From Bullets To Billions Chapter 635: Getting A Loan (Part 1)

In the fleeting minute of respite granted to Max, that one invaluable break, the moment brimmed with overwhelming intensity for him. He balanced precariously on a sheer drop, fully aware of the danger. He desperately needed a foolproof method to claim victory in the battle, and time was ticking down fast. His rival wielded the Exoskeleton without mercy, and with others probably worn out from their separate clashes, the strain was immense.

Max grasped that failing to eliminate Ramon here would let the fighter potentially overpower the entire ranger team single-handedly. Should that happen, all of Max's tireless efforts, every hard-fought step forward, would crumble away in one devastating blow.

A whirlwind of ideas surged through Max's mind as he stood frozen, thoughts blazing at breakneck speed. Realistically, what could he achieve in just sixty seconds? While combing through possibilities, an idea struck: there was a swift path to power unique to him, thanks to his special ability—making money.

Checking his phone for his status, Max spotted the awaited alert. Aron had wired 100 million from his personal fortune straight to Max's account. That influx explained the power surge Max had sensed last time he returned to the arena.

It shocked Max somewhat that Aron possessed such riches. He handled security gigs like this one, yet Max saw the reality: as his adopted brother in the family, Aron's actions stemmed from profound duty, not mere employment. The funds were probably every cent Aron had scraped together from jobs, plus whatever Max's real parents had provided over time.

Max pondered his next step. He'd relied before on a proven tactic for tough scraps—gambling. Normally, he'd hit an underground casino, wagering 10 million on even odds like roulette's red or black. But now, that limit posed a problem: no shady venue accepted a 10 million single bet from him anymore, even in the wildest spots.

Given his current crisis and vast wealth pile, small stakes wouldn't cut it. Doubling 10 million to 20 million likely wouldn't boost his strength enough to shatter the Exoskeleton for good.

Max’s Current Funds: $1,676,380,000

For the fastest cash grab within this razor-thin window, only one name sprang to mind—a figure with endless riches and instant transfer power.

He whipped out his phone once more and dialed. Staring at the screen, it rang just twice before pickup.

"This is a first," the voice on the other end said. "I never thought that I would get a call from you."

"Sorry to disturb you," Max said, his voice firm as he watched Ramon across the arena. "But I think it’s best I get straight to the point. This won’t take long, Grandfather."

Dennis Stern was the one Max chose to contact—the man who'd kickstarted his path with that first Billion, and the wealthiest contact in Max's direct reach.

"I have some time," Dennis said.

Over in his corner of the globe, Dennis sat amid a tense boardroom showdown. Fifteen heavyweights ringed him, each a force. Up front, a presenter sweated bullets under Dennis's piercing stare.

But spotting Max's call, Dennis halted it all. He hushed the room to take it. The board assumed it was critical, puzzling over the mystery caller since all key players were present.

"Who would father answer the phone to, and so quickly at that?" Marsha Stern wondered silently. A top heir in the firm, many saw her as the future boss to helm the empire. She studied her father's expression, probing for clues.

With time running critically short for Max, he had no room for idle chatter. He needed to cut straight to the chase, and do so without delay.

"I need money..." Max declared, his words faintly reverberating in the hush of his secluded spot. "I need 330 million to be exact."

Max held his breath for the reply, aware that each tick of the clock in that precious minute was slipping by. The rangers' gazes bored into him, while the exoskeleton's formidable might hung heavily in the atmosphere. This pivotal instant would deliver the surge required to elevate his position dramatically, or doom him to confront Ramon with his current meager resources. Aron's fortune transfer marked merely the beginning, yet 330 million from the Stern family head represented the genuine gateway to heights unattainable by any ordinary soul.