While Lynch was living it up outside, they were on the streets handing out flyers, hunting clients, even sacrificing some dignity to maintain relationships.

While Lynch feasted and mingled with high society, they checked the auction goods against low prices and past sales, scrutinizing their client base to find interested buyers.

While Lynch enjoyed the wealth inside his glass villa, they were running under the scorching sun through every street of the capital.

Why?

Why should you take more than half of the money we earned with our sweat and blood?

Richard was the first to want to go solo. He fully understood Lynch’s system—selling auction spots with guarantees meant he could earn steadily even if nothing sold.

He shifted all losses onto the salespeople, never losing money himself, only making more or less profit.

But what about them? Every month, some lost money, teams cycled through salespeople, some even sold their homes to chase dreams, only to end in bankruptcy.

The rules were brutal. Everyone had to keep up, or be left behind forever.

Richard’s dissatisfaction led him to steal profits, deal secretly, short-sell, and embezzle company funds. He was a genius at work—and at scheming.

If Vera hadn’t caught discrepancies in the capital’s accounts and construction halting for lack of funds, they might never have found this parasite.

Lynch gave Richard a chance—to leave the Federation forever and offered him wealth.

But to Richard, it felt like an insult—he’d been easily kicked out of the Federation like a whipped dog.

Panicked, broken, powerless, and deeply humiliated.

After arriving at the Federation, Richard used Lynch’s theory to quickly build Harmony Financial Company, absorbing massive capital in this somewhat grim society, growing like a monster.

Now look at him—he bought an office building in the imperial capital for 2.25 million Gael, spending nearly 200,000 Gael just on office décor.

Everything was perfect.

He wore tailor-made clothes from royal tailors, boots from royal cobblers, and jewelry crafted by royal jewelers.

He was richer and stronger than ever.

He even believed he was not weaker than Lynch, as Harmony was about to go public.

Harmony’s rapid financing through Harmony Gold Bonds attracted noble attention. Soon, he partnered with a noble, aiming to list on Gephra’s largest royal exchange.

If successful, his fortune would skyrocket beyond 30 million Gael, making him a miracle.

He didn’t think he was much worse than Lynch—he even felt he might have more than Lynch.

Until… he saw the newspaper.

For Richard, it wasn’t simple anger—it was fear.

Fear of being controlled by Lynch again. Lynch wouldn’t just abandon him—he’d contact him.

“This is our hard-earned success. No one takes it from us,” Richard said.

“No matter who they are.”

“Even if it’s Lynch.”

He looked at his comrades; in their eyes he saw something he lacked—an attitude.

He glanced at those at the door—all determined.

He exhaled, stood up holding his knees, and said, “I get it, even if it’s Lynch!”

“Apologize to everyone for my outburst. Since you’re here, let’s hold a meeting…”

Order soon returned. In the conference room, Richard looked at his core team, holding each gaze briefly before moving on.

He nodded slightly—this was his foundation, his path to rise.

“How’s the IPO plan?”

The company’s first vice president on the left frowned seriously. “Progressing. No big issues. Our accounts look good, and backing capital is enough. But… the finance department sees us as purely a financial product, no real assets…”

Buying Harmony Gold Bonds promised timely interest, with payback in one year and doubling in two, profits coming from exploration teams and gold mines worldwide.

But the financial regulatory body under the finance department felt Harmony lacked full IPO qualifications. First, they had no actual mines in Gephra.

Second, they couldn’t prove ownership of the mines they promoted or guarantee the richness of the mines, and even with documents, finance was skeptical.

More importantly, Harmony’s real business was the bonds. Ownership rests with Harmony Capital. Buyers purchase bonds, not company shares—this model was new, so the finance department hesitated to approve it.

“Unless… we can show real products to convince the regulators.”

The VP concluded. Richard nodded silently, already forming a plan, then looked to the right-hand lead.

“When does the first batch mature?”

Though abrupt, everyone knew he meant the first batch of Harmony Gold Bonds issued.

Once they mature, all the money from the first investors must be returned.

After that, only money from later bond buyers remains. With each maturity, losses start piling up and grow larger as more bonds mature.

Until total bankruptcy.

They should be running by now. Yet, stirred by their noble backer, Richard suddenly wanted to list the company.

If they ran now, Richard would get 4 to 5 million Gael. But if they listed, that could multiply several times.

Running after listing would be far more profitable.

He asked about the maturity date to know how much time he had left, in case it was too late and he needed to abandon the IPO plan.

Though it was a pity, they now had experience to replicate this in other countries.

“Just over four months,” his trusted aide on the right answered.

“About four months, that should be enough,” Richard calculated.

He pointed with his pen at the few people at the far left. “Pack up immediately and go overseas to acquire some gold mines. They don’t need to have large reserves—even semi-abandoned mines are fine.”

“Bring me all the certificates. See if we can use connections to get approvals and make the documents look better.”

“Also, in several major commercial cities, buy some shops in prime locations to sell gold products!”

“I want Harmony Gold Shops to be visible within a month. Bond holders can exchange their bonds for physical gold at different discounts, depending on how many bonds they hold. Understand?”

Some understood, some didn’t, but all trusted Richard’s ability.

Back in the Federation, it was the same—Wood, who relied on luck, tried to compete with Richard but was no match. Richard’s team was always the sales champion.

Countless times, Richard proved reliable and trustworthy.

Harmony Capital’s moves quickly caught the attention of Gephra’s financial circles. While people wondered what scheme they were playing, Harmony announced their first batch of gold was about to arrive.

The company would gradually roll out physical gold sales nationwide. Bond holders could enjoy discounted prices.

This further encouraged eager investors to enter the market.

Late at night, Richard held a glass of wine, gazing absentmindedly at the bustling city with its deep historical atmosphere.

Half a month later, Lynch arrived in the imperial capital.

“We will hold the ennoblement ceremony on the Wednesday of the second week of October, less than a week away. Someone will remind you then, Mr. Lynch,”

A man wearing a wig, acting like a butler, stood at the door, introducing the servants behind him.

This was service for the imperial hotel suite. As a soon-to-be noble, Lynch had booked an entire upper floor of the imperial hotel.

The whole floor was his rooms, and the hotel had arranged a professional temporary management team.

Their somewhat strange but ancient and refined universal language pronunciation gave an impression of professionalism.

“Thank you for your service, Butler. Could you bring me some of the latest newspapers?”

“And also help me get some clothes…”

Before returning, Lynch had already asked Genia to order several sets of noble clothing from royal tailors—collars, wigs, and such.

Lynch disliked the rigid prejudices of the Gephra people and their mysterious arrogance but sometimes had to respect their dedication.

Soon, a maid entered carrying a stack of newspapers and placed them before Lynch.

He casually picked up one and was immediately drawn by the headline—

Harmony Capital’s IPO Faces No More Obstacles.