Chapter 235

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In the morning, the members of the Empire Merchants Association all gathered at Lance’s place because today was the day to distribute the money.

Actually, they weren’t without some worries before. After all, with so much money invested, was it really reliable?

But throughout the entire process, Lance had brought some representatives along to negotiate and sign contracts together, which completely put their minds at ease.

After all, they could look up the Liji Group themselves. They didn’t believe that such a huge corporation would collude with Lance to defraud them of such a small amount of money.

Moreover, Lance himself had also invested a large amount of funds, which made them even more reassured!

It had to be said that in this era, ordinary people who had not yet experienced rounds of bombardment by scammers were really too simple and honest.

Of course, Lance didn’t deceive them either.

Now, it was the time of harvest. Although it might be a little off from the plan Lance had predicted, to be able to get a double return in more than two months, they had nothing to be dissatisfied about.

The location was at the St. Nayea Cathedral. Perhaps it was a bit vulgar to talk about banknotes in front of God, but Lance also expressed his piety to God—a check for two hundred dollars.

The priest’s mouth couldn’t close from smiling as he put the check in his pocket. Sometimes, their actions really made people wonder whether God really existed, and who, exactly, was the real God!

Soon, the cathedral was filled with people. As the largest church in the Empire District, St. Nayea Cathedral could accommodate more than three hundred people, but at this time, not only was it full, but the aisles were also full of people. At least five hundred people had come.

For something like distributing money, they were willing to bring their families along. This might be the first “investment” and return they had encountered in their lives. They would definitely take it very seriously.

Perhaps it was because he had collected two hundred dollars on behalf of God that the priest felt a trace of guilt. He was now repenting for his mistakes through work. He was helping, maintaining order, and chatting with the parishioners on the side.

After most of the people had arrived, Lance had the priest close the door. But the priest not only did not leave, but stood behind Lance again.

This made Lance feel that he was a bit inexplicable, but he said nothing and allowed him to stand there.

At this time, people’s beliefs had not yet been harmed by the impact of internet information. They still firmly believed in God and abided by the teachings.

Having a priest standing on his side actually also strengthened the credibility of Lance’s words.

Elvin pulled a chair for Lance. Lance sat on the podium under the statue of God. There was a small round table next to him with a notebook, and some coffee and pastries on it.

Lance raised his hand and pressed down the air. The somewhat noisy cathedral instantly fell silent.

“I have previously communicated with Roger (the old man of the Merchants Association) and other representatives. The Liji Group does not intend to honor our contract.”

“I have spoken with a lawyer. If they insist on doing so, even if we go to court and win, we are no match for them.”

“Even if they invest all the profits from tearing up the contract, and pay even more, they will do everything possible to prevent us from making even a single cent from this contract, and we will suffer a huge loss.”

“This is the method of the capitalists. They see us as a challenger. When they do this, the conflict between us and them is no longer about how much benefit the contract can bring to us or them.”

“But the attitude of an interest group facing a challenge.”

“So they will do everything they can to drag us to death in this lawsuit. I can already foresee the possibility of them fabricating and forging evidence, witness testimonies. This is very normal.”

“So after communication, I have already spoken with Vice President Jonathan of Parkway Bank. We will mortgage the contract to the bank at a price of two million seven hundred and fifty thousand.”

“Now, this money is in my hands…”

In an instant, many people in the church stood up. They looked at Lance with fiery eyes, and some people shouted out Lance’s name.

Lance continued to raise his hand and press down, letting them quiet down again.

“Actually, this contract, I believe, could ultimately bring us a profit of more than three and a half million. But because of them, we have lost a large sum of money.”

“I am very sorry about this.”

“I did not expect the greed of the Federation’s capitalists to be so terrible, so terrible that they would reach out to plunder even when they know they are not in the right!”

As soon as Lance finished speaking, someone shouted, “It’s not your fault, Mr. Lance! You’ve already done everything you could!”

Soon, people began to agree. Although not making more money was a bit… regrettable, the doubled profit had already made them very happy.

Besides, money only has real value when it’s in your own hands, doesn’t it?

Lance nodded, “I tried to work hard on this matter, but there was no possibility of salvaging it, so I no longer hold out hope. I called you all here today to distribute the money with you.”

He picked up the notebook on the table, “This records the total amount each of you has invested. According to calculations, your rate of return is two hundred and twenty percent…”

Before Lance could finish speaking, the priest behind him exclaimed “God” and made a hand gesture.

Lance looked back at him strangely. The priest immediately showed a smile, tilted his head slightly, and bowed a little, as if to say he would not make another sound.

Lance looked away and opened the notebook, “I will now call out your names according to your ranking. The person whose name is called will come to me. I will give you a check. You can go to the bank to get your principal and profit.”

