Chapter 60 Trapped by Capital, Business Opportunities Emerge

The setting sun, like bleeding crimson, cast its glow upon the scarred ruins of the Esper Academy, lengthening Mao Yu's solitary silhouette.

Standing before the broken walls and shattered pillars, he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked, as if he were locked in a fierce contest with the ruins themselves.

The resolve to rebuild burned like a blazing fire within his chest, yet the cold winds of reality shrieked mercilessly: money!

Without money, everything was merely empty talk.

"In this day and age, you can't take a single step without money!" Mao Yu muttered under his breath. This was the first time he had ever been truly cornered by a lack of funds.

He took a deep breath, forced down the irritation boiling inside him, and set off toward the bank.

The bustling streets, filled with a constant stream of pedestrians, formed a stark contrast to his heavy mood.

The air was rich with the aroma of food, yet Mao Yu could not feel a shred of warmth.

He knew that the battle ahead of him would be a hard-fought one.

Inside the bank lobby, voices hummed with noise. Compared to the clamor of the outside world, this place felt more like a cold battlefield.

Mao Yu walked straight toward the president's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," a deep voice responded.

"Good day, President Zhao. I am Mao Yu, the person in charge of rebuilding the Esper Academy." Mao Yu got straight to the point, his tone carrying a trace of unquestionable firmness.

President Zhao was a middle-aged man with hair slicked into a brilliant shine. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and his eyes gleamed with the shrewdness of a merchant.

"Mr. Mao, I've looked over your reconstruction plan. It shows a lot of ambition!" His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Mao Yu handed the reconstruction proposal to President Zhao and watched him expectantly.

However, after finishing the document, President Zhao merely chuckled softly—a laugh that sent an uneasy chill straight through Mao Yu's heart.

"Mr. Mao, your plan is indeed impressive, but... after all, our bank is a commercial institution; we must take risks into consideration."

"President Zhao, what are you getting at?" Mao Yu frowned, his sense of foreboding growing stronger by the second.

"A loan is possible, but the interest rate will be hiked by thirty percent, and the repayment period is strictly three months." President Zhao nudged his glasses up, a playful glint in his tone.

"Of course, if you have sufficient collateral, everything is negotiable."

"Three months? And a thirty percent hike? President Zhao, you're practically highway robbery!" Mao Yu could not help raising his voice; he felt as though he was being treated as an utter fool.

President Zhao wore an innocent expression. "Mr. Mao, our bank has to survive too, and the risks associated with your current project are admittedly quite high. Still, if you agree to these terms, we can sign the papers immediately." He picked up a fountain pen, acting thoroughly confident that he had Mao Yu trapped.

***

Mao Yu was consumed by anger. He argued his case forcefully, "President Zhao, rebuilding the academy is for the future of Esper City! Your bank shouldn't be trying to profit from a disaster! This kind of behavior makes you no better than vampires!"

Yet, President Zhao remained entirely unmoved, merely shrugging his shoulders. "Business is always a matter of mutual consent."

Gazing at the face adorned with a hypocritical smile, Mao Yu felt as though a massive boulder were wedged in his chest, suffocating him.

He knew he had run into a stubborn and ruthless opponent this time.

Was he really going to bow his head to such a black-hearted merchant?

"Ding! Host's financial distress detected. Main quest updated; please check in a timely manner." The cold, mechanical chime of the system echoed in his mind.

Mao Yu furrowed his brow and fell silent. A moment later, a meaningful, enigmatic smile crept onto the corner of his lips. "It seems," he thought, "I need to change my approach..."

Mao Yu felt a wave of frustration wash over him. His feet felt as though they were chained to iron weights, making every single step agonizingly heavy.

He paced back and forth across the bank lobby, his reflection mirrored sharply in the polished marble tiles, emphasizing his profound isolation.

Around him, people either conversed in low murmurs or rushed to handle their business, every face stamped with the haste and anxiety of daily survival.

A few cold glances occasionally swept in his direction, as if silently questioning his incompetence and plunging him into an even deeper depression.

