[Tens of Billions in Assets, Reputation Spreads, Retainers Offer Allegiance]

The next day, Lin Ze finished his morning exercises.

He opened the door and walked into his Two Realms Trade Base, looking at the piles of Silver that filled a room.

There were a full ten million taels here, five hundred tons of Silver.

Lin Ze had spent 118,000 taels of gold in the Main World to purchase them, using most of the gold he had plundered from the Other World, worth nearly 2.7 billion.

Besides these Silver, Lin Ze also had some scattered gold and silver in his basement.

At this moment, Lin Ze had a clear understanding of his current assets.

"Deducting the real estate and personal consumption, the wealth I can currently use is about 14 billion."

"These precious metals will be used for circulation in the Other World's Gold Bank to plunder gold and silver from the Other World, so they cannot be used for the time being."

"In addition, I need to keep some funds for emergencies, and considering that a lot of my money is in foreign accounts, the funds I can currently use openly in the country are about 4.5 billion, which is my investment in opening a shipping company for the next period."

"The money in foreign accounts will be used to purchase supplies in case of insufficient precious metals."

At this moment, Lin Ze had an epiphany.

Only four months had passed since the start of the two realms trade.

But at this moment, Lin Ze's net worth had already exceeded tens of billions, averaging a small goal every day since the start of the two realms trade.

But in fact, Lin Ze has now passed the initial groundwork stage.

The Gold Bank operating in the Other World can receive about 2,000 taels of gold every day, which can bring Lin Ze a daily income of 40 million, plus the Delicious Forest that earns 40 million every day in the Main World, and the Zhiyuan Trading Company that earns more than 300 million every day.

There is also the Coal Mine in the Other World that continues to make profits. Currently, Lin Ze's daily income has reached the level of 400 million, and the development speed will only get faster and faster.

At Qianyun Manor, Lin Ze and Ji Shuqing were eating breakfast made by the female housekeeper and several female bodyguards.

This is why female bodyguards are more expensive than male bodyguards. They can stay in the inner courtyard with the family members, while male bodyguards cannot.

Female bodyguards are not as strong as male bodyguards. The premium salary they receive compared to male bodyguards is the employer's purchase of the right to mobilize them 24 hours a day, unlike those male bodyguards who can take turns to rest every once in a while.

Basically, female bodyguards rely on their youth. When their physical fitness declines with age, they have to consider changing careers.

"Sister Qing, just stay at home and rest well today."

Lin Ze said with a smile after eating breakfast.

Perhaps it was because Lin Ze brought Ji Shuqing's family to earn more than a dozen billion in a month, or perhaps it was because absence makes the heart grow fonder, but in short, the two of them played very unrestrainedly last night.

At first, Ji Shuqing felt that she had been practicing the Life Nurturing Fist for a month, and her physical fitness had improved a lot, so she was not afraid of Lin Ze at all.

But later, by the seventh time, she could only whimper.

Although she was eating breakfast at the moment, Ji Shuqing felt weak all over and had no objection to Lin Ze's arrangement.

After eating breakfast, she went back to continue resting.

As for Lin Ze, he began to busy himself with the shipping company.

Lin Ze didn't understand anything about shipping companies.

But he had money.

After contacting a headhunting firm as a talent agency, Lin Ze received quite a few resumes of relevant talents. After interviewing them one by one for a period of time, Lin Ze found a professional manager who suited his needs.

Tang Guangyun, male, forty-two years old.

A graduate of a prestigious university with many years of experience in the shipping industry.

After learning about Lin Ze's needs, this professional manager proposed an answer that satisfied Lin Ze.

In the study of Qianyun Manor, the professional manager, who had been recognized by Lin Ze, was explaining his plans for the company to Lin Ze.

"Boss, next I will first settle the issue of the company's headquarters and initial employees."

"After that, I will purchase the corresponding sea ships and airplanes according to your needs. At the same time, I will recruit people to build our material transfer warehouses, airports, and establish related Escort Agencies in the port area of Yulin City, Canghai Country, Golden Continent."

"Don't worry, boss, I have mature channels and experience in these areas, and I will definitely help you achieve your needs at a preferential price."

Tang Guangyun concluded.

"Well, President Tang, I'll have to trouble you with the company's affairs next."

"Because the situation in the Golden Continent is chaotic, I will assign a team of senior security personnel from Jixiang Security Company to you. You can take them with you when you go on business trips."

