Chapter 46: Confidence

Saider is a wholly private transport company that won the bid to operate Sabin City’s public transit for four years, with a possible four-year extension.

The official explanation to the public is that if Saider fails in the first four years, the contract won’t be renewed.

In reality, the contract aligns with the federal president’s term. Each president’s inauguration or re-election affects the entire federal government’s leadership.

Ministers appointed by the president choose their deputies in a complex, yet straightforward process—essentially, faction alignment.

At first, few realized that becoming president brings not only power but also wealth.

Each president presides over an economic network tied to their rule, unknown to the public.

These presidential financial groups often hide within other conglomerates. For example, former President Jotson’s namesake group operates covertly under a larger financial group, so most people never see the Jotson name.

Saider benefited from such arrangements. Its owner has a somewhat distant but existent connection to a staff member linked to the president’s faction—not close enough to be intimate, but close enough to speak occasionally.

Thus, Saider easily secured Sabin City’s public transit rights and discreetly showed loyalty by channeling funds upward.

Don’t underestimate city public transit; it’s big business. Sabin City has 760,000 residents, with over 200,000 daily public transit rides.

Assuming trips average under five kilometers at 25 cents each, ticket revenue alone exceeds 50,000 Sol daily—over a million monthly.

Saider’s owner might claim high operating costs—fuel, salaries, maintenance, initial investments.

Some may believe him, but not all, since the city hall provides annual subsidies.

The bidding process doesn’t ask how much the company will pay but how little the government must subsidize to keep it afloat.

Saider’s dedication is impressive: running at a loss while minimizing subsidies. Why?

It’s called sacrifice—burning oneself for others.

Well, that’s nonsense.

Inside Saider’s office, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s financial crimes division and Sabin City’s Federal Tax Office gathered.

Saider’s owner was reluctant to cooperate until a phone call changed his mind.

He signed multiple agreements regarding cameras and photos and watched as they dumped huge baskets of coins into pools to be fished out and dried.

He witnessed them rolling transparent, colorless ink onto one- and two-Sol bills; after that, his cooperation was no longer needed.

The federal government was furious over the law enforcement scandals in Sabin City. The FBI also got involved, annoyed at being confused with the tax office, even though they often caused trouble.

They decided to assist the tax office to suppress the scandal and public uproar. If Lynch could be proven guilty, everything would be easier.

Following procedure, the key was confirming Lynch provided the necessary ammunition for Mr. Fox’s money laundering.

Lynch’s legality was exploiting legal loopholes. The tax office could find a local law to deem Lynch’s business illegal and imprison him.

This required a complete evidence chain: evidence created under third-party witnesses naturally flowing to Lynch, then delivered by Mr. Fox himself to the tax office for verification, leading to on-site investigations. Once the evidence reached a certain threshold, judges would acknowledge the criminal process and illegal dealings between Lynch and Fox.

To gather enough coins without alerting suspects, they targeted Saider. A few Sol in change daily generated enough evidence against the crime.

After several days of watching Richard, the lead investigator handled this deal, acquiring 5,000 Sol in change at once, with promises of ongoing supply.

Saider needed at least one armored car daily to transport the money to the tax office for registration, then deposit it in banks—not because they were idle, but because the volume was massive.

Converting change to bills saved Saider extra costs.

Huge profits existed here; even at a 1% cut with half the coins counted (about 20,000 Sol), the transaction handler privately gained at least 200 Sol.

No laws were broken—just shifting money from one pocket to another, quietly adding hundreds. Why refuse?

This money didn’t just flow to Lynch but throughout Sabin City. The anger of investigators and tax officials could only be soothed by sweeping the city.

Under ultraviolet light, the coins glowed like smiling faces. Lynch poured in a chemical cleaner; soon, the glow began to corrode invisibly.

He cleaned the coins four times until the fluorescence vanished, but it was worth it.

Wiping his hands, he left the warehouse, smiled at Vera behind him, then picked up the phone at the desk.

“Mr. Fox, you can arrange pickup now.”

After hanging up, he tore off the check stub and handed it to Vera—the check wasn’t just a check; it consisted of the check and its stub, used by the tax office to verify cash deposits and related accounting with the bank. This was the same check Lynch gave Richard.

Besides the stub, legally valid triplicate receipts were registered—no mistakes allowed.

Watching Vera complete the task, Lynch lightly pressed the chair behind her, causing a slight physical contact.

Startled, Vera instinctively moved forward. Lynch acted as if unaware and asked about her, “You look…,” he sneered, “…a bit worn out. Did something happen? Need my help?”

Vera forced a smile. “Nothing…”

She averted her gaze, tucked stray hair behind her ear.

Her pale cheeks, with a few strands of hair, carried a faint refreshing scent.

Lynch’s hand rested on her shoulder sincerely. “We’re friends. If you ever need me or anything I can do, let me know anytime.”

Vera looked back gratefully, nodding. “I will.”

Everyone is unique and precious—that’s mostly true. But when people compare, some are priceless, others worthless.

Lynch’s eyes seemed to speak. They held a gaze for several seconds before he nodded and decisively turned away.

Watching his retreating figure, Vera parted her lips to speak but said nothing.

Her gaze dulled as she looked down at the wedding ring in her hands, feeling it all was a joke.