Chapter 250: Transfer, Family Conflict, Humiliation

Later, they discussed the auction of the assets Lynch was interested in. The governor, in principle, expressed support for the local authorities handling the related assets.

He agreed with most of the proposed plans, interfering only in a few areas. As a capable leader, the governor knew how to avoid appearing like a dictator and showed others enough respect.

So far, no one was targeting the assets Lynch wanted because their value was not recognized in the current social climate.

They were just well-maintained machinery. Without production, they were no different from scrap metal and required labor and materials to prevent rust and damage.

Hiring people to use them for production would only lead to faster bankruptcy.

Most attention focused on real estate, raw materials, and finished goods—items that could be quickly liquidated or utilized. Lynch had no competitors here.

This gave Lynch’s plan a solid foundation. The remaining issue was which bank would handle the auction and the specific process.

The city hall could decide who to entrust, but once handed over, they could no longer interfere. The mayor implied Lynch needed to settle these matters quickly if he wanted to avoid spending too much money.

After the meeting, they parted ways. Lynch drove home, thought for a moment, then called Asel and asked him to come over.

Lynch had thoroughly investigated Asel’s background, knowing every detail of his life. He had hired more than one private detective agency to ensure no problems would arise.

Asel arrived quickly, showing great respect to Lynch, who had given him a new life.

Asel was not alone in this feeling. Richard, Wood, and others were also deeply grateful to Lynch for giving them a life they had never imagined—an entirely new experience: rebirth.

“Mr. Lynch…” Asel lowered his head before Lynch, showing a humility mixed with hidden admiration.

Just as Lynch knew much about Asel, Asel was learning more about Lynch. The more he learned, the more he saw Lynch as an extraordinary person.

Most twenty-one-year-olds were still immersed in romance and chasing new trends, while Lynch was perfecting the foundations of a business empire.

Asel felt honored to work under Lynch and eager to learn from him.

Looking at this immigrant outsider, Lynch was silent for a moment, perhaps thinking or lost in unconscious thought. After a few seconds, he blinked and said, “Register a private charitable foundation. Name it whatever you want. Do it quickly. Don’t use my name or yours. It must be legal, and I want absolute control. Understand?”

Asel nodded. Not using either of their names was to keep the foundation, at least officially, separate from them.

To be legal, it had to follow proper procedures, have complete documentation, and withstand scrutiny.

It also needed an office and staff to operate normally. Asel knew how to handle this and had been studying intensively.

Controlling it was simple: multiple cross-shareholdings and shell companies would secure full control.

Lynch was pleased. Asel didn’t ask why or what he would gain; he was like a loyal servant who could be trusted to complete every task, unlike Richard and others.

The private foundation had two purposes. First, it would help Lynch highlight his positive image through social charity—an effective way to gain public recognition.

No one could guarantee a lifetime of happiness, so when people faced troubles, they hoped someone like these philanthropists would help, granting them greater respect.

Second, a private foundation was not subject to public oversight. It could disclose financial details or refuse to do so.

The foundation was meant to let Lynch move money from one pocket to another.

City hall would auction Liston’s assets. The proceeds would compensate employees who had suffered chemical injuries and endured pain working for Liston Group over the years.

This was not simple—money could not be divided equally and handed out arbitrarily. There was a whole process.

Funds would be entrusted to an agency to manage, following standards and procedures to periodically assist people on a list.

Usually, such funds were given to charitable institutions with resources and channels, which people trusted.

City hall decided who to entrust the money to.

Lynch had called once to check; Mark had no direct or indirect ties to any foundation, giving Lynch room to maneuver and a safeguard.

If the auction failed or someone outbid him, making him spend much more than planned, his cash flow would dry up.

But if city hall returned the money, his cash pool would replenish, and he would only need to pay monthly to support those people.

Simple, yet it solved some of Lynch’s troubles and improved the situation.

After instructing Asel in detail, Lynch casually asked about his family.

To avoid deportation, Asel had married a very strong unattractive woman, securing his stay in the federation.

Family conflicts troubled him—typical for families with similar backgrounds.

Men relied on their wives’ families for jobs or residency but were often looked down on by their wives or in-laws.

In this male-dominated society, this was torture for all men. Asel’s wife was especially jealous.

A study showed uglier people cared more about their partner’s loyalty, while attractive people were confident their partners wouldn’t stray.

“Sir, my private matters will not affect my work. Please rest assured,” Asel quickly said, sensing Lynch might have heard something.

He felt a mix of frustration and resignation but rallied himself, “I will handle it.”

Lynch nodded. “If I can help, let me know.”

Since he came all this way, Asel also reported on the status of Lynch’s dozen companies.

Yes, a dozen companies, all wholly controlled by Lynch through indirect holdings. As private companies, they were not required to disclose details publicly. Social service agencies couldn’t access their information without permission, ensuring Lynch’s security and secrecy.

Except for a few companies already operating, most existed only in name, without offices, ready to activate anytime.

After encouraging Asel, Lynch sent him off. Coming home late might provoke his wife again.

Meanwhile, Vera was facing troubles.

After Gap confessed, Neo knew he was finished. With travel restricted, he recalled some outside associates.

Vera naturally returned home, but her situation was far from good.

She had delivered the ledgers and other documents to the designated place as the federal agents requested, but it wasn’t over. Vera thought handing them over would resolve everything, but it didn’t.

Two rough female officers—like the tough maids in aristocratic movies—and several male officers, assisted by a male and a female FBI agent, were searching her house.

They showed Vera a court-issued search warrant. She could do nothing but watch as they ransacked her home.

Even worse, their attitudes were terrible, especially the two female officers.

Since the Baylor Federation had never widely conscripted female soldiers, the Sabin City Police Department still used their older female officers.

Honestly, policing didn’t require a high education, and dealing with society’s dark side made some officers hard to understand.

For example, the female officer searching Vera’s room was about five foot three but weighed nearly 160 pounds—more masculine than feminine.

When she opened Vera’s wardrobe and saw the neatly arranged lingerie, an indescribable expression crossed her face.

She loudly called to her partner, “Come look at this filthy stuff…”