One moment he was calling him "little brother," and the next he was referring to himself as "father."

Jiang Bai's few sentences nearly made the Director's CPU overheat.

Scratching his messy hair, the Director said blankly, "But this money was originally my debt..."

Awakening Jiang Bai had exhausted all of the Director's savings and drained all the assets of the Ninth Research Institute.

If they were to calculate the debt, it wouldn't be Jiang Bai's responsibility to repay it. The creditors would definitely go after the Director directly.

"I'm just joking, relax a bit. Don't always look so gloomy and resentful. You should smile more," Jiang Bai said cheerfully, his arm draped over the Director's shoulder, very familiar and friendly.

The Director, however, seemed a bit awkward and restrained. Even when he smiled, it was a bitter smile.

The two walked together through the long dark passage, eventually heading towards the light.

Arriving at the surface, the Director was still thinking about the debt issue and said,

"Don't worry about the debt. The creditors haven't even started asking for repayment yet."

"It's alright, trust your bro," Jiang Bai patted his chest and guaranteed,

"If we can't pay back the money, I'll definitely take you with me when I run away!"

The Director: ......

"Hey, hey, hey, is it really appropriate to discuss defaulting and running away in front of the creditor?" Shan Hongyi rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction,

"Do you even take me, the investor, seriously at all?"

Investor?!

Jiang Bai's eyes lit up. How could he have forgotten about this sucker?!

He cleared his throat and said seriously,

"Hongyi, have you considered making additional investments?"

Since he already owed so much, what's a little more? When you're in deep, you might as well go all in. Jiang Bai decided to borrow a bit more!

Shan Hongyi's eyes widened, shocked by this shameless statement.

Before she could speak, Jiang Bai said softly,

"Miss Hongyi, you wouldn't want your previous investment to go down the drain, would you?"

Shan Hongyi: ......

Why did that sound a bit strange?

Jiang Bai pulled Shan Hongyi aside. As he spoke, he gestured, painting a grand picture for Shan Hongyi. In just a few sentences, he had the little loli completely confused.

In the end, Shan Hongyi agreed to personally provide a sum of money, lending it to Jiang Bai himself as his startup fund.

The amount was 100,000 Star Coins, with a monthly interest rate of 3%. Jiang Bai would pay the interest monthly, and repay the principal whenever he had the money.

Jiang Bai casually signed an IOU for 100,000 Star Coins and handed it to Shan Hongyi.

Holding the IOU, Shan Hongyi wasn't sure if she had gained or lost.

Jiang Bai patted his chest and assured her,

"Don't worry, you definitely won't lose! My monthly allowance is 3,000, just enough to pay your interest. When I become a mid-level ability user, my monthly allowance will be 15,000. By then, you can lend me another 400,000..."

The first part sounded quite normal.

But the latter part didn't seem quite right...

So you never actually planned to repay the principal, did you?

Others earn money to repay principal and interest, but Jiang Bai earns money to borrow even more!

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Shan Hongyi was already starting to regret it. Why did she have to open her mouth earlier!

The money had already been lent out, it was too late for regrets. Besides, this small amount was nothing compared to the money already invested in Jiang Bai.

The little loli took out a silver card and handed it to Jiang Bai with a hint of pain, saying weakly, "Use it sparingly..."

This type of card could be used in both the official market and black market of Silver Sand Base.

With 100,000 Star Coins in hand, Jiang Bai immediately spent lavishly, giving 500 to the Director as his food expenses for the month.

Afterwards, Shan Hongyi accompanied him to the Silver Sand Base branch. Here, Jiang Bai underwent a simple test, confirming that his ability situation was stable and met the standards for receiving the allowance.

Watching the balance in his card increase, Jiang Bai muttered to himself,

"Ding— Your Zhifubao has received 3,000 Star Coins. Current balance: 102,500..."

He was amusing himself.

The little loli tilted her head, not knowing what Zhifubao was.

