Chapter 193: Debt Collection, IOUs, and Courtship

Mr. Ted looked at Lans sitting in the chair opposite him. Even though he was the one standing, he felt a sense of being inferior to the other man.

The receptionist girl and several employees were standing outside the door, which made his face burn and swell with embarrassment.

He had always been the toughest one; in front of his employees, he was practically a tyrant!

But now... his hand rested on the telephone. "If you don't leave here, I'm going to call the police."

Lans tilted his chin. "Call. Call right now. If you don't know the number, I can tell you."

The two stared at each other for a moment. Mr. Ted did not see a shred of fear in Lans's eyes; instead, Lans looked at him with a provocative gaze, as if truly urging him to dial the police.

He knew that once this call was made, some things would be hard to undo.

He glanced at the employees outside the door who were watching the spectacle. He felt some shame and anger, but was helpless; he was trapped and couldn't back down.

Lans looked back, and the employees outside immediately averted their eyes; some even ran to places where they couldn't be seen. Lans then signaled for Hiram to close the door.

When the wooden door isolated the inside of the room from the outside, Mr. Ted clearly breathed a slight sigh of relief.

His hand left the telephone, and he sat back down in his chair. "Are you people from Qiaobafu?"

Lans shook his head. "He packaged the debt and sold it to me. You don't need to care whose person I am; you only need to know that you owe me money now."

He took out the proof of the loan. Although Mr. Qiaobafu knew this money was hard to recover, he had made sufficient preparations, and all documents were in order.

Lans understood his methods and purpose clearly: it was to use this method to tell Arthur and the others that he had the capital to refuse, and even the possibility of pursuing legal channels.

And strongly, through such behavior, he expressed a message—"This is the last time!"

But the result, as everyone saw, was that the 300,000 in debt claims he gave Lans were the result of his every compromise; they always had a way to continue extorting money from his hands.

He ignored a fact, or rather, he had always been unwilling to admit this fact, which was that in the Federation, the judiciary was also just a plaything for the powerful.

Just like the Prohibition Act; such an absurd constitutional amendment could also pass and be required to be enforced throughout the Federation. This actually deeply explained this truth.

But Mr. Qiaobafu was unwilling to admit it; he was unwilling to admit that the Federation was such a country, deviating from all his perceptions of a beautiful Federation.

Actually, it wasn't just him; there were many more people like this. For example, the former Bodun, for example, Enio's father who was still a salesman; they had essentially seen that this place was not beautiful, like hell.

But they couldn't admit this point, because once they admitted it, it meant that everything they had fought for and paid for over the past few decades was without value or meaning.

Even an adult would have a mental breakdown in an instant!

The only thing they could do was to continue to persist. Mr. Qiaobafu still believed for decades that he could change his situation; Enio's father still believed that he could eventually reach the peak of life by selling those worthless things.

On the contrary, it was Bodun who had now embarked on another path, a path that was not necessarily correct, but at least made him start to feel beautiful.

Looking at that complete loan agreement, Mr. Ted was sweating a little.

If this creditor were Mr. Qiaobafu, then he would be easy to handle. Now that it had changed to someone who looked like he wasn't easy to provoke, he didn't quite know what to do.

He wanted to play the hooligan with Lans, but it looked like he definitely wasn't a match for Lans and these people in this regard.

So he was just like those people; when he found that playing the hooligan didn't work, he started to reason.

"I still don't know how to address you until now..."

"Lans."

"My God!", Ted had heard of this name. The Empire District was right next door; he must have heard of this name.

When he knew that Mr. Qiaobafu had packaged and sold the debt claims to Lans, he actually didn't hate Lans so much anymore, and couldn't even get that angry; instead, he was unusually dissatisfied with Mr. Qiaobafu!

If you have the ability, go find Arthur to get your money back, instead of using this method to torment me!

He didn't ask Lans how much he paid Mr. Qiaobafu for these debt claims, but he knew that he definitely had to pay the money back.

"I actually only received 10,000 from this debt, and another 15,000... was taken by others."

He didn't really want to say the name Arthur.

But now, regardless of whether Lans wanted him to say it or not, his finger poked at the agreement, and the sound made by the tabletop was telling Mr. Ted that the situation was different from before.

"I don't care who took that 15,000. Now, your signature is on this agreement, and you only have one path to take."

"Pay me back the money you owe me."

"Or we will find a way to squeeze the last penny out of you to ensure you can pay this debt. I don't guarantee what means we will use; that depends on whether you cooperate with us."

"Now, you can choose."

Mr. Ted's expression changed many times in a very short time. He finally pursed his lips and still said where the missing money went.

"Arthur took that 15,000. I can only pay you 10,000 and this part of the interest."

"But I cannot bear the repayment obligation for the money I didn't get."

Lans rubbed his chin. "This Arthur, is he the son of Councilor Williams?"

Mr. Ted showed an indescribable expression on his face. This kind of expression often appeared in a very strange psychological reaction.

The victim would start to identify with the perpetrator, even standing with the perpetrator mentally, and eventually might become their accomplice, helping them to harm others.

