be recorded as 'contempt of court', punishable by up to a billion years of dimensional exile."

The three Black-Robed Figures froze.

They finally realized—from the moment Lin Chen borrowed the money, he had set this trap.

Borrowing illegal usury, waiting for them to come collect, then exposing the contract's invalidity in court and counter-claiming...

"You did it on purpose," the Black-Robed Figure on the right hissed. "You knew all along our interest rate was illegal, so you deliberately borrowed the maximum amount, waited for us to come to your door, and then counter-killed us."

"Smart," Lin Chen applauded. "Otherwise, why do you think I would pass up low-interest loans from formal channels and insist on borrowing from you?"

He pulled up another document: "In fact, in the first hour after borrowing, I filed a real-name report with the Universal Financial Regulatory Bureau regarding the illegal business operations of the 'Void Usury Company'. Report number: UC-77493728."

"The Regulatory Bureau is already investigating you."

"And as the whistleblower, if you are willing to 'settle' now, I can put in a good word for you with the Regulatory Bureau—for example, that you are first-time offenders and are willing to actively compensate."

Lin Chen smiled and threw out his real terms:

"The settlement plan is simple."

"I don't want that 3.9 trillion in damages."

"I just want you... to join my debt-to-equity swap plan."

The three Black-Robed Figures looked at each other. "What debt-to-equity swap?"

"My total debt to the entire universe is approximately 120 trillion dimension points." Lin Chen pulled up his balance sheet. "Including the 9,000 trillion in bonds owed to the Seven Civilizations (which Arrogant Dragon is blocking from converting to equity, but are still legally my debt), 31 trillion owed to other shareholders, and various short-term loans generated during this competition."

"I plan to convert all these debts into shares of the 'New Era Joint Development Company'."

"The 1 trillion principal you lent me can be exchanged for a 0.83% stake in the company at market price."

"And if you are willing, I can let you subscribe to more equity as 'strategic investors'—using your underground financial network to help me sell these debt-to-equity certificates."

"The commission is 20% of the sales volume."

Lin Chen looked at the three. "Choose."

"A: Insist on that 9.2 trillion, then be investigated by the Regulatory Bureau, have your company shut down, and go to prison personally."

"B: Take back your 1 trillion principal, plus 0.83% equity and a 20% sales commission, and become founding shareholders of New Era Company."

"I'll give you ten seconds to think about it."

The countdown began.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight...

"We choose B!" the middle Black-Robed Figure shouted through grit teeth when the countdown reached three. "But on one condition—you must guarantee we won't be prosecuted by the Regulatory Bureau!"

"Deal." Lin Chen drafted the settlement agreement on the spot. "Once you sign this agreement, you will be 'Special Financial Advisors' for New Era Company, protected by the company's laws."

The three signed quickly.

The moment they finished signing, the 1 trillion usury debt on Lin Chen's balance sheet instantly zeroed out.

In its place, three names—though they were codenames—were added to the New Era Company's shareholder list.

"Welcome aboard," Lin Chen smiled. "Now, the first task: help me package the 9,000 trillion in bonds owed to the Seven Civilizations into 'High-Yield Civilization Reconstruction Bonds' and sell them to speculators across the universe."

"I've already thought of the sales pitch for you: 'Investing in this is equivalent to investing in the future of seven advanced civilizations. If they recover, your investment could increase a hundredfold; if they are completely destroyed... well, then consider it a contribution to cosmic peace.'"

The three former creditors, now financial advisors, were dumbfounded after hearing this.

"Can this actually sell?" the advisor on the left asked skeptically.

"Of course it can." Lin Chen pulled up the viewer data. "Those addict viewers have massive amounts of idle funds; they need 'excitement'. What's more exciting than betting on the life or death of a civilization?"

"Furthermore, I will open an 'Exclusive Bondholder Livestream Room'—letting them watch the recovery progress of the Seven Civilizations in real-time, and even vote to decide which civilization to save first."

"This is called 'Participatory Financial Entertainment'."

The three advisors looked at each other, suddenly realizing—the man before them might be the most insane financial genius they had ever seen in their multi-million-year careers.

