Chapter 5 Raising Funds Through Loans

"My name is Kenneth," he said. "Is there any problem with my request for 500 tables?" The manager was momentarily stunned. An order of this scale was unprecedented for their hotel, but it was too lucrative to pass up. "Mr. Hale, the cost for 500 tables will exceed one hundred forty thousand dollars. If you want us to proceed, we’ll need a deposit of twenty-eight thousand dollars upfront." Kenneth replied, "That’s fine. Send me your account details, and I’ll transfer it right away." Money made everything smoother. The manager quickly agreed, exchanged contact information with Kenneth, and forwarded the payment details. Kenneth immediately transferred the twenty-eight thousand dollars without hesitation. Once the deposit was confirmed, the manager sprang into action. "Let’s go! This is a major order. Tell procurement to stock up immediately. The kitchen needs to pause all other takeout orders and focus solely on preparing these 500 tables. We need everything done within 24 hours." After hanging up, Kenneth let out a sigh. "In a month, money will be useless. But for now, I need it to buy what’s necessary." With his parents’ inheritance and his own savings, Kenneth had about two hundred eighty thousand dollars. Now, half of it was gone. The loss stung a bit, but he quickly consoled himself. At least I’m spending it wisely. Plenty of people will hoard their money only to watch it turn into worthless paper. Not everyone has the chance to use it while it still matters. "But I’ve got more expenses coming up. I’ll need to find a way to raise more funds," Kenneth thought, his eyes landing on his apartment. The property, located in the heart of Valkyrean, spanned 1,292 square feet and was part of a complex built a decade ago. At its current market value of over five thousand six hundred dollars per square meter, the apartment was worth at least seven hundred thousand dollars. "Perfect. I’ll take out a mortgage. It’s practically free money that I won’t have to repay," Kenneth chuckled. Without wasting time, he left home, got into his car, and headed to the bank. On his way, he received a message from Grace. "Kenneth, weekends are so dull. I wish someone would take me out," it said. He glanced at the message, then tossed his phone aside without replying. At the bank, Kenneth began the loan process. With all his paperwork in order and the property fully paid off, his request for a substantial loan was approved quickly. The bank, however, capped his loan at five hundred sixty thousand dollars. Kenneth didn’t argue. It was free money, after all, and he wasn’t interested in wasting time negotiating. He signed the agreement, and the funds were promptly deposited into his account. "That leaves me with about seven hundred thousand dollars after the one hundred forty thousand dollars spent on food," Kenneth calculated. "That should be enough to renovate the house. But I’ll still need a significant amount for medicine and weapons. This might not cover everything." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, already considering other ways to raise the additional funds he needed. As Kenneth stood deep in thought by the roadside, a man with bright yellow dyed hair spotted him. His eyes lit up as he approached quickly. "Hey buddy, need some cash?" he asked. Kenneth looked up, his expression calm. "Who are you?" The man’s smile widened, and he lowered his voice. "I’ll cut to the chase. You’re strapped for cash, and the bank won’t help, right?" Kenneth instantly understood who he was dealing with. A loan shark, he thought. An idea began forming in Kenneth’s mind. He sighed, deliberately putting on a troubled look. "Yeah, my family business is in desperate need of funds. But the bank…" Kenneth trailed off, emphasizing his supposed predicament. Marcus, the man, nodded knowingly. He had seen this situation many times before. Anyone who could get a loan from a bank wouldn’t be here talking to him. "That’s how banks are these days. All red tape and delays. But if you need money urgently, I can help." Kenneth pretended to hesitate. "You? Can you really help me? I need millions, not pocket change." Marcus’s excitement grew at the mention of a large amount. He quickly pulled out a business card and handed it to Kenneth. "Our company specializes in helping people in situations like yours. If you need cash, we’re your best option." Kenneth examined the card, which read "Everlend Finance Group," listing Marcus as a business manager. Feigning excitement, Kenneth said, "You’re saying you can lend me money? I need over seven hundred thousand dollars. If you can help me through this, I’ll pay it back in three months." Marcus chuckled confidently. "That’s no problem at all. Our company is more than capable of handling this. We’re here to help people just like you. Let’s head to our office and sort out the details." Kenneth, putting on a look of anticipation, nodded and followed Marcus to their office. The office was tucked away in an out-of-the-way commercial building. Once they entered, Marcus led Kenneth straight to the boss’s room. The boss, Elliot Lyndon, was a large, imposing man dressed in a designer suit, clearly trying to make the company seem legitimate. However, his sharp and intimidating gaze betrayed a rough edge, the mark of someone who had spent years thriving in the shadows of the business world. Marcus introduced Kenneth, saying, "Mr. Elliot, this is the client interested in borrowing funds." Elliot greeted Kenneth with a wide smile and motioned for him to sit. "Mr. Hale, how much are you looking to borrow?" The conversation was as straightforward as one would expect from a loan shark operation. These companies didn’t follow legal formalities and relied on their own methods to ensure repayment, making defaulting practically impossible. "I’m looking to borrow seven hundred thousand dollars," Kenneth said calmly. Elliot raised an eyebrow. "That’s quite a significant amount. Let me be clear, Mr. Hale, our interest rates are steep. You’ll need to be ready for that." Marcus quickly interjected, "Mr. Hale’s business urgently needs funds. Once the cash flow improves, repaying the loan should be no trouble, right?" The two of them played off each other seamlessly, and Kenneth took note of every detail. Still playing the part of a desperate businessman, Kenneth nodded and said, "Yes, I can repay it soon. I’m fine with high interest as long as you can provide the funds."