In any case, the newly rich Jiang Bai was in high spirits. In the trading market, he began shopping according to his predetermined plan.

"Ability meter +1, balance -1,000."

"Three portions of Spirit Wood, five portions of Sky Mushroom powder, two portions of Abnormal Rhino Horn powder..., balance -6,800"

"Basic combat suit +3, balance -3,000"

Seeing Jiang Bai buy combat suits, Shan Hongyi quickly said, "Brother Jiang, you don't need to buy for me and the Director, we already have them!"

She was afraid Jiang Bai would waste money. This was her money, and she cared about it!

Jiang Bai said in surprise, "I'm buying them for myself!"

Shan Hongyi didn't understand, "Why are you buying so many?"

Jiang Bai said seriously, "Wearing more is safer."

Shan Hongyi: ......

Watching Jiang Bai buy three combat suits, Shan Hongyi felt like her heart was bleeding. It was such a waste!

Jiang Bai realized that this little loli was a bit stingy. Perhaps the idea of scheduled power outages at the research institute was her idea.

He browsed the trading market for an hour, spending money like water. He bought weapons, equipment, materials, food, medicine, etc., spending nearly 40,000 Star Coins in total.

Among these, weapons and equipment cost just under 10,000, and the remaining 30,000 was used to purchase materials needed for his breakthrough to mid-level.

Many of these materials were quite rare. Many shops didn't have them in stock, so Jiang Bai could only pay a deposit and come back to collect them when they arrived.

When he and Shan Hongyi returned to the Ninth Research Institute with bags of goods, the Director looked at the flamboyant Jiang Bai, wanting to say something but holding back.

According to the Director's thinking, Jiang Bai should keep a low profile at this stage. If he really needed anything, he and Hongyi could help buy it.

Privately, the Director had communicated this to Jiang Bai.

But Jiang Bai had his own ideas and plans.

After a week of interaction, the Director was well aware that someone with Jiang Bai's cunning personality wouldn't do things without reason.

Jiang Bai must have his reasons for doing this.

The Director had used divination to check, and it showed there would be danger but no real harm, a very auspicious sign.

Due to the replenished supplies, dinner that night was particularly sumptuous. The three even made an exception and turned on the lights in the research institute while eating.

It's worth noting that usually they either ate on the surface at sunset or ate noodles in the dark at the research institute.

In Shan Hongyi's words, it's not like they would eat into their noses anyway.

After the hearty meal, Jiang Bai played with his newly bought ability meter and casually said,

"After the materials arrive, I should be able to officially attempt to break through to mid-level ability user within a week. Then I can go out to do some missions and earn more money..."

Clearly, Jiang Bai had a clear plan for the future and strong execution ability.

Shan Hongyi listened and marveled. It had only been a week since Jiang Bai's awakening, and he was already preparing to break through to mid-level.

The materials would probably arrive in 3-7 days, plus some final preparation time.

Within a month, Jiang Bai would transform from an ordinary person to a mid-level ability user!

If news of this terrifying advancement speed got out, who knows how many factions would come to Silver Sand Base to snatch him!

Shan Hongyi thought to herself,

"No, given how cunning Brother Jiang is, his claim of breaking through to mid-level in two weeks isn't very credible... It should be discounted by at least half, which means he's confident he can become a mid-level ability user in just one week!"

Becoming a mid-level ability user in half a month?!

Terrifyingly impressive!

This talent was almost on par with her sister's!

Unlike the quick-thinking Shan Hongyi, the Director was particularly quiet tonight. He looked at the talkative Jiang Bai, several times wanting to say something but holding back.

In the end, he chose to trust his comrade and said nothing.

If Jiang Bai needed help, the Director believed he would come to him.

After dinner, the three dispersed, each busy with their own tasks.

Jiang Bai returned to his room, locked the door, took out the voice recorder, and pressed the button.

In the darkness, his deep voice came through,

"This is Jiang Bai, the seventh day after awakening. Tonight, I'm preparing to break through to mid-level..."