Chapter 94: Three Ways to Profit from One Fish

Where some are happy, others must be disappointed. Whether they believed Lynch was deceiving them before or not, at least now they see part of the truth.

Money—nothing is more real than money. Some hold about four hundred Sol but stare enviously at others holding much more.

They had been indifferent, unsure if this job was really that miraculous. They hadn’t even considered working here long term, only waiting to see the results after the first auction before deciding.

Now they regret their past week’s slackness, a regret that only appears when there’s a huge gap in earnings. They plan to work harder and strive to stand out at the next auction.

Under everyone’s gaze, several twelve- or thirteen-year-old newsboys, parched and exhausted, accepted commissions of over eight thousand Sol from Lynch’s hand—their contribution almost equaling that of more than ten others combined.

They didn’t even realize the wealth miracle they created. They simply followed Lynch’s instructions to distribute flyers to those in need. None expected to earn commissions; it was just a job.

These kids had advantages over Richard and the others in two ways: first, they were constantly on the streets, intuitively assessing people’s worth by their clothing; second, they had wide coverage—not just one person but many—reaching more quality resources and better screening potential customers.

Richard and the others didn’t lose to a group but to the individuals within it. The kids aren’t strict winners—if the money was split evenly, their income would drop to middle-lower levels.

Lynch watched the kids whisper excitedly, faces flushed, away from the others. Around Richard’s core group, people offered praise and flattery. Wood smiled quietly behind Richard. It was like a snapshot of a microcosm of society.

Lynch’s promise was fulfilled: just from the first auction, such massive profits emerged. No need for his subsidies; at least five people could earn over ten thousand Sol in commission by month-end.

Such huge profits reddened everyone’s eyes. In Sabin City, where the average wage is just over two hundred Sol, earning over ten thousand Sol monthly is extraordinary.

Ten thousand Sol is roughly seven or eight years’ worth of family savings, yet these people earned that in a month. They could proudly claim to be at the top of Sabin’s monthly income ranks, at least among the working class.

Once the excitement settled, Lynch poured cold water on them: “This is a great start, but it won’t always be like today with so many deals. People are always interested in new things; such heat won’t last long.”

This was no idle remark. Economic decline would last a long time. Many families would cancel all purchase plans, even secondhand goods, causing trading volume to fall.

Fortunately, Sabin’s population is 800,000, with about 150,000 to 200,000 households—not all poor. Secondhand trading will continue but rarely reach today’s extraordinary levels.

This is why Lynch immediately planned to expand across the entire state. One city can’t support his ambition. He must pull the whole state onto his plate to get what he wants: wealth, fame, status, and authority.

The room quieted after his words. Richard stopped smiling. He had just enjoyed even greater profits than before, but Lynch’s words instantly cooled his thoughts.

He liked this life—talking with different people daily, boasting, then sitting somewhere to make money while others thanked him for the opportunity. He was starting to get addicted, though this life had barely begun.

Watching them calm down, Lynch nodded in satisfaction. He beckoned Richard over with a finger, holding a list. Looking down, he said, “From elementary school to entering society, we all know this world has rewards and punishments…” The atmosphere grew heavy as no one understood his meaning.

After reviewing the list, Lynch handed it to Vera, then faced the others: “Here, it’s the same. We’re racing against time. I can’t waste limited resources on some of you.”

“I heard some of you didn’t work at all for the first three or four days, only starting in the last two. Maybe our views on work and life differ.”

“I won’t force you to accept my values, nor will I tolerate yours. Out of seventeen people, the bottom five are eliminated. Pack up and go home.”

Lynch had mentioned this bottom-five elimination from the start, but no one cared; many forgot because they expected to leave after a week anyway.

But now, seeing the top sellers like the newsboys, Richard, and Wood with their commissions, no one wanted to leave.

Frankly, even if they slept here doing nothing, they could still earn hundreds or thousands monthly. Why leave?

Yet Lynch’s words pushed them into despair. The guy holding four hundred Sol smugly couldn’t even hold onto his money—he was dumbfounded.

Soon, two groups became three. The kids stayed independent, standing slightly behind Lynch, detached from the rest. This explained Wood’s initial confusion about their relationship with Lynch—it wasn’t a typical boss-employee dynamic.

The second group was the twelve salespeople like Richard and Wood who stayed. Though the elimination rule pressured them, it also gave a sense of superiority. They coldly watched those they had just called brothers minutes before.

The third group showed strange expressions: sadness, regret, panic, anger. They looked at Lynch, begging or pleading for a chance to save their jobs.

Lynch didn’t respond immediately, just stared. After three to five minutes, when all thought nothing would change, Lynch suddenly spoke.

“Actually, I can give you a chance. You can still save your jobs.”

“Starting from the next auction, I will fix the total number of bidding seats. Richard…” He looked at Richard, who replied Boss and stood. Lynch said, “You and your group will get 100 free bidding seats, including the kids. The number won’t change and it’s free.”

He turned to the others. “For you, seats cost five Sol each, valid for one auction only. This is both a punishment and an opportunity.”

“As long as your recruits bid above your cost, you can earn plenty.”

“Continue or quit—the choice is yours.”