He didn't need to speak; Lans already knew the answer.

"Yes."

He rubbed his chin. There was some stubble that had just sprouted on his smooth chin, which was a bit scratchy. "Is there evidence?"

Mr. Ted's eyes flickered a bit. "No."

Actually, there was. An IOU, on which it was written that Arthur borrowed a sum of money from him, 15,000, without interest.

The reason Mr. Ted insisted on having Arthur write this IOU was actually because he had roughly the same thoughts as Mr. Qiaobafu; he wanted to make Arthur feel disgusted about taking money from him, so he could reduce such things as being extorted by Arthur.

In fact, it was indeed so. Later, Arthur intended to borrow money from him again, and he brought up the matter of this IOU, as well as expressing concern about Arthur's repayment ability. Arthur was like he had eaten shit and didn't come to find him anymore.

The reason he was extorted by Arthur several times was because the logging permits around New Jincheng were originally handled by him through Councilor Williams's path.

With this logging permit, he occupied some advantages over others in this industry.

Maybe it was only a few cents or a dollar or two per cubic meter, but if this number was magnified to the materials for an entire detached house, basically over 100 cubic meters, he had a great advantage.

It was precisely because of this that he was harassed by Arthur several times back and forth.

He didn't intend to hand over this IOU.

Lans shook his head. "Then take out the money, Ted. Don't force me. You know what kind of people we are and what things we will do."

"No matter what things we do, no one will feel strange."

Mr. Ted thought for a while longer, and just as he was about to answer, Lans stopped him. "Don't rush to answer; consider it some more."

"Don't end up having to endure pain you can't endure, and still have to take out the money or things. This is unnecessary, really unnecessary!"

This IOU from Arthur was actually still very useful to him. If there was a place in the future where he needed Councilor Williams, this IOU could play a role.

Its value was actually more valuable than the 15,000 it represented!

But he also didn't want to take out that 15,000. That wasn't 150, 1,500; it was 15,000!

To him, it could also be considered a not-so-small sum.

He looked at Lans, looked at that idiot beside him who kept flipping his hair, and thought in his mind about the reputation spread in society regarding Lans and the Lans family. He suddenly had an illusion.

Perhaps he could be tough for once?

Mr. Ted hesitated again and again and said, "I know people from the Daobang Sect..."

Lans leaned back. "Wrong answer."

Hiram walked to Mr. Ted's side. Under the gaze of the latter's somewhat uncomprehending eyes, he picked up the ashtray on the table and slammed it against his head twice.

Fresh blood immediately flowed down from Mr. Ted's head. He touched his wet and hot head, looked at the bright red thing in his hand, and his head felt dizzy in waves.

At this time, he finally realized that he knew Arthur, knew Councilor Williams, knew people from the Daobang Sect; as of now, none of it had any meaning.

Lans looked at him calmly. "You can choose one more time."

As he said this, he took out a handkerchief and wiped a drop of red fresh blood off his collar. Fortunately, the clothes were dark, so it couldn't be seen.

Perhaps it was because the two ashtray hits made Mr. Ted's reaction much slower; he forgot for a moment that he was doing a multiple-choice question.

Amidst Lans's "Time's up," Hiram swung the ashtray in his hand, and slammed it twice more.

This ashtray wasn't made of glass, or agate, or anything like that, otherwise Mr. Ted might already be lying on the ground, dying.

This was a beautiful wooden ashtray.

Its shape was made into the appearance of a tree well, with a deer head carved on it, seemingly drinking water, looking very artistic.

Especially now, it was stained with some blood color, making this lively, nature-filled artistic ashtray have a bit more of the forest's cruel flavor.

The person who made it probably didn't expect that using it to hit a head would be just as handy as the artistry it displayed.

Lans leaned back again and again, but two drops of fresh blood still splashed up.

"You have to be careful, it almost splashed on my face!"

And at this time, Mr. Ted finally came back to his senses. Fresh blood had already soaked his face, and he was in great pain.

The wooden ashtray made his skull ache, but it wasn't fatal. He now wished he could faint, instead of staring with wide, terrified eyes at Lans and the idiot beside him; this meant he had to continue to be beaten.

"I... don't have that much cash. I need time to raise the money."

Lans shook his head. "I'm interested in your evidence now. 10,000, plus your evidence, and I'll return this loan agreement to you."

"You originally only received this much; there's no reason to let you pay for someone else's mistake, right?"

Mr. Ted's skull was aching severely now. He also had a lot of anger in his heart, toward Mr. Qiaobafu, toward Arthur, but toward this Mr. Lans in front of him, there actually wasn't that much.

Under Lans's gaze, he finally compromised. "I can give you...", he said, pausing for a moment, somewhat hesitant, as if after some struggle in his heart, he asked, "Will you also ask Arthur for money?"

Lans's face had a few more smiles. "He owes me money. Even if he is Councilor Williams's son, he still owes me money. He can't change this fact."

