258: Chapter 258 Three Trillion Dollar High-Interest Loan! The Cosmic Bank Arrives at the Door to Forcibly Seize It

Three seconds after the three quadrillion debt arrived, the debt collectors showed up.

Not a phone call, not a text message.

It was a fleet.

A debt collection fleet consisting of nine pure black pyramid-shaped starships warped directly to the border of the "dimension shareholder" universe. A cold metallic luster flowed across the starships' surfaces, and engraved on their hulls was an emblem known to the entire Narrative Layer—Universe Bank · Asset Recovery Department.

The border defenses, having just endured the battle with the giant beasts and not yet repaired, were easily torn open by this fleet.

"Warning! Illegal intrusion—" Arrogant Dragon stepped forward, drawing his sword.

On the bridge of the lead starship, a holographic image of a cold-faced middle-aged man in a black uniform was projected.

"I am a Level 1 Debt Collection Officer for the Universe Bank, code-named 'Blackstone'." The middle-aged man's voice was devoid of emotion. "According to Article 337 of the Interdimensional Debt Contract, the debtor Lin Chen has failed to repay a loan of three quadrillion dimension points. We are now legally initiating the mandatory recovery procedure."

He unfurled a glowing golden projection of the contract:

[Debtor: Lin Chen]

[Creditor: Inspector 117 (Deceased)]

[Debt Amount: 3,000,000,000,000,000 dimension points]

[Interest Rate: 5% daily, compounded]

[Overdue Time: 3 hours and 17 minutes]

[Current Total Amount Due: 3,021,500,000,000,000 dimension points]

"It went up by twenty-one point five trillion in just three hours?!" In the conference room, a shareholder cried out in shock.

"Compound interest." Blackstone remained expressionless. "Every second, the debt expands. If it is not paid in full within 24 hours, we will legally seize all assets under the debtor's name—including but not limited to ownership of this universe, equity in the Underworld Group, and the character copyrights of everyone present."

When he said "character copyrights," his gaze swept over Arrogant Dragon, Su Qingyu, Zhang Hao, and the others.

The meaning was clear—if you can't pay back the money, you'll be taken and auctioned off.

Lin Chen stared at the contract and suddenly asked, "How was this debt generated? I never borrowed money from 117."

"Debt transfer." Blackstone pulled up the records. "During his lifetime, Inspector 117 borrowed three quadrillion from this bank as seed funding to implement the 'Kindling Project.' According to the terms of his will: upon his death, the debt automatically transfers to the 'entity that successfully repelled the first Zeroing Giant Beast.' You meet the criteria."

"It's a trap." Future Lin Chen quickly analyzed over the communication channel. "117 knew he was going to die and intentionally dumped the debt on us. But it's illogical—why would he screw us over?" shrink by 17%, and the stock price will fall by 35%.

"It's not a screw-over." Lin Chen understood. "It's an admission ticket."

He pulled up the hidden terms of the Kindling Project: "Look here—'Only those burdened with massive debt are eligible to participate in the Kindling Project bidding.' Debt is the threshold. 117 used his life to buy us a ticket."

"But we don't have the money to pay it back!"

"That's why we need leverage." Lin Chen looked at Blackstone. "According to Article 88 of the Universe Bank Law, if a debtor can prove they possess 'extraordinary debt-repayment capability,' they can apply for 'debt restructuring' to convert short-term high-interest loans into long-term low-interest ones."

Blackstone raised an eyebrow. "How do you prove it?"

Lin Chen pulled up the data from the recently concluded battle with the giant beasts:

"In this battle, by issuing 'Disaster Hedging Bonds,' we raised funds exceeding one quintillion dimension points."

"The 'Eternal Story Business Department' we established is projected to have an annual revenue of fifty trillion."

"More importantly—" He zoomed in on a data point, "We possess the only business model in the entire Narrative Layer capable of countering the Zeroing Giant Beasts. If the Universe Bank forcibly reclaims us now, how much will the bad debt rate of the entire Narrative Layer soar when the next wave of giant beasts strikes? How much will your bank's stock price drop?"

Blackstone fell silent.

The starships behind him began calculating.

Thirty seconds later, the results came in.

[Risk Assessment: Forced recovery leading to the bankruptcy of the "dimension shareholder" universe will trigger a financial tsunami in the Narrative Layer.]

[Estimated Loss: The bank's assets will shrink by 17%, and the stock price will fall by 35%.]

[Recommendation: Initiate debt restructuring procedures.]

Blackstone took a deep breath. "You win. We can restructure. But the conditions are harsh—"

He popped up a new contract:

[Debt Restructuring Agreement]

1. The three quadrillion debt is converted into a 30-year loan with an annual interest rate of 20%.

2. Lin Chen must pledge 100% equity of the Underworld Group as collateral.

3. Lin Chen must participate in the "Kindling Project" bidding and use 70% of the bidding proceeds to repay the loan.

4. If the bidding fails or interest is not paid on time, the Universe Bank has the right to immediately reclaim the collateral.

"This is an indenture!" Arrogant Dragon said angrily.

"This is the only way out." Blackstone said coldly. "Sign it, or I'll take your universe right now. Choose one."

Lin Chen looked at the agreement and suddenly smiled.

"I'll sign." He took the electronic pen. "But I want to add a supplementary clause—"

He added at the end of the agreement:

[Supplementary Clause: If the creditor (Universe Bank) provides any resource support (including but not limited to intelligence, funds, and technology) required for the "Kindling Project" bidding to the debtor (Lin Chen) during the debt's duration, such support shall be converted into debt reduction, up to a maximum of 50% of the total debt.]

