Chapter 166: Now We Can Talk Business Seriously

From afternoon until night, the atmosphere at the venue never calmed for a moment. People eagerly raised their bidding paddles, especially during the auction of two apartments, when excitement reached its peak.

Many came just to participate, not really expecting to win the villas, but everyone needs a little fantasy, right?

This made the atmosphere even more intense, lasting until the event ended. Some even asked about the next auction and its contents.

This highly anticipated auction didn’t disappoint Lynch. The 610,000 Sol transaction set a new record for the Interstellar Trading Company’s secondhand auctions. Noah, the investors hidden in the crowd, and even the mayor of Sabin City all breathed a sigh of relief.

The results in Kurland City roughly represented outcomes in other cities. Their volume might not exceed today’s, but its value was clear.

People eagerly awaited these auctions. The best way to judge a policy’s popularity is how many willingly spend money on it.

Behind the 610,000 Sol turnover were buyers who saved at least 400,000 Sol in budget, satisfying consumption desires and basic needs while easing financial pressure.

People liked it because they saw its value and benefits, driving enthusiastic purchases.

Reporters surrounded Lynch. Richard followed closely, while Katherine stayed outside the crowd, not fitting into this scene.

Occasionally, reporters captured photos of her with Lynch, seen as youthful flirtation.

But standing with him during an almost public interview would send the wrong message, making people think they were still together.

Neither Lynch nor Katherine was ready for that identity.

For Lynch, romance was no longer his main focus. Even if Katherine entered his life now, they’d likely part ways for many reasons.

A study once found that among highly educated married couples, those with similar education levels stayed together longer than those with mismatched levels.

It raised another question: Are shared interests, similar status, and smooth communication essential for marriage?

Simply put, as Lynch’s pace quickened, Katherine couldn’t keep up. Even if he reached out, she couldn’t be pulled along and would gradually become a burden in his life.

Even if Lynch didn’t leave her, she would leave on her own, overwhelmed by increasingly outstanding women around him. Feeling inferior, she’d sink into despair.

Katherine, looking at Lynch at the center of attention, felt a strange distance despite their physical familiarity.

Sometimes he seemed familiar, but when serious, she sensed he belonged with someone else.

She couldn’t describe the feeling—maybe it was growth. She wanted to grow too, to reach Lynch’s level, to uncover his true self beneath the mask.

She wasn’t ready yet. This thought would drive her to mature quickly, only then could she understand what changed both herself and this familiar stranger.

Watching Lynch’s back, Katherine sighed silently. Sometimes being too outstanding wasn’t good.

Back in high school, Lynch was the only student who could eat lunch in the teacher’s office with the air conditioning on, and the crush of many girls. Imagine the pressure Katherine felt dating him then.

Now, she felt it again, knowing a group of eager rivals was on their way. She had to work harder.

Meanwhile, Lynch chatted with media, smiling easily.

“Of course, we created a new miracle, but the goal isn’t to make it a benchmark for us or the industry…”

Though a bit boastful, reporters liked this tone; dull news didn’t sell, and they cared about their pay.

“…Our goal is to create an even bigger miracle in the future to surpass this one!”

Lynch lifted his head slightly, his smile, charm, and feigned maturity made it hard to dislike him, even if some thought he was exaggerating.

Facing the cameras confidently, his eyes burned with determination. “The only ones who can defeat us are ourselves!”

His words fired up the reporters, and Lynch followed with small gifts and experience vouchers.

These vouchers allowed reporters to claim a secondhand item valued under fifty Sol from the Interstellar Trading Company’s catalog for permanent use. They were thrilled and instinctively portrayed Lynch positively in their reports.

As the crowd dispersed, Lynch arranged for Katherine to be sent home. He had many tasks that night and might be late.

After seeing Katherine off, Lynch told Richard to celebrate with the young team.

When the group arrived at a place full of food, drinks, women, and money, they immediately shed civility, becoming wild and unruly.

Richard was Lynch’s top choice for success—no one else matched him yet.

Capable at work and wild in play, Richard even had money crumpled and filled into a rubber single-person pool with two chairs inside.

From outside, the money looked like water. Richard had girls step on the chairs with both feet, squat, and grab the money in a special way. Each had one chance; whatever they got was theirs.

The crazier they played, the more they depended on this lifestyle, Lynch’s company, and Lynch himself.

After some drinks, Lynch encouraged everyone briefly and left. Hotel staff notified him his guests had arrived.

He tidied up, removed his coat on the terrace to shake off smoke and alcohol smell, then strolled into a small hotel conference room.

About a dozen people were seated, more than half from Sabin City—the first group of progressive capitalists Lynch had met, wanting to invest.

The rest were local investors, also progressives.

Capitalists often choose political camps lightly; profit can change their stance anytime, like the sneaky CEO Neo.

Recommended by Noah and attending the auction, they now gathered to claim their share.

In a recession where most industries lose money and agriculture is controlled by big corps, few industries can promise profit. Suddenly, a business that thrives against the tide, promoted as a people’s policy, naturally drew interest.

Not for anything else, but to keep their money safe and preserve some spark for the future.

Lynch was pleased with the situation. Hearing two groups wanted to meet him, he had the hotel seat them together.

Competition creates miracles—a fitting motto for any money-related game.

Watching the clearly divided groups, Lynch smiled, sat on a solo sofa, and ordered coffee.

While waiting, he rested his elbow on the armrest, chin on his hand, smiling at them. “I believe we’ll get along very well!”

Thinking of the money soon in his hands made Lynch find them all endearing.Sometimes he wondered if there was something wrong with him. After all he had been through in his past life, why couldn’t he let go?

He had thought about it—wealth was just a string of numbers. For him, it was that simple. He had countless ways to create miracle after miracle in this still somewhat backward world.

But so what?

In the end, he understood. He was just a worldly man, bound this life to numbers, to the dazzling pleasures, the glitz and glamour.

What he truly enjoyed was showing off in front of others. He liked seeing these dignified men bow their heads seriously and call out, “Mr. Lynch!”