Lin Ze shook hands with Tang Guangyun, and then said.

These security personnel were not informants sent by Lin Ze. Although the affairs of the shipping company were entrusted to Tang Guangyun, Lin Ze would later hire a third-party auditing firm to supervise, so he was not afraid of Tang Guangyun messing around. These security personnel were indeed in actual demand.

"Then thank you, boss."

Tang Guangyun sincerely thanked the boss in front of him for thinking of him.

November 8th.

Other World, Lin Residence.

Recently, everything that needed to be done had been completed, and the next step was to quietly wait for the business to advance.

Therefore, Lin Ze refocused his life on the Other World, enjoying the leisurely life of a Master with his beautiful wives and concubines in his arms.

At the end of last month, Lin Ze had already taken the time to personally pay the salaries of the miners, Escort Agency, and Gold Bank employees, and also distributed the profits to several shareholders. In general, the income this month was similar to last month, so there was no need to work overtime temporarily.

"Master, the gatekeeper reports that five Martial World people have come to visit."

Xiang Xue came to report, and Lin Ze, who was casually flipping through a book while enjoying his wife playing the zither and the Maid Bao Qin feeding him fruit, sat up straight.

He asked, "Did they announce their names?"

Xiang Xue nodded and said, "In response to Master's words, these Martial World people claim to admire Master's prestige and have come to visit and seek an audience."

Now, more than half a month had passed since the high-end business war between the Fengping County Coal Mine and the Songmao County Coal Mine.

The great battle that took place in the Distant Moon Mountain Range had long been spread all over the country by merchants traveling north and south. People in the Martial World and the marketplace all knew that in Fengping County, Qingyu County, there was a great expert known as 'Thunderbolt Young Master' Lin Ze.

This great expert traveled hundreds of miles overnight, wiped out twenty-seven bandit dens in the Distant Moon Mountain Range to eliminate harm for the people, and restored a bright and clear world, earning people's praise.

A famous figure in the Martial World sharply commented that Thunderbolt Young Master Lin Ze, at a young age, had already been ranked among the Super-Class Experts of the Martial World, and would surely become a Peerless Expert in the future.

Originally, this reputation only manifested in Lin Ze gaining a good name. When he went out for a stroll, he would receive respectful greetings from the wealthy families and commoners in Fengping County, and his purchases would even be comped.

Now it seems that this good reputation has brought Lin Ze some additional gains.

"Go and see."

Lin Ze got up, letting the maid beside him help him tidy his clothes, while someone went out to inform the martial world people waiting outside the door.

Soon, Lin Ze sat upright in the hall and met the several martial world people who had been led in by the servants.

These were five burly men in their prime, and one could tell they were extraordinary just by looking at them.

As a martial arts practitioner whose spirit had been strengthened twice by the Gates to Heavens, Lin Ze could clearly sense that their energy and blood were much more vigorous than ordinary people.

These were martial artists who had reached the entry-level.

"I am Fang Qing, and these are my four brothers, Fang Lan, Fang Hong, Fang Jin, and Fang Mo. We have come to pay our respects to Young Master Lin."

Fang Qing, a middle-aged man dressed in cloth and with a strong build, cupped his fist in salute to Lin Ze at this time.

The four brothers beside him also cupped their fists and saluted respectfully.

"You are too kind, please serve tea to the guests."

Lin Ze got up, returned the salute with cupped fists, and then instructed the servants beside him.

After exchanging pleasantries and inviting them to sit down for tea, Lin Ze directly got to the point and asked, "May I ask what brings you here today?"

Fang Qing put down his teacup, stood up respectfully, and said, "To be honest, Young Master Lin, my brothers and I were originally residents near the Distant Moon Mountain Range. When we were young, we suffered a calamity and our relatives were killed by bandits in the mountains. My brothers and I were lucky enough to escape because we were out playing."

"Later, we wandered around for many years, and finally joined the Cao Gang at the age of ten to make a living and learn martial arts, constantly thinking about revenge, but we have never been able to do so."

"This time, we heard that Young Master Lin had wiped out all the bandits in the mountains, which can be regarded as avenging my brothers and me. Therefore, we have come to thank Young Master Lin in person."

"We have practiced martial arts for many years, and now we can be considered entry-level martial artists. If Young Master does not despise us, we are willing to join Young Master's service as retainers, and we will do whatever you ask, even if it means going through fire and water."