Blackstone frowned. "This..."

"Agree, and I'll sign." Lin Chen said calmly. "Otherwise, I'll declare the universe bankrupt right now—letting that three quadrillion become your bad debt. Guess if your president will skin you alive?"

Blackstone's expression changed.

He quickly communicated with headquarters.

Two minutes later, he gritted his teeth. "...Fine."

The signing was completed.

The debt restructuring took effect.

But just as Blackstone's fleet was preparing to leave—

The second wave of debt collectors arrived.

This time, it wasn't a bank.

It was a group of withered old men wearing tattered robes. They appeared directly in the conference room like ghosts, exuding an aura of decay.

The leading old man reached out a withered hand, and a blood-red contract seal emerged in his palm.

"Lin Chen," he said in a raspy voice, "you owe us... ten trillion dimension points. It's time to pay."

Lin Chen looked at Blackstone. "Who are they?"

Blackstone's expression changed rarely. "They are... the Hidden Creditors. They specialize in lending usury to dying powerhouses, and the interest is... souls."

The old man grinned, revealing a mouthful of black teeth. "Long Aotian Immortal Emperor borrowed ten trillion from us three months ago, with his 'Immortal Emperor Origin' as collateral. Now that the repayment period is up, he said... you would be the one to pay."

Arrogant Dragon was shaken.

He remembered—three months ago, to raise funds to fight Lin Chen, he had indeed taken out this usurious loan. Later, with so much happening, he had forgotten.

"Principal of ten trillion," the old man said slowly, "10% daily interest, compounded. In three months, the interest on interest should now be... one hundred and twenty-seven trillion. Pay up, or—"

He looked at Arrogant Dragon. "We take your Immortal Emperor Origin. You will become a mortal, unable to cultivate for all eternity."

Arrogant Dragon's hand holding the sword trembled.

Lin Chen sighed.

"I acknowledge this debt." he said.

"Boss!" Arrogant Dragon said urgently. "This is what I borrowed—"

"Now you are my head of security." Lin Chen interrupted. "If an employee is in debt, the boss has joint liability. It's written in the labor contract."

He pulled up the capital account—after fighting the giant beasts, there were over eighty trillion left.

Not enough.

Short by forty-seven trillion.

"Can you give us a few more days?" Lin Chen asked the old man.

"Sure." The old man smiled even more eerily. "But the daily interest... will become 20%. Are you sure?"

This was forcing him to pay now.

In the conference room, everyone felt despair.

They had just taken on three quadrillion in long-term debt, and now they had to immediately cough up one hundred and twenty-seven trillion in cash?

Where would they find it?

At this moment, Future Lin Chen suddenly sent a communication:

"There's a way."

"Morgana's frozen core and Alpha's Data Backup Repository are top-tier collateral."

"You can use them to apply for an 'Emergency Bridge Loan' from the Universe Bank."

"But the risk is—if you can't pay it back, those two allies will belong to the bank forever."

Lin Chen looked at Blackstone.

Blackstone nodded. "I can do that. Morgana's core is valued at eighty trillion, and Alpha's backup repository is valued at fifty trillion. With a 70% loan-to-value ratio, we can approve a ninety-one trillion loan for you. Interest... 15% daily."

Adding insult to injury.

But there was no choice.

"Take the loan." Lin Chen signed.

Ninety-one trillion arrived in the account.

Combined with his own eighty-something trillion, he gathered the one hundred and twenty-seven trillion and paid the Hidden Creditors.

The old man took the money and left satisfied.

But before leaving, he left a message:

"By the way, there's another small account."

"That employee of your group named Zhang Hao also borrowed five hundred billion from us six months ago."

"It's time to pay now... with interest on interest, it's about eight trillion."

"I'll come back to collect it at this time tomorrow."

With that, he vanished.

Zhang Hao's face turned pale.

The conference room was deathly silent.

Lin Chen looked at the remaining forty-four trillion in the account, then at the newly added ninety-one trillion bridge loan debt.

Total debt: three quadrillion in long-term loans + ninety-one trillion in short-term usury.

And tomorrow, they had to pay another eight trillion.

"Now," he looked at everyone, "do you know why 117 said this was an 'admission ticket'?"

"Because only those driven to a dead end by debt..."

"...will fight with their lives to win the 'Kindling Project'."

Just as he finished speaking.

The official notification for the Kindling Project arrived.

[Epoch Administration Bureau · Kindling Project Bidding Invitation]

[Bidder: Lin Chen (Qualification Confirmed: Burdened with massive debt)]

[Bidding Content: Take over a star sector about to undergo Zeroing and increase its 'Civilization Preservation Rate' within 48 hours.]

[Competitors: Supreme Morgana of the Magic Era, Alpha of the AI Integration Entity, Qingyunzi, the Heavenly Dao Incarnation of the Cultivation Era]

[Winning Reward: Obtain 'Governor of the Epoch Kindling' authority and all remaining resources of the Administration Bureau.]

[Failure Penalty: The star sector you took over will be abandoned, and all debts... will be accelerated to maturity.]

At the end of the notification, the data for the star sector assigned to Lin Chen was attached.

With just one look, everyone gasped.

It was a...

A place where even light couldn't be bothered to shine.

A place of deathly silence.