Ark, Just Tell Me Whether the Mission Was Completed

"This is the amount of the relief fund." Luo Chen first pointed at the number 100000 on the document. "This is the money that goes to you."

Then he pointed at the number 2000000. "This is the total amount of the contract."

"Lastly, it says here that you must pass the Lungmen Secondary Entrance Exam within three years. In other words, you can only receive the next student aid payment after passing the Lungmen Secondary Entrance Exam."

"The Lungmen Secondary Entrance Exam? Then I definitely don't stand a chance."

Gravel sighed. She simply wasn't cut out for studying. It seemed this would be the last relief payment she ever received.

She probably wouldn't have another chance to meet this kind big brother again.

Gravel took the pen and, somewhat reluctantly, wrote down her name.

"Gravel?" Luo Chen frowned slightly at the name. Did anyone really have a name like that? Could it be some sort of code name, like Spicy Shredded Chicken?

Out of a serious and rigorous attitude, Luo Chen had Gravel press her fingerprint onto the document as well.

Gravel didn't refuse and obediently pressed down a fingerprint as Luo Chen instructed.

"Alright, little sister, this money is yours now. I hope you'll study diligently from here on and strive to pass the entrance exam as soon as possible."

"I already said it, I'm not cut out for studying." Gravel's voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz, ashamed of her lack of education.

Luo Chen photographed the contract for his records, then folded it and placed it into the box that had held the money. Smiling, he said to Gravel:

"It doesn't matter if you can't pass. Just remember to repay a total of two million Lungmen Dollars in principal and interest."

"What?" Gravel was utterly bewildered.

Luo Chen was clearly speaking Yan, so why couldn't she understand him?

What did he mean by repaying two million Lungmen Dollars in principal and interest? Wasn't she receiving relief money?

Did relief money need to be repaid? And she had only received one hundred thousand. Why did she have to repay two million?

Gravel's thoughts gradually descended into chaos, and her heart began pounding wildly.

"Big brother, what do you mean?"

Luo Chen calmly stood up and looked down at Gravel, his face devoid of emotion.

"We just signed a student loan contract for impoverished students."

"Under the contract, to help you improve academically, we'll issue you a loan of one hundred thousand."

"If you pass the Lungmen Secondary Entrance Exam within three years, the interest will be waived. If you fail, you'll need to repay a total of two million Lungmen Dollars in principal and interest within five years."

The Buddha's Merit Was Nothing Compared to Mine

Gravel's mind instantly went blank.

Her eyes widened, and she stood there in a daze for half a minute before dryly blinking once.

"Repay money?"

"Repay what money?"

"Wasn't this relief money? Why do I have to repay it?"

"Big brother, you're not messing with me, are you?"

Gravel looked at Luo Chen again, hoping for his confirmation.

But Luo Chen had long since lost his previous gentleness and warmth. Coldness radiated from his entire body.

"Who told you relief money doesn't need to be repaid?"

"You want money and don't want to pay it back? Where in Lungmen is there such a good deal?"

"I already explained it very clearly. If you can't pass the Lungmen Secondary Entrance Exam within three years, then you must repay me two million Lungmen Dollars."

Two million?

Two million!

Gravel swayed as she stood up, her eyes vacant, as though she were trying to imagine just how enormous two million was.

No one had ever said relief money didn't need to be repaid.

But two million Lungmen Dollars... even if she spent twenty-four hours a day stealing wallets, she couldn't steal that much in three years.

"How could you do this... I thought you were a good person, big brother."

Gravel's entire body trembled. She didn't know whether her anger at being deceived outweighed her regret at trusting Luo Chen.

Her cheeks gradually reddened, and aggrieved tears finally spilled from her eyes.

"I don't want this money. Take it all back. I don't want any student aid."

Gravel grabbed the hundred thousand Lungmen Dollars from the table and hurled it all at Luo Chen, her voice trembling.

Right now, she wasn't afraid of the gangs or the Lungmen Guard Department anymore.

She could never earn two million even if she died trying. At worst, she would die here.

What she did by stealing money was wrong, but they couldn't exploit her like this.

She had even felt a little moved by this big brother just now. She never expected him to be the same kind of scum as those bad people.

No... he was worse than those bad people, like a demon from a story.

The money struck Luo Chen, but he was neither angry nor annoyed. Instead, he patiently explained Gravel's situation to her.

"You can refuse the money, but you've already signed a student aid contract with us. In three years, you must still pay me a total of two million in principal and interest."

"I don't have any money. Just kill me."

Overcome by emotion, Gravel was no longer afraid of death.

