[Sector 8 - Orbit of The Forge]
The planetary cannons were glowing white-hot. The mechanical voice of the System echoed in the void.
[Proof of Wealth Required: 100,000,000 GC.] [Time Remaining: 45 Seconds.]
On the bridge of the Revenant, Admiral Valerius looked at Alex. "Sir, we need to retreat! We cannot generate 100 million credits in 40 seconds! Even if we sell the entire fleet, we only have 5 million!"
Alex ignored him. His eyes were locked on his interface. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He didn't have the cash. But he had Assets. "Dawn! Open the Intergalactic Banking Guild app. VIP Section."
"Opening..."
"Select Instant Liquidity Loans."
A list of predatory loan offers appeared.
Shark-Loans Inc: 5 Million limit.
Void-Bank: 10 Million limit.
"Too small," Alex swiped them away. "I need a Whale."
[Time Remaining: 30 Seconds.] The cannons began to track the Revenant's engines.
"There," Alex pointed to a gold icon. [The Iron Bank of Sector 1.] [Offer: Sovereign Bridge Loan.] [Limit: 500,000,000 GC.] [Collateral Required: Class-A Planetary Asset.] [Interest Rate: 50% Weekly (Predatory).]
"50% interest?!" Luna gasped. "Master, that's suicide. If you miss a payment, they will own Earth."
"If I don't take it, we die in 20 seconds," Alex shouted. "Dawn, put up the Aegis Prime Shield and the Lunar Base as collateral. Maximize the loan."
[The Transaction]
Alex slammed his hand on the biometric scanner. [Processing Risk Assessment...] [User holds Imperial Black Card (VIP).] [Credit Score: AAA+.] [Collateral Verified.]
[Time Remaining: 10 Seconds.] The cannons fired charging lasers. The Revenant's shields flared.
[LOAN APPROVED.] [Transferring: 100,000,000 GC.]
PING.
The number on Alex's dashboard changed instantly. [Current Balance: 102,500,000 GC.]
"Submit it!" Alex roared. "Show them the money!"
Dawn blasted the digital wallet signature directly at the planet.
[The Shutdown]
The beam hit the planet's receiver. [Proof of Wealth: Verified.] [Total Assets: >100M GC.] [Identity Confirmed: User 009.]
The white-hot cannons instantly powered down. The red targeting lasers vanished. The angry red lines on the metal planet turned a soothing blue.
[Welcome, Heir of the Forge.] [Planetary Docking Bay: Open.]
[The Cost]
Silence returned to the bridge. Valerius slumped against the console, breathing heavily. "We... we survived."
Alex stared at his screen. He wasn't celebrating. He was looking at the new notification.
[Debt Alert] [Principal: -100,000,000 GC.] [Interest Payment Due (7 Days): 50,000,000 GC.]
"We didn't survive, Valerius," Alex straightened his tie, his hands shaking slightly. "We just bought ourselves one week." "We have seven days to make this factory profitable, or the Iron Bank will come to repossess the Moon."
"Take us down," Alex ordered. "I want to see what I just paid a hundred million for."