Chapter 253 Beaten While Hanging
Online loan companies were notorious for their brutal tactics. They'd publicly shame debtors, exposing their info to friends and family, and harass their loved ones non-stop to get their money back.
But Jaxon couldn't care less about their harassment. He had this weird knack for flipping the script, making the debt collectors feel worse than he did.
Despite being a bit of a rogue, Jaxon wasn't heartless. He had real friends and family, even if he didn't always keep in touch. He stored their numbers in a separate phone, a move to shield them from the relentless loan sharks. This phone, registered under some internet café worker's ID, was his secret weapon, making it impossible for debt collectors to trace back to his loved ones.
The phone buzzed with an unknown number. "Hello!" Jaxon answered, "Who's this? Who you looking for?"
"Jaxon?" a gruff voice shot back. "It's Maddox, from the loan company."
Jaxon paused, memories of countless loans flooding his mind. "Do I owe your company money?" he asked, struggling to remember.
"You owe us twenty grand, which with interest and late fees, comes to a hundred thousand dollars," Maddox stated bluntly. "Pay up now, or face the consequences. This is your only warning."
Jaxon scoffed, "Empty threats don't scare me. Let me make one thing clear: I'd sooner die than repay a single cent!"
"So, you're choosing to default?" Maddox sneered, menace dripping from his voice.
"I borrowed the money fair and square," Jaxon shot back, defiance in his tone. "Why should I pay it back?"
"You'll regret this," Maddox threatened. "You're going to suffer."
Jaxon laughed, a cold, humorless sound. "Threats? I've heard it all before. Years of dealing with loan sharks have made me immune to your scare tactics. If you're feeling brave, come find me!"
He slammed the phone down, added the number to his blacklist, and went back to his game, completely unfazed.
Hours later, hunger pangs pulled Jaxon away from the screen. "What to eat today?" he mused, "I scammed fifteen hundred bucks today, might as well treat myself."
He strolled out of ByteBlast Lounge, feeling pretty satisfied. Being a scammer wasn't just about the money; it was about the thrill, the feeling of being in control.
The area around ByteBlast Lounge was buzzing. Hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, phone stores, pharmacies, even a farmers' market – everything he needed was right there, making Jaxon's life super convenient.
He decided on a nearby steakhouse. As he approached the entrance, a silver-gray car screeched to a halt inches away from him. Jaxon jumped back, narrowly avoiding a collision. "Are you trying to kill someone?!" he roared, anger flaring.
The car doors swung open, and several burly men in black suits emerged, quickly surrounding Jaxon. Their menacing demeanor sent a chill down his spine.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Jaxon stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
"You're Jaxon, right?" one of the men growled. "Come with us."
"You've got the wrong guy! I'm not Jaxon!" he denied, shaking his head frantically.
"Don't play dumb," another man sneered. "We know who you are."
Before Jaxon could react, they grabbed him, their grip like iron, and shoved him into the car. He woke up in a vast, empty warehouse, his hands bound with chains, his body suspended in mid-air. Stripped down to his underwear, a wave of humiliation washed over him. Before he could fully process his situation, a bucket of ice-cold water cascaded down, shocking him to his core.
A group of imposing men, at least a dozen, stood before him, their movements disciplined and synchronized. Each one looked capable of snapping him like a twig. Jaxon knew he was in serious trouble.
"Keep dousing him," a bespectacled, scholarly-looking man ordered the men with the buckets. "The internet café grime needs to be washed off. Let him wake up properly."
Bucket after bucket of icy water crashed over Jaxon. By the tenth bucket, he was shivering uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face. "Who are you? What do you want? This is illegal! My parents are retired military, my sister's special forces! We're a military family! You can't do this!" he screamed in panic.
A chair scraped against the concrete floor. Maddox sat down, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Let me refresh your memory," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "I'm Maddox, from the loan company. Ring any bells?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