"Please take us in, Young Master Lin!"

At the end of his speech, Fang Qing directly knelt on one knee to show his sincerity.

The brothers behind Fang Qing also followed suit, kneeling on one knee and bowing their heads, saying, "Please take us in, Young Master Lin."

Seeing this, Lin Ze's mind raced.

It was certainly a good thing that someone came to rely on him.

Retainers, in a sense, can be equated with assassins.

They are usually well-fed and well-cared for by the master, and when needed, they can be asked to do things, even at the cost of their lives.

And if what these people said was true, then their reliability could be guaranteed to the greatest extent.

Helping to avenge is indeed a great kindness worth being grateful for a lifetime.

But what if it's fake?

What if someone with ulterior motives arranged spies under Lin Ze's command, with other plans?

In an instant, Lin Ze's thoughts turned and he made a decision.

"Everyone, please rise quickly, you don't need to perform such a grand salute."

"Since you all are willing to serve me, it is my honor."

As the men knelt to show their respect, a smile appeared on Lin Ze's face, and he agreed.

In any case, he would accept these people first. Lin Ze had many industries under his command, and five entry-level martial artists could always play a role.

After this, he could secretly investigate their origins and observe their usual behavior to see if they were sincerely surrendering.

If they were sincerely surrendering, then naturally he could gradually increase their responsibilities and give them important tasks.

If their origins were unknown, he would marginalize them, or even find an opportunity to eliminate them directly.

In this way, even if these people were spies from someone else, they would not cause Lin Ze any major trouble in the end.

"Greetings, Master."

Fang Qing refused Lin Ze's offer to help him up, gave a solid kowtow with his brothers, and then stood up with a respectful expression.

"Someone, prepare a banquet, I want to entertain these heroes, and invite Escort Chief Xu to attend the banquet as well."

At this time, Lin Ze showed his acceptance of Fang Qing and the others, first by hosting a banquet and then by inviting Xu Sheng to accompany them.

Lin Ze and Fang Qing and the others exchanged cups, with Xu Sheng accompanying them, also interjecting to liven up the atmosphere, quickly eliminating the group's unfamiliarity.

After the banquet, Lin Ze directly had Xu Sheng take away the newly recruited retainers and arrange for them to go to Zhiyuan Transportation, which represented the Wooden Railcar industry, to serve as guards in the West Gate Wharf area.

Soon, Xu Sheng temporarily settled the men and returned.

"Zi Yi, these people have unknown origins, do not trust them lightly."

Without outsiders present, Xu Sheng then reminded Lin Ze.

"I know, Brother Xu, please observe their habits recently. I have entrusted Cao Gang's Dan Xuliang and Shi Qingnian from the Songmao County Coal Mine to help inquire about the origins of these people."

"If there are no problems with their origins, we can try to trust them and arrange more important work for them."

Lin Ze nodded, stating his arrangements for Fang Qing and the others.

Xu Sheng nodded and said, "It's good that you have a plan, Zi Yi. I will keep an eye on them."

After seeing Xu Sheng off, Lin Ze's emotions were still a little excited.

He never expected that one day he could reach the level where he could attract people to bow down to him based on his reputation.

He hoped that Fang Qing and the others could be trusted. If so, then he would have many more people at his disposal.

"Just right, taking advantage of this opportunity, let's divide the servants in the house into clear ranks."

"First are the ordinary servants, newly recruited, whose character and abilities have not been confirmed. These are the third-class servants in the house, only enjoying ordinary servant treatment."

"Then there are the servants who are guaranteed to be loyal but have no ability. They can be given a little extra monthly salary, and good work arrangements can be given priority to this group. These are the second-class servants."

"Next are the servants who have both ability and loyalty, giving them a higher monthly salary, and giving priority to this group for any benefits, while investing certain resources to cultivate them. This stage is called first-class servants."

"Finally, there are those who have both loyalty and ability, and can stand alone in a small area. If such a person is a servant, their lowly status as a servant will be removed, giving them dignity, treating them as confidants, and completely binding their interests together."

"Currently, there are some first and second-class servants, but very few can be regarded as confidants."

"However, everything is difficult at the beginning. In the future, as the industries under my command continue to operate, I will eventually be able to continuously harvest my own confidants."

Thinking thoughtfully, Lin Ze set a new standard.