“However, I suggest that after you get the money, you don’t deposit it in Jinda Bank. I don’t want to talk about some of Mr. Jobav’s… you know, I don’t like to talk about people behind their backs.”

“But since he started following the mayor, he has been spending money like crazy. I’m very worried about whether this money is his own or the depositors’.”

The members of the Merchants Association didn’t pay much attention to this news at first, but when Lance said this, they vaguely realized that something was wrong.

Because they had previously heard that Mr. Jobav had invested in a railway and two factories, spending a total of five or six hundred thousand.

Coupled with some gossip they had heard, Mr. Jobav might have spent over a million in the past six months!

There was never a definite conclusion as to how much money Mr. Jobav actually had, but it was a consensus among people that he had at least a million.

Now, thinking about it carefully, has he already spent a million? Then how much money does he have left, and how much money do I have left?

Roger (the old man of the Merchants Association) couldn’t help but stand up, “Mr. Lance, are you saying that… Mr. Jobav’s bank might be in some danger?”

Lance directly denied it, “No, I didn’t say that. I’m just worried, after all, it’s not easy for you to make money.”

“The money deposited in the bank might be the savings of your entire life, or even two or three generations.”

“Compared to larger banks like Parkway and Broadcom, I still trust them more.”

“I’m not saying I don’t support Mr. Jobav and his career, it’s just that I hope my money can be safer.”

“Alright, let’s not talk about this. First, Mr. Roger, you invested four thousand… dollars, so you will get nine thousand… dollars.”

Lance casually signed a check, “I won’t give you the thirty-three cents. I hope you don’t mind.”

Roger didn’t even need his cane anymore. He strode onto the podium and respectfully took the check from Lance’s hand with both hands, looking at the numbers on it and Lance’s signature.

He was so excited that his beard trembled, “Mr. Lance… I don’t know what to say…”

“This is the life savings of our entire family. I never thought it… would become so much so quickly. You’ve made my understanding of this world a little problematic!”

Lance said with a smile, “I hope it’s a good problem, not a bad one.”

Roger nodded repeatedly, “It’s good, it’s good!”

“I hope that next time there’s a good project, you must let me know. Making money by following you is really too exhilarating!”

A family saved up four thousand dollars in a lifetime. Is that a small amount?

It sounds like it’s just the total salary of a person for ten years without eating, drinking, or spending, but in reality, this money is not easy to save.

And this is not a small sum of money. It can buy two single-family houses, it can buy three smaller apartments, it can buy two mid-range cars, it… is the dream of many ordinary families!

But now, a lifetime of savings has doubled in less than three months. Perhaps this is the place where capital and finance are like a fatal poison yet can still attract people!

When you start to taste the wonderful flavor it brings you, it means you can never leave it again!

Making quick money is as addictive as masturbating, and the pleasure it brings is countless times stronger!

Seeing that Roger still wanted to say something, Lance rolled his eyes, “The person behind you wishes they could swallow you whole right now. You’d better go back and sit down first!”

The person behind showed a slightly embarrassed smile. His eyeballs were indeed about to pop out. The cathedral was also filled with happy laughter.

This amount of money was the profit after deducting ten percent for “sharing” and five percent for “membership fees.” No one could be dissatisfied with this profit.

“Next, Mr. …, let me see, your total investment is seven hundred and seventy dollars. I have to say you missed an opportunity to get rich.”

“This is your one thousand six hundred and ninety-four dollars. I hope it can soothe the scars in your heart!”

Lance signed a check and handed it over. This gentleman took a deep breath, said thank you, and then took the check excitedly, as if it were his first marriage.

It was an exciting session. People spontaneously maintained order. Lance distributed the money very quickly, and he would announce everyone’s name, telling everyone how much he had invested and how much he had received in return.

People would envy those who invested the most, for example, Roger. After all, over four thousand dollars had suddenly become nine thousand. This amount of money was enough for them to move to Priliccia and find a nice middle-class community to live in.

In fact, buying a house is also an obsession for the people of the Federation. They hope to move to a better house, associate with better neighbors, and expand their network of contacts.

The first thing many people in the Federation do after making money is to change to a community that is helpful to their work, not other things.

Of course, for the lowest social class, perhaps pleasure is greater than buying a house, because they have no ambition to begin with. Pleasure is their greatest pursuit in life.

The whole process lasted for more than two hours. When the last gentleman took the four-hundred-and-forty-dollar check from Lance with some embarrassment and swore that next time he would bet everything even if he had to sell his house, the entire money distribution meeting came to an end.

Actually, Lance still had other money-making businesses, but now, he needed the whole situation to ferment a little more.

