Polaris's Debt

Sean did not think much of Polaris's debt. It was merely a profit figure on the books, with a cost of only five cents.

How much could this girl's entire worth possibly amount to?

Her fifty-four kilograms of body weight were worth only fifty-four points of Source Essence. Her added value was worth more—her beauty and youth alone added up to at least a few hundred points. The most valuable thing was her mutant ability, worth seven thousand points of Source Essence.

As for 1.7 billion dollars, that converted to eight hundred and fifty thousand points of Source Essence. There was no way she could ever repay that~

So, to Sean, Lorna Dane was merely a set of numbers on the books. Until she died, he would have this profit held in reserve.

Storm, Ororo, suppressed her anger and tried her best to speak calmly with Sean.

"Doctor White, I believe Lorna's debt is unreasonable. You should know perfectly well how enormous the gap is between five cents and 1.7 billion dollars. This is completely against both the law and morality!"

She had wanted to remain calm, but as she spoke, Ororo's tone grew heavier and heavier. By the final sentence, she was only a step away from shouting.

Although Sean was not particularly fond of Storm's attitude, he did not intend to beat around the bush, so his own attitude suddenly hardened.

"Two solutions."

His words made both Storm and Polaris tense up as they waited seriously for him to continue.

"First, you can add more co-borrowers to share the debt. That would change the doubled repayment into a long-term loan. As for how it is repaid, you can choose for yourselves."

After hearing this, Polaris, Lorna, lowered her head. Who could she ask to share it? Her classmates at the Institute? Her teachers and professors? Or her father, who did not even know she existed?

Storm, Ororo, frowned as well. 1.7 billion—who would be willing to take on that kind of debt? Not to mention that the debt came from White's Black Ledger. That infamous ledger was something no one who knew of it would ever want their name written in.

Sean could tell from their expressions that this option was definitely not going to work, so he simply moved on to the second one.

"Forced execution."

Lorna immediately raised her head and stared at Sean in terror. She had learned quite a bit about White's Black Ledger today. Hearing the words "forced repayment," the young woman was nearly in tears.

Ororo was furious as well. She knew something about Sean's ledger. Once your name was on it, no matter who you were, your value was measured by the kilogram.

"No!"

Ororo said angrily.

Sean chuckled twice, then explained before Storm could fly into a rage.

"Actually, forced execution is the best way to settle this debt. She can use herself and any assets she may acquire to offset it. There is no need to explain herself, but the assets she may acquire include future work income, inheritance rights, and so on. If she gets married in the future, even her husband will become subject to forced execution. If they have children, even the children will be mine... Ahem... I'd suggest not having children. But as things stand, what does she lose? She is still herself. I will not take anything from her. It is only that, in name, her entire person belongs to me... Well, to my ledger."

Lorna's expression changed repeatedly as she listened to Sean. It felt terrifying. Her entire future would be written into that ledger.

Ororo's face darkened as well.

"She loses nothing right now? Her future is entirely in your hands! She's still a child!"

Sean was dismissive of Storm's words. A child? She was already eighteen. Americans were really too precious about things.

"I'm just laying it out. What you do is up to you."

Storm hesitated, wanting to ask whether Lorna could just repay ten cents instead. But she did not say it. She knew that White's Black Ledger was not subject to Sean White's personal will. Vanessa Carlisle had told her that at the school today. Sean had no control over the Black Ledger in this regard.

Seeing Lorna's frightened expression, Ororo could not bear it, so she repeated what Vanessa had told her.

Polaris, Lorna, was very smart. She immediately understood the key phrase in the debt: the words she had said to Sean at the time, "I'll pay you back double tomorrow."

Without the word "tomorrow," she would only need to repay ten cents now. It was truly a painful lesson. Regret immediately filled her heart, leaving her entire being bleak and desolate.

Five cents... and she had sold herself...

In the end, Polaris, Lorna Dane, chose forced execution. As Sean had promised, he did not take anything from her. But from this moment onward, she completely belonged to Sean White. Her body, soul, lifespan, and future... everything no longer belonged to her.

Ororo and Vanessa both fell silent, while Lorna was immersed in bitter misery.

But it did not affect Sean. There were some things he had to make clear, lest the ledger decide that Polaris had maliciously damaged White's property and reclaim her.

"Lorna Dane, since you belong to me now, there are certain rules of conduct I need to explain. Otherwise, some of your improper behavior may cause needless losses to my property."

Here it came... White's Black Ledger was not famous for nothing.

"First, your body belongs to me. Without my permission, you may not lower your body weight. Therefore, consuming an appropriate amount of food is a rule you must follow.

"Second, all money connected to you has already been subjected to forced execution. You must work to support yourself. I will not spend money to support you anymore."

Storm interjected, "Our Institute will not let her go hungry."

Sean nodded and continued, "That is up to you. But I must emphasize that I do not accept gifts. Any assets gifted to you are not subject to forced execution. Therefore, you must earn the remaining debt yourself.

"Third, I hope you keep yourself respectable. While appreciation of property is a good thing, still..."

"Enough! Don't go on and on!"

Vanessa could not listen anymore. She knew that if Sean kept talking, he would be treating Lorna exactly like a slave.

After stopping Sean, Vanessa sat beside Lorna and wrapped an arm around the helpless-looking girl. Vanessa had been with Sean for more than six months. Based on what she knew of him, she could say with certainty that this girl would have very little to do with the word "freedom" from now on.

Out of consideration for Xavier Institute's reputation, perhaps she could still live relatively freely as a student for the next year or two. But once she left Xavier Institute, or lost her status as a student...

Sean would definitely put her to the fullest use... That was not the wrong choice of words. He really would put her to the fullest use.

After seeing Storm and Polaris off, Sean shed his forceful demeanor from earlier and lazily sprawled onto the sofa.

Vanessa came over, leaned into Sean's arms, and asked softly, "I've never understood what you actually get from those debts. What meaning does a debt that can never be repaid have for you?"

Sean was stroking Vanessa's cheek. Hearing that, he could not help but laugh.

"It would be best if they could repay them. If they cannot, that is fine too. Having the claim is enough. As for what I get? Heh... Nessa, how many years do you think would be appropriate for us to live?"

"Hm?"

Vanessa froze. How many years to live? That was a difficult question to answer. But she immediately understood what Sean meant.

"You can obtain lifespan?"

Vanessa was truly shocked. Would he take other people's lifespans to enrich his own?

"Not just me. You can too."

Vanessa fell silent. She found something so inhumane difficult to accept. Lifespan... it inspired both envy and fear.

After hesitating for a long time, Vanessa sat up and looked Sean in the eyes.

"Sean, lifespan is part of life too. Using someone else's lifespan on ourselves... I... I can't accept that."

Sean clicked his tongue. She had misunderstood him.

"My fault for not explaining clearly. All the ledger's profits eventually become something called Source Essence. I can use it to exchange for anything it records, including lifespan and youth. Eternal youth is at least somewhat appealing, isn't it, darling?"

Hearing Sean's words, Vanessa relaxed, only to be swept up by overwhelming delight. Eternal youth was more alluring to women than anything else.

Excited, Vanessa wrapped her arms around Sean and gave him a long, passionate kiss.

"What reward do you want?"

Vanessa asked Sean, her face flushed red.

Heh, there was even a reward. Women... they really were easy to please.

"Lorn..."

"No!"

I haven't even finished speaking, okay? Sean felt a little depressed. What kind of reward was it if he could not choose? One-star review!

Though she did not fulfill Sean's wish, Vanessa was exceedingly gentle.

Nothing happened that night.

The next day, Sean went to the clinic as usual to work as an unlicensed doctor. Vanessa ran her bookstore as usual.

Vanessa's bookstore was also on Broadway Avenue, near 116th Street, not far from the clinic. Every day, Vanessa drove to the bookstore, while Sean walked 2.7 kilometers to the clinic.

Vanessa's bookstore was not large. The total area of the two-story shop was less than two hundred square meters. But because it was close to the university, business was fairly good. It was also their main source of income. As for Sean's money... heh, the ledger handled it all. Aside from Linda Carter periodically handing Vanessa the revenue from Doctor Ava Ellis's treatments after expenses, Sean had no way to touch money at all.

If money reached his hands and then left them, it had to pass through the ledger. Sean did not want Vanessa to end up in the ledger too. The ledger was strange like that. It could gift away anything else, but money, gold, and similar assets could not be gifted to others. Heh... hard to understand.

When Sean arrived at the clinic, Linda Carter was already cleaning. The girl was very diligent. If they relied on Sean and Ava Ellis... the place would probably get so filthy it would be unpresentable.

Ava Ellis was as enthusiastic as ever. She helped Sean take off his coat, providing attentive service. Before she could start making eyes at him—

The clinic phone suddenly rang.

"Hello, this is White Clinic. How can we help you?" Linda's crisp voice was pleasant to hear, and that was one of the reasons Sean had hired her at such a high salary.

Linda listened to the caller and wrote notes on paper. Before she even hung up, she hurriedly said to Sean:

"It's an emergency call, New York Oncology Hospital! Bed 17-04!"

"Huh???"

Sean was utterly confused. Was it not a bit much for an unlicensed doctor like him to be called to handle an emergency at a hospital?

Sean: "How about we don't go?"

Ava Ellis: "You don't want any bookmarks or recommendations anymore, do you?"