So, Ian Song asked, "How much do you want to borrow?"
Galen Long was stunned. He hadn't expected Ian to be so agreeable. After a moment's thought, he said, "Then lend me two hundred thousand taels!"
"Sure," Ian nodded without the slightest hesitation.
Seeing how readily Ian agreed, Galen thought to himself that this kid really must be loaded. His mind shifted, and he decided to ask for more. He quickly changed his tune: "Wait, wait, I got it wrong. My president actually sent me to borrow five hundred thousand taels from you!"
"That's fine too!" Ian replied just as cheerfully.
As the saying goes, greed knows no bounds. Seeing Ian still so agreeable, Galen put on an act, slapped his forehead, and exclaimed, "Oh man, I drank too much last night and my memory's a mess. It should be a million taels! Kid, as long as you lend us the silver, I'll have the president bring you into the Black Tiger Society!"
"Still fine!" Ian smiled.
Damn, just how rich is this guy? Galen felt his breathing quicken, already scheming whether he should ask for even more.
He narrowed his eyes and said, "Kid, you’re pretty smart. Just now, that million taels is what our president wants to borrow. But I’m also a bit short on cash lately—can you lend me a million taels too? If you do, you’ll be my sworn brother, and as my brother, you’ll be able to walk sideways in the Outer Sect!"
"Haha, since Senior Brother Galen asked, of course I'll lend it!"
Hearing Ian agree, Galen Long was overjoyed. He grinned broadly and reached out his hand: "Good, you really are straightforward! I accept you as my brother—now hand over the silver!"
Senior Brother Galen flatters me!
As he spoke, Ian reached into his robe and pulled out a thick stack of silver notes.
Seeing the thick stack of notes, Galen Long and the group of Black Tiger Society outer-sect disciples all had their eyes go green, itching to pounce and snatch them away.
Ian slowly counted out two hundred thousand taels in notes, put the rest back into his robe, and then handed the two hundred thousand toward Galen Long.
Instinctively, Galen Long reached out—but grasped only air.
His face instantly darkened. "Kid, what do you mean by this?"
Ian put on a nervous expression: "Senior Brother Galen, don’t misunderstand. Lending you two hundred thousand taels is no problem, but what collateral will you provide?"
"Collateral?" Galen Long was stunned, then immediately furious. "You want collateral from me?"
Ian nodded. "As the saying goes, even brothers keep clear accounts. Two hundred thousand is no small sum, so of course you need to leave collateral if you want to borrow silver!"