At those words, a strange sound rose from Old Sun's throat. His legs kicked out, and he fainted dead away.
The Sharp-Mouthed Clerk who had secretly sent word earlier ducked under the counter in fright, clutching his head and trembling. "It's got nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me..."
The Paper Dolls radiated such a chill that the temperature inside the room plummeted.
But fine beads of sweat broke out on Lord Scar's forehead.
He had seen his share of trouble, after all. He knew this wasn't the kind of person he could fob off with a few smooth words.
Since entering the room, the man hadn't shown a trace of anger. His face barely betrayed a ripple of emotion. But people like that were the hardest to appease.
Silence stretched on for seven or eight breaths.
Feeling the increasingly impatient killing intent radiating from Chen Mo, Lord Scar had no choice but to take a deep breath and straighten up. "Five thousand silver dollars. The Canal Gang will pay."
"But I have one condition." He fixed Chen Mo with a serious look. "This money isn't compensation on Old Sun's behalf. It's to buy your word that you won't hold the gang responsible for the debt on that house."
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "You're in the Canal Gang, and Old Sun is under its protection too. If the money comes from you, what difference does it make whether it comes from Old Sun?"
"There's a difference." Lord Scar's voice was low. "If he pays, it's an apology. If we pay, it settles the account."
He put particular emphasis on the words "settles the account."
"I went to that house once before. There was something wicked inside. It even took three of our men. Later, we