Chapter 3

However, what's going on today...

After spitting in contempt, Falio couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled. He had come to collect the debt with the contract in hand, and it was fine that the boy didn't come up to speak nicely, but he actually sat there casually, responding to him. Yes, yes, and the way he looked at him was a bit strange too.

That kind of scrutinizing look didn't seem like he was looking at a creditor, but rather like he was looking at a ridiculous clown.

Falio really wanted to say some harsh words to threaten him, to make this boy beg pitifully again, but for some reason, the words just wouldn't come out. What was worse, Falio suddenly realized that he had to clear his throat several times to muster the courage to speak to this nephew he usually didn't think much of.

"Whatever you're worried about, you don't need to care. I'll just say this: either you pay the money today, or you use the house to settle the debt. Otherwise, I'll hand this contract over to the Thousand Sails City Chamber of Commerce Alliance and see who will still dare to do business with your Flash Gold Chamber of Commerce!"

When these words came out, even the old butler's face changed.

Falio's move was indeed quite vicious. Although the Flash Gold Chamber of Commerce was now in dire straits, even to the point of using the house to settle the debt, the old butler knew this was only temporary. The connections and reputation the master had built over decades couldn't be taken away by a single maritime disaster. As long as the Flash Gold Chamber of Commerce was given some time, it could definitely get out of this predicament. Even if it couldn't return to its former glory, ensuring that the young master lived a carefree life was definitely possible, and he could even continue his magic studies, perhaps even becoming a mage one day...

However, the contract must not be handed over to the Chamber of Commerce Alliance. Reputation is the foundation of a chamber of commerce, and once the alliance makes a ruling, things would get out of hand...

The old butler's face gradually turned pale, and his right hand, which was holding Falio's sleeve, began to tremble.

Lin Yun, on the other hand, remained as relaxed as ever, as if he hadn't heard Falio's vicious threats. He even had the nerve to joke with the old butler, "I said Uncle Falio is very concerned about us, you see, he's already worried that no one will do business with us."

"Master, you're joking..." The old butler's smile was more painful than crying.

Lin Yun smiled but didn't say much. He had a certain respect for this old butler, who had stayed with the Flash Gold Chamber of Commerce even in its dire straits and did his best to protect Mafa Merlin. This was far beyond what a butler should do.

"Alright, boy, stop pretending to care. Let's talk about the real matter!" Even with his thick skin, Falio couldn't help but feel angry and embarrassed when Lin Yun mocked him. "You've seen the contract. Your father borrowed 8,000 gold coins from me. You have two options: pay the money now or use the house to settle the debt. I have business to attend to and don't have time to waste on you."

"The house is definitely out of the question. Your price is too fair, I'm worried you'll lose out." The house, which cost 100,000 gold coins back then, was indeed too fair to use to settle a debt of 8,000 gold coins.

Falio was now a bit reckless, not caring about Lin Yun's mockery and directly pressing the issue, "So you're going to pay the money?"

"Paying the money isn't impossible..."

"You really want to pay the money?" This answer was a bit unexpected for Falio. After a stunned look, he was even more confused. Everyone in Thousand Sails City knew that since the maritime disaster, the Flash Gold Chamber of Commerce's accounts were full of red ink. Even the house left by Rog Merlin had been completely emptied by the families of the victims. Now, even rats wouldn't come in. Where could they get the money?

No, this can't be!

Falio cleared his throat twice, trying to appear calm, "That's great. You're willing to pay the money, which... which is the best thing, of course. 8,000 gold coins, bring them here."

"Of course, there's no problem with paying the money, but Uncle Falio, I've only been back for a few days. You have to give me some time to figure things out, right? Otherwise, how would I know if someone is trying to cheat us? Oh, sorry, Uncle Falio, I didn't mean to call you a cheat..."

"Are you joking with me?" Falio's face darkened at these words. He glared at Lin Yun and shouted in his duck-like voice, "Jimmy, Jimmy, damn it, get in here!"

At Falio's shout, several menacing thugs rushed in from outside. The leader was bald, with a long scar on his face and eyes full of menace.

"Falio!" Seeing these people rush in, the old butler's face changed drastically. Ignoring his age, he stepped in front of them, "Falio, you've gone too far! How did the master treat you? Now, for 8,000 gold coins, you bring these people here!"

The old butler had lived in Thousand Sails City for decades and knew very well who Falio had brought. They were all ruthless thugs, especially Jimmy, who came from the underground Red Scorpion gang. He had been lending high-interest loans in Thousand Sails City for years and had at least a dozen lives on his hands.

"Get out of the way, old man!" Jimmy, who had been hired by Falio for a hefty sum, didn't care about an old man. He pushed the old butler to the ground as soon as he entered.

Then, he walked up to Lin Yun, "You're the kid called Mafa Merlin, right?"

"Is it your right hand?"

"What?"

"I mean, the hand you used to push the old butler, was it your right hand?" Lin Yun patiently explained.

"Shut up, kid!" Jimmy, who dealt with high-interest loans, had seen all kinds of debtors. Over the years, he had learned that collecting debts required ruthlessness. Gold coins were like cleavage; if you squeezed, there would always be some.

This time was no different...

Perhaps because he was taken aback by Lin Yun's question, Jimmy felt he had lost face, so he slapped Lin Yun with his right hand.

Lin Yun didn't even blink, grabbing the right hand that came at him and politely asked, "How about medium-well?"

"W-What?"

Then came a scream.

A strong smell of burning filled the room, and the air was filled with the smell of burnt flesh. Everyone looked in shock and saw that Jimmy's right hand, which had been grabbed, was suddenly engulfed in flames and instantly cooked.

Not too much, not too little, exactly medium-well.

Jimmy wasn't weak. Back in the Red Scorpions, he had even killed a mage. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to lend high-interest loans in the chaotic Thousand Sails City for so long and still be doing well.

It was a pity he met Lin Yun, a monster who could form a magic vortex in ten minutes and was on par with top mages. Although he was only a level one mage, in a real fight, ten Jimmys wouldn't be enough. This was a difference of millions of years, not something that could be made up by level.

Lin Yun didn't even use any incantations, just a spontaneous Flame Hand, and he completely crippled this notorious thug in Thousand Sails City.

Letting go of the burnt right hand, Lin Yun, as if he hadn't heard the piercing screams, smiled at Falio.

Falio was completely stunned, his eyes wide, his mouth open, and his fat face full of disbelief. This... this... this isn't what I imagined!

Wasn't it supposed to be that Jimmy would come in and beat this kid up, and then the kid would obediently hand over the deed? How did it turn out like this? The Jimmy I had full confidence in is now lying on the ground like a dead dog, holding his burnt right hand and howling, while the nephew who was supposed to be crying and handing over the deed is standing there like nothing happened, still looking at me with that strange smile...

The smile... Wait, when that kid looked at Jimmy, it was the same smile. Falio shivered at this thought and took several steps back, "Y-You... What do you want? I-I... I'm your uncle, if you dare to hurt me, I'll..."

"Don't joke, Uncle Falio. I don't have time to hurt you, I'm very busy..." Lin Yun smiled, walked past Falio, and helped the old butler up, checking him over to confirm that he only had some minor scratches on his arm. Then he turned back to Falio, "Come back in three days to collect the money."

Falio felt like he had been granted a reprieve and stumbled out the door, not forgetting to say a few polite words on the way, "Good, good, you've really grown up, not even respecting your uncle. I'll come back in three days to collect the money, we'll see what you'll pay me then..."