"We'll do it," the middle advisor nodded. "But we want a 30% advance payment on the sales commission."

"Fine." Lin Chen transferred 600 billion from the Kindling Project funds to them. "This is the first installment. If it sells well, there will be bonuses."

After the three left, the hall finally returned to tranquility.

Lin Xiao let out a long breath. "So you planned this all along, using usury creditors to help you sell debt-to-equity certificates?"

"Yes," Lin Chen nodded. "Underground financial networks are much faster and more ruthless than formal channels. Letting them do the promotion could clear trillions in debt in a single day."

"But those 9,000 trillion in bonds..." Su Qingyu said worriedly, "Without Arrogant Dragon's signature, they will always be a liability. Are you really going to package them as a product and sell them?"

"Why not?" Lin Chen smiled. "I'm not selling 'bond ownership', I'm selling 'bond yield rights'—investors are buying the money they would get if the bonds are repaid. As for whether the bonds themselves will be repaid... that's Arrogant Dragon's problem, not mine."

"You're transferring the risk to the investors!"

"The essence of finance is risk transfer," Lin Chen said calmly. "And I'm not hiding the risk. All sales materials will clearly state: 'This product has a 100% probability of total loss; before investing, please ensure you can afford to lose.'"

Zhang Hao smiled bitterly. "Will people still buy it?"

"They will." Lin Chen looked at the monitor screen—it showed real-time data on viewer emotions. "Because for some entities, the sense of anticipation of 'possibly making a fortune' is more valuable than the money itself."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The projection of Inspector 117 appeared again.

"Lin Chen, the second phase of the competition is about to begin."

"This round's content: The Final Four Merger War."

"Qingyunzi has been eliminated, and his star sector remains will become a Public Resource Zone. The remaining three candidates will compete for these resources over the next 12 hours."

"But the rules have changed."

117 pulled up the new regulations:

"1. Direct attacks between candidates are permitted (including but not limited to financial wars, rule wars, and resource contention)."

"2. The final ranking will be calculated based on a combination of 'Civilization Preservation Rate' and 'Resource Acquisition Amount'."

"3. The candidate in the last place will lose all Kindling Project permissions already obtained."

Lin Chen looked at the new rules, then at the monitoring screens for Morgana and Alpha.

At that moment, those two had also received the notification.

In Morgana's frozen world, she opened her eyes and looked in Lin Chen's direction, her gaze complex.

Alpha's data stream began to fluctuate violently—clearly calculating the optimal strategy at high speed.

"Boss," Zhang Hao said nervously, "those two might team up to deal with us first... after all, we're currently ranked first."

"They won't," Lin Chen shook his head. "They are more likely to attack each other first because there is a debtor relationship between me and them—Morgana owes me frost magic patent fees, and Alpha owes me algorithm rental fees. Attacking a creditor does no good for a debtor."

"But debts can be defaulted on..."

"That's why I just had those three financial advisors send them 'debt restructuring plans'." Lin Chen pulled up the two agreements just sent. "If they agree to convert their debts into shares of New Era Company, then our relationship changes from creditor-debtor to fellow shareholders."

"What if they don't agree?"

Lin Chen smiled. "Then I will initiate debt collection procedures—at the most critical moment of the competition, I'll drain their cash flow."

"Then they'll have no choice but to agree!"

"Correct." Lin Chen looked at the countdown. "So now, what we need to do isn't to prepare for their attack."

"But..."

"Take the initiative and acquire them."

On the monitoring screens, Morgana and Alpha received the debt restructuring agreements almost simultaneously.

After a moment of silence, they made the same choice:

Sign.

Two heavyweight names were instantly added to Lin Chen's shareholder list.

At this moment, the countdown showed: exactly 21 hours.

There were three hours left before the final deadline after the acceleration to zero.

And only one last step remained before the true test of the Kindling Project.

Lin Chen stood up and said to everyone:

"Prepare to enter the Public Resource Zone."

"In the next 12 hours..."

"We are going to fight,"

"An acquisition war of one against two."