Chapter 301 292: Loan What You Own
The bank ran by the Fonias family in the southern end of the kingdom was seeing a rather lively day today.
Gustavo, the manager of the bank, twirled his handlebar mustache in his hands as his secretary knocked on the door.
"Sir, the owner of the Mein Sohn trading company is here to meet you."
"Mein Sohn?" Gustavo repeated, this was quite the big place and had already borrowed money from him multiple times. It was a shame that he had managed to pay it all back despite Gustavo's best efforts in hindering his business.
"Send him in," said Gustavo. He was in a good mood, if such a person was here then so be it.
The door to his office opened not long after and in came the owner of the Mein Sohn trading company.
"Gustavo! My son!" The old man with greying hair spread his hands wide and entered the place.
"Mister Mein! How long how has it been?" Gustavo stood up from his seat and twirled his mustache. The two of them shared greetings and Gustavo led him to a seat.
"Please, how can I serve you? This little Gustavo will do whatever you ask."
"My, I am lucky to have a brother in you, my son."
Gustavo wanted to ask this old man what he had smoked, perhaps even if he could share some, but that wasn't as professional now, was it?
"My son, Gustavo, I am faced by a problem I had never imagined."
"A problem? What has happened?"
"My caravan carrying all my goods yesterday was attacked. It was the biggest shipment I had brought in and it was filled with people, but it all got destroyed."
"Destroyed!?" Gustavo asked, surprised, he didn't want his own caravans to be attacked, not now. "What happened?"
"It was monsters, the knights say some other group dealt with them, but my losses still remain. The few people that survived are traumatized. They said there was a healer that healed them to death and a with that was stealing their hair."
"Could it not be bandits?" Gustavo asked, the inquiries were too strange.
"No, they are too out of it to be trusted. And no human could cause a wreckage like this."
"That is terrible…"
"Gustavo," the old man leaned ahead. "I would request you for another loan. This has caused me a great damage to my business."
Gustavo grinned.
This.
This was jackpot.
He had already been getting a lot of money from the last few days, more than his useless underlings had ever brought him. There was no doubt that the Fonias family was going to keep getting happier with the cash, but he could even get promoted if he manages to bring in a good business at the same time.
"A loan is no problem at all. Not for you."
"My son! I am so happy to have a brother like you!"
"Please, you flatter me. How can I not be of help in your time of need?"
The two embraced in joy and fixed up the records. The amount was larger than he had imagined, but with the money he had amassed in the last few weeks alone, it was more than enough.
The old man left and Gustavo returned to his office with a bright smile.
But not long after, his door was knocked on again.
"Sir, the leader of Gansa Gang is here."
Gustavo twirled his mustache.
The Gansa gang was famous as a security service, despite the strange name, they did not do much illegal stuff. Though he was connected with those types as well.
Lady Miganta, the leader of Gansa Gang and one of the best mages in all of Schwarz, and another person his bosses had been eyeing from a long time, entered his office, her eyes curved into a slight smile.
"Lady Miganta!"
"Gustavo, my friend."
The two shared small talk, and Lady Miganta got to the point.
"All of my spells were broken. Everywhere. These spells that took decades to build were analyzed overnight and crushed apart. I think it's the orkd of a traitor and a competitor."
"Oh no! How can someone analyze all of YOUR spells in one night? It's impossible even for a mage like Lushan von Bergus."
"You flatter me. Thankfully, I don't have to pay any security, but the amount I would need to set things up again is too much for me to bear all at once."
CHANCE.
Chance number two was here.
He could just commission her competitor to obstruct her and bring Lady Migrant under him forever.
Then a promotion won't be a hope anymore.
"The money…?"
"About this much…" Miganta wrote the amount down.
It was high. Too high for him to handle a few weeks ago, but with the rate he was getting cash in the past few weeks. All the kingdom was bringing its assets to him.
"It can be done. In a few days…"
"Gustavo, you're the best!"
Best he was. Best at tricking her.
Gustavo held in his joy and saw her out.
Almost as if god was patting his head personally, though, more and more people kept coming in.
"All my chairs disappeared and my people killed themselves!"
"Everything in my business is gone!"
"No monsters are left in the area."
People that he wanted to get his hands on all had problems.
And he had the solution, money!
Though it was slightly flowing short, the next day, he received even more than the last. And the next more once again.
"God is on my side!"
And so, he signed them all.
He signed approval after approval.
And then some more.
Money came from his goons.
And money left to multiply. All the businesses were going to be in his hands.
The small loans first, he handed them out. With the constant influx, he even signed a higher amount for the bigger ones.
And then, when the day came to hand out the money to the biggest players.
"What did you say…?"
"T-there was no deposit today, sir…"