Becoming the Richest Man Alive

It was, undoubtedly, an IOU. The figures, the borrower’s signature, and fingerprint were all there. Casper turned to look at Lillian to find his suspicions confirmed.

The IOU listed the borrower’s name as Wayne Thomas. As of the first of March, he had borrowed fifty thousand from Tyson that he needed to repay within three months.

Casper pondered this. Nearly half a year had gone by since the first of March. As of that present moment, Wayne had already exceeded the stated deadline by more than twice. The moneylender had every right to demand compensation. Casper would not have interfered if Lillian had indeed been the borrower.

However, this debt had nothing to do with Lillian whatsoever. She was merely a victim of her brother’s recklessness. Casper found himself seething and knew that he could not stand idly by while Lillian suffered.

“Did you say fifty thousand?” Casper asked evenly.

“That’s right. Come on, aren’t you a rather capable fellow? Are you still going to help that b*stard out?” Leo jeered at Casper in return.

Casper remained silent.

“Come on! What’s up? Lost your voice, haven’t you? Or have you gone dumb?” Leo taunted, then burst into laughter. As if on cue, the few other youths loitering near him howled immediately after.

Nearby, other curious onlookers in the gym grinned as well, enjoying the drama that was unfolding before their eyes. Only a few stood grimly by the side, watching Casper intently.

What a fool! Their watchful eyes seemed to be saying.

Lillian opened her mouth slightly as if to speak, then let out a small sigh. The momentary hopefulness that had surged within her had evaporated just as quickly as it had appeared.

She did not blame Casper, however. Fifty thousand wasn’t an extravagant sum, but it wasn’t an insignificant amount for a university student to bear, either. Besides, fifty thousand was a little too much to pay on behalf of someone that Lillian barely knew.

Lillian thus did not resent Casper for intervening. On the other hand, she felt a twinge of guilt for having involved him in this matter as well.

After all, Casper was probably the only one Lillian knew who would be willing to fight her battles for her. However, his kindness had only resulted in him being mocked and ridiculed.

“Why don’t you get lost?” Leo suddenly snapped. He seemed to have grown weary of scoffing at Casper, especially since Casper showed no signs of buckling whatsoever. Instead, Casper had merely shrugged his backpack off and squared his shoulders.

Leo decided that he had had enough. He would have to put Casper in his place before Casper started getting any ideas in his head.

Leo’s threat, however, seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Casper remained steadfastly standing at his spot, leisurely unzipping his backpack.

“You…” Leo spluttered with rage. It was an enormous blow to his pride that Casper had so blatantly disregarded Leo’s threats before such a crowd. He lunged forward, ready to seize Casper by the throat and give him a good shaking.

Midway, however, Leo froze in his tracks, eyes bulging. He felt as if his throat had suddenly turned bone-dry as he gaped at Casper in mute disbelief.

Leo blinked. However, the multiple thick wads of bills that peeked through the opening of Casper’s tattered backpack were still solidly, determinedly there.

had gathered around him, Casper

at Casper, Leo caught the bills in mid-air by pure reflex. Blankly, Leo peered at the bills to verify their authenticity. He almost dropped them when he had confirmed

at the bills that lay scattered over the floor. No one

His face instantly turned

head. They were more damaging to Leo’s

for

for a moment, his chest heaving. He then suddenly bellowed, “Wait…No! That’s only

of self-righteousness, Leo raised a trembling finger and pointed at Casper and Lillian, pronouncing,

all this while. As if he had derived some

if some interest has accumulated, it’s definitely not the amount you’re demanding from us. A few months’ worth of interest shouldn’t even be ten percent!” Colton passionately added, stepping forward

ask for

slunk over and now

broad figure towered above most of the crowd, and his menacing scowl forced several

the calculations here. If you’re going to repay your debts, pay it, then! If not, get lost!” Leo hollered. He was convinced that Casper did not have sufficient means to repay his debt. Felix

the last word had escaped from Leo’s

again and fished out another fifty thousand. He then

enough for you now?” Casper repeated. “If it is, take the money and get

upside down and shook it violently. Stacks of bills tumbled out into a heap on the

sheer amount of money that lay on the filthy gym floor

the cogs turning in everyone’s heads as they frantically added up the amount that Casper had been carrying with him all this while, unbeknownst to anyone. Two hundred thousand! Including the bills that Leo’s clutching so eagerly, Casper must have brought two hundred thousand with him at

have been inconceivable if those present then had not witnessed this scene unfold before their very eyes. Moments ago, no one would have believed that this modest youth with his ratty bag had strolled into

indeed a sight to

for himself, the crowd would have pounced and ripped Casper and his bills to shreds in their eagerness to get their hands on

extraordinary calmness and the looks of shock on everyone else’s faces was surreal. It was as if what he had just dumped onto the floor was not a pile

Casper and his pot of gold. She was, however, no less exempt from the effect

do

would he help

realization struck Lillian like a bolt of lightning. Does Casper

made her heart race

if he was about to have a heart

are

went to the library to borrow a few

drifted in from the staircase outside. Casper’s face brightened immediately

but was determined to get in the last word. Having thus spat out his parting shot, Leo whirled around and stormed

that their last wall of defense had

as lightning, to snatch the IOU that was still

fit, but the footsteps from the staircase were fast approaching. Leo could only direct a