Compared to a debt of two million, she felt dying would be easier.

"Little sister, Lungmen is a society governed by law. How can we just kill people? But if you want to die, you can find somewhere empty and end yourself."

"But I must remind you that even if you die, this debt won't disappear."

"Your parents, as your legal guardians, will inherit this debt."

"Three years from now, I'll sell off every bit of your parents' property."

"I don't have parents!" Gravel clenched her teeth and roared.

She decided that even if she were beaten to death, she couldn't reveal her parents.

"Whether you have parents or not, the Lungmen Guard Department can find out with a simple investigation. What are you pretending for?"

"You can choose not to repay the money, but I can't say what'll happen to your parents then."

"Their home will be auctioned off, and all their belongings will be confiscated."

"If that still isn't enough, I can see whether they have anything valuable on them."

As Luo Chen said this, a chilling smile suddenly appeared on his previously calm face.

"I heard human skin can be used on burn victims. Human blood can be sold. Corneas can be transplanted. Hearts, livers, and kidneys can also be transplanted, though compatibility testing is needed in advance."

"But three years should be enough time for matching, shouldn't it, little sister?"

There was a hint of mockery in Luo Chen's tone as he spoke.

Lin Yuxia and the group of underlings watching from the side and outside the door all shuddered when they heard Luo Chen casually say such horrifying things.

They had seen children used to threaten parents before, but this was the first time they had seen parents used to threaten a child.

After being gangsters for so many years, this was the first time they learned that so many parts of a human body could be sold for money.

How did Luo Chen, a Lungmen Guard Department officer, know such things?

The more they thought about it, the more their scalps tingled.

"Is Inspector Luo really a cop? Why doesn't he look human?"

"Wang Jie's three hundred thousand wasn't paid for nothing."

"How could you say it wasn't paid for nothing? He practically made a killing."

At this moment, Wang Jie's legs were already trembling with fear.

Fortunately, when he extorted Inspector Luo, he had only asked for two dollars. If he had asked for even a little more...

Wouldn't he have been dismantled into parts by now?

"Oh, right, do you all remember the four points Inspector Luo told us? I think we need to memorize those three musts and one must-not perfectly. What if Inspector Luo runs into us someday and we can't recite them..."

Thinking about what would happen if they displeased Luo Chen, cold sweat broke out across their backs in unison.

"What were those four points again?"

Inside the room.

"You... how can you be so despicable? You're simply a demon."

Gravel's heart felt as though it were being cut by knives, hurting so much she could barely breathe.

Her eyes were moist, tears swirling in them, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

She could die, but she didn't want to drag her parents down with her.

Her parents had kicked her out of the house, but they had no choice. Before she contracted Oripathy, they had loved her dearly.

But what could she use to repay two million Lungmen Dollars?

In her endless despair, Gravel suddenly remembered something.

If she remembered correctly, the loan had said that as long as she passed the Lungmen Secondary Entrance Exam, the interest would be waived, and she would only need to repay the one hundred thousand principal.

"Didn't you just say that as long as I pass the Lungmen Secondary Entrance Exam within three years, my debt can be waived?"

"Of course. As long as you pass Lungmen's entrance exam within three years, you won't have to pay interest. But with that stupid little brain of yours, how could you possibly pass?"

Luo Chen once again gently stroked the top of Gravel's head.

But this time, it felt completely different to Gravel.

The first time had been the concern of a kindly older brother next door. This time was the mockery of a demon.

Rage pounded fiercely in her chest.

Yet what could she do now that things had come to this?

The Lungmen Guard Department and the gangs were in league with each other. What could she do no matter how angry she was?

Unless she had enough education to find a loophole in this contract.

Gravel gritted her teeth and slowly spoke.

"I'll pass the Lungmen Secondary Entrance Exam within three years. Don't you dare hurt my father and mother."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was filled with determination and strength, as though she had found a goal in life.

"Hmph!"

Luo Chen snorted disdainfully and turned toward the door.

As he stepped outside, a sincere smile rose to the corner of his lips.

He had done another good deed today!

He had set a thief back on the right path, reignited her motivation to study, and helped her find direction in life. His merit was truly overflowing.

If this world had a Buddha, then he would surely move another step closer to the Buddha's rank.

We're Engaged in a Great Public Welfare Cause

After leaving Gravel's home, Luo Chen noticed several unoccupied apartments nearby and asked the others:

"There are still vacant apartments nearby. Can you help me rent one?"

Hearing Luo Chen's request, Lin Yuxia couldn't help asking in return: