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Chapter 74: Sometimes Fools Speak Wise Words
The reason why Lynch came to the warehouse district was to deal with the items stored there. And what he had been shown wasn't even all of it. In Mr. Fox's other warehouses, various things were stacked to the brim. Sometimes, the collateral in a pledged agreement wasn't just one item; it could be many.
He walked ahead, Mr. Fox and his son trailing behind as they moved forward.
"I understand your troubles, and I can handle these issues," he slowed his pace a bit, allowing Mr. Fox to catch up with him, "You can entrust these items to me for sales. I have a company that can handle everything here," he gestured broadly, "All of it."
Mr. Fox's expression froze slightly. He had expected Lynch to have other ways of dealing with this, perhaps by outsourcing. He hadn't anticipated that Lynch would do it himself. This realization brought Mr. Fox back to some semblance of clarity from his rapidly expanding wealth myth.
His wealth was rapidly doubling at a pace he could never have imagined before, while Lynch, in an even more unimaginable manner, was advancing, expanding, and increasing at a relentless speed!
He had spent half his life managing some gray businesses, living in constant fear, to achieve what he had today. Yet, looking at this young man in front of him, just half a month ago, he was just an ordinary unemployed person.
Now, his wealth might be many times what it was before, but it took him less than a month to create this wealth myth in a way Mr. Fox could never have imagined.
What was even more frightening was that all of Lynch's income was completely legal and taxed.
Mr. Fox was inflating, and so was Lynch, but faster and more discreetly.
He was lost in thought for a moment but quickly snapped out of it. The speed of his thoughts was so fast that by the time Lynch hadn't realized what Mr. Fox was thinking, he had regained control of himself.
"Um," after a brief pause, Mr. Fox asked with a slightly admiring tone, "So, what do I need to pay this time?"
Lynch wasn't entirely sure what caused Mr. Fox's significant change in such a short time, a change so profound that it altered his mental outlook to some extent. But it was a positive development, and Lynch didn't mind.
"It's up to you to decide," Lynch replied.
"The first option: deduct thirty percent from the collateral price in the agreement. I'll buy these things directly. Whether they rot in my hands or are sold for a higher price in the future, it's none of your concern."
"Whether it's a loss or profit, it will be my responsibility alone."
"The second option: let my company help you sell these items. You need to give me two prices, one is the minimum acceptable price, and the other is the price you hope for."
"I'll charge based on the midpoint, and whether it sells or not, you must pay me ten percent. I can't guarantee when it will sell or at what price."
As Lynch spoke, he looked at the father and the son, his face still as radiant as when they first met.
Mr. Fox wore a troubled expression, and he quietly discussed with his son, finding it difficult to decide.
In reality, they understood that the value of these items, as per the pledge agreement, had been pushed to a very low level. Something that was originally worth a hundred bucks, in their case, would be considered as forty or fifty bucks. There would definitely be people willing to buy them at that price, significantly cheaper than they would be in a store.
However, they also had some hesitation. In the past few days, they had tried to sell these items, and the results were not satisfactory. Not everyone was interested in them. In two days, they had only earned a little over a thousand bucks.
If they wanted to liquidate everything, it probably wouldn't be an easy task, and it wouldn't be quick. During this process, warehouse expenses, management fees, labor costs, and potential losses due to accidents, such as something breaking, would accumulate. Their actual value would shrink, and it seemed like they were already diminishing. Every penny spent on them was equivalent to the loss of their value.
If Lynch took seventy percent as per the agreement price, they thought it was too low. If Lynch intentionally slowed down the sales process in the second option, the ten percent fee alone could be enough to make them suffer. Moreover, their current urgent need was for some money to cope with the bank's interest harvesting.
Lynch had given them two choices, but in their eyes, there was actually only one.
Just as they were about to make a decision, Lynch suddenly interrupted what they were about to say, "Take some time to think about it, both of you."
"This is business, so we need to handle it professionally. Let's not let personal emotions interfere with our judgment. Also, please don't assume I'm necessarily a good person just because of our relationship. In fact, I'm a businessman. Do you know what ordinary people call businessmen in society?"
Before Mr. Fox and his son could respond, Lynch answered with a smile, "They call businessmen greedy devils. That's the essence of businessmen – pursuing more profit. I may not necessarily consider your interests, but I will definitely try to satisfy my own interests as much as possible."
He lowered his voice, "But outside of business, from a personal perspective, I think the second option is more suitable. Of course, personally, it doesn't matter which one you choose."
Lynch's straightforward words dispelled the slight discomfort in the hearts of the father and the son, dissipating it in the "frankness" he created. At this moment, they viewed the situation as Lynch had suggested – without personal emotions. Lynch's requirements were not unreasonable.
They were enduring and about to reach their limit, and Lynch was about to take over what they were finding hard to bear. They wouldn't have to pay a single penny for it, and they would even get money from Lynch.
Lynch wasn't getting the money for free, he needed to work for it; with these words, Mr. Fox sighed, "Let's go with the first option."
"Have you decided?" Lynch asked with a smile.
"I have," Mr. Fox's answer was not very loud but firm, "When I was young, my father told me not only to admire the glamorous moments of thieves when they have a lot of ill-gotten gains but also to consider the scenes of their failures, being beaten, caught by the police and sent to jail, or even killed in the wilderness."
His tone was somewhat nostalgic, "Anything has its bright side and the side we don't want to see. This is your ability to make money. I don't have this ability, so I shouldn't envy you."
He shrugged, "Similarly, the way I make money, you won't be able to do it either. I believe you won't envy me, right?"
Lynch showed an exaggerated expression, nodding in agreement, "These are words full of life philosophy and wisdom, Mr. Fox, you are a wise man."
Mr. Fox laughed heartily, "This is the first time someone has called me a smart person in my entire life. You know, others always like to say I'm a fool or an idiot."
He reached out and put his arm around Lynch's shoulder, "So it's decided. When are you going to take these things away?"
"That depends on when you're available."
During this time, Lynch had been shuttling back and forth between Mr. Fox and GoldenlExchange Bank, helping them get their cash. He had gained a lot for himself, enough to deal with things here. In fact, he could've been more ruthless, but he was in a good mood now and didn't plan to take unnecessary risks.
Everything was on the right track and only getting better. There was no need to take unnecessary risks.
Soon, Lynch arranged the warehouse, rehired Richard and the others who were temporarily unemployed, setting the stage for a major operation – or rather, the birth of a new wealth myth.
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