Chapter 63: Trapped in the Silver Vault, Outwitting Through Ingenuity

After the completion ceremony for the reconstruction of the Paranormal Academy, Mao Yu did not bask in the joy of victory for too long.

He knew that this was merely the first step of a long march.

The reconstruction of the academy had cost a fortune, and the financial deficit was like a bottomless pit, capable of swallowing all his previous efforts at any moment.

"I need to find a way to get some cash!" Mao Yu muttered, rubbing his chin with a deeply furrowed brow.

After much deliberation, he decided to try his luck at a bank to see if he could secure a loan.

The next day, Mao Yu, accompanied by Feng Yao and Mao Ling, dressed sharply in suits and strutted with high morale toward the largest bank in the downtown area: Runtong Bank.

President Zhao’s office was located on the top floor of the bank, luxuriously decorated and reeking of money.

As Mao Yu walked in, President Zhao was sitting behind a massive mahogany desk, twirling a gold pen. His gaze swept over Mao Yu like an X-ray scanner, filled with scrutiny and suspicion.

The air conditioning in the office was set very low, and a chilling atmosphere permeated the air, making Mao Yu feel as though he had stepped into an ice cellar.

"Hello, President Zhao. I am Mao Yu, the person in charge of the Paranormal Academy's reconstruction." Mao Yu got straight to the point, stating the purpose of their visit.

"Oh? The Paranormal Academy?" A trace of a contemptuous smile played on the corners of President Zhao's lips. "I heard the reconstruction has been quite a sensation, but... what does that have to do with me?"

Suppressing his displeasure, Mao Yu patiently explained, "Our academy needs a substantial amount of capital for the reconstruction, so we would like to apply for a loan from your esteemed bank."

President Zhao put down his gold pen, intertwined his fingers, leaned slightly forward, and spoke in a playful tone, "A loan? That's possible, but..."

He deliberately paused before throwing out a series of harsh conditions: "An annual interest rate of twenty percent, collateral valued at three times the loan amount, and furthermore..."

The more Mao Yu listened, the uglier his expression became. These conditions were nothing short of daylight robbery!

"President Zhao, isn't this interest rate a bit too high? And the collateral requirements..."

"Think it's too high? If you think it's too high, you don't have to take the loan!" President Zhao interrupted him bluntly. "There are people lined up everywhere waiting for loans; why should I give you special treatment?"

"Our academy exists to train supernatural beings who protect the safety of this city. This concerns the future of the entire city..."

"Spare me your lofty rhetoric!" President Zhao waved his hand impatiently. "This is a bank, and I only look at money, not sentiment!"

The atmosphere instantly turned tense and explosive, the air in the office seeming to freeze.

Right at that moment, the system’s voice suddenly rang in Mao Yu's mind...

"Ding! Host's predicament detected, triggering special mission: Outsmarting Runtong!" Mao Yu’s heart sank. He knew that if he accepted a loan under President Zhao's terms, the academy would be saddled with crippling debt, and the reconstruction efforts would ultimately fail.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to remain calm, and politely took his leave, walking out of President Zhao's office.

Stepping out of the office, Mao Yu’s expression turned darkly grim.

He paced back and forth irritably in the bank lobby, the strange looks from the people around him only heightening his anxiety.

The lobby was resplendently decorated, with crystal chandeliers casting dazzling lights, yet they failed to illuminate the gloomy fog in his heart.

The chilly breeze from the air conditioner sent shivers down his spine, making him feel as though he were trapped in an ice cave.

"What should I do? Do I really have to compromise?" Mao Yu felt utterly helpless. He tugged at his hair with force, his scalp tingling from the stress.

Just then, he suddenly remembered that the system possessed a business opportunity query function!

"System, hurry up and check if there are any business opportunities!" Mao Yu chanted silently in his heart.

"Ding! Host's request detected, querying business opportunities... Important information discovered: A new financial policy will be released in three days, requiring all banks to fulfill a specific quota of educational institution support loans, failing which they will face hefty fines!"

A surge of joy washed over Mao Yu. Heaven truly leaves no door completely closed!

He immediately turned around and strode back toward President Zhao's office.

"President Zhao, I've changed my mind." Mao Yu spoke in a calm tone, a trace of an imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

President Zhao was leisurely sipping his tea. Hearing Mao Yu's words, he smiled scornfully. "What? Have you come to your senses? Ready to accept my terms?"

"No," Mao Yu shook his head, "I'm here to tell you some news—news that is extremely important to you."

Mao Yu leaned close to President Zhao's ear and whispered a few words.

The smile on President Zhao's face gradually froze. He abruptly stood up, and the teacup in his hand slipped to the floor, shattering into pieces with a crisp, sharp sound.

"You... how do you know?!" President Zhao's voice trembled slightly.

Mao Yu smiled without answering. He turned and walked toward the door, then paused.

"President Zhao, can we now re-negotiate the loan?"

President Zhao's face turned pale and ashen in turns, beads of fine sweat breaking out on his forehead.

He had originally thought victory was securely in his grasp and that he could fleece Mao Yu heavily, never expecting the other party to possess such confidential information!

Like a deflated ball, he slumped back into his chair and muttered to himself, "This kid... just what is his background?"

The corners of Mao Yu's lips curved upward slightly. He knew he had won the gamble.

He casually sat back down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and assumed the posture of someone who held all the winning cards.

"President Zhao, can we now re-negotiate the loan?"

This time, President Zhao's attitude underwent a complete one-and-eighty-degree shift. He bowed and scraped with a fawning smile, his tone as deferential as if he were serving an emperor.

"Mr. Mao, what are you saying? It was all a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding! I was blind just now and failed to recognize a person of your stature. Please be the bigger person and don't take it to heart!"

Feng Yao watched Mao Yu's performance from the side, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

She gently linked her arm through Mao Yu's, leaning her body slightly toward him.

Feeling her warmth, Mao Yu's heart softened. A subtle, ambiguous atmosphere enveloped the two of them, as if pink bubbles were drifting through the air.

In the end, President Zhao agreed to grant the loan according to Mao Yu's specifications and even took the initiative to lower the interest rate.

Mao Yu smoothly obtained the loan agreement. The thick stack of documents felt exceptionally heavy in his hands, yet wonderfully solid.

Stepping out of the bank, the warm sunshine bathed his body, driving away the lingering chill.

Mao Ling cheered and ran toward Mao Yu, throwing her arms around his arm and jumping up and down with excitement. "Brother Yu, you're amazing! We did it!"

Radiating victorious smiles under the golden sunlight, the three of them looked as though they had been coated in a layer of gold dust.

This was a major breakthrough in Mao Yu's fundraising efforts and a solid stride toward his ultimate goal.

However, even though Mao Yu had secured the loan, he knew this was only the beginning.

Rebuilding the academy required far more than just financial resources; it demanded manpower, materials, and support from various factions.

Gazing at the loan contract in his hand, he felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

"This is just the beginning..." Mao Yu whispered to himself, his gaze drifting into the distance, deep and resolute.

He clutched the contract tightly in his hand, as if gripping the future itself.

"What's next..." Feng Yao asked softly, looking at Mao Yu's resolute profile.

Mao Yu took a deep breath and uttered two words: "Recruit troops and buy horses!"