Perhaps it was Lans's attitude of insisting on the money that moved Mr. Ted. He stood up, went to the side of the safe, and opened it.

Inside was a kraft paper bag, very large, very sturdy; it was that kind of heavy-duty kraft paper bag, and it also had waterproof treatment.

In the entire bag, there was only a small piece of white paper torn from somewhere, on which it was written:

"In June 1023, I borrowed 15,000 from Ted and will pay it back at the end of the year. Signed by me, Arthur."

Next was a large-amount check, as well as over 1,000 in cash.

Lans packed up everything and handed it to Hiram. "Look, what did I say?"

"You definitely would have followed what we said in the end; why did you have to insist on suffering this bit of hardship?"

"By the way, you can call the police after we leave, but I still remind you as before: you have to be prepared to bear the consequences!"

He picked up the hat from the corner of the table and gently placed it on his head. The novice who came with him had already opened the door. He walked to the door and looked at Mr. Ted again. "Have a pleasant day, Mr. Ted."

As he said this, he walked straight out, just like when he came, walking with the wind!

After confirming that Lans and the others had left, Mr. Ted walked out of the office, clutching his head.

He looked very frightening. The girl at the front desk was scared into screaming repeatedly, and some people asked if he needed to call the police or call an ambulance, all of which were stopped by him.

He drove to a nearby clinic himself. He actually only looked frightening; the blood had already stopped flowing...

On the way back, Hiram was a bit curious. "This note is so important; can it be worth 15,000?"

Lans smiled but didn't smile. "If used well, its value is far beyond 15,000."

Actually, Mr. Qiaobafu also had Arthur's signature, but Mr. Qiaobafu didn't give it to him.

This was one of the reasons why he couldn't integrate into this society of the Federation; he always used the thinking of an Imperial person to deal with the ways of doing things of the Federation people.

After Lans returned to the office, he found Mo Lisi and brought him over.

During this period, Mo Lisi had been watching Ailike; not just him, but several others were also watching Ailike.

After Mo Lisi sat down, he talked about Ailike's daily life during this period—

"He usually sleeps until noon before he can get up. After two or three o'clock in the afternoon, he will go out for a spin, and then on Wednesday and Saturday nights, he will go to the Saideer Opera House in the Star Fall District to listen to opera."

"Mainly to pursue a female opera actor named Sai Lin Na. Every time he goes, he will buy a lot of fresh flowers and then give them to that female actor."

"At other times, he will also try to find ways to contact this Sai Lin Na. He is crazily using our money to pursue that girl."

"But he is just like an ATM. Until now, he hasn't even held Sai Lin Na's hand, yet he has already spent at least 1,000 or 2,000."

The "romance" in the Star Fall District was quite a bit more expensive than the "romance" in the Empire District. Maybe an ordinary dinner would cost dozens.

If one wanted to get a bit of romance, 100 or 200 was very normal.

Those fresh flowers cost a penny for two at the pier, but when they reached the Star Fall District, they were wrapped in colored paper that cost a penny for a dozen, and they could be sold for a dollar a bunch.

It was easy to earn money from rich people. When they needed something, if you could give it to them, then as long as the price wasn't absurd, they would take out money to buy it.

Listening to Mo Lisi talking about Ailike's actions during this period, Lans couldn't help but laugh and say, "He's just like a dog in heat. What's the background of this Sai Lin Na? He actually didn't use forceful means?"

Mo Lisi shook his head slightly. "Didn't find out, but heard that she has a pretty good uncle who is very famous in opera and is friends with some senators."

"And there are many people pursuing her. Many young people in New Jincheng are pursuing her, which makes it hard for others to use force. Everyone is watching."

Lans smiled and made an analogy. "They turned the pursuit into a game, only they don't know it themselves. I believe whoever can pursue Sai Lin Na is the most successful one among the young people in New Jincheng!"

"Is Councilor Williams's son among them?"

Mo Lisi nodded. "Arthur is just one of them. I also saw Mr. Ma Kusi's son."

Lans had met Mr. Ma Kusi's son twice, 27 or 28 years old, with the sharp facial lines of a Sumuli person, though not necessarily appreciated by Federation people; after all, it was too "hard."

Although the two had met, they hadn't talked much. He seemed to have a bad relationship with Alberto, and Lans was obviously planned by them to be on Alberto's side.

"Sounds very complicated!", Lans input all these things into his brain. "Continue to watch them, find ways to spread some rumors, saying that Sai Lin Na only belongs to Jincheng people, not to outsiders."

This outsider definitely referred to Ailike. The mayor wasn't a local of New Jincheng; he was an outsider.

The balance between him and the local forces was just a result after weighing, which didn't mean he could suppress the locals, and of course, it didn't mean he would fear the locals.

Perhaps these old men had a tacit understanding among themselves and weren't easily provoked to create contradictions, but young people were definitely not that steady or smart.

It was exactly the time when they were full of vigor. Letting them take a step back voluntarily, especially in the aspect of competing for mating rights, was not as simple as killing them! ===== CHAPTER 194 =====