"This is the critical moment for the reconstruction of the Esper Academy. I cannot stop here!" Mao Yu told himself inwardly, his fists clenching so hard his nails nearly dug into his palms. The sharp pain helped clear his mind somewhat.

He looked up toward the ceiling of the grand lobby; the massive chandelier cast a soft glow, yet it failed to banish the gloom weighing upon his heart.

Right at that moment, a sudden flash of inspiration crossed Mao Yu's mind—a hidden function of the system known as Market Business Opportunity Analysis.

He swiftly opened the system interface, his fingertips gliding rapidly across the virtual screen to search for a potential breakthrough.

The system quickly generated an analytical report, indicating that a certain tech company on the verge of bankruptcy possessed a piece of cutting-edge technology. If he could acquire it cheaply and put it to use, it would translate into immense wealth.

"That's right! Why must I stick to President Zhao's conditions?" A confident smile broke out across Mao Yu's face, reigniting hope in his heart.

He took a deep breath, as if inhaling a fresh surge of strength, and his entire demeanor grew resolute.

A brilliant gleam flashed in his eyes as he whispered to himself, "It seems it's time to give President Zhao a little surprise."

Mao Yu quickly composed himself and strode briskly toward the bank exit.

The sunlight streamed through the glass doors, spilling across his face, warm and full of promise.

Just as he was about to step out of the bank doors, a gentle voice called out from behind him, "Mao Yu, are you alright?" He turned back to see Mao Ling looking at him with eyes full of concern. A wave of warmth washed over his heart, but a mysterious smile played on his lips. "Don't worry, I have my own ways." With that, he strode boldly out of the bank, leaving a string of firm, echoing footsteps in the lobby.

From afar, Mao Ling had watched Mao Yu emerge from the bank. His steps had been heavy, his shoulders slumped like a defeated rooster.

***

A pang of anxiety pierced her heart. She trotted over to Mao Yu's side and asked with deep concern, "Brother Mao, what's wrong? Did those stubborn old fogies deliberately make things difficult for you?"

Mao Yu forced out a faint smile. "It's nothing, just a minor setback. Nothing that can defeat your Brother Mao."

Mao Ling looked at him with undisguised adoration. "I knew Brother Mao would be able to handle it! You're the hope of our Esper Academy, just like a shining star guiding the way forward!" She shook her little fists, acting like a devoted fan, her eyes twinkling with stars.

Amused, Mao Yu felt a surge of warmth in his chest. This silly girl was always so innocent and carefree, bringing him boundless vitality.

He ruffled Mao Ling's hair. "Don't worry, your wise brother has a plan."

He walked back into the bank. This time, his stride was firm and powerful.

Upon seeing Mao Yu return so soon, President Zhao raised an eyebrow in surprise. Without a word of idle chatter, Mao Yu dropped the system-generated business opportunity report right in front of President Zhao. "President Zhao, take a look at this."

President Zhao had initially been nonchalant, but the moment his eyes scanned the contents of the report, his expression underwent a drastic transformation.

He adjusted his glasses and read through it meticulously, his expression shifting from puzzlement to shock, and finally to ecstatic delight.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

"Mr. Mao, are you certain this information is reliable?" President Zhao asked urgently, his voice trembling slightly.

"Of course. I stake my reputation on it," Mao Yu said with absolute confidence. "If you're willing to cooperate, we can develop this project together. When the time comes, let alone rebuilding the academy, building ten more would be an absolute breeze."

President Zhao rubbed his hands together in sheer excitement. "Splendid, splendid! Mr. Mao truly is a young man of extraordinary talent and unique vision! As for the loan, everything is negotiable—completely negotiable!"

In the end, Mao Yu not only successfully secured the loan, but the terms were vastly more favorable than before.

Stepping out of the bank and bathing in the sunlight, he felt completely refreshed.

The passersby cast envious glances his way, whispering among themselves, "Who is that young man? How formidable!"

The corners of Mao Yu's mouth curled upward as a secret thrill washed over him.

Yet, he knew this was merely the first step of a ten-thousand-li journey. The road ahead was still long, and many more challenges awaited him.

He gazed into the distance, his eyes deep and profound. "The game has only just begun..."