“I know you all can’t sit still, so… go to the bank and cash your checks. But I still say the same thing, it’s best to deposit the money in a big bank. The recent economic situation is a bit strange, and we need to take precautions.”

“When there’s a good project in a while, I’ll have someone notify you.”

He then announced the dismissal. Led by Roger, each of them lined up to shake hands with Lance and thank him for everything he had brought before leaving.

Even though they were eager to exchange their checks for cash at this moment, no one left early.

The priest standing on the side felt his scalp tingle, and he also had a lot of goosebumps because all of this was too “ritualistic.”

If he hadn’t witnessed the whole process with his own eyes, he would even think that Lance was the master here, and maybe even a patriarch or something!

When the last person left, the priest couldn’t help but walk over, “Mr. Lance…”

Lance was packing up his notebook, then looked at him with some curiosity, “Is there something, Father?”

“It’s like this, Mr. Lance, if I want to join your… Empire Merchants Association, is it possible?”

Lance showed an expression of it being a matter of course, “Of course, Father. You have served us in the Empire District for so many years. We have long regarded you as our own family. I welcome you to join on behalf of the Empire Merchants Association.”

The priest was overjoyed and took the initiative to shake Lance’s hand, “Then your next investment…”

“It will come soon!”

The priest shook his hand vigorously, “God told me just now that you can use this place for free anytime in the future!”

This was an interesting priest. Lance did not refuse his kindness, “Say hello to God for me, and thank him for his generosity.”

The priest didn’t know if God was generous, but Mr. Lance must be generous. He smiled very happily, as if God had really sent down an oracle, smiling from ear to ear.

Lance had spoken with Jonathan beforehand, so when a large number of people came with checks, the bank did not hinder their cashing, but instead actively cooperated with them in opening accounts at Parkway Bank.

Although some people also withdrew some cash, most people still deposited their money in Parkway Bank.

And these five hundred-plus new customers were also Jonathan’s “achievements.”

This matter quickly began to spread to a limited extent within the Empire District because the money these investors had did not come entirely from themselves.

Some of the bolder ones among them had also borrowed money from relatives and friends. Now that Lance had fulfilled his promise, it was time for them to fulfill theirs.

When the relatives and friends of these people saw them come back with the promised interest and principal, everyone showed a surprised expression.

In fact, some people, when they lent the money, didn’t think they would get it back. But not only did the money come back, but the interest was also considerable, which made them curious.

Curiosity drives the development of the world. Their curiosity might not change any historical process, but it would make them ask their questions.

This money, where did it come from?

When the news that “the Merchants Association can make money, and make big money” quickly spread, those merchants who had not participated before began to ask if they could join.

Lance’s rules were very strict. Three members could only recommend one non-member to become a member every two years. In other words, if they gave the opportunity to others, it meant their relatives would lose the opportunity.

They didn’t know what else the Merchants Association could do besides making money in the future, but they had already realized that the importance of the Merchants Association might not be as simple as just making money.

This made some people regret it to death. If they had known earlier, they would have joined too. Isn’t it just five dollars a month…

Besides this news, the rumor that Mr. Jobav’s Jinda Bank might have problems also began to spread along with this news.

Don’t underestimate the social nature of these people. Soon the old men on the street, through various channels, calculated Mr. Jobav’s various investments over the past six months to be around nine hundred thousand.

Among the populace, there were many who knew that Mr. Jobav had been extorted. When processing this information, they would add some subjective views. Perhaps they would think that the amount of extortion would be very huge.

After all, that was Mr. Jobav. Extorting him for less would be a bit of a disrespect to his status.

Thus, a piece of news that “Jinda Bank may be insolvent” began to spread within the Empire District.

This news actually didn’t have much of an impact on the people of the Federation because they wouldn’t deposit their money in such a private bank with obvious regional characteristics.

The only ones who would really deposit money here were the people of the Empire.

Now, their money seemed to be not so safe anymore.

Mr. Jobav only found out about this matter at the end of April. His assistant was not by his side now. He had hired a new Federation person, said to be a graduate of a prestigious university in the Alliance, in his thirties, with some connections in Likalai State.

This guy was not from the Empire, nor did he live in the Empire District, so he couldn’t very quickly inform Mr. Jobav of this news.

By the time he found out about this matter, it was because the bank had experienced another large number of withdrawals.

When he found out this news from some people, his expression became a little more murderous than before.

The mayor’s experience made him start to truly accept people like Mr. Jobav, so Mr. Jobav also participated in some deeper decision-making.

His aura and temperament were changing. Through the analysis of some rumors, he knew who was playing tricks behind the scenes.

He thought for a good while, picked up the phone, and called Lance.

“We need to talk…”